There's not much that can be said about today's rather dull, one-sided Cubs 6-2 loss to the Angels, so let's go down a quick list of "Good" and "Bad".
Good:
- Kerry Wood threw 95, had no health problems, and except for the pitch that Torii Hunter slammed for a three-run HR, hit his spots. I'm guessing the coaches were pleased.
- Matt Murton had three hits -- increasing, it is presumed, his trade value
- Jake Fox hit a two-run HR -- increasing, it is presumed, his trade value
- Carmen Pignatiello and Tim Lahey both threw well in relief
Bad:
- Jason Marquis looked ... well, not so good. He didn't appear to have good command
- Felix Pie went 0-for-3 in the leadoff spot
- Bob Howry wasn't as sharp as he could have been
It did appear, though, that the sellout crowd at Tempe Diablo Stadium of 8,808 was enjoying the terrific, sunny and unseasonably warm weather. And I can guarantee you that, despite the result and the fact that very few Cub regulars were playing today, it was nice to see live baseball on TV again. Bruce Miles appeared briefly to discuss the ballclub, and though I have already emailed him to say so, I also wanted to express publicly my condolences to Bruce, whose dad passed away earlier this week.
I was also interested in hearing the brief interview with Geovany Soto, whose English is absolutely flawless, and who exuded a real air of confidence (at least from what could be seen on TV) that he can and will get the job done as starting catcher this season.
Tomorrow, we'll see more of what we'll really be looking at during 2008, as I expect most of the regular starting lineup will be playing in the televised game from Mesa vs. the Giants.
I can't wait for tomorrow...
I am really looking forward to seeing Fukudome live on TV. Not just YouTube highlights, no Gameday stats...just some live baseball.CubsBullsBears - March 1, 2008
Agree
cubswin14 - March 2, 2008
Other good:
Soto looked good behind the plate today.ak123 - March 1, 2008
Soto
He speaks so well and has a great presence about him on camera too. I liked the question about which he would rather do, throw someone out or hit a homerun. Smart and sly answer for him to say it depends on what inning it is. And most importantly, he is all ready throwing out runners at 2nd with a sharp dead-on throw?!? Send me the papers to his official fan club!love the ivy - March 2, 2008
Soto is from Puerto Rico
And while I admit not everyone in PR is fluent in English, many are and going back to first time I ever heard him , his Englishhas been the same as any native speaker.
jessica - March 1, 2008
Today was the first time...
... I had heard Soto speak. His fluent bilinguality should help him.Al Yellon - March 1, 2008
He can practice calming Z down
in at least two languages.Soto has one told one of my favorite Maddux stories
( posted here a while back) so for that alone I have
a soft spot for him.
jessica - March 1, 2008
One other bad
Fuld 0-3, 2 SO and 3 LOB. He did get a walk.NIUcubbie - March 1, 2008
Fuld can't hit worth a lick
He hit .269 in Triple-A last year. If there was a 'defensive' DH, he would be a great player to have play in the field and come off the bench to run, but alas, there isn't.IllinoisCubs - March 2, 2008
Marquis
didn't look all that good today, he's gonna have to pitch better to beat out Dempster, Lieber and Sean Marshall. Both Pie and Fuld went 0-3 today, but Pie should still have the edge since Pie had that big first game. What concerned me the most though, was the way Wood got hit around. I hope it was just a bad day, because recently when he has gotten bombed like that it, we later found out his arm was bugging him.I'm much more excited for tomorrows game, today the only regulars were Soto, and Pie.
cubsfan25 - March 1, 2008
Wood...
... didn't really get hit "hard". The only hard-hit ball was Hunter's HR. The other two hits were little flares to the outfield.Al Yellon - March 1, 2008
I love Diablo Stadium...
...it is fantastic. Wish I was able to make it back to Phoenix this year.Dan
dtpollitt - March 1, 2008
Soto
also knows how to work the media. During his interview, did you see how he calmly moved to the side when the batboy got into the frame so that he was back on TV? Brilliant.RynoHoF - March 1, 2008
Credit
Credit the Stage Manager behind the camera to notice that one so quickly.Credit Soto for quickly following direction.
ak123 - March 1, 2008
More Wood perspective
From AZ Phil, who is attending most games:"Kerry Wood worked the 3rd inning, and got tagged for a three-run dinger off the smokin' hot bat of Torii Hunter. Woody seemed to have some zip on his fastball, but it looked like he had trouble spotting it, and he also hung a couple of breaking balls. Not a good performance for KW, especially after he had looked so good in "live" BP sessions at Fitch Park last week."
TheEman - March 1, 2008
he looked
really frustrated. It's certainly not the way to win the closer spot.drewishdrewid - March 1, 2008
you're right
definitely not how you win the closers spot. that spot just better not go to howry, or else this little competition is fixed. id rather see marmol in the 7th and get out of jams, but no way howry pitches better than him this spring. if not wood, gotta be marmol.kylejo - March 1, 2008
Didn't get to see the game
today so I'll record the rerun at 3 a.m. or whenever it's rerun in the early morning. Will get to see most of the game tomorrow though.sue369 - March 1, 2008
hi, Sue!
