4/9 Brewers (Marcum) @ Cubs (Volstad) 6:05 WCIU/ESPN/MLB.tv

[ctcf]

Well we got to see a very encouraging "debut" of sorts yesterday with Shark kicking some serious ass in the starters role. Today's match up features another reason to be excited with Volstad making his Cubs debut after a pretty solid spring as well as Aramis' Brewers debut at Wrigley.

 

Go Cubs

 

EDIT: For those outside of the Chicago area, this is also the MLB.tv Free Game of the Day

Edited April 9, 2012 by ctcf

[Hairyducked Idiot]

It is really nice not to have any "why bother" spots in the rotation this year.

[Hawk4Hall]

Boo to WCIU.

[CyHawk_Cub]

Boo to WCIU.

[ctcf]

It is really nice not to have any "why bother" spots in the rotation this year.

 

This. I will hand it to Theo and Jed for building what looks like a very deep rotation.

[otis89]

Ramirez deserves a standing ovation when he comes to the plate, but I expect he'll get booed.

[El Duderino]

Ramirez deserves a standing ovation when he comes to the plate, but I expect he'll get booed.

 

no chance.

[dew1679666265]

After the great outing by Shark today, I'm really hoping Volstad can follow it up with a good outing. Would be really encouraging if both of them can finally hit their stride.

[chuckywang]

I'll be there. How bad is Braun going to hear it from the fans?

[Guest]

After the great outing by Shark today, I'm really hoping Volstad can follow it up with a good outing. Would be really encouraging if both of them can finally hit their stride.

I'm expecting our starting pitching will keep us in a lot of games this year. The offense and bullpen are much bigger questions, though I think they'll get the pen figured out by the end of the year.

[El Duderino]

I'll be there. How bad is Braun going to hear it from the fans?

 

I'm wondering if he'll get out of town without beer being thrown on him in LF.

[bcl412]

I'm going Tuesday, I wish it was for this one as I wanted to welcome Aramis back after 3 games of not being a Cub.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Ramirez deserves a standing ovation when he comes to the plate, but I expect he'll get booed.

 

I really hope that he doesn't get booed. I also hope that he continues his awful start to the season.

 

As sucky as the last 2 games ended, the starting pitching did give some glimmer of hope. Now hopefully they can keep it up vs. a more capable offense.

[Guest]

Hoping Volstad can continue the string of strong starts by the starting pitching. I'm looking forward to seeing what he's got tomorrow.

[UMFan83]

I hope he doesn't get booed. Just because meatballs like Kaplan irrationally hated him because he didn't "hustle" enough doesn't mean everyone hates him. The dude gave me several of my happiest Cub related moments in the last decade, it would be a slap in the face to boo him.

 

Hell Game 4 of the 2003 NLCS should be worth a lifetime of cheers by itself.

[PriortoTheoIhadWood]

I'd like to see Volstad hit 94 or even 95 tomorrow, but I'll settle for a solid start.

 

Shark was more mechanically impressive than I expected. He's come a long way mechanically, but he's really taken a step forward this year. Really like what he showed off yesterday all around. His pitches can still improve and gain more consistency.

[CubmanPi]

Hell Game 4 of the 2003 NLCS should be worth a lifetime of cheers by itself.

Rally-killer. Should have been a bases-clearing double.

[Soul]

I hope he doesn't get booed. Just because meatballs like Kaplan irrationally hated him because he didn't "hustle" enough doesn't mean everyone hates him. The dude gave me several of my happiest Cub related moments in the last decade, it would be a slap in the face to boo him.

 

Hell Game 4 of the 2003 NLCS should be worth a lifetime of cheers by itself.

 

Yeah, the granny in '03 is in my top 5 moments as a Cub fan. Just bouncing off the walls with glee like a complete fool when he did that :)

 

Anyone who boos Aramis tonight should lose his Cub fan card and be 86'd from any club within 2 miles of Wrigley.

[Sammy Sofa]

Actually, being forced to only go to the bars around Wrigley would be a truly horrible punishment.

[ctcf]

Pretty sure I'm unreasonably excited for Volstad's first start.

[Guest]

Pretty sure I'm unreasonably excited for Volstad's first start.

Should be a strong NW wind to help against right handed hitters.

[Omar]

Brewers v. Volstad

                   PA  AB  H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO   BA  OBP  SLG   OPS SH SF IBB HBP GDP missG
Nyjer Morgan       21  17  3  0  0  1   2  0  4 .176 .211 .353  .563  2  1   0   1         0
Alex Gonzalez      13  12  3  2  0  0   2  0  1 .250 .308 .417  .724  0  0   0   1         0
Aramis Ramirez     13  12  6  2  0  1   3  1  0 .500 .538 .917 1.455  0  0   0   0         0
Ryan Braun         12  12  2  0  0  0   0  0  2 .167 .167 .167  .333  0  0   0   0         0
Corey Hart         12  10  2  0  0  0   0  2  1 .200 .333 .200  .533  0  0   0   0         1
Rickie Weeks       12  12  2  0  0  0   0  0  3 .167 .167 .167  .333  0  0   0   0         0
Yovani Gallardo     6   5  0  0  0  0   0  0  2 .000 .167 .000  .167  0  0   0   1         0
George Kottaras     6   5  2  0  0  0   1  1  0 .400 .500 .400  .900  0  0   0   0         0
Jonathan Lucroy     6   6  2  1  0  0   0  0  2 .333 .333 .500  .833  0  0   0   0         0
Carlos Gomez        3   3  1  0  0  0   1  0  0 .333 .333 .333  .667  0  0   0   0         0
Travis Ishikawa     3   3  1  0  0  0   0  0  1 .333 .333 .333  .667  0  0   0   0         1
Cesar Izturis       2   2  0  0  0  0   0  0  0 .000 .000 .000  .000  0  0   0   0         0
Chris Narveson      2   2  1  0  0  0   0  0  0 .500 .500 .500 1.000  0  0   0   0         0
Total             111 101 25  5  0  2   9  4 16 .248 .294 .356  .650  2  1   0   3         2

 

Cubs v. Marcum

                  PA AB H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO    BA   OBP   SLG   OPS SH SF IBB HBP GDP missG
David DeJesus     20 16 0  0  0  0   0  3  4  .000  .200  .000  .200  0  0   0   1         0
Marlon Byrd       11 10 1  0  0  0   0  1  3  .100  .182  .100  .282  0  0   0   0         0
Darwin Barney      7  7 3  3  0  0   0  0  2  .429  .429  .857 1.286  0  0   0   0         0
Starlin Castro     7  7 1  0  0  1   1  0  2  .143  .143  .571  .714  0  0   0   0         1
Alfonso Soriano    6  6 1  1  0  0   1  0  1  .167  .167  .333  .500  0  0   0   0         0
Geovany Soto       6  6 1  0  0  0   0  0  0  .167  .167  .167  .333  0  0   0   0         0
Bryan LaHair       5  5 0  0  0  0   0  0  3  .000  .000  .000  .000  0  0   0   0         0
Ian Stewart        2  2 0  0  0  0   0  0  2  .000  .000  .000  .000  0  0   0   0         0
Reed Johnson       1  1 1  0  0  0   0  0  0 1.000 1.000 1.000 2.000  0  0   0   0         0
Total             65 60 8  4  0  1   2  4 17  .133  .200  .250  .450  0  0   0   1         1

 

Might need to give DeJesus a day off.

[ctcf]

Might need to give the entire lineup the day off.

[Smack]

Nope, this just means they're all due!

[ctcf]

As noted above for those of you far from Chicago, this is MLB.tv's Free Game of the Day