It All Starts Somewhere: Athletics Vs. Cubs

Break out your shorts, get your scorecards ready, because after a 4 month hiatus Baseball is finally back. As the Cubs kick off their cactus league season with an exhibition game against the Oakland Athletics.

Notes Going into the Game…

• Yesterday, the Cubs signed Cuban defector Juan Yasser Serano, to a $250K contract. The deal is still pending on MLB approval, and additional paperwork being signed from the Cubs and Serano. Serano, is a 21 year old right handed pitcher, that was defected from Cuba last April. The most I can tell you about him at this point is that he throws a 89-92 MPH fastball, with a good breaking pitch. The Cubs are hoping that Serano can be in camp before the end of spring training, and he is expected to begin the year in either high A, or double A ball.
• Alfonso Soriano will not be playing in today’s game, the Cubs have decided to hold him out till Sundays game against the White Sox. The Cubs and Soriano will take it easy on his knee for the early portions of spring, and then turn him loose towards the end.
• Starlin Castro will see a lot of action in today’s game, as he is expected to replace Theriot during the game. Cubs management is very excited to see how he conducts himself, with Alan Trammell praising Castro by saying he is “ahead of the curve“.

Projected Starting Pitchers

• For the Cubs, Randy Wells will get the nod and he will be opposed by Trevor Cahill of the Athletics.

Projected Lineups

• For the Cubs…

SS Ryan Theriot

RF Kosuke Fukudome

1B Derrek Lee

3B Aramis Ramirez

CF Marlon Byrd

LF Tyler Colvin

2B Mike Fontenot

C Geovany Soto

• For the Athletics

Davis LF
Barton 1B
Sweeney RF
Fox 3B
Gross CF
Rosales 2B
Powell C
Pennington SS
Cahill SP

• Game time is 2:00P.M., and you can here Pat & Ron with the call on WGN radio 720AM.