3/2ST: Angels (Saunders) v CUBS (Z), 2:05CT, Gameday Audio

[Ding Dong Johnson]

I thought Pagan was killed off at the end of last season. No?

[UMFan83]

Izzy at the 2 is waaaay too much of a Dusty move....I don't like this one bit.

[CuseCubFan69]

I thought Pagan was killed off at the end of last season. No?

 

Nope, the ritual continues.

[CoolHandLuke]

I don't have the Angels' lineup, but the Cubs go this way:

 

Soriano, CF

Izturis, SS

Lee, 1B

Ramirez 3B

Murton, LF

DeRosa, 2B

Blanco, C

Pagan, RF

Zambrano, P

 

Interesting. If Lou is dead set on a lefty in the 2 slot here I'd rather see what Pagan could do there than Izturis.

 

Pagan's not an option for the two spot on a regular basis though-it's Murton, Jones, DeRosa, or Izturis-Piniella said he is looking for patience there and the ability to hit fastballs and hit the ball to all fields.

 

I don't mind Izturis there for now-if he shows those abilities, then that's great. If he doesn't, let's find it out in ST and not during the regular season.

 

I agree but I would rather see him get some AB's to show what he has or doesn't have.

 

Ahh-yeah, I'd definitely put him in front of Blanco-it's not like Blanco's AB's are really going to be important in spring. I do think Lou cares more about finding the proper lineup order though then evaluating the different possible 25th man candidates-it's an interesting question of which is more important right now.

 

Well let's hope that Lou's son tells him how bad of a hitter Izturis really is!

 

Well, as I think you know, while there's a decent chance Izturis will be really bad I also think there's a decent chance from a close analysis of his numbers that he'd be all right-I'm hoping this spring indicates that he's returned to be the latter than the former.

 

Care to give me the details of your close analysis? I see at best a guy who could possibly hit .300 given an incredible amount of luck, and due to a lack of plate discipline and power would still be pretty worthless offensively. Defensively of course he should be pretty good, so I can live with him if he is the 8th hitter and everyone else in the lineup hits well.

[goonys evil twin]

I also think there's a decent chance from a close analysis of his numbers that he'd be all right-I'm hoping this spring indicates that he's returned to be the latter than the former.

 

I don't see how. Unless you define alright much differently than I do.

[CubColtPacer]

I also think there's a decent chance from a close analysis of his numbers that he'd be all right-I'm hoping this spring indicates that he's returned to be the latter than the former.

 

I don't see how. Unless you define alright much differently than I do.

 

I define all right as around league average at the shortstop position.

[CubColtPacer]

I don't have the Angels' lineup, but the Cubs go this way:

 

Soriano, CF

Izturis, SS

Lee, 1B

Ramirez 3B

Murton, LF

DeRosa, 2B

Blanco, C

Pagan, RF

Zambrano, P

 

Interesting. If Lou is dead set on a lefty in the 2 slot here I'd rather see what Pagan could do there than Izturis.

 

Pagan's not an option for the two spot on a regular basis though-it's Murton, Jones, DeRosa, or Izturis-Piniella said he is looking for patience there and the ability to hit fastballs and hit the ball to all fields.

 

I don't mind Izturis there for now-if he shows those abilities, then that's great. If he doesn't, let's find it out in ST and not during the regular season.

 

I agree but I would rather see him get some AB's to show what he has or doesn't have.

 

Ahh-yeah, I'd definitely put him in front of Blanco-it's not like Blanco's AB's are really going to be important in spring. I do think Lou cares more about finding the proper lineup order though then evaluating the different possible 25th man candidates-it's an interesting question of which is more important right now.

 

Well let's hope that Lou's son tells him how bad of a hitter Izturis really is!

 

Well, as I think you know, while there's a decent chance Izturis will be really bad I also think there's a decent chance from a close analysis of his numbers that he'd be all right-I'm hoping this spring indicates that he's returned to be the latter than the former.

 

Care to give me the details of your close analysis? I see at best a guy who could possibly hit .300 given an incredible amount of luck, and due to a lack of plate discipline and power would still be pretty worthless offensively. Defensively of course he should be pretty good, so I can live with him if he is the 8th hitter and everyone else in the lineup hits well.

