A couple of site notes: per several requests I've received, I have begun the Ticket Exchange posts for the 2008 season. If you're new here, this is how it works: we do it by homestand, all the posts are located in the Ticket Exchange section (which is always on the left sidebar), and all I ask is that if you are selling, face value only. Here are the links for the first homestand and the second homestand, which will get us almost to the end of April. I'll try to keep a couple of homestands ahead this season. Please make sure you give contact information in your post! (the email form: name (at) domain (dot) com is preferred to avoid spambots)
On to today's game, which will feature Ted Lilly making his spring debut, against one of the top young righthanders in the game, Matt Cain, who had a pretty good year for the Giants in 2007 despite an ugly 7-16 W-L record.
There are plenty of places to listen to or watch today's game. It's on radio in both Chicago (WGN) and the Bay Area (KNBR); here is today's MLB.com Mediacenter link; and it's on TV again via CSN Chicago.
Discuss amongst yourselves.
0 recs | 112 comments
Do we know the line-ups yet?
cubswin14 - March 2, 2008
Question for the web techies
If spambots can harvest name@domain.com, couldn't they also be programmed to pick up name (at) domain (dot) com ?(always wondered about that.....)
JohnM - March 2, 2008
Yes
This site has alot of good info.
BigJohnAZ - March 2, 2008
Interesting.
I did not know that. Of course, a lot of that is beyond the scope of what we can do here at a Cubs blog. Useful information, though. Thanks.Al Yellon - March 2, 2008
Lineups
GiantsDavis, LF
Velez, 3B
Rowand, CF
Ortmeier, 1B
Alfonzo, C
Frandsen, SS
Lewis, RF
Denker, 2B
Cain, P
Cubs
Soriano, LF
Theriot, SS
Fukudome, RF
Lee, 1B
Soto, C
Patterson, 2B
Figueroa, 3B
Pie, CF
Lilly, P
Bruce Miles - March 2, 2008
Thanks, Bruce.
First off, my condolences.Secondly, I'm wondering about Rowand; do you think he's capable of producing the same numbers as last season in a much more pitcher-friendly home park? It seems to me that the Giants have really handcuffed themselves for a good long while with Zito and Rowand deals.
gary varsho - March 2, 2008
Not Bruce, but...
... I agree with your analysis of the Giants. They have the chance to be a very expensive, but very bad, team this year. That lineup, which isn't too far off what their Opening Day lineup might look like, is pretty horrid.Al Yellon - March 2, 2008
Just noticed...
No Rammy? How serious is this "shoulder tightness?"gary varsho - March 2, 2008
Aramis is still sore?
And if so - why not Cedeno, Fontenot, or Cintron at 3B?JohnM - March 2, 2008
Two days of E-Pat playing second...
...in a row? Televised?I don't know if I could be any happier right now.
cwyers - March 2, 2008
Why are you ...
... so excited about seeing him play? I think he might be just about the most overhyped Cub prospect since... well, his brother.Al Yellon - March 2, 2008
Because I like to make my own judgements.
I don't pretend that I'm objectively better at evaluating player defense than the pro scouts (and I prefer having good zone rating data to at least compliment the observational data), but I'm tired of hearing that E-Pat is a bad defender at second without having any more to go on.It's not even that I don't believe it, per se. I just want to see it for myself.
cwyers - March 2, 2008
Let us know what you think.
I think if Patterson were that good at 2B, the Cubs might have put him in the mix to earn the 2B job last year rather than go out and get Mark DeRosa -- and further, that he'd be given a shot at it now rather than the endless you-know-who-from-Baltimore discussion.Al Yellon - March 2, 2008
I go into work around 2...
...so I'm Tivoing it for later. I've seen all of two plays so far, nothing that really stood out. And it's hard to evaluate defense off TV, just the way the cameras are set up and the shots picked - hard to figure out where a fielder was positioned before the play, which tells you so much.His footwork on the popup was a bit... dancy, for lack of a better word, but the high sun in Arizona can mess up a lot of fielders, and to be quite frank I don't know that there's a single infielder in the majors who can't handle the vast majority of infield popups.
He looked pretty good on the other play, but again, it was a pretty routine one-hop grounder; he took care of it easily, but only so much you can tell from one play.
And again - I have no reason for you to believe that I'm a better talent evaluator than the people the Cubs employ, other than my track record; you can make your own judgements there. But I'm not shy about having my own opinion about these things, and I'm not afraid of having my opinion disagree with the experts. I figure the truth will out in the long run.
cwyers - March 2, 2008
Went back and rewatched it a few times...
