The Cubs announced their broadcast schedule for the 2008 season on Wednesday. RedEye’s resident prognosticator Whizzer picks nine must-watch games, so you better watch ’em. You wouldn’t want to disappoint Whizzer, would you?
VS. MILWAUKEE BREWERS
Monday, March 31: 1:20 p.m., WGN
Wednesday, April 2: 1:20 p.m., CSN
Thursday, April 3: 1:20 p.m., WGN
Whizzer’s take: They’ve got hitting, they’ve got pitching, they just need experience. The Cubs will know pretty quickly where they stand in the division by starting off against what arguably will be the team to beat in the Central. Keep your eye on what a healthy Rickie Weeks can do.
VS. HOUSTON
Friday, April 4: 1:20 p.m., CSN
Saturday, April 5: 12:05 p.m., CSN
Sunday, April 6: 1:20 p.m., WGN
Whizzer’s take: You want to see Whizzer beg? I’m begging that Mitchell Report refugees Roger Clemens and Miguel Tejada make appearances in this series. I smell a “bring your personal trainer to the park” promotion. If that’s not enough, the Astros are another one of those teams on the rise. New closer Jose Valverde had a major-league high 47 saves for Arizona last season.
The Diamondbacks celebrate a 2007 playoff win at Wrigley Field.
VS. COLORADO
Thursday, May 29: 7:05 p.m., CSN
Friday, May 30: 1:20 p.m., CSN
Saturday, May 31: 12:05 p.m., CSN
Sunday, June 1: 1:20 p.m., WGN
Whizzer’s take: The defending National League champs will be a good barometer for the Cubs. Too bad this series isn’t in the mile-high city, because they’d get good barometric pressure too. C’mon, don’t blame me for these jokes — it’s the writers’ strike!
VS. ARIZONA
Friday, May 9: 1:20 p.m., WGN
Saturday, May 10: 12:05 p.m., CSN
Sunday, May 11: 1:20 p.m., WGN
Whizzer’s take: Do I really need to pitch this one? The Diamondbacks humiliated the Cubs in October, and Wrigley Field fans will be thirsty for revenge. Or maybe it’s the Old Style. I never can tell with them.
VS. WHITE SOX
Friday, June 20: 1:20 p.m., CSN
Saturday, June 21: 12:05 p.m., WGN
Sunday, June 22: TBD, WGN or ESPN
Whizzer’s take: In the last Crosstown series in June, the Cubs swept the Sox on the South Side. Overall, the North Siders won five of six last season. The White Sox picked up outfielder Nick Swisher and key pitcher Octavio Dotel, but it remains to be seen whether they’ve closed the gap. If they haven’t, you’ll be able to hear Ozzie Guillen yelling from here to Kankakee.
AT WHITE SOX
Friday, June 27: 3:05 p.m., CSN
Saturday, June 28: 2:55 p.m., FOX
Sunday, June 29: TBD, WGN or ESPN
Whizzer’s take: The White Sox were one of the strong bidders for Kosuke Fukudome. We’ll see how well he would have hit in U.S. Cellular. Plus, the Cubs will want to rub it in the Sox’s faces.
VS. FLORIDA
Thursday, July 24: 7:05 p.m., CSN
Friday, July 25: 1:20 p.m., WGN
Saturday, July 26: 12:05 p.m., WGN
Sunday, July 27: 1:20 p.m., CSN
Whizzer’s take: No more Dontrelle Willis. No more Miguel Cabrera. But something tells me the Marlins still find a way to give the Cubs fits. After all, isn’t Florida in the same boat every season: digging up new gems to replace the talent they traded away or let go? And wouldn’t it just be Chicago’s luck if that next player is ex-Cubs pitcher Sergio Mitre?
VS. ST. LOUIS
Friday, Aug. 8: 1:20 p.m., CSN
Saturday, Aug. 9: 2:55 p.m., FOX
Sunday, Aug. 10: TBD, WGN or ESPN
Whizzer’s take: A pair of nationally televised games against an archrival with possible postseason implications? Sounds tasty! And let’s invite that “Rocky” Anheuser-Busch Clydesdale from the Super Bowl ad to throw out the first pitch … just to mess with their heads.
AT NEW YORK METS
Monday, Sept. 22: 6:10 p.m., CSN
Tuesday, Sept. 23: 6:10 p.m., CSN
Wednesday, Sept. 24: 6:10 p.m., WCIU
Thursday, Sept. 25: 6:10 p.m., CSN
Whizzer’s take: Can’t you just see it? It’s the second-to-last series, and the Cubs are clinging to a slim wild-card or division lead, and they have to play four games against the National League’s big boys — in their house. And oh look, here comes new Mets ace Johan Santana. Any chance of getting Carlos Santana instead?
