Spring Training Game Thirty-Three: Cubs (17-14) vs. Indians (9-16)
Game Time - 3:05pm C.T.
Coverage - TV: None - Radio: WGN Radio, XM Channel 177
Location - HoHoKam Park, Mesa
Ted Lilly (1-0, 0.00/1.00) vs. Fausto Carmona (3-0, 1.69/1.13)
Countdown to Opening Day...8 days. Lou Piniella's crew will host a couple of former teammates today in Kerry Wood and Mark DeRosa. Both players are expected to play and Wood is penciled in to take over for Fausto Carmona when his day is over.
While Mark DeRosa played for teams before the Cubs, it will be a strange sight for the Faithful in attendance to see Kerry Wood on the mound at HoHoKam in a different uniform.
Milton Bradley, Derrek Lee, Alfonso Soriano and Aramis Ramirez are expected to be in Piniella's starting lineup.
Ted Lilly will make his first start for the Cubs since February 27 in Surprise against the Rangers. Lilly was very good over a month ago before leaving camp for the World Baseball Classic. Lilly made two starts for Team USA and gave up four runs on five hits (three home runs) with three walks and five strikeouts (5.56 ERA and a 1.26 WHIP).
Ted Lilly threw on one of the backfields at HoHoKam last Tuesday but today will be his first game action in quite some time. Lilly is behind the rest of the staff and will only make two starts before the games count (today and April 3 in New York against Chien-Ming Wang). Results are important but the main objective for Lilly must be to not overthrow and open himself up to an injury.
Lilly allowed a pair of hits, hit a batter and struck out two with issuing a free pass in his two innings of work against the Rangers.
When the Indians dealt CC Sabathia last season, Fausto Carmona became the heir apparent to the title of the ace of the Indians. Cliff Lee won the AL Cy Young, but Carmona's potential and upside has many mentioning him among the elite in the game.
Carmona was one of the main reasons the Indians came within a win of the World Series in 2007. If he can stay healthy this season Cleveland should be right there once again this year. The Indians are the favorite to win the AL Central.
The three-game series at Wrigley in June should be very interesting if both teams play the way most think they will...and could end up being a preview for some series that will conclude in November this year.
Fausto Carmona has allowed three runs, all earned, on 11 hits in five games (four starts) this spring. In 16 innings he has walked a very high seven batters and struck out six.
Let's Talk Cubs Baseball....
Today's lineup:
Soriano - LF
Theriot - SS
Lee - 1B
Bradley - RF
Ramirez - 3B
Fontenot - 2B
Soto - C
Gathright - CF
Lilly - P
Mark DeRosa is hitting second for the Indians today.
Well...DeRosa just stuck it to the Cubs. Two run homer on the first pitch from Lilly...WAY OUT.
Message to Derrek Lee: Please quit grounding out to short.
This just in from the big ballers: Michigan State beats Louisville by 12 points in a low scoring game. State led by 13 to 15 points during the last 8 minutes of the game--except for the last 10 seconds. WOW!!!
It's still early for the Cubs.
DeRosa just hit his second home run off Lilly...1-2 pitch. Hit the scoreboard in left.
Not to worry over DeRosa's 2nd tape measure shot off Lilly. Ted is just showing his buddy DeRo some love. Ted does have 6 SO's against the other guys.
Jim, Lilly is dominating the rest of the lineup. Shaun is at the park and is questioning the pitch selection.
Bradley just hit a line-drive home run over the bullpen in right...that is a deep drive. Theriot was on base.
3-2 Indians in the third
Neil, I meant it when I said Lilly was showing DeRo some love. DeRo just hit a double to go with the 2 HR's.
DeRosa a double off the wall in center. Missed his third home run by 10'.
Is Lilly tipping?
Ball hit very top of wall, 450'.
1400' worth of balls hit by DeRosa today.
Sans the three at bats by DeRosa and Lilly had a good outing.
DeRosa with another RBI...sac fly in the 7th.
Kerry is on the mound in Mesa
Gaudin needs to improve to be useful--like in a trade. Woodie is on the mound, and Sori pops out to short left. Since this is spring, here's to Woodie!!
Woodie strikes out Bradley to end the 7th. He gives up only a walk to Theriot. Bradley has driven in all 3 runs today, including a 2 run home run.
Jim...you are right on it today.
Theriot worked a walk against Wood. Kerry struck out Milton looking to end the inning.
Shaun said seeing Kerry in an Indians' uniform was very sad. Shaun is sending photos
Hey Neil, do you know where I could find info on the Cubs minor league Spring Training games like box scores and schedules? I can't find anything anywhere! Thanks!
Check Scout.com or InsidetheIvy.com. The schedule for all the minor league games are there.
Here's a link, but you have to have a subscription:
http://cubs.scout.com/2/847932.html
The Cubs' system play the Giants system on Monday at the Giants complex and on Tuesday they face the Angels system in Tempe.
Thanks Neil!
Reed Johnson with a 2-run homer to left.
Sori's infield pop up with Gathright on third and the Cubs 2 runs down--ended the 8th. Oh yeah, ARam doubled and RJ h it it out. That's it for me today, because my Trophey Wife just said that she's expecting. That would be me for dinner!
Cubs finally retire DeRosa...Neal Cotts struck him out swinging in the 9th