Open Thread: Cubs vs. Royals, Sunday 3/9, 3:05 CT
Reminder: one hour later than yesterday (and this will be the case for most, but not all, remaining spring games) due to Daylight Saving time taking effect this morning.
Bruce Miles tells us today about the starting pitching numbers game, and says the rotation is starting to take shape:
That leaves the final spot between righties Ryan Dempster and Jason Marquis. If the Cubs can trade Marquis, as they'd prefer, that solves one problem. If not, somebody's going to the bullpen.
Bruce also says that Sean Marshall would likely go to Iowa (since he has options left) rather than be in the bullpen. Makes sense to me.
In another article, Bruce writes that while Jake Fox may not have a great chance to make the team, he's finishing up his college degree and developing a program for college coaches to help out diabetic athletes.
Phil Rogers' Sunday notes column includes this quote from Corey Patterson on his signing with the Reds:
Ryan Dempster will start for the Cubs. Kerry Wood, Neal Cotts, Carmen Pignatiello, Kevin Hart and Carlos Marmol will also throw for the Cubs. For KC, Brett Tomko starts and the Cubs will also face Julio Pimentel, Yasuhiko Yabuta, Leon Nunez and ex-Cub Ron Mahay. (Information from the Royals' website. C'mon, Carrie. Post this on the Cubs' website, too!)
Today's game is on TV (WGN) and on radio in both Chicago and Kansas City and at the MLB.com Mediacenter.
Discuss amongst yourselves.
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Comments
Uh, Corey might be...
by timlacy on Mar 9, 2008 9:38 AM CDT 0 recs
i heard on the score
by china423 on Mar 9, 2008 9:57 AM CDT 0 recs
As
by cubswin14 on
Mar 9, 2008 10:06 AM CDT
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that's a lot of if's.
by drewishdrewid on
Mar 9, 2008 10:31 AM CDT
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No "If" is bigger than
by lostinthevines on
Mar 9, 2008 10:54 AM CDT
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I'd say that
by drewishdrewid on
Mar 9, 2008 3:55 PM CDT
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Marquis
by Luigi on
Mar 9, 2008 11:12 AM CDT
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LOL!
by gary varsho on
Mar 9, 2008 11:20 AM CDT
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I'm pretty sure
by gary varsho on
Mar 9, 2008 12:47 PM CDT
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LOL
by Al on
Mar 9, 2008 12:49 PM CDT
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This has got me to thinking
1.) Dontrelle Willis
2.) Mike Hampton
3.) Jason Jennings
4.) Micah Owings
5.) Carlos Zambrano
6.) Jason Marquis
7.) Greg Maddux
8.) Livan Hernandez
9.) Jeff Suppan
by gary varsho on
Mar 9, 2008 1:04 PM CDT
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Don't Forget
by Luigi on
Mar 9, 2008 3:16 PM CDT
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no kidding
by wojo on
Mar 9, 2008 1:49 PM CDT
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Then
by gary varsho on
Mar 9, 2008 1:53 PM CDT
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Again...
by Al on
Mar 9, 2008 2:06 PM CDT
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Clarity is not the problem.
by gary varsho on
Mar 9, 2008 2:15 PM CDT
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If only we had a time machine
Not to mention how good Pie will be in 2009!
by cubbybear on
Mar 9, 2008 4:19 PM CDT
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Sorry - not last year
by TheEman on
Mar 9, 2008 1:08 PM CDT
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darn...
by LilLPLancer23 on Mar 9, 2008 10:21 AM CDT 0 recs
Dusty said...
Um, Dusty? Corey will be 29 in July. That's way past "young". That's getting to be past whatever his major league peak might be. Most likely, what you see is what you get -- a .298 lifetime OBA and 135 strikeouts per 162 games.
The Reds can have him.
by Al on
Mar 9, 2008 11:48 AM CDT
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Lieber....
Crisp? Meh. Even if it means unloading Marquis and his contract, I'd still rather have Jason around than Crisp. I still wish the Cubs could get Reggie Willits or Juan Rivera from the Angels, stick him in center and leave him there, but increasingly, I can't figure out who the Cubs have the Angels would want, and that includes Pie. But Crisp? If he shows up, then you know the trade with Orioles is really dead because it always seems Jay Payton, whom I would find much more preferable as a fourth outfielder and is always mentioned in "that" trade, isn't coming.
by BeerCub on Mar 9, 2008 10:40 AM CDT 0 recs
I agree.
