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A Hard Act To Follow: Cubs vs. Diamondbacks Preview, Friday 3/5, 2:05 CT

You realize, of course, what yesterday's big five-homer, 9-3 barrage of the A's represents.

Now fans are going to expect this to happen every day during spring training. Not quite so easy today -- the Diamondbacks are a better team than the Athletics (who might be the worst team in the American League) and the Cubs will be facing a better pitcher than they did on Thursday.

Nevertheless, winning is always better than losing. Lou Piniella often likes to see one minor leaguer do well in spring training and latches on to him -- and the kid makes the roster. He did this with Micah Hoffpauir -- who, granted, was no "kid" when he made the team -- but maybe Tyler Colvin will now catch Lou's attention. In any event, if Colvin continues to hit the way he did yesterday, he will have to get consideration for the 25-man roster.

Meanwhile, Carlos Marmol, who won't pitch until Saturday, is going into this year with much more confidence, knowing the closer role is his. Throwing strikes would also be useful.

Star-divide

Carlos Zambrano makes his first Cactus League start today. Casey Coleman, Jeff Stevens, John Gaub, Marcos Mateo and Justin Berg also are scheduled to pitch. Shameless plug: you can read more about Coleman, whose father and grandfather were major league pitchers, in the Maple Street Press Cubs Annual. The story was written by BCB's Josh77. You should be able to now find the annual in Chicago-area bookstores, newsstands, and places like Walgreens and Target. It's also on sale at the HoHoKam Park gift shop and I believe in certain bookstores in the Phoenix area.

For reference for the next few days, Bruce Miles has all the scheduled pitchers.

Dan Haren will start for Arizona. Adam LaRoche will make his AZ debut. Mark Reynolds is also scheduled to make the trip from Tucson.

There is no radio or TV coverage of today's game, but here's the complete MLB.com Mediacenter for today.

MLB.com Gameday

SB Nation game preview

First pitch thread will post at 2 pm CST. An overflow thread will post at 3:15 CST.

Discuss amongst yourselves.

0 recs  |  Comment 48 comments |

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Wish I was in one of those empty seats there.

"Chicago Cubs baseball is on the air."-Pat Hughes

by katie casey on Mar 5, 2010 12:02 PM CST reply actions  

It would be great if Cubs fans consistently outnumbered their brethren all ST

After all, what says “they move the Arizona ST engine” quite like outnumbering the home fans at any ST road venue?

I love to play baseball. I'm a baseball player. I've always been a baseball player. I'm still a baseball player. That's who I am. - Ryne Sandberg

by Trey2317 on Mar 5, 2010 12:03 PM CST reply actions  

Kind of a pointless argument, but

the A’s are the worst team in the AL? The Royals and the Orioles might have a say in that…

by chilango2 on Mar 5, 2010 12:04 PM CST reply actions  

Royals

yes. Atleast the Orioles have a decent offense, especially young plalyers.

by ryanbaker08 on Mar 5, 2010 12:08 PM CST up reply actions  

Yeah, you might be right.

Even the Jays could stand to lose 90 games.

by chilango2 on Mar 5, 2010 12:32 PM CST up reply actions  

those guys

are in the NL.

Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.

by drewishdrewid on Mar 5, 2010 12:15 PM CST up reply actions  

Details, Details, Details

That’s not true!!! WHY THE F*CK WOULD YOU SAY THAT YOU AHOLE!! Ok maybe your right but you gotta give a little something here for it to work. I don’t know what I’m going to do this is the worst thing I’ve ever read, this day could not get any worse. Fine, F*ck it, you’re right.

by Ditkavsworld

by gaclaudy on Mar 5, 2010 1:54 PM CST up reply actions  

PECOTA doesn't even have them as the worst team in their own division

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/fantasy/dc/

In fact, they’re projected to finish with the 6th best record in the AL, better than the entire AL Central.

by madcow256 on Mar 5, 2010 1:04 PM CST up reply actions  

Orioles...

… are a team on the rise. Andy MacPhail has this team stocked with some excellent young talent and while they may not contend this year, they will in the near future.

by dmlichte on Mar 5, 2010 1:12 PM CST up reply actions  

They are going nowhere fast and fighting an uphill battle in that division

MacPhail is a stooge

"Any player who gets the opportunity to play at Wrigley should welcome it"

by Itchy on Mar 5, 2010 2:03 PM CST up reply actions  

so there's no way at all

to follow the game? I remember what Gameday was like last year in ST…

So, who is going to twitter or mobile post the play by play? :D

Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.

by drewishdrewid on Mar 5, 2010 12:05 PM CST reply actions  

not me, he he

"Chicago baseball fans, who are composites of scar tissue and mortifying memories..." - George F. Will

by eswan9 on Mar 5, 2010 12:07 PM CST up reply actions  

dat cubfan daver, perhaps?

