It's All About Us: Opening Day 2008 From A Cub Perspective

Submitted by Cubnut on Mon, 03/31/2008 - 10:16pm

For an Opening Day loss to a bitter in-division rival in which our ace had to leave the game prematurely, our leadoff man looked overmatched, and our new closer was tagged for three runs in an inning, that was a pretty satisfying game. All the credit goes to you, Kosuke. Thanks.

But former and perhaps future Cubs had a hand in games all across the land, and there were other Cub connections evident on this, the true Opening Day 2008.

Here is a Cub-flavored summary of today's already completed games:

. Dusty loses his first game in the Cincy dugout. Corey Patterson goes
0-for-4, but doesn't strike out. Not once. In the whole game.

. Following their one-game home series against the Braves, the Nationals
traveled to Philadelphia to play the Phils. I can't find any way to
connect this game to the Cubs, except for the fact that scheduling a
Cubs-Brewers game in Chicago in late March when there's a perfectly
adequate domed stadium 90 miles north of Chicago is asinine...much like
scheduling the Nationals for a one-game home stand and then sending
them on the road.

Angel Pagan started in left for the Mets and had a double, an RBI, and
a run scored in 3 AB. Former Cub Rickey Nolasco pitched three innings
of scoreless middle relief for Florida.

Disabled former Cub Nomar Garciaparra sat this one out, which meant he
had absolutely no chance to pull, tear, sprain, or break anything new
today.


On Day One-hundred-and-something of Brian Roberts Held Hostage, Roberts
reaches base four times in four AB's (2 singles and 2 walks), which is
four more times than the Cubs leadoff man reached on Monday afternoon.
Tampa Bay, which has supposedly shown interest in acquiring Matt Murton
from the Cubs, started former Cub farmhand Eric Hinske in right field,
which helps explain why the Rays have supposedly shown interest in
acquiring Matt Murton.

Jacque Jones starts in left for the Tigers and goes 0-for-4 and whiffs twice.

Next to Fukudome's heroics, hearing the cold dejection in Hawk
Harrelson's voice as the Indians torched Mark Buerhle for seven, second-inning runs made getting up this morning entirely worthwhile.

Marlon Byrd, who finished second this off-season to Brian Roberts in
number of trade rumors connecting him to the Cubs, went 0-for-5 and
single-handedly stranded five runners, meaning he would have fit in
seamlessly with the Cubs offense today.

Minnesota triumphed in an emotional homecoming for former favorite
son and now opponent, Torii Hunter. In one of the day's most poignant
moments, Hunter was given a standing ovation by the home fans, much the
way former Cub Jason Kendall was received this afternoon by the Wrigley
Field faithful. (I wasn't actually able to view all of the Cubs game today; I'm just
assuming.)

Tags: 
Kosuke Fukudome
Cubs Opening Day

Comments

Submitted by Wes  on Mon, 03/31/2008 - 10:29pm  
We're in last place.

Submitted by Cubnut  on Mon, 03/31/2008 - 10:32pm  
I know. And the Brewers magic number is down to 161.

Submitted by Andy  on Mon, 03/31/2008 - 10:32pm  
Boo, Wes. On a more practical note, does anyone know where I can find a decent printable 2008 Cubs schedule? Especially one with the broadcast schedule on it? The one available on cubs.com has all the style of a 1988 Honda Accord.

Submitted by mannytrillo  on Mon, 03/31/2008 - 10:45pm  
Cubnut: "that was a pretty satisfying game" Not satisfying to me. Not sure how a loss can be satisfying especially when there was only a couple good things that came out of it and many more bad. Go Cubs!

Submitted by Cubnut  on Mon, 03/31/2008 - 10:49pm  
I think long after this season is over, we'll all remember the feeling of seeing Fukudome hit that homer. (Hope it's just the first of many Fuku-manufactured memories.) That's what I was referring to.

Submitted by carlosrubi  on Mon, 03/31/2008 - 11:08pm  
Hmm... fuku-manufacture... is that like fukkake?

