The 2012 Schedule!

Last week the Cubs announced the tentative 2012 schedule, one of the days I look forward to most during these dreary and out-of-contention Septembers the Cubs have had the last three years.  Here are the most notable games scheduled and some analysis.

Highlights:
-The Cubs will open the season at home on Thursday, April 5 against the Nationals.  Game times haven't been released for any games yet, but I am almost certain this game will be at the regular 1:20 PM start time.  This is the second year in a row and third year out of five that the Cubs will open at home, which traditionally is not something they do.  However, I love starting the season at home.  It seems to make Opening Day more exciting when the first day of the entire season can be spent at Wrigley.  When opening the season on the road, the home opener is nearly an afterthought.

-Division foes with been encountered early on, as the road slate opens in St. Louis before the Cards come to Wrigley a week and a half later.  The Brewers and Reds will also play the Cubs once each in April.

-The first game at the new (Miami!) Marlins stadium will be a nationally-televised game against the Cardinals in an extremely rare one-game series.  Then the Marlins hit the road before coming back to face the Astros and Cubs in their first full homestand.  The Cubs will be the third opponent at the new ballpark, but will be the second full series.  This is extremely cool, I can't wait to get a look at their new park.

-Interleague play opens against the White Sox at home on May 18-20.  In an interesting tidbit, the week before that series will see the Cubs host the Phillies for the rare Wednesday-Thursday two-game series.  It will be interesting to see what they decide for the time of game for each.

-Interleague play resumes Friday, June 8 at the Minnesota Twins in the midst of a 10-game road trip.  After a homestand against the Tigers and Red Sox, the Cubs finish it at US Cellular June 18-20.  The Red Sox series will undoubtedly be in the national spotlight as a big clash between two ancient clubs with championship drought propensities.  Cubs Marketing will surely promote this one big time.  Will they put up billboards depicting a shortstop battle between Starlin Castro and Marco Scutaro, just as they did for Castro and Derek Jeter this season?  Probably not.  But they'll find their ways.

-Usually the All-Star Break is followed by a big 10-game homestand, but this year it's only six games against D-Backs and (Miami!) Marlins.

-The season ends at home on the shortest homestand of the year, just a three-game series with the Astros ending on October 3.

The 2012 Cubs Schedule

The lopsided number of divisional games provides yet another reminder on why realignment is a necessity.  Recent reports have been saying that realignment won't be in effect for 2012, and this released schedule (which is essentially the same as the year before it) supports the theory.  Knowing the speed, or lack thereof, at which MLB operates, it wouldn't surprise me at all to see the realignment and second wild card plans shelved for 2013.  It would be highly disappointing, but unfortunately surprising to few.