4/1 CUBS (Samardzija) @ PIT (Burnett) 12:35 WGN

[UMFan83]

Really hope Barney and Stewart can get well soon. Other than that and Marol great opening day.

[Little Slide Rooter]

So how many more gems does Shark spin before they get more aggressive in pursuing an extension? I know there was some chatter about it in the offseason, but nothing substantial. Another 2 seasons like 2012 will make him incredibly expensive, and if today is any indication, it's looking like that's a distinct possibility. Had it not been for that 1st inning error, he may well have pitched a complete game, or at least come out to start the 9th.

[Guest]

So how many more gems does Shark spin before they get more aggressive in pursuing an extension? I know there was some chatter about it in the offseason, but nothing substantial. Another 2 seasons like 2012 will make him incredibly expensive, and if today is any indication, it's looking like that's a distinct possibility. Had it not been for that 1st inning error, he may well have pitched a complete game, or at least come out to start the 9th.

 

If you believe other reports, it was substantial, and Samardzija turned them down. He's going to be expensive.

[Sammy Sofa]

National Jump To Conclusions week also counts for things you might have expected. Like Marmol, after he spent the last 3 months of last year quite effective.

 

Eh...last two months; he was still terrible in July.

[jersey cubs fan]

So how many more gems does Shark spin before they get more aggressive in pursuing an extension? I know there was some chatter about it in the offseason, but nothing substantial. Another 2 seasons like 2012 will make him incredibly expensive, and if today is any indication, it's looking like that's a distinct possibility. Had it not been for that 1st inning error, he may well have pitched a complete game, or at least come out to start the 9th.

 

If you believe other reports, it was substantial, and Samardzija turned them down. He's going to be expensive.

 

I thought I remember some quotes from him saying he's more than happy to wait. And he should be. He's been making 2-3m per year for multiple years now. It's not like this is his first chance to make some real money. As long as he hasn't been an idiot he should be set from a "nobody in his family will go hungry" standpoint. He can afford to wait for big one.

[Guest]

So how many more gems does Shark spin before they get more aggressive in pursuing an extension? I know there was some chatter about it in the offseason, but nothing substantial. Another 2 seasons like 2012 will make him incredibly expensive, and if today is any indication, it's looking like that's a distinct possibility. Had it not been for that 1st inning error, he may well have pitched a complete game, or at least come out to start the 9th.

 

If you believe other reports, it was substantial, and Samardzija turned them down. He's going to be expensive.

 

I thought I remember some quotes from him saying he's more than happy to wait. And he should be. He's been making 2-3m per year for multiple years now. It's not like this is his first chance to make some real money. As long as he hasn't been an idiot he should be set from a "nobody in his family will go hungry" standpoint. He can afford to wait for big one.

 

Yep.

[TruffleShuffle]

Paul Sullivan ‏@PWSullivan 5m

Sveum sez Marmol still his closer.

 

I seriously don't know if I could hate Sullivan more than I do. Really, sez instead of says? Those extra 2 characters would have killed him I guess.

 

one character (sez versus says)

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Was really impressed with the Cubs' approach today. Burnett especially pitched very well, but they made him work for it. Taking lots of borderline pitches is not a bad thing even if some goa against you or it gets you into a 2-strike situation and you have to swing.

 

Rizzo's home run was a great example of fixating on a pitch up in the zone and then just crushing it.

[Bryants Disco Ball]

Was really impressed with the Cubs' approach today. Burnett especially pitched very well, but they made him work for it. Taking lots of borderline pitches is not a bad thing even if some goa against you or it gets you into a 2-strike situation and you have to swing.

 

Rizzo's home run was a great example of fixating on a pitch up in the zone and then just crushing it.

 

They have got to get better with no outs and runners on second and third, though. Did you see that stat where the Cubs only scored 65 percent of the time last season in that situation? And then they follow that by not scoring in that situation.

 

I have no huge expectations this season, but if the Cubs want to win a few more games, it would be nice to see that stat get into MLB average territory.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

That was mostly just a function of who we had up in those situations. When you are counting on Valbuena and Lillibridge, you are in trouble no matter how many outs or baserunners.

