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Open Thread: Cubs vs. Rockies, Friday 3/21, 3:05 CT

Yelloncard_tiny by Al on

SCOTTSDALE, Arizona -- Didn't we do this yesterday?

The Cubs travel down I-10 to face the Rockies again this afternoon. I wouldn't expect too many of the starters to make the two-hour bus ride, but then again, Lou has surprised us before.

Sean Marshall will face Jeff Francis.

Notes:
  • Kerry Wood is fine. In fact, he may go on back-to-back days by throwing an inning in a minor league game today.
  • Kosuke Fukudome isn't frustrated with his 9-for-44 spring start.
  • Yet another column, this time from Rick Morrissey, about the "rough" spring the Cubs are having. In the first sentence of that column are words that sum it all up:
    From what I can gather from listening to the radio talk shows

    Right. So that's where you're getting your info now, Rick? From listening to talk shows? That makes three columns now (Couch, Downey, Morrissey) on virtually the same topic, with virtually the same approach ("The Cubs are doomed!!!11!") without any of the three actually setting foot in the state of Arizona this month.

    Gives you pause to ask, "Why do these newspapers pay these people? What is their purpose?"

  • Since I won't hesitate to criticize Greg Couch most of the time, I thought I'd give him props today for nailing the Barry Bonds situation on the head. I especially liked this part:
    And what a thought, that the classic cheat could be accusing owners of cheating him.

    This really is the pain-in-the-butt factor. As long as your value outweighs how big of a pain you are, you will be wanted.

    The scales have tipped on Bonds. He's responsible for everything coming back to him now, for every day his phone doesn't ring.

    An owner who pays for him will have an angry fan base, an uncomfortable team chemistry and an awful lot of negative press, especially when Bonds' case goes to trial.
  • There's a rumor that the Tigers have interest in Michael Wuertz. I think it's nonsense, but you can discuss it in this BCB FanPost.

Today's game is on ESPN2. If you're not near a TV, you can see it on MLB.TV at the MLB.com Mediacenter.

MLB.com Gameday

Discuss amongst yourselves.

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Comments

Display:

O.T.

Reds have sent Bruce down. Patterson his hitting a robust .455.

Keep an eye on those boys in Red.

"You can't take life to seriously, you don't get out of it alive"

by wild bill on Mar 21, 2008 10:24 AM CDT   0 recs

Waste It All...

... in Spring Training, boys!

Jacque Jones is gone, and I doubt Ivan DeJesus would mind this!

by initram on Mar 21, 2008 10:25 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Precisely.

I'm actually glad to hear KPat is doing so well this spring. We'll see what's up when the games start to count. I feel pretty confident that, within a few weeks, we'll all have smug smiles on our faces.

Ladies and gentlemen, your 2008 Chicago Cubs starting outfield: Soriano-Pie-Fukudome. Let it be.

by dat cubfan daver on Mar 21, 2008 10:36 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

KPat?

Is "K" short for "strike out"? Or, to change his luck, did he change his name to Korey?

Jacque Jones is gone, and I doubt Ivan DeJesus would mind this!

by initram on Mar 21, 2008 10:48 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

ISTR...

... Patterson having good springs with the Cubs, too.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Mar 21, 2008 10:26 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Ah yes

he was a star until we railroaded him out of town. :)

"You can't take life to seriously, you don't get out of it alive"

by wild bill on Mar 21, 2008 10:29 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Craig Counsell is batting .447...

... he'll probably get the starting 3B job for the Brewers. 8-p

IMHO, Dusty Baker is absolutely the worst choice for a manager to work with young talent. Bruce, Votto, Cueto, Bailey, Volquez, etc, that team would be going places without Dusty at the wheel.

The top prospect in all of baseball, Jay Bruce probably needs more time in AAA. Oh well, at least he won't be there to beat up on us.

Hector Villanueva's Career Stolen Bases: 1

by IowaCubs- on Mar 21, 2008 3:52 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I just got done reading

Morrissey's crap right before coming here, he is so full of himself. We weren't going to overpay for Santana, we weren't going to get Garland from the Sux, Bedard was maybe the one we missed on. Our entire staff is good enough to repeat winning the division IMHO. And you never know what will happen before the trading deadline in the summer. You have to win the division or WC first.

Dempster doesn't intimidate anyone? So what? If we want intimidation, I guess we needed to go get Michael Strahan from the football Giants to pitch. Does Greg Maddux intimidate anyone? He just knows how to freaking pitch.

I get so pissed reading these numbskulls, I wonder why I bother. Like we talked about the other day, they get people talking about them, don't they?

