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National TV, ESPN, oh, joy.
First, we'll have to be subjected to all the usual national announcer clichés. If you don't know what they are, you can play along with this handy Visiting Announcer Bingo card (first posted in one of the game threads here), best suited for national announcers who love the 24 memes that are on it. You'll yell "BINGO!" by the end of the first inning, most likely.
One thing not on that card is the current awful condition of the Wrigley Field turf, made so by the two concerts last weekend (supposedly, the turf is being replaced starting tomorrow). But you know the ESPN announcers will have something to say about the turf.
Then there's the Cubs' record in nationally televised games so far this year, all on Fox: 0-6.
Most teams like the ESPN exposure. Frankly, they can leave us alone until the Cubs get back to contention. See you in a few years, Worldwide Leader.
Cubs lineup:
Johnson RF, Barney 2B, Castro SS, Soriano LF, Baker 1B, Mather CF, Castillo C, Valbuena 3B, Maholm P
Red Sox lineup:
Podsednik LF, Pedroia 2B, Youkilis 3B, Ortiz 1B, Aviles SS, McDonald RF, Shoppach C, Kalish CF, Morales P
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Paul Maholm had a good start in an interleague game vs. the Red Sox on June 24, 2011, allowing just six hits and one run. The Red Sox player with the most career AB against Maholm is Adrian Gonzalez (3-for-11, no HR).
Franklin Morales has never faced the Cubs as a starter. Current Cubs are a very small-sample-size 7-for-16 against him, although 3-for-3 of that is accounted for by Geovany Soto, who's on the DL. In short, just about anything could happen from him tonight; he might not go very far into the game, as he hasn't started a game since 2009 and the most pitches he's thrown in an appearance this year is 52, in a four-inning relief appearance against the Blue Jays on June 3.
Today's game is on ESPN.
Most of today's games are over, but here is the complete MLB.com Mediacenter for today anyway.
Baseball-reference.com game preview
Please visit our SB Nation Red Sox site Over The Monster.
Today's first pitch thread will post at 7:05 p.m. CDT and the overflows at 8:05, 9:05 and 9:50 p.m. CDT. If you need more overflows due to extra innings or rain delays, post them in the fanshot section.
Discuss amongst yourselves.