 

Well first, if he does hit .300 he'll be a very good #2 hitter-his plate discipline is getting better every year-

 

viewtopic.php?t=38595&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=45

 

That thread my second post on page 4 has my look at year by year (I didn't dig into the peripherals into that post though). Basically, he was a defensive SS who was rushed through the minors every year and was never allowed for his bat to develop. As you can see from the numbers though, his overall bat improved every single year, even if his numbers sometimes didn't (the two times his numbers dropped was when he got promoted from single A to Triple A too quickly, and then again from Triple A to the majors too quickly). He then has improved every year he has been in the majors-he was a little below average for a SS but not terrible in 2004, and then was having his breakout season in 05 before the injuries. He hasn't been consistent in how terrible he is-his bat improved every single year from age 17 until he got hurt at age 25, and it was coming into the levels in which it was quite acceptable or maybe even an asset if he had kept improving.

[Bruce Miles]

Angels:

 

Matthews, CF

Cabrera, SS

Guerrero, RF

Hillenbrand, 1B

Kendrick, 2B

Figgins, 3B

Molina, C

Gorneault, LF

Saunders, P

[CUBZ99]

I don't have the Angels' lineup, but the Cubs go this way:

 

Soriano, CF

Izturis, SS

Lee, 1B

Ramirez 3B

Murton, LF

DeRosa, 2B

Blanco, C

Pagan, RF

Zambrano, P

 

Interesting. If Lou is dead set on a lefty in the 2 slot here I'd rather see what Pagan could do there than Izturis.

 

Pagan's not an option for the two spot on a regular basis though-it's Murton, Jones, DeRosa, or Izturis-Piniella said he is looking for patience there and the ability to hit fastballs and hit the ball to all fields.

 

I don't mind Izturis there for now-if he shows those abilities, then that's great. If he doesn't, let's find it out in ST and not during the regular season.

 

I agree but I would rather see him get some AB's to show what he has or doesn't have.

 

Ahh-yeah, I'd definitely put him in front of Blanco-it's not like Blanco's AB's are really going to be important in spring. I do think Lou cares more about finding the proper lineup order though then evaluating the different possible 25th man candidates-it's an interesting question of which is more important right now.

 

Well let's hope that Lou's son tells him how bad of a hitter Izturis really is!

 

Well, as I think you know, while there's a decent chance Izturis will be really bad I also think there's a decent chance from a close analysis of his numbers that he'd be all right-I'm hoping this spring indicates that he's returned to be the latter than the former.

 

Care to give me the details of your close analysis? I see at best a guy who could possibly hit .300 given an incredible amount of luck, and due to a lack of plate discipline and power would still be pretty worthless offensively. Defensively of course he should be pretty good, so I can live with him if he is the 8th hitter and everyone else in the lineup hits well.

 

I actually dont' mind Lou batting Izturis in the 2nd spot in Spring Training. If you've read his quotes he has stated that he wants to use spring training to tinker with some things and once the seaon starts he wants to have a pretty much set lineup. I'm sure Lou is giving Izturis every shot to succeed and build his confidence.

[CUBZ99]

Angels:

 

Matthews, CF

Cabrera, SS

Guerrero, RF

Hillenbrand, 1B

Kendrick, 2B

Figgins, 3B

Molina, C

Gorneault, LF

Saunders, P

 

Any word on who will be pitching in relief after Zambrano? Will there be a Gallagher or Shark sighting?

[Bruce Miles]

Angels:

 

Matthews, CF

Cabrera, SS

Guerrero, RF

Hillenbrand, 1B

Kendrick, 2B

Figgins, 3B

Molina, C

Gorneault, LF

Saunders, P

 

Any word on who will be pitching in relief after Zambrano? Will there be a Gallagher or Shark sighting?

 

Today it looks like Howry, Cotts, Rapada, Guzman and Ohman. Saturday, it looks like Miller (starting), Dempster, O'Malley, Samardzija, Gallagher, Marmol and Anderson.

[CuseCubFan69]

Angels:

 

Matthews, CF

Cabrera, SS

Guerrero, RF

Hillenbrand, 1B

Kendrick, 2B

Figgins, 3B

Molina, C

Gorneault, LF

Saunders, P

 

Any word on who will be pitching in relief after Zambrano? Will there be a Gallagher or Shark sighting?

 

Today it looks like Howry, Cotts, Rapada, Guzman and Ohman. Saturday, it looks like Miller (starting), Dempster, O'Malley, Samardzija, Gallagher, Marmol and Anderson.

 

Cool. Please let us know how they look when you get a chance.

