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It's All About Us: Opening Day 2008 From A Cub Perspective
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:
D-Backs 4, Reds 2. 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.
Nats 11, Phillies 6. 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.
Mets 7, Marlins 2. 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.
Dodgers 5, Giants 0. 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.
Rays 6, Orioles 2. 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.
Royals 5, Tigers 4. Jacque Jones starts in left for the Tigers and goes 0-for-4 and whiffs twice.
Indians 10, White Sox 8. 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.
Mariners 5, Rangers 2. 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.
Twins 3, Angels 2. 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.)
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