Gameday Open Thread / Split Squad Action

Alfonso Soriano returns to the lineup today with Jon Lieber taking the mound against the Snakes at HoHoKam Park. Sean Marshall will face Rich Harden against the A's in Phoenix for the other game.

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Cubs Spring Training
Gameday Open Thread
Submitted by Rob G. on Sat, 03/08/2008 - 11:35am
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Comments

Submitted by rokfish
on Sat, 03/08/2008 - 11:54am

i would say f the orioles but i would be all for the cedeno for davis trade
with sanfrancisco/ safe are assets for july trade deadline.

wgn has the game against arizona on so we will get jon lieber on tv
any idea who else will be pitching in this game.

Submitted by jacos
on Sat, 03/08/2008 - 12:36pm

Not available on the web but in today's paper:

-ISFA will make offer next week for Wrigley Field. Kenny hopes to have "framework for a transaction" by opening day.

-This would allow major renovation paid by trib, naming rights owner, new team owner and city. Which means Cub would be homeless for part of a season or whole season. They would play at US Cellular, although Sox not notified tough shit, ISFA owns that park too.

-Advantage of ISFA owning Cubs, more night games. Closer to league average of 54.

-Kenney does not expect Cubs sale to stretch into 2009, but the CUbs books have not been provided to approved potential buyers yet.

-Movie production of Cubs season will be filmed throughout the year. "We Believe;Chicago and its Cubs" should be ready for Sundance next year.

-Whatever the new name of stadium or renovation, Kenney said "we are not going to touch the existing scoreboard".\

jacos- But in Trib he mentioned they could change name on marquee in front due "to first ammendment"

-Two concerts this summer at Wrigley

And for Carlos-
Cubs plan on putting games on radio in Spanish though no deal through radio station has been made.

This from Gordon Wiitenmyer in todays' Sun times.

Submitted by Chad
on Sat, 03/08/2008 - 1:18pm

"-Advantage of ISFA owning Cubs, more night games. Closer to league average of 54."

I was under the impression that the Cubs have always tried to play more night games but the city won't allow it.

Submitted by mannytrillo
on Sat, 03/08/2008 - 2:48pm

Chad:
"I was under the impression that the Cubs have always tried to play more night games but the city won't allow it."

That is true Chad, it has nothing to do with who owns the stadium, it has to do with Wrigeyville. I still haven't heard one good reason for the city to own Wrigley except it guarantees the team to stay there for 30 years since they are going to stronghold new owner into a 30 year lease.

Submitted by Gibbon Jockey
on Sat, 03/08/2008 - 2:19pm

That 'First Amendment' crap is nonsense. And apologies to all, but it's so horribly misused and misunderstood that it bugs me.

Cliff Notes: It's a FEDERAL issue. I don't think washington dc is going after the wrigley marquee (marquis?) - so the 1st amend. has nothing to do with anything.

It's your sign. You CAN do whatever you want with it, but the real question is SHOULD you?

Submitted by mannytrillo
on Sat, 03/08/2008 - 2:51pm

Gibbon:
"It's your sign. You CAN do whatever you want with it, but the real question is SHOULD you?"

It isn't totally theirs. I think it is one of the things that is under historical status and thus needs approval from someone else, not sure if it is the City/State/Federal governments, to make changes.

The more Crane Kenney talks and acts like the new face of the Cubs, the more reason I see why the Trib was doing so bad.

Submitted by crunch
on Sat, 03/08/2008 - 2:58pm

you cant replace a doorknob at wrigley without the proper paperwork.

every tax advantage they take requires the proper paperwork. they're the ones that wanted the landmark status.

Submitted by Gibbon Jockey
on Sat, 03/08/2008 - 5:16pm

That's exactly my point.

The advantages for landmark status demand cooperating with state agencies and restrictions inherent in the designation, but to claim some overarching federal mandate like 'free speech' is being impeded is the height of absurdity.

And I wasn't all that clear in my comments earlier - what I mean is, yes, they own the marquee and can do with it what they want (not entirely true I know as there are governmental issues) but should they (do they really want to set into motion the governmental dominoes that have to fall to alter signage?)

Submitted by 10man
on Sat, 03/08/2008 - 11:40pm

Kenney should just shut up and leave the 1st amendment interpretation to the lawyers. Oh wait. Aren't they the ones who misused it in the first place?

Submitted by Timmer
on Sat, 03/08/2008 - 2:36pm

This was asked before, not sure if there was an answer or consensus -- I'm watching the game on WGN and Soto does look heavier than he did last September. What do people think?

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Sat, 03/08/2008 - 4:18pm

Soto definetly looks more ovoid then he did when he got called up last year.

Submitted by crunch
on Sat, 03/08/2008 - 4:22pm

tye dye wright...good ol' number 95...gets to make sportscenter tonite with a stupid, but nice catch.

oops...wrong reply area...

to bring it back on subject it looks like s.gallagher's dropped the amount of weight soto's put on. =p

Submitted by crunch
on Sat, 03/08/2008 - 3:00pm

loober delivering with the 82-86mph HEAT!!!

great location for him early...impressive even if the velocity is (hopefully) still working its way up.

added bonus...he was throwing his sinker. he had almost abandoned it the past couple years. his sinker was at 82-84mph, though...

