Chicago Cubs may announce the Opening Day starter next week
The Chicago Cubs’ manager Dale Sveum indicated on Saturday, March 17, that the team might announce the Opening Day starter by the next week. The game scheduled for April 5 against the Washington Nationals is eagerly awaited by all and sundry, especially the Cubs’ diehard fans.
The indication that the club will make the announcement this early comes as a surprise for a big number of people. However, the team manager Dale Sveum said they want to do it this time round.
"I don't have an explanation of why, but it's the way we want to do it," the Cubs' manager said Saturday.
Of the starters whose names have popped up for the Opening Day game are Ryan Dampster and Matt Garza. Both have had good games lately in the Cactus League. However, the comparison has to come after seeing the current stats.
Garza has given up eight runs in the games he has played, pitching a total of 7 1/3 innings with three walks and nine hits. Compared to him, Dampster gave up four runs in his 8 2/3 innings he has pitched in the Cactus League so far.
Dampster might have had the advantage here with more innings and less of the runs that he has given up. Nonetheless, it will entirely depend on the judgment of the team manager coupled with the perspective of the pitching coach on it.
Sveum also spoke of the players, their fitness and readiness for the games ahead.
"Yeah, it's that kind of time," Sveum said. "You know the players are ready to play, the legs are ready. The innings are something we have to get going, but the players are ready to go. I think some guys need more at-bats to get more comfortable. It's that time of spring where position players especially are like, 'OK, I've had enough. It's time to start playing.'"
The Cubs are entering this year’s regular season with a changed mindset. They have got the frontline office which has its set of able and competent figures along with a band of strong players in the 40-man roster.
Tags: