It's On!!!!!!!

The Cubbies had their first taste of spring baseball on Thursday. For all intents, the opener of the Cactus League was a success for the Cubs, beating San Francisco 12-6.

Some very promissing notes from the game:

• Theriot did the leadoff spot proud, going 3 for 3 with 3 runs and a stolen base (3rd base).
• Fukudome got on base 3 times, with a hit-by-pitch, walk and an RBI single.
• Soto handled the staff well and went 1 for 3.
• Pie went 2 for 2, with 4 runs and an RBI, including a double and a home run.
• Fontenot, the forgotten man in the infield, went 2 for 4, with 2 runs and 3 RBIs, including a pinch hit 3-run HR and a triple.
• Dempster looked good, pitching 2 innings to start the game and giving up 1 run on 2 hits, 2 strike outs and notably, zero walks. The run came off a home run by Randy Winn.

The only real flat performances came from Jose Ceda, who was wild in 2/3 of an inning to the tune of 2 walks, 2 hits, 2 earned runs. He also managed one wild pitch and one hit batsman. Esmailin Caridad fared no better in 2/3 of an inning, giving up 3 hits, 1 walk and 2 earned runs. Caridad also notched a HBP.

Nobody pitched more than 2 innings and the rest of the pitching appearances were solid.

The two teams do it again today at 2pm with Zambrano starting.