[BCVM22]

Highlights from the victory:

 

http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r71/bcvm22/highlights/412013-web_zpsb696734b.png

[Soul]

So how many more gems does Shark spin before they get more aggressive in pursuing an extension? I know there was some chatter about it in the offseason, but nothing substantial. Another 2 seasons like 2012 will make him incredibly expensive, and if today is any indication, it's looking like that's a distinct possibility. Had it not been for that 1st inning error, he may well have pitched a complete game, or at least come out to start the 9th.

 

If you believe other reports, it was substantial, and Samardzija turned them down. He's going to be expensive.

 

I thought I remember some quotes from him saying he's more than happy to wait. And he should be. He's been making 2-3m per year for multiple years now. It's not like this is his first chance to make some real money. As long as he hasn't been an idiot he should be set from a "nobody in his family will go hungry" standpoint. He can afford to wait for big one.

 

Yep.

 

Sure -- there's still a risk with waiting, though. It's still a lot of money that would go by the boards should he suffer a big injury (NOT gonna happen because of my positive mojo).

[Hairyducked Idiot]

We have him for three more years, right?

 

He's still a pitcher. He could win the Cy Young and be out of baseball two years later. No hurry to extend him.

[Cubswin11]

We have him for three more years, right?

 

He's still a pitcher. He could win the Cy Young and be out of baseball two years later. No hurry to extend him.

I thought he was a FA after next year. But I agree, with pitchers attrition rate, we should wait a while to extend him. I'm think ASB time of his final year here (assuming he continues to pitch about where he has been the last year and he hasn't had any injuries/signs of regression).

[Hairyducked Idiot]

We have him for three more years, right?

 

He's still a pitcher. He could win the Cy Young and be out of baseball two years later. No hurry to extend him.

I thought he was a FA after next year. But I agree, with pitchers attrition rate, we should wait a while to extend him. I'm think ASB time of his final year here (assuming he continues to pitch about where he has been the last year and he hasn't had any injuries/signs of regression).

 

Not an FA until after 2015.

[bcl412]

It's hard to be too upset by the strikeouts. Took a lot of pitches and Burnett was locating some nasty pitches for a good chunk of the game. Take the approach they did today for the rest of the year and I'd be happy.

[Guest]

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[jersey cubs fan]

Was really impressed with the Cubs' approach today. Burnett especially pitched very well, but they made him work for it. Taking lots of borderline pitches is not a bad thing even if some goa against you or it gets you into a 2-strike situation and you have to swing.

 

Rizzo's home run was a great example of fixating on a pitch up in the zone and then just crushing it.

 

They have got to get better with no outs and runners on second and third, though. Did you see that stat where the Cubs only scored 65 percent of the time last season in that situation? And then they follow that by not scoring in that situation.

 

I have no huge expectations this season, but if the Cubs want to win a few more games, it would be nice to see that stat get into MLB average territory.

 

You can't really "get better" with no outs and runners on second and third. As Kyle pointed out, it would help if you didn't have incompetent hitters at the plate in those situations.

[mul21]

It's hard to be too upset by the strikeouts. Took a lot of pitches and Burnett was locating some nasty pitches for a good chunk of the game. Take the approach they did today for the rest of the year and I'd be happy.

 

I just looked at the box score and Burnett wouldn't have gotten out of the 6th under 100 pitches more than likely. Like you said, if they can continue to do that all year, they'll have more offense than last year just by getting into bullpens earlier in the game.

[A New Era]

Really hope Barney and Stewart can get well soon. Other than that and Marol great opening day.

 

Yes me also. I know I'm not with the majority but I still want to see Stewart get well and be given a good long look at 3rd base.

[Sammy Sofa]

What? Most of us want to see Stewart get back ASAP and see what he can do. Yeah, most of us also aren't expecting much, but you're not really going out on a limb with that one.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

I'd rather just go with Valbuena, but I don't care that much either way. They both suck.

[Guest]

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