Milwaukee @ Chicago GameThread, Apr 2, 2008 1:20 PM CDT

Open Thread: Cubs vs. Brewers, Wednesday 4/2, 1:20 CT

by Al on Apr 2, 2008 9:15 AM CDT in Game Threads

Milwaukee @ Chicago

Today, with the hoopla of Opening Day gone, the Cubs get down to the day-to-day business of winning ballgames, and will try to even this three-game series.

Morning notes:

Gordon Wittenmyer tells us a little about Kosuke Fukudome's interpreter, Ryuji Araki.
The new surface at Wrigley Field is playing very fast right now, almost like artificial turf, say some players.
Yes, the missing apostrophe on the Ernie Banks statue base will be placed there, probably by the next homestand.
More on the proposed sale of Wrigley Field to the state. Looking less and less likely all the time.
WNUA radio's Rick O'Dell, a huge Cubs fan, gave BCB a shout-out on his site today. Thanks, Rick!

Today's Starting Pitchers


T. Lilly Cubs	vs.	J. Suppan Brewers


15-8	W-L	12-12
3.83	ERA	4.62
174	SO	114
55	BB	68
28	HR	18
vs. Mil	--	vs. Cubs

Stats are 2007 season stats

While I obviously wasn't around during the game discussion on Opening Day, I am well aware of the problems all of you had in getting the thread to load, and thanks to sue369 for posting the extra thread and to Trei for putting it on the front page.

Here's how we're going to handle this problem, at least for now, and in the future there may be other options: at 2:45 this afternoon, probably about the fifth inning or so, an "overflow thread" will automatically post. So, keep checking the front page around that time for the new thread, and you can move the discussion there.

I'm also going to ask those of you who like to post pictures in threads to please refrain from posting large photos in game threads. They really slow the servers down. You can still post them in LESS-busy threads.

Part of the problem on Monday was that it was Opening Day, a busy day, and there were several games going at once, really burdening the servers. There are only three day games today, so things ought to be a little easier. Let's see how this goes and we'll make more adjustments later as necessary.

Batter matchups today: Derrek Lee is .444/.556/.833 lifetime vs. Suppan, with five doubles, three HR and nine walks in 45 lifetime PA. Ted Lilly handled the Brewers pretty well last year, though Ryan Braun was 3-for-6 with a HR, and Jason Kendall, who obviously didn't face Lilly last year, is 3-for-10 lifetime with a double.

Today's game is on CSN, on the usual radio sources, and at the MLB.com Mediacenter.

MLB.com Gameday (2007 version)

MLB.com Gameday (2008 version - this link has pitcher stats and splits up)

Discuss amongst yourselves.

0 recs | Comment 642 comments

Story-email Email | Print |

Comments

Interesting...

Comcast was starting coverage on this game at noon. Any idea what that is about?

by Damen Jackson on Apr 2, 2008 9:18 AM CDT 0 recs

Have no idea, except...

... that it's their first regular season telecast, so they probably want to do some extra stuff.

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

by Al on Apr 2, 2008 9:26 AM CDT up 0 recs

Looks like a one time thing...

...but I would not be shocked if they eventually expand out the pre-game and post-game shows permanently. NESN does at least 1 hour of pre- and post-game each for every Red Sox game (and names each half hour differently so they can have multiple corporate sponsors). YES added their Batting Practice Today show last year before the pre-game show (though it is really just another pre-game show with a minute or two total of batting practice footage). I can't say that I have any desire to watch that sort of material, but it is becoming the sexy thing to do.

by Qixotl on Apr 2, 2008 9:57 AM CDT up 0 recs

You said....

" I can't say that I have any desire to watch that sort of material, but it is becoming the sexy thing to do."

100% agreed. Who do they think is actually watching this stuff?

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

by Al on Apr 2, 2008 9:59 AM CDT up 0 recs

Those of us who are less privileged

I don't need to see another half hour of talking heads.

But, as someone who only gets to Wrigley every other year or so, seeing a half hour of BP on TV every now and then would be a real treat.

by TC Cubby on Apr 2, 2008 10:01 AM CDT up 0 recs

I hadn't thought of that.

But I can see how that would be cool to watch.

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

by Al on Apr 2, 2008 10:04 AM CDT up 0 recs

That is what I had hoped for from YES...

