Game Preview: Cubs at Astros, 5/20/08

Tonight's matchup is Ryan Dempster vs. Chris Sampson.

Dempster has pitched well so far this season, but, as any stathead will tell you, a lot of that is a result of an unusually low Batting Average on Balls in Play, and that he's due to come back to earth any day now. Personally, as long as he continues to keep his walk rates reasonably low (particularly for him), I'll be happy. With Ted Lilly slowly working his way back into form, we don't necessarily need him to be lights-out (though a continuation of that trend would be nice); avoiding a Marquis-esque implosion would suffice.

Chris Sampson is having a rough start to the year, giving up 28 Earned Runs so far this season (just under half of 2007 season total of 62) for a 6.46 ERA. The Cubs haven't seen much of him, which usually seems to bode well for the pitcher in question, for whatever reason. Derrek Lee and Jim Edmonds each have a home run against him, though. So we've got that going for us. Which is nice.

Other notes:

- Derrek Lee doesn't want a day off. Not surprising, given Lee's personality. I'm not sure it matters one way or the other. A few days off seemed to do Soriano some good (though comparing Soriano's April to his May over the past two years seems to indicate that maybe Sori just doesn't fire on all cylinders until the weather warms up a bit). But hitters slump sometimes. It's the nature of the game. Plus, Derrek's last two at-bats last night looked much better than any ABs I'd seen in the past week or so. Unless he's hurt or seems to be pressing, I think you have to keep him in the lineup -- particularly when the alternative is I-Cub DH Micah Hoffpauir.

- The prayers of a thousand Cub fans were answered last night as Chad Fox was placed on the 15-Day DL. The baseball Gods taketh as they giveth, though, as Fox's injury coincides with Rich Hill's trip to the 7-Day AAA Disabled List. You never like to see a player get hurt, but here's hoping Ascanio makes the most of Fox's spot and we add another young, strong arm to the bullpen. Here's also hoping that Rich Hill uses his week of free time to finally shake off the mental anguish of giving up a first-pitch homer to Chris Young back in October and that he quickly returns to being a productive member of the rotation. You did your job Rich; Sean Gallagher won a starting job. You can come back and bump Marquis out anytime now.

- Mike Piazza is retired. Other than megastars like Bonds and Griffey Jr. (and, somewhat inexplicably, Orel Herscheiser), Piazza might very well have been the first baseball player to enter my consciousness as I grew from wee lad into not-so-wee lad. His retirement feels like an important landmark in my life, as I find myself saying "Mike Piazza is old enough to retire? When did he get that old? When did I get that old?" Oh, to be 21 and wistful.

Game time is 7:05, CT. Beat the snot of that Sampson, fellas.