Light winds out of the southeast should continue throughout the evening.

No such thing as a must win this early in the year, but I really hope the Cubs win the next two. We shouldn't have a losing record at home to a division rival.

Moses:

Unless said team is better. Ha!

Seriously, Suppan is matching last year's good start. Here is hoping that the trough that follows isn't quite so severe this time.

It's pretty clear that the Brewers relish playing the Cubs. And vice-versa. Makes for fun baseball.

Lots of hard slides into second last night. Wouldn't surprise me if it got a little chippy.

I'm a Mets fan, but I like both the Cubs and the Brewers. I have Prince and Aramis (and sori) on my fantasy team. Watching this game is like a no-lose proposition!

If I can possibly overcome the poison of Steve Philips. And after 3 minutes of pre-game, I'm not sure that's possible.

SIGH.

Wife is pretty tired from the flight so I get to see the game.

Geez the announcer is hammering home the lost lead from last season. Thanks. Thanks a lot.

harveys, thye dont really pay much attention to non yankees sox teams so they gotta use what they can

Is this on ESPN? I've got the WGN feed on mlb.tv.

Is this on ESPN?

Yes, if you're not in the Chicago or Milwaukee TV areas (which will get you the dreaded ESPNnews feed)

How did Theriot not score there?

That's the way to start the game.

Sigh. Rickie blows the ground ball and then gets surprised by Lee coming into second base.

I was supportive of his work. But that is unacceptable to be caught off guard like that.

But typical for a Yost-managed team. Another reason they have trouble with the Cards no matter the talent level because LaRussa's guys play smart.

Good to see the Cubs giving Suppan's pitches the abuse they so richly deserve, unlike last time.

Everything up in the zone? Phillips is on something. Suppan's stuff is looping over the plate. It's on a tee for the hitter. Ramirez hit a tee shot to left.

Why hasn't anyone given Lou credit for the altered batting approach? When it's team-wide it has to be something more than chance.

Or is it the team hitting coach?

GEO! What a first inning.

Yost better leave him out there. Even with 123 pitchers on the roster the bullpen is taxed.

The guy is 33. Make him tough out six innings Ned. For once in your pathetic, sorry-*ssed, p*ssified life push one of your players to be a big boy..................

What's been wrong with the BTF server today? It's been down more than up today, at least when I tried.

As I mentioned in a post eaten by the deranged BTF server, I think people do give Lou credit, although I guess we really don't know how responsible he is.

Note that the Cubs' walk rate improved 25% last year as well, from jaw-droppingly bad to mere mediocrity.

Re: the hitting approach, I give a ton of credit to Gerald Perry. He did a great job everywhere he's been and has been quoted about how important a patient approach is. I have a minor crush on him.

Catching up on what I missed due to BTF not loading:

If Cedeno only advanced 1 base on a double off the wall, the sports radio bufoons and the people who listen to them would never shut up about it.

Braun is still a terrible defender.

I like Geovany Soto. He hits home runs for the Cubs.

That was ball 4 to Pie, and he's the last one on this team I want getting hosed on a K. He has so little for margin for error with Lou and the idiots who'll boo him.

Southside:

Braun, liked Hall last season, had never played the outfield in pro ball.

Off Topic but cardsfanboy is delusional.

whats he spouting now?

Just the party line he's had for a few weeks that Ned Yost and the Cubs being sold(huh?) are enough to give the Cards the division.

Repost from an eaten post:

Believe it or not, while Braun's still obviously not completely comfortable out there, stat-wise, Braun's actually been =2008&league;_filter[]=2&pos;_filter[]=7&Submit=Submit" ]the fourth best defensive LF in the NL so far according to THT. Not great, but points out he's not been a butcher so far.

Wow, that URL got munched.

=2&pos;_filter[]=7&Submit=Submit" ]This work?

If not, screw it.

I will admit you guys would know much better than I, he's just looked Dunn-like out there against the Cubs.

So is Turnbow hurt or just that bad?

This coulda been a fun chatter if BTF was up.