"WGN, Channel 9 Cubs Baseball, Excitingly, Importantly, Dramatically Yours." - Jack Brickhouse

by BigJohnAZ on Mar 21, 2008 10:27 AM CDT   0 recs

I guess that's the reason for their existence.

Doesn't make me want to buy the paper, though.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Mar 21, 2008 10:30 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

They should...

...get people talking about them because their columns are insightful or controversial, not pedestrian and unoriginal.

Sound off on the forum as I did: http://www.topix.net/forum/source/chicago-tribune/TDCRU6SN5QDL04QM5#lastPost

by AC 00 00 00 on Mar 21, 2008 12:50 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Dempster doesn't intimidate anyone?

Dempster's last full season as a starter was in 2003, he went 3-7, 6.54 for the Reds. His last decent season as a starter was in 2001...15-12, 4.94. So, no he doesn't intimidate anyone, and maybe that's a poor word to choose but the point is that he wasn't that good as a starter.

"...the Sox ... may be even more marginal after the Cubs win the 2007 World Series." - Cubbie fan "Joe Alberti" as posted in the White Sox NG on 9/21/2007.

by DrCrawdad on Mar 22, 2008 1:18 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

The way Weurtz

has thrown for the Cubs I don't believe he will go anywhere. His salary is cheap, and he has been very dependable in the pen. Only on occasion he loses the strike zone, other than that, he is solid.
Corey Patterson, what a frustrating waste of talent he has been and become.

"Have You heard of the Boom on Mizar 5?"

by Grockcubs on Mar 21, 2008 10:28 AM CDT   0 recs

He Just Needs To Throw Strikes...

... and he'll be fine.

Jacque Jones is gone, and I doubt Ivan DeJesus would mind this!

by initram on Mar 21, 2008 10:35 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Just...

like...Hill.

As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.

by santoswoodenlegs on Mar 21, 2008 10:38 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I still laugh everytime I see your avatar...

..its perfect...

Let me get back to you, will ya, Charlie? I got a guy on the other line asking about some white walls.

by JB 23 on Mar 21, 2008 11:01 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

A...

M...E...N...

Jacque Jones is gone, and I doubt Ivan DeJesus would mind this!

by initram on Mar 21, 2008 11:02 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Would love...

for us to stop taking crappy players from the Tigers too. Craig Monroe wasn't that long ago, folks.

Haiku-a-Day for Fukudome, helping Fuku understand the American game, 17 syllables at a time. Visit cubshaikus.blogspot.com!

by Bildo1805 on Mar 21, 2008 11:06 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I fly to AZ 2 day at 6

Wish me luck on getting out of this snow storm. Im going to see the cubs beat up on the Sox 2marrow. Accually for free. The Harrahs owned casino is picking my father and I up from the airport and bring us to the casino witch is where we r staying. Then they are driving us to the game on sat. Helps to have a father who is a high roller i guess lol. See you guys at the park.

by Kchance on Mar 21, 2008 10:42 AM CDT   0 recs

Isn't There a 7 Hr Delay?

Jacque Jones is gone, and I doubt Ivan DeJesus would mind this!

by initram on Mar 21, 2008 10:48 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

FAA is showing 30 min departure delays from O'Hare

3½ hr arrival delays.

"WGN, Channel 9 Cubs Baseball, Excitingly, Importantly, Dramatically Yours." - Jack Brickhouse

by BigJohnAZ on Mar 21, 2008 10:55 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

My flight for 630 was cancelled to New York

Good luck, I actually dont even want to go.

"Hey.....Cubs win!!!" ---Harry "I strongly dislike Steve Stone." ---Hammer

by Hammer on Mar 21, 2008 10:53 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Hey Hammer

Are you ever in Lincolnshire? At hawthorne mall at the 'Moments in Sports' store thay have an actual Cubs hammer. Thats what ya need for your profile image.

I'm drunk......and it shows.....

by Keystone80435 on Mar 21, 2008 2:26 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Nah...

Just go to the mlb.com shop right here.

It looks pretty nice!

As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.

by santoswoodenlegs on Mar 21, 2008 2:33 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Hammer, tell me you're...

...making this your avatar immediately.

Ladies and gentlemen, your 2008 Chicago Cubs starting outfield: Soriano-Pie-Fukudome. Let it be.

by dat cubfan daver on Mar 21, 2008 2:40 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Sometimes......

I dont think of the obvious. OF COURSE MLB.com has it.
Good work.

