The magic Fox wizard has deigned to make the Cubs/Cardinals game the primary game this afternoon, even though there's a game involving a team from New York (the Mets/Diamondbacks game) as one of the other choices. Someone's probably going to get fired at Fox over that. However, 65% of the USA will see the Cub game -- last year, I posted the list of cities, since it was usually short, but this list is too long. You can check to see if the game's on in your market by clicking on this link.
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Kyle Lohse, if you don't recall the trade, was once a Cub farmhand. He went to the Twins in the Rick Aguilera deal on May 21, 1999 -- as a throw-in. The guy Minnesota wanted was Jason Ryan, at the time a top pitching prospect. Aguilera didn't do much for the Cubs and Ryan washed out after 24 major league appearances. But Lohse, the throw-in, has started over 200 major league games (despite a 4.72 career ERA). The Cubs also got Scott Downs in the deal; he eventually went to the Expos for Rondell White. He has faced the Cubs four times in his career and is 1-1, 3.89. We keep waiting for Alfonso Soriano to hit; Lohse is someone he has hit well (12-for-28, .429/.429/.714). Mark DeRosa is 6-for-13 against Lohse, and Lohse has never retired Aramis Ramirez (5-for-5, 2 doubles, a HR).
Ted Lilly got off to a rough start but has thrown well in each of his last two starts. It's almost imperative that he go 7 innings today, as the bullpen is showing dangerous signs of overwork. Lilly is 3-2, 2.93 lifetime vs. the Cardinals and has a 2.08 career ERA in St. Louis.
Since today's game is on Fox, clicking on the MLB.com Mediacenter link won't get you to the Cub telecast. I post it for informational purposes anyway. (And yes, the posted starting time is 2:45 CT; for some reason the early-season Fox games are at 2:45, but later they're moved back to 2:55.)
MLB.com Gameday (2007 version)
MLB.com Gameday (2008 version)
Baseball-reference.com game preview
Today's overflow comment thread will post at 4:15 CT.
Discuss amongst yourselves.