Open Thread: Cubs/A's & Cubs/Royals, Saturday 3/25

by Al Yellon on Mar 25, 2006 9:18 AM CST in Chicago Cubs Game Threads

SCOTTSDALE, Arizona -- I know it's early, but I must take Rachel and her friend to the airport to return to Chicago (they have to be back in school on Monday!) before the game.

Half the Cubs will be in Mesa (WGN Radio & TV) to face the A's. Sean Marshall will pitch against Rich Harden.

The other half will hie out to Surprise again to take on the Royals. Jerome Williams will pitch against one of the weirdest-named players in baseball history, Runelvys Hernandez. I'll be at that game.

I'm also going to take this opportunity to let those of you in the Chicago area know about a cool new movie that's being screened next Wednesday about baseball in Ireland. Tickets, as they say, are still available!

Discuss amongst yourselves.

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Comments

First

SO glad I can watch a game today! What a nice break from that sox bull#$@Q*.

Socind...

I just saw rumors about the Braves wanting to move John Thompson. Since I know little about him, I thought I'd ask about what people think about him as an option for the Cubbies. Cold we give the Braves what they want for him...would it be worth it? They , I believe, want relief. I think that is a position that we are long on...

Anyone can have a bad century...

by Kinky Reggae on Mar 25, 2006 10:08 AM CST reply actions

Thompson? 32 year old journeyman = Rusch-Estes

2005 4-6 (17-GS) 4.47 and 1.41 WHIP! not any better than Williams or Rusch.....

Bill Veeck planted Ivy during 'The Depression', and over time the Ivy Walls has become the most distinct symbol of Wrigley Field.

by Ivy Walls on Mar 25, 2006 12:20 PM CST up reply actions

Does he have a past form that he can return to?

Is he one of these pitchers who has had one or two great seasons and could possibly rediscover his talent? This is more of what I had been thinking of when asking about him. I mean Wade Miller was a smart pickup because it didn't cost much and the upside could be worth taking the chance. Does Thompson have any "Wade Miller like" attributes?

Anyone can have a bad century...

by Kinky Reggae on Mar 25, 2006 1:45 PM CST up reply actions

wasnt' a fan

of what i saw during ST down here at Disney's WWoS from Thompson.

2006 -- AC036097 -- Eamus Catuli!

by priorpwnz on Mar 25, 2006 3:04 PM CST up reply actions

Devil's Advocate....

Say Marshall pitches well 6 IP 0 -2 runs 5-7 K's 1-3 BB's and leaves the game a winner...
AND

Say Williams pitches poorly 3-5 IP 4-6 Runs 3-5 K's 1-5 BB's and leaves the game a loser...

Does Marshall take over the 4 spot from Williams?

Would you support such action??

I have been the biggest advocate of the whole.."the kid hasn't started more than 10 (10 games at AA 6 last year) lets not rush him"

However, he has proven that he can pitch with the big kids... if he has a great start here...does he not deserve consideration to start the year with the big league club? I think he should...

by cubsfan2883 on Mar 25, 2006 10:08 AM CST reply actions

I have been thinking this for sometime

Al says Rusch is in no doubt, and they need Williams, but if Marshall continues to sparkle, then what? The Cubs will need to have a swing/long reliever at least through 4/10 (starts of 4/, 4/5, 4/7, 4/8, 4/9) where he probably would get some work then rest for a 4/15 start. In that time Marshall would have two starts, 4/7 and 4/12,(unless Baker & Co. are real smart and go:

4/3, 4/8, 4/13, 4/18, 4/22, 4/28 Zambrano
4/5, 4/11, 4/16, 4/21, 4/26 Rusch
4/7, 4/12, 4/17, 4/23, 4/29 Maddux
4/9, 4/14, Marshall
4/15 Williams

4/19, 4/24 either Marshall or Williams again leaving 4/30 open.

If Wood does return in April whom would he replace in this irregular rotation possibility. In either case Marshall/Williams would be required in only 5 starts. And possibly if Wood is ready by 4/19 than this gets reduced drastically. Finally if Miller is really coming back in early May than Marshall or Williams could be push out by then leaving Rusch. Of course if any of them are better than Rusch then Rusch gets pushed to the bullpen.

Bill Veeck planted Ivy during 'The Depression', and over time the Ivy Walls has become the most distinct symbol of Wrigley Field.

by Ivy Walls on Mar 25, 2006 12:43 PM CST up reply actions

OMG!

I love this matchup! Just what I was hoping for. I'm so glad I'll get to watch it on TV.

I hope Williams does well because like Rusch, he needs to have a positive outing. Hopefully Murton will play in the game on TV instead of the other one.

Cubbie Blue always sPaRkLes in my eyes.

by sparkles721 on Mar 25, 2006 10:22 AM CST reply actions

The Emerald Diamond

Al - I was surprised to see this mentioned here! I was supposed to be interviewed for this movie. In fact, the director had hired a helicopter for the day and was going to film his approach to our seaside town (with green rolling hills) just south of Dublin, for the fim's opening montage. Unfortunately, like so much else in this sunshine forsaken land, it was cancelled due to rain. Hopefully my good friends Paul (youth coach) and Gareth (national team player), did not make it to the cutting room floor.

