This afternoon, the Cubs play their second "short turnaround" game of the season, a day game following a night game. The first one of those -- Opening Day at home following Sunday night in Milwaukee -- turned out pretty well.
Aaron Harang, who had a terrible year in 2008, has thrown well this year despite his 1-2 record. Carlos Zambrano has also thrown pretty well in spite of the unsightly 5.21 ERA. The weather's supposed to be pleasant; I'd expect a decent walkup sale and perhaps the biggest weekday (non-Friday) afternoon crowd of the year so far.
Gordon Wittenmyer says that Jeff Samardzija will return today and Luis Vizcaino will be DFA'd. Lou says:
"He'll help out in the sixth-, seventh-inning role to start out with," manager Lou Piniella said of Samardzija, who was in the starting rotation at Class AAA Iowa and took a no-hitter into the sixth inning Saturday. "We'll use him an inning-plus, but he's not going to be pitching long. We'll use him the way we use [Aaron] Heilman."
That article also gives the final word on whether that foul ball on Tuesday night was catchable:
Alfonso Soriano said he had no chance to catch the foul ball hit into the "Bartman seats" Tuesday and wouldn't have tried to leap at the wall for it.
But he did consider throwing a Moises Alou-like tantrum after a fan caught the ball, just to play along with the crowd.
"I thought about it," he said. "But it was too cold."
And, we premiere the new SB Nation mysterious photo of Z!
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Meanwhile, Aaron Harang still has that wounded puppy-dog look with a triangular soul patch (that must take a heck of a lot of work to keep it that way). He was 0-3 with a 6.29 ERA against the Cubs last year -- which was a terrible year for him all around. Derrek Lee has 46 career AB against Harang in which he has hit .304 with 5 HR; Alfonso Soriano has 3 HR off Harang and Geovany Soto and Mike Fontenot have also homered off him.
Z has handled most of the Reds hitters pretty well, except for Joey Votto (6-for-17, .353) and Alex Gonzalez (5-for-13). Gonzalez, though, is hitting only .111 -- 4-for-36 -- this year so far (though two of the hits are in this series).
No Ohio TV today; the only coverage is on CSN Chicago and at the MLB.com Mediacenter.
Discuss amongst yourselves.
0 recs | 143 comments
Go Cubs!
mrtobby - April 23, 2009
Z's picture
He looks scary !!
coral - April 23, 2009
But not quite as scary as Harangs!
If they were to re-do the Munsters, he’s a shoe-in for Herman.
Fishbone2 - April 23, 2009
Or as freaky as Harden.
Madison Cub Fan - April 23, 2009
Please Z get back on track
Harang isn’t the bum he was last season.
nji232 - April 23, 2009
That photo of Z
is probably the look that the batter sees when they are at the plate.
tucsoncubsfan - April 23, 2009
Lineup!
Sori
Riot
Dome
Lee
Rami
Hoff
Soto
Fonty
Z
Bradley to “sit till he’s well” and when he comes back, will hit sixth.
drewishdrewid - April 23, 2009
I assume Hoff's in RF and Dome's in CF, yes?
Clutch16 - April 23, 2009
That's a pretty safe assumption.
neverAcquiesce - April 23, 2009
woe betide us
the day Micah Hoffpauir starts in center. :P
drewishdrewid - April 23, 2009
Hoff can play *any* position
He also has a mean slurve.
Clutch16 - April 23, 2009
Micah Hoffpauir
would be a better manager than Lou.
drewishdrewid - April 23, 2009
Actually, I think Micah is pitching and Carlos is playing center.
willie mays hayes' gloves - April 23, 2009
also
he will call the game and sing TMOTTBG. Because he’s better than Santo.
drewishdrewid - April 23, 2009
He impregnanted Erin Andrews
with a wink and a soft liner to right.
neverAcquiesce - April 23, 2009
He IS
the Fifth Cylon.
drewishdrewid - April 23, 2009
You win.
