Bleed Cubbie Blue - Cubs vs. Brewers Opening Day 3/30 game threadsA Chicago Cubs Fan Community Since February 9, 2005https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/47557/cubbieblue.png2023-03-31T08:30:00-05:00http://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/rss/stream/231533032023-03-31T08:30:00-05:002023-03-31T08:30:00-05:002023 Cubs Heroes and Goats: Game 1
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<figcaption>Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Hope springs eternal!</p> <p id="163e4j">Welcome back for the 10th season of Heroes and Goats. I can remember back to 2014 when Al Yellon asked the Bleed Cubbie Blue faithful if any of them had ideas for new features. Me? I wouldn’t describe myself as particularly creative. But I well remember when Russ La Croix conceived Heroes and Goats. I was from the beginning a fan of the series and read what he produced day after day. Russ would helm this feature through the 2016 <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/world-series">World Series</a>. He was a man who knew how to exit on a high note, departing following the Cubs’ World Series victory. </p>
<p id="nnM5gL">I’d love to say that I was waiting in the wings to take over the feature when Russ stepped aside. At that time I didn’t want the commitment and so the position would be unfilled as the 2017 season began. There were some stopgap solutions until I stopped being stubborn and took on Heroes and Goats. With most of six seasons under my belt, I’ve probably recapped somewhere over 900 games (the 2020 season, of course, being shortened). </p>
<p id="cCHlRJ">I have to thank Al for basically handing me open mic night for all of these years. 2022 was the hardest of these years for me. I’m now a Cubs Fan in Tampa. I had some health issues and typing isn’t as easy for me as it once was. I frankly wasn’t sure when I wrote my last piece for 2022 that I’d be writing again in 2023. </p>
<p id="mDKLMI">But as things go, I’m over six months post-cervical fusion. The numbness and tingling in my arms and hands isn’t gone. But, as you do, I’ve learned to manage. I don’t type as well as I once did, nor as badly as I recently did. Physically, I’m not 100 percent and might never be. Age remains undefeated. </p>
<p id="KDhCfo">But 2022 was also a season where I ended up having a lot of fun. The stretch run of the Cubs last year was as fun as it was shocking. We’ve seen some pretty bad Cubs teams bounce down the stretch, to be fair. But this one felt different. A lot of the guys that propelled the team in August and September were young players under control. This wasn’t a group of has-beens looking to recapture a few moments of lost glory. Most of the guys keying the wins would be back. </p>
<p id="1C7lTd">The Cardinals have eaten the Cubs’ lunch through the majority of our adult lives because they have out-scouted, out-coached, and out-developed the Cubs at every turn. In the modern era, every now and then a team will break through almost entirely led by free agents and trade acquisitions. But by and large, the best teams, particularly the one that sustain it, are developed from within. Oh, every team patches holes with a key acquisition here and there. But the best organizations are constantly producing talent from within. </p>
<p id="uuanGI">The Cubs, not so much. The core of the 2016 team included a lot of guys who spent time in the team’s system. After all, even guys like Anthony Rizzo, Kyle Hendricks and even Jake Arrieta spent time in Iowa for the Cubs. The team that won the World Series was full of guys who had played more games for the Cubs than any other team. But, the huge majority of that team and the ones that followed it got production from first round picks, but rarely anything further down. </p>
<p id="HrK0BH">I don’t have to look and I just know there is someone who will make key contributions for the Cardinals this year that was drafted after the 10th round. I know this because they always have one or two of those guys. But in 2022, there were some hints that the Cubs might have a few of those success stories. Brandon Hughes, drafted as an outfielder in the 16th round, was recording key outs of the bullpen. Justin Steele and Keegan Thompson were more highly drafted, in the fifth and third round respectively, and wound up throwing key innings. There were hints that maybe, just maybe, the system is starting to produce quality beyond the first round. </p>
