Hey there, Chicago!
I relish the opportunity to wax on about the San Francisco Giants here on SportsTimeRadio because simply put, the Giants and your Chicago Cubs are destined to meet in October. At least put it this way, the Giants will be there and I expect you’d back that up with a resounding, “Don’t you worry about our Cubs.”
First off, I’m sorry to see Kyle Schwarber go down especially the way the whole play unfolded. San Francisco lost Hunter Pence the first week of spring training last year and the team never fully recovered. Of course, Pence means much to the soul of the Giants but still, here’s hoping that Schwarber is back on the diamond in the most timely of manners. No team nor its fans wants to get a leg up on another club through injury.
Looking at the Cubs’ complete roster though, with its depth, leaves me to believe that my opening statement is accurate: The Giants and Cubs will compete against one another in the 2016 playoffs. The last time that happened was in 1989, when San Francisco prevailed four games to one, only to lose to the Oakland A’s in the infamous Earthquake Series.
I first appeared on this show in November of 2014, when Dan called to ask about my “Dynasty” piece on the Giants. I had written that three titles in five years, while stellar, did not make a dynasty because the rule of thumb is continuous success over a decade. That’s ten years, not five.
Since then I have appeared every few weeks when there are some lively topics to bat around, not so often when there isn’t much going on. When Pablo Sandoval was in the news only a year ago in December, with all of his palaver about wanting a new challenge in Boston, I was chiming in with my nickel’s worth routinely. I see now that the rotund one is back in the news with his recent disharmony with Boston management.
I feel bad for The Panda because he was so easy to like, but like the tragic hero, he has a flaw. His flaw is not so much the excess weight he carries around, but the fact that he refuses to acknowledge that the weight is the albatross that keeps him so locked into his decline.
For the Giants, of course, it meant that Matt Duffy was able to step right into the slot and not only make fans forget Pablo, but introduce us to “The DuffMan!” Duffy is now in his second season and fits in well with the all home-grown Giants infield.
Most recently, the decision to keep the red-hot Trevor Brown over Andrew Susac as Buster Posey’s back-up behind the dish, has paid off handsomely. The UCLA grad from Newhall, California has produced an early line of .385/1.154/1.538; in thirteen at-bats, the rookie has five hits, three of them big flies.
The Giants like Posey’s offensive numbers much more when he is playing first, but they also like those three world series rings that Posey has delivered. Buster wasn’t playing first base when his three-time underdog Giants beat some pretty impressive American League powers to acquire their three rings.
I imagine there are Cubs fans who are keeping an eye on Jeff Samardzija for a variety of reasons. Though The Shark may have worn out his welcome in the home town, he has been embraced by the Giants, who have a reputation for rolling out the red carpet for new arrivals. It doesn’t hurt that Samardzija will be pitching half his games at AT&T Park, with one of the best pitching coaches in the game in Dave Righetti.
The Cubs have been ranked number one amongst MLB’s elite since the first preseason power polls were released. Nothing has occurred to change that. The Giants have hovered somewhere in the middle of the top-ten so far.
I imagine both teams are exactly where they would like to be. I know the Giants relish being the underdog and it still amazes/amuses me that they frequently get so little respect.
Respect is a commodity that must be earned and the Giants have three recent titles in their resume that assures me they have the necessary credentials. Recent success does not guarantee continued success, but it is better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick.
See you next time.
Mark
Archive for the ‘baseball’ Category
NLCS: Giants v Cubs?
Posted: April 17, 2016 by Sports Time Radio in baseball, post season, Sports Time Radio, UncategorizedTags: Chicago Cubs, Hunter Pence, Kyle Schwarber, NLCS, San Francisco Giants
John 2.21; Not enough!
