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Gameday Open Thread / Cubs @ Giants

Rich Hill's last or second to last chance to straighten things out before the Cubs start the regular season. He'll battle fellow south-paw Jonathan Sanchez.

The Cubs announced more roster cuts today with Eric Patterson and Sam Fuld being optioned to Triple A and Micah Hoffpauir, Casey McGehee and pitcher Les Walrond being assigned to minor league camp. With the addition of Reed Johnson, that leaves 32 in camp with 2 non-roster invitees (Alex Cintron and Chad Fox). Angel Guzman was also put on the 60-day disabled list.

I've updated our 40-man roster page and our new Cubs Depth Chart to reflect the changes.

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#1 Depth Chart

ROB G: You have Stevie Eyre on the bullpen staff, not Piggy.

Isn't he on the DL?

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Disappointed by "Cubbery" since 1966

#3 Re: Depth Chart

Isn't he on the DL?

Not yet...when it's official, I'll change it. It's a bit of a guesswork until the final roster is announced. And I think Sean Marshall will actually take Eyre's spot.

#6 Re: Depth Chart

Piggy will!!!

Just because I have him on my fantasy team.

:-)

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I hate to advocate drugs, alcohol, violence, or insanity to anyone, but they've always worked for me- hst

#2 Re: Gameday Open Thread / Cubs @ Giants

Any guesses on who this might be asking this question on ESPN Chat line today?

http://sports.espn.go.com/chat/chatESPN?event_id=1...

Tony (Norwich, CT): Lou isn't going nowhere, but what about Jim Hendry? He has tons of money to play with, but his teams can't win 90 games and the farm system stinks. With new ownership coming in i can easily see him gone if the Cubs make it 100 years of losing.

Jerry Crasnick: (12:55 PM ET ) Tony,

Jim Hendry's contract is up at the end of the year, so 2008 is obviously big for his future. But let's remember that the Cubs did make the playoffs last year. That's gotta buy him a little love, doesn't it?
________________________________________

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I hate to advocate drugs, alcohol, violence, or insanity to anyone, but they've always worked for me- hst

#4 Re: Gameday Open Thread / Cubs @ Giants

Now that's funny. I don't care who you are.

#5 Re: Gameday Open Thread / Cubs @ Giants

But it's missing the requisite, "Go Cubs! Go Hendry!"

Also, shouldn't there be a donut joke sprinkled in there somewhere?

#7 Or, is it

"Teflon Jim!" "Fire Hendry!"

LOL!

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Disappointed by "Cubbery" since 1966

#8 Re: Gameday Open Thread / Cubs @ Giants

Heh.

#10 Re: Gameday Open Thread / Cubs @ Giants

Man, I wish I could take credit. That was a very good question!!! Go Internet!!!

Oh yeah, I don't live in Norwich...:)

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Fire Hendry!!!

#9 Re: Gameday Open Thread / Cubs @ Giants

Can I assume Hill is getting rocked again?

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That's great in practice, but how about in theory?

#11 Re: Gameday Open Thread / Cubs @ Giants

nope Hill is doing fine.

#13 Re: Gameday Open Thread / Cubs @ Giants

Good to hear.

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That's great in practice, but how about in theory?

#12 Re: Gameday Open Thread / Cubs @ Giants

Anyone see Derrek's new player pic? Beautiful.

http://mlb.mlb.com/team/player.jsp?player_id=11760...

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The Joe - 2007 TCR Keeper Champion; 2008 Runner-Up

#15 Re: Gameday Open Thread / Cubs @ Giants

"Anyone see Derrek's new player pic? Beautiful.

http://mlb.mlb.com/team/player.jsp?player_id=11760..."

Kind of looks like they morphed him with Ward.

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"Enjoy every sandwich." -Warren Zevon

#14 Re: Gameday Open Thread / Cubs @ Giants

Soto HR

#16 Re: Gameday Open Thread / Cubs @ Giants

Has Reed being playing the whole game? Where is he playing?

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The Joe - 2007 TCR Keeper Champion; 2008 Runner-Up

#18 Re: Gameday Open Thread / Cubs @ Giants

Reed is playing CF and batting 2nd. He started.

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Antagonizing TCR posters with my my "assinine" "socialist drivel" and my signatures since 2003.

#21 Re: Gameday Open Thread / Cubs @ Giants

How did they get him from FL so fast and in uniform to play>?

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I hate to advocate drugs, alcohol, violence, or insanity to anyone, but they've always worked for me- hst

#22 Re: Gameday Open Thread / Cubs @ Giants

Airplane

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Rooting for Laundry since 1987

#23 Re: Gameday Open Thread / Cubs @ Giants

Surely you must be joking.

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I hate to advocate drugs, alcohol, violence, or insanity to anyone, but they've always worked for me- hst

#27 Re: Gameday Open Thread / Cubs @ Giants

Hendry had reportedly talked with his agent, Arn Tellem (!), a few days ago and they most likely already had it done. Which is why he signed for $1.3m twenty minutes after he was officially released.

#28 Re: Gameday Open Thread / Cubs @ Giants

So he was probably camped out in AZ waiting for the signing.

__________________________

The Joe - 2007 TCR Keeper Champion; 2008 Runner-Up

#31 Re: Gameday Open Thread / Cubs @ Giants

Andrew:
"Hendry had reportedly talked with his agent, Arn Tellem (!), a few days ago and they most likely already had it done. Which is why he signed for $1.3m twenty minutes after he was officially released."

Isn't that tampering?

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Fire Hendry!!!

#33 Re: Gameday Open Thread / Cubs @ Giants

Not sure, but I doubt it. He was released the other day at which point I believe other teams can speak with him.

But hey, if you want to add it to your list of reasons for wanting Hendry gone, fine by me.

#55 Re: Gameday Open Thread / Cubs @ Giants

That comment totally just made my day.

#19 Re: Gameday Open Thread / Cubs @ Giants

And he struck out in his first at-bat.

__________________________

Antagonizing TCR posters with my my "assinine" "socialist drivel" and my signatures since 2003.

#45 Re: Gameday Open Thread / Cubs @ Giants

"And he struck out in his first at-bat."

Get rid of him.

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Voting for non-Americans since 2008.

#17 Re: Gameday Open Thread / Cubs @ Giants

yes and CF

#20 It's good to see

Rich Hill throwing strikes even if he does give up some hits.

#24 Bold Predictions

I think it was in the other thread where an ESPN Baseball fantasy guy predicted Corey Patterson for 30/30 this year. Check this Ankiel prediction-

http://deadspin.com/371851/well-believe-it-when-we...

Must be smoking some quality weed up in Bristol.

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I hate to advocate drugs, alcohol, violence, or insanity to anyone, but they've always worked for me- hst

#25 Next?

Soto 2 for 2 with a HR.

Angst now shifts to Fuku and DLee (.175).

#26 Re: Breed Johnson

I'm sure he'll be pressing a bit to impress his new team. Not too worried how he does...though it'd be nice if he hit well.

__________________________

The Joe - 2007 TCR Keeper Champion; 2008 Runner-Up

#29 Re: Gameday Open Thread / Cubs @ Giants

That's better.

__________________________

The Joe - 2007 TCR Keeper Champion; 2008 Runner-Up

#30 Re: Gameday Open Thread / Cubs @ Giants

...also that.

__________________________

The Joe - 2007 TCR Keeper Champion; 2008 Runner-Up

#32 Re: Gameday Open Thread / Cubs @ Giants

Sorry...Reed Double (third on error); Lee HR.

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The Joe - 2007 TCR Keeper Champion; 2008 Runner-Up

#34 Re: Gameday Open Thread / Cubs @ Giants

OK -- Soto, Lee HRs.

Mr. Fuku -- over to you.

On Rich HIll -- lots of folks quick to jump off the bandwagon. This is a guy who had a 3.92 ERA and was 5th in the league in Ks last year. Consistency is the problem, but he seems to have the goods.

#35 Re: Gameday Open Thread / Cubs @ Giants

From the TCR member who brought you the nickname "Zeus" for Carlos Marmol, I have a nick name for Dan Plesac. I'll wait a few minutes to build suspense...

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"Gasp... You used Ghostbusters for evil!" ~ Liz Lemon

#36 Re: Gameday Open Thread / Cubs @ Giants

"Chatty Dan"

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"Gasp... You used Ghostbusters for evil!" ~ Liz Lemon

#39 Re: Gameday Open Thread / Cubs @ Giants

Plesac's announcing style always reminded me of a NPR host explaining how to make jams

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I hate to advocate drugs, alcohol, violence, or insanity to anyone, but they've always worked for me- hst

#40 Re: Gameday Open Thread / Cubs @ Giants

lol... he's getting chattier as the game progresses. Doesn't like the "uncomfortable silence" between Dan & Len, perhaps? *wink wink*

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"Gasp... You used Ghostbusters for evil!" ~ Liz Lemon

#49 Re: Gameday Open Thread / Cubs @ Giants

Where are you listening to Plesac?

