Bleed Cubbie Blue - Cubs vs. Rangers Tuesday Game ThreadsA Chicago Cubs Fan Community Since February 9, 2005https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/47557/cubbieblue.png2013-03-19T18:36:47-05:00http://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/rss/stream/38870812013-03-19T18:36:47-05:002013-03-19T18:36:47-05:002 Home Runs Help Cubs Dispatch Rangers 5-4
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<figcaption>USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The Cubs won their second in a row, this time with solid relief work, timely hitting and good baserunning. Wow -- that's how it's supposed to work, isn't it?</p> <p><b>MESA, Arizona</b> -- Tuesday's <a href="http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/boxscore.jsp?gid=2013_03_19_texmlb_chnmlb_1" target="_blank">5-4 Cubs win over the Texas Rangers</a> was a perfect example of how this team can put together victories during this regular season.*</p>
<p><i>* if everything falls just the right way.</i></p>
<p>Tuesday, it did. After <span>Chris Rusin</span> got into trouble in the first two innings, giving up a pair of runs in each frame, he settled down and retired nine of the last 10 <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.lonestarball.com/">Rangers</a> he faced. During the regular season, a starter on a roll like that would certainly have been allowed to go at least six, maybe seven. And the bullpen did an excellent job in relief of Rusin; <span>Shawn Camp</span>, <span>Carlos Marmol</span>, <span>James Russell</span> and <span>Blake Parker</span> threw four innings, allowing just one hit and one walk. The surprise there: the walk wasn't Marmol's. He had a 1-2-3 inning. Granted, against Rangers minor leaguers, but still, he was making his pitches, and keeping them in the zone.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/">Cubs</a> were coming back with home runs. A two-run homer by <span>Alfonso Soriano</span> in the first inning took one bounce into the parking lot, nearly clearing the scoreboard. <span>Darwin Barney's</span> home run in the second inning took one bounce off my hand. Literally. The ball bounced on the lawn right in front of me, off the net covering the scoreboard, and into and out of my right hand, behind the fence in front of the board where another guy leaped over the fence and got it before I could make a move in that direction.</p>
<p>Oh, well. All of this was off <span>Alexi Ogando</span>, someone the Rangers are counting on to be part of their rotation this year.</p>
<p>The score remained tied until the sixth inning, when Rangers reliever <span>Johan Yan</span> walked Welington Castillo. Castillo went to second on a bouncing single up the middle by <span>Luis Valbuena</span>, and then to third when Barney hit into a double play. It didn't look good when pinch-hitter <span>Scott Hairston</span> went behind in the count, but Yan uncorked a pitch that got away from catcher <span>Konrad Schmidt</span> (I thought it was a wild pitch, as it bounced, but Schmidt was charged with a passed ball) and Castillo raced across the plate. Well, maybe not "raced", given Castillo's speed, but he did make a heads-up baserunning play with what turned out to be the winning run.</p>
<p>This might not happen all that often this season, but given that this was the first day that Dale Sveum put his Opening Day lineup on the field, it was nice to see solid starting (even from someone who won't make the rotation), timely hitting and excellent bullpen work. And, given that <span>Scott Baker</span> is likely going to be pushed back in his return from Tommy John surgery, it can't hurt to have Rusin stretched out to fill in as a starter if necessary. Rusin has posted a 2.50 ERA and 0.89 (!) WHIP in 18 innings so far this spring -- with just one walk. That's pretty impressive.</p>
<p>With all the run-scoring early, the first three innings of this game dragged on for over an hour and it looked like one of those three-hour-plus affairs was going to be our fate Tuesday afternoon. However, as Rusin and the Cubs bullpen mowed down Rangers hitters (21 of the last 24 were retired), the game picked up pace and ended in a very reasonable two hours, 29 minutes.</p>
<p>Attendance watch: 10,024, which included a brisk walkup sale, saw this game. That makes the total attendance at Mesa this spring 97,972 in 13 dates, an average of 7,536. Even if the Cubs sell out all four of their remaining home dates -- an unlikely happening -- they'd still be down about 10 percent from last year's average. They are expecting close to a sellout Saturday when the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.halosheaven.com/">Angels</a> make their only 2013 visit to HoHoKam.</p>
<p>Wednesday is an off day. After playing three straight split-squad games over the weekend, the Cubs probably need it. Another split-squad affair is on the docket for Thursday -- this game was added to the schedule after it came out, so some schedules might not list the game to be played in Tucson Thursday against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a>. The game is a charity game <a href="http://www.visittucson.org/includes/calendar-of-events/Chicago-Cubs-vs-L-A-Dodgers-Charity-Baseball-Game/3394/" target="_blank">benefitting the Christina-Taylor Green Foundation</a>, a worthy cause; if you're in the Tucson area, it'd be well worth your time. That game will be at 3:05 CT, no radio/audio/TV coverage, and <span>Scott Feldman</span> will pitch against the Dodgers' <span>Stephen Fife</span>.</p>
<p>At 9:05 CT Thursday, the Cubs play their first night game of the spring with <span>Jeff Samardzija</span> pitching against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.lookoutlanding.com/">Mariners</a>' <span>Jon Garland</span>. Garland, who did not pitch at all in 2012, looks like he's going to make the Mariners' rotation. Thursday night's game will be carried on WGN radio.</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2013/3/19/4125396/cubs-home-runs-alfonso-soriano-darwin-barney-beat-rangersAl Yellon2013-03-19T16:30:04-05:002013-03-19T16:30:04-05:00Overflow Thread: Cubs vs. Rangers, Tuesday 3/19
