Chicago Cubs vs. Oakland Athletics Preview, Thursday 3/17, 3:05 CT: Happy St. Patrick's Day!
by Al Yellon on Mar 17, 2011 1:00 PM CDT
in Chicago Cubs Game Threads
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PrintSCOTTSDALE, Arizona -- The Cubs begin the "second half" of spring training today; 21 games have been played, and the split-squad season is over, and 13 games remain. That's not exactly an even split, but usually teams have a single day off during the spring season, and with the Cubs' only off day being yesterday and 18 roster cuts having been made on Tuesday, we should begin to see games this month more resemble major-league games, with pitchers going into the sixth (this week) and seventh (next week) inning, and fewer guys over from the minor league camp playing the last three innings of games.
About half the Cubs are probably wondering if today is deja vu; they played the A's in their 1960s era ballpark, Phoenix Muni, on Tuesday, and will do so again today. I've always wondered why, when Phoenix Muni was renovated in 2005, they didn't put a grass berm in the outfield as there are in all the other Arizona spring training parks. There's certainly enough land to do so. Phoenix Muni was originally built in 1964 and was the home of the Triple-A team that was the Giants' affiliate until 1992, when that team moved to the new Scottsdale Stadium. It's a nice enough park with decent sightlines, but even with the renovation, it feels dated.
Here's an interesting article about Cubs lefty Scott Maine, who still has a shot at making the bullpen this year. He's pitched only five spring innings so far, though.
Ryan Dempster makes his fourth spring start today. He went five innings in his last outing and looked really good -- will he become the first Cubs starter to go into the sixth today? John Grabow gets his first game action since Feb. 27 today -- he's been out with shoulder troubles. Also scheduled to throw today are Jeff Samardzija, Sean Marshall and Kerry Wood. The A's will counter with Gio Gonzalez. Other A's pitchers who should throw today: Grant Balfour, Brian Fuentes, Guillermo Moscoso and Brad Ziegler. Complete lineups after the jump.
Cubs lineup:
Baker 2B Castro SS Byrd CF Ramirez 3B Soto C Pena 1B Soriano LF Fukudome RF Dempster P
I like this lineup -- could very well be the team's lineup vs. LHP. Once again, the Cubs will have a pitcher bat at an AL park, while the home team uses the DH.
A's lineup:Crisp CF Barton 1B DeJesus RF Willingham LF Matsui DH Suzuki C Ellis 2B Kouzmanoff 3B Pennington SS
Here's all the media information for today.
MLB.com Gameday for today's game
Here is the complete MLB.com Mediacenter for today. The game is on MLB.com audio with Len Kasper and Mick Gillispie.
Please visit our SB Nation Athletics site Athletics Nation.
There will be an overflow thread posting at 4:30 p.m. CDT. 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.
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Even though
It’s only spring training, but it’s good to see Quade batting Soto higher in the lineup than Lou.
by Mothershipwit on Mar 17, 2011 1:06 PM CDT via mobile reply actions
It's nice to have a manager that isn't a cartoon character.
I hope Soto gets to around 120 games, because that Koyie Hill thing was cute for awhile, but it really needs to stop.
I’m not a big fan of Max Ramirez either, pretty big prospect for awhile that never delivered…
"What do you think, I just dunked my whole career?" Jordan asked Henderson after making a 3.
"You’ve got to miss eventually," Henderson told him.
"That’s what Cleveland said," replied Jordan
loved going to the Phoenix Muni back in the 80's
went to ASU and could bike there from campus – 9,782 today
I saw a ton of games
at Phoenix Muni in my youth. A lot of really good memories.
Ballhawk would go crazy there. Foul balls that are fouled straight back tend to rattle off the accordian style grandstand roof and as kids, we used to position ourselves in the area behind the grandstand for a couple of innings and I don’t think I ever came away without catching at least one ball. There are probably 30 or more chances every game.
One Phoenix Muni memory is of what is still one of the most exciting baseball games I ever saw. In 1967, the University of Arizona and Arizona State played a one game playoff to decide the conference championship and a berth in the NCAA playoffs. Both had powerhouse teams.
Before a standing room only crowd, ASU’s Gary Gentry pitched a 15 inning complete game on 2 days rest to beat the Wildcats 3-2. Arizona threatened in every extra inning and left the bases loaded in the 15th.
Arizona State went on the win the College World Series that year and two years later, Gary Gentry was pitching in the World Series for the Miracle Mets of 1969.
It all seemed so easy back then…
yep - the older spring training facilities are f%&$# golden when it comes to ballhawking...
Most of them have/had low rooflines allowing foulballs to easily escape the park. Of course, catching a home run ball is always preferable, but if the wind is blowing in or the outfield area has limited access, multiple foul balls lessened the pain.
Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."
I was at the game at Salt River Fields yesterday
and that place is a launching pad. Even though the dimensions would not suggest it (345 down the lines and 390 power alley) the balls absolutely fly out of that park.
Maryvale, too. They had a game earlier this year with 9 home runs. But, of course, they all pretty much land on the berm, although I saw a ball hit at SRF earlier this year that actually cleared the berm.
The ball carries really well in the dry desert air. Lot of home runs at all the parks, but Scottsdale and Maryvale in particular.
I really don't like Baker at leadoff
But given the choices, I guess this is the best case scenario for this team against LHP.
"What do you think, I just dunked my whole career?" Jordan asked Henderson after making a 3.
"You’ve got to miss eventually," Henderson told him.
"That’s what Cleveland said," replied Jordan
I doubt the lineup v. LHP is going to contain any Fukudome at all, even 8th.
Obviously that doesn’t really matter in ST, where the lefty will be gone before too long.