#51 Re: Gameday Open Thread / Cubs @ Giants

Comcast Sportsnet Chicago

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"Gasp... You used Ghostbusters for evil!" ~ Liz Lemon

#52 Re: Comcast Sportsnet Chicago

Thanks.
Someone forgot to tell MLB.com, they thought WGN was doing the game.
Nothing like watching the Cosby Show on MLB TV.

#57 Re: Gameday Open Thread / Cubs @ Giants

"Plesac's announcing style always reminded me of a NPR host explaining how to make jams"

Or does it, perhaps, sound like people on NPR discussing Pete Schweaty's Schweaty Balls?

http://youtube.com/watch?v=unHrtniORsE

__________________________

"I will ruin this house with my anger!" - Master Shake

#37 Re: Gameday Open Thread / Cubs @ Giants

Does anybody know Fuku's OBP for the spring? Although he's struggling to get hits, he seems to be walking a fair amount.

#38 Re: Gameday Open Thread / Cubs @ Giants

His OBP was .391 coming into today.

#41 Re: Gameday Open Thread / Cubs @ Giants

Thanks. That's pretty freaking sweet, considering his BA is about 180 points lower.

#47 Re: Gameday Open Thread / Cubs @ Giants

mlb.com has K-Fuk's average at .216

Just throwing that out there.

#68 Re: Gameday Open Thread / Cubs @ Giants

Right ... and .216 is about 180 points lower than .391.

#42 Re: Gameday Open Thread / Cubs @ Giants

Perfect for a #2 hitter ahead of Soriano, Lee and Rammy, who should hit about 100 HRs combined.

#44 Re: Gameday Open Thread / Cubs @ Giants

Agreed. Or even a #3 hitter. But 5th seems to be where Lou is going to put him.

#43 Re: Gameday Open Thread / Cubs @ Giants

Anyone see this?

I usually ignore SI's predictions, but I like this prediction. Except for the very end.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/tom_...

#46 Re: Gameday Open Thread / Cubs @ Giants

That's nice. Although I disagree that MIL doesn't have the pitching depth to keep up. There not going to have 4 or 5 guys have career years with the bat again, but they've got some fine young arms.

#48 Re: Gameday Open Thread / Cubs @ Giants

I agree. Didn't I read somewhere that Capuano went down possibly for the year though? Or was that someone else?

#54 Re: Gameday Open Thread / Cubs @ Giants

He's going in for a second opinion, but initial diagnosis was a UCL tear, which means TJ surgery and he'd be out the year.

Brewers pitching right now w/o Capuano:
Sheets, Suppan, Parra, Bush, Villanueva with Gallardo to come back soon

for some reason they just released Claudio Vargas although it looks like they could use them. Their depth has evaporated rather quickly, although I'm unsure of any AAA options that may be waiting.

If healthy, Sheets, Gallardo, Suppan, Bush and Parra are just about as good as our 5...no one but Suppan is a real good bet to stay healthy though.

#58 Re: Gameday Open Thread / Cubs @ Giants

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080323&c...
Capuano aces probably 2nd TJ surgery. Season ending...

#60 Re: Gameday Open Thread / Cubs @ Giants

"faces"

#56 Re: SI Predictions

Verducci must be writing drunk

Surprise NL team: Cincinnati. (Last year: Arizona. Dead on.) One-third of the Cinderella playoff teams turned around after hiring a veteran manager. Dusty Baker will have an impact on the Reds. He's a little too old-school at times when it comes to lineups and "proven veterans," but the guy does have a pedigree. The Reds were outscored by 70 runs last year, including 53 of them in the eighth inning alone. That will turn around. And rookie Jay Bruce could have a Ryan Braun-like impact on Cincinnati

except Dusty returned him to AAA last week.

#59 Re: SI Predictions

Braun didn't start the season with the Brewers either....

Reds are becoming the chic pick for this year's NL sleeper. Not a bad pick to be honest.

I'll take the Dodgers as the team that everyone seems to be ignoring. 

#83 Re: Gameday Open Thread / Cubs @ Giants

SI picks us? uh oh...
seem to remember I certain Mr. Wood on the cover...