I'm drunk......and it shows.....

by Keystone80435 on Mar 21, 2008 3:08 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Im flying out of midway

and The last flight to az was only 45 min delay

by Kchance on Mar 21, 2008 1:11 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

bad weather on a Friday? You can forget it..

...especially going east..

Let me get back to you, will ya, Charlie? I got a guy on the other line asking about some white walls.

by JB 23 on Mar 21, 2008 11:00 AM CDT   0 recs

bonds?

I really really really hope the 1st half of the season isn't story anfter story about Bonds and where he might end up. The only attention he should be getting is from the IRS and anyone who invested in his 1987 Topps rookie cards.

I'm drunk......and it shows.....

by Keystone80435 on Mar 21, 2008 11:07 AM CDT   0 recs

Bonds not the top story...

It seems the top 2 stories this year are (1) a certain Central Division team that is approaching some kind of major "anniversary" and (2) the last year for the Yankees in "The House That Ruth Built". Bonds seems to have fallen off the radar a little.

Football and basketball are just things to do between baseball seasons.

by MetsSuck on Mar 21, 2008 12:34 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I'd rather hear a history of the Cubs drought over Bonds any day.

I'm drunk......and it shows.....

by Keystone80435 on Mar 21, 2008 2:27 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

"Why do these newspapers pay these people? What is their purpose?"

Of course, one of their favorite arguments when going after bloggers is that they have access to the clubhouse and the players, but when was the last time Mariotti went to a Cubs/Sox/any game?

At this point they pretty much just regurgitate the same stuff over and over again.

VORPy

by VS on Mar 21, 2008 11:10 AM CDT   0 recs

Felipe Lopez?

Nationals are trying to trade him. Lopez had an off year in 2007, but he put up good numbers for a SS in 2005 and 2006. I know many of you are enamored with Theriot, but it's hard to argue that Lopez wouldn't be an improvement. He's owed around 5 mil this year. Not sure what the Nats would want.

by ms9av on Mar 21, 2008 11:36 AM CDT   0 recs

Starting Pitching

OK, the Nats really need help everywhere besides 1B (where they have a surplus), but their rotation needs massive help. I could see the Cubs getting Lopez (and maybe a throw-in) for Gallagher if they were to look in that direction. I like Lopez, but I am not sure that he is enough of a defensive boost over Theriot to warrant shaving off some SP depth.

by Qixotl on Mar 21, 2008 11:49 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Wuetz

"You can't take life to seriously, you don't get out of it alive"

by wild bill on Mar 21, 2008 11:49 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Crappy Columnists

Gives you pause to ask, "Why do these newspapers pay these people? What is their purpose?

I thought that it was obvious. The reason these people have jobs is to push everyone's buttons. We all know that they spew garbage, but people keep talking about what they write. That leads to people mentioning the newspaper in conversations and even buying the paper so that they can join in the water cooler conversations. It is all a marketing ploy IMHO. If we collectively stop reading any articles by these schmucks, then they will be deemed irrelevant and eventually will be fired. Myself, I only read stuff by the beat writers.

by Qixotl on Mar 21, 2008 11:44 AM CDT   0 recs

Bonds

I bet a co-worker a beer last night (yes, I know, I'm such a high-roller) that a contending American League team will sign Barry Bonds before or shortly after the All-Star break. There will be a team that will be willing to roll the dice and deal with the circus for two and a half months or so, in order to try to get over the top. It will be strictly a rent-a-player situation, and will probably blow up in their face, but I'll be shocked if that doesn't happen.

Also, does anyone else agree with me now? No one did yesterday when I said Rich Hill should be the odd man out in the starting rotation. Don't tell me about the thin Arizona air; he looked pathetic. Z, Lilly, Lieber, Dempster, and Marquis. That's my rotation. I don't know what you do with Hill, but you've gotta have your five best in the rotation.

"Don't complain to me about the stormy weather, boys. Just bring the ship into port." --Steve Stone, September 2004

by ctcoff99 on Mar 21, 2008 12:07 PM CDT   0 recs

Off topic question regarding MLBTV

Ok, so I'm in black out land here at home, but I'm going to Europe for a month this summer, and I really can't live without the Cubs. If I get MLBTV will I be able to watch the games on a laptop while I'm away? Or, will I still be blacked out? Has anybody done this?

Thanks.

"If you play more than two chords, you're showing off."--Woody Guthrie

by buckmulligan on Mar 21, 2008 12:17 PM CDT   0 recs

You should check with MLBI

I'm sure it's in their FAQs, etc. There has been a lot of confusion over this issue in past years as to whether they blackout the feed based on your credit card address or your IP address.

