Cubs Get Back in the Win Column

Final Score: Cubs 6, A's 4





Cubs Starting Line-up Stats:





Soriano: 1-3, HR


Theriot: 0-2, BB, 2 Runs


Ramirez: 1-3, 3 RBI, HR, Run


Fox: 2-4, HR, 2 RBI, Run


Robnett: 0-3


Johnson: 1-3


Bako: 0-2


Blanco: 1-3


Marshall: 0-1





Great to see Soriano and Aramis both going yard. Sori hit his off former Cubs Sean Gallagher in the first inning. Ramirez's was a 3-run shot in the 4th. Jake Fox, who's looked good at the plate so far, also went deep. Robnett has played a lot in the first 7 games, but he's struggled at the plate. Paul Bako is still looking for his first hit of the Spring. Andres Blanco played 2B today, giving both Miles and Fontenot the day off.





Cubs Pitchers:





Marshall: 3 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 1 K, Win


Gregg: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 ER


Stanton: 1 IP, 3 H, 1 BB, 2 ER


Vizcaino: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 1 K


Cashner: 0.1, 3 H, 2 ER, 1 BB


Wells: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 ER


Caridad: 1 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 0 ER, Save





Marshall retired all 9 men he faced. Sean has pitched well, and right now is the favorite to be the Cubs 5th starter. Kevin Gregg worked a good inning. Luis Vizcaino finally made his Cactus league debut in Cubbie Blue and worked a 1, 2, 3. Vizcaino will have to continue to pitch well if he wants to win a job in the crowded Cub bullpen. Andrew Cashner, the Cubs 2008 first round pick, struggled in his inning of work, getting removed after only retiring 1 hitter.





Cubs Hitters off the Bench:


Dubois: 0-1


Barney: 0-1


Rivas: 0-1


Fuld: 0-1


Castillo: 0-1


Taguchi: 0-1, BB, Run





Another game with a grand total of 0 hits off the bench.





Game Highlight: Aramis Ramirez's 3 run homer in the 3rd.





My Player of the Game: Jake Fox who is hitting .438 in the Cactus League.





Up Next: Half the team will take on the Indians, the other half will travel to Las Veagas to play the White Sox. Chad Gaudin will start in Goodyear, and Jeff Samardzija will start in Vegas.

Radio Recaps-

Chris DeLuca on Mully and Hanley to discuss the Cubs:

• Chris wrote about Mark DeRosa and Lou Piniella's possible bad relationship. He said that when he wrote about it, it was burried in the column, but that was focused on.


• DeLuca says that one of the main reasons for trading DeRosa was the money. Also, the Cubs knew that they wanted to give Fontenot a little more playing time at second base.


• Mark and Lou have both came out and said that there are no problems between them, but Chris doesn't think they were the best of friends.


• Mully thinks that Derrek Lee is the new leader of the team now that DeRosa is gone.


• Chris compares the Cubs signing Bradley to the Sox taking a risk with A.J. a few years ago.


• DeLuca points out that Mark DeRosa would answer every question from the media, and take the focus off other players. There are not a lot of players that are willing to fill the role.


• The Cubs don't have a lot of queston marks, but Jim Hendry reminds everyone that the Cubs were feeling like they were going to rule the division in 2004 as well. The Cubs don't want to get too far ahead of themselves and start looking to the playoffs before the season even starts.


• DeLuca says that you want to see progress and arm strength for the pitchers in Spring Training, not just look at the box score.

Bruce Levine on Waddle and Silvy yesterday:

• Bruce talked with Silvy about Lou Piniella talking about Jake Peavy throwing 3 innings against the Cubs. Lou told Bruce, "Anything is possible."


• Levine says that there is not enough money right now to get Peavy. Talks could resume in May or June if the Rickets Family gets control of the team by then.


• Levine thinks Harden will be in a Cactus League gain sometime in the next 10 days.


• Cubs fans shouldn't be concerned about Marmol pitching in the WBC according to Bruce.


