The Cubs have lost each of the first two games of the opening series in especially Cub ways. That is to say, getting our hopes up and then dashing them by having the two best relievers blow the game in the 8th inning each time. But Dale Sveum isn’t worried about the bullpen.
“I think they’ll be fine,” said Sveum of his two late inning relievers.”They’ve been in these situations before. It’s not a panic situation.”
(snip)
“You’ve got to give a little credit to the hitting,” Sveum said. “Espinosa had one heck of an at-bat. The other day, Woody wasn’t throwing strikes and today he was throwing strikes and got two quick outs and Espinosa put a heck of an at-bat together and hit a home run the opposite way, hit the heck out of it. These guys have been here before. It’s just a couple bad innings so far, that’s all that’s happened this season.”
So they’re getting the bad innings out of the way first, and the rest will be magical, right? One thing we have to look forward to today is the season debut of one Jeff Samardzija. All our hopes rest on his long, flowing locks if the Cubs are to avoid being swept in the season’s first series. Jeff is eager to get out there and show us what he’s made of.
“I preached all spring getting off to a quick start as a team, so I can’t say it’s not the same for myself,” Samardzija said. “It’s important to do what you need to do to set the tone for the rest of the season.”
Let’s hope the tone he sets isn’t “give up a lot of runs each time I start”.
The Cubs lineup today:
DeJesus RF
DeWitt 2B
Castro SS
Soriano LF
Stewart 3B
LaHair 1B
Byrd CF
Clevenger C
Samardzija P
Game time is 1:20 Central and will be televised on WGN.
Everyone say a prayer for me, I have Spellcheck on my fantasy team. Oy.
I would take issue with the 2 of them being characterized as our “two best relievers.” (Or even either of them being in the top two.) By whose analysis is this the case?
i dont know, i dont even know the names of the other relievers
choices… watch the cubs lose, or go outside and enjoy this nice day?
Gravedigger…Why not kill two birds with one stone…..Move your TV on the patio & you’ll be able to do both…..
The photo of Samardzija on cubs.com is exactly how I imagine him looking before this start:
http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/index.jsp?c_id=chc
Lord bless this rockethouse and all who dwell inside the rockethouse.
What the hell is up with Soriano?? He’s going crazy in the field so far this season!
NEVER thought I’d say this in my life, but PLEASE, Dale, don’t take Samardzija out!!
DON’T DO IT!!!!!
Fuck. Take him out, Dale.
I can’t believe they intentionally walked Soriano. You don’t walk Soriano, you throw him three outside and watch him go down in flames.
Oh God, that was funny. Spellcheck gets within 1 strike of a complete game twice before 1) Starlin throws a routine grounder into the bleachers and 2) Spelllcheck gives up a 2-run homer.
Now 4-3 Cubs.
Have they yet invented a number high enough to display Marmol’s WHIP for this season?
Would PI do?
Not a big fan of the shaving cream face-pie but it shut Samardzija’s post-game interview down so in this case, I’m supportive.
Cubs win!!!
Samardzija gets the win and Marmol gets the save.
And here is the Monday headline- On Easter Sunday Cubs Rise From the Dead…
So far Jeff Smarmy’s serving up a big plate of crow to his many haters…