Chicago Cubs Opening Day
1:33 PM- The game was supposed to start at 1:20, and like typical Chicago weather in March-it’s raining. The game is going to start soon, they are chalking the infield and Big Z (Carlos Zambrano) is warming up in the outfield. I am enjoying listening to the replay of Ernie Banks’ statue ceremony. His quote, “I am proud to be the only player to play his entire career in one city, Chicago, one mayor, one owner, one stadium and under one light, God’s light”
1:53 PM: Ernie Banks throws out the first pitch. Its low and just a touch inside (probably would have hit a right handed batter). Hopefully Zambrano will have better control.
1:59 PM: Zambrano throws out the first pitch, strike one! The season is under way.
2:00 PM: Three pitches, three strikes- Sit down Rickie Weeks!
2:06 PM: Top of the first in the books. Zambrano looked fairly sharp. The lone hit came on a Tony Gwynn infield single. Lets see how this new and improved lineup looks.
2:12 PM: Three up three down. This entry is being fueled by Bud Light.
2:24 PM: Kosuke Fukudome’s first at bat. First pitch ripped into Center Field for a double! Hopefully there is more of that to come. Felix Pie strikes out swinging to end the inning, same shit-different year.
2:25 PM- 3:30 PM: Zzzzzzzz’s and beers. Rain delay again!
3:32: And we are back. Baseball again. Good to see Zambrano is still on the mound.
3:44 PM: Fukudome gets a walk. He is on pace to set the On-Base Percentage record (1.000). I’m having a hard time keeping up with both the blog and the beers and my homework. After four innings its still tied at zero, could call it a pitchers duel or shitty hitters, I’ll go with the latter.
3:55 PM: It seems as though this game is dragging on. It is only the fifth inning and the game was scheduled to start two and a half hours ago. That’s what rain does I guess. Felix Pie goes down looking. Same shit, different year. Lets go Zambrano take care of it yourself.
4:01 PM: Zambrano is looking real good. He has only given up one hit so far and even that didn’t leave the infield. I would not want to be a hitter against him in this weather. Ah, hit number two against Zambrano and fat ass Fielder is up to bat.
4:22 PM: Zambrano exits the game with cramping in his forearm. His first strong opening day outing going 6 2/3 innings without allowing a run. Cubs get their first look in 2008 at their bullpen as Carlos Marmol enters the game. It’s good to see him start the year off right. Marmol strikes out Hardy on one pitch! Sing it Ernie! The Bud Lights are starting to kick in.
4:29 PM: Fukudome with another hit! He has been the offense for the Cubs thus far. He is 2-2 with a walk. Ben “I wet my” Sheets is out of the game finally. Maybe the Cubs can start something now.
4:36 PM: DeRosa just got beaned by Torres, that’ll leave a strawberry tomorrow. They have two on, one out lets see if Soto can get something started. Ah shit, Kendall gets lucky on a passed ball that hits Soto and Fukudome is thrown out. Soto walks and now Pie is up again. Pie grounds out to second base. Well, a moral victory-he put the ball in play.
4:46 PM: Marmol looks very sharp. Four hitters faced, four hitters retired. It’s nice to have a solid end to the bullpen to complement good pitching performances by the starters. Hopefully this continues for the duration of the season. Going to the bottom half of the eigth. Hopefully we can push a run across and bring in Kerry Wood for his first save of the season!
4:59 PM: The Cubs go down three up three down in the bottom of the eighth. Daryle Ward had a nice pinch-hit at-bat but “The Riot” and Soriano go down on strikes. Now we get our first look at the 2008 Kerry Wood and PLUNK! First pitch nails Rickie Weeks with a 95 MPH fastball right between the 2 and the 3. Wood had showed good command in the Spring, lets hope this is not a sign of things to come.
5:07 PM: Ah, shits. Wood hits Weeks, Gwynn bunts him to second and they walk Fielder. Braun hits a single and the Brewers take the one run lead in the top of the ninth. Not a good start to Kerry’s season.
5:10 PM: Well, another double and the Brewers lead 3-0. Kerry’s spring isn’t an indication of how he is going to do in the regular season apparently.
5:16 PM: Eric Gagne comes in to try and close it out. Lets get something going.
5:20 PM: Gagne is having trouble. Two on, none out. Fukudome is working the count as well.
5:21 PM: FUKUDOME!!!!!! THREE-RUN HOME RUN! He’s 3-3! And the curtain call!!!! Tie ball game. There is still no one out and DeRosa up at the plate.
5:27 PM: DeRosa and Soto get sat down in a row. Pie grounds to first and Gagne doesn’t cover. Fielder steps over the bag to tag Pie and he’s safe. Fielder needs a burger. Maybe this is a sign the Cubs luck is turning around.
5:37 PM: Top of the tenth starts off with a Counsell double off Howry. They bunt him to third with one out. Zambrano and Marmol looked good but Howry and Wood, not so much. Haha, weeks gets hit again! Serves him right for holding his hand right over the plate. Gwynn gets the RBI sacrifice fly, looks like we need some more Fukudome magic.
5:50 PM: Cubs go down 1-2-3 in the bottom of the tenth. Cubs fall to 0-1, Brewers go to 1-0. Sluts.
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1 comment:
Austin, I think this is the way the season will go for your Cubs. I don't know if the expectations will necessarily be good for them. They've got some good young players - Fukudome has a good shot at the ROY, Soto (after only 2 weeks) has been heralded as one of the great young catchers. Everyone needs to stay healthy and the pitching needs to be solid. The central usually isn't pretty, but it's always a dogfight. It'll be a long season for the younguns.
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