Our club's website

by JohnM on Mar 25, 2006 12:03 PM CST reply actions

the link...

is messed up.

by dc60123 @ Bleed Cubbie Blue on Mar 25, 2006 5:32 PM CST up reply actions

Oops

hopefully this is better

by JohnM on Mar 26, 2006 1:27 AM CST up reply actions

Al...

If there's this much baseball going on in Ireland, why wasn't there an Ireland WBC team instead of lackluster entries from Italy and the Netherlands?

------------------------------------------------
Just North of Wrigley Field

by jameslcrockett on Mar 25, 2006 12:04 PM CST reply actions

It's not about how much baseball there is

...it's about the fact that there is any at all. (Think Jamaican bobsled team, only non-fiction, and not quite so comic.) Ireland has quite a ways to go before it can compete with Italy and the Netherlands, where they have been playing the game for 40 or 50 years. (And didn;'t the Netherlands throw a no-hitter against Panama in the WBC?)

I haven't seen the film yet, but I think the theme is the huge number of obstacles in the way of getting baseball going here, and overcoming them to establish a national team that after getting destroyed by small Eastern European nations in its first international tournament, has now achieved a bronze medal in the European Championships B Pool.

by JohnM on Mar 26, 2006 1:39 AM CST up reply actions

When I say lackluster...

I mean lackluster because of the leaps and bounds they had to make just to fill out a full roster (i.e. Mike Piazza playing for Italy and Mark Mulder available for the Netherlands)... heck Matt Murton has orange hair, even he could have made a better case of being on the Irish team than whatever got some of these guys on their teams.

------------------------------------------------
Just North of Wrigley Field

by jameslcrockett on Mar 26, 2006 4:10 AM CST up reply actions

bleachers

so are the bleachers done yet are their any new pics of them finished?
thanks

by china423 on Mar 25, 2006 12:59 PM CST reply actions

Yay!

I get to watch Murton! He's hitting in the 2 spot.

I'm so happy today.

Cubbie Blue always sPaRkLes in my eyes.

by sparkles721 on Mar 25, 2006 1:49 PM CST reply actions

Marshall

Boy he looks great early. If he can show some consistancy I can definitely see him in the rotation.

"At the end of the day, don't tell me how rough the waters are... just get the ship into port." - Stoney

by BCurt10 on Mar 25, 2006 2:29 PM CST reply actions

Did I hear...

...Brenley say the starting infield is playing against the Royals today? Does this mean Cedeno and Walker are not going to be the starters? Does Brenley know what he's talking about? Is it possible he has Cedeno playing against the A's so he can get a better look at him?

cubsfan4life

by cubfan4life on Mar 25, 2006 2:35 PM CST reply actions

further...

... D. Lee has left the ballclub to attend to personal family stuff, so he's not there.

DmL

by dmlichte on Mar 25, 2006 2:50 PM CST up reply actions

I like Bob...

but he probably was not serious. I hope.

Cubbie Blue always sPaRkLes in my eyes.

by sparkles721 on Mar 25, 2006 4:15 PM CST up reply actions

I'm very...

...impressed by Marshall. He comes straight over the top with his pitches and he has a good curve and fastball.

One thing Dusty isn't afraid of is starting a young pitcher. I would look for Marshall to be in the starting rotation this year.

cubsfan4life

by cubfan4life on Mar 25, 2006 2:40 PM CST reply actions

Marshall/Murton

Marshall looks like a solid middle of the rotation starter. Someone who keeps the ball near the zone, works both sides of the plate and keeps the ball down. He looks like an innings eater in the making.

Despite Murton striking out in his first at-bat, he saw a lot of pitches. He started out 0-2 and worked the count full. I wonder if he'd be a good candidate to put in the #2 hole, behind Pierre, working the count.

DmL

by dmlichte on Mar 25, 2006 2:53 PM CST reply actions

murton looks good

that kind of patience will keep in in the lineup.

by gaius marius on Mar 25, 2006 2:57 PM CST up reply actions

observations

cedeno looks awful at the plate. i know it's harden, but he doesn't even have an idea up there. i'm more convinced than ever he's going to get run out of the bigs.
rich harden -- wOw.
marshall has some pitches, but he's consistently missing his spots. am i to understand his control has been better in previous outings?

by gaius marius on Mar 25, 2006 2:56 PM CST reply actions

Marshall

hasn't given up a hit. Some pitchers can get away with missing their spots, as long as they miss them out of the zone and have the stuff to make up for it.

This is the 1st time I've seen Marshall, but I am very impressed with today's outing. And even more encouraged to hear Dusty say he's not quite as sharp today as he has been.