Posted: April 17, 2016 by Sports Time Radio in baseball, sports, Sports Time RadioTags: Chicago Cubs, Go Cubs Go, Lester, MLB, sports
PIn the series finale between the Chicago Cubs and the Colorado Rockies, John Lester would take on Tyler Chatwood, a strikeout pitcher. Lester would start off the game, striking out former Cub, DJ LeMahieu but would give up an early single tomTrevor Story. He would get caught stealing and Carlos Gonzalez would ground out to Rizzo. Chatwood would retire the top three hitters for the Cubs, 1-2-3. Both pictures would make it through three innings, including Chatwood being able to strikeout the side in the bottom of the ninth, striking out the side. Lester would answer that by striking out the first two batters in the top of the fourth but would give up a two out home run to Nolan Arenado. He would make it through 7 1/3 innings before getting pulled after giving up a walk to Tony Wolters. Adam Warren would replace Lester and would close out the eighth. Justin Grimm would come into the ninth striking out Story and Cargo but just like Lester in the fourth, he’d give up a solo home run to Nolan Arenado, except he would strikeout Gerardo Parra to close the ninth. For the Rockies, former Tampa Bay Ray, Jake McGee would come into the game, for a save. Dexter Fowler would ground out but Jason Heyward would knock a double to right. With two outs, McGee would hit Anthony Rizzo, putting two man on and Kris Bryant up to the plate. Of course, everyone at Wrigleyville is thinking walk off Home Run! The first pitch sends a rocket foul to left. With a 1-2 count, pitchers count, McGee would get Bryant to go down swinging and the Rockies would take the series 2 – 1.
Today, was a pitchers duel, from the starters to the bullpens. The Rockies would strikeout fourteen times, where the Cubs only nine times. Between both teams there were only eight hits. This duel in front of 41,678 only lasted two hours and thirty eight minutes. Of course not that great as a Cubs fan but a baseball enthusiasts dream game. Tomorrow the Cubs head to St Louis for a three game series, for the season opener of one of the top three biggest rivalries in the MLB.
Game two of three Jake Arrieta vs Christian Bergman! Both men were able to get through the first inning 1-2-3, only Jake would strike out the side, Christian would strikeout two. Both would see four men in the second and third inning, but would both get out the innings with out any damage. Carlos Gonzalez would lead off the fourth with a single continuing his hot streak to 21 games. Nolan Arenado would line out to Fowler in center field. With two strikes, Gerardo Parra would go down swinging, while David Ross would throw out Cargo attempting to steal second base.
Bergman would confidently go into the bottom of the fourth but give up back to back home runs to Anthony Rizzo & Jorge Soler. He would get past Baez, Russell and Szczur.
In the 5th, both pitchers would battle for K’s, only Bergman would strikeout the side this time including Arrieta, would get two K’s. Brandon Barnes would pinch for Bergman, shutting the door for him after 5. Jake would get through the top 6, 1-2-3. David Hale would come into the bottom of the sixth walking Rizzo and he would steal his first base of the season. Arrieta would get through the the bottom of the seventh giving up a hit and stolen base to Parra. Hale would stay in the game and give up a single to Matt Szczur and walk Ross, setting up leadoff man Dexter Fowler to launch his second homer of the season, putting the Cubs up 5-0. Kris Bryant would single forcing the Rox to make a pitching change. Jason Gurka would close out the inning, striking out Rizzo.
In the top of the eighth, Jake would give a leadoff walk but get through the inning with a double play and a fly out. Gurka would stay in for the eighth getting the first out but then giving up a double to Baez would move over to third on a throwing error by the pitcher. Russell & Szczur would walk loading the bases for David Ross, who would send a fly ball to right field scoring Baez. Arrieta would go down swinging to end the eighth but not come out for the ninth to close out the game. Kind of a head scratcher but as we say here at Sports Time Radio, #ItsOnlyApril.
Travis Wood starts off the ninth with a ground out but would give up a double to Trevor Story and then a big two run home run to Cargo. Pedro Strop would come into the game to finish the ninth for Wood with a strikeout and a ground out! One more game until it’s down to St Louis but before that Lester will take on Chatwood at 1:20 in the Freindly confines.
160-2???