I will now call him Micahstar Galactihoff.
neverAcquiesce - April 23, 2009
ROFL!
now we need SWL to do a picture of Micah will little red Cylon eyes.
Or wearing #6’s red dress. Whichever.
drewishdrewid - April 23, 2009
Definitely.
I also get the feeling in a year BCB will stand for Battlestar & Cubs Blog.
neverAcquiesce - April 23, 2009
I thought it was like this
Sori Catching
Riot First Base
Dome Short Stop
Lee Center Field
Rami Pitching
Hoff Third Base
Soto Right Field
Fonty Left Field
Z Second Base
Cubbie-Tim - April 23, 2009
I actually don't doubt that
BoVandy - April 23, 2009
Is Hoff the new Chuck Norris?
MikeOxbyg - April 23, 2009
Hoff is the new Ted Lilly
Clutch16 - April 23, 2009
Watch your mouth
If Ted Lilly hears you, well we know what will happen
nji232 - April 23, 2009
If Ted Lilly hears you?
Ted Lilly hears all.
neverAcquiesce - April 23, 2009
Silly me
of course Ted hears all.
nji232 - April 23, 2009
Not really.
They both want to be the new Ted Lilly, though.
neverAcquiesce - April 23, 2009
Hopefully that means Aramis is back in the cleanup spot
On most days. Though I could see this lineup being the new every day one as long as Dome is hot.
nji232 - April 23, 2009
naw, why would we want someone with actually power in the cleanup spot
that’s just silly!
BoVandy - April 23, 2009
jameslcrockett
You got your wish, Riot is batting second.
muehlman - April 23, 2009
Nice dramatic lighting on Zs pic.
“In a world where no-hitter’s are rare, and homerun-blasting pitcher’s are even rarer, there exists a man, nay, a phenom. An entity of immense proportions and even immenser anger, Carlos ‘Big Z’ Zambrano stands for truth, justice, and the fastball. With his faithful companion, ‘Wonder Hampster’ Mike Fontenot at his side (and on his back) Big Z takes to the mound and discharges batters at will. They may sell you the whole ticket to view His Majesty play but I guarantee this, friends…YOU’LL ONLY NEED THE EDGE!!! Rated R for occasional meltdowns.”
neverAcquiesce - April 23, 2009
rec'd
Funny!
chilango2 - April 23, 2009
Keep the walks down, Carlos. You won't have to worry about the homers if it's cold out.
It’s 87 here in Kansas (who just signed the Xaiver Henry—a 5 star recruit—to the basketball team today). I would like to see Soto break out a bit today, too.
dtpollitt - April 23, 2009
Did the say anything about Henry's brother C.J.? Memphis gave him his release when Calipari went to
Kentucky. The said they wanted to play on the same team. Bill Self is quite the recruiter.
willie mays hayes' gloves - April 23, 2009
CJ is coming, too. Not sure if he can play this year, however...something about him taking a medical leave last year, I dunno.
Both the Henry’s parents played basekball @ KU. It looks like we are loaded to be #1 next year with Sherron and Cole coming back.
dtpollitt - April 23, 2009
Watch out for the Jayhawks. Rock chalk baby!
willie mays hayes' gloves - April 23, 2009
+11111
on the Soto breaking out.
Madison Cub Fan - April 23, 2009
afternoon guys! how bout another series win?
heine41 - April 23, 2009
Roger that!
willie mays hayes' gloves - April 23, 2009
I can get behind that!
drewishdrewid - April 23, 2009
twhs
neverAcquiesce - April 23, 2009
As Ron would say,
“Let’s go get em!”
Fishbone2 - April 23, 2009
Heyyyyyyyy....
Something we can all agree on!
AndrewJStone - April 23, 2009
What does this tell ya?
