The Cubs are set to finish their first series of the year. They'll be looking to get back over .500. The game begins at 11:35 CT and the lineups are below.
Cubs
David DeJesus, CF
Starlin Castro, SS
Anthony Rizzo, 1B
Alfonso Soriano, LF
Nate Schierholtz, RF
Dioner Navarro, C
Luis Valbuena, 3B
Hide your kids, 2B
Travis Wood, P
Pirates
Starling Marte, LF
Russell Martin, C
Andrew McCutchen, CF
Gaby Sanchez, 1B
Pedro Alvarez, 3B
Neil Walker, 2B
Jose Tabata, RF
Clint Barmes, SS
James McDonald, P
Comments
MylesQuote Reply
God damn I forgot how much I hate the sound of Keith Moreland’s voice, though nothing is as bad as the 5th/3rd bank 5th inning.
joshQuote Reply
yea bubbs is not a huge keith fan. Hope one day is kerry. Bubbs is pretty sure his generations Ron will be Kerry
bubblesdachimpQuote Reply
@ bubblesdachimp:
Based on his extensive career as not being a broadcaster?
dmick89Quote Reply
If Kerry can pronounce words, I’m fine with him.
joshQuote Reply
no just think that will like hearing stories about the players i grew up watching like ron always told about beckert etc.
FWIW Bubbs is 27
bubblesdachimpQuote Reply
My issue with Kerry is that in all the interviews I’ve heard with him, he seems to mumble a lot. Never really struck me as a good broadcaster type.
mikeakaleroyQuote Reply
@ mikeakaleroy:
Yeah, its definitely a skill. For all my issues with Keith, at least he had broadcasting experience. He doesn’t stumble over ads or make too much of an ass of himself. His accent does annoy me. As far as stories go, Ron used to ramble on, so that you didn’t know what was going on, and his stories were mostly asinine.
joshQuote Reply
@ josh:
I hated listening to Ron Santo 10x more than Keith. I always enjoy Dave Otto. He’s not flashy, but I’d prefer announcers be more invisible. I’m interested in the game, not your fucking hair piece.
joshQuote Reply
Get a walk. Fly out three straight times
bubblesdachimpQuote Reply
is mlb.com not working for anyone else?
MylesQuote Reply
the graphics on the pirates broadcast is really bad. they miss pitches etc.
bubblesdachimpQuote Reply
Myles wrote:
mine is fine
bubblesdachimpQuote Reply
@ Myles:
audio and the gameday app thingy are both working for me
joshQuote Reply
Working for me now, didn’t miss much
MylesQuote Reply
@ josh:
Ronnie’s “fan perspective” was definitely his niche. Pat evened him out quite well. My favorite convo between the two of them was like 2007 or 2008.
Pat: “Coming up next inning Ronnie, we’re going to have a Sports Illustrated Swim Suit model in the booth. Not really sure what we’re going to do with her”
Ron: “I’ve got a couple ideas Pat!”
Pat: “We are on the air, Ronnie”
(dying laughing)
mikeakaleroyQuote Reply
I don’t listen to the radio broadcast except for maybe once or twice a year so I don’t care, but I want to listen to good announcers. I’m thrilled that the Cubs got rid of Brenly. If Wood or Sandberg were as bad as Brenly, I’d want their asses fired and they’ve been two of my favorite players.
dmick89Quote Reply
@ mikeakaleroy:
Yeah, the occasional moments of humor were broken up by long periods of Ronnie’s “GAH!” and “WHAT IS HE DOING!” when things didn’t go perfect (and sometimes when they actually did). He drove my blood pressure through the roof.
joshQuote Reply
Sounds like the great unstated, but actually stated Tigers Closer by Committee bet between SVB and GW might be over soon. It’s only a minor league deal, but I’m sure that’s because he didn’t have a Spring.
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2013/04/tigers-sign-jose-valverde.html
mikeakaleroyQuote Reply
@ dmick89:
I’m cheap. Plus, I get radio broadcasts here in Champaign, so I don’t have to be married to my TV all afternoon.
joshQuote Reply
@ mikeakaleroy:
Isn’t he hurt still?
joshQuote Reply
Is there an Android app that does what GameDay does? With the pitch location and the videos of key plays?
joshQuote Reply
@ josh:
Was he hurt recently? I just remember him sucking down the stretch last year for the Tigers. None of the articles I’ve read have mentioned injury, just that he’s going to their Spring Training facility in FL before heading to AAA for some work.
mikeakaleroyQuote Reply
@ mikeakaleroy:
I’m probably just full of shit, then.
joshQuote Reply
Congratulations Brett Lillibridge, on your “not striking out!”
