Opening Day 2007: Cubs at Reds 4/2/2007

[redsrbetter]

AT


The snow has finally stopped falling in Wyoming, it is warm in most parts of the United States and the smell of barbecue and fresh cut grass is upon us. That could only mean one thing, baseball is here!

Now many spring training enthusiasts would say that they have been living it up since March 1st. But is it really the same? Now every team is starting with a clean slate and is ready to battle it out toward another long baseball season.

The Reds are primed to play their part in the baseball story on April 2nd at 2:10 PM EST. They have a big war in front of them as the new look Cubs prepare to play spoilers on Opening Day for the second consecutive season.

Harang will be on the mound for the Reds and opposing him will be the Cubs ace Carlos Zambrano. Here are the lineups:

		Chicago Cubs				Cincinnati Reds
#	Pos.	Name	.....	#	Pos.	Name
1.	CF	Alfonso Soriano	.....	1.	CF	Ryan Freel
2.	LF	Matt Murton	.....	2.	LF	Adam Dunn
3.	1B	Derrek Lee	.....	3.	2B	Brandon Phillips
4.	3B	Aramis Ramirez	.....	4.	RF	Ken Griffey Jr.
5.	C	Michael Barrett	.....	5.	3B	Edwin Encarnacion
6.	RF	Jacque Jones	.....	6.	1B	Scott Hatteberg
7.	2B	Mark DeRosa	.....	7.	SS	Alex Gonzalez
8.	SS	Cesar Izturis	.....	8.	C	David Ross
9.	P	Carlos Zambrano	.....	9.	P	Aaron Harang

[redsrbetter]

Any major thoughts on Narron's lineup decision? I think swapping EdE and Junior would be a good idea, but other than that, it looks pretty solid to me. Dunn in the secpnd spot is real nice and Phillips is given the opportunity to shine in the 3 hole.

I really want to see a big game from Harang this time around. He said on Jim Rome the other day that he wanted to go 7 to 8 innings. I look for him to keep us in the ballgame against this potent Cubs lineup.

I am excited to get this game underway. Who will be here with me?

[Prior = God]

Zambrano 7 innings pitched, 12Ks in the 8-2 win.

Derrick Lee and Alfonso Soriano go yard..... Murton with 3 rbis.

[redsrbetter]

Not a bad prediction there Prior and welcome to the forums!

Of course, I truly hope you are wrong. I say Harang goes 7.2 innings and gives up 3 ER. Then our bullpen gives up one more. But the Reds strike big in the first inning off Zambrano for 4 runs and it gets in Zambrano's head. He gets pissed off and just lets loose throwing extremely wild and Dunn and Hatteberg have a field day in the BB department.

[ghettochild]

Zambrano 7 innings pitched, 12Ks in the 8-2 win.

Derrick Lee and Alfonso Soriano go yard..... Murton with 3 rbis.

don't get too cocky.


i mean prior is topping out at 80.

rofl.

harang goes six, gives up 6 hits, 4 k's, 2bbs, 3 runs.
reds win 5-4 on adam dunns walk-off grand slam.

[browntown653]

Wait...why is Brandon Phillips hitting 3rd?

[bipster]

Narron is looking to break up the lefties in his lineup. Thus Dunn second, Griffey fourth, and Hatteberg sixth

[browntown653]

True, thanks for the explanation.

[Slyder]

Flip Ed E and Phillips and you have pretty much my lineup. We better hope Griffey is hitting pre 2006 form. I've said it before and I'll say it again Zambrano's a time bomb, if you get in his head you've won the game. If you let Zambrano get settled in youre through. Maybe someone will come up with a bomb early to get him ticking.

ROFL at Prior even old man Tim Wakefield can beat that. Prior better learn the knuckleball and fast if he expects an 80 mph heater to be effective.

Prediction for the season. The Cubs will have more unearned runs allowed than we did LAST year if thats their defense every game.

[ghettochild]

so who all plans to be here today?

[ghettochild]

lets get this ball rollin

[CincyRedsFan30]

I'm ready to go!

[ghettochild]

i finally found a stream of marty and thom and i've got the game on tv.

i'm ****ing pumped.

[CincyRedsFan30]

"Hi, hello and welcome" to Great American Ball Park.

Grande=

[ghettochild]

hello thom