Spring Training Game Two: Cubs (1-0) vs. Brewers (0-0-1)
Game Time – 2:05pm C.T.
Coverage – TV: None – Radio: 720 WGN, XM Radio Channel 177
Location – HoHoKam Park, Mesa
Sean Marshall (0-0, -.–/-.–) vs. Yovani Gallardo (0-0, -.–/-.–)
The two teams that have finished atop the Central Division the past two seasons will face off for the first time in 2009 today. It is a new season and he Cubs and the Brewers have a much different look than they did last September at Miller Park.
The Brewers have a new manager in Ken Macha and several holes in their starting rotation. However, with the offensive team they will run out on a daily basis, if their defense improves they figure to be in the mix for the Central Division crown this season. Lou Piniella will give the ball to Sean Marshall today. Marshall is the odds on favorite to be the Cubs’ fifth starter when the season begins…but a lot can change over the next month.
Marshall was solid once again last year for the Cubs in different roles.
Aramis Ramirez and Milton Bradley are expected to be in the starting lineup today. Joey Gathright and Aaron Miles should make their Cub debut as well.
The Cubs will face one of the best young pitchers in the game, Yovani Gallardo. Before a knee injury at Wrigley Field in May detoured his season (and many think if Gallardo had not gotten injured the Brewers would have never traded for CC Sabathia), Gallardo was well on his way to becoming one of the elite pitchers in the league.
While the Cubs won their first game of the spring, the Brewers ended their first contest against the A’s after 10 innings tied at three.
Let’s Talk Cubs Baseball….