Baseball In The Daytime: 4-3-08

Now this is more like it--a chilly April morning and eight tasty games on the menu. Even though we're seeing the underbelly of some bad teams' rotations, these are the good times, my friends. So prepare a beverage, be it coffee, tea, milk or a barley pop (it's noon somewhere) and enjoy a little Baseball In The Daytime.

Today brings us an additional rarity, not one but two games that commence prior to 11 a.m. Mountain time. This always throws off my schedule. On a typical Thursday during baseball season, I put in a couple hours of honest work before spacing out with a ballgame on the radio, taking a long lunch, then cutting out early. Today, I may do nothing at all.

So here are your options today, including the major league debut of a grown man named Johnny, a tear-jerking start by a dude with cancer, a scary road start for Ervin Santana, and your first place Royals gunning for a sweep (!) of the mighty Tigers...

Chicago White Sox @ Cleveland, 10:05 These two AL central rivals wrap up their season-opening series with a morning tilt at Progressive Field. Because there's nothing more progressive than Chief Wahoo.

Arizona @ Cincinnati, 10:35 The day's most interesting game takes place on the banks of the Ohio River. Doug Davis gets the call for the visitors, in one of a pair of starts he will make before undergoing treatment for thyroid cancer. That's right, he has cancer. Luckily, the thyroid iteration is very treatable and Davis will most likely be able to make a full recovery. Davis' foil today is Johnny Cueto, the Domincan righty who absolutely electrified the Grapefruit league and is making his big-league debut today. Fortunately for Johnny, his pitching coach is Dick Pole.

KC @ Detroit, 11:05 The Royals, having thus far outpitched the team with the second-highest payroll in baseball (that's right, even higher than the Red Sox), go for the sweep today at Comerica Park in beautiful downtown Detroit. A couple of promising young arms trying to bounce back after uneven seasons are your starters: Zach Greinke and Jeremy Bonderman.

Washington @ Philadelphia, 11:05 Another shockingly undefeated team, the Washington Nationals, tries to sweep an overfunded opponent in this one. Jason Bergmann, he of 8 career wins, locks horns with Jamey Moyer, who was initially called up to the majors to fill in for players fighting in the Korean War.

Los Anaheim @ Minnesota, 11:10 The Metrodome, scheduled to be replaced by an open-air park in 2010, is the venue for the rubber game of the Angels-Twins series. Most consider it a dump, but if it weren't for that dome this series wouldn't have taken place at all--it's been snowing hard in the Twin Cities all week. Ervin Santana gets the nod from the Angels, which is always an adventure. The Magic Man was 1-10 with an 8.38 ERA outside of Orange County last season. The Twins counter with Kevin Slowey, who can actually throw a baseball quite Fastey.

Colorado @ St. Louis, 11:15 Buster Olney blogged this morning about a potential trade market (Insider may be required) for Rich Harden, who's looked fantastic in two starts this season but always breaks down. In a list of who might acquire Harden, he listed the Rockies as a potential suitor. I seriously doubt that Dan O'Dowd would have the balls to make this deal. He'd rather rely on today's starter, Ubaldo Jimenez, than make any real improvements. Brad Thompson is your Cardinals pitcher.

Milwaukee @ Chicago Cubs, 12:20 The Cubs are trying to salvage one last game out of this trio with the Brewers, and today they'll give the ball to ex-closer Ryan Dempster. I'm of the opinion that Dempster will eventually head back to the pen, once Kerry Wood gets hurt, Bobby Howry blows up and Carlos Marmol can't handle the gig. But I'm a natural pessimist. Dave Bush goes for Milwaukee.

Houston @ San Diego, 1:35 We have one more team on the docket in search of their first win, and that's the Houston Astros. Anyone who thinks that the 'Stros can hang on for one more decent year needs to look at their rotation beyond Roy Oswalt--Wandy Rodriguez, Brandon Backe, Chris Sampson and Shawn Chacon. Yuck. Chacon, who couldn't even hold a job with the Pirates, takes on Randy Wolf, the erstwhile Dodger and Phillie (Philly?).

So there it is--Play Ball!

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