Gameday Open Thread / Cubs @ Mariners

The Cubs travel to beautiful Peoria (Arizona) to take on the not-as-good-as-they-think Seattle Mariners. Jon Lieber and Sean Marshall will see the mound for the Cubs. Jarrod Washburn (I've been told we bear a resemblance minus his goofy facial hair) will start, but definitely not finish, for the Mariners. Some site info after the jump....

I appreciate all the suggestions to improve the look of the site and I'll do my best to address all of them. Of course, they have to make sense with the overall site design and all of us writers have to agree on them. I did want to mention something on the "Subject" line in the comments. I know it'll take some time to get use to, but in the end, it should make for a better reading experience.

While the subject line is automatically filled in either with the title of the article or the subject of the comment you are replying to, we do encourage that you change the subject if you are NOT directly replying to a comment. Let's face it, there's maybe 10-20 comments that are directly related to the article written and then the rest are usually folks going off on different tangents. Let's try and use the subject line appropriately. On most sites that I've come across that do use a subject line for their comments, readers usually type the first few words of whatever they were going to type anyway in the subject box and finish the rest in the body section of the comment. Sometimes if it's a short comment, there won't even be anything in the body section of the comment. What I most want to avoid is situations like this (and not to pick on anyone, I just need an example and there are plenty just like this one):

It's a comment with an update on the Brian Roberts talks but the subject is: Re: Cubs Weekend in Review. It would be better to just take the first few words of the comment: More on the Roberts trade situation as the subject and go on from there.

Now, when you do actually reply to a comment, it's probably best to leave the subject with whatever is automatically filled in. That way folks that are viewing in the "flat" versions will know what is being discussed. Of course, if someone didn't change the subject in the first place, that sort of defeats the purpose. So if you are replying to a certain comment and the subject line wasn't changed to reflect the body of the comment, go ahead and modify it to something more appropriate(leaving the Re:) and go on from there.

I realize it's all kind of new and different and it'll take some getting used to, but I do think it will make for a better commenting system...that is, once we all get a handle on it. So I appreciate if you all try to work with us on this and in return we won't completely ignore your site design ideas (I kid, I kid).

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Let's see what happens when you leave a subject line blank?

albeit it repetitive, better than 100 Re: Gameday Open Thread/Cubs @ Mariners

let's see what happens when we replace jon lieber with delicious Folger's coffee with flavor crystals...

...let's see if anyone notices.

now thats an old-school reference. and hilarious to boot.


okay...he can play a deep RF (sans brick) and has a hell of an arm.

that much should be evident now.

Yeah, great defense by Fukodome in the bottom of the 2nd!

Gah, no WGN at work. I take it Fukudome made a nice play?

I don't believe the game is on Chicago TV or radio. I'm listening on Audio, on the SEA feed. Beats nothing at all...

Seems to be on, I assume it's a Seattle broadcast. I'm not watching myself.

Fuku made a catch at the warning track and threw a bullet to first to almost double up the runner, according to ESPN 1000 afternoon crew who are at the game.

Yeah, I'm watching on

Nice running catch and throw. He's looking good.

Shocking revelation that the initial Cubs diagnosis may have underestimated the severity of the injury...

finger was rather swollen this morning, expect him to be out longer than originally announced.

Hmmm...suppose to automatically link to that URL and truncate it....

Bah....I give up on technology.

Of course it is longer than the Cubs first reported, does that really surprise anyone? But I would be very happy as long as he is ready to go full blow by March 15th, thus giving him a full 2 weeks to be ready. I just want it fully healed and not an excuse in the cold April games as to why he is struggling with the bat.

Soriano has a non-displaced fracture of his long finger distal phalanx. Anyone who grew up in Chicago and has played 16 inch softball has probably had a worse version of what Soriano's injury is. He could play with this owie (if this was softball in a beer league) and it's going to be sore for about 10 days-2 weeks, but it's spring training so nothing is to be gained to have him play with a sore finger. It's really not a significant injury IMHO and in fact will give more playing time this spring to Murton, Fuld and a few others like Fox...which is a good thing.

soriano will make a miraculous recovery the day following the murton trade to balt for roberts and payton.

i hope.

and, at least it ain't his legs.

"and, at least it ain't his legs."


I blame bobby dernier and his 2 handed catch it against the wall trick.

Luis Figueroa guy?

I don't know much about him, but made 2 nice defensive plays at 3b yesterday.

He's a 33 year old career minor leaguer (only 16 major league at bats in 11 seasons). He did hit .302 in 443 ABs for the Giants' AAA team last season. He might have some speed, but he can't really steal, in fact he was a terrible 7 for 16 last year in SB. And he has no power - at all. What he brings is the ability to play 2B, SS, 3B, and OF. The odds of him making the big league team are virtually nil. He has a pretty good track record in AAA so he'll likely play at Iowa this season, unless he does terriby in spring training in which case he could get released.

Ah an older version of Jose Macias...