...and you actually get a real good camera angle on the play. Patterson didn't have to move at all to get to that ball.Hopefully I'll know a bit more after today.
cwyers - March 2, 2008
E-Pat, Indeed, since several
current Oriole "braintrust" scouted and helped sign E-Pat out of GTech, I think that this is an "audition" for them.With Roberts gone (and I heard today on WSCR that indeed, after a deal was in place, Angelos stepped in), they are going to need a 2B replacement.
EPat as a lefty, and top of the order speed, MAY be a part of a trade, imo.
TheEman - March 2, 2008
I disagree...
I suspect that Hendry knew he had to make a big splash last year to save his job. As such, he couldn't rely on unproven youngsters. I believe that's why he got Soriano and Floyd, effectively blocking Murton out. I also believe that's why they got DeRosa, theoretically blocking out Theriot, Cedeno, and Patterson (until it was proven that Izturis was terrible).Whether or not Patterson can play 2B adequately to be a major league player remains to be seen, of course. As is whether or not he can actually HIT well enough to be a major league player.
SouthernCub - March 2, 2008
mlb.com's new media player
for those of you who watch the cubs through mlb.com--are any of you dissapointed int eh new media player? I know you have the option to revert to the old one, but the new one (which uses silverlight instead of windows media player) loads video unbelievably slow. i'm hoping i'm not the only one experiencing this.just my thoughts though.
go cubs.
cubs2234 - March 2, 2008
I had to switch to the old viewer
last night. The Silverlight thingy was terrible.JohnM - March 2, 2008
more details please
why was it terrible?wojo - March 2, 2008
It has two speeds...
slow and stopped. Part of it was probably my (admittedly inferior) PC, but it's not a great program yet. Perhaps they'll get the kinks worked out by the time the season starts.gary varsho - March 2, 2008
see
i'm on a mac and a PC on the same network both with more than the minimum requirements. i'm also on a fiber-optic connection. i guess silverlight just sucks.cubs2234 - March 2, 2008
So it would seem.
I hope they fix it before the season.gary varsho - March 2, 2008
The video
was choppy and unviewable. It would improve slightly once in awhile, but still not watchable.JohnM - March 2, 2008
I switched back
I loaded Silverlight, and it screwed up my whole computer (XP). I had to remove it and all old WMPs, then reload WMP. I won't load it again.DeRoMyHero - March 2, 2008
Soriano Out w/ Broken Finger
Out 3-5 days with non-displaced fracture of middle finger according to Paul Sullivan's blog on the trib sitenoblerj - March 2, 2008
not worried
"Soriano was working on catching balls against the outfield wall early Sunday, and he reached up to make a two-handed catch, and the ball hit his finger."-cubs.com
cubs2234 - March 2, 2008
so are they changing
the lineup?drewishdrewid - March 2, 2008
Murton playing LF today.
n/tAl Yellon - March 2, 2008
E-Pat moves to the lead-off spot.
n/tcwyers - March 2, 2008
Isn't this game supposed to be on WGN?
Right now, I have some old movie on.DeRoMyHero - March 2, 2008
WGN radio,
CSN on tvcubs ftw - March 2, 2008
Thanks
Thank God for Gameday Audio!DeRoMyHero - March 2, 2008
Commercial on CSN
All CSN Cubs games to be in HDTV soon :)Beautiful.
Galvan316 - March 2, 2008
The Game
is on XM channel 179. Man it's great to hear Pat's voice again!Luigi - March 2, 2008
Dome
just served notice. Do. Not. Test. My. Arm.gary varsho - March 2, 2008
Well - the ball
was to the LF side of the 3b bag by at least 10 feet.A throw he may not make often in the regular season.
But, glad to see that the arm is ok after surgery.
TheEman - March 2, 2008
It was bit offline,
but he nearly beat the runner anyway. Give him a bit to get the accuracy dialed in. Assuming Pie wins the starting CF job, the Cubs OF could easily lead the ML in OF assists. Three really strong arms out there.gary varsho - March 2, 2008
For anyone interested...
...Hendry is in the booth next inning on CSN.BlueSox - March 2, 2008
Patterson did a nice job
of getting out of the box quickly there...like to see Lou try and run with him here. Cain can be rattled with the running game...gary varsho - March 2, 2008
Hendry just said DeRo is in the clubhouse..
...should be on the field in a week..Nice bunt by EPatt..
