Today the Chicago Cubs host the Colorado Rockies at HoHoKam Park, and Matt Garza will get his first start. While Spring Training records aren’t of any real importance, winning is always better than losing.
The game is at 2:05 CT, and will be broadcast on WGN radio.
The lineup features a couple interesting things, including David DeJesus making his lead off debut, and Junior Lake making his starting debut. Blake DeWitt, he of yesterday’s three-run homer, is rewarded with a start at second base, and a prime spot in the lineup:
1. David DeJesus, RF
2. Marlon Byrd, CF
3. Blake DeWitt, 2B
4. Alfonso Soriano, DH
5. Ian Stewart, 3B
6. Junior Lake, SS
7. Anthony Rizzo, 1B
8. Welington Castillo, C
9. Brett Jackson, LF
UPDATE: There’s a Game Thread here on the Message Board, if you’re into early Spring Training non-TV Game Threads.
Looking forward to see how the young guys do at the bottom of the order. And the “DH” next to Soriano’s name? If only.
DeJesus caught stealing… AWESOME! We are GREAT on the bases so far this year…
I recently found this website, and it’s like a breath of fresh air compared to some of the other sites I’ve visited. Keep up the awesomeness Brett!
I agree! It’s now officially my go to cubs website. Keep up the great work Brett.
Thanks for that, guys. Very kind – and glad you enjoy.
Well, I guess I finally got around to making this for nothing, hahaha
Haha. I’m sure it will come in handy at some point.
“Marlon Byrd 8″
there…theres more than one?!?!
He is eight times as powerful.
I actually think it would be cool if all lineups were listed by number, instead of by position abbreviation. Make people think a little bit, or learn more about baseball.
If there were 8, I imagine Theo would have already traded at least 6 of them.
Isn’t there an old joke about how John Kruk is the only player ever in major league baseball to have his picture on the back of his uniform?
8
Brett any new reports on Byrd’s physique vs his speed? we know he slimmed down but does he look faster in the field? (we all know the Byrd Man flies around CF)
And what about his swing (power or lack there of)? I’ve read nothing on him changing his swing or altering it to get his SLG back above .400
I haven’t heard anything on either his speed or his bat – just that he’s slimmed down. It’ll probably take a few weeks to really get a read on it.
He is NOT a number. He is a free man.
So do we have over reactionary jokes ready if the Cubs go to a 0-3 record?
Ahhgggggggggg……….. Damn, cheap Ricketts and that lousy family!
There is always next year…
I’m working on it.
Cancel the rest of Spring Training. Plus April and May.
Well, Soriano isn’t leading off. This lineup looks a lot more like Opening Day will probably be (for regulars) compared to when Soriano was hitting leadoff. 100%chance.com Phil Rogers has this headline tomorrow: “Soriano ideal for cleanup hiiter”. What a donkey!! The prospects I have most interest in are all playing and I wish it were on TV!!!
Is it just me, or does the whole atmosphere around the Cubs feel different this year? I am so glad not to see Zambrano and Ramirez in the dugout or in the lineup.
I would love to see some of the young guys produce today… Go Junior!
Oh yeah baby, DeWitt back in the 3 hole where he belongs!
Just heard Sveum got bounced from tourney today by Paul Maholm.
This just in… Sveum bounces Maholm from rotation. “No hard feelings… “
LOL
Colvin is starting today.
So 5 for 5 with 5 HR and 15 RBI is a lock
How long until Pat Hughes starts referring to runners in scoring position as “a potential turning point” in the game? I think that most games have about 13 turning points in his narrative….
Brett Jackson with a 3 run shot!
Soriano went deep, too.
Sweet, any trade offers for him yet?
And added a double. Quick, move him back to leadoff!
(Which is both a joke when read literally, and a joke in the suggestion that this particular Spring performance should be used to justify anything at all. In other words, I’m kidding in every sense you could possibly take.)
Are you joking…there’s no joking in baseball!!
What about the Astros? What a joke! ha ha
So, what are you trying to say?
