Game 2 Thread - Garza vs. Gio

Word is that the wind is blowing out briskly to left, so Sveum has loaded up on the righties to battle southpaw Gio Gonzalez in his NL debut.

Nationals Cubs
Desmond, SS Johnson, RF
#Espinosa, 2B Mather, 3B
Zimmerman, 3B Castro, SS
*LaRoche, 1B Soriano, LF
Werth, RF Baker, 1B
DeRosa, LF Soto, C
*Bernadina, CF Byrd, CF
Ramos, C Barney, 2B
Gonzalez, P Garza, P
How many walks will Cubs get off Gio?
  
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Rodgrigo Lopez is the first call-up from the minors, so congrats to those that picked it in our prediction contest. It appears Luis Valbuena is going back through waivers in an attempt to option him to Iowa to make room for Lopez.

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Cubs Game Preview
Submitted by Rob G. on Sat, 04/07/2012 - 12:02pm
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Comments

Submitted by The E-Man
on Sat, 04/07/2012 - 12:15pm

Interesting fact:

The 2007 Draft yielded four round-one picks - that ended up eventually as Cubs, three of which are currently on the club.

One of them turned into the Auto-DL Pitcher, Rich Harden:

2007 Round 1

M. Burgess, J. Donaldson, C. Weathers, J. Vitters

Hopefully one or more of them will become solid Major Leaguers.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Sat, 04/07/2012 - 1:11pm

fwiw, Donaldson & Burgess were supplemental first round picks, #48 and #49.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Sat, 04/07/2012 - 12:31pm

Soriano gonna Soriano, leaves Mather at 3B with 1 out.

Wild pitch bails him out.

Cubs 1, Nats 0

Submitted by Rob Richardson
on Sat, 04/07/2012 - 12:35pm

Nice to be the team that takes advantage of a mistake for a change.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Sat, 04/07/2012 - 1:12pm

whoops,

2-run HR off right field pole by LaRoche

2-1 Nats in the 4th

Submitted by Rob G.
on Sat, 04/07/2012 - 1:18pm

Garza then goes nuts in the dugout.

not sure if he was just yelling at himself, but looked a bit like he was yelling at the ump.

Submitted by John Beasley
on Sat, 04/07/2012 - 1:21pm

Maybe dude should learn how to bunt instead.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Sat, 04/07/2012 - 1:21pm

leadoff single by soto, bb by byrd, but barney goes down swinging on 3 pitches.

Garza up now to fail at bunting.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Sat, 04/07/2012 - 1:22pm

and Garza K's for the second time by bunting foul.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Sat, 04/07/2012 - 1:24pm

Reed bails them out with a 2-out triple into the right field corner.

3-2 Cubs.

Mather singles in Reed with DeRosa looking very old in LF.

4-2 Cubs.

Submitted by Tony S.
on Sat, 04/07/2012 - 1:44pm

Side note-- Isn't Mather a younger/better DeRo in training??

Submitted by Rob G.
on Sat, 04/07/2012 - 1:46pm

if you're delusional, sure.

Submitted by jacos
on Sat, 04/07/2012 - 1:47pm

If you mean Babe Ruth by DeRo then yes.

Submitted by Tony S.
on Sat, 04/07/2012 - 3:33pm

Yeah, I shouldn't have said better I s'pose.

What I was thinking was later-bloomer super-sub type, and maybe better today.

Submitted by jacos
on Sat, 04/07/2012 - 1:23pm

skinny dick twiple

Submitted by jacos
on Sat, 04/07/2012 - 1:25pm

it's joe mather's world we just live in it.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Sat, 04/07/2012 - 1:34pm

no hitter for Ubaldo through 6 vs. Toronto

Submitted by Rob G.
on Sat, 04/07/2012 - 1:45pm

6.2 IP, but gives up 2 walks and finally a single to Lawrie that ties the game.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Sat, 04/07/2012 - 1:47pm

phew...

2 on, 2 out, Desmond lines one to left that Soriano adventurously caught.

Submitted by WISCGRAD
on Sat, 04/07/2012 - 2:22pm

...accidentally caught.

Fixed.

LaHair with a stellar season debut. Popped out on first pitch.

