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Hey, it's midnight where I am, and I'm leaving in the morning. Woohoo!!!!
If Sidney Ponson feels any first-night jitters on Sunday, it's likely to be nothing compared to the butterflies in Sean Marshall's stomach.
Ponson, who has spent the vast majority of his big-league career as a member of the Baltimore Orioles, will be wearing a different bird on his jersey Sunday. The prime-time ESPN game against the Cubs will be his first regular-season game as a member of the Cardinals.
"They gave me a good second chance, and I have to get the most out of it," Ponson said.
The weather may not agree with him, since it will likely be cold and windy under the lights, but Ponson is just ready to pitch. He hasn't pitched in a regular-season game since Aug. 7 of last year.
"I'm going to be ready to pitch tomorrow, whatever it is, 1 o'clock or 7 o'clock," he said Saturday. "I don't know what to expect tomorrow, I don't know how cold it's going to be, nothing. I'll just go and get them."
As for Marshall, the 23-year-old left-hander has pitched exactly 54 innings above Class A. Sunday night's game will not only be his first big-league start, it will be his first regular-season start above the Double-A level.
And it will come against one of the league's more potent offenses, and the two-time defending National League Central Division champions. Good luck, kid. Just try to stay relaxed, eh?
Following Sunday night's game, the Cardinals will board a flight back to St. Louis for one of the biggest days for the franchise in a long time. Monday brings the opening game in new Busch Stadium.
Pitching matchup
STL: RHP Sidney Ponson (7-11, 6.21 ERA in 2005)
Ponson makes his Cardinals debut under the lights at Wrigley Field. He has an expressed preference for warmer conditions, so the weather may not be ideal for the Aruba native. Ponson will be at his best if he pitches to contact and tries to get ground balls, rather than looking to overpower hitters. He has never faced the Cubs or pitched at Wrigley Field.
CHC: LHP Sean Marshall (Major League debut)
It'll be quite a night for Marshall, a young lefty who was the spring surprise and will be making his Major League debut. He was 4-4 with a 2.74 ERA in 12 games with Class A Daytona and 0-1 with a 2.52 ERA in four starts at Double-A West Tenn last year. He's impressed the Cubs with his poise and his repertoire of pitches this spring. He did not allow a run in 10 1/3 innings in Arizona.
Player to watch
Yadier Molina's overall offensive numbers in his first full season weren't that great, but when the opposing pitcher is a lefty, Molina becomes much more dangerous. Molina hit .309 against lefties in 2005, with a .339 on-base percentage and .409 slugging percentage.
On the Internet
MLB.TV
Gameday Audio
• Gameday
• Official game notes
On television
• ESPN On radio
• KTRS AM-550
Up next
• Monday: Brewers (RHP Tomo Ohka, 0-0, 1.29 ERA) at Cardinals (LHP Mark Mulder, 0-0, 3.86 ERA), 3:10 p.m. CT (Cardinals home opener)
• Wednesday: Brewers (RHP Dave Bush, 1-0, 1.29 ERA) at Cardinals (RHP Jason Marquis, 1-0, 3.38 ERA), 7:10 p.m. CT
• Thursday: Brewers (LHP Doug Davis, 0-0, 4.91 ERA) at Cardinals (RHP Jeff Suppan, 0-1, 7.20 ERA), 12:10 p.m. CT
Ponson, who has spent the vast majority of his big-league career as a member of the Baltimore Orioles, will be wearing a different bird on his jersey Sunday. The prime-time ESPN game against the Cubs will be his first regular-season game as a member of the Cardinals.
"They gave me a good second chance, and I have to get the most out of it," Ponson said.
The weather may not agree with him, since it will likely be cold and windy under the lights, but Ponson is just ready to pitch. He hasn't pitched in a regular-season game since Aug. 7 of last year.
"I'm going to be ready to pitch tomorrow, whatever it is, 1 o'clock or 7 o'clock," he said Saturday. "I don't know what to expect tomorrow, I don't know how cold it's going to be, nothing. I'll just go and get them."
As for Marshall, the 23-year-old left-hander has pitched exactly 54 innings above Class A. Sunday night's game will not only be his first big-league start, it will be his first regular-season start above the Double-A level.
And it will come against one of the league's more potent offenses, and the two-time defending National League Central Division champions. Good luck, kid. Just try to stay relaxed, eh?
Following Sunday night's game, the Cardinals will board a flight back to St. Louis for one of the biggest days for the franchise in a long time. Monday brings the opening game in new Busch Stadium.
Pitching matchup
STL: RHP Sidney Ponson (7-11, 6.21 ERA in 2005)
Ponson makes his Cardinals debut under the lights at Wrigley Field. He has an expressed preference for warmer conditions, so the weather may not be ideal for the Aruba native. Ponson will be at his best if he pitches to contact and tries to get ground balls, rather than looking to overpower hitters. He has never faced the Cubs or pitched at Wrigley Field.
CHC: LHP Sean Marshall (Major League debut)
It'll be quite a night for Marshall, a young lefty who was the spring surprise and will be making his Major League debut. He was 4-4 with a 2.74 ERA in 12 games with Class A Daytona and 0-1 with a 2.52 ERA in four starts at Double-A West Tenn last year. He's impressed the Cubs with his poise and his repertoire of pitches this spring. He did not allow a run in 10 1/3 innings in Arizona.
Player to watch
Yadier Molina's overall offensive numbers in his first full season weren't that great, but when the opposing pitcher is a lefty, Molina becomes much more dangerous. Molina hit .309 against lefties in 2005, with a .339 on-base percentage and .409 slugging percentage.
On the Internet
MLB.TV Gameday Audio• Gameday
• Official game notes
On television
• ESPN On radio
• KTRS AM-550
Up next
• Monday: Brewers (RHP Tomo Ohka, 0-0, 1.29 ERA) at Cardinals (LHP Mark Mulder, 0-0, 3.86 ERA), 3:10 p.m. CT (Cardinals home opener)
• Wednesday: Brewers (RHP Dave Bush, 1-0, 1.29 ERA) at Cardinals (RHP Jason Marquis, 1-0, 3.38 ERA), 7:10 p.m. CT
• Thursday: Brewers (LHP Doug Davis, 0-0, 4.91 ERA) at Cardinals (RHP Jeff Suppan, 0-1, 7.20 ERA), 12:10 p.m. CT
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