That said, I'm not too anxious to get rid of any of those three. Cedeno and Fontenot provide band-aids in middle IF, and we have Fuld and Murton available for OF relief if need be.
The one thing B-Rob would bring would be a higher OBP in the 1 or 2-hole, but is he really going to be slotted there, anyway?
by lostinthevines on
Mar 9, 2008 11:03 AM CDT
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OK I realize that I just contradicted myself;
Carry on...
by lostinthevines on
Mar 9, 2008 11:04 AM CDT
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Why trade Marquis?
by ronsanto10 on Mar 9, 2008 11:43 AM CDT 0 recs
Seriously......
by BeerCub on
Mar 9, 2008 11:48 AM CDT
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Different thoughts
The other surprise was watching Pie bat with confidence, he plays regularly the Cubs will be a much better team on the field and in the batting order. The other thing that was exciting was the idea of trying to play Fontenot at SS to see if he can in a pinch or occasion play SS. Cedeno vying for an IF-OF utility role is also exciting.
I can see the Cubs not making a trade until June or July for a 4th OF'er and going with the team they got minus Marquis.
by Ivy Walls on Mar 9, 2008 12:39 PM CDT 0 recs
Lieber was good yesterday.....
Yes, I was encouraged by his start, but lets not get too excited either.
by cubbie08 on
Mar 9, 2008 1:17 PM CDT
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Am I the only one
by JJDiesel21 on Mar 9, 2008 12:56 PM CDT 0 recs
Two words.
Well, more than two words. Marshall's wasted as the 2nd lefty in the pen. If he's not in the Cub rotation, he should be in the rotation at Iowa.
by Al on
Mar 9, 2008 1:06 PM CDT
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Agreed! Even ONE
by TheEman on
Mar 9, 2008 1:10 PM CDT
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Regarding Lieber's start yesterday
by kanderber on Mar 9, 2008 1:17 PM CDT 0 recs
I like Fontenot...
by teacher tom on Mar 9, 2008 1:18 PM CDT 0 recs
Fontenot barely has the arm
by gary varsho on
Mar 9, 2008 1:22 PM CDT
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Anyone else see Fontenot's
by RynoHoF on
Mar 9, 2008 1:27 PM CDT
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OMG
by NWIowaCubFan on
Mar 9, 2008 1:58 PM CDT
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I don't think the idea is that...
by cwyers on
Mar 9, 2008 2:00 PM CDT
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Is there a lineup posted for today yet?
by CubsBall2202 on Mar 9, 2008 1:53 PM CDT 0 recs
Not yet.
by Al on
Mar 9, 2008 1:59 PM CDT
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has the lottery for the bullpen and dugout box
by buckmulligan on Mar 9, 2008 2:06 PM CDT 0 recs
You are confusing two things
There are other seats going on sale next week.
by TheEman on
Mar 9, 2008 2:48 PM CDT
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Lineups
Soriano, LF
Patterson, 2B
Hoffpauir, 1B
Ward, DH
Murton, RF
Soto, C
Cintron, 3B
Pie, CF
A. Blanco, SS
Dempster, P
Royals
DeJesus, CF
Grudzielanek, 2B
Gload, 1B
Guillen, RF
Gordon, 3B
Butler, DH
Teahen, LF
Buck, C
Pena, SS
Tomko, P
by Bruce Miles on Mar 9, 2008 2:18 PM CDT 0 recs
This is very different...
by cwyers on
Mar 9, 2008 2:26 PM CDT
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Thanks Bruce
by cubswin14 on
Mar 9, 2008 2:28 PM CDT
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Cintron can play all the infield positions.
by cwyers on
Mar 9, 2008 2:34 PM CDT
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woof
by Orval Overall on
Mar 9, 2008 2:33 PM CDT
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I'm guessing...
by Al on
Mar 9, 2008 2:35 PM CDT
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I thought that was 8?
by Orval Overall on
Mar 9, 2008 2:41 PM CDT
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If you'll allow me to go on a short rant here...
