All Z, All The Time: Cubs 5, Mariners 3
by Al Yellon on Mar 22, 2009 5:40 PM CDT
in Chicago Cubs Recaps
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PrintCarlos Zambrano tried to win today's game singlehandedly; he threw six outstanding innings, allowing only a solo homer to Chris Woodward and striking out six. He also doubled (for a moment, looking like he wanted to try for three, then thought better of it, perhaps remembering he almost hurt himself trying to do that during spring training last year) and scored the Cubs' first run.
The Cubs hung on for a 5-3 win over the Mariners, despite Carlos Marmol getting hit pretty hard in his inning of work, and not by many guys who are going to make the major league Mariners roster. This was a disturbing pattern with Marmol last year -- looks lights-out for a while, then comes into a game and suddenly looks like a scared little rookie. Maybe he just needs a few more outings to get his pitches where he wants them. As of now I'd give the closer job to Kevin Gregg and let Marmol do the same role he had last year. Angel Guzman threw a nice inning today, reducing his spring ERA to 9.00 -- maybe some scout was watching today and was impressed.
It was the Cubs' fourth win in a row, for whatever that's worth. While in general spring wins and losses don't mean anything, Lou will tell you, if you ask, that it's still nice to get that "win" feeling walking off the field. I couldn't agree more.
Derrek Lee returned to the lineup today (nice to see) and doubled and walked before he was replaced by Micah Hoffpauir.
I don't have a whole lot of time to finish this recap because I am shortly heading for O'Hare to get on a flight to Phoenix, and I'll report from there for the rest of spring training. (Kind of excited!) Tomorrow's game vs. the A's at Phoenix Muni will be available via MLB.com announcers only. I seem to recall the last time this was the case, the A's announcers were pretty lame. We'll see if this is still the case tomorrow.
Today's crowd of 13,002 at HoHoKam Park, another sellout but short of Friday's record, brought the 14-game total to 146,294, and the season average to 10,450. With five dates remaining, if they all come close to or exceed today's number (and at least two of them will, next Friday vs. the White Sox and next Sunday vs. Cleveland), the all-time spring training attendance record, set in 2005 by the Cubs (193,993), will fall on Tuesday, March 31, when the Angels visit.
One final note that could have a major impact on the NL Central race: new Brewers closer Trevor Hoffman will not be ready for Opening Day after straining an oblique muscle last week (that's a tough injury for anyone, worse for a 41-year-old athlete):
Right-handers Carlos Villanueva and Seth McClung are the candidates to close early in the season if Hoffman is unavailable.
If the Brewers have to close with Carlos Villanueva or Seth McClung, they are in big trouble. Until tomorrow, from the Valley of the Sun.
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hope you have a blast in AZ Al
"I like coconuts, you can break them open and they smell like ladies lying in the sun" Widespread Panic
Have a good trip Al
Keep us posted please.
One day I hope to come up with something worthy of this space.
Thanks, everyone!
Off to AZ!
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
Anybody up for watching Team USA tonight?
I’ll be here. As if I haven’t watched ENOUGH basketball this weekend, I could use another sport to watch…
Evey Hammond: Vi Veri Veniversum Vivus Vici. V: By the power of truth, I, while living, have conquered the universe.
I'll be around
First Sunday in years I get to watch whatever TV I want, instead of Desperate Housewives and other mind-numbing junk.
One day I hope to come up with something worthy of this space.
i can clear my busy schedule of nothing to join ya
"I like coconuts, you can break them open and they smell like ladies lying in the sun" Widespread Panic
Marmol must be too inside his own head about this closer business
I’m with you, Al. Give it to Gregg. For now.
absolutely. Marmol right now is close to being the new Howry
Steal a little and they throw you in jail, Steal a lot and they make you king -- Bob Dylan
Oh I hope not :(
"That's what you live for. You live for the opportunity and when that day comes, you better be ready," Soto said. "I tried to make sure that whenever they gave me a chance, I was ready and I knew I had to take advantage of the opportunity."
by Madison Cub Fan on Mar 22, 2009 7:18 PM CDT up reply actions
I think he's just trying to catch up
Heard on CSN that he’s behind in getting his arm strength up.
The shortest distance between two points is under construction.
by halfblindcubbiegirl on Mar 23, 2009 7:29 AM CDT up reply actions
regarding the Brewers' closer,
they’re done either way. Anyone scared of Hoffman??
I’m much more worried about St. Louis and even Houston, and wouldn’t be surprised to see Milw. drop all the way to 5th this year.
