Meaningful Things
The Cubs lost to the Giants 8-6 this afternoon on another sunny, 75-degree day in Mesa.
So what? Wins and losses don't mean a thing in spring training. And this isn't a rationalization, it's the truth. Most major league managers would tell you that they don't even necessarily play to win each ST game -- because they are experimenting with lineups, taking regulars out early, and switching pitchers far more often than they would during a regular season game.
So what happened today that was meaningful for the Cubs?
- Carlos Zambrano threw two decent innings, though he ruined the first one with his own throwing error.
- Rich Hill also threw two uneventful innings, striking out three
- Kosuke Fukudome continued to play On-Base Machine, walking twice more and scoring two runs; in fact, the Cubs drew nine walks total today, a good sign, including two from Mike Fontenot, who also doubled and who will be given the chance to see if he can play 3B or SS, to improve his chances of sticking as a utility player
- One of our Closer Candidates, Carlos Marmol, appeared in a game for the first time, and Marmol put some random minor league Giants down 1-2-3.
- Why is Les Walrond even still issued a major league uniform? He's awful. He is 31 years old. He wasn't even any good when he was younger. There have to be better ways to fill out the Iowa rotation than with retreads like this.
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I'm glad Walrond...
by santoswoodenlegs on Feb 29, 2008 5:30 PM CST reply actions
Walrond
It will be nice to watch some Cubs baseball on a Saturday.
I really do feel for him...
by Damen Jackson on Feb 29, 2008 6:30 PM CST up reply actions
That's Walrond's reason
I would imagine his dreams these days involve making it to the majors as a pitching coach. That's what often happened to Larry Rothschild, for example. Walrond's major league career is already 17 innings longer than Rothschild's.
I was at the game until
Fukudome impresses me. Ok, it's only ST, but he knows what he's doing up there, no wasted AB's.
Z looked good, Hill, too. Fontenot was still stroking the ball.
Don't know what the weather stations were saying, but it definitely was in the 80's there today. Talked to a potential BCBer in the LF bleachers, the very nice couple hail from western DuPage County. Had a great time chatting with them while quaffing frosty Old Styles.
Soriano was in CF for an inning or so, he lost a ball in the sun, Fuld misjudged one right before that. Don't know what Fuld was looking at, it wasn't that hard of a play. He took his first step in, and it was over him.
Got to shake Fergie's hand today at his charity kiosk and he signed my glove. Also caught my first ever BP HR today on the fly.
I thought the outfield berm area was closed...
And congrats on catching your first. Did they stop BP and let you toss the ball off to the side for safe-keeping? ;-)
It is closed
Big security changes since the 80's
I went back to ST in 1992 and it was already set up to protect the players and limit access. Ah, those were the days.
Fitch was pretty open then and spent quite a bit of time talking to Jim Colborn one year. He lived in Ventura County, CA at one time, where I lived from 1964 to 1998, and was involved in the one year Ventura Gulls A ball team experiment. Very friendly to me.
Anyway, congrats on the HR ball and meeting Fergie. He and Santo were my favorites.
Yeah, I made my catch
The reason...
Forgot to mention that
You say spring not far behind?
by LilLPLancer23 on Feb 29, 2008 6:14 PM CST reply actions
Walk ratios
by Mike Vails Evil Twin on Feb 29, 2008 6:24 PM CST reply actions
Yes, it sure is.
I know I went OT
Attendance was 8,838, so I guess everyone is waiting for Spring Break. Was nice not having to trip over people on the lawn.
FYI, beers are $6.50, Old Style cans are $5.
egad
by drewishdrewid on Feb 29, 2008 6:36 PM CST up reply actions
I don't mind...
About the prices, yes, the concession prices are major league. At least the food is better now than it used to be.
A beer at Chase Field
That's insane.
When I go to D Back games
Playing it cautious
His throwing arm is stiff
On whether today's game was...
All Angels Spring training games
Angels games are free because KLAA (Which stands for Los Angeles Angels, btw and is owned by Arte Moreno) won't preempt their right-wing talk shows during the day for Angels spring training games.
But everyone should be able to listen to today's game on the internet.
So do you get these...
I believe through
Doesn't seem to have anything up on the website though. But I'd check the the Angels website closer to gametime. Or I'd just try to click on the Angels feed and see if it asks for a password.
Good thing I'm up with a crying baby. :-)
Reading the email
Thanks!
Friday, March 14 at Mesa
Sunday, March 16 at Mesa (game on WGN-TV)
Wednesday, March 26 at Tempe
Hope the baby's stopped crying by now.
On the..
spring
First prediction for 2009....
I'll bet we could have predicted that...
And how do we know he's not doing this NOW?

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