Fuku can REALLY get the ball back to the IF.

too bad marshall and lieber cant keep the ball in the IF.

The game is on It's not a Seattle or Chicago broadcast. There are a few games, and this is one, where provides its own coverage. This means a few things: 1) Play by play by Harold Reynolds and some guy who apparently used to play named Billy Sample. 2) Terrible MLB graphics when doing replays, etc. 3) The silent commercials between innings with display ads for the store.

The non-commercial issue is not too bad, but when the game comes back on it scares the shit out of me every time.

Nice RBI triple by Fox, then Figueroa hit Fox in. Tied 2-2 bottom of the 4th

samninja getting work

Brian Roberts? Where u at, homes?

I'm right here.

Oh. You probably meant the famous baseball playing Brian Roberts.

Fox is swinging well. Triple earlier, and then just doubled off the wall.

Big 7th inning for the cubs: 3 runs so far. They're up 6-2

this time from Jon Heyman:

Nothing more than this time it might happen stuff. Though common sense leads you to figure Cedeno and one of Marshall/Gallagher are involved. If Payton is involved, I imagine Marquis could be involved as Bal could use a innings eating vet.

I hope we can get some of those Billy Ripken "Fuck Face" baseball cards in the deal. Mine got stolen in a burglary.

I'm feeling less excited about the rumor if it includes Payton. Some guys are a positive, some guys are a negative. IMO, Payton would be a negative.

3 for 5 today and played CF. How did he look out there?

Did get picked off though...

Did he get caught stealing too? It lists a CS and a PO in the box score. Damn he's a dumbass!

Yeah, Cedeno got caught trying to snag 2nd early on.

He looked good. Howry's giving up hits left and right though.

Second thing my eyes tell me about the Cubs this ST

(first was that our regulars are a bunch of gimps
who may not be ready to play until, well..., May)

Andres Blanco (SS) has got a GUN! No doubt about it.

That was a bullet of a throw.

Shades of Dunston?


Looks like Howry is laboring in this 9th according to the box score.

He giving up a lot of hits. It's 6-5 now.


cannot close games that aren't save situations.

Nice punch out at the end though.


Howry struck out the last kid on a high fastball, after Welington Castillo made a nice play to block a ball in the dirt that, had it gone by him, would've scored the runner from third to tie the game.

is he roster worthy?

For anyone watching the game on MLB.TV, how did Samninja and Lahey look?

Samardzija looked strong as he pitched two scoreless innings. He has a nice sinker.

Wow...nice timing on that post. Sorry for the 3/44.

Didn't see much of Lahey, but Ninja looked really good.

"Jarrod Washburn (I've been told we bear a resemblance minus his goofy facial hair)"

That explains why your wife chose you, I guess. Kind of creepy.

Nah, we were married before she became the AngelFanWIfe and learned of Jarrod Washburn.

Alright, then...

At least she doesn't have a crush on Bartolo Colon.

I see the Joe has not learned how to use the reply button yet...give it time.

I'm working on it...sorry.

I just discovered this and it is GREAT.
View NEW posts link. This way I don't have to remember where I last left off. BRAVO!

That new cool feature just got signed by the dodgers...3 years, $44M I think. Just kidding, btw.

See, I figured out how to reply.

I do love your signature implies that Christ had nothing better to do than help you to win a fantasy league. Theological brilliance...

Wow. Is that what it implies? I had now idea.

I thought that the hyphen separated the two...Joe, servant of Christ, AND fantasy champion. Apparently I am incorrect. Thanks for the insight into the inner workings of my subconscious.

I took it at the very least that Christ blessed your championship. There was certainly some divine intervention when you take a look at your keeper list.

Matt Holliday,  Hanley Ramirez,  David Wright,  Albert Pujols,  Ryan Howard,  Alfonso Soriano

 for those not in our league

Ah. So that's what this is about. I was wondering why you were angry with me.

I do not deny that Christ has blessed me with the gift of drafting and trading. But actually, I put the cross there before signatures were fixed; I needed a symbol above my signature so that I wouldn't have to hit enter every time I posted...then I just kept it cause I liked it.

Besides, I'm fully aware that Christ is too busy causing disorder in my church at present.

after last're dead to me.

I classify this conversation as a hijack on my otherwise interesting comment regardless of years or millions spent.

See, the beauty of threaded comments in all their glory...

random tangents are easily identified and ignorable.

Sorry for the hijack...

I especially like the red 'new' tags.

But besides...

You may have given millions to TCR, but it still has its family to think about.

it can go somewhere else then

The nice thing about signatures like that is they always have an expiration date. Enjoy it while you can, Joe.


how small

can these reply boxes nest?

pretty small.

REALLY small

I'm up against it!


I think it condenses the indentation every time someone new enters a comment.

I wonder how many replies it takes...

...for the site to stop condensing.



almost a square!


Back to a


i'm scared :(


that's really neat. it reformats the above nest.