JB 23 - March 2, 2008
All that work
Theriot's been putting in with Dunston on making the throws is obviously paying off.gary varsho - March 2, 2008
Soto with the gun!
Quick release, good strong, accurate throw. Nicely done.gary varsho - March 2, 2008
Soto
What an arm.BlueSox - March 2, 2008
Soto
you're my hero!love the ivy - March 2, 2008
Nice throw by Soto!
cubs ftw - March 2, 2008
I really
like Soto.sue369 - March 2, 2008
yay soto
cubs ftw - March 2, 2008
Arrgghhh.
Baserunning blunder. I guess it is only the second ST game. Lou'll take care of it.gary varsho - March 2, 2008
There's DeRo
BlueSox - March 2, 2008
I wonder if he'll do an interview on TV or radio
DeRoMyHero - March 2, 2008
What has he never complained about?
BlueSox - March 2, 2008
Last year the name on the back of his jersey
was spelled wrongcubs ftw - March 2, 2008
Here is the story
http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070822&content_id=2164578&vkey=news_chc&a mp;fext=.jsp&c_id=chcDeRoMyHero - March 2, 2008
Cotts is horrid.
Falls behind and then has to throw that straight-as-an-arrow fastball.gary varsho - March 2, 2008
There's the hat trick for Cub's pitchers.
The Giants are paying for this game with bruises.BlueSox - March 2, 2008
Pie!!!!!!!!!!
BlueSox - March 2, 2008
pie crushed that
dogcatratcheese - March 2, 2008
I have come to my senses today
TheEman - March 2, 2008
Pretty much agree with all of this.
Pignatiello is a nice guy to have as the second lefty in the pen, though. And it's not like we have a lot of openings in the bullpen.cwyers - March 2, 2008
I'd rather see
Pignatiello (cut and paste is our friend) than Cotts.BlueSox - March 2, 2008
I'd rather see
an actual pig than Cotts.gary varsho - March 2, 2008
LOL
Good one.BlueSox - March 2, 2008
Lets hope
Neal Cotts goes to Jason M. for advice on how to get a guaranteed spot in the rotation.eswan9 - March 2, 2008
I am working.
Did he hit that off MLB pitching? Or did he hit that off, what I am guessing is Minor League Pitching? Why is he working on the longball. I want to see bunts, opposite field hitting. All the BS Gerald Perry was spewing during the off-season.louslovechild - March 2, 2008
I am working.
Did he hit that off MLB pitching? Or did he hit that off, what I am guessing is Minor League Pitching? Why is he working on the longball. I want to see bunts, opposite field hitting. All the BS Gerald Perry was spewing during the off-season.louslovechild - March 2, 2008
Geez.
We're going to complain about a home run now?cwyers - March 2, 2008
It was a high, tight fastball
and Pie turned on it very well. It's not like he was served up a batting practice pitch.BlueSox - March 2, 2008
Not to mention
that there are many Major League pitchers who should be minor league pitchers, and vice versa.gary varsho - March 2, 2008
You can't be serious
Pie hits a homerun and it's not good? The biggest problem for Pie was his swing not bunting.rlpete - March 2, 2008
Agreed.
And his swing, IMO, bears the signs of someone who's been putting in work trying to improve. If he keeps working hard, he'll start hitting.gary varsho - March 2, 2008
Pie's swing
is materially different than what he flashed in 2007. He actually has a fighting chance to get his hands through the zone in good fashion with this new approach. He needs repetition, repetition, repetition....MDBNIU - March 2, 2008
It looks like Pie
may be working on closing the hole in his swing. Maybe I'm wrong, but it seems like he's holding the bat a bit closer to his body and that he's standing a bit straighter in the box, as opposed to the bailout stance he has used in the past.gary varsho - March 2, 2008
That said, it seems as if
his pitch selection still needs work.gary varsho - March 2, 2008
Cotts
just wrote his ticket to IowaChanman25 - March 2, 2008
So
is it really true that guys get only one chance in a practice game to prove their worth, and if they blow it, they're traded (Marquis) or sent down (Cotts)? That's brutal.JohnM - March 2, 2008
Welcome to Chicago sports...
