Limited Degree(s) of Success for Cubs Home Opener

April 5, 2014 @ admin → No Comments

The Chicago Cubs’ home opener Friday was a success. Well, with the possible exception of the outcome (a 7-2 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies), the weather (38 degrees at game time with wind chill in the 20s) and perhaps a few other minor details.

Nothing like baseball in Chicago in early April. And this is nothing like that. Loop Rock Girl Shannon always is a good sport.

* The only warm thing that is present at every Cubs home opener is the reception the players receive. Oh, and perhaps a few cups of coffee and hot chocolate.

* Let the record show the Cubs are 0-1 at home with Clark as their new mascot.

* Ivy, which had been pulled downed during offseason maintenance (fixing some bricks in the outfield wall is the official reason given), was missing on parts of the wall. Not to be confused with the Cubs’ offense, which has been missing for most of the first four games of the season — and certainly was missing Friday (unless you consider three hits impressive).

* Let the record show Emilio Bonifacio is hitless as a Cub at Wrigley Field. Going 0-for-3 left him with a .579 average. He has 11 hits; the rest of the team has 20.

* Hall of Fame second baseman Ryne Sandberg played in 15 Wrigley Field home openers for the Cubs. Friday’s was his first as manager of the Phillies. The ballpark holds a soft spot with him — even if his April performances at the friendly confines don’t. Talking to the media before the game, Sandberg said: “I enjoyed the day games and saw the ball well here. Any time I was struggling at the plate, Wrigley Field usually fixed it for me just getting back to home, except for in April. In April, I was a .230 lifetime hitter that was because of here and the high grass and the wind blowing in, but I always looked forward to May 1st and the warmer weather and little different winds blowing and then things usually came around, but I had a hard time playing in April here.”

* Cubs fans bemoaning Sandberg isn’t the Cubs skipper should take a deep breath. The Cubs wouldn’t be any better with him than they were with Dale Sveum or will be with Rick Renteria.

* For those concerned about the White Sox bullpen, the relievers’ effort against the Royals in Kansas City’s home opener Friday might have helped ease their minds with 3 1/3 scoreless innings. Of course, rookie Erik Johnson allowed seven runs before then in a 7-5 loss. So maybe the starting rotation can be a concern instead.

* Ex-White Sox of the day is Boston right-hander Jake Peavy, who started the Red Sox home opener against Milwaukee and went six innings in which he allowed two runs on six hits, walked two and struck out four. He left after 94 pitches at Fenway Park and had a no-decision in Boston’s 6-2 loss to the Brewers.

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