#50 Hill

I see Hill has only walked 1 hitter thru 5 innings. Much better.

#53 Re: Gameday Open Thread / Cubs @ Giants

Is it possible for Cub fans to sing "Take me out to the ballgame" without screaming "cubbies" 10 times as loud as the rest of the song? They sound like idiots...like they're so damn proud of themselves to substitute cubbies for home team. Hee hee.

__________________________

The Joe - 2007 TCR Keeper Champion; 2008 Runner-Up

#61 MArshall?

Did Marshall just blow his first LOOGY opportunity? Trying to read the box score tea leaves.

#62 Re: MArshall?

someone can correct me who was paying closer attention but I believe Marshall came in and struck out the first batter that would have gotten them out of the inning but Blanco couldn't handle it at first and then Ward couldn't handle the throw from Blanco. Then he gave up a hit to give up some inherited runs of Hart before finally getting out of it. 

I think...

Cubs have come back with a Fuku walk, Fontenot double and Murton sac fly to take the lead.

#63 Re: Gameday Open Thread / Cubs @ Giants

and Wuertz with an easy 8th inning, although a warning track shot to LF.... 3 MORE OUTS!!! wonder if Wood will close it out?

#64 Anyone else see this?

Go to http://maps.google.com/

Type in "Improv Olympic" and choose the Chicago address that comes up.

Choose "street view."

Maneuver a bit so you're staring directly at the blue front wall of the Improv Olympic building (half block south of Wrigley), on the east side of the street.

You should be able to find Lou Piniella, in a tan shirt, unlocking his car with his remote control key ring.

#65 Re: Anyone else see this?

i dont see crap. is he in the grassy knoll with a rifle or something?

#66 Re: Anyone else see this?

how utterly random, but funny...

definitely him...

#71 Re: Anyone else see this?

You have to move down the street until your in front of the blue wall. How did you find that?

#96 Re: Anyone else see this?

How did you find that?

A friend pointed it out to me. He knows a bunch of people who perform at Improv Olympic, so probably one of them was screwing around and noticed it.

#73 Re: Anyone else see this?

Anyone need Lou's license plate # ?...I got a screenshot:)

__________________________

The Joe - 2007 TCR Keeper Champion; 2008 Runner-Up

#74 Re: Anyone else see this?

OK, that is totally F'd.

__________________________

"I will ruin this house with my anger!" - Master Shake

#80 Re: Anyone else see this?

Somewhere out there, Google has a picture of me scratching my ass (at best). Creepy.

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The Joe - 2007 TCR Keeper Champion; 2008 Runner-Up

#101 Re: Anyone else see this?

If you haven't been creeped out by what today's publicly available technology can do, that's a great example right there.

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That's Manila with an "L"

#67 Re: Gameday Open Thread / Cubs @ Giants

I screen-capped it. I'll try to send it to Rob G.

#69 Re: Gameday Open Thread / Cubs @ Giants

Pignatiello in for the save, Reed Johnson just lost a ball in the sun...

#72 Re: Gameday Open Thread / Cubs @ Giants

Who the hell is Leon Johnson?

#76 Re: Gameday Open Thread / Cubs @ Giants

Leon Johnson is a decent outfield prospect in the Cubs farm system...

#77 Re: Gameday Open Thread / Cubs @ Giants

Really... I did not know that.

#78 Re: Gameday Open Thread / Cubs @ Giants

10th round? pick from last year. He's the second coming of, I don't know, someone good, maybe.

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The Joe - 2007 TCR Keeper Champion; 2008 Runner-Up

#70 Re: Gameday Open Thread / Cubs @ Giants

Here's a link right to it. That's pretty funny.

#93 Re: Gameday Open Thread / Cubs @ Giants

That is pretty cool. I started moving around the area and it is trippy navigating at Clark and Addison. It shows a post game crowd I think, and then switches to an abandoned corner with CubWorld all shuttered.

#94 Re: Gameday Open Thread / Cubs @ Giants

That's funny.

How does that work to get his picture with the map?

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I hate to advocate drugs, alcohol, violence, or insanity to anyone, but they've always worked for me- hst

#95 Re: Gameday Open Thread / Cubs @ Giants

How does that work to get his picture with the map?

they actually have a car set-up with something like 8 cameras mounted on top that drives through the streets of major cities continusously snapping photos to get a 360 degree view. Then they piece it together and marry it to to the map and program it so you can zoom in and out and walk through it, etc. Lou must have been going to his car when they were driving through that part of the neighborhood.

