Look at it this way -- Monday's game was the worst Opening Day loss in Cubs history. So it can't get any worse, right?
Right?
Further, a reminder: the last two Cub playoff teams (2007 and 2008) both lost on Opening Day. In fact, both of those teams lost their opening series... so when the Cubs come back and win this series from the Braves, they will actually be ahead of those clubs' paces after three games.
Point being, it's one game. Or three. Let's not panic. Ledge jumpers, c'mon back.
Here's a nice article from Carrie about the influence Greg Maddux has already had on the pitching staff.
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Stats above are 2009 season stats
Jair Jurrjens is just 24 and already one of the top pitchers in the National League. He has faced the Cubs only once, last July 6 at Wrigley Field, a game the Cubs won 4-2. The Cub who hits him best is Chad Tracy, who is 4-for-7 with a HR; that doesn't mean I'd advocate Tracy starting tonight, though.
Ryan Dempster's lifetime numbers vs. Atlanta look pretty bad: 2-11, 5.14 ERA in 26 appearances (15 starts). However, a lot of that was when he was a starter with the Marlins. Last year he made only one start vs. the Braves, on June 22 in Atlanta, and threw well enough to win (six innings, two ER), but the Cubs failed to score despite having 10 hits and three walks. They left 12 that night -- story of the 2009 season, I think. Current Braves are hitting .241 off him (21-for-87) with 2 HR.
Today's game is on cable: Peachtree TV in Atlanta, and CSN+ in Chicago (the Blackhawks are on CSN's main channel, so I think most of us can forgive CSN tonight). Here is the complete MLB.com Mediacenter for today.
Baseball-reference.com game preview
Tonight's overflow threads will post at 7:15, 8:15 and 9 pm CDT.
Discuss amongst yourselves.