For you guys watching the WBC, kudos, but I can’t get into it….I just find myself worried about Cubs players getting hurt or ‘behind’ more than who wins.
Couldn’t they just build it into the Olympics every 4 years, w/ MLB taking a one-week break?? Well, probably not, but this timing is weird.
Did anyone remember what McClung did...
…to the cubs when they clinched the wild card?? He throws GAS. I don’t want to see him closing…
by serbianking33 on Mar 23, 2009 1:44 AM CDT up reply actions
Fantastic tie, Miller!
Evey Hammond: Vi Veri Veniversum Vivus Vici. V: By the power of truth, I, while living, have conquered the universe.
One thing I didn't miss all winter:
Miller’s voice.
One day I hope to come up with something worthy of this space.
also a reason I am happy I don't have cable!
"That's what you live for. You live for the opportunity and when that day comes, you better be ready," Soto said. "I tried to make sure that whenever they gave me a chance, I was ready and I knew I had to take advantage of the opportunity."
by Madison Cub Fan on Mar 22, 2009 7:19 PM CDT up reply actions
WOOOOOOOO!
Hit it right on the nose! Quick! Let’s trade for him!
One day I hope to come up with something worthy of this space.
Fuk-u-dome
Messing up big time. Very poor play by our “everyday” CF.
One day I hope to come up with something worthy of this space.
Modest trade proposal:
Can we trade Micah for BR? I mean, Micah is the greatest spring training player of all-time…
Evey Hammond: Vi Veri Veniversum Vivus Vici. V: By the power of truth, I, while living, have conquered the universe.
DOME WITH THE E8
Way to take charge, buddy!!
Evey Hammond: Vi Veri Veniversum Vivus Vici. V: By the power of truth, I, while living, have conquered the universe.
Joe Morgan:
There’s such a thing as being too patient.
Joe Morgan, somehow you are the dumbest person I have never met.
Evey Hammond: Vi Veri Veniversum Vivus Vici. V: By the power of truth, I, while living, have conquered the universe.
So he's in regular season form already?
"That's what you live for. You live for the opportunity and when that day comes, you better be ready," Soto said. "I tried to make sure that whenever they gave me a chance, I was ready and I knew I had to take advantage of the opportunity."
by Madison Cub Fan on Mar 22, 2009 7:20 PM CDT up reply actions
This is madness:
Anybody need some officially licensed Cubs’ sod??
Evey Hammond: Vi Veri Veniversum Vivus Vici. V: By the power of truth, I, while living, have conquered the universe.
ESPN is content with teasing me of my DeRosa mancrush.
They won’t stop talking about him.
Evey Hammond: Vi Veri Veniversum Vivus Vici. V: By the power of truth, I, while living, have conquered the universe.
JP interview:
“I want to be traded to the Chicago Cubs. Immediately.”
or
“I got a few bullpen sessions in, feel good, and will be ready to go next game.”
I’ve heard Peavy values his Team USA jersey more than any other baseball memorabilia he owns. I love it.
Evey Hammond: Vi Veri Veniversum Vivus Vici. V: By the power of truth, I, while living, have conquered the universe.
Great at-bat by Dome:
First & third, nobody out, bottom of 2.
Swings on the first FRIGGIN pitch and shallow fly. No runners advance. Idiot AB.
Evey Hammond: Vi Veri Veniversum Vivus Vici. V: By the power of truth, I, while living, have conquered the universe.
Dome does NOT look very good in CF.
He’s running out there like he has no idea what he’s doing…
Evey Hammond: Vi Veri Veniversum Vivus Vici. V: By the power of truth, I, while living, have conquered the universe.
He does not look good, and hasn't for almost a whole calendar year
I really don’t want to turn on him just yet, but I’m very happy we have RJ to hustle for the Cubs.
One day I hope to come up with something worthy of this space.
Looks like a pretty mediocre ...
…fan turnout. I would have been there if they didn’t gouge so hard on ticket prices. That’s the Dodgers 4 u!
"I never drink water because of the disgusting things fish do in it" -W.C. Fields
and the required donation
to dodger charities
Dang Wright is good
and DeRo is still my hero.
One day I hope to come up with something worthy of this space.
Just as you praise someone
they let you down.
One day I hope to come up with something worthy of this space.
Oswalt is not on top of it
and Dunn is a terrible liability on defense.
One day I hope to come up with something worthy of this space.
True...
at least he’s (Dunn) not patroling Wrigley this year (in Cubbie Blue, anyway).
by CubsWin!Oregon on Mar 22, 2009 8:32 PM CDT up reply actions
I wish.