Who cares if he's a Cubs fan? This is a football forum! He is a PACKER fan as well. So, from now until March, I’m sure he’ll dedicate a lot of his time here. In late March, then we can be enemies during the baseball season. Besides, the Cubs have perhaps the most loyal baseball fanbase in the country. You have to respect that.

Go Pack!

by Jabooty on Jan 25, 2010 2:58 PM EST

by Vermont Cubs Fan on Mar 5, 2010 12:23 PM CST up reply actions  

Looks like some more

of the young arms will get a longer look this spring:

Lou not counting on Guzman for start of season. Saw dr. for shoulder yesterday. Awaiting results

from Twittermyer (sp?)

"Respect" ~ Ryne Sandberg

by gwood on Mar 5, 2010 12:17 PM CST reply actions  

good time to figure out

if these young guns can perform for us.

"Chicago baseball fans, who are composites of scar tissue and mortifying memories..." - George F. Will

by eswan9 on Mar 5, 2010 12:19 PM CST up reply actions  

Bought Maple Street Press Cubs Annual at a Borders

so it’s available in Chicago.

One of Lee Elia's 15%

by waiting4cubs on Mar 5, 2010 12:18 PM CST reply actions  

I miss Pat and Ron already

Can’t wait til the first TV broadcast now

"Baseball is almost the only orderly thing in a very unorderly world. If you get three strikes, even the best lawyer in the world can't get you off." ~ Bill Veeck

by Musicdude10 on Mar 5, 2010 12:21 PM CST reply actions  

♫ ♪ Tomorrow! Tomorrow! ♬ ♩

And Sunday too – both against the White Sox, but I’m guessing that we get the Sox announcers for one of them. Anyone know which day I need to make sure my mute button works?

Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."

by ballhawk on Mar 5, 2010 12:50 PM CST up reply actions  

My guess would be on Sunday.

That is a split-squad game at the White Sox ST facility.

Who cares if he's a Cubs fan? This is a football forum! He is a PACKER fan as well. So, from now until March, I’m sure he’ll dedicate a lot of his time here. In late March, then we can be enemies during the baseball season. Besides, the Cubs have perhaps the most loyal baseball fanbase in the country. You have to respect that.

Go Pack!

by Jabooty on Jan 25, 2010 2:58 PM EST

by Vermont Cubs Fan on Mar 5, 2010 12:57 PM CST up reply actions  

Saturday and Sunday are on TV though.

If either is SS, doesn’t matter. Both are televised, at least in Chicago.

by chilango2 on Mar 5, 2010 1:36 PM CST up reply actions  

Sang the same thing

day before yesterday.

"Chicago Cubs baseball is on the air."-Pat Hughes

by katie casey on Mar 5, 2010 1:40 PM CST up reply actions  

Pat and Ron are kind of fun in ST

… like when they don’t know who some of players are, so we hear things like “Elton John led off with a single, and was sacrificed to second by Ben Franklin.”

by ChipSet on Mar 5, 2010 1:07 PM CST up reply actions  

Where is everybody??

"Chicago baseball fans, who are composites of scar tissue and mortifying memories..." - George F. Will

by eswan9 on Mar 5, 2010 1:05 PM CST reply actions  

i'm here..

wasn’t around last year.. took a while for 08 to wear off but i’m back!!!

Greg Jennings.. Future All Pro

by mkcubs21 on Mar 5, 2010 1:17 PM CST reply actions  

Its a new year!

"Chicago baseball fans, who are composites of scar tissue and mortifying memories..." - George F. Will

by eswan9 on Mar 5, 2010 1:19 PM CST up reply actions  

exactly...

should be another fun season

Greg Jennings.. Future All Pro

by mkcubs21 on Mar 5, 2010 1:24 PM CST up reply actions  

Go get 'em today, Cubbies!

I love reading about Cubs W’s on here!

What we Cubs fans should live by: "I found that if you have a goal, that you might not reach it. But if you don't have one, then you are never disappointed. And I gotta tell ya... it feels phenomenal" ---Vince Vaughn in Dodgeball

by mikegncb34 on Mar 5, 2010 1:18 PM CST reply actions  

No media coverage at all?