MylesQuote Reply
THey called that a 5-6-3 double play when Good Value shifted over to the right side of 2B so Castro could stay in his natural area. Calling it 5-6-3 implies something other than what happened.
Suburban kidQuote Reply
Thank God Travis Wood is in the lineup.
Suburban kidQuote Reply
@ josh:
Yes, but that has little to do with our current conversation.
mikeakaleroyQuote Reply
@ Suburban kid:
That scoring system was invented in the olden days, when players played their position; they didn’t roam around like ninnies!
joshQuote Reply
Should Travis Wood be batting cleanup today? Arguably, yes.
joshQuote Reply
Star-lin Cas-tro
clap clap clap-clap-clap
MylesQuote Reply
@ mikeakaleroy:
They thought they could find someone with a closer’s mentality, but then they gave up a lead yesterday, so obviously they couldn’t.
GWQuote Reply
Isn’t there an mlb at bat app for Android?
dmick89Quote Reply
$1.44 a gallon, my first fillup
MylesQuote Reply
josh wrote:
.
GWQuote Reply
dmick89 wrote:
There is. I thought that buying mlb.radio would let me listen on my phone for free but that doesn’t work for some reason.
MylesQuote Reply
Saw a comment on Bleacher Nation’s facebook or Twitter yesterday that said something like “That’s the problem with platooning – no clutch hitting.” What, in this guy’s mind, are the physics of clutch hitting that would make this true?
joshQuote Reply
@ dmick89:
Looks like it, but I haven’t tried it.
https://play.google.com/store/search?q=mlb+at+bat+2013
mikeakaleroyQuote Reply
Suburban kidQuote Reply
@ Myles:
That’s what I ran into. There’s an At Bat app, but it’s just a box score, basically, unless you buy a premium subscription (see Cheap, I am)
joshQuote Reply
@ Suburban kid:
I assume the GIF cuts off before he says “Thank you sir, may I have another”
mikeakaleroyQuote Reply
@ josh:
There’s an argument for scoring that play 6-5-3, but that aint right either.
Suburban kidQuote Reply
@ Suburban kid:
5/6-6/5-3*
joshQuote Reply
Could somebody please get Zonk some fricken Claritin?
mikeakaleroyQuote Reply
(dying laughing) that Bruce Miles is posting in the EPSTINK IS TERRIBLE facebook group
BerseliusQuote Reply
i like me some travis wood
bubblesdachimpQuote Reply
@ Berselius:
That group is just you guys!
joshQuote Reply
I’m already tired of how shitty our offense is.
MylesQuote Reply
@ Myles:
WHA!?
It feels like they are picking up exactly where they left off last year.
joshQuote Reply
josh wrote:
We need to be more concerned about Lillibridge’s facial hair. That shit is scary.
dmick89Quote Reply
@ GW:
I still appreciate Leyland’s honesty. At least he didn’t try to say that it wouldn’t be effective.
dmick89Quote Reply
@ Myles:
wait ’til August
dmick89Quote Reply
@ dmick89:
Haven’t really seen him (for some reason, he hasn’t been in ANY highlight videos), but his picture looks like the time in high school when I tried to grow a goatee.
joshQuote Reply
@ dmick89:
yeah. what’s funny is that valverde might be the worst possible decision at this point. hard to tell, of course, but they have a decent bullpen, and valverde was really bad last year.
GWQuote Reply
@ dmick89:
Is that when we drink the koolaid?
joshQuote Reply
@ GW:
But he’s a Closer®!
joshQuote Reply
Suburban kidQuote Reply
wonder what cubs record is for fewest runs scored in a year
bubblesdachimpQuote Reply
@ bubblesdachimp:
I’m guessing it’s 500 runs, with an asterisk
BerseliusQuote Reply
@ bubblesdachimp:
If you fast forward 6 months, I could tell you the answer.
