Game Five: Cubs (3-1) vs. Cardinals (3-2)
Game Time – 7:05pm C.T. on ESPN, WGN Radio, ESPN Radio, XM Radio Channel 186
Sean Marshall (0-0, -.–) vs. Sidney Ponson (0-0, -.–)
The Cubs go for the sweep against the Cardinals with rookie Sean Marshall making his Major League debut. Marshall was lights out in Arizona during Spring Training….not allowing an earned run, but once the Cubs left the desert….Marshall’s magic wore off a little under the bright lights of Las Vegas.
Several questions come to my mind before tonight’s game: Will Jacque Jones get his first hit as a Cub? Will Albert Pujols go 0 for Chicago (he came in 5-10 for the young season and has yet to have a hit in the series)? How will Sean Marshall handle the pressure of his first start? Can Derrek Lee hit a home run in 4 games straight? News & Information from Sunday
In Sunday’s Chicago-Sun Times there was a little short story about how Corey Patterson has fallen out of grace in Baltimore. Apparently the free-swinging Patterson is up to his old tricks and not showing any plate discipline for his new team. Patterson was supposed to be the starter on Opening Day for the Orioles but was benched for Luis Matos. Patterson is now the platoon mate for Matos. Patterson started game 2 for the O’s and batted 9th and his lack of patience “stood out”.
“Tampa Bay Devil Rays’ pitcher Seth McClung issued a career high seven walks. Corey flied out to end a four run rally and struck out with the bases loaded in his two at-bats against McClung. The next game Patterson was on the bench.”
According to several reports out of Chicago, the Cubs and Derrek Lee are close to a contract extension and D-Lee has removed the Saturday deadline for getting the deal done. Apparently the two sides are talking about a 5-year contract in the neighborhood of $13 million dollars a year….nice neighborhood!
“The Bud-Light Bleachers” look very good and I was surprised at how much I could not tell the difference from my seats on Saturday, except for the batter’s eye. The Cubs did a very good job, like I’ve said before….”Maybe a change of Wrigley, will bring about a change at Wrigley.”
Let’s Talk Cubbies Baseball….