4/11 Reds (Finnegan) @ Cubs (Lester) 7:05 WGN

[soccer10k]

The Cubs return home after a successful 5-1 road trip to start the year with a chance to claim sole possession of first place.

 

Finnegan has never faced the Cubs in his short career and while his numbers in his short major league career look good so far, they will be noticeably worse after this game is played.

[Cubswin11]

Looking at his Fangraphs page, though not huge sample sizes, Finnegan has some pretty big BB/9 numbers over his minor and major league career. So with our patient approach I'd imagine we will have worked him out of the game by the 4th. His BB/9 last year would have been 2nd worst in the league if he pitched enough innings to qualify.

[Omar]

Reds v. Lester

Name               PA AB  H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO   BA  OBP   SLG   OPS SH SF IBB HBP GDP missG
Jay Bruce          12 11  2  1  0  0   3  0  3 .182 .167  .273  .439  0  1   0   0         0
Brandon Phillips   12 12  5  1  0  0   2  0  3 .417 .417  .500  .917  0  0   0   0         0
Joey Votto          9  9  2  1  1  0   1  0  2 .222 .222  .556  .778  0  0   0   0         0
Eugenio Suarez      8  8  1  0  0  1   1  0  2 .125 .125  .500  .625  0  0   0   0         0
Zack Cozart         5  4  1  0  0  0   2  0  1 .250 .200  .250  .450  0  1   0   0         0
Billy Hamilton      5  5  4  1  0  0   0  0  0 .800 .800 1.000 1.800  0  0   0   0         0
Brandon Allen       3  3  1  0  0  1   1  0  1 .333 .333 1.333 1.667  0  0   0   0         0
Ivan De Jesus       3  3  0  0  0  0   0  0  3 .000 .000  .000  .000  0  0   0   0         0
Adam Duvall         3  3  0  0  0  0   0  0  0 .000 .000  .000  .000  0  0   0   0         0
Tyler Holt          3  3  1  0  0  0   0  0  0 .333 .333  .333  .667  0  0   0   0         0
Total              63 61 17  4  1  2  10  0 15 .279 .270  .475  .745  0  2   0   0         0
Has not faced: Tucker Barnhart, Devin Mesoraco, Jordan Pacheco and Scott Schebler & Has not faced pitchers: Tony Cingrani, Caleb Cotham, Jumbo Diaz, Brandon Finnegan, J.J. Hoover, Raisel Iglesias, Ross Ohlendorf, Keyvius Sampson, Alfredo Simon, Dan Straily and Blake Wood

 

Cubs v. Finnegan

Name            PA AB H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO   BA  OBP  SLG  OPS SH SF IBB HBP GDP missG
Jason Heyward    1  1 0  0  0  0   0  0  0 .000 .000 .000 .000  0  0   0   0         0
John Lackey      1  1 0  0  0  0   0  0  0 .000 .000 .000 .000  0  0   0   0         0
Total            2  2 0  0  0  0   0  0  0 .000 .000 .000 .000  0  0   0   0         0
Has not faced: Kris Bryant, Dexter Fowler, Munenori Kawasaki, Tommy La Stella, Miguel Montero, Anthony Rizzo, David Ross, Addison Russell, Jorge Soler, Matt Szczur and Ben Zobrist & Has not faced pitchers: Jake Arrieta, Trevor Cahill, Justin Grimm, Jason Hammel, Kyle Hendricks, Jon Lester, Neil Ramirez, Clayton Richard, Hector Rondon, Pedro Strop, Adam Warren and Travis Wood

[Fred Hornkohl]

Memo to Game Thread starters........

 

at bat: soccer10k (2-0) - Mon 11 Apr vs. Cincinnati

 

on deck: the Logan (0-0)

 

in the hold: sweetpeteman (0-0)

 

 

 

Go CUBS !!

[Banedon]

http://gfycat.com/WeepyWearyGoitered

[rocket]

Today makes me think I should have ponied up the extra 20 bucks for the full MLB.tv package, because I have to watch the home opener listening to Thom Brenneman :(

[Andy]

Today makes me think I should have ponied up the extra 20 bucks for the full MLB.tv package, because I have to watch the home opener listening to Thom Brenneman :(

I had no idea anyone even bought the non-premium package.