JonKneeVQuote Reply
@ Berselius:
Because of steroids?
dmick89Quote Reply
@ dmick89:
That’s what I was going to say, but without the typo.
joshQuote Reply
@ josh:
Damn phone
dmick89Quote Reply
THis lineup is brutal
bubblesdachimpQuote Reply
@ dmick89:
http://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/1994.shtml
BerseliusQuote Reply
http://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/CHC/1877.shtml
MylesQuote Reply
This is the worst fucking game I’ve ever followed on Gameday. I haven’t seen so many “in play, out(s)” in my life.
MuckerQuote Reply
What is it relative to league average?
dmick89Quote Reply
(dying laughing) Lillibridge
BerseliusQuote Reply
@ Mucker:
It’s not any more fun on TV.
dmick89Quote Reply
Of teams that played more than 160 games:
Year….Runs Scored
2012….. 613
1968…… 612
1976….. 611
1992….. 593
1963…… 570
WaLiQuote Reply
Those last two 89 and 88 mph fastballs rated 100 on the Nasty Factor, according to mlb.com
MylesQuote Reply
i think this pitching staff might be sneaky good
bubblesdachimpQuote Reply
@ bubblesdachimp:
Are you sure… Who is pitching tomorrow? Feldman? And after that Villanueva?
WaLiQuote Reply
Anybody think Marmol gets the nod if they go into 9th still 1-0?
MuckerQuote Reply
Mucker wrote:
He definitely does.
MylesQuote Reply
MARMOL INSURANCE!
BerseliusQuote Reply
Welcome to the Cubs, Nate
MylesQuote Reply
sigh
BerseliusQuote Reply
yikes
GWQuote Reply
Berselius wrote:
I think that’s an oxymoron.
MuckerQuote Reply
I leave for 5 god damn minutes and this happens?
MylesQuote Reply
We should start offering to put Marmol in games in exchange for cash considerations and PTBNLs from the opposing side. He’s more valuable that way than in an actual trade.
MJKQuote Reply
Cubs somehow win!
BerseliusQuote Reply
Enjoy over 500 while we have it for the next 24 hours or so.
if 4 ABs isn’t enough, how many does it take before Marmol loses his job? How many appearances makes a trend, is the question I guess.
AkabariQuote Reply
That’s a Cubs Victory if I ever saw one.
MylesQuote Reply
I literally (dying laughing)
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Relax guys! At least they’re not the Astros!!!!
Suburban kidQuote Reply
Carlos Marmol is a Proven Closer
MylesQuote Reply
@ Suburban kid:
(dying laughing)
(dying laughing)
(dying laughing)
BerseliusQuote Reply
@ MJK:
(dying laughing)
dmick89Quote Reply
Roger Ebert -> Dead
MylesQuote Reply
RIP Roger Ebert
MishQuote Reply
Poor Rog. Kind of had a shitty run at the end.
joshQuote Reply
I missed the end of the game. Get in my car and – maybe I misheard – I’m pretty sure the Cubs postgame guy calls Russell Martin “the one bright spot in that lineup.” The hell?
joshQuote Reply
@ josh:
I’m pretty sure the guy (Memelo?) also blamed “sabermetrics” for crediting Marmol with a save.
joshQuote Reply
Just got out of a meeting, but Cubs Win!
mikeakaleroyQuote Reply
How was Texas, Mish?
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/04/39-tons-of-marijuana-found-tanker-traffic-texas_n_3015045.html
mikeakaleroyQuote Reply
BAL and TB again the free game…
joshQuote Reply
Brian Roberts has some shitty luck
http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/04/04/brian-roberts-suffers-leg-injury-gets-helped-off-field/
BerseliusQuote Reply
I wrote up something re: the Wrigley deal if anyone’s interested…
http://worldseriesdreaming.com/2013/04/04/cubs-and-chicago-reach-a-deal-on-wrigley/
Rice CubeQuote Reply
@ Rice Cube:
Here’s Brett’s, which is much less profane than ours:
http://www.bleachernation.com/2013/04/04/obsessive-wrigley-renovation-watch-deal-expected-by-monday-some-reported-details-trickle-out/
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Bold prediction: the 2013 Atlanta Braves will set the major league record for fewest doubles allowed. Good lord, can that outfield cover ground.
GBTSQuote Reply
I still laugh when I see my own Yellon avatar.