Also, for those interested in this type of stuff: watching the game now on Kindle Fire via MLB.TV app. Works as good as whatever wireless network you are on. Streaming seamlessly now for me. Really surprised me. Allows me to work on the laptop and have the game on next to me (so I don't have to switch between windows, etc.).

Submitted by Rob G.
on Sat, 04/07/2012 - 2:11pm

DeRosa-in-training looks terrible vs. a righty and K's with runners on 2nd/3rd and 1 out.

up to Castro...

Submitted by Tony S.
on Sat, 04/07/2012 - 3:35pm

Okay, now you're just being a dick...

=)

Submitted by Rob G.
on Sat, 04/07/2012 - 2:37pm

Kerry gets the first 2, then an Espinosa HR, Zimmerman broken bat single and LaRoche single with DeJesus playing on the warning track.

4-3 Cubs in the 8th with runners on the corners, 2 outs.

Pitching change

Submitted by Andy
on Sat, 04/07/2012 - 2:44pm

Welcome to your 2012 Chicago Cubs.

Submitted by B Rock
on Sat, 04/07/2012 - 2:47pm

Marmol and Wood - the veteran contingent of this ball club.

Neither have a future with the club, both are shadows of their once dominant / overpowering selves, and neither should have been on this roster.

Submitted by superjimmer
on Sat, 04/07/2012 - 2:46pm

It's the Kerry and Carlos show! Episode 2!

Submitted by Rob G.
on Sat, 04/07/2012 - 2:49pm

Wood & Marmol giving Nasty Boys a whole new definition.

Submitted by B Rock
on Sat, 04/07/2012 - 2:52pm

5 runs with two outs and the bases empty against an offensively mediocre Washington Nationals lineup at home.

At least this team is being nice enough to give us reasons to stop holding out any modicum of hope for the season early.

Submitted by The E-Man
on Sat, 04/07/2012 - 4:13pm

I wouldn't say they are offensively mediocre.

The Cubs do not have the equal of Zimmerman or Werth at this point.

Submitted by WISCGRAD
on Sat, 04/07/2012 - 4:29pm

Two equally logical conclusions there:

1) Nationals are better than mediocre

2) Cubs are worse than mediocre

Submitted by superjimmer
on Sat, 04/07/2012 - 4:44pm

This seems very accurate!

Submitted by Rob G.
on Sat, 04/07/2012 - 4:46pm

There must be someone else nicknamed Werth on their team.

Submitted by JoePepitone
on Sat, 04/07/2012 - 2:58pm

Marmol is not missing any bats.

Submitted by tem99
on Sat, 04/07/2012 - 3:10pm

How long before we hear reports of him hiding an injury leading to TJS?

Submitted by Jim Hickmans Bat
on Sat, 04/07/2012 - 3:08pm

Wow. How hopeless is this team that all is lost and discouraging after just TWO games? Gee, Wood only pitched what, 4 innings in Arizona? I wonder if there was a reason for that, mkay? Marmol sucks eggs and has for nearly two years.

Okay Theo, impress us. DL Wood to save face, demote Marmol or dump him, who cares. Yikes.

Submitted by superjimmer
on Sat, 04/07/2012 - 3:16pm

Team isn't hopeless at all. In fact - they are showing serious signs of life. Just a bullpen disaster needs to be addressed. Uh, somewhat obviously. Derr

Submitted by John Beasley
on Sat, 04/07/2012 - 3:21pm

Well, the offense hasn't exactly been stellar so far.

Submitted by 10man
on Sat, 04/07/2012 - 3:32pm

LOL and it takes all of 2 games for Chicken Little to show his face

Submitted by Bud
on Sat, 04/07/2012 - 3:28pm

What will Theo do? He can't like to see this even this early, when this is just the kind of stuff that must be fixed!

Submitted by crunch
on Sat, 04/07/2012 - 3:30pm

hopefully he has a 95mph fastball and can put in 60+ innings...maybe 99+mph if he takes off the suit jacket before taking the mound.

maybe use a do-over card on the marshall trade...

Submitted by superjimmer
on Sat, 04/07/2012 - 3:33pm

Fuck Marshall. I still like that deal. We're not gonna win anything for reals this year. Torreyes for president!

Submitted by crunch
on Sat, 04/07/2012 - 3:34pm

i don't mind him being traded, but i hate the return.

some people like the minors kids more than me, but t.wood was a useless pickup as a key return, imo.