...but they tend to just show a few 15 second clips of BP, usually only show footage from the CF camera (so you have no idea where the ball is going). If they really covered BP (constant video coverage of warmups), I would watch from time to time. I always get a kick out of it at a live game.

by Qixotl on Apr 2, 2008 10:50 AM CDT up 0 recs

Wish I could be watching it... but RCN

did their analog to DTV switch, and now my old analog TV doesn't work... and neither does my HDTV with built-in digital tuner? I've already spoken to them this morning and they insist that I need a converter box for every TV in the house, including my HDTV that already has a built-in digital tuner?

Cubs 2008
Home (0-1) | Road (0-0) | 1-Run Games (0-1) | Extra Innings (0-1)
Updated on April 1, 2008

by SackMan on Apr 2, 2008 10:57 AM CDT up 0 recs

I'm leaving the office

@ about 11 and headed down to Wrigley. I'll be up in 506.

---AC 00 00 00 - Believe

by mjk83 on Apr 2, 2008 9:21 AM CDT 0 recs

Araki

Thanks for sharing that article Al. It must be odd being the "voice" for a famous baseball player.

Hopefully Dome and Araki are in Chicago for a long time.

by Tangled Up In Blue on Apr 2, 2008 9:24 AM CDT 0 recs

Rick's comment

regarding the "fu-ku-do-me" chant giving him goosebumps is all too true. Got the same feeling hearing it on the radio broadcast. And it too reminded me why I love baseball so much too. Seeing the entire stadium on their feet and hearing 40,000+ chanting the same thing is a wonderful thing.

by gwood on Apr 2, 2008 9:33 AM CDT 0 recs

It was the same for Sheets in spring training

and didnt affect him but Suppan gave up a ton of hits in ST, I hope the Cubs can jump on him.

Plus, Ill be there so I need to start 1-0.

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

by Hammer on Apr 2, 2008 9:38 AM CDT 0 recs

No Pictures?

santoswoodenlegs is going to need rehab

Linus: Life is rarely all one way, Charlie Brown. You win some, you lose some. Charlie Brown: Really? Gee, that'd be neat.

by CyberCyclist on Apr 2, 2008 9:44 AM CDT 0 recs

No

Al said "Large pictures". And about that Al I was surprised when the new site came up that I was not restricted on what size pic I could use as my avatar. I know the pic I uploaded is quite large (I'll downsize it this afternoon). Other sites i comment on restrict to like 300x500. Would that help?

"To know that I know what I know, and that I do not know what I do not know. That is true knowledge" - Confucious as quoted in Walden

by toaster on Apr 2, 2008 9:51 AM CDT up 0 recs

300x500...

... I dunno. Not sure how large is "too large". Maybe Trei can weigh in here.

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

by Al on Apr 2, 2008 9:53 AM CDT up 0 recs

It's not just height and width

The size of the picture is affected by dimensions, color depth, file format, etc. The real size of the picture is the number of bytes. For example, I have two different background tiles I use for web apps. They are both 300 X 300. One is a jpg file that is 8KB and the other is a bmp file that is 176KB.

Linus: Life is rarely all one way, Charlie Brown. You win some, you lose some. Charlie Brown: Really? Gee, that'd be neat.

by CyberCyclist on Apr 2, 2008 9:58 AM CDT up 0 recs

Good point.

The basic idea is, no "large" photos. I think that would likely refer to file size. Keep 'em small, and try to keep 'em to a minimum in game threads. (This does NOT apply to OTHER threads.)

One exception I'll allow: the W flag!

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

by Al on Apr 2, 2008 10:00 AM CDT up 0 recs

New BCB Term???

NLPATT = No Large Photos At This Time

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

by tony412 on Apr 2, 2008 10:18 AM CDT up 0 recs

LOL!

or TPTSNBS= The Photos That Shall Not Be Seen

by Tangled Up In Blue on Apr 2, 2008 10:20 AM CDT up 0 recs

Right

on the "size", it's really file size not the dimensions. I know the pic I put up is a jpg of at least 2 megs, maybe as much as 4 megs.

"To know that I know what I know, and that I do not know what I do not know. That is true knowledge" - Confucious as quoted in Walden

by toaster on Apr 2, 2008 10:21 AM CDT up 0 recs

glad I read this thread. I might have gotten myself in trouble.

Poor Matty Murton....

by Keystone80435 on Apr 2, 2008 10:43 AM CDT up 0 recs

I must admit

The only time I'm even tempted to post a picture is during game threads, because of their free-for-all atmosphere. But seeing as I've probably only posted two ever, it won't affect me much.

