PEORIA, Arizona -- Today's first inning, which lasted 42 minutes, featured two walks, eight hits including a three-run homer, an error, and nine runs scored. (Based on that pace, we should have been there for six hours.)
The other eight innings were played in a snappy two hours and eleven minutes; there were eleven more hits but only one more run scored, and at one point fifteen consecutive Padres were retired (eleven by Jason Marquis and four by Carmen Pignatiello).
All of this added up to a 7-3 Cubs win over the Padres, and Marquis, who gave up hits to three of the first five batters he faced (and the three-run homer to Adrian Gonzalez, which went a long, long, looooong way), settled down and looked really sharp until he reached a pitch count with one out in the fifth. He had just struck out Luis Rodriguez, and Lou came out to get him and I said to Jeff, sitting next to me (he had awakened long enough from his nap in the sun to watch what was going on), "Why take him out? He was on a roll!"
But, Pignatiello was sharp -- allowing only a single to Gonzalez in his 1.2 innings -- and now that Scott Eyre reported tightness in his elbow (perhaps accounting for the bad outing he had yesterday), Pignatiello has new hope of making the major league roster for Opening Day. His outing today, another solid one, certainly didn't hurt his chances any.
Greg Maddux was awful today. He really had nothing -- the first five batters he faced reached base, although his SS, Khalil Greene, did him no favors by booting Eric Patterson's ball leading off the game. Uncharacteristically, though, Maddux walked two batters in the first (Derrek Lee and Kosuke Fukudome), and when Ryan Theriot blasted a double to deep CF after two were retired, clearing the bases, the Cubs had a 6-0 lead (only one of the runs in the first and two of the seven overall was earned). Maddux left after the fourth inning, walking down the RF line to the Padres clubhouse to a large round of applause.
After that, Jessica, this site's #1 Maddux fan, who had been sitting ten rows behind the plate, came out to the LF lawn to join us. I told her, "It was your fault. He was too nervous seeing you sitting so close." She rolled her eyes.
In addition to Marquis' solid pitching performance, he also had two hits. This will likely increase his trade value, since I have heard that there's no way Rich Hill is getting sent to Iowa (even though he has an option year left). Hill has a lot of work to do on his mechanics, apparently, but his slot in the rotation is not in jeopardy.
The crowd of 12,035 at Peoria Sports Complex was one of the largest I have ever seen there, and it had to be at least half Cubs fans; they all gave a huge ovation when Kerry Wood trotted in from the bullpen to throw the 7th inning. Though not as dominant as yesterday, he threw an efficient inning, giving up a single but getting Josh Bard to end the inning on a nasty breaking ball. I presume that shortly, we'll hear that Wood has been named closer. Bob Howry, who had a shaky start to his spring, threw a 1-2-3 ninth inning. Best of all, Cubs pitchers issued only one walk today (by Tim Lahey, in the 8th inning).
Visible beyond the stands behind first base, opposite from where we were sitting on the LF lawn, was smoke from a large brush fire near Avondale, in the southwest part of the valley.
Micah Hoffpauir played right field again today, and had his first fielding chance at that position -- a routine fly ball by Paul McAnulty that he fielded routinely. Despite his great spring, I doubt he has any chance to make the 25-man roster, but if he can play even an average RF, he has a chance to become a callup if there are any injuries.
Which, of course, we hope there aren't, or that they're minimal, at least.
Finally, this article on the Cubs website chronicles the visits from various ex-Cubs on the Padres today to their former teammates (there were four in all). Here's one thing I learned from that link that I did not know before, about Michael Barrett's time with the Cubs last year:
Interesting. A full share? Pretty generous, I'd say. Till tomorrow.
0 recs | 37 comments
Sure he gets a full share!
If he hadn't have gotten in a fight with Zambrano, who knows when that team would have gotten out of its funk?
gjdow - March 23, 2008
Maybe thats why Nomar only got a 3/4 share in 04. He didnt punch anyone.
Keystone80435 - March 23, 2008
How much is a playoff share?
Are we talking Lexus or Lamborghini?
IowaCubs- - March 24, 2008
I know a WS share is over $200,000. Not sure how much a playoff share is. I'd guess between $50,000 and $100,000.
Keystone80435 - March 24, 2008
I like Barrett
I think that was a classy move and I am sure he appreciated it. Z should've made him arm wrestle for it!
Kinky Reggae - March 23, 2008
Eyre...
... I hear that there was tightening in his elbow, and shoulder stiffness.
Which one is it?
initram - March 23, 2008
The article says "tightness in left elbow".
n/t
Al Yellon - March 23, 2008
Let's See What He Goes On The DL With...
... a.m. radio perhaps reported it incorrectly as "shoulder stiffness".
Let's just pray that Woody feels good in the morning and gets the nod from Piniella.
initram - March 23, 2008
Hmm.
Did somebody say, phantom pitching injury?
cwyers - March 23, 2008
So long as
this phantom injury results in Piggy making the club, phantom injuries are all good.
gary varsho - March 23, 2008
Although...
... now that I think of it, if this was a phantom injury, it sure made him pitch crappy yesterday.
Al Yellon - March 23, 2008
Phantom pitching injuries rarely occur...
...if a guy is pitching well.
cwyers - March 23, 2008
I'm thinking
the crappy pitching has caused the phantom injury...orrrr, he's blown out his elbow and really is hurt.
gary varsho - March 23, 2008
Interesting.
Possible.
Al Yellon - March 23, 2008
Eyre
and Will Ohman are good friends I bet...
cozmotaylor123 - March 23, 2008
Does Maddux have any options left?
