April is over, and I suspect most Cubs fans (and the players, too) are happy to see the calendar change. Does the April record reflect the rest of the season? The Cubs finished April 2010 at 11-13. Here is the team record for April for the ten seasons before this year (the 2000, 2003 and 2008 numbers all include a small number of games played in March):
2009: 10-11 2008: 17-10 2007: 10-14 2006: 13-10 2005: 12-11 2004: 13-9 2003: 14-12 2002: 8-16 2001: 15-9 2000: 10-17
The predictive value of those is... not much. The Cubs have had good Aprils that led to good seasons (2001, 2003, 2008). They've had good Aprils that have led to bad seasons (2005, 2006). And they've had one bad April that resulted in a playoff season (2007).
Notes:- If various civic bodies approve, the Toyota sign could be up for the next homestand, on May 10. Opinion: fine with me. I'm not crazy about the sign, but it doesn't impact my game experience or change anything significant. Maybe the money helps the Cubs get a player who can help later in the season. And there's another reason to approve it: Tom Ricketts says he might not invest in Wrigleyville if the sign isn't approved:
"I have a lot of other dollars that can be invested in Wrigleyville, or not," Ricketts said.
- Check out the Cubs page at CSNChicago.com, a new partner of SB Nation. In addition to game stories, features, etc. there will be live streaming video of news conferences and other events.
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Dan Haren wins the "Scruffiest Pitcher of the Year" award, and it's only May 1. He's also second in the NL in strikeouts (behind Tim Lincecum), and tied for fifth in the NL (with five others) with six HR allowed. Lifetime vs. the Cubs he's 1-2 in four starts and a 5.84 ERA, but his last outing vs. the Cubs on April 27, 2009 resulted in a CG victory with 10 strikeouts, while the 2009 Cubs were in one of their not-hitting phases. (Aaron Miles actually started a game at 2B? Ugh.) Anyway, the newly-hot Alfonso Soriano is 7-for-21 (.333) vs. Haren with three doubles and three HR off him.
Carlos Silva became the first Cubs pitcher to have quality starts in his first four appearances for the team since Ted Lilly did it in 2007 (Lilly did it in his first five). If Silva can keep the ball down today, he'll be successful. Most of his career appearances vs. Arizona came in relief with the Phillies; his only career start against them was nearly six years ago on July 4, 2004, posted only for historical reference (check out that lineup!). The only current Diamondback that Silva has faced is Kelly Johnson (2-for-6).
Today's game is on WGN and the D'backs cable channel, FSN Arizona. Here is the complete MLB.com Mediacenter for today.
Baseball-reference.com game preview
Please visit our SB Nation Diamondbacks site AZ Snakepit.
This afternoon's first pitch thread will be up at 12 noon CDT, and the overflows will post at 1, 2 and 2:45 pm CDT.
Discuss amongst yourselves.