Cubs-D'backs series: by the numbers

Here's a look at some the painful numbers from the Cubs-Diamondbacks series:

98

Years since Theodore Roosevelt was U.S. President. When he left the Oval Office in early 1909, the Chicago Cubs were the reigning baseball champs. Ted Lilly's full name is Theodore Roosevelt Lilly III.

2

Regular position players whose Division Series batting average exceeded their regular-season average for the Cubs (Derrek Lee and Mark DeRosa, both .333)

5

Years ago, to the day (Oct. 6, 2002), that Livan Hernandez had last notched a post-season victory, in an 8-3 Division Series win for the San Francisco Giants over the Atlanta Braves. Mark DeRosa, then a Brave, went 0-for-1.

6.67

Livan Hernandez's ERA over his last five regular-season starts of 2007. In Game 3, he gave up one earned run in six innings, for a 1.50 ERA.

8.1

Average number of pitches per out recorded by Rich Hill in Game 3. Over the past two seasons, spanning 49 appearances, he required more pitches per out only twice-against Milwaukee on June 29, 2007, and against St. Louis on July 27, 2006.

2

Strikeouts Jose Valverde recorded in his first-ever Wrigley Field appearance, on Aug. 1, 2003. He also got a pop-out in a three-up, three-down inning. In sealing Game 3, Valverde similarly struck out two and got a flyout in a perfect inning of work.

2.69

The strikeout-to-walk ratio for Cubs pitchers in the Divisional Series (35 Ks, 13 walks). It surpassed the team's solid 2.11 ratio during the regular season (1,211 strikeouts vs. 573 walks).

10

The Diamondbacks' collective edge in runs scored during the Division Series, 16-6. In doing so, the Diamondbacks trimmed from 20 to 10 their opponents' collective edge in runs scored between regular -- and post-season play (738-728).

10

Strikeouts of the top five batters in Arizona's order in Game 3, compared to only one whiff among the top five Cubs in the batting order.

4

Runs and RBI among the top five batters in Arizona's order in Game 3. The top five batters in the Cubs' order produced zero runs and zero RBI.

Through Sept. 22, number of times that Aramis Ramirez went hitless for three consecutive games in 2007. Since then, he went .143 (5-for-35), including a three-game hitless stretch from Sept. 23-26, and an 0-for-12 swoon in the Division Series.

Sources: Retrosheet.org, ESPN.com

Matt Baron is a freelance writer specializing in statistical reporting. He can be contacted through his Web site at MattBaron.com.