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Welcome!!
Welcome Sack39 to the Cub Nation! If you have a few moments, tell us about yourself and how long you have been a Cub fan!
OMG!! Ozzie Mows Wrigleyfield T-shirt
First there was HorryKow, now Ozzie Mows Wrigley field. Some guy was selling them outside the ballpark Friday. Saw 3 guys and what looked to be a soccer mom buying them for $20. I could not believe her!! Another in the line of hot topic but racist T-shirts. It's funny but i don't know.
Ozzie is a colorful character though.
Ozzie is a colorful character though.
Milton Bradley To Be Out 3-5 Days ???
According to multiple reports on Monday afternoon, including one from Jim Hendry on Sports Central, Milton Bradley will be sidelined for the next three to five days. With Tuesday being an off day, Bradley could return to the lineup at some point during the Cardinals series.
Jim Hendry mentioned the Cubs are targeting Friday for Milton Bradley's return during his segment with Dave Kaplan.
According to a report in the Tribune, both Aramis Ramirez and Geovany Soto are expected in the starting lineup on Wednesday.
Lilly Takes No-Hitter Into 7th in Home Opener!!
Lilly combined with three pitchers on a one-hitter to help the Cubs post a 4-0 victory over the Colorado Rockies and win their frigid home opener. It was the fourth Cubs one-hitter of at least four pitchers, and first since Lilly, Jeff Samardzija, Carlos Marmol and Bob Howry did so against Houston last Sept. 15.
"He's up for the challenge," Cubs catcher Koyie Hill said of the lefty. "It could've been snowing, sleeting, we could've been playing on top of Mt. Everest, and he would've been all about it. It's one thing you know you're going to get out of Ted, and that is you'll get everything he's got."
Lilly (2-0) retired the first seven batters he faced, then walked Chris Iannetta with one out in the third before Garrett Atkins singled cleanly to left with two outs in the seventh to end his no-hit bid. Lilly then walked Seth Smith and was pulled after throwing 104 pitches. He struck out eight.
"It was a cold, raw day to play ball in, and Lilly really mastered the weather," Piniella said. "He threw strikes, changed speeds, got his curveball over. It was really an outstanding pitching performance."
Angel Guzman, Aaron Heilman and Kevin Gregg finished things up for the Cubs, who didn't seem to mind the 72-minute rain delay before the game started. The precipitation continued throughout, creating less than ideal conditions for the crowd of 40,077. Lilly also had to deal with a 10-mph wind off Lake Michigan, fog and 36-degree temperatures.
"It's definitely challenging when you're trying to pitch in weather like this," Lilly said. "I think, fortunately, it never got to where it was raining hard. When you can't see and the hitter can't see, then it's really tough.
"I enjoy this weather, too. I understand the weather isn't going to be perfect all the time. It makes it a little more fun when you have conditions like this, and it makes it a little more challenging."
Fun?
"I was trying to blow on my hands and everything, and it didn't work," Jimenez said. "It was freezing."
Lilly was aware he had a potential no-no but also knew his pitch count was high.
"I wasn't really thinking about it," he said. "I was still trying to focus on making quality pitches and not so much on how I'm going to protect that, protect the no-hitter. I felt if I made good pitches, I liked my chances. And I knew I had a lot of work to do, and a lot of outs."
Hill knew, too. He started to switch caps, then the superstitious side of him kicked in, and he kept to the same routine.
"He was in a terrific rhythm," Hill said of the lefty. "He had everything going. He had great umpire rhythm."
Umpire rhythm?
"It's a big part of pitching," Hill said. "You get a guy who's wild and all of a sudden he throws a ball that's close, and he may not get the call. Teddy was throwing strikes and pounding the zone, so those borderline strikes, he got them."
The Cubs got what they needed out of their "small ball" lineup, designed to compensate for the absence of regulars Aramis Ramirez (back), Milton Bradley (groin) and Geovany Soto (shoulder). They loaded the bases with one out in the second, and Jimenez (1-1) walked Hill to force in a run. On Sunday against Milwaukee, the Cubs scored four runs on bases-loaded walks.
Hill singled to lead off the fourth, Lilly walked and one out later, Ryan Theriot hit a potential double-play ball. But second baseman Jeff Baker threw the ball past Todd Helton at first for an error, allowing Hill to score. One batter later, Jimenez was lifted for Glendon Rusch, and Lee smacked an RBI single to make it 3-0. Kosuke Fukudome added an RBI single in the eighth.
How did the hitters deal with the weather?
"It wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be," Reed Johnson said. "When the wind picked up, it started pelting you in the face a little bit and made it tougher. The tough thing is there's the pine tar and all the sticky stuff you use to put on your bat, and you stand on the on-deck circle for more than a minute or so and it starts to freeze. You don't have a grip on the bat, and you're doing everything you can to hold onto that thing."