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

by JohnM on Apr 2, 2008 10:01 AM CDT 0 recs

The field

It's not surprising that the infield is playing very fast right now. They just layed down that sod last November, so obviously it has yet to take root. Once it does then that grass will flourish and the grounds crew can mow it to whatever level makes Lou and company happy.

by MDBNIU on Apr 2, 2008 10:02 AM CDT 0 recs

The Red Eye

anyone read the Redeye sports section. They said we needed to fix our bullpen.. what a joke of a paper

by Bardusk87 on Apr 2, 2008 10:09 AM CDT 0 recs

Typical.

Typical reaction. They look at what most people will be talking about after a game and play it up to the nth degree. Obviously Wood and Howry didn't pitch as effectively as one would hope Monday, so it easy to single them out and say a "fix" is needed.

Don't worry, they'll be on to "fixing" something else after the next loss.

by Tangled Up In Blue on Apr 2, 2008 10:12 AM CDT up 0 recs

the most annoying about Red Eye sports

IMHO, is the Five on Five.... they try TOO hard to be funny.

http://redeye.chicagotribune.com/sports/custom/fiveonfive/

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

by tony412 on Apr 2, 2008 10:21 AM CDT up 0 recs

I wouldn't...

...take it too seriously. RedEye is an entertainment tabloid for younger people that gives an overview of a bunch of different stuff. They grab a few headlines and then write about them- it really isn't sports journalism- more pop-culture. And having said that, I think it accomplishes what it sets out to do.

Brian McRae's 5 O'Clock Shadow

by PurpleLineToWrigley on Apr 2, 2008 10:25 AM CDT up 0 recs

That's not

a real newspaper. It's geared to twenty somethings who don't buy the full newspaper and have the attention spans of 8 year olds.

Besides, I think the only thing that really needs to be fixed is the ' in the granite on Clark. And by the end of the season for all I care.

"To know that I know what I know, and that I do not know what I do not know. That is true knowledge" - Confucious as quoted in Walden

by toaster on Apr 2, 2008 10:25 AM CDT 0 recs

It's also...

Free, concise, and conveniently located around the city. And I'd like to think my attention span would rate higher than that of an 8 year-old. Though looking at your avatar right now, I'd be hard pressed to argue that point.

"In all the categories that you pay the most attention to, except the loss column, we're doing very well" - Jim Hendry

by Jayo525 on Apr 2, 2008 11:21 AM CDT up 0 recs

Cubs Lineup Per ESPN 1000

Looks the same as opening day...
theriot
soriano
lee
ramirez
fukudome
derosa
soto
pie
lily

by lance dickson on Apr 2, 2008 10:29 AM CDT 0 recs

I predict a good day

from the 2-5 spots.

by cubsonWGN4ever on Apr 2, 2008 10:30 AM CDT up 0 recs

Lilly vs. the right-handed hitting dominated Brewers

This bears watching. The Brewers have the potential to have a truly explosive offensive this season. Lilly will need to be on his game today.

by MDBNIU on Apr 2, 2008 10:33 AM CDT 0 recs

The Brewers

killed our lefties last year, so I'm a little nervous about todays game. We'll have to score in the first 8 innings to win this one.

by cubswin14 on Apr 2, 2008 10:54 AM CDT up 0 recs

Wow anyone see this article?

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/blog/big_league_stew/post/Prince-Fielder-is-on-an-all-sunflower-seed-diet?urn=mlb,67984&cp=2

Fielder is a vegitarian now lol. There goes his power numbers.

by GoCubbies34 on Apr 2, 2008 10:34 AM CDT 0 recs

Haha...

DJ Gallo summed it up on ESPN in one of his columns by saying Fielder is now on, "...an all Blooming-Onion diet."

Brian McRae's 5 O'Clock Shadow

by PurpleLineToWrigley on Apr 2, 2008 10:36 AM CDT up 0 recs

is that deep fried?

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

by tony412 on Apr 2, 2008 10:37 AM CDT up 0 recs

You ever see one?

by GoCubbies34 on Apr 2, 2008 10:40 AM CDT up 0 recs

9.58 KB

well done :D

by Lou In Blue on Apr 2, 2008 10:44 AM CDT up 0 recs

Yes..small byte size maybe...but...