GBTSQuote Reply
@ mikeakaleroy:
Well, I haven’t followed the particular game situations but in game 1 and 2, Leyland used Benoit in the 8th plus a batter or so in the 9th and Coke in the 9th. That’s not a committee approach. But we’ve got a couple months to go. (dying laughing)
@ mikeakaleroy:
He just “lost it” (but don’t tell RtR)
SVBQuote Reply
@ SVB:
SVB, there’s little to no chance that Leyland is going to go with that kind of approach. He basically said he wouldn’t do that awhile back. The only chance what you’re saying will happen is if a bunch of players just keep blowing saves. If that happens, it’s not really a group job, but a manager trying to find that one guy to close games.
The Red Sox tried this in Theo’s first or second year. Gave it up quickly. I believe he acknowledged it could work, but there’s a human element to it in that pitchers feel more comfortable knowing when they’ll be used (what roles). If they are more comfortable, it might make a difference. I think you’d need a young bullpen of players just eager to be at the MLB level to get it to work. And even if you had that, sooner or later one of them will separate himself from the others and then you’ve got an ego to deal with.
dmick89Quote Reply
GBTSQuote Reply
@ GBTS:
An endless run of ridicule awaits at school tomorrow.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Geez you guys, I step away from OV for three days to interview and have a little vacation afterward, and you keep piling on 100 comment threads? WTF????
So, here goes:
Re: walks on no-hitters. The spreadsheet dmick posted only averaged 2.82 bb/game. That doesn’t seem that high to me. 3.27 if you discount perfect games.
Marmol–no one mentioned that there is a helluva lot of “data” regarding pitcher tendencies that we never see–like everything that happens in the bullpen during warm ups. I have heard lots of “man, my curve just wouldn’t move during warmups, but it sure was nasty when I got to the mound” but also a fair amount of “X’s change up wasn’t breaking in the pen, but that’s happened before and its been ok, just not tonight.” Point is, before Marmol ever got into the game, the Cubs had an idea if he was “on.” Can you predict batter five based on batters 1-4? You don’t have that margin for error in relief and there is more than just batter 1-4 to consider. Plus, Marmol isn’t the best reliever in the pen.
Finally, who the F is Alberto Gonzalez and why is he replacing Barney instead of anyone else. Crap, I’d rather see Clevenger there. But I’d really really rather have seen Watkins or Lake there. Ugh.
SVBQuote Reply
Are the Cubs really building a parking garage on a cemetery? And were they really able to BUY said cemetery? Who owns a cemetery?
SVBQuote Reply
@ dmick89:
Dude. I’m an optimist. Com’on!
SVBQuote Reply
SVB wrote:
Would you ask Al Yellon that question?
GWQuote Reply
@ GW:
Probably not, because I’ve never read BCB. I landed on ACB first and then the delete button on my computer broke. Also, I don’t sit in the bleachers.
But if I ran into him in the Triangle Lot McD’s, sure. Why not?
(dying laughing)
SVBQuote Reply
GWQuote Reply
@ GW:
That’s unfortunate placement.
GBTSQuote Reply
@ GW:
(dies laughing)
BerseliusQuote Reply
@ SVB:
THEY DIDN’T MOVE THE BODIES
Rice CubeQuote Reply
@ SVB:
BTW, I don’t think they’re literally building on the cemetery, but there is indeed a cemetery very close to Clark and Grace (north of Wrigley) that has a plot of land next to it with open parking that the alderman suggested should be developed into a parking structure, and the land should’ve been one of several parcels bought up by the Ricketts around the area.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
@ Rice Cube:
IIRC, the team’s owned that plot of land for some time.
BerseliusQuote Reply
@ Berselius:
To think, we were thisclose to him being perpetually injured on our bench.
joshQuote Reply
(dying laughing) @ GBTS’s Yellatar
Suburban kidQuote Reply
Hey, just an update: my wife and I are heading to the hospital right now, today might be the day Leah comes. If so, that’s why I might be silent for the next week or so. Wish us luck!
MylesQuote Reply
@ Myles:
Good luck and be sure to keep her away from Lillibridge after she comes out!
WaLiQuote Reply
@ Myles:
Congratulations. Hope all goes well.
dmick89Quote Reply
@ WaLi:
Dude.
Suburban kidQuote Reply
new shit: http://obstructedview.net/minor-leagues/journeymen-of-tomorrow-4413.html
dmick89Quote Reply