vance_the_cubs_fan

Dopirak getting a walk is a good sign too.

Riot is playing agressive today, isn't he? Bruce, what do you think his chances of making the opening day roster are? The Cubs certainly do like Theriot as a utility guy. He's a longshot right now to make the Opening Day roster. I have to stick up for my Bayou Bengals, whether they be Walker or The Riot! :D

Riot is playing agressive today, isn't he? Bruce, what do you think his chances of making the opening day roster are?

Once again thanks for the updates, Bruce. I see Jacque is trying hard to make me look bad for wanting a platoon partner for him.

LSU started the season with lower expectations than usual and weren't picked to be among the SEC elite. The Tigers have won eight in a row to bring their record to 10-1 and achieve a no 8 ranking from collegiate baseball (BA ranks them 17). They face winless University of Louisiana at Monroe tonight at home.

The control wasn't there today.

Wow! Both Marshall and Guzman looking sharp coming back from injuries. Good news! Good news!

I definitely think this rumor is dead; whether the thread dies, that's a different story.

With the way this thread is shaping up, we might need to move it to the game threads. :D BTW, thanks a ton Bruce! I'm getting my Cubs fix for the first time in a long time.

Jones got a hit off a lefty! :shock: Maybe this team won't be so bad.

Hopefull there will be much more of that this season!

The Spring Training season will kick off with Zambrano facing off against the Oakland A's. The game will be on WGN radio and also carried on XM 188 as well as MLB.com. This will be the first and final game for Zambrano, Lee, Barrett, and Blanco before they depart to join their respective WBC teams. I'm ready for baseball, and it is now time. Here's to a great spring, a great regular season, and a great post season. :pint:

Thanks, Bruce. Feel free to provide live, up to the minute updates any time. Can I look forward to a report on the game tomorrow morning on the Herald's website?

Wouldn't having an NFL-like combine be beneficial to MLB as well? After seeing reports on the NFL combine, I have to wonder why baseball doesn't have one. The top high school seniors along with some college juniors and seniors could be invited to work out for the scouts and MLB execs. I think it would be a good idea. Thoughts?

Found this little note on Guzman in the Trib. Link

Cubs have an intra-sqaud game today and then the first ST game tomorrow! I'm ready for some baseball.c

Here's my Opening Day Roster: C Michael Barrett 1b Derrek Lee 2b Todd Walker 3b Aramis Ramirez SS Ronny Cedeno LF Matt Murton CF Juan Pierre RF Jacque Jones SP Carlos Zambrano SP Mark Prior SP Greg Maddux SP Jerome Williams SP Glendon Rusch Bench IF Neifi Perez IF/OF Jerry Hairston C Henry Blanco IF/OF John Mabry OF Marquis Grissom OF Michael Restovich Bullpen CL Ryan Dempster Bob Howry Scott Eyre Will Ohman Scott Williamson Micheal Wuertz DL Kerry Wood Wade Miller

Until I see some form of desecration, I'm not disturbed. I don't care what they print on my ticket.

Here's some scalped tickets on ebay. http://cgi.ebay.com/World-Baseball-Classic-Tickets-3-Disney-Game-1-WBC_W0QQitemZ6609095619QQcategoryZ16122QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Oh well...it was a ST fluff piece. I'll try to fix the link in a sec.

Personally, I'd try to find a scalper selling tickets to DR vs Venezuela. Barring that, I'd go to a DR game. If I knew I could watch Zambrano pitch, I would pick that game, but if not, I'd just go watch that DR line-up demolish the pitching of an inferior opponent.

I read this in yesterday's USA Today and found it appropriate that on Fat Tuesday there would be an article on Ponson. Link

I wouldn't suprise me to see Bowden trade Vidro instead of Soriano. Vidro would have the higher value of the two.

It seems the Nationals could be prepared to play hard ball with Soriano. I've heard rumblings that if he refuses to play the outfield, the Nationals may decide to put him on the suspended list. I'm sure the PA would then file a grievance. This is definitely a story worth following. Bowden has put himself in a bad spot. He gave up some solid players to get Soriano and now would have to sell him for cents on the dollar.

That's weird, yesterday I was sure I heard that Wood threw 40 pitches off the mound. Could it have been Miller? Either way, they both seem to be progressing very well. Zambrano Prior Maddux Wood Miller That's what I'd like to see after May 1st. Rusch and Williams are nice to have, but I think this rotation has a chance to dominate. The only other pitcher I won't mind seeing in the rotation is Angel Guzman, if he earns it. If Maddux is really, truly in shape and Wood, Miller and/or Guzman are the major contributors for the rotation this year, the Cubs have a great chance to be special this year. Lotta big if's, but I'm a little optomistic about the rotation staying healthy. Yes, there are a lot of "if's", but this has the potential to be a very dominating rotation. Imagine this rotation. 1. Zambrano (3.05 ERA; 225 BAA) 2. Prior (3.23 ERA; 234 BAA) 3. Wood (3.54 ERA; 219 BAA) 4. Maddux (4.08 ERA; 271 BAA) 5. Miller (4.14 ERA; 245 BAA) That's a very solid if not very good rotation. Those numbers are simply three year averages. I believe all of those pitchers, with the exception of Maddux, have a good chance to exceed those numbers if healthy. The health is the key for this rotation. If our pitchers can get healthy and make their scheduled starts, this team will be right there among the best. Is that couting on too much? Maybe. But the potential is definitely there.