:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/34337201/450584164.0.jpg)
Here's an Emilio Bonifacio update, and it isn't good:
Bonifacio's MRI revealed as expected an oblique strain. Could be a long time. Cubs say they have no timetable for return.
— Gordon Wittenmyer (@GDubCub) June 14, 2014
Oblique strains often take a month or more to heal. I doubt we see Emilio again until after the All-Star break, if then.
Now, how about some Jeff Samardzija and Jason Hammel trade rumors?
Sources say the Cubs already have had trade talks with multiple teams regarding Samardzija and right-hander Jason Hammel. The Braves, Mariners and Blue Jays are among the most interested, with one source suggesting offers already have been made by at least two teams. And one major-league source said he expects Hammel to end up in Seattle.
Seattle. Hmmm. Hadn't considered that; had thought the Blue Jays would be the No. 1 possible destination for Hammel. But maybe the Mariners have a more attractive collection of prospects.
One thing is for sure, at least in my view: Jason Hammel won't finish this year in a Cubs uniform. Jeff Samardzija? I don't think he will, either, though that's less a slam dunk than Hammel.
Cubs lineup:
Lake CF, Ruggiano LF, Rizzo 1B, Castro SS, Valbuena 2B, Schierholtz RF, Olt 3B, Whiteside C, Jackson P
Phillies lineup:
Revere CF, Rollins SS, Utley 2B, Howard 1B, Byrd RF, Brown LF, Ruiz C, Brignac 3B, Buchanan P
Today's Starting Pitchers |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
It's Saturday. Let's see, that must be Edwin Jackson's day to... be great? Suck? I honestly have no idea and I bet neither do you, and neither does he. Jackson never seems to have a game plan in mind when he gets to the mound, just goes out there and throws random pitches and hopes they get hitters out. The last time he faced the Phillies, August 6, 2013 in Philadelphia, they hit him hard. That could happen again today. Or not. Who knows?
David Buchanan is making his fifth major-league start. The other four haven't gone all that well (6.08 ERA, 1.352 WHIP, 4.56 FIP), but remember he has never faced the Cubs nor anyone on the current roster, and you know what usually happens in situations like this -- doom.
Today's game is on CSN Chicago.
Here is the complete MLB.com Mediacenter for today.
Baseball-reference.com game preview
Please visit our SB Nation Phillies site The Good Phight.
For 2014, we are going to have the same game-thread routine as 2013. Here's how it works.
You'll find the game preview -- like this one -- posting as the first link in the StoryStream™, which will then contain all the overflow threads and the recap. The recap will also be on the front page as a separate post; once I post a game recap, the stream for each game will be retitled "Cubs vs. (Team) (Day of Week) Game Threads" so you can go back and find every thread related to that particular game.
In general, game previews will post two hours before game time. Exception: for day games after night games, that will usually be 90 minutes.
You will also be able to find the First Pitch Thread and all the overflow threads in the box marked "Chicago Cubs Game Threads" at the bottom of the front page (you can also find them in this section link). They will also appear in this StoryStream™. As I've done for each regular-season game for several years now, we'll have the First Pitch thread at five minutes before game time (moved up from actual game time per your requests), then an overflow one hour, two hours and 2:45 after game time.
Discuss amongst yourselves.