MONDAY'S GAME VS. OAKLAND AT MESA: SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- It would be tough to beat what the 12,712 spectators saw Monday evening in Mesa, Arizona in the Cubs 1-0 victory over the Oakland Athletics. With perfect weather conditions they got to watch the Cubs' Greg Maddux and the Athletics' Mark Mulder pitch almost perfect baseball. Mulder pitched four shutout innings, giving up two hits, one walk, while striking out five. Maddux pitched six innings shutout innings giving up only three hits, while striking out one. In the bottom of the seventh inning the Cubs' Scott McClain got the game's only run when he belted a home run onto the left centerfield grass berm.
posted by Thomas at 6:25 AM
SUNDAY'S GAME VS. SAN DIEGO AT MESA: SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Another lousy performance by Juan Cruz on Sunday has me doubting we can rely on him if Mark Prior is going to be out for any length of time. Offense looked ok in scoring seven runs. Derrek Lee had three hits. Cubs win 7-6.
DON BAYLOR AWARD: SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- The Don Baylor Award for bad managing involving bunting to Dusty Baker. In the fifth inning Mark Grudzielanek was on second base with no outs and Corey Patterson at the plate. Baker had Corey Patterson attempt to bunt Grudzielanek over to third. Patterson first bunt attempt was a foul, the second bunt attempt he popped up for an out. A left-handed hitter Patterson should have the ability to get the ball to the right side of the diamond to get the runner over to third without having to bunt.
MEL ROJAS AWARD: SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- The Mel Rojas Award for bad relief pitching by a Cubs reliever to LaTroy Hawkins. Hawkins came into the game in the top of the ninth with the score 7-3 Cubs. Hawkins got the first two batters out, then gave up four hits and three earned runs to make the score 7-6 Cubs. Cubs catcher Fernando Lunar picked off the Padres runner at first for the third out and a Cubs victory.
posted by Thomas at 4:45 PM
SORRY: SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Sorry I have not updated since the start of Spring Training.
SATURDAY'S GAME VS. OAKLAND AT PHOENIX: SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- I went to the Cubs-Athletics game on Saturday. Cubs were ahead 5-1 and 7-5 during the game but lost 9-8. Mark Grudzielanek, Moises Alou, and Derrek Lee were the only big names in the line-up. Matt Clement struggled badly in the fourth inning. Jimmy Anderson came on in relief and gave up 4 earned runs in 3 2/3 innings. Todd Wellemeyer came into pitch in the bottom of the eighth, loaded the bases then struck out the side.
MEL ROJAS AWARD: SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- The Mel Rojas Award for bad relief pitching by a Cubs reliever to Jimmy Anderson. Anderson pitched 3 2/3 innings giving up 5 hits (2 were home runs), 4 earned runs, and 2 walks.
NEW PHOENIX MUNICIPAL STADIUM: SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Allegedly Phoenix Municipal Stadium got a big renovation since last spring training. The press box is bigger but that was about the only improvement I noticed. Most seats are in the sun and most of the seats in the shade are behind the home plate screen. $10 gets you a blah hot dog and a large watered downed Pepsi.
posted by Thomas at 6:21 AM