Posted: April 15, 2016 by Sports Time Radio in baseball, Minor League Baseball, sports, Sports Time Radio, UncategorizedTags: Addison Russell, Bettis, cubs lose, rox win
The Colorado Rockies entered Wrigley Field with 5 – 4 record on Jackie Robinson Day. I’ve been fortunate enough to attend the Jackie Robinson game back in 2009 against none other than the Rockies. Chad Bettis would go up against Kyle Hendrix, who landed a W on his last start against the Diamondbacks. He would make it through the first inning but would give up an RBI single to Ben Paulsen scoring Nolan Arenado. He would hold it together through five.
The Cubs would get thier first attempt at scoring in the bottom of the fifth playing small ball but the squeeze bunt by Hendrix didn’t work catching Jorge Soler by at least 5 feet.
In the top of the sixth, Hendrix would give up singles to Carlos Gonzalez, Nolan Arenado & Gerrado Parra, scoring Cargo. Nolan would score on a 6 – 4 -3 double play putting the Rockies up 3 – 0. Rizzo would get the only hit in the bottom of the sixth.
In the top of the seventh, Hendrix would give up a leadoff single to Tony Wolters, prompting Maddon to go to the pen and bring in Trevor Cahill. Brandon Barnes would bunt his way on base but would reach second on a horrible throw by Kris Bryant that went in the Rockies bullpen, scoring Wolters putting them up by 4. The bottom half would get exciting with Chaf Qualls coming into the game giving up a single to Soler, a walk to Montero. He would get Russell to fly out but Soler would score on a Tommy La Stella force out giving the Cubs thier only run of the game.
Clayton Richard would come into the eighth giving up a single to Parra but moves to second on a throwing error by Russell. He would then steal third base. The Cubs would put Mark Reynolds on and would advance on a wild pitch. Tony Wolters would hit a soft ground ball to Rizzo scoring Parra because Rizzo’s throw would appear to hit Tony but really he just lost the ball on the exchange. Former Cub DJ LeMahieu would ground into a force out RBI off new pitcher Neil Ramirez putting the Rox up 6 – 1. He would finish off the eighth and the ninth.
For the Rockies in the bottom of ninth, Justin Miller would come into the game getting both Bryant and Soler to watch strike three. Montero would come up to bat but would go down swinging.
Bettis would get his second win of the season giving up 3 hits, 3 walks and striking out 4. Hendrix would make it through 6, striking out five, giving up 7 hits but only 2 earned runs giving him his first loss of the season in front of 34,437 in a two hour and fifty-nine minute game. Despite the fours produced by the Cubs it was the bats that were silenced that lost them the game. There’s always tomorrow!
Cubs win/record 8-1
Posted: April 14, 2016 by Sports Time Radio in baseball, fantasy, Minor League Baseball, post season, sports, Sports Time Radio, UncategorizedTags: Cubs, Go Cubs Go, Jason Hammel, Reds lose
Jason Hammel gets his second start of the season hoping to improve to 1 – 1. His last start in AZ was a solid outing where the Cubs bats were silenced for the evening post Schwarber’s season ending injury. With the fastest guy in the league Billy Hamilton, leading off with a base on balls. He gets an out with Eugenio Suarez and with Joey Votto batting Hammel throws to first to pick off Hamilton! He would give up a single to Votto but would get out of the inning. In the second he’d give a double to Jordan Pacheco but would get out of the inning. Hammel would get support in the bottom of the second Rizzo would fly out but Kris Bryant would launch his second homer to left center off Raisel Iglesias. He was able to keep the Cubs at bay until the bottom of the fifth when Russell would reach on a line drive to center. Hammel would help himself with a double scoring Russell, he would score on a sac fly by Ben Zobrist. Blake Wood came into the sixth giving up two hits.
Hammel would come out after six, with 4 walks, 4 hits and 3 strikeouts. Travis Wood would cruise through the seventh and would come out in the eighth for Pedro Strop who would get s 1-2-3 inning also.
J.J. Hoover would start the bottom of the eighth walking three, giving up three with four earned runs managing only one out. Montero, Russell and Szczur would rack up an RBI each. Fowler would get two on a grounder to right. Jumbo Diaz would come in to get the last two outs.