...where criticism is savored like 12 year old Scotch.BlueSox - March 2, 2008
If you think this is
Cotts' and Marquis' first chance, please refer to their respective pages and view the festival of mediocrity that is their careers.gary varsho - March 2, 2008
Their respective pages
at baseball-reference.com, that is...I am to syntax as Cotts is to the strike zone.gary varsho - March 2, 2008
I don't doubt
that they're on short leashes. But even Mr Zero got a second appearance this spring already.JohnM - March 2, 2008
I think Lou
will probably give Cotts every chance to become the second lefty in the 'pen, but he's not any better than we was with the White Sox, excepting his fluky 2005. Same problem for years now: no control and a flat fastball.gary varsho - March 2, 2008
He's had two bad spring training outings
I just don't think he is going to make the cuts..Chanman25 - March 2, 2008
I thought today was his first outing
Anyway, Lou says the hitters should get about 70 at bats in spring, and pitchers should get about 27 innings. Still early, but you have an excellent shot at being right.JohnM - March 2, 2008
Takatsu
in midseason form.gary varsho - March 2, 2008
Is Takatsu
the guy the Cubs signed to make Fukudome feel more at home?BlueSox - March 2, 2008
yes
cubs ftw - March 2, 2008
I don;t know who that was singing,
but I think my ears are bleeding and every dog with two blocks of my house is howling.gary varsho - March 2, 2008
I hope Fuld is okay, but
he never gave himself a shot at that ball. Horribly misplayed. I know about the "high skies," but that was not a major league play.gary varsho - March 2, 2008
Plesac kills me..
The rest of the world just calls the "facial area" the "face."BlueSox - March 2, 2008
Yeah.
Plesac is a total hack and he talks over the action constantly.gary varsho - March 2, 2008
On the other hand
he's not Joe Morgan kind of bad.BlueSox - March 2, 2008
I guess, but that's like
saying Mao wasn't Pol Pot kind of bad...gary varsho - March 2, 2008
Precisely
BlueSox - March 2, 2008
I know I've been down on Fuld in the past...
...but I have to say, I've been really disappointed in him in camp so far. I thought he was at least a better fourth outfielder candidate than what we've seen.cwyers - March 2, 2008
Yep.
I thought the one thing he could was catch the ball, especially considering he spent the fall in Arizona and should used to those fabled "high skies." He really looks outclassed right now. How apropos that Pie makes a real nifty snag immediately after Fuld flubbed one...gary varsho - March 2, 2008
My favorite has to be...
...his running into the wall on that home run. Did he think he had a play on that ball?cwyers - March 2, 2008
When you have
that much grit and determination, you have play on every ball. Do you think David Eckstein would let a wall stop him? Not a chance.gary varsho - March 2, 2008
Maybe he's trying too hard
or not seeing the ball off the bat or something.BigJohnAZ - March 2, 2008
I think it's the former.
He's really pressing to try and get a job on this club - all the talk of a competition between him and Pie isn't really fair to him at this point, I think. And I think he's trying to do too much to try and make a good impression.cwyers - March 2, 2008
Come on Pie
Wait for it.BlueSox - March 2, 2008
Whoa -- Pie walks!!
BlueSox - March 2, 2008
Good eye, Felix!
Way to take the walk. That's good to see.gary varsho - March 2, 2008
williamson pitching
he's still in the league?Chanman25 - March 2, 2008
Awwww, Felix.
Don't let Williamson deke you like that! Gotta be more careful. Two more baserunning mistakes by the Cubs today. Gotta tighten up.gary varsho - March 2, 2008
Interesting...
Ron thinks that Marmol will win the closer's job.cubs ftw - March 2, 2008
Marmol has looked better than either
Howry or Woody so far!!teacher tom - March 2, 2008
However,
Marmol is pitching in the later stages of the game, against minor leaguers, and ST invitees, not against major leaguers. If Lou wanted to, he would have Marmol pitch in the 3rd-5th innings.eswan9 - March 2, 2008
Yep...
Kerry Wood faced the meat of the Anaheim Angels lineup yesterday whereas Carlos Marmol is going up against newbies and journeyman. I think it is way to early to say who has the inside track at being closer.MDBNIU - March 2, 2008
Marmol is also coming straight out of
the Venezuelan winter league, so he's closer to mid-season form, which prolly contributes to how good he looksphiladelphiacub - March 2, 2008
I would love to see
Marmol give it a shot. He kind of faded towards the end of last season, but if he has a good spring, he has my vote.BlueSox - March 2, 2008
Faded?
Well, his infamous appearance in the NLDS notwithstanding, here's his Sept. Oct. splits:Sept./Oct. 14.1 IP
1.26 ERA
6 BB
19 K
He "faded" from a 1.10 August ERA
TheEman - March 2, 2008
C'mon
one big fly and it's over!BigJohnAZ - March 2, 2008
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