Bleed Cubbie Blue - Cubs vs. Diamondbacks Wednesday Game ThreadsA Chicago Cubs Fan Community Since February 9, 2005https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/47557/cubbieblue.png2014-03-26T19:01:32-05:00http://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/rss/stream/52820152014-03-26T19:01:32-05:002014-03-26T19:01:32-05:00D'backs 14, Cubs 4: Blowing In The Wind
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<figcaption>Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>The Cubs got blown out... literally.</p> <p><b>SCOTTSDALE, Arizona</b> -- Before Wednesday's game <a href="https://twitter.com/bleedcubbieblue/status/448893973130510336" target="_blank">I tweeted this photo of the flags above Talking Stick</a> blowing out at a pretty good clip and said, "Expect some home runs!"</p>
<p>We got some home runs. Seven of them in all, except someone forgot to give the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/">Cubs</a> the weather forecast. They hit just one of them, a solo shot by <span>Chris Coghlan</span> in the eighth inning, and by that time the Cubs were behind 13-3, mostly on the strength of <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.azsnakepit.com/">Diamondbacks</a> home runs. Eventually the D'backs collected six round-trippers, every one of them wind-aided (as was Coghlan's), and Arizona showed no Australia jet lag in <a href="http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/boxscore.jsp?gid=2014_03_26_chnmlb_arimlb_1" target="_blank">a 14-4 blowout of the Cubs</a>. This time, the word "blowout" can be used literally, with what should have been routine fly balls landing on various parts of the sold-out berm at Talking Stick.</p>
<p>Before all that happened, <span>Jeff Samardzija</span> had his final tune-up for Opening Day, and threw three good innings, allowing just one run and three hits, striking out a pair. <span>Chris Rusin</span>, presumably still in the running for the fifth spot in the rotation, didn't do himself any favors. He got a few outs on ground balls, but then started giving up extra-base hits and dingers and by the time he had allowed his fourth home run -- and third in the sixth inning alone -- manager Rick Renteria had mercy on him and lifted him for <span>Marcos Mateo</span>, who wasn't much better, allowing a single by former Cub Tony Campana and a run-scoring double.</p>
<p><span>Alberto Cabrera</span>, also on the bubble and out of options, was inserted in the game in the seventh inning -- throwing for his second straight day -- and gave the Cubs a bullpen-choice dilemma, as he, too, was touched up for a home run, this one by D'backs minor leaguer <span>Rudy Flores</span>.</p>
<p>It's really not fair to judge Rusin or Cabrera from today's performance, with the wind shoving routine fly balls onto the berm. On the other hand, Samardzija didn't seem to have any trouble retiring Diamondbacks regulars, and <span>Mark Trumbo</span> was the only D'backs regular who hit a home run, the rest being tagged by reserves or minor leaguers. And D'backs pitchers had no trouble keeping Cubs hitters in the park, save Coghlan. So maybe it is Rusin and Cabrera, and maybe <span>Carlos Villanueva</span> and <span>Justin Grimm</span> get those spots on the pitching staff. Grimm threw an inning today as well, and also was touched for a home run -- this one by <span>Aaron Cunningham</span>. Yes, the same Aaron Cunningham who was released by the Cubs a week ago.</p>
<p>Perhaps the Cubs can run Cabrera through waivers and keep him. That's one choice. Or, they can figure that these were just two bad games and give Cabrera the bullpen spot, because he does have a good arm and has thrown well in the major leagues before. Not an easy choice for Theo & Co.</p>
<p>Other than that, <span>Nate Schierholtz</span> had a pair of hits; <span>Mike Olt</span> went 1-for-4 and looked fine in the field, and I think that after Wednesday's roster moves, he'll be the starting third baseman in Pittsburgh on Opening Day, which I also think is the right call. <span>Javier Baez</span> played well in the field, turning a nice double play, but was unable to take advantage of the wind. Just when it started kicking up a little faster in the ninth inning, he came up to face D'backs closer <span>J.J. Putz</span> in the ninth inning... and walked.</p>