<p id="7kCtT2">Player development is the cornerstone of a great organization. If the Cubs are going to become one, they are going to have to sustain it. It’s way too soon to know, but the Cubs added a batch of experienced players around that youth movement in an effort to get back into a competitive window. </p>
<p id="7Cwdz0">I’ve long suspected that in more or less all 30 of the locker rooms around baseball are players that approach opening day believing that if they can catch a few breaks and have some good health, that their team can reach the postseason. That surely hasn’t become less true with expanded postseasons. We fans, we’re a bit more jaded. The fans of many teams are already frustrated because their team is at least a year or two away from the nearest possible competitive window. </p>
<p id="FseZux">Here in Chicago, hope springs eternal. A majority of Bleed Cubbie Blue front page writers projected the Cubs to have a winning record and to challenge for a playoff spot. Full disclosure, I was one of them who did not. But that didn’t make me less excited for the start of the season. I remain a fan like all of you. I just have a platform to wax poetically and/or be critical of the efforts. I watched the first innings of today’s win, the longest I’ve consecutively watched a game in a couple of years. For so many reasons, I loved what I saw. </p>
<p id="WRh3mH">And hey, is it too soon to point out I said that Marcus Stroman would be the Cubs’ ace? Yeah, sure, it’s early. And yep, I picked the Opening Day starter. Call me Nostradamus. Who doesn’t love a good spike of the ball with 161 games to go? Anyway, moving on to business. </p>
<p id="f9YEYD">For those of you new to this feature, Heroes and Goats looks at each Cubs game through the lens of WPA. Objectively we’ll name the three players who contributed the most WPA (Superhero, Hero, Sidekick) and the three with the lowest WPA (Billy Goat, Goat and Kid). I’ll look at the biggest WPA play for each team and then I’ll cover the leaders and cellar dwellers in the season standings (+3 down to -3 are awarded each game). At the end of the year I’ll crown the Anthony Rizzo award winner. The award is named for Rizzo who won this award in four of the first six years. At the end of each Heroes & Goats we’ll do a poll for the Cubs Player of the Game. That one is totally subjective. I’ll typically list three players, often the top three by WPA, but not always. I might list a player or two who I felt made a key contribution that didn’t reach a “podium” or even one of the goats. I’ll always open it for a “none of the above” selection and then invite you to comment on someone I might have missed. </p>
<p id="tm1kpP">The comments make things more interesting and fun. So leave a note. Tell me what you liked or what you didn’t. Josh Timmers gets a fun group together with his late night chats and Al gets the bulk of the traffic with his game recaps and other articles. But I’d love for the H&G comments section to be interesting too. So drop me a line. I’m going to make an effort to be more proactive in responding. All I ask that you keep it respectful to the players. I try to keep this space positive. I’m never going to dwell too much on the negative. I’ll express some frustration in the open, but by and large I’m going to always try to remain optimistic and supportive in this space. </p>
<p id="vPjaKz">The season started with an impressive victory. It was enjoyable from start to finish. Let’s start our journey through the 2023 season with the first of nearly 162 looks at the 2023 Cubs through the lens of WPA and the Heroes and Goats system. </p>
<p id="Kx1V1i"><strong>Game 1, March 30: </strong>Cubs 4, Brewers 0 (1-0)</p>
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<cite><a class="ql-link" href="https://www.fangraphs.com/wins.aspx?date=2023-03-30&team=Cubs&dh=0&season=2023" target="_blank">Fangraphs</a></cite>
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<p id="xix5ge"></p>
<p id="YJbrLU">Reminder: Heroes and Goats are determined by WPA scores and are in no way subjective.</p>
<p id="zdTeVY"><strong>THREE HEROES:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li id="UOwqKd">
<strong>Superhero: </strong>Marcus Stroman (.248). 6IP (23 batters), 3H, 3BB, 8K (W 1-0)</li>