Submitted by crunch
on Sat, 03/08/2008 - 3:15pm

loober works 4 today...a little wild up in the inning, but got it done.

couldnt ARZ field some legit regulars today? wtf...

judging loober by things you should judge him by this early in spring...his slider and location...both are there and pretty advanced for this time of year. his velocity is working the low-mid 80s, though. as mentioned above he's breaking out his splitfinger...the first batter of the game got almost nothing but splitters.

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Sat, 03/08/2008 - 3:52pm

Did Owings bat 7th?!?

Drew and Reynolds are regulars. Guess that's what you get for a road split squad game.

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Sat, 03/08/2008 - 3:54pm

The Cubs only started one regular (and their worst at that) at their road game.

Looks like Roquet bailed out Marshall... get used to that if you want to be in the Cubs pen.

Submitted by crunch
on Sat, 03/08/2008 - 3:56pm

samninja got lit up a bit in the boxscore...

Submitted by mannytrillo
on Sat, 03/08/2008 - 3:03pm

Man, I hope he continues his success through the Spring. He had a real good performance again today 3.0 IP, 2 hits, 2 K, 0 BB, 0 ER. I hope Lou doesn't just give it to a "veteran" and push Marshall to the pen or AAA like he did last year. Marshall deserves a legit shot.

Submitted by MikeC
on Sat, 03/08/2008 - 4:03pm

Early in the game Len or Bob mentioned Dempster was the #3 starter followed by Rich Hill at #4 with Lieber, Marshall, Marquis in a battle for the 5th.

Dont ask me how they came to that conclusion.

Submitted by crunch
on Sat, 03/08/2008 - 4:11pm

Bob also seems to be pretty sure howry isn't going to move out of his setup role. He did mention that howry is still in the competition for the mix, though.

Submitted by crunch
on Sat, 03/08/2008 - 4:15pm

fuku with his first SB attempt...late jump, not sprinting fast...nailed by a step and 1/2 on a low (but clean) throw.

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Sat, 03/08/2008 - 4:26pm

I though the way Lee went after that pitch, and the bad jump indicated it was a hit and run.

Submitted by crunch
on Sat, 03/08/2008 - 4:27pm

true.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Sat, 03/08/2008 - 4:24pm

Pie shows off the arm to hold the runner...Eyre stinking it up.

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Sat, 03/08/2008 - 4:28pm

I was a little disapointed to see Lansford not make the play on that first hit of the inning. The way everyone's talking up his D, I'm looking for Brooks Robinson.

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Sat, 03/08/2008 - 4:29pm

Article on Fantasy breakout candidates, lenght blurb on Pie:

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/spring2008/columns/s...

Submitted by Rob G.
on Sat, 03/08/2008 - 4:32pm

nice swing on that change Cedeno...ugh.

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Sat, 03/08/2008 - 4:38pm

Beautiful double play he turned though.... Just wish he would get hot at the plate to get a shot at unseating Theriot.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Sat, 03/08/2008 - 4:32pm

TV guys said Ward with a homer in the A's game and Murton with the go-ahead double.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Sat, 03/08/2008 - 4:33pm

Pie takes a crappy swing on a 2-0 count and grounds out...Ascaino coming in.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Sat, 03/08/2008 - 4:42pm

only watched the last 2 innings myself, but Fontenot showed some nice defense on those highlights.

Submitted by Tony S.
on Sat, 03/08/2008 - 6:41pm

I saw part of the Ari game, but with no sound (stupid BW's) ... anyhoo, who's wearing #80, was that Vitters?!?!

Submitted by tbone
on Sat, 03/08/2008 - 7:04pm

I posted this a couple of days ago but it makes more sense in this thread.

There's an interesting short piece on the state buying Wrigley Field in The Reader that came out today. Ben Joravsky, who has written a lot on Chicago's TIF (tax increment financing) says-

"Under the plan the state would issue bonds to pay for rebuilding Wrigley... Here's the tricky part: sales taxes going to the city would be frozen and any increase in revenues spurred by the renovation (including extra seats) would go to the state to repay the loans. 'The city would have to give up their share of the sales tax increment for the next 30 years,' Jim Thompson said."

A Joravsky correctly points out later in the article - money spent to refurbish Wrigley Field is money that can't be spent elsewhere. It's tied up in the park and will be slowly paid back from now until the year 2038. The needs of things like schools and parks will have to be payed for with money found elsewhere - probably through service cuts and tax hikes.

It's the same as so many companies these days who are supposedly free market concerns - they socialize their risk by using government dough. Nice work if you can get it...

Submitted by rokfish
on Sat, 03/08/2008 - 8:53pm

jim edmonds seems to be hurt again out for the rest of march

Submitted by crunch
on Sat, 03/08/2008 - 9:11pm

bynum's gonna be out 4-6+ weeks following knee surgery...he was pretty much a sure thing to either start at SS or be worked off the bench for the O's.

Submitted by Chifan
on Sun, 03/09/2008 - 3:46am

According to Sporting News Radio (Overnight for the Score) a Crisp for Marquis and Fuld deal is close. Seems too good to be true.

Submitted by Adam
on Sun, 03/09/2008 - 3:57am

No way, seriously? Were there any cash considerations mentioned?

Submitted by Adam
on Sun, 03/09/2008 - 4:02am

Bynum out five weeks

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/baseball/mlb...

Submitted by Rob G.
on Sun, 03/09/2008 - 4:54am

http://umpbump.com/press/hot-baseball-wife-exclusive-jamie-kotsay-modeli...

Yeah...

Submitted by rokfish
on Sun, 03/09/2008 - 10:01am

alehandra tejeda is not bad either

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