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Schwarber grand slam, Olt 2-run homer. 

and, for those of you not watching the stream of the Giants' game, Schwarber fell behind 0-2 on two good breaking pitches from Vogelsong, then took a pitch (or two), fouled one off, then homered.

Apparently the same level of preparation that Estes brought to his game-day prep before his starts for the Cubs.

Looks to me like pitchers and catchers are taking this "pace of game" stuff seriously.  They're getting to the mound/plate quicker than ever in this game.

I've also noticed it on the games I've seen on TV so far.  When the telecasts get back from commercial, the pitcher is delivering the first pitch.

Something I noticed during Kyle Schwarber's second AB is that he was standing nearly in the front of the batter's box.

That is extremely unusual these days.  Most, if not all, hitters stand at the back of the box.  The only Cub of recent vintage I can remember off the top of my head that didn't is Alfonso Soriano 

I wonder if that is something he does all the time or if he was trying to get this particular pitcher's slider before it broke.

"What do we know about Pierce Johnson?  He wears number 80 and has long brown hair under his blue cap."

Works 91 - 94 and occasionally gets it up to 96.  Good slider.  Some control problems.  Reported that he would have been a mid first round pick, but had forearm problems in the spring before draft.  Some rank him close to Edwards because he holds his velocity deeper into the game.

McKinney with a HR.