Gameday Open Thread / Cubs @ Giants

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

Isn't he on the DL?

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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Can I assume Hill is getting rocked again?

nope Hill is doing fine.

Anyone see Derrek's new player pic? Beautiful.

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

Soto HR

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

yes and CF

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

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.

Soto 2 for 2 with a HR.

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

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.

That's better.

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

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.

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...

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

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_...

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

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.

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

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.

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

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

Who the hell is Leon Johnson?

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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.