But my gut feeling is that the Cubs as an organization are too attached to the notion of filling certain "roles" on a ballclub that I'm not really sure exist. So instead of taking what they have and seeing the best way to to make it all work, they come up with an idea of how they think things should work and try to fit the parts on hand to that notion.
The Cubs have attatched themselves to the idea that they need a left-handed hitter at the top of the order who does certain things well: put the ball in play a lot, steal bases, and be in front of the big boppers to drive in some runs. Well, when you limit your conception of what it is you need like that, you limit your options and you force yourself into a corner.
So the Cubs look at Pie and, instead of seeing him for what he is (a very good defensive player who has very nice doubles power and not a lot of plate discipline; his hitting style is very much Soriano's), they see what he isn't.
It's stupid and it's frustrating to watch at times, but thats Cubs baseball.
by cwyers on
Mar 9, 2008 2:45 PM CDT
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Re:
Doesn't Dome fit this bill?
by gary varsho on
Mar 9, 2008 2:55 PM CDT
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You had your rant
The fact is that we really do not know if Pie's "potential" will pan out.
I hope it does.
But management just wants to win now and the way they are choosing going about it under the circumstances, is at least showing some effort.
Imo, adding Brian Roberts to this team would have made the TEAM better, deeper, and speedier, which will be really an advantage in the home part of the schedule during April and May (he looks out to the snow falling outside his window now).
However, I don't think Hendry was quite prepared for dealing with a stubborn former personal injury attorney who owns a BAltimore baseball team - when he thought he was dealing with his former boss.
Without a doubt, it has screwed up Hendry's best laid plan. And between Lou and Hendry, they aren't completely sold on young Pie. Yet. We'll all see in the moths to come.
My $.02
by TheEman on
Mar 9, 2008 2:56 PM CDT
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Man! I wish
1-0 Cubs. DWARD w/rbi
by TheEman on Mar 9, 2008 3:15 PM CDT 0 recs
I was just going to say
I'd like him to get a chance and to bring us something in return.
by Kinky Reggae on
Mar 9, 2008 3:17 PM CDT
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How do we know he isn't?
by Al on
Mar 9, 2008 3:20 PM CDT
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I suppose we don't.
by Kinky Reggae on
Mar 9, 2008 3:21 PM CDT
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There is.
by Al on
Mar 9, 2008 3:18 PM CDT
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6-3 put out
by LilLPLancer23 on Mar 9, 2008 3:19 PM CDT 0 recs
Nice inning for Dempster.
by Al on Mar 9, 2008 3:19 PM CDT 0 recs
Why is Pie wearing #74?
by Kinky Reggae on Mar 9, 2008 3:20 PM CDT 0 recs
ha!
by wojo on
Mar 9, 2008 3:22 PM CDT
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I wonder
by wojo on Mar 9, 2008 3:20 PM CDT 0 recs
I'm guessing...
by Al on
Mar 9, 2008 3:22 PM CDT
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couple random comments
by lilkimmer77 on Mar 9, 2008 3:21 PM CDT 0 recs
Good pitch count
by Bruce Miles on Mar 9, 2008 3:21 PM CDT 0 recs
Alex Cintron...
by Al on Mar 9, 2008 3:22 PM CDT 0 recs
Al--
by Littlerock Rynofan on
Mar 9, 2008 3:25 PM CDT
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LOL
by Al on
Mar 9, 2008 3:27 PM CDT
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So at Wrigley,
by LilLPLancer23 on
Mar 9, 2008 3:35 PM CDT
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dempster motion
just looks odd.
by billywan on Mar 9, 2008 3:22 PM CDT 0 recs
Helps him grip his splitter
by Bruce Miles on
Mar 9, 2008 3:25 PM CDT
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interesting
wonder if little things like that get in hitters' heads, or if they're just trying to pick up the ball. either way, he seems to be using the whole arsenal so far today, and in a pretty nice rhythm.
of course it helps when you're playing the royals...
by billywan on
Mar 9, 2008 3:33 PM CDT
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At the hazards of offending folks ...
So, who's the closer? Marmol or Woodie? Can't wait to see them all.
LRRF
by Littlerock Rynofan on Mar 9, 2008 3:24 PM CDT 0 recs
WOW!
THe is impressive today. I noticed that glove flip too.
by Kinky Reggae on


