2/27 Play ball

They pulled the tarp off the field at 9:30 a.m. MT Sunday at HoHoKam Park and there should be no problem getting the Cubs’ first Cactus League game in vs. the Athletics. First pitch 1:05 p.m. Mountain Time/2:05 p.m. Central Time. You can listen on WGN Radio as Pat Hughes & Keith Moreland begin their first season together. The first TV broadcast will be in one week when the Cubs play host to the Dodgers. This is the Cubs’ 33rd consecutive spring in Mesa, the longest active streak in the Cactus League.

Manager Mike Quade said he’ll take a moment before the game starts, just as he did before his first game in the big leagues as a coach and first game as the Cubs manager back on Aug. 23. He’s done his part to improve communications, and posted not just the starting lineup but also the backups at each position. He’s also posting lineups three days in advance.

“No one can say they weren’t ready if they see three days of lineups,” he said.

Here’s Sunday’s lineup in case you missed it:

RF Fukudome
SS Castro
CF Byrd
3B Ramirez
1B Pena
LF Soriano
C Soto
2B DeWitt
P Zambrano

Also slated to pitch are Matt Garza, Jeff Samardzija, Carlos Marmol, John Grabow, Marcos Mateo and Justin Berg. Expect Zambrano and Garza to go two innings each.

– Carrie Muskat