Don't forget! Today's game starts an hour earlier than yesterday; if it's anything like last year's final spring game, the regulars will play about three or four innings and then traipse across the field in street clothes to the bus that's taking them to the airport to whisk them to New York for the pair of games against the Yankees.
Speaking of which, Lou changed his mind. Ted Lilly's going to NYC after all; if the rainy weather prevents him from pitching in the actual game, he'll still get his work in, throwing in the batting cages. From that Gordon Wittenmyer article we also learn:
• • Former Cub Sean Gallagher lost his job in Oakland's rotation without even pitching Wednesday. Athletics manager Bob Geren said after the 8-8 tie against the Cubs that Gallagher is ''competing for a bullpen job.'' As recently as last week, Gallagher was considered a middle-of-the-rotation starter.
• • The Cubs and Under Armour Inc. have reached a deal for the athletic apparel company to continue as the only advertiser on the outfield wall at Wrigley Field. The Cubs dropped a lawsuit filed in January that accused Under Armour of reneging on a previous deal.
Bruce Miles has Z's pitch count from yesterday: 63. Expect Ryan Dempster to go about that far today, too. Bruce also tells us that:
The Cubs don't have immediate interest in third baseman Mike Lamb, released by the Milwaukee Brewers, but it's possible they could look into a minor-league deal for Lamb in the near future.
Lamb, a left-handed batter, played with Milwaukee and Minnesota last year. He has a lifetime .277 batting average, a .333 on-base percentage and a .417 slugging percentage. The Cubs saw plenty of Lamb when he played for Houston from 2004-07. Lamb's release was due in part to former Cub Casey McGehee apparently making the Brewers' big-league club.
So let me get this straight: the Cubs are interested in a 33-year-old third baseman who had a bad year last year and who was beaten out for a roster spot by someone the Cubs let go on waivers last fall? Couldn't they have just kept Casey McGehee in that case?
From Paul Sullivan: yesterday's lineup was the likely lineup you'll see against LHP this year, except that Lou...
... wasn't sure whether Aaron Miles will start over Mike Fontenot at second base against Astros left-hander Wandy Rodriguez next Wednesday.
Speaking of Houston, remember the last time Z faced them? Carlos reminisces.
Ryan Dempster, as noted, will start against the Indians' Anthony Reyes. Expect widespread substitutions. The game is available at the MLB.com Mediacenter. If you are in the Cleveland are, the WMMS broadcast is running on tape delay and can be heard at 7 pm EDT.
Discuss amongst yourselves.