‘Nuff said.

The Iowa Cubs has announced their opening day roster. Their first game will be against Round Rock on the road. Mitch Atkins will be the opening day starter for the Iowa Cubs. 

Pitchers

38 Jose Ascanio

39 Mitch Atkins

46 Justin Berg

43 Esmailin Cairdad

45 Jesse Estrada

22 Kevin Hart

33 J.R. Mathes*

17 Greg Reinhard

29 Jeff Samaradzija

37 Jeff Stevens

21 Jason Waddell*

36 Randy Wells

Catchers

15 Mark Johnson*

16 Chris Robinson

Infielders

## Erick Almonte

13 Anders Blanco&

8 Matt Matulia^

1 Luis Rivas

11 Bobby Scales^

3 Nate Spears*

Outfielders

9 Doug Deeds*

41 Jason Dubois

50 Jake Fox

7 Sam Fuld*

25 Brad Snyder*

6 So Taguchi

* – left-handed batter/pitcher

^ – switch-hitter

The game went into extra innings, helped by Alfonso Soriano’s 8th inning home run to tie the game at 2 runs apiece.

For the first time since 1986, there is no
players on the disabled list at all. So that’s something to
keep in mind. Let’s hope that keeps up for the entire
season.

Here’s the lineup for tonight’s game:

I left the Cubs game (on TV) to go to the staff meeting. I was constantly checking my phone to keep track of the score, and I have to say one thing:

The Cubs did not disappoint me today.

Big Z went 6 innings today with 6 strikeouts while giving up only one run, giving him his first Opening Day win by defeating the Houston Astros 4 to 2.

Alfonso Soriano led off the game with his 50th career leadoff home run, which ranks third all time. In the top of second, Aramis Ramirez blasted his 250th career home run to push the score up to 2-0. In the top of the fourth inning, Mike Fontenot scored on a sacifire fly from Ryan Theriot, and they added another run in the top of ninth off Micah Hoffpauir’s RBI single.

A total of four pitchers came in to relieve the game for the Cubs: Aaron Heilman, Neal Cotts, Carlos Marmol, and Kevin Gregg. Gregg closed notched his first save with the Cubs.

Personally, I don’t have much to say about the Cubs today. It was just their first game, and I missed the last 2/3 of the game. However, I know if the team just stay healthy, I think we should just be fine and win the NL Central. Soriano looks good so far to me. A-Ram will be our big man in the middle of the lineup. If Z stays consistent, he’ll be a beast for us this yaer.

Tomorrow, the Cubs will face lefty Wandy Rodriguez. I would expect both Reed Johnson and Aaron Miles in the lineup in centerfield and second base respecitvely tomorrow. Ryan Dempster, who finished 6th in Cy Young voting last season, will take the hill for the Cubbies.

Today has to be one of the best and worst day of my life.

My afternoon class got canceled, so I had all afternoon to watch as many games as I can. I was watching the O’s-Yankees mostly, and the O’s are looking pretty solid this year. I think Jeremy Guthrie and Adam Jones each will have a breakout year.

Now, the reason why it’s one of the worst: I have to miss the middle innings of the Cubs-Astros game because of the stupid staff meeting that I have to go. I wish I could call in sick, but my boss saw me walking back from my morning class all healthy, so that’s out of the picture. Oh well.

Here’s the starting lineup for the Cubs: LF Alfonso Soriano, CF Kosuke Fukudome, 1B Derrek Lee, RF Milton Bradley, 3B Aramis Ramirez, 2B Mike FonteYes, C Geovany Soto, SS Ryan TheRiot, P Carlos Zambrano.

As far I know, the Cubs are off to a strong start. Alfonso Soriano hit his 50th career leadoff homerun off Roy Oswalt to put the Cubs on top 1-0. Carlos Zambrano had a shaky start, walking the Kazuo Matsui on four pitches and giving up a hit to Lance Berkman, but he got out of the inning. Then in the top of the second, Aramis Ramirez led off the inning with a bomb to left field to push the Cubs to 2-0.

I’ll post something later tonight after the game, recapping my thoughts about the game. Check in later!

–Dylan