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<figcaption>Jennifer Hilderbrand-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>More comments about the Cubs and Rangers go here, starting at 4:30 p.m. CT!</p> <p>Go <a href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Cubs</a>!</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2013/3/19/4123058/overflow-thread-cubs-vs-rangers-tuesday-3-19-3-05-ctAl Yellon2013-03-19T15:00:07-05:002013-03-19T15:00:07-05:00First Pitch Thread: Cubs vs. Rangers, Tuesday 3/19
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<p>Comment here on Tuesday's game, beginning at 3 p.m. CT.</p> <p>Go get 'em, Chris.</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2013/3/19/4123052/first-pitch-thread-cubs-vs-rangers-tuesday-3-19-3-05-ctAl Yellon2013-03-19T13:00:10-05:002013-03-19T13:00:10-05:00Cubs vs. Rangers at Mesa Preview, Tuesday 3/19
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<figcaption>Jennifer Hilderbrand-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The Cubs face the Rangers for the fourth (and final) time this spring. In case you haven't seen enough of them, they'll visit Wrigley Field next month.</p> <p><b>SCOTTSDALE, Arizona</b> -- Since we're talking stadiums this morning, have a look at <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516590&xs=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.azcentral.com%2Fcommunity%2Fmesa%2Farticles%2F20130314mesa-cubs-wrigleyville-take-shape-soon.html&referrer=sbnation.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bleedcubbieblue.com%2F2013%2F3%2F19%2F4123012%2Fchicago-cubs-texas-rangers-mesa-preview-tuesday" target="_blank" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener">some new information regarding the Cubs' new spring-training complex in Mesa</a>:</p>
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<pre>"We are well down the line with some developers to do some things as part of the Wrigleyville West," Mayor Scott Smith said. "It’s looking pretty good right now."
The Mesa City Council met in executive session Thursday to discuss one or more of the proposals.
City Manager Chris Brady said during the tour that it’s too soon to divulge details. Smith hinted, however, that an on-site hotel could be in the works.</pre>
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<p>The article goes on to talk about the 70,000-square-foot clubouse, the largest for any team for spring training. This is a good thing -- top-notch facilities not just for players in spring camp, but year-round for rehab assignments, as the facility will be in operation 11 months a year.</p>
<p>The one thing I think the Cubs have misfired on is making the stadium seat 15,000. To me, that's way too big to keep the intimate feeling of spring training. Currently, the largest parks in the Cactus League seat 13,000, and that's about as big as you can get without losing that intimacy. The Cubs need to set prices at Talking Stick levels, not Camelback Ranch levels, or risk having the place half-full in 2014.</p>
<p>And, here's today's injury update:</p>
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<p>Baker has "setback" and to see team doctor before determing timeline.</p>
— Gordon Wittenmyer (@GDubCub) <a href="https://twitter.com/GDubCub/status/314056863144620032">March 19, 2013</a>
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<p>Stewart MRI shows fluid. Opening day has been ruled out. Starts on DL</p>
— Jesse Rogers (@ESPNChiCubs) <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNChiCubs/status/314056597318025216">March 19, 2013</a>
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<p>No real surprise for Ian Stewart. <span>Scott Baker</span> -- I had hoped for better. Let's hope this "setback" is minor.</p>
<p>Cubs lineup:</p>
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<pre>DeJesus CF, Castro SS, Rizzo 1B, Soriano LF, Schierholtz LF, Castillo C, Valbuena 3B, Barney 2B, Navarro DH</pre>
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<p>Barring any last-minute deals, injuries, or miraculous recoveries by <span>Ian Stewart</span>, this is the lineup we'll see in Pittsburgh on Opening Day (with <span>Jeff Samardzija</span> batting ninth, of course).</p>
<p>Just as they were over the weekend, the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.lonestarball.com/">Rangers</a> are late with their lineup. I'll try to tweet it later.</p>
<p>This afternoon, <span>Chris Rusin</span> faces the Rangers' <span>Alexi Ogando</span>.</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2013_03_19_texmlb_chnmlb_1&mode=gameday">MLB.com Gameday</a></p>
<p>Today's game is a webcast on cubs.com with Len Kasper and Mick Gillispie. It should be online and available on the MLB At Bat app around 2:50 p.m. CDT.</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://mlb.mlb.com/mediacenter/index.jsp?date=2/28/2013#date=3/19/2013">Here is the complete MLB.com Mediacenter for today.</a></p>
<p>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!). For today, that will be 3 p.m. CT and 4:30 p.m. CT. These threads will <i>not</i> post individually onto the front page; instead, you can find links to them in the box marked "<a href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Chicago Cubs</a> Game Threads" at the <i>bottom</i> of the front page. They will also appear in this StoryStream™. The pitcher box and regular-season stats will return on Opening Day.</p>
<p>Discuss amongst yourselves.</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2013/3/19/4123012/chicago-cubs-texas-rangers-mesa-preview-tuesdayAl Yellon