Fishbone2 - April 23, 2009
it tells me
that I don’t understand trading for him in the first place.
drewishdrewid - April 23, 2009
+1
BoVandy - April 23, 2009
Totally agree
Even though I said after the first time I saw Vizcaino throw that he’d be the one that Samardzija replaces when he inevitibly returned to the 25 man roster, I"m a little surprised that they made this move. I mean, he has an ERA of zero and his results have been good so far.
Obviously they couldn’t send Patton down because he’s a rule 5 guy but this move still surprises me. Even though Cotts is the only Lefty in the pen, what’s the point in having a lefty if he can’t throw strikes or get lefties out. Plus Lou has used him also against righties. This move confuses me.
lemon20pie - April 23, 2009
Maybe the thinking is his value is as high as its going to get
Does anyone think he will have a great or even good year?
El Borto - April 23, 2009
Probably not
but when you say his “value” at it’s highest, that still is probably only a marginal A ball player who will likely never see the Major Leagues. Why not send Cotts down?
lemon20pie - April 23, 2009
which
HE are we talking about?
drewishdrewid - April 23, 2009
I was assuming he meant Vizcaino
Hence trying to explain the Cubs thinking for trying to trade him now while his “value” is at it’s highest.
lemon20pie - April 23, 2009
"marginal A ball player"
doesn’t describe Viz.
drewishdrewid - April 23, 2009
never said it did.
But the return for Vizcaino in any trade does.
lemon20pie - April 23, 2009
oh, I see
now I get it.
drewishdrewid - April 23, 2009
Clearly it was
a dump Marquis at any cost type of trade.
JFCubFan - April 23, 2009
Looks like Lou had a nice chat with Bradley today
Usually a Lou chat will turn around a guy’s performance. Milton will be back this weekend and be ready to kick some ass.
nji232 - April 23, 2009
But will he roll up his shirt?
Clutch16 - April 23, 2009
before or after
he can’t predict the weather?
drewishdrewid - April 23, 2009
"Well,..."
neverAcquiesce - April 23, 2009
"Look..."
Clutch16 - April 23, 2009
See, Ron...
drewishdrewid - April 23, 2009
And will he take names, too?
willie mays hayes' gloves - April 23, 2009
Save my job
take my Bleachers for today so I don’t cut work
please my family is depending on you- free!
Andre Fonseca - April 23, 2009
You're not convincing enough...
Lose a job? Big deal. Everyone’s doing that these days.
carmen_fanzone - April 23, 2009
it shouldnt be that hard
to give away cubs tickets! its not like they are white sox seats
Andre Fonseca - April 23, 2009
if I wasn't in Downer's Grove
I’d be taking them right now.
drewishdrewid - April 23, 2009
im conveniently located near the metra :-)
Andre Fonseca - April 23, 2009
I can't.
Max has his first little league game today. I wouldn’t be back in time for it.
drewishdrewid - April 23, 2009
good work ethic and good parenting?
it is a sad day
Andre Fonseca - April 23, 2009
I know
five years ago…
drewishdrewid - April 23, 2009
It's Downers Grove
serbianking33 - April 23, 2009
what it is
is an hour from Wrigley.
drewishdrewid - April 23, 2009
what it is
is an hour away from Wrigley.
drewishdrewid - April 23, 2009
Thank you
If I weren’t being audited, I’d leave right now…
chilango2 - April 23, 2009
If I weren't in St Louis I'd take them.
You don’t have tickets for this weekend, do you?
neverAcquiesce - April 23, 2009
Why...
couldn’t they put Bradley on the DL (retroactive to whenever) and then bring up Spellcheck? Since they knew of the move before yesterday’s game they could have withheld playing Bradley so his 15-day clock doesn’t start now.
Why in the world would anyone trade for Vizcaino when they simply know that he’ll have to be released in a few days anyway.
CubFan81 - April 23, 2009
because Bradley has been PH
and he cant serve a suspension on the DL
Does anyone else wonder if his PH appearances count towards his contract totals?