Justin Grimm would come into the ninth and make it exciting. He would give up a single to Jay Bruce. Adam Duvall would double. With one out Tucker Barnhart would ground out to short scoring Jay Bruce. With two outs, Scott Schleber would pinch hit for Jumbo but would watch strike three as the Cubs win thier fifth straight game putting them up in the standings at a league leading 8-1!
Combined the team is showing patience at the plate only striking out 4 times. The bullpen would hold the lead together giving Jason Hamel his first victory of the season and dropping his ERA to .75. After 3 hours and 7 minutes, 34,898 fans were singing “Go Cubs Go!”
Scoring not Lackey-ing in Wrigleyville
Posted: April 13, 2016 by Sports Time Radio in baseball, fantasy, Minor League Baseball, sports, Sports Time Radio, UncategorizedTags: Chicago Cubs, John Lackey, MLB, Reds lose
What can I say, other than I haven’t seen the Cubs this good in April since ever in my life???
John Lackey gets off to a rough start with a leadoff double to Billy Hamilton, he would move over to third and then score on a sac fly by Jay Bruce to put the Reds up 1-0. He would settle down and hold the Reds through six but would be broken up by a leadoff triple to center that Fowler completely miss judged to be a homer run by Scott Schebler who would score on a ground out by Ivan De Jesus.
Dexter Fowler would lead off the Cubs hitting with his 3rd double of the season, Zobrist would walk. While Rizzo stood at the plate, both men would advance with stolen bases. Rizzo would reach on a base on balls as well as Bryant, getting the Cubs first run of the night. Montero would single to left, bringing in Zobrist. Rizzo would score on a sac fly by Soler to left. Addison Russell would bring in Bryant on a soft hit to right. Lackey would help himself with a RBI single. Alfredo Simon would be pulled after a 49 pitch first inning with 2 outs. Dan Straily would come in and load the bases by hiting Fowler but would get out of the first with Heyward’s second strikeout of the night. Straily would have a 1-2-3 second but would start the third by walking Montero. Soler would single and the bases would get loaded with a walk to Russell. Lackey & Fowler would strikeout but Heyward would get his first hit with two RBI’s. 7-1 at the end of three. Chris Brysnt would get his first home run of the season in the eighth by the third pitcher of the night, Keyvius Sampson, who would walk Montero and allow him to score on a wild pitch. At the end of four, the Cubs up 9-1.
After 6 2/3 innings he would be replaced Trevor Cahill, who would end the inning. Clayton Richard would step into the eighth give up one hit but with no runs, maintains a 0 ERA. Neil Ramirez would come into the ninth to close out the Reds with two outs, he walks De Jesus, making this interesting but with a fly out to Fowler by catcher Tucker Barnhart, would be all she wrote for Cincinatti and the Cubs win 9-2.
The series will wrap up tommorow evening and then the Rockies will be in town for the weekend before the Cubs head to St Louis to start a seven games road series ending in Cincinatti.
#AnyoneAnytime
#ItsOnlyApril
Opening Day @ the Freindly Confines!!!
Posted: April 11, 2016 by Sports Time Radio in baseball, Minor League Baseball, post season, sports, Sports Time Radio, UncategorizedTags: Addison Russel Home Run, Go Cubs Go, Reds lose, Wrigley Field
I really try to keep my emotions out of these recaps but damn this one is difficult to contain because well spoiler alert, CUBS WIN, CUBS WIN!!! Now they’ve one on opening day in Anahiem and won 3 out of 4 in Arizona but there’s nothing like a win for the Cubs at Wrigley. Now I wasn’t there but the excitement deep within my gut was still there watching them get their first win at home today!
