We Love Men Who Take Charge

Like the Chicago Cubs, for instance, who are taking charge of the NL Central. Now holding a four-game lead over the once-surging Milwaukee Brewers, the North-Siders are enjoying some hitting on the part of Alfonso Soriano and some lights-out pitching by guys like Ryan Fricking Dempster, who is 12-4 with a 2.90 ERA.

Way to Go, Ted Lilly!

Congratulations to Ted Lilly for fanning his 1,000th batter Saturday afternoon.

The Chicago Cubs veteran lefty worked seven solid innings, striking out four for 1,002 career K's and walking none while allowing three runs to score on six hits and tossing a season-high 112 pitches.

Lilly is slowly climbing out of the horrible 0-3 hole he dug himself to kick off the season -- where he compiled a 9.16 ERA over his first four starts -- going 2-1 with a 2.84 ERA over his last three outings.

He highlighted the day not just by reaching a strikeout milestone, but by nailing his second career extra-base hit to kick off the seventh inning, complete with a belly-flop slide into second on what could have easily been a stand-up double.

'Atta boy.

[[Bleed Cubbie Blue]

Squeeze Play: Cardinals @ Cubs

In a matchup between two 6-9 teams, the St. Louis Cardinals will look to avoid their fifth straight loss when they put right-hander Braden Looper on the hill to face veteran lefty Ted Lilly and the rival Chicago Cubs at 2:20pm ET this afternoon.

St. Louis' 6-9 start is the worst by a reigning World Series champion since the 1998 Florida Marlins opened at 1-11. The outlook is not sunny either, having gone 2-8 against the Cubs last year and losing their last 13 of 18 meetings since the start of 2005.

While the Cardinals were pretty terrible against the Cubs last season, Looper was outstanding against them, pitching 12.2 scoreless innings over 10 relief appearances. This being his first season as a starter, Loop has given up just 5 runs over 19 innings.

Lilly did well in his only career start against the Cards, allowing four hits over seven shutout innings of a 5-2 victory last June, while pitching for the Toronto Blue Jays.
[MLB]

Arroyo Takes Hill For Cincy, Lilly Makes Debut

Aside from swooning the ladies with his guitar-playing skills, Bronson Arroyo will look to continue dominating the Cubs tonight at Great American Ballpark.

After leaving Boston for Cincinnati last March, Arroyo went 4-0 with a 1.01 ERA in five starts against Chicago, including wins in his first two outings as a Reds hurler. Not only did he strike out 26 Cubs in 35.2 innings, he homered in each of his first two games against the club last April.

Arroyo went 14-11 with a 3.29 ERA for Cincinnati in 2006 and led the majors with 240.2 innings pitched as the Reds' lone All-Star. He struck out 184 batters and tied teammate Aaron Harang for the NL lead with 35 starts.

Adam Dunn continues to have success against the Cubs, as well... then again, who doesn't? He's hit 30 homers and driven in 55 runs while batting .279 in 297 plate appearances against Chicago. BUT! Dunn has never faced Ted Lilly, who will make his Chicago debut Wednesday.

Lilly, a 31-year-old lefty who signed a four-year, $40 million contract this winter, posted a career high for wins with the Blue Jays last season, going 15-13 with a 4.31 ERA and 160 strikeouts.

Even with over-priced free agent acquisition Alfonso Soriano and a healthy Derrek Lee in the lineup, the Cubs managed just eight singles and scored their only run on a Cincinnati throwing error Monday.

"We are going to get off to a fast start," claimed Cubs manager Lou Piniella. "Just because you lose the first game doesn't mean ... It's just one ballgame."

Whatever you say, Lou.

Lee went 2-for-3 and Soriano went 1-for-4 with an infield single on Monday. Soriano has struggled in his career against Arroyo, going 1-for-15, striking out 5 times and driving in one run.

[MLB]