Open Thread: Cubs vs. Braves, Saturday 6/2, 12:05 CT

Maybe it's a good thing that the Cubs, for the first time in four weeks, won't be one of Fox's featured Saturday games today. Instead, Chicago viewers will be treated to... (sigh) ... the Yankees and Red Sox, which is going to 85% of the country -- even though the other game, Cardinals/Astros, would likely be of more interest to Chicago viewers and is being shown in both Champaign and Peoria. If I thought there were really any connection between who televises the game and the team's record, I'd want the game on Fox -- since the Cubs are 4-1 this season in games televised by Fox.

On the other hand, today's game is on WGN, so it gets national exposure anyway. In fact, four of the next five games (all except Monday night) are on WGN. But do we want that right now?

Today's Starting Pitchers

R. Hill Cubs vs. C. James Braves 4-4 W-L 5-4 3.06 ERA 3.86 57 SO 47 23 BB 24 10 HR 8 vs. Atl -- vs. Cubs

Rich Hill has started twice vs. the Braves in his career, with success: 2-0 in 13.2 IP, including shutting them out for 8 innings in an April 19 win in Atlanta. I'd guess that after yesterday's brawl, Michael Barrett might be given the day off, leading to an all-Hill battery of Rich and Koyie (catching).

Chuck James has faced the Cubs only once, also in Atlanta, last September 9, winning easily 7-3.

For anyone interested, here's the Mediacenter link for today's games.

MLB.com Gameday (2007 version)

MLB.com Gameday (2006 version)

There's not a whole lot more to say after yesterday's debacle, at least not until we find out what sorts of punishments are meted out, or whether the Cubs will do the right thing and remove the problem(s) from the roster. The Cubs are at about their lowest ebb in years, and that includes last year's fiasco. Time to turn things around. NOW.

Discuss amongst yourselves.