So let’s go! John Lester opens up the season at home with a single to leadoff man Zack Cozart who would advance to third on a Joey Votto single to left field. He would then score the first run on a ground out by Brandon Phillips. He would make it through the second but would give up a home run to Billy Hamilton putting the Reds up 2-0. Brandon Phillips would lead off in the fourth with a single and would reach 2 on Devin Mesoraco’s ground out that was scored 1-6-3, which means Lester touched it, Addison Russell picked it up and threw it to Anthony Rizzo. Phillips would then steal third and score on Brandon Finnegans single to center. But that would be all she wrote for the Reds as Lester would allow one base runner in the fifth and sixth. Trevor Cahill would start the seventh off with a double to Adam Duvall but would stop him from advancing and would close out the inning.
Reds starter Brandon Finnegan would coast through six only allowing base runners on walks with out any real damage until the seventh, which he would get through two but would give up a line drive single to center by David Ross. After a visit to the mound, he would walk Matt Szczur and get pulled for Caleb Cotham, only to walk Fowler and get replaced himself by Chicago area native Tony Cingrani. Jason Heyward would send a line drive to right scoring Ross & Szczur. He would get out of the inning to come back in the eighth. The top of the eighth would see former Yankee Adam Warren come into the game giving up a single to Joey Votto but finishing the inning out strong.
Cingrani would get Rizzo to ground out but would walk Zobrist then hit Soler. Jumbo Diaz would come into the game and all but almost immediately give up a two-run home run to left center, putting the Cubs up 5-3. Ross would ground out and the guy that would take Starlin Castro’s crowd exciting, player clapping, mascot dancing walk up music, Munenori Kawasaki would line out to right.
But the excitement doesn’t stop there!!! Hector Rondon would come into the ninth getting Jay Bruce, Adam Duvall & Scott Schebler to not only strikeout but would recieve three backwards K’s to get his second save of the season, giving Adam Warren his first win in front of 40,882 people all singing “Go Cubs Go, Go Cubs Go, Hey Chicago, Whattaya Say, The Cubs Are Gonna Win Today!”
How the Cubs won the West!
Posted: April 10, 2016 by Sports Time Radio in baseball, fantasy, sports, Sports Time Radio, UncategorizedToday the Cubs wrapped up a week long trip that started with a sweep in Anahiem, a huge loss but a big win in Phoenix.
Ace, Jake Arrieta faced off against Shelby Miller and the different uni everyday, Diamondbacks who helped himself to one of the longest home runs this season in Chase Feild projected by Stat Cast as reaching 440 feet to take the lead at 2-0. He would get some help in the fourth from Miguel Montero by knocking in Tommy La Stella for his 5th rbi on the year.
Chris Owings & Paul Goldschmidt would give Arrieta a little trouble but it would be the bottom of the fourth when Goldschmidt would lead off with his second homer of the season. After a David Peralta double, Jake Lamb would send him in to cut the lead to one. Arizona would tie it up in the bottom of the fifth. 23 year old Center fielder Socrates Brito would launch his first career homer against Jake and would rack up one more hit. After that, Jake would stop them from creating anymore damage through seven. He closes his second start with a respectable 1.93 ERA, giving up 8 hits, 3 earned runs, 6 strikeouts but walking nobody. Justin Grimm would come into the eighth and Neil Ramirez would see the ninth, with niether pitcher giving up a hit or run.
The Cubs, on the other hand, would not be silenced. In the top of the sixth, Jorge Soler would hit his first home run of the year, La Stella would single, given Nathan Hale a reason to bring in Randall Delgado to close out the sixth. But he wouldn’t have as much luck in the top of the seventh. Jason Heyward would walk and would move over to third on a Kris Bryant single. Soler would send a sac fly to fight scoring Heyward, while Bryant would score on a line drive to center by Tonmy La Stella causing another pitching change.
After closing out the seventh, Jake Barrett would give up a single to Addison Russell, then he’d hit Fowler but strikeout Zobrist. Heyward would single to left collecting his third RBI, scoring Addison give the Cubs a 7-3 lead which turned into another W and Arrieta his second win of the season.
In the top of the ninth, Arizona would bring out 32 year old rookie Matt Buschmann who’s made a career in the minors. He would get Matt Szczur to ground out but would give up a single toCubs newcomer, Munenori Kawaski, who was just activated due to the Schwarber injury. Kawasaki would steal second prompting Arizona to walk Montero intentionally but getting Russell to ground into a 4 – 3 double play.