<li id="KcJGjf">
<strong>Hero: </strong>Dansby Swanson (.137). 3-4, RBI, R</li>
<li id="XYinRc">
<strong>Sidekick: </strong>Trey Mancini (.104). 1-3, HBP, RBI, K</li>
</ul>
<p id="pZ63JC"><strong>THREE GOATS:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li id="yWbaR4">
<strong>Billy Goat: </strong>Cody Bellinger (-.055). 0-3, BB, K</li>
<li id="cAdg83">
<strong>Goat: </strong>Yan Gomes (-.030). 0-4, RBI, DP</li>
<li id="CHe3SN">
<strong>Kid: </strong>Eric Hosmer (-.029). 0-4</li>
</ul>
<p id="VyIcFm"><strong>WPA Play of the Game: </strong>Dansby Swanson batted with runners on first and third with no outs and the game scoreless in the third inning. He singled, driving in the first run of the season and then a wild throw on the play led to a second run. (.142)</p>
<p id="YfgrT1">*Brewers Play of the Game: Brice Turang singled leading off the second inning and then advanced to second on a wild throw by Nico Hoerner. (.069)</p>
<div id="craX1O"><div data-anthem-component="poll:11833520"></div></div>
<p id="7BcC1F"><strong>Rizzo Award Cumulative Standings: </strong>(Top 3/Bottom 3)</p>
<ul>
<li id="fGxyng">Marcus Stroman +3</li>
<li id="FrewdY">Dansby Swanson +2</li>
<li id="BNT6DA">Trey Mancini +1</li>
<li id="oqlART">Eric Hosmer -1</li>
<li id="dtWXSq">Yan Gomes -2</li>
<li id="oXtQys">Cody Bellinger -3</li>
</ul>
<p id="tN1pdn"><strong>Up Next: </strong>An off day Friday and then another afternoon game on Saturday. Justin Steele is scheduled to make his season debut. He’s slated to match up with Brandon Woodruff. </p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2023/3/31/23664488/2023-cubs-heroes-and-goats-game-1Thomas Smith2023-03-30T16:55:08-05:002023-03-30T16:55:08-05:00Cubs 4, Brewers 0: The complaint department is closed
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<figcaption>Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>The Cubs played a nearly flawless game and shut out the Brewers on Opening Day.</p> <p id="pKXQ0D">I <em>told </em>you this team was better than last year’s version.</p>
<p id="5AMPB5">The Cubs got solid pitching, timely hitting and excellent defense in Thursday’s 2023 season opener at Wrigley Field, leading to <a href="https://www.mlb.com/gameday/brewers-vs-cubs/2023/03/30/718777/final/box">a well-played 4-0 win over the Brewers</a>, played in chilly 42-degree weather in front of a crowd about 5,000 short of a sellout (36,054).</p>
<p id="ip1A6V">Marcus Stroman was excellent in six innings of work, getting into a bit of trouble with walks (three of them), but striking out eight and being helped out by several excellent defensive plays behind him.</p>
<p id="qf0VJm">Here’s one of those, <a href="https://mlb-cuts-diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2023/2023-03/30/c7390559-645d966a-9ee27cbb-csvm-diamondx64-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4">a nice sliding stop by Patrick Wisdom in the second [VIDEO]</a>.</p>
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<div><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%;"><iframe src="https://cdn.iframe.ly/api/iframe?url=https%3A%2F%2Fmlb-cuts-diamond.mlb.com%2FFORGE%2F2023%2F2023-03%2F30%2Fc7390559-645d966a-9ee27cbb-csvm-diamondx64-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4&key=9ef4a209439e42bc59783ba959d50197" style="top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; border: 0;" allowfullscreen="" allow="encrypted-media *;"></iframe></div></div>
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<p id="DXTnkk">Here’s another, <a href="https://mlb-cuts-diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2023/2023-03/30/0e5de463-be4e9978-61705321-csvm-diamondx64-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4">a nice double play that ended the third [VIDEO]</a>.</p>
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<div><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%;"><iframe src="https://cdn.iframe.ly/api/iframe?url=https%3A%2F%2Fmlb-cuts-diamond.mlb.com%2FFORGE%2F2023%2F2023-03%2F30%2F0e5de463-be4e9978-61705321-csvm-diamondx64-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4&key=9ef4a209439e42bc59783ba959d50197" style="top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; border: 0;" allowfullscreen="" allow="encrypted-media *;"></iframe></div></div>