Submitted by Cubnut  on Mon, 03/31/2008 - 11:16pm  
Indeed, and I think we all know that Opening Day fukkake is the best of all.

Submitted by Chicago Jamie  on Tue, 04/01/2008 - 2:28am  
It's satisfying to me because i don't think there's more than a 15% chance that our bullpen does that on a regular basis. If our 1-3 hitters can go a combined 1 for 15 only to lose in extras to the "2nd" best team in the NLC, i'll bet the ranch on a division title ... every time. And how long until Pie replaces The Riot at leadoff? I say end of April, max...

Submitted by Dr. aaron b  on Tue, 04/01/2008 - 9:39am  
Theriot V Pie leadoff debate is the epitome of a Giant Douche/Turd Sandwich choice

Submitted by CUBBY  on Mon, 03/31/2008 - 10:57pm  
the cubs on my fantasy team: theriot (he was available and my starter is on the friggin DL. go ahead and mock me.) fukudome (whoo-hoo!) marmol (yup) wood (taking points AWAY from me. thanks woody!)

Submitted by Rob G.  on Tue, 04/01/2008 - 12:12am  
and not nearly a mention of Craig Monroe? I'm fairly disappointed in you Cubnut...

Submitted by Cubnut  on Tue, 04/01/2008 - 6:41am  
0-for-3. Utterly Monroe-like.

Submitted by RI Mike  on Tue, 04/01/2008 - 7:11am  
Great outing, but this cramping-type stuff is part of what I was talking about yesterday when I wrote it was time for Z to be an ace. If it is really about drinking water, how can he be so stupid that he continues not to drink it? And if instead it is some physical problem he can't avoid, is this a question of him being wimpy? He is a "tough guy" in his speech and demeanor, but I want to see it where it matters, on the mound. If we have any chance at making a playoff run, he needs to be more reliable, in every way.

Submitted by Charlie  on Tue, 04/01/2008 - 8:08am  
Coming out of a game because of a cramp in the pointer finger of your throwing hand doesn't necessarily have anything to do with the amount of pain you are willing to endure--it may simply keep you physically from executing your pitches the way you want to, and in a 0-0 game that's not okay. If it is hydration-related, Z, like Angel Guzman, needs to realize that not liking to drink water isn't a good enough reason to be ill-prepared for a game--diet, hydration, conditioning and practice are all parts of preparation.

Submitted by Charlie  on Tue, 04/01/2008 - 8:10am  
I still think that trading Angel Pagan is going to be one of those things we look back on at the end of the year and think, Gee, that was sort of dumb. Instead of Pagan, we are paying Reed Johnson more money to play worse defense in center field, be slower on the bases, and have only slightly more pop. Maybe he gives us a better batting average. Maybe. The Pagan for minor leaguers sure looked like Hendry making trades just to make trades.

Submitted by big_lowitzki  on Tue, 04/01/2008 - 8:52am  
Not so sure that Reed Johnson plays worse defense than Pagan, and I would say that Johnson is a better hitter. Pagan has one tool - speed, and he doesn't even use that tool very well.

Submitted by garsky  on Tue, 04/01/2008 - 9:30am  
Absolutely. Pagan is positively Murtonian in the OF. He has a better name, tho.

Submitted by big_lowitzki  on Tue, 04/01/2008 - 10:22am  
By the way... Pagan has a career minor league line of .280/.337/.373. That is just plain bad.

Submitted by Tito  on Tue, 04/01/2008 - 9:39am  
"Not satisfying to me. Not sure how a loss can be satisfying especially when there was only a couple good things that came out of it and many more bad." Manny, in mid-season form...

Recent comments

Subscribe to Recent comments
The first 600 characters of the last 16 comments, click "View" to see rest of comment.
  • crunch 13 hours 12 min ago (view)

    marvin miller and ted simmons are part of the next HOF class.

    long time coming for miller.

