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Game One - Opening Day: Cubs (0-0) vs. Brewers (0-0)
Game Time - 1:20pm C.T.
Coverage - TV: WGN TV, ESPN 2 - Radio: 720 WGN, XM Radio Channel 184
Location - Wrigley Field, Chicago
Carlos Zambrano (0-0, -.--/-.--) vs. Ben Sheets (0-0, -.--/-.--)
It's finally here....Opening Day and Chicago Cubs Baseball is on the Air! Carlos Zambrano will take the mound today for the fourth consecutive Opening Day. The Cubs need a solid season and especially a good start from Zambrano....and it begins today as he shoots for his first career win on Opening Day. Weather permitting....
Carlos Zambrano is coming off a career year in wins (18-13) and as good as he pitched for the most part of the season, Lou Piniella must have a solid, consistent year from his number one pitcher. Zambrano is 9-8 in 19 career starts, 20 games, against the Brewers with a 4.21 ERA and a 1.30 WHIP.
- Ryan Braun - 2-for-6 with a double and 2 RBI's
- Prince Fielder - 8-for-21 with 4 doubles, a home run and 5 walks
- Bill Hall - 5-for-33 with a double and 2 triples
- Rickie Weeks - 6-for-22 with a double and a home run
Ben Sheets is coming off an All-Star season that was cut short due to injury. When Sheets was healthy, he was one of the best in the league....12-5 in 24 starts with a 3.82 ERA and a 1.24 WHIP. Sheets is 9-7 in 22 career starts against the Cubs with a 3.87 ERA and a 1.16 WHIP. Last year he was 2-1 in 4 starts with a 3.91 ERA and a 1.17 WHIP. The loss was an injury-shortened game at Wrigley.
- Mark DeRosa - 5-for-17 with 2 doubles and a triple
- Derrek Lee - 15-for-44 with 2 doubles and 5 home runs
- Alfonso Soriano - 3-for-8 with a double
- Ryan Theriot - 2-for-7
- Carlos Zambrano - 5-for-12
A lot has changed since Opening Day last year on the North Side, only 4 players remain from Piniella's starting nine in Cincinnati. Lou Piniella knows his team and his players know what he expects out of them. Kosuke Fukudome will make his Major League debut today with much hype and press after, for the most part, a solid spring. Geovany Soto, Felix Pie and Ryan Theriot will make their first Opening Day starts at the big league level.
Opening Day Festivities
The Cubs enter today's game just 15 wins shy of 10,000. Once the Cubs reach that plateau the franchise will become only the second team in MLB history to reach the milestone.
Today's game marks the beginning of the 60th season of the Cubs being carried on WGN.
The Cubs will unveil the Ernie Banks Statue in pre-game ceremonies to honor Mr. Cub. Hank Aaron and Bill Crosby are among those expected to be in attendance.
"We Believe", the documentary about the Cubs 2008 season by John Scheinfeld, will begin the 162-game regular season schedule today as well.
Keep It Wrigley.org will be selling t-shirts outside of the old ballpark before today's game.
Here is the expected Opening Day Lineup....but no one knows for sure what Lou Piniella will ever do....a hat tip to the guys on XM Radio for nicknaming 'Sweet Lou' the 'Mad Scientist' on Sunday afternoon....
- Ryan Theriot - SS
- Alfonso Soriano - LF
- Derrek Lee - 1B
- Aramis Ramirez - 3B
- Kosuke Fukudome - RF
- Mark DeRosa - 2B
- Geovany Soto - C
- Felix Pie - CF
- Carlos Zambrano - P
In Other News
Scott Eyre was officially placed on the 15-day DL on Sunday retroactive to March 23rd according to a report in the Chicago Sun-Times. Eyre joined Angel Guzman as the only two Cubs on the 40-man roster to start the 2008 season on the disabled list. A report on Cubs.com indicated Eyre could miss only 7 to 8 days and is eligible to come off the DL on April 7th or 8th. Eyre will remain in Arizona in extended Spring Training.
The Cubs quest to end a century of failure is one of ten questions Dayn Perry from FoxSports.com is looking for an answer to as the 2008 season gets underway.
Lou Piniella will continue to tinker with his lineup according to a report in the Chicago Sun-Times. Piniella stated a few weeks back he would have a set lineup by Opening Day and he would be done tinkering by March 31st....well, the Faithful knew better. Tinker all you want Lou, just put a winner on the field.