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<p id="we8pr4"></p>
<p id="8WYbnv"><a href="https://mlb-cuts-diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2023/2023-03/30/e91ecfe6-98a5e7c1-e7ed44ab-csvm-diamondx64-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4">This slick stop by Dansby Swanson recorded the first out of the sixth [VIDEO].</a></p>
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<div><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%;"><iframe src="https://cdn.iframe.ly/api/iframe?url=https%3A%2F%2Fmlb-cuts-diamond.mlb.com%2FFORGE%2F2023%2F2023-03%2F30%2Fe91ecfe6-98a5e7c1-e7ed44ab-csvm-diamondx64-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4&key=9ef4a209439e42bc59783ba959d50197" style="top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; border: 0;" allowfullscreen="" allow="encrypted-media *;"></iframe></div></div>
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<p id="2bFL5c"></p>
<p id="JfwSrv">Defense matters, and Jed Hoyer and his front office specifically went out this offseason to improve team defense. One game doesn’t tell the whole story, but it sure looks like it’s on the way to being a great success.</p>
<p id="uLIuQp"><a href="https://mlb-cuts-diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2023/2023-03/30/507efa77-80d01332-afc41f34-csvm-diamondx64-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4">Stroman also struck out eight [VIDEO].</a></p>
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<div><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%;"><iframe src="https://cdn.iframe.ly/api/iframe?url=https%3A%2F%2Fmlb-cuts-diamond.mlb.com%2FFORGE%2F2023%2F2023-03%2F30%2F507efa77-80d01332-afc41f34-csvm-diamondx64-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4&key=9ef4a209439e42bc59783ba959d50197" style="top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; border: 0;" allowfullscreen="" allow="encrypted-media *;"></iframe></div></div>
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<p id="uY3ms2"></p>
<p id="LDKX0B">The Cubs put all four runs on the board in the third inning, a long-sequence offense that featured three hits, two walks and a Milwaukee error.</p>
<p id="BYOlBr">With runners on first and third and one out, <a href="https://mlb-cuts-diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2023/2023-03/30/39e7ac6d-a809eabe-27409987-csvm-diamondx64-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4">Swanson singled in a run and a second scored on that error [VIDEO</a>].</p>
<div id="wWdENR">
<div><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%;"><iframe src="https://cdn.iframe.ly/api/iframe?url=https%3A%2F%2Fmlb-cuts-diamond.mlb.com%2FFORGE%2F2023%2F2023-03%2F30%2F39e7ac6d-a809eabe-27409987-csvm-diamondx64-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4&key=9ef4a209439e42bc59783ba959d50197" style="top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; border: 0;" allowfullscreen="" allow="encrypted-media *;"></iframe></div></div>
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<p id="SPYgBC"></p>
<p id="caN0hc">Ian Happ followed with a walk, and one out later <a href="https://mlb-cuts-diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2023/2023-03/30/1c9645c5-49850605-aae112b7-csvm-diamondx64-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4">Trey Mancini drove in Swanson with a single [VIDEO]</a>.</p>
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<p id="mp7yqr"></p>
<p id="Z1r0Ez">Happ took third on that hit, and <a href="https://bdata-producedclips.mlb.com/bddb5f0d-776b-4734-8944-f4af0c6a8851.mp4">scored on this fielder’s choice hit by Yan Gomes [VIDEO]</a>.</p>
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<p id="RytIxV"></p>
<p id="f9Dhmy">That was it for the scoring, though the Cubs did load the bases with two out in the seventh.</p>
<p id="qFo36S">After Stroman departed following his strong six-inning outing (90 pitches), Keegan Thompson, Brad Boxberger and Michael Fulmer combined for three innings of scoreless relief, allowing a single and a pair of walks. This sort of thing is going to be common this year, those three following a good starting appearance. Of course, Thompson can go longer if necessary. </p>
<p id="DNG8FO"><a href="https://bdata-producedclips.mlb.com/00aec61a-4088-4edf-b229-8918e1593232.mp4">Here’s the final out [VIDEO].</a></p>