Outback Steakhouse©
Aussie-Tizers - Bloomin Onion w/Dressing©

Serving Size: whole
Calories: 2310
Total Fat: 134 grams
Carbohydrates: 241 grams
Protein: 35 grams

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

by santoswoodenlegs on Apr 2, 2008 10:46 AM CDT up 0 recs

LOL

Only 2310 calories? I'm sure there's something at Wrigley's concessions that can top that!

by Lou In Blue on Apr 2, 2008 10:47 AM CDT up 0 recs

Try 12 Old Styles...

Hector Villanueva's Career Stolen Bases: 1

by IowaCubs- on Apr 2, 2008 1:09 PM CDT up 0 recs

And did you know

the bacon cheese fires app at Outback is officially the 'worst for you food' on any chain menu.

Poor Matty Murton....

by Keystone80435 on Apr 2, 2008 10:48 AM CDT up 0 recs

on a happier note

it does come with a coupon for a free angioplasty.

by davidalanu on Apr 2, 2008 12:02 PM CDT up 0 recs

HAHAHAHAHAHA

Poor Matty Murton....

by Keystone80435 on Apr 2, 2008 10:43 AM CDT up 0 recs

Fielder

Maybe he just started this vegetarian diet because he still looks rather large. Don’t people that become vegetarians usually drop a little weight?

Lets do it Cubbies

by slocs55 on Apr 2, 2008 11:14 AM CDT up 0 recs

I dont

care if he or any other baseball player needs 2 seats on a plane. If you can play MVP type baseball I dont care what you look like or how much you weigh.

Poor Matty Murton....

by Keystone80435 on Apr 2, 2008 11:18 AM CDT up 0 recs

but thats about the ONLY aspect of PF I'll defend.

Poor Matty Murton....

by Keystone80435 on Apr 2, 2008 11:21 AM CDT up 0 recs

Danny DeVito's....

a vegetarian too, so take it for what it's worth. There are plenty of unhealthy, non-meat foods available for consumption, and it's all about quantity. Reminds me of my buddy who told me he was switching to Healthy Choice entrees to lose weight, and then I find out that he's eating 2-3 at a time...kind of defeats the purpose.

by Jay Johnstone on Apr 2, 2008 12:01 PM CDT up 0 recs

Don't make fun of Prince Fielder

This guy is a monster. He scares the bejeezus out of me just like Albert Pujols. Fielder and Ryan Braun in the same lineup gives me a migraine just thinking about it.

by MDBNIU on Apr 2, 2008 10:57 AM CDT up 0 recs

I dont

want to trash any major league ball player but I dont like Fielder. I dont want to change the subject of the thread but what I saw of P Fielder...the way ESPN explained it....the whole situation with his pops who I think got him where he is now and PF blowing him off. I dont like that at all.

Poor Matty Murton....

by Keystone80435 on Apr 2, 2008 10:59 AM CDT up 0 recs

I never heard that story

But I really don't mind Fielder. I think he is a great player, maybe gives a bad image to kids, but he sure can play. Quick for his size too. I just like poking (pillberry doughboy, woohoo!) fun at him because he does have that opportunity to just destroy us.

by GoCubbies34 on Apr 2, 2008 11:04 AM CDT up 0 recs

It changed my mind of him

I dont know if ESPN made him to be worse than he is but basically his dad got divorced and went broke and some bill collectors confronted Prince about paying his dads debts and Prince disowned his father....the guy who I feel got him where he is. I know Prince isnt making the big bank yet but pick up the tab just once for your dad.

Poor Matty Murton....

by Keystone80435 on Apr 2, 2008 11:12 AM CDT up 0 recs

Cecil Fielder gambled away his earnings,

lost his home in Florida to foreclosure, and it cost him his family.

It is reported that Cecil Fielder earned $47 million during his career.

As the saying goes, there are three sides to every story.

I don't how detailed the ESPN story was, but Prince Fielder was stopped by a process server while leaving the field of a Class A game in 2002. Prince was 18 years old at the time.

The process server had been searching for Cecil Fielder for months, who was living with Prince at the time. The process server shoved some papers into Prince Fielder's hands, naming his father as defendant in a $387,744 lawsuit.

Prince Fielder wasn't a defendant in the suit, but the situation put him in an extremely embarrassing situation.

However, that was not the biggest bone of contention between Prince and his father. Supposedly, Cecil took $200,000 of Prince's $2.4 million 2002 signing bonus. Prince apparently considers this money stolen from him. Dad Fielder represented his son in negotiations with the Brewers. Agent fee?

