SCOTTSDALE, Arizona -- The sharp-eyed BCB reader will notice that there's no game time given in the headline to this post, as there usually is. This is because the games have different starting times and it would have made too long a headline. Instead, here's the info: the game in Mesa will begin at 2:05 CST. The game in Las Vegas will begin at 3:05 CST. Tomorrow, that all changes as most of the USA and Canada except Arizona (and Hawaii and a handful of other locations) begins Daylight Saving Time; tomorrow's games will both begin at 3:05 CDT.
The Cubs are facing the Reds twice today, once in Mesa and once in Las Vegas. Mike Quade will manage the Vegas squad; I don't have official word but I assume bench coach Pat Listach will head up the team in Mesa.
Carlos Silva starts in Mesa against the Reds' Homer Bailey. Silva will be followed by Justin Berg, Todd Wellemeyer and Trey McNutt. John Gaub, who was optioned to Iowa yesterday, is also on the Mesa list. Other pitchers for the Reds today in Mesa will include Dontrelle Willis (he gets around!), Jordan Smith and Logan Ondrusek. James Russell gets his first spring start in the Vegas game; he'll be facing the Reds' Mike Leake. Other Cubs pitchers scheduled to throw in Vegas today are Robert Coello, Casey Coleman, Scott Rice and Carlos Marmol. For the Reds in Vegas, Leake will be followed by Matt Maloney, Daryl Thompson, Jerry Gil, Scott Carroll and Philippe Valiquette. Complete Cubs lineups after the jump.
Cubs lineup in Mesa:
Perez LF Barney SS Byrd CF Ramirez 3B Pena 1B Soto C Scales 2B Adduci RF Silva P
Cubs lineup in Las Vegas:
Fukudome RF Castro SS Colvin DH Soriano LF Moore 1B Baker 3B DeWitt 2B Johnson CF Hill C
No, I don't understand why Koyie Hill is starting, either. And why not have Tyler Colvin play 1B and Scott Moore DH?
Here's all the media information for today.
MLB.com Gameday for Cubs/Reds in Mesa -- game time 2:05 CST
MLB.com Gameday for Cubs/Reds in Las Vegas -- game time 3:05 CST
Here is the complete MLB.com Mediacenter for today. The Mesa game is on WGN Radio with Pat and Zonk. The Las Vegas game is on WGN-TV with Len and Bob.
Please visit our SB Nation Reds site Red Reporter. The usual note of caution, of course.
There will be an overflow thread posting at 3:30 p.m. CST -- one overflow for both games. As usual, the overflow thread will NOT post on the front page but will be in the "Recent Stories In Game Threads" box on the right sidebar. If you need an extra overflow thread beyond that one, post it in the FanShot section.
Discuss amongst yourselves.