Kerry Wood is one of the 5 most overrated players in the game according to Joel Sherman from the New York Post. Kudos for the Sidd Finch reference but in Kloser K's defense, there is video that proves Wood actually exists.
Former Cub, Rocky Cherry, who was dealt to the Orioles last year (Steve Trachsel) will start the season on the 15-day DL with a right shoulder strain.
Daryle Ward had X-rays taken on his right ankle after fouling a ball off the ankle during Thursday's game. Ward rejoined the Cubs in Chicago on Sunday according to a report in the Tribune and is expected to be ready to play on Opening Day.
Expect Reed Johnson to be Lou Piniella's lead-off hitter against southpaws....at least for now, according to a report on Cubs.com. Piniella also stated, Kosuke Fukudome will likely hit second against lefties with Alfonso Soriano moving down to the fifth spot. Fukudome and Soriano will flip-flop places in the order, again for now, against right handed pitchers. The Cubs are not expected to face a left-handed starter until the weekend when the Astros come to town.
Finally....
The CCO was recently named one of the best Cubs blogs on the net by the Chicago Tribune. To keep with the theme of the day....we are very excited and humbled to be mentioned by the Tribune among the other fine blogs.
Let's Talk Cubs Baseball....
Trips to the Northside
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Congrats on the Award Neil!!
Well deserved award Neil.
LETS DO THIS!
Congrats Neil!!!!!!
Congrats on the recognition CCO!!!!!!
All you guys + Abby deserve a well round of applause.
Does anyone know the weather situation in Wrigleyville? Does it look like they're going to be able to get the game in?
GO CUBS GO!
Congrats to all CCO-ers.
By the way; who's the only team to win 10,000+ games?
Well deserved award to the single best Cubbie blog. Congradulations Neil and CCO members and keep up the hard work.
Who's excited??????Wooaa!
Awwww Jim. It's so sweet of you to mention me.
Neil is at the game, but I know I speak for him when I say that you guys all make this site what it is. It wouldn't be the same without each and every one of you and it makes all the late nights and lost sleep worth it for Neil and the others to continue to do this each day.
Now, rain rain go away and lets get started!!!
I AM VERY VERY EXCITED!!!
Good afternoon all..Its been awhile but I'm glad to see every one of yall...Weather going to let us get this game in today??
The rain has stopped, we've all waited all winter, its time to crack open the Old Style and "Play Ball"!
Good start Big Z!
Z looks great...I hope DLee's bat wakes up!
fukudome.....
FUKUDOME!!!!!!!!
We're getting some good swings on Sheets.
Gucci, its the Giants with 10,151 wins
Gucci, its the Giants with 10,151 wins
First pitch Fukudome sees he almost puts it out in center. Good way to start.
Theriot is leadoff ;_;
We have someone with no power and a sub-.330 OBP batting leadoff..
God I hope he proves me wrong.
tarps coming off
Why is it that it seems it always have rain, snow, hail, tornado, frogs dropping from the sky on opening day???
I cant remember the last time that the sun shined on opening day.
I would like to see a stat on the percentage of opening days at Wrigley that were delayed. Bet it would be at least 30-40%
rammy... is going yard
We need to get Big Z some runs.
nice pick off... big z
I really hope that Big Z is just having cramps again. Nice Job Marmol!! Let's get some runs!!!
Go Cubbies!!!
Fuk has been on base everytime up. Not sure how many pitches he has seen (anybody know please post). Lou has to move this guy to the 2 hole.
Carlos Marmol is WICKED!!
Sr. Nasssssssty!
The offense is starting right where they left off in the playoffs last year....
0-11 with 0 BB and 6 strikeouts from the top 3 positions...
Theriot.. What a spark plug!!!
FUKUDOME!!!
For those of you depressed, this is just one game...step away from the ledge, and put down the beer. Deep breaths.
Why isn't Marmol the closer?
I like Wood, but he hasn't been 2003 Wood in, well, 5 years. I liked him in the setup role...but maybe part of getting him to resign for cheap was the understanding he could be closer...I don't know.
Bright spots: Z pitched good on Opening Day for a change. Fuku is everything Dusty Baker hates in a ballplayer.
Bad: the bullpen (minus Marmol). But remember...the bullpen was off to a bad start last year, too, and they finished strong. Wood, Howry, Eyre, Marmol, and even Wuertz are all quality arms. Think about some of the retreads in this league that are on the bullpen rosters of other teams! Our bullpen does seem to be pretty high in quality, so I am confident that we are built for the long haul, and our bullpen will help, more than hurt, when it is all said and done.