Maybe the Padres can send him to AAA.
cwyers - March 23, 2008
LMAO
n/t
Al Yellon - March 23, 2008
Acutally,
Since they traded Cameron, maybe they should trade him to the Red Sox for Coco Crisp, or to the Orioles for Jay Payton.
gary varsho - March 23, 2008
eh
i better not regret having Maddux for my fantasy team. But I can deal with a rotation of:
Zambrano, Bedard, Escobar, Hill, Maddux, and McGowan as a backup..
Chanman25 - March 23, 2008
Maddux was just being Maddux
...crafty as ever. He's not going to show the Cubs anything more than he has to. I'm sure he was just working on some stuff. I've read interviews and articles about him where he admits to giving hitters meatballs in meaningless situations so he can learn about what they really go for. Next time he faces them, most likely in a critical situation, he knows what they like, and more importantly, they haven't seen his 'out' pitch.
I'm not saying he was tanking from pitch one. But I'll wager that after the first couple batters, he probably figured - ok, time to play around and do some experimenting.
ballhawk - March 23, 2008
I've read similiar stories
The man know what he needs to do to be ready for the regular season, and showing hitters all of his best stuff doesn't do him any good.
mjk83 - March 24, 2008
Wood's inning
...was the most exciting event of the afternoon, for me. Sitting just to the left of HP, in the upper boxes -- it was evident he had the same good stuff he displayed in Mesa the previous day against the White Sox.
I echo Al's comment on the nasty, nasty curve that Bard was retired on -- and Kerry also also brought the heat. I wish speed guns were available in the Cactus League.
And, Wood left to another standing ovation from the Cubs fans seated behind the dugout.
Maddux, on the other hand -- was awful. We all know he has traditional 1st inning problems -- and he did settle down, somehat -- but nothing worked for him.
(Ballhawk, I don't think Maddux was screwing around. He had Barrett dancing and diving behind the plate, tp prevent wild pitches with those runners on base)
In any event, Marquis could have continued on, as Al suggests -- after that shaky 1st, he looked very good.
As an aside -- I ran into Jerry Coleman, the Padres 'senior'
(very much so) radio voice, as he exited the media tent. We chatted for a few minutes -- and I'm glad to say he was friendly -- because there have been many reported instances of him being somewhat rude to fans.
Since he is 80+....and still in great shape, perhaps I've found out why. He doesn't eat. He left the tent with the smallest darn chicken burrito on earth. Trust me, media types, when the food is set out -- devour everything in sight but the chafing dishes.
Less calories = longevity, I guess. (And marrying somebody 30 years your junior, possibly. He has a daughter that's about 19-20.)
San Diego Smooth Jazz Man - March 23, 2008
The way to check speed...
... in the Cactus League, is to go stand behind the scout section for an inning, and watch their speed guns. The displays are small, but if you stand close enough you can read them, at least until the stadium folks ask you to move along.
Al Yellon - March 23, 2008
Barrett
My guess is that his share is really for the big whallop on AJ at home plate. Well worth it, Cubbies. So glad I went to that game....
cubbybear - March 23, 2008
Eyre comment
Remember when we were all hoping the cubs would do something similar to him last year?
I feel bad he isn't playing as well as he had in 2006 or end of 2007 but if we don't have Eyre in April I think that could potentially give us 1 or 2 more wins that month. It wasn't the games he pitched that he lost. It was the games when we were down 1 or 2 runs and then he's give up 4 more and we'd never have a chance to get back.
On the flip-side am I the only one who wishes MLB would allow 26 or 27 players instead of 25 on the roster. Shame a few batters will probably never get a chance to play for the team.
ak123 - March 23, 2008
The problem isn't the size of the roster.
It's modern managers' insistence on keeping 12-man pitching staffs. Inevitably, the 12th guy doesn't pitch for 10 days and then has to go in to a critical situation and, predictably, gets pounded. (Call this Todd Wellemeyer Syndrome.)
Al Yellon - March 23, 2008
Wasn't referring to pitchers
I should have made an entirely second comment but I meant for people like Hoffpauer who might get on a roster if 1 or 2 spots were open.
ak123 - March 24, 2008
Right, but my point is...
... if you had only 11 pitchers, you might have room for someone like that without expanding the roster.
Al Yellon - March 24, 2008
Time to play which Cubs beat reporter got it right?
Todays contestants: Carrie Muskat from cubs.com & Gordon Wittenmeyer from the Sun-Times.
Muskat writes yesterday that Barrett got a full playoff share.
Link
However, Wittenmeyer wrote on March 13 that Barrett only got half of the playoff share for the half-season he was with the Cubs.
Link
So.... which reporter got it right?
MillsChC - March 24, 2008
Averages out to 3/4
Convenient, eh? =)
gjdow - March 24, 2008
I hope I don't seem like I'm obsessed with Les Walrond...
...but I can't help referring everyone to this Wittenmeyer piece in today's Sun-Times. Regarding a replacement for the injured Eyre, the article delivers this forehead-slapper:
Hey, don't shoot the messenger! I guess my question is: Would the Walrus have some kind of "seniority" edge on Pigniatello for the LOOGY role? Or is Lou taking a Sam Fuldian approach here to put a little more pressure on Pigniatello to maintain the stellar results he's delivered thus far in spring training?
daver - March 24, 2008
I have no idea.
Les Walrond is not a major league pitcher. Yes, he has thrown well in spring. So have a lot of people who will never see a major league field.
Al Yellon - March 24, 2008
He May Be In The...
...margarita mix.
initram - March 24, 2008
Ha, y'know if taken literally...
...this is pretty gross.
daver - March 24, 2008
Seniority?
Only due to age.
Al Yellon - March 24, 2008
Speaking of shares
SBN going public anytime soon? This new 2.0 has got me wanting in on some shares.
tony412 - March 24, 2008
Headline? Original?
seilla - March 24, 2008
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