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<p id="XQ1MiD"></p>
<p id="8LNKjj">As the headline says: <strong>“The complaint department is closed.”</strong> The Cubs did everything well in this game. They didn’t hit for power — but then most teams wouldn’t on a cold day with the wind blowing in. This is potentially a team weakness, power, but if they can put together rallies like the one in the fourth inning of this one and get solid pitching and defense — this is going to be a better year than you might think.</p>
<p id="LWVT1h">Remember how Dansby Swanson had a bad spring? He went 3-for-4 in this one and:</p>
<div id="qD9KIh">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Dansby Swanson is first player to have 3+ hits in a Cubs debut since Nico Hoerner's 3 hits in his MLB debut in 2019.<br><br>Swanson is the first Cub with 3+ hits in an Opening Day debut since Emilio Bonifacio (2014), and the first on Opening Day at Wrigley since Kosuke Fukudome (2008).</p>— Jordan Bastian (@MLBastian) <a href="https://twitter.com/MLBastian/status/1641538406923501575?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 30, 2023</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<p id="GyQWWX">It was good to be back in Wrigley Field for yet another Opening Day, good to see friends and returning gameday staff. Everything ran very smoothly, from gate entry through the entire game. This was my 46th Wrigley opener (the last 41 in a row, excluding 2020 of course, plus 1971, 1973, 1974, 1978 and 1979). As far as I know, today was the earliest calendar date baseball has ever been played at Wrigley Field, eclipsing March 31,<a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN200803310.shtml"> which happened in 2008</a>.</p>
<p id="FTytme">Best of all:</p>
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<p id="MWmrQV">And that included two replay reviews, a bunch of walks, a couple of mound visits and some long counts on other at-bats. Players played baseball at a good pace and it’s SO much better to watch that way. Great work on the pitch timer!</p>
<p id="rpQu7j">The Cubs and Brewers will have Friday off and then resume their series Saturday afternoon at 1:20 p.m. at Wrigley Field, <a href="https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lon=-87.65543550252916&lat=41.9484718161828">where it will once again be chilly (and windier!)</a>. Justin Steele will go for the Cubs and Brandon Woodruff will take the mound for Milwaukee. TV coverage will be via Marquee Sports Network.</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2023/3/30/23663894/cubs-brewers-recap-marcus-stroman-dansby-swanson-mlb-scoresAl Yellon2023-03-30T14:50:00-05:002023-03-30T14:50:00-05:00Overflow thread: Cubs vs. Brewers, Thursday 3/30, 1:20 CT
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<figcaption>Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p id="eRET7k">——</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2023/3/30/23389258/overflow-thread-cubs-vs-brewers-thursday-3-30-1-20-ctAl Yellon2023-03-30T13:15:00-05:002023-03-30T13:15:00-05:00First pitch thread: Cubs vs. Brewers, Thursday 3/30, 1:20 CT
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<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/85EJdHEqd64ObZglp4hMPss5AU4=/0x218:2237x1709/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/72131726/usa_today_20127435.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p id="eRET7k">Go get ‘em, Marcus.</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2023/3/30/23389256/first-pitch-thread-cubs-vs-brewers-thursday-3-30-1-20-ctAl Yellon2023-03-30T11:30:00-05:002023-03-30T11:30:00-05:00Chicago Cubs vs. Milwaukee Brewers preview, Thursday 3/30, 1:20 CT
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<figcaption>Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>It’s Opening Day!</p> <p id="VmR4t3">Opening Day notes...</p>
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<strong>STARTING OFF:</strong> The Cubs are 80-65-2 all-time in Opening Day games, including <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN202204070.shtml">last year’s win over the Brewers</a> at Wrigley Field. When they open the season at home, they are 31-25-2 overall and 24-24-1 at Wrigley Field. The two tie games on Opening Day happened <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN191104120.shtml">April 12, 1911</a> in St. Louis and <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN196504120.shtml">April 12, 1965</a> at Wrigley, also against the Cardinals.</li>