#75 CUBS WIN!

Check out the latest addition to TCR under the "Latest Results" in the right sidebar....

#79 Re: CUBS WIN!

Not working for me. It has been buffering for several minutes.

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Antagonizing TCR posters with my my "assinine" "socialist drivel" and my signatures since 2003.

#81 Re: CUBS WIN!

What you using?

it's worked on Safari on both a Mac and PC for me and IE on a PC. The real odd thing is that it worked on Firefox for me on a PC when I tested it on my local set-up of the site, but now doesn't seem to be working. 

#82 Re: CUBS WIN!

I am on a mac... and tried both Camino and Firefox.

EDIT: Hmm... worked on Safari though.

__________________________

Antagonizing TCR posters with my my "assinine" "socialist drivel" and my signatures since 2003.

#86 Re: CUBS WIN!

"I am on a mac... and tried both Camino and Firefox."

Why am I not surprised in the slightest?

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"I will ruin this house with my anger!" - Master Shake

#90 Re: CUBS WIN!

anyway, i'll try and figure out the bug later...very odd as it worked just fine in firefox for me when I tested it on my local set-up of the site.


#100 Re: CUBS WIN!

I figured out my stupidity...should be working now.

#102 Re: CUBS WIN!

Yup... works now.

__________________________

Antagonizing TCR posters with my my "assinine" "socialist drivel" and my signatures since 2003.

#85 Re: CUBS WIN!

I'm surprised it wasn't Coldplay. Say, can you pass some of the spinach dip you made in that bread bowl?

__________________________

"I will ruin this house with my anger!" - Master Shake

#89 Re: CUBS WIN!

I get the 40-year-old virgin reference and all, but don't get the Coldplay joke. Is the reasoning behind using "Go Cubs Go!" after a Cubs win lost on you?

#91 Re: CUBS WIN!

It was not lost on me. Jeez. I was just messing around. Anyway, one of the reasons stated in 40 YOV was "Because you like Coldplay".

__________________________

"I will ruin this house with my anger!" - Master Shake

#92 Re: CUBS WIN!

I guess the gayness of "Go Cubs Go!" is lost on me!

My apologies for being so obtuse.

#97 Re: CUBS WIN!

LIke I said, I was just goofing around.

__________________________

"I will ruin this house with my anger!" - Master Shake

#84 Re: Gameday Open Thread / Cubs @ Giants

Re: Gameday Open Thread / Cubs @ Giants Submitted by Andrew on Tue, 03/25/2008 - 5:10pm. 

Who the hell is Leon Johnson?

=================================== 

ANDREW: Leon Johnson was the Cubs 10th round draft pick last year out of BYU. He's the guy who spent two years on an LDS Mission in Siberia.

Leon was a state hurdles champion in High School here in Arizona, and is one of the fastest players in the Cubs organization. He's an excellent bunter and defensive outfielder, and he takes a lot of walks. His trouble is his hitting.

His brother Elliot is a third-baseman with Tampa Bay, and Elliot is the guy who ran into the Yankees catcher a couple of weeks ago and broke the kid's wrist, sparking some fisticuffs.

Leon has a couple of other baseball-playing brothers, too. His younger brother Cedric was drafted out of HS by the Phillies last June but didn't sign.

They're your basic Mormon Family Baseball Johnsons.

#87 Re: Gameday Open Thread / Cubs @ Giants

"They're your basic Mormon Family Baseball Johnsons."

LOL.

#88 Re: Gameday Open Thread / Cubs @ Giants

AZ Phil,

I think you have "Rich-Text editing" enabled under "input format" but have "rich-text" disabled below the edit window and it's stripping out all the white space from your comments. Try hitting "enable rich-text" so you see the toolbar...


#98 Re: Gameday Open Thread / Cubs @ Giants

Holy crap, he's white! I saw Leon Johnson and just assumed that he was black. I'm not kidding. Then you mentioned that he went to BYU and is a mormon, so something didn't compute.

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"I will ruin this house with my anger!" - Master Shake

#99 Re: Gameday Open Thread / Cubs @ Giants

I have to admit I thought the same thing....

 

#103 Re: Gameday Open Thread / Cubs @ Giants

If he ever makes it to the Show. He will be a surefire first ballot member of the Reggie Cleveland All-Stars.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reggie_Cleveland

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Rooting for Laundry since 1987