Andre Fonseca - April 23, 2009
I would assume only starts would count
but that’s merely an assumption.
neverAcquiesce - April 23, 2009
I thought
it was ABs.
drewishdrewid - April 23, 2009
I remember Games
so all those PH PAs would count as a Game… but I never saw anything super specific on it
Andre Fonseca - April 23, 2009
According to Cot's
the last year vests with 75 games played in 2009. He’s already at 9.
CubFan81 - April 23, 2009
You might be right
as that sounds familiar.
neverAcquiesce - April 23, 2009
They can only make it retroactive to last game he didn't play in. Since he played last night,
his DL stint would have to start today.
willie mays hayes' gloves - April 23, 2009
Fair point...
but the team could have kept him out of yesterdays game. They knew they were going to be bringing Samardzija up before yesterdays game started. It didn’t look like Bradley could have contributed much either way. If he doesn’t play yesterday the DL clock gets shaved 4 days back to the Cards series.
CubFan81 - April 23, 2009
Has anyone on the Cubs said anything about him going to the DL?
Granted, he’s not 100%, but I’m not so sure a DL stint is needed, either.
carmen_fanzone - April 23, 2009
No, I would be surprised if they DLed him.
willie mays hayes' gloves - April 23, 2009
You are aware the Samardzija aka Spellcheck has been called up
Luis Vizcaino DFA
flachimesa - April 23, 2009
Sorry, didn't read the entire post
I see what you’re saying
flachimesa - April 23, 2009
Yes...
but what I’m trying to figure out is why. Its money wasted on the trade and on Vizcaino to give up so quickly when the problem seems to be Cotts.
CubFan81 - April 23, 2009
I wonder what the crowd reaction would have been if Fonzie pulled an "Alou"...
for shits and giggles on that foul ball. .
I still think it’s too soon. The way crowds have been this year, they may not have seen the sarcasm and lynched the poor guy.
carmen_fanzone - April 23, 2009
That's asking too much from Soriano
I don’t think that he has that brand of humor. And yeah, the mood this season has been “weird.”
chilango2 - April 23, 2009
he said
he thought about it. Scroll up. :D
It has been an odd season, yes.
drewishdrewid - April 23, 2009
Durrr....
Sorry, I see it now. It’s just been one of those weeks.
chilango2 - April 23, 2009
I think the guy who caught the ball
would have had a heart attack.
DGU - April 23, 2009
If we're going to spilt this series, then it's time to be an ace Z.
santoswoodenlegs - April 23, 2009
You mean WIN this series!
Right?
Fishbone2 - April 23, 2009
yes I meant win...
this sleep deprivation from rehearsals until midnight are killing my brain.
santoswoodenlegs - April 23, 2009
What do you do? Actor? Musician? Drummer? (sorry)
jdb-44 - April 23, 2009
Separating "musician" and "drummer."
Ouch.
neverAcquiesce - April 23, 2009
that burns, man.
drewishdrewid - April 23, 2009
They have medicine for that.
santoswoodenlegs - April 23, 2009
so I hear
drewishdrewid - April 23, 2009
I'm in a 2 act comedy for a dessert playhouse. You could call it "acting", but that's really just playing "make believe"...
which is what kindergartners do and that’s not that difficult.
santoswoodenlegs - April 23, 2009
Please YouTube it at some point
chilango2 - April 23, 2009
Unfortunately
the play we’re doing hasn’t been published yet. The playwright is in the process of refining the script and we had to get special permission from him to perform it. I’m not able to distribute any audio or video of the performances.
santoswoodenlegs - April 23, 2009
I'm sure we're all better because of this lack of video.
/s
dtpollitt - April 23, 2009
I don't know...
Theriot acts like a shortstop.
neverAcquiesce - April 23, 2009
took me a moment to get that one
LMAO
Madison Cub Fan - April 23, 2009
is that
a DRESS?
drewishdrewid - April 23, 2009
I require
A unicorn. Or a pony.