The good news is Wednesday's forecast calls for some sunshine and warmer temperatures. Or maybe that's a bad thing for the Cubs, who seem to like the nasty weather.
"We showed today that we can do the little things," Johnson said. "We've got a smart enough group and a veteran group that's willing to sacrifice and move guys over, whether it's hit the ball to the right side or lay down a bunt and set up the guys who are paid the big bucks."
Carrie Muskat is a reporter for MLB.com.
Reed Johnson Does It Again !!
Reed Johnson robs Prince Fielder of a grand slam last nite in Milwaukee!! (more in replies)
Gregg Blows Save Opportunity
MILWAUKEE -- Rickie Weeks slid home safely on Ryan Braun's walk-off fielder's choice Friday to lift the Brewers to a 4-3 come-from-behind victory over the Cubs, handing Kevin Gregg his first blown save.
Trailing, 3-2, with one out in the ninth against Gregg (0-1), Chris Duffy walked and scored on Weeks' double off the left-field wall. Weeks moved up on a wild pitch, and Gregg walked Corey Hart. Braun then hit the ball to shortstop Ryan Theriot, who threw home. But home-plate umpire Jim Reynolds ruled Weeks was safe.
Hill bounced the ball on the turf and protested the call.
The Cubs had taken the lead on Hill's two-run homer in the sixth. Milton Bradley notched his first hit and home run for the Cubs with a solo shot, and Rich Harden struck out 10 -- his eighth career 10-K game -- but it wasn't enough.
By the time the Brewers rallied, the infield was entirely in shade. The late afternoon sun shone through the upper-deck windows at Miller Park to create shadowy patterns on the field early in the game and make it tough for the hitters. Bradley had no problem. He connected on the first pitch from starter Braden Looper to end an 0-for-10 start to the season. He's the first Cubs player to homer for his first hit with the team since Jacque Jones did so April 9, 2006.
Hill was starting in place of Geovany Soto, the 2008 National League Rookie of the Year, who may miss the entire series because of inflammation in his right shoulder. Hill launched his home run with two outs and one on in the sixth off Seth McClung for his first of the season and first in the big leagues since July 16, 2007.
Weeks was safe on a throwing error by shortstop Ryan Theriot in the first, and one out later scored on Braun's single. Milwaukee made it 2-0 in the third on Hart's first homer off a 2-2 pitch from Harden.
Carrie Muskat is a reporter for MLB.com.
Trailing, 3-2, with one out in the ninth against Gregg (0-1), Chris Duffy walked and scored on Weeks' double off the left-field wall. Weeks moved up on a wild pitch, and Gregg walked Corey Hart. Braun then hit the ball to shortstop Ryan Theriot, who threw home. But home-plate umpire Jim Reynolds ruled Weeks was safe.
Hill bounced the ball on the turf and protested the call.
The Cubs had taken the lead on Hill's two-run homer in the sixth. Milton Bradley notched his first hit and home run for the Cubs with a solo shot, and Rich Harden struck out 10 -- his eighth career 10-K game -- but it wasn't enough.
By the time the Brewers rallied, the infield was entirely in shade. The late afternoon sun shone through the upper-deck windows at Miller Park to create shadowy patterns on the field early in the game and make it tough for the hitters. Bradley had no problem. He connected on the first pitch from starter Braden Looper to end an 0-for-10 start to the season. He's the first Cubs player to homer for his first hit with the team since Jacque Jones did so April 9, 2006.
Hill was starting in place of Geovany Soto, the 2008 National League Rookie of the Year, who may miss the entire series because of inflammation in his right shoulder. Hill launched his home run with two outs and one on in the sixth off Seth McClung for his first of the season and first in the big leagues since July 16, 2007.
Weeks was safe on a throwing error by shortstop Ryan Theriot in the first, and one out later scored on Braun's single. Milwaukee made it 2-0 in the third on Hart's first homer off a 2-2 pitch from Harden.
Carrie Muskat is a reporter for MLB.com.
Soto To Sit Out Game 3 @ Astros
According to reports from Carrie Muskat and the Chicago Tribune, Geovany Soto will likely miss Wednesday's series finale with the Houston Astros and "may be sidelined until the weekend series in Milwaukee."
Soto left in the sixth inning of Tuesday night's game with right shoulder soreness. Reports during the game indicated Soto's departure was for precautionary reasons. The report on Cubs.com stated Soto experienced soreness in his right shoulder during Spring Training.
Ryan Dempster issued a 2-out walk to Kaz Matsui in the third. With Ivan Rodriguez at the plate, Matsui took off for second on a 1-0 pitch. Soto's throw sailed high on Ryan Theriot toward first. Soto said he "felt the discomfort" after the throw.
Soto does not think it will be a lingering problem.
