Game Eleven: Cubs (6-4) vs. Pirates (4-9)
Game Time – 12:35pm C.T. on Comcast SportsNet, WGN Radio, XM Radio Channel 185
Location – PNC Park, Pittsburgh
Updated – 10:47am C.T./11:41am C.T. with a Starting Pitching Change
Glendon Rusch (0-2, 8.00) vs. Ian Snell (0-0, 9.00)
Happy Easter to everyone and hopefully the Cubs can get back on track and win the rubber game of the series today. Glendon Rusch has been horrible this entire year (Spring Training and regular season) and he is pitching for his job today. The Cubs need the win before the long plane ride to California. Jerome Williams pitched well for the Cubs on Saturday and like last season did not receive any run support and with the way Williams pitched, another bad game for Rusch could be the end of him being in the starting rotation.
Update – The Pirates were scheduled to start Ian Snell (0-0, 9.00) and then inserted Paul Maholm (0-1, 7.71), but the Bucs have changed back Ian Snell for today’s game. Maholm is a left hander and Snell is a right hander. Also, several reports out of Chicago on Easter morning indicated Felix Pie could get the callup for today’s game. According to a report on Cubs.com, Kerry Wood pitched well in a simulated game and will join the Cubs in Los Angeles to be evaluated by Larry Rothschild. At that point Rothschild will decide if another simulated game or a rehab start is the next plan of attack.
Juan Pierre and Aramis Ramirez have to get on track soon. The Cubs cannot afford to lose ballgames they should win, like Saturday night. A team is only as good as its weakest link and Ramirez is not even hitting at the Mendoza Line.
Todd Walker should get the start at second today and hopefully John Mabry will be back in the lineup as well. Mabry missed Saturday’s game with stiffness in his neck. Angel Pagan is expected to be put on the 15-day DL today with a hamstring injury and according to a report from the Associated Press, Pagan could be out for a while.
Update from the Crash Davis Minors Report
Angel Guzman pitched 5 1/3 innings against Round Rock on Friday and gave up 5 earned runs. Guzman’s ERA is now 4.35.
Notes from the CCO
Hopefully “Glooroo” learned his lesson last week and will be able to put on “W” on the board for the Cubs….so as all of you spend time with your families this Easter….and check on the game….like we all will, just send old “Glooroo” positive thoughts….he needs all the Faithful can give him.
Also, Cubs.com brought up the same fact I wanted to pass along, but the last time the Cubs were in Pittsburgh for Easter was 2003….that was the game Sammy Sosa was hit in the head….in my opinion that was the beginning of the end for Slammin’ Sammy.
Let’s Talk Cubbies Baseball….