Clutch16 - April 23, 2009
As you wish.
santoswoodenlegs - April 23, 2009
M.C.U
gittin’ it done.
drewishdrewid - April 23, 2009
this link has all your heart desires
http://www.holytaco.com/30-awesomely-bad-unicorn-tattoos-gallery
Andre Fonseca - April 23, 2009
Did you say bad tattoos?
Look no further than Hanzi Smatter.
Clutch16 - April 23, 2009
Good thing we have dragonsfanatic here
to run things by in case anybody wanted a kanji tattoo.
neverAcquiesce - April 23, 2009
I had no idea
Robin Williams had a tattoo.
drewishdrewid - April 23, 2009
And the unicorn doing the dolphin?
WIN
Clutch16 - April 23, 2009
here you go.
drewishdrewid - April 23, 2009
Charlie the Unicorn?
neverAcquiesce - April 23, 2009
what a waste
yesterday was such a wasted opportunity for the cubs. I understand its only one game but one they should have won. Lilly pitched a gem and no one in the cubs lineup could get a hit. I know Z will be able to hold the reds down. Just give him some run support. Lets go cubbies!!
cooltrev - April 23, 2009
Well, Cueto pitched a gem, too
Seriously, the Cubs barely threatened at all.
Sometimes, the opposing pitcher is allowed to be good.
And I guess last night makes up for Lilly winning in Houston, when he sucked. Baseball is a great (and funny) game.
Not Bruce Froemming - April 23, 2009
Harang is not allowed then.
neverAcquiesce - April 23, 2009
I hearby forbid
Harang to be any good today. :)
Not Bruce Froemming - April 23, 2009
who allowed Cueto to be good then?
I didn’t see the paperwork
Chanman25 - April 23, 2009
I think Marty Brennaman
forged Hendry’s signature.
Not Bruce Froemming - April 23, 2009
Ted Lilly getting stuck with a loss
Isn’t great or funny
nji232 - April 23, 2009
Lighten up
It’s only a game, right?
Not Bruce Froemming - April 23, 2009
For the days Ted Lilly isn't pitching
It most certainly is a game
nji232 - April 23, 2009
Huh?
I guess you’re a big Lilly fan?
Not Bruce Froemming - April 23, 2009
Derrek Lee could.
DGU - April 23, 2009
he's just missed
a coupla times. So has Soto, actually.
drewishdrewid - April 23, 2009
It's surprising
that a barely average player in serious decline could hit a pitcher so well when all the other Cubs couldn’t.
DGU - April 23, 2009
well
Micah Hoffpauir wasn’t in the lineup.
drewishdrewid - April 23, 2009
heh, well I'm disappointed that I will be unable to pull out the Bill Murray Cubs mop today
pity..
Chanman25 - April 23, 2009
Any interest in speculating on how Jim Hendry
“tried to get creative with the Nationals” in Vizcaino negotiations? I wonder if that creativity included us potentially taking any of their bad contracts back.
DGU - April 23, 2009
"Any of their bad contracts"?
Wouldn’t that be “all of them”?
Clutch16 - April 23, 2009
True enough.
Maybe we could trade Vizcaino for all the Nationals not named Zimmerman(n).
DGU - April 23, 2009
I suspect that the creativity was related to the money going with Vizcaino
The deal was probably Vizcaino and $$$$ for some Grade C prospect. The cheap Nationals probably wanted most of the salary picked up and Hendry said no.
rlpete - April 23, 2009
In other news you already knew
Judd Sirott is as bad an interviewer as he is a PBP guy.
drewishdrewid - April 23, 2009
there is a pattern developing with this guy
nji232 - April 23, 2009
CHICAGO CUBS BASEBALL
is ON THE AIR!
drewishdrewid - April 23, 2009
Are there any other better words in the english language?
May be Free Cold Beer but i dont know…
MikeOxbyg - April 23, 2009
Jump, my minions...
JUMP, I say!
Clutch16 - April 23, 2009
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