4/1 - Pirates (Correia) @ Cubs (Dempster) 1:20pm WGN

[Old Style]

Byrd blown away by three straight 97-mph fastballs down the middle. That's not encouraging.

Needs more "supplements" from Victor Conte.

 

You are an awful post factory

That cuts deep, man.

[bcl412]

An individual game in baseball just doesn't mean much in baseball since there are so many of them but for whatever reason, I really, really, really hate losing on opening day in baseball the most.

[Garwilly]

http://scores.espn.go.com/mlb/photos?gameId=310401116&photoId=1232724#photo_1233433

[erik316wttn]

All we're missing is erik with an "only the Cubs" moment for me to blow something up.

 

Don't forget "Ballgame".

 

Although it sucks that it's another tough loss to open the season, I have faith in Z tomorrow. We'll be a .500 team by tomorrow night.

 

I wonder why all of a sudden we can't beat the Pirates.

[UMFan83]

All we're missing is erik with an "only the Cubs" moment for me to blow something up.

 

Don't forget "Ballgame".

 

Although it sucks that it's another tough loss to open the season, I have faith in Z tomorrow. We'll be a .500 team by tomorrow night.

 

I wonder why all of a sudden we can't beat the Pirates.

 

Well this year the issue is that they are decent, or at least better than years past. I really like their offense in general.

[Rob]

Got back not too long ago. A few random notes:

 

1.) It was miserable weather. low-mid 40s and raining through most of the game. Just enough wind to rub it in too.

2.) Neil Walker freaking destroyed that baseball.

3.) Kinda mad at Quade for leaving Demp out there for ~115 pitches in bad weather when he obviously didn't have his best stuff. It's opening day, no need to stress arms this early.

4.) Soriano caught the boo-birds LOUDLY at the end of his last at bat.

5.) Castro looks like he's done some work on his fielding. I wasn't happy with his attempt to throw out Tabata though... He still needs to work on his decision making some.

6.) Fukudome's definitely lost a step in the last few years, even accounting for the field conditions.

7.) The fans started ducking out of the game really early. I know conditions were nasty, but we weren't down by that much. It makes those of us who care look bad.

8.) Marlon Byrd can't catch up to a good fastball.

9.) I'm officially (finally) ready to give up on Jeff Samardzija. I don't know how you can look that nasty and fool nobody, but he does it.

10.) The Pirates have some actual offensive talent for once. Tabata, Walker, McCutchen, and Alvarez are all quality players... at least on offense anyways.

[Mark Priors Calves]

http://scores.espn.go.com/mlb/photos?gameId=310401116&photoId=1232724#photo_1233433

Nice find.

[questionmarkgrace]

Got back not too long ago. A few random notes:

 

1.) It was miserable weather. low-mid 40s and raining through most of the game. Just enough wind to rub it in too.

2.) Neil Walker freaking destroyed that baseball.

3.) Kinda mad at Quade for leaving Demp out there for ~115 pitches in bad weather when he obviously didn't have his best stuff. It's opening day, no need to stress arms this early.

4.) Soriano caught the boo-birds LOUDLY at the end of his last at bat.

5.) Castro looks like he's done some work on his fielding. I wasn't happy with his attempt to throw out Tabata though... He still needs to work on his decision making some.

6.) Fukudome's definitely lost a step in the last few years, even accounting for the field conditions.

7.) The fans started ducking out of the game really early. I know conditions were nasty, but we weren't down by that much. It makes those of us who care look bad.

8.) Marlon Byrd can't catch up to a good fastball.

9.) I'm officially (finally) ready to give up on Jeff Samardzija. I don't know how you can look that nasty and fool nobody, but he does it.

10.) The Pirates have some actual offensive talent for once. Tabata, Walker, McCutchen, and Alvarez are all quality players... at least on offense anyways.

 

 

Marlon Byrd apparently has been battling back problems the last week but according to Len and Bob there was no way he was missing this game. So maybe thats why he was noticeably swinging late today. Really though this begs the question of whether Quade is going to let injured guys play through it like Lee and Aramis did last year or make guys who arent prepared take a seat.

 

Otherwise, spot on observations especially #10, these arent the pirates of 2004-9. I was also really surprised how empty the field was in 05 it was snowing and everyone stayed til the end despite Maddux giving up a bunch of runs.

[Little Slide Rooter]

All we're missing is erik with an "only the Cubs" moment for me to blow something up.

 

Don't forget "Ballgame".

 

Although it sucks that it's another tough loss to open the season, I have faith in Z tomorrow. We'll be a .500 team by tomorrow night.

 

I wonder why all of a sudden we can't beat the Pirates.

 

Well this year the issue is that they are decent, or at least better than years past. I really like their offense in general.

 

At least we have a few years left of being better than The Astros.

[erik316wttn]

All we're missing is erik with an "only the Cubs" moment for me to blow something up.

 

Don't forget "Ballgame".

 

Oh, and just for the record, when I call "ballgame", it's over.

[Guest]

All we're missing is erik with an "only the Cubs" moment for me to blow something up.

 

Don't forget "Ballgame".

 

Oh, and just for the record, when I call "ballgame", it's over.

 

For who's entertainment, exactly?

[erik316wttn]

All we're missing is erik with an "only the Cubs" moment for me to blow something up.

 

Don't forget "Ballgame".

 

Oh, and just for the record, when I call "ballgame", it's over.

 

For who's entertainment, exactly?

 

I never said it was entertaining. I said it was factual. Sometimes people don't like to hear the truth.

[Guest]

All we're missing is erik with an "only the Cubs" moment for me to blow something up.

 

Don't forget "Ballgame".

 

Oh, and just for the record, when I call "ballgame", it's over.

 

For who's entertainment, exactly?

 

I never said it was entertaining. I said it was factual. Sometimes people don't like to hear the truth.

 

Except it's far from factual.

[erik316wttn]

 

Except it's far from factual.

 

If you say so, chief.

[Guest]

Seeing as how all it would take to make it not factual is one time where you called "Ballgame" and the Cubs came back to win - and I'm guessing that's happened at least once - I can pretty confidently say it's not factual.

 

My bet is the big comeback against Colorado in either 07 or 08.

[erik316wttn]

Seeing as how all it would take to make it not factual is one time where you called "Ballgame" and the Cubs came back to win - and I'm guessing that's happened at least once - I can pretty confidently say it's not factual.

 

My bet is the big comeback against Colorado in either 07 or 08.

 

I was working that game, I think.