Wednesday, April 1, 2009

Cubs Tie Second Straight, Radio Recaps and More

First of all...

Final Score: Cubs 8, A's 8

Cubs Starting Lineup Hitting:

Soriano: 2-4, Run

Miles: 0-3

Lee: 2-4, RBI, Run

Bradley: 0-2, BB, Run

Ramirez: 2-3, Run

R. Johnson: 0-2, RBI, Run

Soto: 2-2, BB, 2 Runs, 5 RBI

Theriot: 2-3

Zambrano: 0-2

A big day for Geo including a Grand Slam off Braden in the 6th. Theriot, Soriano, Lee, and Ramirez all also had multi-hit games.

Cubs Pitchers:

Zambrano: 3.1 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 1 K

Vizcaino: 0.2 IP, 2 H, 2 ER

Maestri: 1 IP, 1 H, 3 K, 0 ER

Waddel: 1 IP, 1 H, 1 K, 0 ER

Guzman: 1 IP, 2 H, 1 R (0 ER)

Cotts: 1 IP, 5 H, 3 K, 3 ER

Samardzija: 1 IP, 1 H, 1 R

Cottsy was not his best today. He allowed 3 key runs in the 8th inning. Jeff Samardzija didn't help his cause fighting for a bullpen spot by blowing the save. I was impressed by Cubs prospect Alex Maestri, who struck out the side in a game at big league camp today.

Cubs Bench:

Guyer: 1-1

Castro: 0-1

Wright: 0-2, Run

Reynolds: 1-2, RBI

Gathright: 0-1, BB

Hill: 0-2

Hoffpauir: 0-1

Fukudome: 0-1, BB

Lots of guys off the High-A Team got into the game again today.

Game Highlight: Neal Cotts allowed the A's back in the game by allowing 3 runs in the 8th.

My Player of the Game: Geovany Soto for his Grand Slam, 2 hits, 2 runs, walk, and 5 RBIs.

Up Next: It's finally the last Cactus League game! Cubs VS Indians @ 2:05 CT tomorrow. Note that this game is an hour earlier for get away day.

Other Cubs Notes:

  • Ted Lilly will go with the Cubs to New York. If the game on Friday gets rained out, he will throw in the batting cages.
  • Lou isn't sure whether he'll start Fontenot or Miles against lefties at 2B.
  • Ryan Dempster will start the final game in Arizona tomorrow.
  • I'll say it again, tomorrow is the 49th and final day in the desert.
  • The Cubs traded minor league pitcher Rocky Roquet to the A's today for a player to be named later.
  • They also released Ed Campusano.
  • Chad Gaudin is on the Tigers radar, but his $2MM salary "may be a bit much".
  • The Rockies also like Gaudin, but Jason Hammel of the Rays is their number 1 target.
  • Micah Hoffpauir, who has played in 29 of the first 34 Cactus League games, is due for some rest according to the Tribune.
  • Michael Barret has made the Blue Jays as their backup catcher.
  • Hot Stove Cubbies points out that the Padres could be interested in Angel Guzman.
  • Mark Newman did a good article for MLB.com: Is this the year for the Cubs?

Jeff Dickerson and David Haugh began their 3rd year of Chicago Baseball Tonight on Monday night and were joined by Jeff Brantley to preview the Reds:

  • The Reds are young, but yet they've been around the league a little bit.
  • He thinks the Reds pitchers will surprise everyone this year.
  • The key right now is getting the hitting together.
  • Brantley is exited to watch the Reds pitchers this year.
  • Johnny Cueto gained a lot of confidence in the WBC.
  • The question marks for the Reds are left field and facing left handed pitching.
  • Jeff doesn't seem too confident in the Reds left side of the infield.
  • The Reds need to score runs early in the season.
  • The players love playing for Dusty in Cincinnati. Brantley thinks the guys feed off Baker's emotion in the dugout.
  • Brantley says that there is no doubt the Cubs are the team to beat.
  • Jeff wonders about the Cubs clubhouse without Mark DeRosa.
  • The other teams in the Central don't want to let the Cubs jump out and take the bull by the horns like they did last year.

Last night, David and Jeff were joined by John Rooney to preview the Cardinals:

  • Rooney is the former voice of the White Sox and is now the radio voice of the Cardinals.
  • John says that it is probably true that the Cubs are the team to beat.
  • He thinks the Central is one of the toughest divisions in baseball.
  • St. Louis will be more than a competitive team.
  • The Cardinals have the pitching set.
  • Rooney thinks the Reds will be improved.
  • He likes the Brewers lineup.
  • The Cardinals are not expecting Chris Carpenter to be their ace.
  • He is throwing a good curveball and has a very good cutter.
  • Wainwright is the ace of the rotation, Loshe will be the number 2, and Wellemyer #3.
  • Todd Wellemyer, the former Cub, has a very good change-up that he has added.
  • Wellemyer throws strikes and stays away from big innings.
  • There has not been a lefty in the Cards rotation for a few years and that has not been a problem.
  • Khalil Greene has not struck out that much all spring. He thinks things will come together for Greene because he is in a better lineup.
  • Khalil has hit .400 in Spring Training.
  • John says the move from outfield to second base is going to be tough for Skip Shumaker.
  • Skip "works as hard as anybody".
  • Rooney says it is hard to tell how many more years Tony La Rusa will manage.

I've been writing recaps of each MLB Network "30 Clubs in 30 Days" episode for the NL Central. Check out the recap for the:

And stay tuned, I'll have these "30 in 30" recaps this weekend...

  • Pirates
  • Astros
  • Reds

I'll keep you posted!

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