[Smack]

Today makes me think I should have ponied up the extra 20 bucks for the full MLB.tv package, because I have to watch the home opener listening to Thom Brenneman :(

I had no idea anyone even bought the non-premium package.

 

I bought the Cubs only package then realized it didn't include the audio or At Bat app.

 

Rocket, I called them and if you log into the mlb.tv website you can upgrade for the extra $20 and it will give you the full premium package. That's what I ended up doing.

 

Once you have the mlb.tv page open, at the top, there is a drop down that says 'Learn More'. If you click that, one of the options is upgrade. Why they would hide it there I don't know.

[UMFan83]

Sucks Lester starts the home opener, I'd love to see the full lineup in there.

 

Looks like temps will be in the mid-40s for this one. Will be interesting to see if Soler plays or they keep the red hot TLS in the lineup and Bryant in LF.

[minnesotacubsfan]

Home opener, GO CUBS

[Cubswin11]

Sucks Lester starts the home opener, I'd love to see the full lineup in there.

 

Looks like temps will be in the mid-40s for this one. Will be interesting to see if Soler plays or they keep the red hot TLS in the lineup and Bryant in LF.

Finnegan is a lefty so I'm guessing either Soler or Szczur is starting in LF today.

[UMFan83]

Sucks Lester starts the home opener, I'd love to see the full lineup in there.

 

Looks like temps will be in the mid-40s for this one. Will be interesting to see if Soler plays or they keep the red hot TLS in the lineup and Bryant in LF.

Finnegan is a lefty so I'm guessing either Soler or Szczur is starting in LF today.

 

Well the reason I say that is because LaStella hits lefties better than righties, Soler's career splits have slightly favored him hitting against RHP (although most of that was his 2014 sample, his 2015 splits were almost even in terms of OPS), and of course the controversial "soler sucks in the cold".

[David]

The Soler sucks in the cold thing was an early season meme to explain why Soler was sucking at the beginning that somehow persisted even though Soler pretty much sucked all season until he didn't anymore at the very end. He was worse in July than he was in April.

[jersey cubs fan]

The Soler sucks in the cold thing was an early season meme to explain why Soler was sucking at the beginning that somehow persisted even though Soler pretty much sucked all season until he didn't anymore at the very end. He was worse in July than he was in April.

http://jeffreyhill.typepad.com/.a/6a00d8341d417153ef01348991019d970c-550wi

[CubinNY]

161-1, Let's Go!

[UMFan83]

The Soler sucks in the cold thing was an early season meme to explain why Soler was sucking at the beginning that somehow persisted even though Soler pretty much sucked all season until he didn't anymore at the very end. He was worse in July than he was in April.

 

I think if he wasn't wearing that ski mask and generally looking miserable in the cold there wouldnt have been as much discussion. Plus I think Joe made some comments last year about how uncomfortable he was out there.

[Banedon]

[tweet]

[/tweet]

[Sammy Sofa]

http://i.giphy.com/Cx0JktG3wBWvu.gif

[ScrubMD]

Minor thing, but I hope they keep Zobrist at 5 and Bryzzo at 3/4.

[Andy]

Minor thing, but I hope they keep Zobrist at 5 and Bryzzo at 3/4.

I don't care much, but I sorta liked the idea of Zobrist getting on base in front of Bryzzo. I guess the extra ABs for Bryzzo isn't a bad consolation.

[itisallpartoftheplan]

If you saw the Cubs locker room video you know Soler was pumped and doesn't plan on leaving the locker room until the cold weather leaves.

[Omar]

Did anything else in the locker room get upgraded? Steam room? Sauna? Exercise room?

 

Usually after leaving those and going outside, you don't feel the cold as bad.

[Cubswin11]

Did anything else in the locker room get upgraded? Steam room? Sauna? Exercise room?

They literally upgraded the whole thing, so yes

[UMFan83]

Ahh the season debut of Home Bryant. Can't wait!

[Aaron_Kennelly]

Opposing teams have been quite generous in lining their rotation up to allow Ross to face a lefty on Lester Day.