It was mostly a snoozer. And do they use really old cameras out there too? Seems to me the picture was really washed out...drewishdrewid - March 1, 2008
They had to be pretty new cameras...
...as the CSN Chicago HD feed I got was in full widescreen. The picture quality was pretty bad, though.cwyers - March 1, 2008
I have Dish
and even though it SAID it was in HD, my HD channel for CSN was showing a big blank screen. "Check back to see if your favorite teams are playing!" Bah.drewishdrewid - March 1, 2008
Hey Drew,
That's ok if it's boring. I just want to check them out. Hope they win tomorrow!sue369 - March 1, 2008
Thanks, Al
I appreciate the kind words. It was a tough week, and it was a tough couple months. I can't say enough about the Daily Herald for their support and also about the Chicago Cubs. From Crane Kenney on down, they were supportive and helpful. Jim Hendry and Lou Piniella could not have been any more compassionate, and you won't meet a nicer kid than Jake Fox, who was among the first to offer kind words. Thanks to BCB and all.Bruce Miles - March 1, 2008
Again, Bruce...
...condolances.cwyers - March 1, 2008
Bruce
Our thoughts are with you from the BCB-Nation.mweil - March 2, 2008
Marquis...
Any thoughts on Marquis' comments this afternoon?http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080301&content_id=2399638&vkey=spt2008new s&fext=.jsp&c_id=chc
ronsanto10 - March 1, 2008
Interesting article!
I must admit I'd LOVE to see Marquis turn into a good pitcher (again?), but he clearly hasn't been a great success since the All-Star Break of last year. I found the article interesting for how both he and Sweet Lou are communicating through the press. Lou doesn't seem very pleased with Jason. I think Marquis is going to be out the door soon. Hendry can kiss away the 21 million he paid for Marquis' services. Maybe Baltimore would want him for Roberts? :-)zevkalman - March 1, 2008
Marquis
I think they should give their $21 million man an automatic shot in the rotation to start the year when there is no pressure to win every game. If he doesn't pan out then put him on the trading block. They paid him big bucks to start, let him start.ronsanto10 - March 1, 2008
I think he's gone.
n/tcwyers - March 1, 2008
I agree.
There's already a BCB diary discussing this in more detail.Al Yellon - March 2, 2008
When
Marquis signed and Al was all about it he got flamed in other parts of the Cubs blogosphere (yes other blogs exist) but I could understand his POV. 7 Mill a year for a guy who can provide 200 IP at (hopefully) a low 4 something ERA is a bargain- but Marquis has forgot the # 1 rule for any man set forth by clint eastwood- "A man has to know his limitations" and Marquis clearly does not-The Cubs can not only sub but improve the team by placing Marshall or Gallagher in the rotation instead of Marquis- if he isnt going to accept a role based on his performance ESPECIALLY after the Cubs gave him a home after his 6 + ERA season then send him off for a bag of balls to whomever wants to take him.
ksucubbie - March 1, 2008
Does not know his limitations...
... and, according to a friend who is a Cards fan, had been baffling them for his whole time in St. Louis. Gets a good thing going and then, inexplicably, tries something totally new and gets clobbered.Nothing seems to have changed since he landed in Chicago. In my opinion, it's not ADHD, as has been mentioned here before. It's some kind of refusal to accept his strengths and weaknesses. 'Course, I'm not a shrink, but I sometimes play one.
BlueSox - March 2, 2008
Dan Plesac
talked and talked and talked....etc. Brenly, please hurry back.tharr - March 1, 2008
I noticed this too
I think he was trying to compensate for the not so exciting baseball action. And he mentioned at one point that he was nervous last year, and I am guessing this year too. What he was saying wasn't terrible, just too much of it. I can put up with him, but lets get Bob back in there!love the ivy - March 2, 2008
marquis
this is a hard sell for some reason.not the best in baseball but jason takes the ball.throws innings and is never hurt.you,d think teams would line up.if he is indeed in the doghouse with lou his time will be short.NOMAR - March 2, 2008
I'm with you on Marquis
Marquis is a better pitcher than he is getting credit for here. He was probably our most consistnet pitcher the first six weeks of last season. He wants to start, so do most major league pitchers, he said some stupid things after a few bad innings.He will not go to the pen, either he makes the rotation or he's going to be traded. He simply stated what we all knew already. He probably should have kept quiet or maybe talked to Lou in private, let's not throw the guy under the bus for saying what we all know is true.
Imtrejo - March 2, 2008
Marquis
I hope Lou and Hendry let cooler heads prevail. To say we are better off with Marshall or Gallagher has not been proven. Don't under estimate a guy that takes the ball every fifth day. Where are we going to get those innings. Dempster, Lieber, Gallagher and Marshall? Too many question marks with these guys. I keep hearing we have 7 starters for 5 spots. But we only have 4 starters that proved they can give us 190+ innings last year.Rick @ Bleed Cubbie Blue - March 2, 2008
This Third Baseman
Can someone fill me on who he is? Does he play in AA/AAA?? I know he's not going to make the roster but do we really need to see him play? I really don't like this guy.ak123 - March 2, 2008
oops
Meant to post in game thread...ak123 - March 2, 2008
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