• The Cubs will stay in touch with the pitching coach for the Dominican team.


• Levine doesn't think we should worry about injuries during Spring Training.
  

Kevin Gregg on Waddle and Silvy today:

• Gregg said that he is enjoying himself in the sun and getting to know the guys.


• The first stages of life with Lou have gone well for Kevin.


• Kevin says he is not 100% healthy yet, but his knee is way healthier than it was at the end of last season.


• He said it hurt to do anything at the end of last season, but tried to "suck it up" for the team.


• Gregg was told by a team doctor that it was nothing to worry about but then he got a second opinion after having 3 bad outings and ended up shutting it down for about 14 days.


• He expects to be 100% by the time the regular season starts.


• Gregg isn't sure what role he will be in, it's up to Larry and Lou. Kevin's goal is to get healthy and be ready for the season.


• There is no doubt in Kevin's mind that he wants to close for this team.


• Gregg says that he and Marmol are both done with pitching in the 8th or 9th.


• There are twice as many fans at the Cubs Spring Training games than there were at Marlins regular season games.


• Aramis Ramirez was the hardest guy to face for him when he was a Marlin.

Jim Hendry on Sports Central with David Kaplan:

• Jim said he's never talked to Curt Schillling but he does have a lot of respect for him.
• Hendry says the Cubs are very happy with the pitchers the Cubs have in camp.
• Jake Peavy is not something that the Cubs are looking into.
• Milton Bradley is doing very well. Jim described his quad strain as very, very mild. The Cubs have a long camp and they will be careful with everyone.
• Theroit and Fontenot are impressing people right out of the gate. Jim's also very happy with Hoffpauir's start this spring.
• The decision the Cubs have to make on the bench is whether to keep both Gathright and Micah Hoffpauir on the roster, or replace one of them with someone who can backup 3rd base.
• The only way to have a perfect bench is using only 11 pitchers.
• Jim doesn't think that rosters will ever expand back to 26 guys.
• Hendry is still not in favor of trading draft picks.
• Kap seems to like the idea of trading draft picks. Jim thinks the worst clubs should be picking the best players in the draft.
• The Cubs are going to start the season with a 5-man rotation.
• The 5th spot won't be decided until the end of camp.
• Jim thinks Lou and Larry will name a 5th guy before Opening Day.
• Jim says Lilly was very honored to be chosen for the WBC and can't wait to get there.
• Hendry thinks the Cubs hit a bullseye when they signed Ted Lilly.
• He is all for the WBC, but says the timing will never be good and there will always be drawbacks of the Classic.
• Jim has no problem with Carlos Marmol changing his mind about the WBC.
• Hendry described the Cory Koskie signing as a "Why not". The Cubs will give him a chance.
• Jim thinks Big Z looked good his first time out in the Cactus League.

Ted Lilly also joined Kap on Sports Central:

• Lilly hasn't gotten to see a lot of the hitters, but says all the pitchers look good.
• He think the Cubs are "going to be good".
• Ted doesn't think he has any right to complain about not starting last year in the postseason because the guys that pitched in front of him are such great pitchers.
• Ted has to make sure that he doesn't throw too much in the World Baseball Classic. The USA team is playing to win in the WBC. Lilly says he has worked earlier and harder this off season to get ready for the Classic.
• Lilly thinks that practical jokes that the guys on the team play on each other keep it loose and bond the team.
• He did not get a chance to talk to Ozzie, and says that the whole thing was overblown by the media.
• It sounds like Ted will start the 3rd game for team USA.

Other Cubs Notes:

• According to Hot Stove Cubbies, the Cubs have 3 new names on their radar; Joe Beimel, Bobby Crosby, and Ryan Raburn.
• Rich Harden will throw off a mound on Friday and could see Cactus League action next week according to Carrie Muskat.
• The Peoria Cheifs will play a game at Miller Park on April 24.

Lou Piniella plans to rotate his outfielders around a lot this season.

That's it for now, I'll keep you posted!