[YearofDaCubs]

Angels:

 

Matthews, CF

Cabrera, SS

Guerrero, RF

Hillenbrand, 1B

Kendrick, 2B

Figgins, 3B

Molina, C

Gorneault, LF

Saunders, P

 

Any word on who will be pitching in relief after Zambrano? Will there be a Gallagher or Shark sighting?

 

Today it looks like Howry, Cotts, Rapada, Guzman and Ohman. Saturday, it looks like Miller (starting), Dempster, O'Malley, Samardzija, Gallagher, Marmol and Anderson.

Nice. Thanks

[RichHillIsABeast]

Angels:

 

Matthews, CF

Cabrera, SS

Guerrero, RF

Hillenbrand, 1B

Kendrick, 2B

Figgins, 3B

Molina, C

Gorneault, LF

Saunders, P

 

Any word on who will be pitching in relief after Zambrano? Will there be a Gallagher or Shark sighting?

 

Today it looks like Howry, Cotts, Rapada, Guzman and Ohman. Saturday, it looks like Miller (starting), Dempster, O'Malley, Samardzija, Gallagher, Marmol and Anderson.

 

How's Miller's velo? Is it ever going to come back?

[radarluv1]

http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/schedule/index.jsp#20070301

 

this made it look like mlb.tv was carrying all the games today. as the games have started, they've just conveniently erased the tv icon, as if no one would be the wiser.

[baseball7897]

Angels:

 

Matthews, CF

Cabrera, SS

Guerrero, RF

Hillenbrand, 1B

Kendrick, 2B

Figgins, 3B

Molina, C

Gorneault, LF

Saunders, P

 

That looks like an NL lineup for the Halos.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Press Notes

 

The Cubs’ current 40-man roster features a number of players who have shared clubhouses in the past.

 

Alfonso Soriano played with Mark DeRosa in Texas (2005) and with Ted Lilly in 2000-02 with the Yankees.

 

Two of the five players to reach 35 doubles and 35 home runs last season will be in Cubs uniforms in 2007.

 

Newcomer Alfonso Soriano belted 46 long balls and 41 doubles for Washington last season … Aramis Ramirez had 38 homers and 38 two-baggers for Chicago.

 

The others to reach the 35-35 mark were Bill Hall (35 HR, 39 2B), Carlos Beltran (41, 38) and Carlos Lee (37, 37).

 

DID YOU KNOW?: Today’s starter, Carlos Zambrano, is unbeaten in his last seven regular season starts against American League opponents.

 

Dating back to July 2, 2004, the right-hander is 4-0 with a 4.74 ERA (23 ER/43.2 IP) in seven starts against the American League.

 

Zambrano has only faced an AL West opponent on two occasions: On June 19, 2002, he made a relief appearance against Texas at Wrigley Field (0.1 IP, 0 ER) … on June 20, 2004, he got the start and the win against Oakland, allowing one earned run in 6.2 innings of work.

[TruffleShuffle]

I don't think it's too early to call this a must-win game.

[CUBZ99]

I don't think it's too early to call this a must-win game.

 

I agree. :D

[CoolHandLuke]

http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/schedule/index.jsp#20070301

 

this made it look like mlb.tv was carrying all the games today. as the games have started, they've just conveniently erased the tv icon, as if no one would be the wiser.

 

Yeah I have been complaining about that a lot lately. Its just a ploy to make prospective subscribers think they are getting something better than they are.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Some Grapefruit League scores for everyone,

 

Cards 2, Mets 1 end of 4.

 

Blue Jays 6, Red Sox 4, end of 5.

 

Nats 7, Dodgers 3, end of 4

 

Yankees 0, DRays 0, end 5

 

Pirates 1, Braves 1, end 5

 

Tigers 6, Astros 1, top 5

 

Orioles 2, Marlins 0, end 5

 

Phillies 6, Indians 2, end 4

[98navigator]

Angels:

 

Matthews, CF

Cabrera, SS

Guerrero, RF

Hillenbrand, 1B

Kendrick, 2B

Figgins, 3B

Molina, C

Gorneault, LF

Saunders, P

 

Thanks for the info Bruce

[Chocolate Milk]

Blue Jays 6, Red Sox 4, end of 5.

 

Didn't Dice K pitch today? I wonder how he did...

[sweetpeteman]

Blue Jays 6, Red Sox 4, end of 5.

 

Didn't Dice K pitch today? I wonder how he did...

 

No. He pitches tomorrow I think against Boston College.

 

EDIT: Tonight at 5 CT

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

I can PbP an inning or two if anyone is interested.