Opening. Day. Female. Odges.

[Quality Start Machine]

Also, good patience shown by the Cubs, by and large - yeah, there was only actually one walk but Burnett threw 98 pitches in less than six innings.  I'm certainly not getting excited about this season, but I was nonetheless encouraged.

THISTHISTHISTHISTHIS - Epstein preaches controlling the strike zone, which is done either from the mound or from the plate. Hitters need to be disciplined, and pitchers need to stay in/around the strike zone.

This sounds like the baseball version of extablishing the run to set up play action, but to say this concept has been missing from the Cubs' organizational philosophy would be implying there was any sort of organizational philosphy in place.

What's going to be really fun around here will be when guys come up from the minors over the next few years already knowing how to do this, rather than trying to teach it at the major league level.

Sploosh.

[Internet Apex]

So, here we go again.  It's time to resurrect this thread - as I do every year - in the hope that, somehow, this year will be different.  Indeed, we already know that this year will be different, because this year the Cubs aren't even pretending to be trying to win.  Nonetheless, it's been six long months since the 2011 post-season was cancelled, and I'd be lying if I said I don't have a little tingle in my ding-a-ling this morning.

Opening Day, bitches.  Go the motherfucking Cubs.

So, it turns out I don't need to come up with something new to write this year - last year's post can be handily recycled.

Go Cubs, anyway.

The quests for 162-0 and Samardzija's first Cy Young are alive and well.  Luis Valbuena and Brent Lillibridge Littlebitch also gave me more reasons to hate them, so all in all a good day.

Boot'd

[Saul Goodman]

So, here we go again.  It's time to resurrect this thread - as I do every year - in the hope that, somehow, this year will be different.  Indeed, we already know that this year will be different, because this year the Cubs aren't even pretending to be trying to win.  Nonetheless, it's been six long months since the 2011 post-season was cancelled, and I'd be lying if I said I don't have a little tingle in my ding-a-ling this morning.

Opening Day, bitches.  Go the motherfucking Cubs.

So, it turns out I don't need to come up with something new to write this year - last year's post can be handily recycled.

Go Cubs, anyway.

The quests for 162-0 and Samardzija's first Cy Young are alive and well.  Luis Valbuena and Brent Lillibridge Littlebitch also gave me more reasons to hate them, so all in all a good day.

Boot'd

Littlebitch it is.

[Internet Apex]

Outstanding.

[Tonker]

Well, here we are again.  This year, though, there's no Nillibridge (amazingly, I had completely forgotten about him) and his run at the World futility record, and maybe, just maybe we get to have a look at Messrs. Baez, Almora, Bryant and Soler in the big leagues.  Bearing in mind how little we had to look forward to this time last year, this year can really only be an improvement.

Ah, fuck it.  I don't have to justify this to anybody.  It's fucking opening day, and I love opening day.  Fuck you.

Go Cubs.

[InternetApex]

Well, here we are again.  This year, though, there's no Nillibridge (amazingly, I had completely forgotten about him) and his run at the World futility record, and maybe, just maybe we get to have a look at Messrs. Baez, Almora, Bryant and Soler in the big leagues.  Bearing in mind how little we had to look forward to this time last year, this year can really only be an improvement.

Ah, fuck it.  I don't have to justify this to anybody.  It's fucking opening day, and I love opening day.  Fuck you.

Go Cubs.

YESSSS!!! YES!!! FUCK YOU TOO!!!!!

[Quality Start Machine]

Well, here we are again.  This year, though, there's no Nillibridge (amazingly, I had completely forgotten about him) and his run at the World futility record, and maybe, just maybe we get to have a look at Messrs. Baez, Almora, Bryant and Soler in the big leagues.  Bearing in mind how little we had to look forward to this time last year, this year can really only be an improvement.

Ah, fuck it.  I don't have to justify this to anybody.  It's fucking opening day, and I love opening day.  Fuck you.

Go Cubs.

Opening Day is all about optimism, and what is there to be pessimistic about? Even if the Cubs struggle to get 70 wins this year, the farm system is fat with prospects. Baez will show up this summer, and even if he's not the second coming of Christ, it doesn't matter nearly as much as prospects have mattered in the past, because there is a line of guys behind him.

Worst case, enjoy the BBQ pork chop sandwich in Kane County.

[Saul Goodman]

Positively meh new uniforms, and the leadoff hitter is wearing a weird spring training number.  I waited months for this?!

just kidding, baseball is awesome

[Saul Goodman]

DPD: Should I wait to see if Bonifacio changes his number or just go ahead and order my #64 shirsey now?

[World's #1 Astros Fan]

77 Wins.

There.  I said it.

[CBStew]

77 Wins.

There.  I said it.

BY JUNE 15!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Slaky]

77 Wins.

There.  I said it.

Can't wait to see the pen light that number on fire.

[J. Walter Weatherman]

Positively meh new alternate road uniforms...

Still "meh".

[Eli]

77 Wins. runs.

There.  I said it.

More likely'd.

[Slaky]

bullpen'd

offense'd

bad team'd