Opening Day Thoughts and Images...

[ManEatingTarp]

Hey folks. Due to a cold I caught on opening day and having two teeth pulled at the dentist yesterday I haven't been around to post this.

 

My observations from the weekend series:

 

The Cubs

Maddux can still pitch, and pitch very very well. He had the Cards off balance all Friday afternoon.

Ronny Cedeno will be the Shortstop for the Cubs for a very long time. That kid has some tools.

The Cubs may have spent too much on the bullpen, but it's good. Really good.

Derek Lee was not a one year wonder. That Homer was crushed.

The Cubs are a much faster team.

 

The Cards

Looked slow, flat and bothered by the cold.

The bullpen is going to cost them a lot of games if it doesn't get fixed.

The lineup drops off pretty fast after Rolen.

Juan Encarnacion better wake up and smell the pine tar. He is NOT a #2 hitter. Pujols is going to hit with the bases empty a lot this year.

Ponson pitched well.

Miles looks like the next good find at 2nd for Walt.

 

The Cards better realize that there's another rooster in the henhouse. This is going to be a good race this year.

 

Here's some pictures from Opening day.

 

http://web.mac.com/cneseman/iWeb/Site/Opening%20Day_files/IMG_0798.jpg

 

http://web.mac.com/cneseman/iWeb/Site/Opening%20Day_files/IMG_0799.jpg

 

http://web.mac.com/cneseman/iWeb/Site/Opening%20Day_files/IMG_0800.jpg

 

http://web.mac.com/cneseman/iWeb/Site/Opening%20Day_files/IMG_0801.jpg

 

http://web.mac.com/cneseman/iWeb/Site/Opening%20Day_files/IMG_0802.jpg

 

http://web.mac.com/cneseman/iWeb/Site/Opening%20Day_files/IMG_0811.jpg

 

http://web.mac.com/cneseman/iWeb/Site/Opening%20Day_files/IMG_0814.jpg

 

http://web.mac.com/cneseman/iWeb/Site/Opening%20Day_files/IMG_0817.jpg

 

http://web.mac.com/cneseman/iWeb/Site/Opening%20Day_files/IMG_0818.jpg

 

http://web.mac.com/cneseman/iWeb/Site/Opening%20Day_files/IMG_0824.jpg

 

http://web.mac.com/cneseman/iWeb/Site/Opening%20Day_files/IMG_0826.jpg

 

http://web.mac.com/cneseman/iWeb/Site/Opening%20Day_files/IMG_0827.jpg

 

http://web.mac.com/cneseman/iWeb/Site/Opening%20Day_files/IMG_0829.jpg

[rawaction]

Those are some excellent shots. The one with Maddux pitching to Edmonds is especially nice.

[snoodmonger]

Good post; can't disagree with much you said. good pics, too. Hope you had fun.

 

By the way, it's nice to see a wide array of t-shirts in Cubbie green. :roll:

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Great pics!

[ManEatingTarp]

Thanks guys. It was really cloudy so the lighting was pretty bad.

I'm going to a bunch of games this year. I'm buying a zoom lens so I hope to post some good pictures as the year goes along.

[rawaction]

I want that shirt on the top row 3rd from the left. Somebody find me one online. I looked at Tim's links and didn't find one.

[1908]

Nice pics. The wind must've been brutal up there. The wind has blown right at my seats (third base side) more often than not over the past seven Opening Day's. Was very happy to have it blow toward the south side of the field this year. :D

[ManEatingTarp]

It was COLD.

 

http://web.mac.com/cneseman/iWeb/Site/Opening%20Day_files/IMG_0832.jpg

[jjgman21]

Hey folks. Due to a cold I caught on opening day and having two teeth pulled at the dentist yesterday I haven't been around to post this.

 

 

 

 

why am I not shocked that a Card fan has dental problems?

 

 

sorry, I couldn't resist.

 

not sure how Miles's 0-7, 1 BB series impressed you so much, though

[ManEatingTarp]

Hey folks. Due to a cold I caught on opening day and having two teeth pulled at the dentist yesterday I haven't been around to post this.

 

 

 

 

why am I not shocked that a Card fan has dental problems?

 

 

sorry, I couldn't resist.

 

not sure how Miles's 0-7, 1 BB series impressed you so much, though

 

Have you ever seen Ronnie Woo Woo's teeth ;)

 

Miles 0-7 and Pujol's 1-8 weren't highlights of the weekend...

 

Miles has been pretty slick in the field so far, and I think he's going to be a nice #8 hitter.

Juan on the other hand is just bad. REAL BAD.

I forgot to add that Marshal look like he's ready to be in the bigs.

[Blueheart05]

Hey folks. Due to a cold I caught on opening day and having two teeth pulled at the dentist yesterday I haven't been around to post this.

 

 

 

 

why am I not shocked that a Card fan has dental problems?

 

 

sorry, I couldn't resist.

 

not sure how Miles's 0-7, 1 BB series impressed you so much, though

 

Have you ever seen Ronnie Woo Woo's teeth ;)

 

Miles 0-7 and Pujol's 1-8 weren't highlights of the weekend...

 

Miles has been pretty slick in the field so far, and I think he's going to be a nice #8 hitter.

Juan on the other hand is just bad. REAL BAD.

I forgot to add that Marshal look like he's ready to be in the bigs.

 

LMAO, good point! :wink:

 

If it's any consolation, Pooh's one hit almost gave me a heart attack...

 

I'm surprised that LaRussa is sticking with Encarnacion in the 2 slot. I have a feeling that it wont continue for too much longer or Pujols will suffer DLee's fate of 2005 by leading off most times in the order and having fewer RBI than expected.

[ManEatingTarp]

I think Bigbie will be the #2 hitter by the All-Star break.

That's if he comes back from this foot fracture and is able to hit like the first round draft pick he's supposed to be.

fingers crossed...

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

I think Bigbie will be the #2 hitter by the All-Star break.

That's if he comes back from this foot fracture and is able to hit like the first round draft pick he's supposed to be.

fingers crossed...

 

Bigbie's last two seasons of OPS+ are 73 and 96. I wouldn't expect too much.

[The Voice of Reason]

Nice post MET - as usual, very fair and unbiased analysis.

[SouthSideRyan]

Great pictures.

[ManEatingTarp]

I think Bigbie will be the #2 hitter by the All-Star break.

That's if he comes back from this foot fracture and is able to hit like the first round draft pick he's supposed to be.

fingers crossed...

 

Bigbie's last two seasons of OPS+ are 73 and 96. I wouldn't expect too much.

 

I think this "might" be a rare case of the #s not telling the whole story. Bigbie has run into some bad luck with some injuries and bad team situations. He's shown he can do it one year, and I think he just needs a solid chance.

Only time will tell.

[Derwood]

ha! the guy running camera B in that shot is Tommy....I know him from when I worked on the Oprah show (most of the cameramen on Oprah also do Cubs/Sox games)

[ConstableRabbit]

How can I upload photos from my pc to a post? I have some from the bleachers.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

How can I upload photos from my pc to a post? I have some from the bleachers.

 

http://imageshack.us/

[ConstableRabbit]

How can I upload photos from my pc to a post? I have some from the bleachers.

 

http://imageshack.us/

 

Thanks!