<li id="Ly8Wf7">
<strong>HOME SWEET HOME:</strong> This is the fourth straight year the Cubs have opened the season at Wrigley Field, and they have won two of their three previous season openers (winning over the Brewers in <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN202007240.shtml">2020</a> and <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN202204070.shtml">2022</a> and losing to the Pirates <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN202104010.shtml">in 2021</a>). It’s the first time the Cubs have opened the season at home four straight years since nearly half a century ago, 1971-74. They won three of those four, defeating the Cardinals <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN197104060.shtml">in 1971</a>, losing to the Phillies <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN197204150.shtml">in 1972</a>, walking off the Expos <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN197304060.shtml">in 1973</a> and topping the Phillies <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN197404090.shtml">in 1974</a>.</li>
<li id="gHVyiD">
<strong>THE SKIPPER:</strong> David Ross begins his fourth year as Cubs manager. His record entering this year is 179-205, and he has one division title, in the pandemic 2020 season. Ross is under contract through 2024 with a team option for 2025. If the team exercises that option (and I suspect they will), Ross will become the Cubs’ longest-tenured manager since Leo Durocher.</li>
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<strong>THE NEW GUYS:</strong> The Cubs open the season with 14 players on <a href="https://www.mlb.com/cubs/roster/40-man">their 40-man roster</a> who were not in the Cubs organization a year ago on Opening Day.</li>
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<p id="AS7WLJ">Here are today’s particulars.</p>
<p id="OmIgrW"><a href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/">Cubs</a> lineup:</p>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Here is your <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OpeningDay?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#OpeningDay</a> Cubs starting lineup!<br><br>Tune in: <a href="https://t.co/Gs2hZXzr9f">https://t.co/Gs2hZXzr9f</a> <a href="https://t.co/aDSgW22ufY">pic.twitter.com/aDSgW22ufY</a></p>— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) <a href="https://twitter.com/Cubs/status/1641447033365221380?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 30, 2023</a>
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<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<p id="nU1Gao"><a href="https://www.brewcrewball.com/">Brewers</a> lineup:</p>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">It's time.<br><br> : <a href="https://twitter.com/BallySportWI?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BallySportWI</a><br> : <a href="https://twitter.com/620wtmj?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@620wtmj</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ThisIsMyCrew?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ThisIsMyCrew</a> <a href="https://t.co/6JSlJ9Dobt">pic.twitter.com/6JSlJ9Dobt</a></p>— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) <a href="https://twitter.com/Brewers/status/1641452196868026370?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 30, 2023</a>
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<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<h2 id="lePhfq">Marcus Stroman, RHP vs. Corbin Burnes, RHP</h2>
<div class="c-float-left"> <figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Ufhtlgtvrl2hvTf5c4hekEukF38=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24545033/usa_today_20315100.jpg">
<cite>Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports</cite>
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<div class="c-float-right"> <figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Ti3UKieDDLIGlOGBBB0IKTy_RrY=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/23423410/usa_today_18073044.jpg">
<cite>USA TODAY NETWORK</cite>