"At the end of the day, don't tell me how rough the waters are... just get the ship into port." - Stoney

by BCurt10 on Mar 25, 2006 3:08 PM CST up reply actions

it's nice

that they haven't hit him today -- but he's making a LOT of mistakes, and you can't do that in the bigs for very long no matter what you're throwing.

by gaius marius on Mar 25, 2006 3:14 PM CST up reply actions

guzman

looks pretty sharp, though -- better than marshall, i think. they're getting quite a generous zone from the plate ump, but guzman is using it a lot better than marshall did.

by gaius marius on Mar 25, 2006 3:49 PM CST up reply actions

Some days...

I think you are an intelligent poster..other days I see you as the cynical naysayer that is just here to naysay.

Today you are the latter of the two.. Marshall pitched very well... was he perfect?? No of course he was not. Everyone misses their spots occasionally... this spring Marshall has been brillant..

He shutout a decent hitting team in the A's and Williams let 3 runs in against the Royals..

Which of those two outings is more impressive?

Now i know you will say, "stats don't reveal everything especially in spring training".

And I will concede that point to you to a point. But theres more to pitching than simply hitting your spots.. What else is important you may ask?

Changing speeds on your fastball (Marshall does this)
Having three different pitches. (Marshall does this)
Mound presence... IE not getting down after a hit.. or afew runs are scored and stopping a bad innning from becoming a really bad inning..

You say.. " he didn't get hit today" and I say he hasn't been hit any day to this point.. Would you like him to be the second coming of Tom Seaver? He might not be that but he certainly is pitching better than Jerome Williams and Glendon Rusch and that sir is all that matters.

by cubsfan2883 on Mar 25, 2006 3:56 PM CST up reply actions

he's been hit a lot of days

to be fair. it's just that it hasn't been the last few.

and that isn't all that matters, or we'd hand jobs to single-a kids every spring. there has to be some perspective here as well, not to mention a respect for the longer term plan of nursing marshall to the majors and allowing him to earn his promotions -- and by "earn", i don't mean a dozen innings in arizona but 150 in west tenn and iowa.

by gaius marius on Mar 25, 2006 11:10 PM CST up reply actions

Look Gaius

I will gove you the benefit of the doubt here and assume that you posted before the game was over but this was a no hitter and Marshall has yet to give up a run in ST. No he is not perfect and certainly not experienced so I am sure this is not his average however...I cannot see how you can find a way to criticize him after yesterday. He an dGuzman stepped up bug time. Split squad or not...it was a no-no through nine!

Anyone can have a bad century...

by Kinky Reggae on Mar 26, 2006 10:31 AM CST up reply actions

Is it me

or does that Cub Spring Training Record say 1120 under wins on that sidebar?

2006 -- AC036097 -- Eamus Catuli!

by priorpwnz on Mar 25, 2006 3:06 PM CST reply actions

It's not just you...

It says we won 1120 games and lost 1.

Cubbie Blue always sPaRkLes in my eyes.

by sparkles721 on Mar 25, 2006 4:27 PM CST up reply actions

LOL!

Yes, it does. That was a typo. I'll fix it later!

by Al Yellon on Mar 25, 2006 7:05 PM CST up reply actions

no hitter

when was the last Spring no hitter? seems like that would be a rarity in the spring

by WGNstatic on Mar 25, 2006 4:04 PM CST reply actions

hope...

...I didn't jinx things

by WGNstatic on Mar 25, 2006 4:04 PM CST up reply actions

I love this game!

Cubbie Blue always sPaRkLes in my eyes.

by sparkles721 on Mar 25, 2006 4:16 PM CST reply actions

The awsomeness that is Matt Murton

Link - Need to be registered at MLB.Com to view, but I'll quote the good stuff.

Outfielder Matt Murton, who is 17-for-35 at the plate this
spring, leads the NL with a .486 batting average … Murton’s
average is second in the majors (Kansas City’s Doug
Mientkiewicz is hitting .487).

Murton has reached base safely in his last 15 games.
He’s hit safely in five of his last seven games, batting

.533 (8-15) in that span … he’s gone 1-for-2 in each of
his last two games after going 0-for-2 with a walk on
March 21.
3. Prior to March 21, Murton had gone 2-for-3 in back-toback
games on March 19 and 20.

"The key to winning baseball games is pitching, fundamentals, and three run homers." - Earl Weaver

by VS on Mar 25, 2006 5:22 PM CST reply actions

What about Ramirez?

He doesn't qualify? He's hitting like .600 or something.

Cubbie Blue always sPaRkLes in my eyes.

by sparkles721 on Mar 25, 2006 6:01 PM CST up reply actions

Yea

The Press notes focused on Murton but Ramirez and his .600/.600/1.029 line definitely get some love too :)

"The key to winning baseball games is pitching, fundamentals, and three run homers." - Earl Weaver

by VS on Mar 25, 2006 6:08 PM CST up reply actions

LOL

Murton Magic? I didn't know Orange Guy could do magic! :)

The stats about the defense are nice to see. The least errors made in the NL, only the Twins have done better in baseball. I hope that carries over to the regular season.

Cubbie Blue always sPaRkLes in my eyes.

by sparkles721 on Mar 25, 2006 6:19 PM CST up reply actions