Zambrano's Arm and Bat Lifts Cubs, Roster Cuts, Radio Recaps, and More

Final Score: Cubs 12, Dodgers 3

Cubs Starting Line-up Stats:

Soriano: 0-2
Miles: 2-4, RBI, Run
R. Johnson: 3-4, 2 RBI
J. Fox: 1-5
Taguchi: 0-3
Koskie: 1-2, Run, BB
K. Hill: 4-5, 3 runs, 2 RBI
Blanco: 2-4, 2 Runs, 2 RBI
Zambrano: 2-3, 4 RBI, 2 Runs

Wow, the green hat brought the Cubs hitters good luck today! Carlos Zambrano hit a 3-run homer in the 2nd, and also had an RBI double. Koyie Hill had a great day at the plate today, scoring 3 runs. Cory Koskie, in his first AB with a MLB uniform on since 2006, doubled. Aaron Miles, who is returning from a shoulder injury, also had a good game.

Cubs Pitchers:

Zambrano: 5 IP, 3 H, 3 ER, 2 BB
Marshall: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 ER
Gregg: 1 IP, 1 H, 1 K, 0 ER
R. Wells: 1 IP, 1 H, 1 K, 0 ER
Cotts: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 ER

Zambrano was strong even though he allowed 3 runs. The Cubs bullpen did a perfect
job today, tossing 4 shutout innings. I was a bit surprised that Marshall pitched an inning in relief of Big Z today. Maybe Lou Piniella reads my blog, because after I made a comment yesterday about Neal Cotts never pitching, he was used in the 9th today. Kevin Gregg still hasn't allowed a run all Spring Training.

Cubs Hitters off the Bench:

Wright: 1-2, Run, BB
Scales: 0-1
Camp: 0-1
Adduci: 0-2
German: 2 BB, 2 runs
Robinson: 0-1
Spears: 1-2

Game Highlight: Carlos Zambrano's 3-run homer off Randy Wolf.

My Player of the Game: Zambrano for his amazing day at the plate and a solid outing on the mound.

Up Next: Cubs VS Giants tomorrow @ 3:05 CT.

Not sure why, but a few guys from minor league camp were with the team today and got into the game. Esteban German, the newest member of the team, reached both times today.

Other Cubs Notes:

• Corey Koskie will start every other day for the rest of Spring Training if all goes well, according to Cubs.com.
• Lou Piniella has been impressed with David Patton.
• Interesting Note: The Cubs are expected to make a confirmation tomorrow that they will retire number 31 in honor of Greg Maddox and Fergie Jenkins on May 3.
• Derrek Lee was scratched from today's lineup with a sore right quad.
• Milton Bradley was not in the lineup again today with the flu.
• Joey Gathright did not play today because he went to the dentist. (odd)
• The Cubs sent 9 players to minor league camp today: Mitch Atkins, Justin Berg, Jeff Stevens, Marcos Mateo, Darwin Barney, Luis Rivas, Doug Deeds, Welington Castillo, and Jason Dubois. I'm very surprised some of these guys (esp. Rivas) were cut so soon.
• There are now 45 guys in camp.
• Some good notes thanks to Bleed Cubbie Blue:
• Carlos Zambrano grew up a White Sox fan! And he still likes them!!!!!
• Jeff Samardzija still has a chance at winning a spot in the Cubs bullpen, even with his bad outing yesterday. Chad Gaudin and Luis Vizcaino could end up traded.

A few Radio Recaps:
Opening Segment from Cubs Central Pre-game yesterday:

• Lou Piniella is not ready to name Marshall the 5th starter, but Ron Santo says that there is no doubt he will be the 5th starter.


• Jeff Samardzija has worked on some different pitches this spring.


• Ron said that Mike Fontenot has impressed him from the minute he first saw him hit, and Ron reports that "Little Babe Ruth" will get most of the playing time at 2B this year.


• A healthy Rich Harden will mean a lot to the Cubs. Ron loves Harden's change-up that looks like a slider sometimes.


• Jose Ascaino has been impressive, Lou loves his velocity.


• Micah Hoffpauir is going to be a star this year for the Cubs (in the opinion of Ron and I).


• Milton Bradley is "all about baseball".


• Ron points out that no matter where the teams are in the standings, Cubs VS Cardinals games and Cubs VS Brewers games are always interesting.

Santo then talked with Lou on the pregame show:

• Lou was happy with the Cubs scoring 10 runs against the D-backs on Sunday.


• We will see the regulars getting more at bats in the next few weeks.


• Piniella was disappointed with Ascaino struggling in the 9th.


• Aaron Miles is only going to play at second base for awhile because of his shoulder.


• Lou says Miles is going to have to be able to throw the ball from the left side of the infield.


• Lou was impressed with Corey Koskie's BP yesterday.


• Marshall has about secured the 5th starter's spot.


• Piniella wants to see the big boys hitting more home runs in Spring Training.

The next guest on Cubs Central Pre-game was Alan Trammell:

• Miles had a setback with a funny play at 1B and jammed his shoulder. Allan likes the addition of Miles.


• Alan says Aaron will get plenty of playing time, even if Fontenot starts.


• Trammell calls Theriot and Fontenot "Gym Rats".


• Ron calls those 2 guys "gamers".


• Alan wrote some notes about all the infielders last year at the end of last season. He wrote that Theriot needs to slow the game down and learn better positioning.

One final note: Lou has pretty much made his mind up on who will play second (Fontenot), CF (Kosuke), and be the 5th starter (Marshall). He is expected to decide on the closer and back-up catcher by the end of the week.

Tomorrow I'll have the stats for some of the guys that are on the bubble for making the 25-man roster to start the year.

Cubs are now 10-11 in the Cactus League.