SCOTTSDALE, Arizona -- The Padres came to the brink of the playoffs last year, before the Cubs helped derail them by taking three of four in San Diego during the season's final week. In a bleak Cubs season, that series was one of the highlights; they were all well-pitched games, two 1-0 Cubs wins, and only five runs given up to the Padres in the four games.
It's a new year and the Padres enter this season without Adrian Gonzalez, their best player for several seasons and someone I thought would give a huge hometown discount to stay with his hometown team. Well, I was wrong about that. Instead, the Padres will play ex-Rockie Brad Hawpe at first base this year; he's played nine games there in his major league career. The Pads have a number of kids looking to win jobs, some AL refugees, a Hoffpauir (Jarrett, not Micah) and former Cub Eric Patterson, still trying to convince people he's a major league player. Patterson gets the start today for SD in RF.
Here's what Mike Quade said about Carlos Silva after yesterday's game:
"We'll see what his next outing brings," manager Mike Quade said. "I haven't had time to change my opinion."
Hasn't had time? How much more of this does he need to see? Even the outs hit off Silva yesterday were hard-hit, long fly balls. Quade did say that Silva won't pitch out of the bullpen (good). He's only being considered for the rotation. Maybe this is a step closer to him being out the door.
This afternoon, Matt Garza gets the ball again as the Cubs go to Peoria Sports Complex -- that's where he made his last start on Monday. This time it'll be against the Padres in a game that will be heard on WGN radio and seen on WGN-TV. Among other Cubs who may throw today: Justin Berg, Braden Looper, Scott Maine, Jeff Samardzija and Jeff Stevens. A familiar face to us in the NL Central, ex-Red Aaron Harang, gets the start for San Diego, with Cory Luebke, another rotation candidate for the Pads, likely to throw most of the rest of the innings.
Cubs lineup:
Fukudome RF DeWitt 2B Colvin LF Soto C Pena 1B Baker 3B Camp SS Perez CF Garza P
Padres lineup:
Patterson RF Bartlett SS Hudson 2B Ludwick LF Headley 3B Hawpe 1B Maybin CF Hundley C Harang P
Here's all the media information for today.
MLB.com Gameday for today's game
Here is the complete MLB.com Mediacenter for today. Today's game is on WGN radio with Pat and Zonk, and on WGN-TV with Len and Bob.
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