Location: Chicago, Ill. | Ballpark: Wrigley Field (41,160) | Spring Training: Mesa, Ariz.
Owner: Sale pending to Sam Zell | GM: Jim Hendry | Manager: Lou Piniella | World Championships: 2
The Cubs were looking for two things as the unofficial second half of the season began Friday in Houston.
They wanted a good start and a lot of good health. The health appears to be coming, even if the Cubs did lose 2-1 to the Astros.
"One thing that is important is that we get off to a good start here the second half," said manager Lou Piniella. "It's a tough little stretch that we're playing. Ten of our first 14 games are on the road. Let's start playing where we left off."
The Cubs "left off" in first place in the NL Central, even while playing short-handed. They soon hope to have left fielder Alfonso Soriano and left-hander Scott Eyre off the disabled list.
"We're getting healthier, but we're not quite there yet," said general manager Jim Hendry. "Hopefully a week from now, we'll be a fully armed club."
ASTROS 2, CUBS 1: Houston's Miguel Tejada and Hunter Pence opened the bottom of the ninth with back-to-back doubles off RHP Bob Howry, breaking a 1-1 tie Friday. Cubs starting pitcher Ted Lilly worked seven innings, giving up six hits and one run, a homer by Carlos Lee in the seventh. CF Jim Edmonds gave the Cubs a 1-0 lead in the fifth, when he led off with a homer. The Cubs were out-hit by the Astros 8-4.
Copyright (C) 2008 The Sports Xchange. All Rights Reserved.
Since no one started one, I will. I'm watching the Houston broadcast, which I actually enjoy because they don't inject opinions, show an amazing load of homerism, and call the game down the middle, as it should be done.
If I have to think about the Cubs having rights to Josh Hamilton any longer. What a display. His swing is prettier than Ken Griffey Jr.'s and has more raw power.
What happened to RUPPSRUNT's updates? Anyway, onto the farm system (Note: Though I tried to include only prospects, some performances by veteran minor leaguers were difficult for me to overlook, and thus they get mentioned as well. Ages are in parentheses):