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<p id="wK7QvO">Marcus Stroman showed signs down the stretch last year that he was the kind of pitcher the Cubs paid big money for. From his return in July from a bout with covid through the end of the season, he posted a 2.56 ERA and 1.106 WHIP in 16 starts. </p>
<p id="jKkUq3">Overall last year at Wrigley, Stroman posted a 5.18 ERA in 12 starts, but that improved in September, when he had a 2.25 ERA in four home starts. Turning a new page today!</p>
<p id="lvsI6B">Stroman had a 1.37 ERA and 0.712 WHIP in three starts vs. the Brewers last year. Hopefully that success continues.</p>
<p id="rcFxVO">Corbin Burnes won the NL Cy Young Award in 2021, when he was utterly dominant. Last year he was good, but not quite that good.</p>
<p id="VCpEGK">In three starts vs. the Cubs last year, he posted a 2.37 ERA and 0.842 WHIP, with 24 strikeouts in 19 innings.</p>
<p id="IBPqiH">With the cold forecast, this could be a low-scoring affair.</p>
<p id="dEV1r8">Note that Statcast doesn’t update the pitch type graphics each year until the pitcher has thrown 100 pitches — so these are from last year, and it’s possible these graphics will be from 2022 until the pitcher’s third start.</p>
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<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/sX5dlavE76peb9pSBfK7WzRDZac=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24544888/Screen_Shot_2023_03_29_at_8.33.38_AM.png">
<cite><a class="ql-link" href="https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/pitchmix#573186_2022" target="_blank">Statcast</a></cite>
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<figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/sDQa61YkEKtmKxEYSfw0EpQko5k=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24544890/Screen_Shot_2023_03_29_at_8.34.29_AM.png">
<cite><a class="ql-link" href="https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/pitchmix#669203_2022" target="_blank">Statcast</a></cite>
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<p id="4BVCSn"> </p>
<p id="Z9OAJy">Today’s game is on Marquee Sports Network. <a href="https://www.marqueesportsnetwork.com/providers/">Here’s a list of providers currently carrying Marquee<strong>.</strong></a> </p>
<p id="6w2xna"><a href="https://www.mlb.com/live-stream-games/2023/03/30">Here is the complete MLB.com Mediacenter for today.</a>.</p>
<p id="Xe5URc"><a href="http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2023_03_30_milmlb_chnmlb_1">MLB.com Gameday</a></p>
<p id="iDRiK8"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/previews/2023/CHN202303300.shtml">Baseball-reference.com game preview</a></p>
<p id="7oSHCm">Please visit our SB Nation Brewers site <a href="http://www.brewcrewball.com/">Brew Crew Ball</a>. If you do go there to interact with Brewers fans, please be respectful, abide by their individual site rules and serve as a good representation of Cub fans in general and BCB in particular.</p>
<p id="mRtOMf">The 2023 Game Thread procedure will be like last year’s, similar to what we’ve used for Spring Training.</p>
<p id="uNrOo7">You’ll find the game preview posted separately on the front page two hours before game time (90 minutes for some early day games following night games).</p>
<p id="Jy7Er2">At the same time, a StoryStream containing the preview will also post on the front page, titled “Cubs vs. (Team) (Day of week/date) game threads.” It will contain every post related to that particular game, including the First Pitch Thread and the overflow thread, as well as the recap when it’s published. The recap will also live on the front page as a separate post.</p>
<p id="F5ehVY">You will also be able to find the preview, First Pitch Thread and the overflow thread in the box marked “Chicago Cubs Game Threads” at the bottom of the front page (you can also find them in <a href="http://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/chicago-cubs-game-threads">this section link</a>). The StoryStream for each game can also be found in that section.</p>
<p id="pjBR1E">The First Pitch thread will post at five minutes before game time, then an overflow thread at 90 minutes after the scheduled game time.</p>
<p id="cWIBoH">Discuss amongst yourselves.</p>
<p id="YKOZbJ"></p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2023/3/30/23389249/chicago-cubs-milwaukee-brewers-preview-thursdayAl Yellon