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.

Tags: 
Cubs Roster Moves
Cubs Spring Training
Gameday Open Thread
Submitted by Rob G. on Tue, 03/25/2008 - 2:42pm
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Comments

Submitted by The E-Man
on Tue, 03/25/2008 - 2:50pm

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

Isn't he on the DL?

Submitted by Rob G.
on Tue, 03/25/2008 - 2:57pm

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.

Submitted by jacos
on Tue, 03/25/2008 - 3:11pm

Piggy will!!!

Just because I have him on my fantasy team.

:-)

Submitted by jacos
on Tue, 03/25/2008 - 2:57pm

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?
________________________________________

Submitted by Wes
on Tue, 03/25/2008 - 3:01pm

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

Submitted by Doug Dascenzo
on Tue, 03/25/2008 - 3:02pm

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

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

Submitted by The E-Man
on Tue, 03/25/2008 - 3:21pm

"Teflon Jim!" "Fire Hendry!"

LOL!

Submitted by vorare
on Tue, 03/25/2008 - 3:25pm

Heh.

Submitted by mannytrillo
on Tue, 03/25/2008 - 3:32pm

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

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

Submitted by Rob Richardson
on Tue, 03/25/2008 - 3:25pm

Can I assume Hill is getting rocked again?

Submitted by MikeC
on Tue, 03/25/2008 - 3:35pm

nope Hill is doing fine.

Submitted by Rob Richardson
on Tue, 03/25/2008 - 3:35pm

Good to hear.

Submitted by The Joe
on Tue, 03/25/2008 - 3:35pm

Anyone see Derrek's new player pic? Beautiful.

http://mlb.mlb.com/team/player.jsp?player_id=117601

Submitted by T-Dubs
on Tue, 03/25/2008 - 3:38pm

"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.

Submitted by MikeC
on Tue, 03/25/2008 - 3:38pm

Soto HR

Submitted by The Joe
on Tue, 03/25/2008 - 3:45pm

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

Submitted by big_lowitzki
on Tue, 03/25/2008 - 3:48pm

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

Submitted by jacos
on Tue, 03/25/2008 - 4:02pm

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

Submitted by Dr. aaron b
on Tue, 03/25/2008 - 4:04pm

Airplane

Submitted by jacos
on Tue, 03/25/2008 - 4:08pm

Surely you must be joking.

Submitted by Andrew
on Tue, 03/25/2008 - 4:21pm

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.

Submitted by The Joe
on Tue, 03/25/2008 - 4:22pm

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

Submitted by mannytrillo
on Tue, 03/25/2008 - 4:26pm

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?

Submitted by Andrew
on Tue, 03/25/2008 - 4:28pm

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.

Submitted by Adam
on Tue, 03/25/2008 - 5:12pm

That comment totally just made my day.

Submitted by big_lowitzki
on Tue, 03/25/2008 - 3:48pm

And he struck out in his first at-bat.

Submitted by Tito
on Tue, 03/25/2008 - 4:53pm

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

Get rid of him.

Submitted by MikeC
on Tue, 03/25/2008 - 3:47pm

yes and CF

Submitted by navigator
on Tue, 03/25/2008 - 4:00pm

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

Submitted by jacos
on Tue, 03/25/2008 - 4:16pm

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.

Submitted by billybucks
on Tue, 03/25/2008 - 4:18pm

Soto 2 for 2 with a HR.

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

Submitted by The Joe
on Tue, 03/25/2008 - 4:19pm

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.

Submitted by The Joe
on Tue, 03/25/2008 - 4:26pm

That's better.

Submitted by The Joe
on Tue, 03/25/2008 - 4:26pm

...also that.

Submitted by The Joe
on Tue, 03/25/2008 - 4:27pm

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

Submitted by billybucks
on Tue, 03/25/2008 - 4:34pm

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.

Submitted by Ryno
on Tue, 03/25/2008 - 4:34pm

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...

Submitted by Ryno
on Tue, 03/25/2008 - 4:37pm

"Chatty Dan"

Submitted by jacos
on Tue, 03/25/2008 - 4:45pm

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

Submitted by Ryno
on Tue, 03/25/2008 - 4:47pm

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

Submitted by navigator
on Tue, 03/25/2008 - 5:01pm

Where are you listening to Plesac?

Submitted by Ryno
on Tue, 03/25/2008 - 5:06pm

Comcast Sportsnet Chicago

Submitted by navigator
on Tue, 03/25/2008 - 5:08pm

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

Submitted by Chad
on Tue, 03/25/2008 - 5:13pm

"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

Submitted by Andrew
on Tue, 03/25/2008 - 4:39pm

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

Submitted by vorare
on Tue, 03/25/2008 - 4:44pm

His OBP was .391 coming into today.

Submitted by Andrew
on Tue, 03/25/2008 - 4:47pm

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

Submitted by GO CUBBIES
on Tue, 03/25/2008 - 4:56pm

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

Just throwing that out there.