Submitted by superjimmer
on Sat, 04/07/2012 - 3:42pm

Travis is gonna be a hell of a lot better than he showed in spring training. But I can't defend against your opinion . . . I consent things don't look good right now.

Submitted by The E-Man
on Sat, 04/07/2012 - 4:16pm

Two things I did like today were Dollis and early aggressiveness.

As I and others said Monday, get used to this bullpen scene.

So, far, the starters have been quite good. A nice thing.

Submitted by WISCGRAD
on Sat, 04/07/2012 - 4:27pm

Most teams 1-2 starters are hopefully good; we'll see beyond that.

Submitted by crunch
on Sat, 04/07/2012 - 4:42pm

cabrerra + fielder = f'n insanity

Submitted by Newport
on Sat, 04/07/2012 - 5:15pm

And no errors or facial fractures. Did Fister get fisted? Only threw 3+ innings.

Submitted by crunch
on Sat, 04/07/2012 - 5:17pm

did something with his side...fell off the mound weird after a pitch and was removed.

Submitted by crunch
on Sat, 04/07/2012 - 6:35pm

@TB - c.pena batting 2nd...m.joyce batting 4th after going 0-4 yesterday with 4Ks.

Submitted by superjimmer
on Sat, 04/07/2012 - 7:00pm

Gotta say, not as worried about Woody and Marmol after watching the replays on mlbtv. Woody had a cracked bat single on a nasty pitch, and Marmol had an outside pitch pulled through the right side of infield by a lefty. Both are pretty much a bad roll of the dice. I predict both will settle down with warm weather and be fine. Gonna predict 78 wins for Cubs. Lineup will be the weak spot not the pitching.

Submitted by Charlie
on Sat, 04/07/2012 - 7:18pm

It'd be nice if Marmol had some success soon. I'm sure he needs some confident building after last season.

He could also use some stat padding if the front office is going to consider dealing him at any point.

He remains one of my favorite recent Cubs.

Submitted by crunch
on Sat, 04/07/2012 - 7:46pm

5.91 era / 1.50 whip after the break last year...he did have a good august...which kinda makes the overall number even more scarey.

Submitted by crunch
on Sat, 04/07/2012 - 8:12pm

"According to Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune, the Nationals are not actively shopping John Lannan and have not talked to the Cubs about a potential deal involving Marlon Byrd."

thank gawd...

i don't care if byrd stays or goes, but this team has enough ass-end-rotation filler to last a few years.

...and wtf is with the crew of writers and blog people who think this guy is a good pitcher?

Submitted by superjimmer
on Sat, 04/07/2012 - 8:21pm

Byrd looks good though. Helluva catch today!

Submitted by crunch
on Sat, 04/07/2012 - 9:58pm

Bottom 5th: San Diego

- O. Hudson struck out swinging
- J. Bartlett singled to shallow right
- K. Blanks walked, J. Bartlett to second
- C. Maybin grounded into fielder's choice, J. Bartlett to third, K. Blanks out at second
- C. Denorfia walked, C. Maybin to second
- C. Headley walked, J. Bartlett scored, C. Maybin to third, C. Denorfia to second
- J. Wright relieved C. Capuano
- J. Guzman walked, C. Maybin scored, C. Denorfia to third, C. Headley to second
- N. Hundley walked, C. Denorfia scored, C. Headley to third, J. Guzman to second
- S. Elbert relieved J. Wright
- C. Headley scored, J. Guzman to third, N. Hundley to second on wild pitch
- Y. Alonso hit by pitch
- O. Hudson singled to shallow left, J. Guzman scored, N. Hundley to third, Y. Alonso to second, N. Hundley out at home

3 runs scored on walks, 1 on a wild pitch, and 1 on a single that ended the inning
5 walks, 1 wild pitch, 1 hbp.

Submitted by Tony S.
on Sat, 04/07/2012 - 10:15pm

"Rodrigo Lopez..."

Rob, I'm splitting hairs here, because, well, if I don't care about TCR pride then what do I care about, BUT...

Did the prediction contest say who was the first called up DUE TO INJURY, or did I make that last part up?

I picked R Wells, because I (naturally) assumed the first injury would be to the rotation (Hey Hey! We've made it two games so far!) and Wells is the sixth man in the rotation.

