--LF Alfonso Soriano extended his hitting streak to seven games. He has homered in four games this week. Over the homestand, Soriano is 15-for-32 with nine runs scored, five homers and 12 RBIs. The Cubs are 16-8 when he leads off.
--RHP Sean Gallagher scored his first major league victory. Gallagher was an emergency starter Sunday when cold weather and wet grounds led manager Lou Piniella to scratch ace Carlos Zambrano. Gallagher had made two relief appearances earlier this year after coming up from the minor leagues on May 3. He made eight relief appearances last year.
--C Geovany Soto was 4-for-21 on the homestand entering Friday until he homered his first time up. It was Soto's eighth homer of the year. He wound up going 2-for-3.
--RF Kosuke Fukudome did not start, with the Pirates throwing LHP Tom Gorzelanny at the Cubs. Manager Lou Piniella originally had planned to rest Fukudome on Sunday against Arizona LHP Randy Johnson, but Johnson was a late scratch, and Fukudome played. Mark DeRosa moved from second base to right field Friday and homered.
--CF Reed Johnson, a right-handed batter, is likely to start all three games this weekend, with the Pirates throwing three lefties at the Cubs. Jim Edmonds, a left-handed hitter who started Thursday in his Cubs debut, will be available for pinch hitting and late defensive switches.
--RHP Bob Howry's string of relief appearances without an earned run was snapped at four when he gave up three runs in two innings against the Pirates.
BY THE NUMBERS 168 -- The Cubs took 168 walks into this week (36 games). At that pace, they would draw 756 bases on balls for the season. The club record is 650, set in 1975. This trend continues to be a marked departure for a team that valued free-swinging. The Cubs now are balancing aggressiveness and selectivity. The Cubs had 113 walks through 36 games last year.
QUOTE TO NOTE "I was a little scared because it's a little cold, but I think I'm OK. I just want to feel comfortable with my legs." -- Soriano on continuing to be cautious with his legs.
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a new year means many new member to this site. we have had this thread running all over the place for the last two years so i am simply copying it and repasting it to a new thread. i wrote it for cubs fans wanting to build their ratings and GOCUBGO11 helped out by showing to a number of people on other boards. it works for any sport as long as you are using teams and players f