Submitted by Andrew
on Tue, 03/25/2008 - 6:01pm

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

Submitted by billybucks
on Tue, 03/25/2008 - 4:49pm

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

Submitted by Andrew
on Tue, 03/25/2008 - 4:52pm

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

Submitted by GO CUBBIES
on Tue, 03/25/2008 - 4:51pm

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_...

Submitted by Andrew
on Tue, 03/25/2008 - 4:54pm

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.

Submitted by GO CUBBIES
on Tue, 03/25/2008 - 5:00pm

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

Submitted by Rob G.
on Tue, 03/25/2008 - 5:11pm

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.

Submitted by Jace
on Tue, 03/25/2008 - 5:15pm

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

Submitted by Adam
on Tue, 03/25/2008 - 5:30pm

"faces"

Submitted by navigator
on Tue, 03/25/2008 - 5:13pm

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.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Tue, 03/25/2008 - 5:21pm

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. 

Submitted by Bigz
on Tue, 03/25/2008 - 6:54pm

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

Submitted by GO CUBBIES
on Tue, 03/25/2008 - 5:03pm

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

Submitted by The Joe
on Tue, 03/25/2008 - 5:11pm

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.

Submitted by billybucks
on Tue, 03/25/2008 - 5:32pm

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

Submitted by Rob G.
on Tue, 03/25/2008 - 5:36pm

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.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Tue, 03/25/2008 - 5:45pm

and Wuertz with an easy 8th inning, although a warning track shot to LF....

3 MORE OUTS!!!

wonder if Wood will close it out?

Submitted by Brick
on Tue, 03/25/2008 - 5:48pm

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.

Submitted by crunch
on Tue, 03/25/2008 - 5:59pm

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

Submitted by Rob G.
on Tue, 03/25/2008 - 5:59pm

how utterly random, but funny...


definitely him...

Submitted by Andrew
on Tue, 03/25/2008 - 6:08pm

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

Submitted by Brick
on Tue, 03/25/2008 - 8:28pm

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.

Submitted by The Joe
on Tue, 03/25/2008 - 6:11pm

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

Submitted by Chad
on Tue, 03/25/2008 - 6:11pm

OK, that is totally F'd.

Submitted by The Joe
on Tue, 03/25/2008 - 6:25pm

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

Submitted by 10man
on Wed, 03/26/2008 - 4:41am

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

Submitted by Brick
on Tue, 03/25/2008 - 6:01pm

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

Submitted by Rob G.
on Tue, 03/25/2008 - 6:04pm

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

Submitted by Andrew
on Tue, 03/25/2008 - 6:10pm

Who the hell is Leon Johnson?

Submitted by Rob G.
on Tue, 03/25/2008 - 6:13pm

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

Submitted by Andrew
on Tue, 03/25/2008 - 6:14pm

Really... I did not know that.

Submitted by The Joe
on Tue, 03/25/2008 - 6:17pm

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

Submitted by vorare
on Tue, 03/25/2008 - 6:08pm

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

Submitted by Hobart Mike
on Tue, 03/25/2008 - 7:40pm

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.

Submitted by jacos
on Tue, 03/25/2008 - 7:52pm

That's funny.

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

Submitted by Rob G.
on Tue, 03/25/2008 - 7:58pm

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.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Tue, 03/25/2008 - 6:12pm

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

Submitted by big_lowitzki
on Tue, 03/25/2008 - 6:24pm

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

Submitted by Rob G.
on Tue, 03/25/2008 - 6:30pm

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. 

Submitted by big_lowitzki
on Tue, 03/25/2008 - 6:36pm

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

EDIT: Hmm... worked on Safari though.

Submitted by Chad
on Tue, 03/25/2008 - 6:55pm

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

Why am I not surprised in the slightest?

Submitted by Rob G.
on Tue, 03/25/2008 - 7:02pm

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.



Submitted by Rob G.
on Wed, 03/26/2008 - 2:30am

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

Submitted by big_lowitzki
on Wed, 03/26/2008 - 7:45am

Yup... works now.

Submitted by Chad
on Tue, 03/25/2008 - 6:55pm

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

Submitted by Rob G.
on Tue, 03/25/2008 - 7:01pm

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?

Submitted by Chad
on Tue, 03/25/2008 - 7:13pm

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".

Submitted by Rob G.
on Tue, 03/25/2008 - 7:34pm

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


My apologies for being so obtuse.

Submitted by Chad
on Wed, 03/26/2008 - 1:05am

LIke I said, I was just goofing around.

Submitted by Arizona Phil
on Tue, 03/25/2008 - 6:54pm

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.

Submitted by Andrew
on Tue, 03/25/2008 - 6:58pm

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

LOL.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Tue, 03/25/2008 - 6:58pm

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...


Submitted by Chad
on Wed, 03/26/2008 - 1:12am

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.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Wed, 03/26/2008 - 2:29am

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

 

Submitted by Dr. aaron b
on Wed, 03/26/2008 - 8:29am

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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