Game Eleven: Cubs (6-4) vs. Phillies (5-6) Game Time - 6:05pm C.T. Coverage - TV: WGN TV - Radio: 720 WGN, XM Radio Channel 174, 183 Location - Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia Ted Lilly (0-1, 9.72/1.68) vs. Cole Hamels (1-1, 1.20/1.00) A sixteenth of the 2008 season is complete. The Cubs are 6-4 and have shown glimpses of how good the team is capable of playing....but they have also shown the opposite. Lou Piniella's crew must work on building consistency, getting on base and most importantly … [Read more...]
Talkin’ Cubs Live – Cubs vs. Mariners – 03/28/08
Spring Training Game Thirty-One: Cubs (14-14-2) vs. Mariners (12-15) Game Time - 9:15pm C.T. TV: WGN TV, MLB.TV - Radio: 720 WGN, Gameday Audio on MLB.com Location - Cashman Field, Las Vegas Ted Lilly (0-0, 6.00/1.40) vs. Carlos Silva (0-2, 9.20/2.18) The final tune-up of the spring for the Cubs begins tonight in Las Vegas against the Seattle Mariners. The quick 2-game series is dubbed as 'Big League Weekend' and takes place at Cashman Field, home of the Dodgers' Triple-A affiliate, the Las … [Read more...]
Winding Down?
The definition of "unlikely" according to Merriam-Webster is: not likely, improbable, likely to fail....and that was the word Andy MacPhail used on Wednesday to update the media on the possibility of Brian Roberts being traded to the Cubs. Fitting, isn't it? While Brian Roberts appears to be staying in Baltimore, the Cubs made more roster moves and is Lou Piniella really thinking of inserting Kosuke Fukudome in the leadoff spot? Here is the latest from the desert and the "final" rumors on the … [Read more...]
Starting to Click?
Spring Training Game Twenty-Six - Cubs 7 Padres 3 WP - Jason Marquis (1-1) LP - Greg Maddux (1-1) Save - None Lou Piniella's offense has finally started putting runs on the board. Over the past 4 games the Cubs have tallied a total of 26 runs, the same amount they scored in the 7 games prior dating back to March 13th. On Sunday afternoon the Cubs batted around in the 1st inning against Greg Maddux and scored 6 times on 4 hits with a pair of walks and a Padres' error. Eric Patterson and Alfonso … [Read more...]
Showcasing?
Spring Training Game Twenty - Cubs 6 Royals 5 WP - Kevin Hart (1-0) LP - Joakim Soria (1-1, BS - 1) Save - None If the reports are accurate about the numerous scouts in attendance during recent Cubs' games, then Jason Marquis and Ronny Cedeno picked the right time to have a good day at the office. Marquis was very effective once again. He allowed only 1 run on 5 hits with 2 walks and 4 strikeouts in 5 plus innings of work. Marquis kept the ball down and did not allow a leadoff triple by David … [Read more...]
Another Late Spring Loss
Spring Training Game Eighteen - Cubs 3 White Sox 5 WP - Scott Linebrink (1-0) LP - Neal Cotts (0-2, BS 1) Save - D.J. Carrasco (2) Lou Piniella's lineup was missing the Big Three of Aramis Ramirez, Derrek Lee and Alfonso Soriano while Ozzie Guillen played all but one of his projected everyday line-up....and the Cubs pitching staff performed quite well against a very dangerous offensive team. Rich Hill was effective but not sharp and was helped by the White Sox aggressiveness at the plate. … [Read more...]
Nothing In Between
Spring Training Game Thirteen - Cubs 4 Brewers 6 WP - Dave Bush (1-0) LP - Rich Hill (0-1) Save - Brian Shouse (1) The Cubs offense picked up where they left off on Sunday with an impressive 1st inning against Dave Bush....3 runs on 3 hits with a walk. Aramis Ramirez drove in pair with a double to right and Josh Kroeger followed with a run scoring single. After Kroeger's single Dave Bush and Manny Parra retired the next 16 batters they faced until a 2-out double by Aramis Ramirez in the 6th … [Read more...]
After Twelve Games….
After starting the exhibition season, 1-3, Lou Piniella's crew have won 4 of the last 7 and in the process have shown improvement over the past week. Mark DeRosa is expected back on the field on Monday in Maryville while this past week Aramis Ramirez, Alfonso Soriano and Daryle Ward all returned from various injuries. The Cubs still have 20 games left, 18 in Arizona and 2 in Las Vegas, before Opening Day against the Brewers on March 31st. Rumors persist that Jim Hendry is still looking for ways … [Read more...]
Walking in the Sand
Spring Training Game Seven - Cubs 4 Diamondbacks 5 WP - Brooks Brown (1-0) LP - Tim Lahey (0-1, BS 1) Save - Bill Murphy (1) Carlos Zambrano pitched for the second time this spring with a better result than his previous start last Friday. Not only did Zambrano throw 3 innings of shutout ball but he added his first home run of the spring, on a 0-2 pitch from Max Scherzer. Zambrano gave up a hit, a walk and struck out 3. Rich Hill also pitched in his second Cactus League game and while he did … [Read more...]
Back in the Win Column
Spring Training Game Five - Cubs 6 Mariners 5 WP - Jeff Samardzija (1-0) LP - Robert Rohrbaugh (0-1) Save - None Ronny Cedeno made his first start of the spring in centerfield and was 3-for-5 in the leadoff spot but was picked off 1st base in the 3rd inning. Jake Fox added a double, a triple, drove in a run and scored one in his 5 trips to the plate. Micah Hoffpauir doubled in a run in the 7th, scored on Fox's triple after walking in 4th and finished the day 2-for-4 with 2 runs scored. Ryan … [Read more...]