Can't access the form since the 'voting' is closed.

And that would have been italicized instead of all caps, if I knew how to make italics on here from my phone.

There, now this whole incident has made me expose my inadequacies to the group. Thanks Rob.

........

I love it here, even if we DIDN'T have AZ Phil.

Submitted by The E-Man
on Sat, 04/07/2012 - 10:42pm

As I recalled, it was first person CALLED UP. No "injury" part attached.

Submitted by Tony S.
on Sun, 04/08/2012 - 10:09am

Stop conspiring against me just because you had Lopez...

Submitted by The E-Man
on Sun, 04/08/2012 - 12:13pm

Haha!

Yes!

Submitted by Rob G.
on Sat, 04/07/2012 - 11:33pm

Who will be the first Cub called up from the minors?

previous question was,
Which Cub that makes the Opening Day roster will hit the disabled list first?

Submitted by Tony S.
on Sun, 04/08/2012 - 10:09am

Dammit, there goes another season

Submitted by Old and Blue
on Sun, 04/08/2012 - 8:34am

Does anybody know why Soriano has resembled an outfielder the first two games? He seems to be tracking the ball really well from what I've seen.

Submitted by superjimmer
on Sun, 04/08/2012 - 8:38am

Soriano has looked legit!

Also take note:

Some other teams that are 0-2:

Red Sox
Yankees
Giants
Braves

Submitted by John Beasley
on Sun, 04/08/2012 - 9:18am

It's been amazing. That one he caught near the well yesterday, I couldn't help but think there's no way he would've got that last year.

Submitted by Adam
on Sun, 04/08/2012 - 11:33am

I guess all the extra work with Dave McKay has really paid off.

Submitted by Charlie
on Sun, 04/08/2012 - 11:56am

Reports were, as always, that he's taken a "renewed interest" in the defensive side of the game. I don't know if that's a real explanation, but in the first games he has looked to be in much more control out there. If he can continue to merely be unbaffled, he could be an average left fielder defensively.

It remains or us to see whether he's going to hit this season.

I think he's going to have a good season, though. Comeback Player good. There, I said it.

Submitted by Old and Blue
on Sun, 04/08/2012 - 12:23pm

It would be fun to see him do a comeback thing. He seems like a pretty likable fella and he seems to work a lot harder than the guy who watches sometimes from the batters box would make you think. The key to any comeback is going to be hitting stuff other than fastballs, though. And some seeing eye grounders between second and first. That kind of thing happens, then it's possible.

Submitted by Charlie
on Sun, 04/08/2012 - 12:28pm

The key to any comeback is going to be hitting stuff other than fastballs, though.

Like hanging sliders and straight changes down the middle? I have no hope for Soriano ever hitting a decent breaking ball or, more significantly, laying off a decent breaking ball.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Sun, 04/08/2012 - 12:50pm

are there too many hitters that can hit a decent breaking ball? at best they foul it off or just lay off...of which Soriano certainly does not lay off.

From what I recall, he's actually pretty good, much like Ramirez, at hitting breaking balls in the zone or down. He just drops the head of the bat and gets good power. But anything outside is just a disaster.

Submitted by crunch
on Sun, 04/08/2012 - 4:06pm

some guys make a living swinging/hitting almost nothing but fastballs...those people tend to be very good at actually noticing or guessing a fastball is coming, though...longoria is great at it.

Submitted by Charlie
on Sun, 04/08/2012 - 5:22pm

I suppose that's true. Always thought Ramirez was a good breaking ball hitter--but he didn't bite on the terrible curveball a foot off the plate nearly as often as Soriano does, as you noted.

Soriano and Samardzija have both been pleasant surprises in the extremely early going, though.

Submitted by Ryno
on Sun, 04/08/2012 - 8:58am

I expect Wood will come around, but Marmol has never had strike zone control. He's gotten lucky. I wouldn't be surprised to see him struggle all year.

Submitted by superjimmer
on Sun, 04/08/2012 - 9:10am

Actually I do think Marmol is a high risk to return to be a real closer. I almost think for Cubs' baseball it is better to get someone who has never done the job and get as many outs from them as possible before they realize how much pressure there is. Once they know (ala Marmol) they are cooked!

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