Cubs vs. Angels Preview, Saturday 2/23, 2:05 CT

Baseball time is here again
You can catch it all on WGN -- Steve Goodman

At long last, baseball has returned! This afternoon's first Cubs spring-training game can indeed be heard on WGN radio (with Len Kasper subbing for Pat Hughes on PBP). It's my understanding that if you have the new 2013 MLB At Bat app for whatever mobile device you own, you can listen to spring-training games free of charge.

So fire up your radios, computers, smartphones and listen to the Cubs take on the Angels from Tempe Diablo Stadium at 2:05 p.m. Central.

Here's a note that is definitely not good news:

Stewart and Vitters MRI confirm mild to moderate quad strains. Both out 10-14 days. Not good news for Stewart.

— Paul Sullivan (@PWSullivan) February 23, 2013

Sigh. Guess it's Luis Valbuena again at third base. Unless the Cubs want to think outside the box and try Logan Watkins there. Or maybe Junior Lake surprises everyone.

Here's the Cubs lineup for this afternoon:

Watkins 2B, Sappelt CF, Rizzo 1B, Hairston RF, Valbuena 3B, Castillo C, Jackson LF, Lillibridge SS, McDonald DH

Looks like almost all the regulars are getting the first day of spring off. For the Angels:

Bourjos CF, Aybar SS, Trumbo 1B, Conger C, Hall 3B, Cousins RF, Oeltjen LF, Rodriguez 2B, Carlin DH

For spring-training games, we'll have a first-pitch thread at game time and one overflow thread, 90 minutes after game time (because I know how you all like overflow threads!). These threads will not post individually onto the front page; instead, you can find links to them in the box marked "Chicago Cubs Game Threads" at the bottom of the front page. I'm also trying to figure out a way to get the overflow threads into this game stream, though that might not happen until after the game. The pitcher box and regular-season stats will return on Opening Day.

As previously announced, Travis Wood will get the spring opener start. This doesn't mean anything in terms of the regular-season rotation or whether he'll make it. Other Cubs slated to pitch today: Jaye Chapman, Rafael Dolis, Trey McNutt, Zach Putnam, Hector Rondon and Hisanori Takahashi. For the Angels, former Cub Jerome Williams gets the start.

Discuss amongst yourselves.