Why does everybody stand up and sing "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" when they're already there? ~Larry Anderson

by JohnM on Mar 21, 2008 12:31 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

The likelihood is that you can...

MLB uses a system based in part on your IP address. Once it's read as part of a RIPE address space (as opposed to ARIN), it should let you right through. Worst case, you can call the toll free, and they can manually verify and override, if need be.

by Damen Jackson on Mar 21, 2008 2:00 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

And note that while the toll free number

won't be toll free calling from Europe, it will work. Good luck getting through. I haven't had to call in a couple of years, but back then, it took forever to get through on the help line.

Why does everybody stand up and sing "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" when they're already there? ~Larry Anderson

by JohnM on Mar 21, 2008 2:50 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

thanks folks.

I know that it supposed to be based on your ip, but i don't trust them for some reason.

"If you play more than two chords, you're showing off."--Woody Guthrie

by buckmulligan on Mar 21, 2008 3:00 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I used proxy servers

last year to watch the saturday games on Fox.. So I am pretty sure it is IP address and not billing address of your credit card.

by LT on Mar 21, 2008 4:00 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Lineups

Cubs
Theriot, SS
Cedeno, 2B
DeRosa, 3B
Murton, LF
Ward, RF
Soto, C
McGehee, 1B
Pie, CF
Marshall, P

Rox
Taveras, CF
Tulowitzki, SS
Helton, 1B
Holliday, LF
Atkins, 3B
Spilborghs, RF
Iannetta, C
Barmes, 2B
Redman, P

by Bruce Miles on Mar 21, 2008 12:18 PM CDT   0 recs

Plenty of things drive me nuts about Lou...

...but perhaps nothing does so more than his strange notion that Ward is a better defensive option in right than Murton.

I has a blog.

by cwyers on Mar 21, 2008 12:24 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Yeah, you would think...

...Lou would want to give Murton every opportunity to gain more experience playing right . I don't get it either.

Ladies and gentlemen, your 2008 Chicago Cubs starting outfield: Soriano-Pie-Fukudome. Let it be.

by dat cubfan daver on Mar 21, 2008 12:34 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Or,

(and this is at the risk of sounding like Lou's lickspittle) Lou's trying to get Murton a little more time in LF, since a 4th OF needs to be able to man more than one OF position.

"I've always felt that starting pitching is the most important part of the rotation." - Joe Morgan, Sunday Night Baseball 8-12-07

by gary varsho on Mar 21, 2008 12:38 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Wow...

...I've never encountered the term "lickspittle" before. I'm not sure I want to know its origins. In any case, that's a good point. I guess I'm just figuring Murton has already played so much left field that he would benefit more from playing right more often. But whatever...I must admit, I still like seeing Matt in the lineup.

Ladies and gentlemen, your 2008 Chicago Cubs starting outfield: Soriano-Pie-Fukudome. Let it be.

by dat cubfan daver on Mar 21, 2008 12:51 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I see your point.

Lickspittle is basically the guy would would so fawn over the king, the he could have licked the spittle from his beard. It's a sort of uber yes-man, so to speak.

And I like seeing Murton in there, too.

"I've always felt that starting pitching is the most important part of the rotation." - Joe Morgan, Sunday Night Baseball 8-12-07

by gary varsho on Mar 21, 2008 1:00 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I like seeing

Murton getting to play any where. I'm glad it's on tv today.

by sue369 on Mar 21, 2008 1:33 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

it's on TV today?

argh. I should go home. it's STILL FREAKIN' SNOWING!

2008: The year we put it all together.

by drewishdrewid on Mar 21, 2008 2:30 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I don't think it's a "notion"....

... I think it's just Lou trying to get playing time for ALL his outfielders at ALL positions, because you never know when Ward might be needed in RF.

IIRC, Ward played right a couple times last year and didn't do too badly.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Mar 21, 2008 12:42 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Yeah

But the ball was never hit to him.

"You can't take life to seriously, you don't get out of it alive"

by wild bill on Mar 21, 2008 12:47 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

He couldn't be any worse defensively than

Murton. He really is only suited for LF.

by LT on Mar 21, 2008 1:57 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

No, actually...

... the ball WAS hit to him. He played 10 games in RF last year, had 25 putouts and 1 assist.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Mar 21, 2008 2:03 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Al

I was only kidding. Of course the ball was hit to him, right at him!