Neil Ramirez would come into the ninth striking out the first two batters faced and getting the last to pop out to Heyward to close out the game.
Despite the season ending injury to Kyle Schwarber, the Cubs had a great week out west. Let’s hope with the excitement of seeing the new clubhouse, the Cubs can continue to play as they did out west, with the huge weather change here in Chicago!
Cubs settle on 4
Posted: April 10, 2016 by Sports Time Radio in baseball, fantasy, sports, Sports Time RadioHere we are just game five but it seems nothing can stop the mixture of youth and experience. 26 year old Kyle Hendrix would take to the mound in front of 32,000 at Chase field which had many Cubs fans in attendance. Kyle was very successful through the of three. In the forth Chris Owings would lead off with a single and then stealing second base putting himself in scoring position. He was able to move over to third on a routine infield ground ball and then score on a wild pitch. He would fend them off until the bottom of the seventh. When David Peralta would lead off with a single to second base. He would steal second and then score on Brandon Drury’s double to left. This is where new Cub Adam Warren would enter the game taking it to the ninth where Hector Rondon would take over and close out the game.
My biggest question of the season, was how is the pitching going to perform. So far they are keeping up with the offense. Hendrix would go 6 and 2/3 giving up only two runs on four hits. He walked one but struck out five. Adam Warren would go an inning and a third receiving his first hold and Rondon would close out the game for his first save of the season.
The Cubs would start off very aggressive against one of the best pitchers in the MLB, Zack Greinke. You have to wonder if he is still playing catch up after game 1 with the flu. In the first, Heyward, Zobrist and Rizzo would all reach on singles, with Rizzo’s scoring Heyward. Chris Bryant would double to center and earn an RBI. Miguel Montero would send a sacrifice fly to left, scoring Rizzo putting the Cubs up 3-0 on the first. In the fourth, Zack would strikeout Hendrix but then walked Fowler. After another K, Zobrist would come to the plate and send a liner to center, doubling and scoring Fowler. The Cubs would continue to hit the ball but Greinke and the bullpen would stop them from scoring any more runs.
The Cubs seemed to have bats seemed to have have come back down to earth. Which isn’t a bad thing as long as they are still winning!
How was your week
Posted: April 9, 2016 by Sports Time Radio in Auto Racing, baseball, golf, sports, UncategorizedTags: Carl Edwarrds, Jordan Spieth, Kyle Scwarber, Rory McIlroy, Ross Stripling
MLB
After last night I’m sure a lot of people are asking, who is Ross Stripling? As you know by now Stripling is a pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers who had a no-hitter against the San Francisco Giants last night for 7 1/3rd innings, but was removed from the game because he was on a pitch count. Stripling is 26 years old and played college baseball at Texas A&M. He was originally drafted in the 9th round of 2011 amateur draft by the Colorado Rockies. Stripling didn’t sign with the Rockies and after spending another season in college the Dodgers selected him in the 5th round of the 2012 amateur draft. Stripling is a right handed pitcher who has spent the last 3 seasons working his way through the Dodgers minor league system. Stripling has made 48 minor league starts and has appeared in 55 minor league games before this season. His minor league record was 12-10 with an ERA of 2.83 over 235 1/3rd innings. He had 1 complete game in the minors and also recorded 1 save. The Dodgers have had their share of injuries to starting pitchers and they where looking for a 5th starter to open the season with. Stripling was able to land that 5th starter spot with his spring training performances. Overall this spring Stripling made just 1 start, but appeared in 4 games covering 11 innings overall this spring. Stripling was 1-1 with a 4.09 ERA but did average a strikeout an inning during spring training. The Dodgers saw enough in Stripling to give him the 5th starters job and for 7 1/3rd innings last night it paid off. While it was a great outing for Stripling sadly he ended up with a no decision and the Dodgers ended up with a loss in extra innings last night. Stripling’s official line was 7 1/3 rd innings 0 hits, 1 run allowed, 4 walks and 4 strikeouts. The Dodgers gave Stripling a 2-run lead in the 5th inning as A,J, Ellis and Corey Seager each singled in the inning to drive in runs. After Stripling walked Angel Pagan Dodgers manager Dave Roberts went to the bullpen for Chris Hatcher. The first Giants batter Hatcher faced was catcher Trevor Brown who greeted him with a 2-run home run to tie the game at 2-2. The game stayed tied at 2 into the bottom of the 10th inning. Joe Blanton came out of the Dodgers bullpen to pitch the 10th inning. Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford was the first batter Blanton faced and Crawford hit the 2nd pitch he saw over the left field fence for a walk off home run. Sadly Stripling’s great outing went for nothing as the Giants ended up taking Game 1 of the series 3-2 in 10 innings. The teams meet again on Saturday and it will be it will be Clayton Kershaw against Madison Bumgarner in their first match up of 2016. The ace lefties are each 1-0 in 2016 and matched up four times in 2015. This will be the eighth overall meeting between them.