Wait, so by doing that you just re-set the spacing?

That's really unfortunate--we just did a lot of work to get down to a slim nothing of a box!

i r evil.






First, Holy Fuck...

Second, let's not use up all our monthly bandwidth on this...I think we've established that it will indeed get smaller and smaller.

Yeah, but how small? Don't worry, it's a one-time experiment.

Oh whoa! It just expanded my screen width-wise to fit in some more space for the reply boxes...awesome...

For those who never saw it, here's a clip when Bill Murray filled in for Harry (with Stone):

do you have any info on Rob's statement that Soto has regained his weight?

it was Cubnut fwiw...

oops, my bad

Cubnut has gotten Fat again?

Even SF has realized its mistake and restored the name Candlestick Park, and now were going and doing whatever. It'd be funny if a Wrigley competitor got the naming rights:

Bazooka Joe Park

Big League Chew Stadium

Hubba Bubba Park?

"Monistat-7 Field"

How about Trojan Stadium?

Dude, I ALMOST said that exact thing, I even had it typed out. Creepy.

Read the second comment to that article. I'm gonna be a happy man when Dusty installs Patterson as his starting CF over Jay Bruce...

I predict Korey as the new cub-killer => Scorey.

Dave Caplan on his Comcast cable show (taped, I'm sure), now stated the following:

Roberts deal is indeed hot - latest he knows is the Cubs could get Roberts and George Sherril, Orioles want Pie, Marshall, Cedeno.

George Sherril - NOT George Shearing the pianist (he's dead, I think).

Taking Caplan's comments at face value--there's no way it'd be Roberts/Sherrill for Pie/Cedeno/Marshall, is there? The salaries don't work and that seems like less than the Orioles have been asking.

Cubs have been pretty adamant about not moving Pie...hope it stays that way.

"George Sherril - NOT George Shearing the pianist (he's dead, I think)."

Then cross him off the list!

Could we send Eric Patterson instead of Pie and when the O's ask about it we'll just say:

"No no no, that's Pie. I don't know what you're talking about."

Bal wanted him in the Bedard deal because they wanted a guy who can close, also with Adam Jones the Orioles do not need CF that badly to throw him in. I think it will go down as Roberts for Cedeno, Epat, Marshall or Roberts and Payton for The previous 3 and Dempster (him and Payton make the same and they could use a innings eating vet).

was a true closer.

Isn't he a LH setup specialist?

Sort of like Stevie Ire, but better?

I just got a hit on my credit card for $567 + $3 service charge for what I assume is the season long parking passes with the ability to buy them for the playoffs. NICE!!! I haven't gotten a confirmation from the Cubs though. You signed up before me, so you must of gotten them. Any other Cubs Season Ticket Holders get them?

I hope we get first dibs every year for them, so they just become a part of our package. That would be a huge asset to help sell the tickets.


Yep. I just saw it posted over the weekend.

You lucked out!

I have not had official confirmation yet.

FYI, there is now an option, at checkout for single games, where one can purchase parking at "Irving Park" lot, for only $12.

So - price accordingly!

If we get Roberts (which looks likely at this point) this lineup just really doesn't work out well. Ideally, apart from handedness, the lineup would be something like this:


However, I doubt we'll bat two of three lefties starting out. What do you all think would be the best lineup? Or what lineup would Lou go for? I'm thinking maybe


See what I mean? There's no easy solution if Roberts is acquired.

Its a nice problem to have.


Another unfair article on Dusty-

ha, the Roberts trade was likely in Dec...I'm not holding my breath.

Roberts is a switch-hitter though...

I'm still fine with
Soriano, Roberts, Lee, Ramirez, Fuku, Soto, Pie, Theriot

I'm still fine with

Agreed. This way you don't have 3 right-handed hitters in a row, giving the lineup the kind of balance Piniella likes (as AZ Phil has pointed out).

I'm watching the Terminator show(not bad, not good) on FOX here in Chicago and they just showed an AT&T commercial with a comedian doing Harry Caray impersonation. Gray hair and glasses at Wrigley.
He started throwing out lines like the Wil Farrell, very sad.

Did you macrame yourself a pair of jean shorts too?

"That doesn't mean I think I deserve the job over somebody or not. If you come on the basketball court and play defense on me, I'm going to compete. That's a whole different ballgame."

...cause I have no idea

I think he means that he has to take on a second sport to better support his family.

I think it means if the Cub's were a basketball team, he'd be a defensive lineman?

This will sound really picky, but it would be nice if the poster's name would stand out a little bit. Anyone agree or am I just being a whiny b****?

Nope, I agree. Some others have mentioned it before. I'm sure Rob and the boys are working diligently on it.

Yeah, it would make Silent Towel sightings a lot easier.

I always liked the post #'s also but overall, I like the site very much.

I wish all the posts would be in the order they were posted, this reply stuff makes my brain ache.

change your settings to flat list expanded.

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