The **OFFICIAL** 2006 Chicago Cubs Thread

The_Dude · Post by **The_Dude** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 2:32 pm

BOT 3rd
CUBS 2 - REDS 4

SBUC OG

The_Dude · Post by **The_Dude** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 3:40 pm

Bot 7th
CUBS 6 - REDS 7

HR: Ramirez (1), D. Lee (1), Mabry (1)

The_Dude · Post by **The_Dude** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 4:48 pm

FINAL SCORE: CUBS 6 - Reds 7

GxWxLx · Post by **GxWxLx** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 6:53 pm

bwohlgemuth wrote:
nuff said....

say that sh*t to my face!!

i was just thinking today how happy i am to find people to talk about the cubs with...excellent idea to create this topic, ill check it daily.

bassjones · Post by **bassjones** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 8:17 pm

Tigers are 2-0, 160 to go

7WetCigarettes · Post by **7WetCigarettes** » Thu Apr 06, 2006 12:14 am

overall, I like the offense so far. Jaque Jones is what I expected so far, but there are over 150 games left for him to make me happy.

pitching = scary

GxWxLx · Post by **GxWxLx** » Thu Apr 06, 2006 12:38 am

7WetCigarettes wrote:overall, I like the offense so far. Jaque Jones is what I expected so far, but there are over 150 games left for him to make me happy.

pitching = scary

pitching = iffy

...could be great if everyone ends up healthy and all the bread they spent on the bullpen pans out

The_Dude · Post by **The_Dude** » Thu Apr 06, 2006 9:25 am

Speaking of the Tigers...I have a man crush on Jeremy Bonderman. He's going to be a stud in the big leagues.

The_Dude · Post by **The_Dude** » Thu Apr 06, 2006 9:32 am

And "iffy" seems like an over-statement regarding our pitching. Best case scenario...Prior will start roughly 20-25 games this year...Wood will maybe get 5 or 10 starts but will spend the majority of his time in the bullpen (or on another team at some point). Maddux is good for 12-15 wins...Rusch could possibly match that but 10 wins seems to be about right for him. Sean Marshall is a rookie...he pitched good ball in spring training but he'll probably be back and forth between the minors and big leagues and making spot starts throughout the year. Zambrano is the best bet to get 30+ starts with 15-20 wins. If he's at his best, he could challenge for the Cy Young.

I forget who said it above but I've had serious doubts going into this season. Usually I'm all pumped and eventually get let down...let's hope the opposite is true this year.

The_Dude · Post by **The_Dude** » Fri Apr 07, 2006 12:41 pm

2:20pm EST start-time!

GO CUBS!

The_Dude · Post by **The_Dude** » Fri Apr 07, 2006 2:58 pm

Welcome home.

The CHICAGO CUBS will put on their home whites Friday for the first time when they play host to their rivals and the defending National League Central champs, the St. Louis Cardinals. Hopefully, nature will cooperate and the rain forecast for the area will stay away.

This series dates back to 1892. Last year, the CUBS got the better of the Redbirds, going 10-6 against them and posting 5-3 records at both Wrigley Field and old Busch Stadium.

Greg Maddux will start Friday, one week shy of his 40th birthday. The veteran right-hander didn't spend the entire winter at the 19th hole this offseason. He worked hard. Ask him what he has to do to stay competitive as he gets older? Pitch better.

"It's an honor," Maddux said about starting the home opener. "It's a treat. I look forward to it. You're always eager to get the season underway. You want to get off to a good start, a fast start and hopefully roll through the summer."

THE CUBS steamrolled the Cincinnati Reds, 16-6, on Monday in the season opener, and lost, 8-6, on Wednesday despite a late rally.

"That's how we're going to play," Cubs first baseman Derrek Lee said. "If we're behind, we'll keep going, and if we're ahead, we'll keep going and play for nine innings and see what happens."

This will be most Cubs fans' first look at newcomers like Juan Pierre, Jacque Jones, Scott Eyre, Bob Howry, Freddy Bynum and Angel Pagan. Don't expect Jones to blow kisses to the fans in right field or tip his cap. He's hoping good play will win them over. Pierre, acquired from the Marlins in the offseason for three pitchers, has said that Wrigley is one of his favorite ballparks. Now it's his home field.

With Matt Murton, Pierre and Jones in the starting outfield, it will be the first completely new Cubs outfield since 1987 (Jerry Mumphrey, Dave Martinez and Andre Dawson).

"I like our team," Maddux said. "I think our everyday lineup is plenty good enough to win. If we pitch good enough, we'll win. The eight guys behind us are good enough to win. It's a matter of whether we can get them out."

There also will be 1,800 more people in the bleachers for the game. The Cubs will unveil the bleachers to the media on Thursday, but Friday will be the first time fans get to see the renovations.

-------------

Pitching matchup
STL: Jeff "My boyfriend spanks me with Twizzlers" Suppan (16-10, 3.75 ERA in 2005)
The right-hander stymied the Cubs last year, holding them to eight runs (five earned) on 24 hits over 26 1/3 innings in four starts for a 1.71 ERA. He struck out 14. This is his third season in St. Louis, and he's posted back-to-back 16-win seasons so far.

CHC: RHP Greg Maddux (13-15, 4.24 ERA in 2005)
Maddux says he loves Wrigley Field, and he has a career record of 62-50 with a 3.41 ERA there. But last season, he struggled at home and was 3-10 with a 4.70 ERA compared to 10-5, 3.83 ERA on the road. Ask him what he needs to do differently, and he'll say, "Pitch better."

Player to watch
Albert "I Love Licking" Pujols is tough on nearly every pitcher, and Maddux is no exception. The Cardinals first baseman and defending National League MVP is 10-for-24 (.417) lifetime off Maddux with three home runs. He hit two home runs in his two at-bats in the Cardinals' regular-season opener.

The_Dude · Post by **The_Dude** » Fri Apr 07, 2006 4:22 pm

BOT 4th
CUBS 4 - CARDINALS 0

GO CUBS!

The_Dude · Post by **The_Dude** » Fri Apr 07, 2006 5:08 pm

CUBS 5 - CARDS 1

Maddux pitched 6 1/3 innings of 4-hit ball.

SBUC OG

7WetCigarettes · Post by **7WetCigarettes** » Fri Apr 07, 2006 5:39 pm

god...I really like this lineup. The bench looks alright too.

thanks go to Greg Maddux.....you may be as old as dirt, but you are so very dependable!

GxWxLx · Post by **GxWxLx** » Sat Apr 08, 2006 7:49 pm

another win! nothing better than beating the cards...a sweep would be great for team moral.

a few thoughts:
-if lee gets injured, ill cry child tears
-finally time to dump wood and free up some money?
-why doesnt todd walker play everyday?
-why don't we have more big bats?

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The OFFICIAL 2006 Chicago Cubs Thread