There will be a day, and it could be the next game, when Soriano, Ramirez, Lee, and Fuku will all have a good game at the same time. When that happens, we will all realize the full potential of this team. If Soto, Theriot, Pie, and DeRosa can just be decent, the offense will be fine.
Soriano is only real strikeout machine here. Lee and Ramirez are usually pretty decent OBP guys, so add Fuku to that mix, and I don't think we are anything like the Jacque Jonesque teams of the past few years.
Let's go Cubs!
A few thoughts....
* 1 game doesn't make a season.
* Lets give Woody a chance, Howry wasn't exactly lights out either today.
* I'm really sick of this cramping $#!T in regards to Z. It reached maybe 60 degees today.
Thanks Jason B.
Wow Fuku/Zambrano. Terrible day for Theriot/ Pie and Soto. I hate the Brewers.
I really wish Theriot would do something to wow me... does having a big heart and hustling really earn you 7 figures and playing for a MAJOR league baseball team?!?!?!?!?!
Rather than us worrying about Theriot, I'm really concerned about Soriano (Mr. Free Swinger) and Derrick (looking lost) Lee. I know it's only Game 1, but I'm already so tired of Soriano's lack of plate discipline. While it will never happen, I'd trade both Lee and Soriano, get Roberts and a great #2 starter, and then put Hoffpauer at 1B and DeRosa in left.
I hate these long term contracts like Soriano (and Zito). No incentive to these guys anymore with the long term money guaranteed.
Again, only Game 1, but Lou won't have any significant patience with this offense.
I admit I'm drained. Nothing more say I'm going to sleep now.
Let's give Theriot and Wood more than 1 game before showing them the door.
Also, Soriano is a free swinger, this isn't exactly anything new. He also has the capability of singlehandedly taking over a game with his offensive power when he is locked in. A team needs a good mix of players, and Soriano is an AMAZING talent and player.
I'm going to love Fuk.
I knew it...Kerry Wood is going to embarrass the us. We keep giving him a chance and tell everyone else in baseball how great he is, and he comes out and does this today? He pegs the 1st freaking batter right in the back with a 95 MPH fastball! What an idiot! OVERRATED. Marmol looked pretty good huh? He was untouchable. You'll all say, "it's the 1st game!" Well, he did pitch in the spring right? and he warmed up like every other pitcher out there today. MY GOD.........Wood's gotta go!!
Wow some of you are nuts. It was a tough lose. There are going to be more. Its a pretty long season last time I checked.
Nice to hear from you again, and way to put everything into perspective.
Mark, 1st game, relax.
Haha...relax? I am, this is a joke, if you relax too much and just take things with stride, then you accept loosing and we'll be on year 101 without a World Series.........relax! hitting the 1st batter with the 1st pitch is little league stuff, NOT a professional closer in MLB. Wood's gotta go!!!
Mark, Wood had the best stuff, best ERA, walked ONE guy the whole spring, he comes in in the first game of the year and has 1 bad outing and you are ready to toss him to the lions.
I don't think after the 1st game fo the year the guys are relaxing too much that they are going to accept it. In the last three years we have won the first game of the year 2 of 3, and the only year we made the playoffs was last year when we lost the first game of the year.
So on Wednesday if Wood comes out and Strikes out Fielder, Braun, and Hart to end the game and get the save, is it still time for him to go?
Nick of course not. But next time he does it it will be time to go. WOW, maybe some of you aren't cut out for this. Are some of you coming from little league that everyone won everyone got a trophy where everyone's a winner. Thats not real life. This is not a video game. Things will go wrong.
Maybe Wood was a little amped ump being is first time coming in as a closer. But there is no excuse for being human...right?????
Nick of course not. But next time he does it it will be time to go. WOW, maybe some of you aren't cut out for this. Are some of you coming from little league that everyone won everyone got a trophy where everyone's a winner. Thats not real life. This is not a video game. Things will go wrong.
Maybe Wood was a little amped ump being his first time coming in as a closer. But there is no excuse for being human...right?????
Well said Jim.
I'm not worried about Woods. Ridiculous to say he has to go afoter one bad outing. you going to get rid of Lee, Ram, Sori if they go 0-4. No. That's all I'm saying on that.
What I'm worried about is that it seemed like everybody was waiting on Fuko to win the game for us, like they use to do with Sosa. Plus, they looked flat.
They need to come out angry Thursday. Lou needs to get on there butts and we need to beat the brewers like a red-headed stepchild. Show them where they stand in pecking order. This is our division.