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
I hope Colvin gets more PT somehow...
someway…
"What do you think, I just dunked my whole career?" Jordan asked Henderson after making a 3.
"You’ve got to miss eventually," Henderson told him.
"That’s what Cleveland said," replied Jordan
I would guess he gets more than a few games vs. LHPs
as Colvin will likely fill in for Pena a couple times against LHPs as well. Let’s not forget that Pena is borderline horrible against them too.
Why would they do that?
If they needed Kosuke AND Pena out of the lineup, the Cubs could put Baker at first, Barney at second and Colvin in right.
Al, put aside MaxRam's inability to be optioned,
Ramirez or Castillo as backup?
Good question.
I haven’t seen enough of either of them to make a judgment. But either would be better than Hill.
Check out Chicago sports coverage at SB Nation Chicago
So now that more cuts have been made
Who’s been sent down/let go?
R.I.P. Ronnie Santo... you will be missed...
*hick*
If the Cubs still have a chance, no matter how small, it’s still Go Cubs, damn the math and pass the KoolAid.
...
If the Cubs still have a chance, no matter how small, it’s still Go Cubs, damn the math and pass the KoolAid.
Kinda here
Very tired – didn’t get a lot of sleep last night. I plan on hitting up an Irish pub for a couple of Irish whiskeys and then retiring early tonight.
"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
Nice to see you - I was worried I was alone
If the Cubs still have a chance, no matter how small, it’s still Go Cubs, damn the math and pass the KoolAid.
That always looks so unreal
If the Cubs still have a chance, no matter how small, it’s still Go Cubs, damn the math and pass the KoolAid.
I blame these guys
"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
This tastes better
If the Cubs still have a chance, no matter how small, it’s still Go Cubs, damn the math and pass the KoolAid.
howdy
If the Cubs still have a chance, no matter how small, it’s still Go Cubs, damn the math and pass the KoolAid.
Here:
http://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2011/3/15/2052256/cubs-reduce-spring-roster-to-40
"I think part of a best friend's job should be to immediately clear your computer history if you die." - Anonymous
OT: NCAAs recap so far
- The Butler did it
- (Nittany) Lions, Tigers and Cardinals, oh my….
Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."
3rd inning and not a single comment about the game so far.
We may need an underflow thread today… ;-)
Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."
All about basketball today,,,
Love when Pittino gets whooped.
"I think part of a best friend's job should be to immediately clear your computer history if you die." - Anonymous
Man, I used to be all gung-ho about March Madness
Ran a pool for 15 years and followed along religiously for the first 10 of them (or so). And then, it just started mattering less and less to me. By year 15 of the pool, I was doing it mostly for everyone else to have fun and barely watched any of the games anymore. Then, after that, I quit doing the pool and quit caring about any form of basketball. I find that not watching ESPN helps a lot – they seem to be the only national media outlet that gives a crap about the sport anymore.
"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
ESPN carries no tourney games...
CBS, TBS, TNT and TruTV. ESPN got the NIT and the Women’s tourney.
"I think part of a best friend's job should be to immediately clear your computer history if you die." - Anonymous
An offspeed pitch misses the outteer corner
If the Cubs still have a chance, no matter how small, it’s still Go Cubs, damn the math and pass the KoolAid.
Suzuki homered with a man on in the 2nd...2-0 A's
"I think part of a best friend's job should be to immediately clear your computer history if you die." - Anonymous
I'm guessing that no berm was created at Muni
because the area would be too close to Van Buren Street? Possible safety hazard? Minimal access, etc etc.
by San Diego Smooth Jazz Man on Mar 17, 2011 4:11 PM CDT reply actions
I doubt it
A berm really doesn’t take much room. The one at Salt River Field is interesting because it is so steep. You could snow board on it. In terms of horizontal real estate, it doesn’t take up much space at all.
I think the problem is, it isn’t just building a berm. You have to build a concourse so people can get to the berm. The newer ballparks have concessions, rest rooms rooms and separate ball park entrances in center field. THAT you couldn’t do at Phoenix Muni, so the berm would just look tacked on and you don’t want thousands of people out there if they don’t have easy access to food and restrooms.
That's essentially what I was implying.
“Minimal access” means just that. You’d have to enter from another area, inaccessible from the main seating bowl.
But that area is close to the street.
Besides, the trees are nice.
by San Diego Smooth Jazz Man on Mar 17, 2011 5:39 PM CDT up reply actions
Actually....
… they now have a picnic area in the LF corner. It wouldn’t be that hard to have a berm in LF that you could enter through the picnic area. In Tempe, they only have a berm in LF (and the 3B line). There’s no separate entrance for that one.
Restrooms, I can see, might be an issue, though you could probably build some behind the berm if needed. It would only have to be big enough for maybe 1,000-1,500 people. I’d think it could be doable.
Check out Chicago sports coverage at SB Nation Chicago
I wonder how good/bad ticket sales have been to now, with all the ads for Cubs tickets.
If the Cubs still have a chance, no matter how small, it’s still Go Cubs, damn the math and pass the KoolAid.
Dempster ready for the regular season.
If the Cubs still have a chance, no matter how small, it’s still Go Cubs, damn the math and pass the KoolAid.
Geo !!!!!!!!!
If the Cubs still have a chance, no matter how small, it’s still Go Cubs, damn the math and pass the KoolAid.
Score/sit rep?
"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
2:1 other guys
If the Cubs still have a chance, no matter how small, it’s still Go Cubs, damn the math and pass the KoolAid.
Jump
If the Cubs still have a chance, no matter how small, it’s still Go Cubs, damn the math and pass the KoolAid.
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