Evey Hammond: Vi Veri Veniversum Vivus Vici. V: By the power of truth, I, while living, have conquered the universe.
Ugh. No
Dunn can mash (or walk or strike out) but I can’t believe how many people are all about him at this point. Even if you’re not a Bradley fan you have to see that Dunn is a liabilty on defense.
The shortest distance between two points is under construction.
by halfblindcubbiegirl on Mar 23, 2009 7:32 AM CDT up reply actions
Fukudome hasn't looked good...
Surprising given how good of a defensive player he is that, as someone noted, he looks lost out there.
I'm starting to think
there is a good possibility that Gathright ends up with more AB’s this year than Dome.
lord help us if that happens
"I like coconuts, you can break them open and they smell like ladies lying in the sun" Widespread Panic
yea..
not saying it would be a good thing, but the Dome has looked in the WBC and the pretty good spring Gathright has had…I’m just saying it’s possible. Especially if Lou gets fed up with Dome again.
I sincerely hope that's not the case
Dome needs to pick his crap up soon.
One day I hope to come up with something worthy of this space.
this makes me so sad
Steal a little and they throw you in jail, Steal a lot and they make you king -- Bob Dylan
I dunno, right now I would consider putting Marmol as closer
Because he isn’t really effective in tense situations now, I think it’d be better to put him in the game without baserunners and a 1-3 run lead.
#34: You'll be missed!
Marmol
scared me last season. He is streaky at times. When something goes wrong, he gets too emotional and loses it.
"I like coconuts, you can break them open and they smell like ladies lying in the sun" Widespread Panic
It seems to me..
..that he is fine in a high stress situations such as 1st and 3rd with no outs, but freaks out when there is an actual “save” on the line. It’s almost like he freaks out knowing that he was the opportunity to record something that goes down in the stat book. Right now, I’d prefer him in the same role as last year, high leverage situations, and leave the closing to Gregg unless he proves that he can’t handle it anymore.
wait wait wait
Before, the argument for Marmol not being the closer was he’d face tougher situations in the 8th inning, thus we’d want Marmol there. Now, we don’t want him at closer b/c he’d face tougher situations in the 9th inning.
Which is it?
"Thank god I threw out my belt & shoelaces."-Bernies Mustache Wax on Evil BCB, 7/31/08
I didn't say that, I think it would be easier to pitch in less stressful ninth inning situations instead of the eighth right NOW
He doesn’t seem like he is capable of being the setup man he was last year. I’d say a set-up man is more valuable than a closer..
#34: You'll be missed!
I'm gonna go catch Flight of the Conchords and Kenny on HBO
Looks as if the U.S. is down and out. Is there a consolation game tomorrow afternoon?
Have a good week everyone!
One day I hope to come up with something worthy of this space.
Can I do you from behind while wearing the Scream mask? You know, the mask from Scream?
—Kenny Powers
Evey Hammond: Vi Veri Veniversum Vivus Vici. V: By the power of truth, I, while living, have conquered the universe.
DEROSA WITH A TRIPLE
2 RUN TRIPLE FOR THE GUY WE NEVER SHOULD HAVE TRADED
(Yes, I’m going to say that all season)
Evey Hammond: Vi Veri Veniversum Vivus Vici. V: By the power of truth, I, while living, have conquered the universe.
I'll be echoing you.
Damn it Jimbo!
"I never drink water because of the disgusting things fish do in it" -W.C. Fields
Whatdda know...
…I bet Rollins woulda made that play. Thanks, Jeter.
Evey Hammond: Vi Veri Veniversum Vivus Vici. V: By the power of truth, I, while living, have conquered the universe.
Phillips makes a good point:
Japan playing this like its the World Series; USA playing as if it’s a spring training game. The irony is that for Team USA, no one is prepared to play for a World Series title in March.
Evey Hammond: Vi Veri Veniversum Vivus Vici. V: By the power of truth, I, while living, have conquered the universe.
Uh-oh.
Adam Dunn literally lets a ball that is FIFTEEN FEET from him go right by. Thanks Shane for picking that up…
Evey Hammond: Vi Veri Veniversum Vivus Vici. V: By the power of truth, I, while living, have conquered the universe.
That was a rather pathetic.
Hey, it's a new century!
by cowsarecool220 on Mar 22, 2009 10:25 PM CDT reply actions
that was a horrible showing by team USA
I do like the idea of having starters stay in the game, and pick actual utility players to be back ups, to lessen the hand cuffs on the USA manager
"I like coconuts, you can break them open and they smell like ladies lying in the sun" Widespread Panic
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