"You can't take life to seriously, you don't get out of it alive"

by wild bill on Mar 21, 2008 3:01 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I was trying to say that Murton is only suited for LF

I think Ward is ok in RF every now and then.

by LT on Mar 21, 2008 4:02 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

there's the four starters

Theriot
DeRosa
Soto
Pie

I'm glad to see Murton get his licks in, but a little surprised to see Ward in for Fukudome...

2008: The year we put it all together.

by drewishdrewid on Mar 21, 2008 12:25 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

You are the man

"Hey.....Cubs win!!!" ---Harry "I strongly dislike Steve Stone." ---Hammer

by Hammer on Mar 21, 2008 12:45 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

d'oh -- picture failure

Ladies and gentlemen, your 2008 Chicago Cubs starting outfield: Soriano-Pie-Fukudome. Let it be.

by dat cubfan daver on Mar 21, 2008 12:51 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Hmmm...

The ESPN promo I saw yesterday for this game featured Sori. I guess they didn't check with Lou first? Or, if they did, is something wrong with Sori that he was a late scratch for the trip?

"I've never complained about it. I'm thankful to have a jersey." Mark DeRosa, 22 Aug 2007

by DeRoMyHero on Mar 21, 2008 1:23 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

No...

... probably ESPN making an assumption that was unwarranted. Most times, Lee, Ramirez, Soriano, Fukudome, don't make the bus trip to Tucson.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Mar 21, 2008 1:24 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Why no Eric Patterson?

Let the guy play everyday .. alot of things I can't stand about that lineup.

by Unique on Mar 21, 2008 2:14 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Off topic: Nomar

I didn't like it when the Cubs traded him...but Nomar G. appears to be injured again -- a broken finger or some such. Has there ever been a position player (NOT Prior, Wood) that consistently gets injured so much?

by zevkalman on Mar 21, 2008 12:53 PM CDT   0 recs

Rotoworld rips No Mahr!

Nomar Garciaparra (hand) said he wouldn't resume swinging a bat this weekend as the Dodgers hoped he would.
"Everybody wants to predict. I'm not," Garciaparra said. "I have no control over it." Of course you have control over it, Nomar. You could choose to tough it out and play through an injury that probably can't get any worse. But that's never been your style. The Dodgers are now listing their third baseman as doubtful for Opening Day. Manager Joe Torre said Tony Abreu was the front-runner to fill in, but that Blake DeWitt and Chin-Lung Hu remain in the running.

"Cubs Win!!"

by northofwrigley on Mar 21, 2008 12:58 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Brian Giles?

Ken Griffey Jr.?

As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.

by santoswoodenlegs on Mar 21, 2008 12:59 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Rocco Baldelli

"I've always felt that starting pitching is the most important part of the rotation." - Joe Morgan, Sunday Night Baseball 8-12-07

by gary varsho on Mar 21, 2008 1:02 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Minor league

Our own Ryan Harvey

"You can't take life to seriously, you don't get out of it alive"

by wild bill on Mar 21, 2008 1:04 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Mike Sweeney

"We're going to turn this team around 360 degrees." -Jason Kidd

by tony412 on Mar 21, 2008 1:07 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Griffey

Is certainly the one that comes to mind. Aaron Rowand too

by berselius on Mar 21, 2008 1:09 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

At least in

Rowands case, he is always into something called an outfield wall.

"You can't take life to seriously, you don't get out of it alive"

by wild bill on Mar 21, 2008 1:23 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

In Griffey's case...

... it's a real shame, because from all accounts, he has played the game clean all these years, and if not for the injuries, he'd have close to 700 HR by now and be threatening the record.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Mar 21, 2008 1:25 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Agreed

He has always presented him self well. Kind of player albeit not on our team, but one that you could respect.

"You can't take life to seriously, you don't get out of it alive"

by wild bill on Mar 21, 2008 1:41 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Agreed

Wouldn't it have been great if Griffey was right behind Bonds entering the season and no one signed Bonds. Bonds would have to sit and mope as Griffey passed him.

by rlpete on Mar 21, 2008 1:57 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I think we may yet see

Bonds and Griffey on the same team....

"I've always felt that starting pitching is the most important part of the rotation." - Joe Morgan, Sunday Night Baseball 8-12-07

by gary varsho on Mar 21, 2008 2:00 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Why

would we trade Wuertz? He did a nice job last year and I would assume he would again this year. The bullpen is a real strength of this club in my opinion, don't mess with it. I feel pretty good about the team we have right now. No lineup is perfect, but I think we have what it takes to win the division.

Nobody is offering Bonds because he brings too many negatives to a team. Somebody else made reference to it earlier, i