     
  • crunch 17 hours 50 min ago (view)

    things that are important to good on-field play like buying up all the property around wrigley field, from rooftops to acerage, isn't going to monetize itself.

    i know some people would love to have a top tier pitcher, but i'm looking forward to more control of rooftop advertising and an open air beer garden near the team owned hotel and resturant complexes.

    i know some people want a solid leadoff man, but i'm looking forward to seeing 10-20 concerts on off-days destroying the playing field so that extra revenue can help a polician in Nebraska or Iowa get some ad buys.

     
  • Hagsag 18 hours 56 min ago (view)

    Their friend Donald will come through for them.

     
  • crunch 19 hours 18 min ago (view)

    remember when the billionaire owners got a huge double digit tax cut?

    maybe the city should do them a favor and give them more tax savings help to let them buy and build another 2-3 revenue projects outside of the park.  that might help these struggling heroes find some extra loot.

    i know this rant isn't fair, but my "dan winkler got a MLB contract fever" is dying down a bit.

     
  • crunch 19 hours 25 min ago (view)

    f'real.  i don't even know why they're going to bother playing games.  i'm over here printing Cubs 2020 World Series Champs banners while others are sleeping on reality.

     
  • Dolorous Jon Lester 20 hours 31 min ago (view)

    Just saw a fun report that the Cubs are telling even budget type free agents they can't currently negotiate until they clear some payroll. So that's a fun start to the winter meetings.

     
  • Dolorous Jon Lester 20 hours 35 min ago (view)

    I'm with you 100% on that. Minor league retreads are fine and all but we don't need to be paying premiums for middle relief.

     
  • JustSayin' 22 hours 16 min ago (view)

    The Cubs have 15-20 extra pitchers in their minor league system due to unbalanced drafting over the last few years.  I am ready to see them err on the side of giving the internal guys too many chances as compared to signing AAA players who had short stints in the big leagues which didn't go too well.  We don't know it the Cubs organization is just that bad at developing pitching, or has too many guys trying to prove themselves in a fixed number of minor league innings.  Bad scouting/development or self-inflicted bottleneck?

     
  • Dolorous Jon Lester 1 day 2 hours ago (view)

    Dan Winkler and Jharel Cotton wasn't enough for you? Tough crowd.

     
  • Hagsag 1 day 16 hours ago (view)

    I think we all are ready for some action.

     
  • crunch 1 day 16 hours ago (view)

    winter meetings start tomorrow...guys got into town friday/today.

    the cubs are supposedly looking to tap the trade market for their major moves.  this is the place where it gets done or seeds get planted.

    also, the modern day HOF class will be announced.  marvin miller will most likely get in.  lou whitaker and ted simmons should have some heat, too.

     
  • crunch 2 days 6 hours ago (view)

    semi-interesting winter league note...

    trey mcnutt (yes, that guy) is having a hell of a winter league in mexico (one of the less talented winter leagues) so far as a closer.  15.2ip 8h 4bb 24k, 0.57 era.

    giants signed him to a minor league deal a couple weeks ago.  he never went anywhere.  he's been consistently playing ball in the minors and indie league ball since he was last a noteworthy player.  last season he played in the OAK minor league system.  30 years old now...

     
  • jdrnym 2 days 13 hours ago (view)

    Brad Brach signs with the Mets for $850K but the Cubs are paying $500K, per Ken Rosenthal. Wasn't his 2020 club only supposed to be on the hook for league minimum?

     
  • crunch 2 days 14 hours ago (view)

    when he got to the mets he suddenly learned how to throw with control (small sample size etc).  last year was not a fun bullpen year...

     
  • crunch 2 days 16 hours ago (view)

    Yeah, I've made myself familiar with a lot of the changes, but AZP's posts have both added more information and cleared up stuff I didn't fully grasp.  I appreciate the hell out of it.  Thanks Phil, thanks TCR.

     
  • bradsbeard 2 days 18 hours ago (view)

    Looks like Savant has his breaking pitch classified as a curve while Fangraphs calls it a slider. Suppose by ST he could have made everything over in the pitching lab, so who knows!

     
more
Click "More" for the last 50 comments in full.