Pretty sure we’re not going to need any Ovverflows. Heck, we may not even need a separate Game Thread.

"Who ever heard of the Cubs losing a game they had to have?" -Frank Chance
"If [Ruth] had [called his shot], I would have knocked him down with the next pitch." -Charlie Root

by Clutch16 on Mar 5, 2010 1:25 PM CST reply actions  

i noticed that too..

i just got my subscription to mlb audio and first thing i see is that i can’t listen to the cubs game.. oh well find another game to listen to.

Greg Jennings.. Future All Pro

by mkcubs21 on Mar 5, 2010 1:29 PM CST up reply actions  

RADIO??

I live in the Chicago area and was wondering if anyone knew what radio station I can catch the Cubs/Ariz game??

by AVigo11 on Mar 5, 2010 1:33 PM CST reply actions  

None today

there isn’t any radio coverage, unfortunately.

"Every player should be accorded the privilege of at least one season with the Chicago Cubs. That's baseball as it should be played - in God's own sunshine. And that's really living." -- Alvin Dark

by gwood on Mar 5, 2010 1:34 PM CST up reply actions  

going to be a fairly boring afternoon then lol

Greg Jennings.. Future All Pro

by mkcubs21 on Mar 5, 2010 1:35 PM CST up reply actions  

agreed

"Every player should be accorded the privilege of at least one season with the Chicago Cubs. That's baseball as it should be played - in God's own sunshine. And that's really living." -- Alvin Dark

by gwood on Mar 5, 2010 1:44 PM CST up reply actions  

Soriano...

didn’t play yesterday and he’s not playing today when is he going to get into his first game?

THE BURGUNDY BRIGADE... because we can!!!
"What do the Detroit Red Wings and the Titanic have in common?
They both look good until they hit the ice!"
Visit> http://www.bronxbaseballdaily.com/

by SportsDalaiLama on Mar 5, 2010 1:39 PM CST reply actions  

He's only had...

…5+ months after a minor clean up. Maybe in another couple months he will be ready.

In today’s world when guys come back and play in a few weeks from similar procedures, you have to wonder what Soriano has been doing during the offseason.

"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel

by MPH73 on Mar 5, 2010 1:43 PM CST up reply actions  

haha true

but he will deff get some spring training playing time

THE BURGUNDY BRIGADE... because we can!!!
"What do the Detroit Red Wings and the Titanic have in common?
They both look good until they hit the ice!"
Visit> http://www.bronxbaseballdaily.com/

by SportsDalaiLama on Mar 5, 2010 2:03 PM CST up reply actions  

Saturday or Sunday

better to be sure.

Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.

by drewishdrewid on Mar 5, 2010 2:46 PM CST up reply actions  

I really liked...

…the look of Colvin’s swing yesterday.

It looks like he has tightened it up nicely – quite lower half, short stride and good quick hands.

"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel

by MPH73 on Mar 5, 2010 1:40 PM CST reply actions  

TWSS

"Whoever wants to know the heart and mind of America had better learn baseball." - Jacque Barzun

by Bump Bailey on Mar 5, 2010 1:41 PM CST up reply actions  

he he

"Chicago baseball fans, who are composites of scar tissue and mortifying memories..." - George F. Will

by eswan9 on Mar 5, 2010 1:43 PM CST up reply actions  

Just got back from Walgreens

where I picked up my Annual. I had tried to order one online, but hadn’t gotten it yet. I contacted them and they were really quick to get back to me. For some reason the order never went through. Don’t know what silly thing I did wrong, but since I never got charged I saved myself a few bucks and just got it off the newstand instead. Walgreens had them prominently displayed in the photo area. Looks really good.

"Chicago Cubs baseball is on the air."-Pat Hughes

by katie casey on Mar 5, 2010 1:54 PM CST reply actions  

Hey

I didn’t think it was too big of a hijack since it was Al’s mention above that the Annual was at Walgreens that prompted me out the door to get it. :)

"Chicago Cubs baseball is on the air."-Pat Hughes

by katie casey on Mar 5, 2010 2:54 PM CST up reply actions  

First Pitch (which no one can see or hear) Thread is up

JUMP, I guess

"Who ever heard of the Cubs losing a game they had to have?" -Frank Chance
"If [Ruth] had [called his shot], I would have knocked him down with the next pitch." -Charlie Root

by Clutch16 on Mar 5, 2010 2:02 PM CST reply actions  

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