<p>Thursday will be the finale of the Cactus League season, though the Cubs have two more games in Arizona after that, Friday and Saturday vs. the Diamondbacks at Chase Field. Thursday's game will feature <span>Travis Wood</span> against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.southsidesox.com/">White Sox</a> and <span>Felipe Paulino</span>. The game will be televised over WGN-TV -- reminder, that's with the Sox announcers, and another reminder: Thursday's game starts an hour earlier than you've been accustomed to over the last couple of weeks, noon Arizona time, 2 p.m. Chicago time.</p>
<p>And it will be, they tell us, less windy.</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2014/3/26/5551690/cubs-diamondbacks-recap-chris-rusin-alberto-cabrera-mlb-scoresAl Yellon2014-03-26T16:30:03-05:002014-03-26T16:30:03-05:00Overflow Thread: Cubs vs Diamondbacks, Wed 3/26
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<figcaption>Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2014/3/26/5518208/overflow-thread-cubs-vs-diamondbacks-wednesday-3-26-1-10-ctAl Yellon2014-03-26T15:00:02-05:002014-03-26T15:00:02-05:00First Pitch Thread: Cubs vs Diamondbacks, Wed 3/26
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<figcaption>Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2014/3/26/5518198/first-pitch-thread-cubs-vs-diamondbacks-wednesday-3-26-1-10-ctAl Yellon2014-03-26T13:00:03-05:002014-03-26T13:00:03-05:00Cubs vs D'backs at Talking Stick Preview, Wed 3/26
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<figcaption>Sarah Glenn</figcaption>
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<p>The Cubs have just four games remaining before Opening Day.</p> <p><b>SCOTTSDALE, Arizona</b> -- When the Cubs last saw the Diamondbacks, it was the first day of spring training and hopes and skies were high. (Well, not hopes, really, but I thought that sounded good.)</p>
<p>Now, the D'backs have made a 15,000-mile round trip between Phoenix and Sydney, Australia, have an 0-2 regular-season record, and this is their first game since returning from Down Under. How will that affect their play this afternoon and into the regular season? Will they be suffering from the effects of jet lag? It's less than four days since they departed Sydney. And, the Cubs will now see Arizona for three of the final four spring games, two of them at Chase Field this weekend.</p>
<p>For the Cubs, roster decisions loom. Will Mike Olt be the starting third baseman? (Hope so.) Who will make the club as backups? We should know soon.</p>
<p>I have opened up the first two Ticket Exchange posts for 2014, for <a href="http://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2014/3/26/5549664/ticket-exchanges-april-4-10-homestand">the homestand from April 4-10</a> and <a href="http://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2014/3/26/5549688/ticket-exchanges-april-18-24-homestand">the homestand from April 18-24</a>. There will be one post per homestand, and you can find these in the Ticket Exchange section at the bottom of the front page.</p>
<p>Cubs lineup:</p>
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<pre>Lake CF, Ruggiano LF, Schierholtz RF, Olt 3B, Castillo C, Baez SS, Roberts 2B, Anderson 1B, Samardzija P </pre>
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<p>Hooray! <span>Javier Baez</span>! (Still no TV, though.) And "Anderson" is <span>Lars Anderson</span>, yet another former <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.overthemonster.com/">Red Sox</a> pickup, playing first base.</p>
<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.azsnakepit.com/">Diamondbacks</a> lineup:</p>
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<pre>Parra RF, Hill 2B, Goldschmidt 1B, Prado 3B, Montero C, Trumbo LF, Pollock CF, Gregorius SS, McCarthy P</pre>
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<p>That looks pretty much like Arizona's Opening Day lineup.</p>
<p><span>Jeff Samardzija</span> starts for the Cubs. He is likely going only three or four innings, and then will be followed by <span>Chris Rusin</span>, who still is in the running for fifth starter.</p>
<p><span>Brandon McCarthy</span> is today's starter for the Diamondbacks.</p>
<p>Today's game is on cubs.com with Len Kasper and Mick Gillispie. No TV for today's game.</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2014_03_26_chnmlb_arimlb_1&mode=gameday">MLB.com Gameday</a></p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://mlb.mlb.com/mediacenter/index.jsp?date=2/27/2014#date=3/26/2014">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's game, 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 StoryStreamâ„¢. The pitcher box and regular-season stats will return on Opening Day.</p>
<p>Discuss amongst yourselves.</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2014/3/26/5517874/cubs-diamondbacks-talking-stick-preview-wednesdayAl Yellon