Pfft, slot him 4 with Jackson 3, Rizzo 5…based on today’s results, that trio will account for 4,512 R’sBI and about 900 homers this year.
Jackson is starting off this spring on fire! Anyone know how Lake and Rizzo are doing today?
Lake 1 for 3. Rizzo 2-3 1 R, 2 RBI. Jackson with a typical Jackson line, 1-2 with a 3 run bomb a BB and a K.
If that’s going to be a typical Jackson line, I can’t wait until he’s starting every day.
Screw him leading off, thats a #3 or 4 hitter – just think, a triple slash of .500/.666/2.000 with 486 R’sBI, 162 homers, 33% BB rate – Barry Bonds, eat your heart out. Pretty pathetic K rate though, not sure if he could last with a 33% K rate.
If he’s hitting .500 and walking 33% of the time, he’s more than welcome to strikeout 33% of the time. 486 RBI can earn a guy a lot of leeway.
Uh-oh. Are we doing BetterMath again?
Luke–I am poor with math–only have a 40-40 chance of understanding some statements.
huh, I just figured that you came from a country with very thick coins…..
The Fonz went deep twice and a dbl. Tyler C. has 2 RBI’S
Courtesy of MLBTraderumors.com the 2013 free agent list doesn’t look too good except for the starting pitchers. Everyone else on the list that looks good ie Granderson, Cano etc have club options and if the teams are smart they will lock those in. And I’m sure the Yankees are not dumb enough to let those two walk. I’d crap my pants if we could pick up Cano. As a matter of fact I might donate a testicle to the cause….
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2011/04/2013-mlb-free-agents.html
Mike Napoli wouldn’t be a bad pickup, especially if Soto is traded.
Ian Kinsler would also be nice, but I don’t think he’ll reach the market. Brandon Phillips might, though.
Josh Hamilton, Delmon Young, Michael Bourn, BJ Upton, Cody Ross, Melky Cabrera, and Andre Ethier are all interesting options in the outfield. I’d take any one of them in the right deal.
And of course, the pitching pool is pretty rich. Some of those guys will get locked up before the hit the market, but I’m sure some of them will be available.
Ross wanted badly to be a Cub this year…. picking up DeJesus squashed that dream, as they are kind of in the same category. He hit a homer and a granny in 2 of his first three at bats of spring action with Boston… the other was GIDP… pretty much his MO.
Kinsler would be better than what we have but I’d much rather have Cano which is a pipe deam.
As far as the outfield i’m hoping that our youngsters like brett jackson and eventually Lahair will land there when Rizzo gets called up. If not Hamilton is good but his injury history worries me. I think Eithier would be a good fit for the right money. Bourn might be a good lead off canidate. I’m praying that Bjax get his strike outs down and he would be a good lead off hitter as well. Takes a lot of walks good OBP etc. We haven’t had a “real” lead off hitter since Lofton left IMO.
Pitching is where the bread and butter is here gents. Cain doesn’t seem to be making much progress in his extension talks. I’m not sure if Greinke could handle the Chicago limelight, wouldn’t want the poor kid to regress. But there are some good options out there.
The economy seems to be making most players scared in regard to arbitration and free agent market which is why I don’d see Kinsler, Cano, or anybody who know they already have a job to look for something better elsewhere.
It’s true that pitching is the real pearl to be looking for but even that can be iffy. Why doesn’t Oswalt have a job yet? Because the teams are getting cheap and hoping to find somebody within their org. to fil a spot before laying down around 10 mil on somebody from the outside. Obviously there are a couple of “go for broke” teams like the Tigers and Nats who’ll throw down a huge contract in hopes of getting a ring. But they seem to be the exception to the rule, and probably will end up going broke. For now, we should probably focus on the minor league talent because I don’t see many big names coming this way. IMO
You look at that FA list and it very understandable why the Cubs are committing to building through the draft …
I agree JB88, the ones that are elite will never make it to free agency and our best shot is too build from within. WIth our current ownership team and coaching staff I’m hoping for the best. We could use a couple of Pedroia’s….