The Chicago Cubs lost their first game of the 2016 season last night 3-2 to the Arizona Diamondbacks, but really the first loss this season for the Cubs happen before the game started when it was announced that outfielder Kyle Schwarber will miss the entire 2016 season with a knee injury. Schwarber collided with centerfielder Dexter Fowler in Thursday night 14-6 victory as they where going for a fly ball in the left centerfield gap. Schwarber had to be carted off the field and an MRI showed that Schwarber suffered full tears to the ACL and LCL in his left knee. Schwarber also suffered a severely sprained ankle in the collision with Fowler. Schwarber is expected to have surgery in one to three weeks and will remain at the Cubs’ spring training facility in Mesa, Arizona, until he is ready to travel back to Chicago. The Cubs hope that Schwarber can return for spring training next year, but with damage to two ligaments, they aren’t sure of the timetable. Munenori Kawasaki will be recalled from Triple-A Iowa to take Schwarber’s roster spot.Jorge Soler played left field in Friday nights game at Arizona. The Cubs have some depth and you may see Tommy La Stella get some playing time in Schwarber’s place, with third baseman Kris Bryant being another option in left field. The Cubs also have Matt Szczur to insert into the outfield rotation. Schwarber was a catcher by trade and is still in the learning process in leftfield. While the injury will take playing time away from Schwarber he’ll have the opportunity to watch and learn the position this season. If he’s able to return for the start of the 2017 season he may end up being a better defensive outfielder.
GOLF
We don’t talk a lot of golf on the Sports Time Radio podcasts, but this is Master’s weekend and I’d be remiss if I didn’t at least look at who’s leading the tournament going into today’s round. Defending champion Jordan Spieth is leading the tournament at -4 under par. Spieth has tied Arnold Palmer’s record by being in the lead at the Master’s for 6 consecutive rounds. Rory McIlroy is one shot behind at -3 under. Danny Lee and Scott Piercy are tied at -2 under and then there are three golfers; Brandt Snedeker, Soren Kjeldsen and Hideki Matsuyama tied at -1 under. Spieth is trying to be the first golfer to repeat as Master’s champion since Tiger Woods won back to back in 2001 and 2002.
NASCAR
The NASCAR car Sprint cup series takes the track tonight (Saturday) at Texas Motor Speedway for the Duck Commander 500. Carl Edwards took the pole with a s qualifying speed of 194.609. Joey Logano is starting 2nd with Martin Truex Jr. 3rd. Chase Elliot (4th) and Rickey Stenhouse Jr. (5th) round out the Top 5. None of these five drivers have a win; so they’ll be looking to use there good starting spot to get that win and lock themselves into the Chase. Chris Olmstead from BeyondtheFlag.com will join the Sports Time Radio podcast on Sunday morning as usual, but instead of his normal preview he’ll do a review of tonight’s race. As I’m writing this I don’t have Chris’ picks for his three drivers to look for in victory lane. If I can get them before the race starts maybe I’ll be able to tweet them out and let you know who he’s going with.
I’m on Twitter @Burketime.
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