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The Rockies will be trying for their first Cactus League win today against the Cubs. The game will take place at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick at 3:10 MT. You can listen to the game on KOA via traditional methods, or you can do so by clicking here.
Twenty four year-old right hander Brett Marshall, who the Rockies signed to a minor league contract in December, will make his Rockies debut. Marshall spent the previous two seasons playing for the Yankees' and Reds' Triple-A affiliates. In that time, he's had the trouble with walks, as he posted a 4.4 and 6.6 BB/9 in those two seasons. Unless everyone starts breaking, Marshall is a long shot to make the team. His best hope is to make a case for rotation depth. Based on how photogenic he is, I am pulling for him.
Marshall is making this start in place of Jorge De La Rosa, who experienced some groin tightness (no reason to panic!). He's now scheduled to pitch on Thursday.
The Cubs counter with our old friend Jason Hammel, who will not be fighting for a job in the starting rotation.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HammelTime?src=hash">#HammelTime</a> vs. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Rockies?src=hash">#Rockies</a>: Fowler CF, Rizzo 1B, Castro SS, Montero C, Soler RF, Bryant 3B, Coghlan LF, Ross DH, Herrera 2B, Hammel RHP.</p>— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) <a href="https://twitter.com/Cubs/status/574237858489204737">March 7, 2015</a></blockquote>
Hey look! More former Rockies! Dexter Fowler will play center and lead off for the Cubs, while Jonathan Herrera will start at second base. It's too bad this game isn't on television, as the lineup comprises most of what the Cubs A squad will look like by June.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Rockies?src=hash">#Rockies</a> lineup vs. Cubs. <a href="http://t.co/PCLkxvVNGt">pic.twitter.com/PCLkxvVNGt</a></p>— Patrick Saunders (@psaundersdp) <a href="https://twitter.com/psaundersdp/status/574220605836296192">March 7, 2015</a></blockquote>
No jokes about this being the Rockies A squad come August. Don't do it! Exciting this lineup is not, but these guys need to get reps in as much as anyone else. Walt Weiss must have heard our exasperation about seeing Daniel Descalso leading off yesterday. He raised us a Brandon Barnes, who is somehow an even worse choice for the first spot in the lineup, Descalso's career .313 on base percentage notwithstanding. But then again, the other options in today's lineup aren't much better. I'm not sure who else is scheduled to pitch, but the available pitchers provide a hint. Keep an eye out for a few from Boone Logan, John Axford, LaTroy Hawkins, Adam Ottavino, and Rafael Betancourt to make their spring debuts.