Over the next few Fridays we’re running a resim of the 2008 season using Out of the Park Baseball 9. If you’ve never played OOTP, it’s text sim baseball, but text sim really doesn’t do it justice. For more info, including screen shots of the game, visit the OOTP Homepage.

News Around the League

  • Old Farts Sign New Contracts – Four big names littered the free agent pool heading into the 2009 season. After one week of play, three of the four had signed on to play baseball. Barry Bonds, desperate to play for someone in his quest for 800 homeruns, signed a one year deal with the Washington Nationals for $8.3 million. Roger Clemens was in George’s box as he returns to the Yankees for the 2009 season at roughly $8.5 million. He immediately slots at the top of the Yankee’s starting five. Kenny Lofton has agreed to a one year contract to play CF for the lowly Kansas City Royals.
  • Number 2500 for Rodriguez (4/2/08) - It took quite a few years to do it, but Ivan Rodriguez finally did it. The Tigers catcher swatted hit #2500 this afternoon at Comerica Park, but still came up short in the victory column. The Kansas City Royals came away with a 5-2 win over Detroit. Rodriguez was 2-for-4 in the loss. Lifetime, Rodriguez has hit .303 with 2500 hits, 288 home runs, 1184 RBIs and scored 1210 runs.

MLB Leaders

Game Recaps

  • Game 1 – Loss vs. Milwaukee (2-5) - Carlos Zambrano made his opening day debut and served up the long ball, to Ben Sheets no less. Sheets took Z deep in the 2nd inning on a solo shot and the Brewers were off and running. At the end of the day, Zambrano had gone a non-impressive six innings, giving up five earned runs in the process as the Cubs lost 5-2. On a positive note, the bullpen closed the door in the back three innings thanks to two scoreless by Bob Howry and a scoreless 9th by Michael Wuertz. At the plate, Ryan Theriot was the star of the game with a 4-5 day that featured a run, an RBI and four doubles.
  • Game 2 – Win vs. Milwaukee (6-2) - Rich Hill made the start and pitched a gem, going seven strong innings, giving up one run and striking out seven to get the win. Carlos Marmol and Neal Cotts pitched uneventful 8th and 9th innings as the Cubs cruise to an easy 6-2 win. New Cub Kosuke Fukudome is held hitless in the second straight game to begin his major league career.
  • Game 3 – Win vs. Milwaukee (5-2) – Ryan Dempster takes the mound and the Cubs get another great outing from the rotation as he goes seven and allows only two runs. The bullpen continued to be dominant as Marmol and Kerry Wood both pitch scoreless innings, earning a hold and save respectively. Ryan Theriot continued his hot start by going 3-4 and is hitting .615 on the young season.
  • Game 4 – Win vs. Houston (11-3) - With Mark DeRosa struggling at the plate, Mike Fontenot works his way into the lineup and does not disappoint thanks to a two run home run and a 2-5 day that featured three RBI. Theriot was moved into the leadoff spot to replace the struggling Felix Pie with Fontenot hitting # 2 to bring the R/L/R package to the top of the order. On the mound, Ted Lilly was serviceable, throwing a quality start in 6 innings with Jon Lieber coming on for a three inning save to close it out.
  • Game 5 – Win vs. Houston (9-3) - After rumors that Jason Marquis would be shipped out of town to Florida before making his start for hard throwing MR Matt Lindstrom fell through, Marquis come out and tossed seven strong innings to continue the trend set from the rotation. No word on if he is still on the trade block. Michael Wuertz closed out the win with two scoreless to bring the bullpen to a streak of five straight scoreless games to begin the season. Mike Fontenot picked up a second straight start for Mark DeRosa and picked up another hit. Matt Murton also got the start in RF, spelling the struggling Fukudome who has begun the year hitting just .083. Murton was, by far, the player of the night as he hit a pair of home runs and a double while driving in five runs and walking once. If his bat can be that hot, Fukudome may get a few extra days off to begin this season.

MLB Standings

If you enjoyed this first edition of Fake Team Friday, please let me know. Also, you’re encouraged to ask question about the season, not just Cubs related. I’d love to check on players you’re curious about.