The money Cecil took out of the deal is not at all excessive as far as what sports agents charge. Perhaps Cecil had agreed to represent Prince for free, then took the money anyway because he felt he had earned it. Perhaps he took it because he was desperate due to his debts, and he intended to pay it back. Prince (understandably) felt he was lied to.

Reference: http://glennsacks.com/blog/?p=910

Forgive? Forget?

Let's play some baseball.

It's here, it's here, it's finally here!

by flachimesa on Apr 2, 2008 11:57 AM CDT up 0 recs

Cecil Fielder is a bum

He abandoned his family and racked up huge debt. Then all of a sudden he had newfound interest in his son when he inked his baseball signing contract. Prince isn't the bad guy here. His dad is a bum and a leech.

by MDBNIU on Apr 2, 2008 12:03 PM CDT up 0 recs

Yes PLAY SOME BASEBALL!

sorry for even bringing this up...

Poor Matty Murton....

by Keystone80435 on Apr 2, 2008 12:45 PM CDT up 0 recs

What does this have to do with Prince being a Vegetarian?

Let's all have a discussion about a topic we all agree on... like the war for example.

Hector Villanueva's Career Stolen Bases: 1

by IowaCubs- on Apr 2, 2008 1:12 PM CDT up 0 recs

or beer

Poor Matty Murton....

by Keystone80435 on Apr 2, 2008 1:20 PM CDT up 0 recs

He

apparently became vegetarian because he objects to what he considers inhumane treatment of cows and other animals that he saw on a news program. And I wasn't originally making fun of him, I was referencing a SATIRICAL article. No one seriously thinks that Prince Fielder is seriously eating Bloomin' Onions. MDBNIU, you might be served to read some funny stuff on the internet like DJ Gallo, it might lighten you up.

Brian McRae's 5 O'Clock Shadow

by PurpleLineToWrigley on Apr 2, 2008 11:45 AM CDT up 0 recs

Yeah...VERY.

Here's the link to Gallo's satirical NL/AL previews...very funny stuff.
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=gallo/080331

Brian McRae's 5 O'Clock Shadow

by PurpleLineToWrigley on Apr 2, 2008 10:38 AM CDT 0 recs

Lilly needs to step up today

Suppan is no walk in the park. And speaking of walks, Lilly needs none today. The Brewers have no problem getting runners across the plate. NO FREEBIES TODAY. GO CUBS!

Poor Matty Murton....

by Keystone80435 on Apr 2, 2008 10:44 AM CDT 0 recs

Plus

Last year the Brewers destroyed lefthanded pitching. I expect a good game today with some runs scored.

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

by Hammer on Apr 2, 2008 10:52 AM CDT up 0 recs

And

the top of the lineup needs to get on base. Swing those bats fellas!

Poor Matty Murton....

by Keystone80435 on Apr 2, 2008 10:53 AM CDT up 0 recs

re: Lilly needs to step up today

I'm too lazy to look up the numbers, but last season Lilly had a remarkable win record following a Cubs loss. Let's hope that holds true today.

Nanika Ga Okoru!

by dat cubfan daver on Apr 2, 2008 10:55 AM CDT up 0 recs

good

I didnt see much of Lilly in ST. It didnt look like he was too commanding to me. It looked like the hitters were in control at the plate rather than Lilly in control of the hitter. I could be way off though.

The over/under is 9.5 runs so either the wind is blowing out or the so called experts aren't expecting much from Lilly and suppan.

Poor Matty Murton....

by Keystone80435 on Apr 2, 2008 10:56 AM CDT up 0 recs

Nobody talked about him...

He's the most under the radar player we have (on the good side or bad side). He was relatively unimpressive in spring training but it was my understanding he uses the spring to really work on the movement of his pitches etc. We all know what he's capable of, let's just hope he avoids the long ball today and the Cubs and push some across to support him.

by bap on Apr 2, 2008 11:11 AM CDT up 0 recs

nice

I like that approch. I'd rather see him lose a game in ST practicing his tuff. Like bowling. You want to go throw a strike every time rather than pratice that curve knowing you'll throw a bunch of gutter balls. If thats why Lilly didnt seem dominating on the mound than I'm fine with it.

Poor Matty Murton....

by Keystone80435 on Apr 2, 2008 11:13 AM CDT up 0 recs