vance_the_cubs_fan

One pitch...K for Marmol! Time to stretch!

Uh oh, what's wrong with Z?

Ha ha! Got 'em. Grab some bench, Billy!

A strike out would be ideal here.

Crap!

That play scared the s____ out of me.

Ugh! Still no runs.

That was a funky swing by the Fatman.

Dangit! DeRosa gave that one a ride.

I think Fred's at the game.

Let's get some runs!

I have 56 pitches for Zambrano. That's a nice number.

Zambrano looking sharp so far. And Nice picking by Lee!

It basically says that they have been working on Paweleck revamping his delivery and that he hasn't progressed as far with it as they originally hoped.

Washington strikes first blood.

If you want to speed up the locking of this thread, just start posting pictures of hot women.

It's not ugly, its just got New Comiskey Park syndrome. Meaning, the retro ballpark design has lost its luster and originality. I wouldn't say that. The "good" retro parks like SF (whatever the hell they call it, is it SBC?), Jacobs, and Camden are still beautiful, but some of them (like GABP and this DC one) just look cheaply made and lame. Rangers Ballpark in Arlington is one of my favorite of the retro parks.

Elmo just reported that this is very close. It's on Angelos desk as we speak.

Torre makes it official. Pierre will start the season on the Dodgers bench. Link. 9 million a year for a reserve outfielder. Ouch!

Arizona Phil gives a fairly detailed account of Rich Hill's tune-up start today versus the Angels AAA team. Link.

I'm going to miss this joke.. I'm not.

Link

No problemo. I've been digging through my box so I can put together the "What Could Have Been" Package. I think it will have autographs from David Kelton, Brian Dopirak, Luke Haggerty, Kevin Orie, and Nic Jackson.

Patterson and Hopper are platooning in CF and will be leading off. We'll see about Hatteberg. The Reds have their 25 man roster set in stone and Votto is on it. I wouldn't be surprised to see Hatteberg start the first three games because we are facing Webb, Haren, and a lefty and then see Votto start this weekend. Votto wouldn't be on the roster if he's not going to see a lot of playing time. He has also always been a slow starter (hit under .200 in spring this year and April last year), so I wouldn't be surprised to see them spilt playing time until Votto shakes out of his early funk. I have virtually zero problem with Patterson starting in CF until Bruce is healthy. The problem is he has to business hitting leadoff. He should be batting 7th and Votto/Hatteberg should bat leadoff. Patterson, Mercker, and Bako (granted it's only because Ross is on the DL) all made the team. At least Mercker spelled the end of Stanton. Cueto will be the Reds #3 starter and Volquez the #5. right... LOL it's so cute when they're naive. Trust us - him being on the roster in NO WAY means that he'll see considerable playing time. Dusty is notorious for planting young players on the bench and never letting them play. They'll play him against the very best pitchers, making his numbers look more and more putrid thereby giving Dusty more justification for sitting him.

I'll probably watch it. I'm starved for some real baseball. Plus I'm eager to see how some of the Braves do.