Cubs notebook: Prepare for some late-night games

Cubs fans should plan to stay up late if they want to catch the first couple of games of the National League Division Series against Arizona.

<p class="MsoNormal">TBS, which already has alienated some Cubs fans who don't have cable television by not offering its feed to a local station to broadcast on "free" TV, announced the starting times for the series Monday.

<p class="MsoNormal">Come Thursday and Friday mornings, there likely will be some tired fans.

<p class="MsoNormal">Wednesday's and Thursday's games at Chase Field in Phoenix are slated for 9 p.m. starts.

<p class="MsoNormal">On top of that, those who hoped to hear the familiar voices of Chip Caray, Steve Stone or Bob Brenly are out of luck. The network announced that Dick Stockton and Ron Darling will call the Cubs-D-backs action.

<p class="MsoNormal">The times for the games at Wrigley Field might be more palatable. Game 3 is scheduled for 5 p.m. Saturday, and Game 4, if necessary, would be at noon Sunday. That way, the Cubs-D-backs won't go head-to-head with the broadcast of the Bears-Green Bay game Sunday night at Lambeau Field.

<p class="MsoNormal">The time for Game 5 back in Phoenix, if it's needed, is tentatively set for 9 p.m. Tuesday.

<p class="MsoNormal">Rotation, rotation

<p class="MsoNormal">Arizona is sending 2006 Cy Young Award winner Brandon Webb (18-10, 3.01 ERA this season) against the Cubs' Carlos Zambrano (18-13, 3.95) on Wednesday.

<p class="MsoNormal">On Thursday, it'll be Doug Davis (13-12, 4.25) for the D-backs against Ted Lilly (15-8, 3.83).

<p class="MsoNormal">Livan Hernandez (11-11, 4.93) is to go against the Cubs' Rich Hill (11-8, 3.92) on Saturday.

<p class="MsoNormal">The scheduled starters for Game 4 on Sunday, if necessary, are Micah Owings (8-8, 4.30) for the D-backs and Jason Marquis (12-9, 4.60). But the Cubs could change their mind and use a three-man rotation and pitch Zambrano on three days' rest.

<p class="MsoNormal">Neither team revealed its pitching plans for a potential fifth game.

<p class="MsoNormal">NLCS tickets

<p class="MsoNormal">At 10 a.m. Thursday, the Cubs will begin selling individual tickets for potential NL Championship Series home games. The Cubs don't know which games they would host if they get that far, but tickets labeled "Home Game One," "Home Game Two" and "Home Game Three" will become available Thursday.

<p class="MsoNormal">Tickets for a Game 7, if the Cubs have home-field advantage, would become available later.

<p class="MsoNormal">Tickets will be available only by phone and the Internet. Fans can call (800) 843-2827 in state and (866) 652-2827 from out of state starting at 10 a.m.

<p class="MsoNormal">Via the Internet, fans must go to www.cubs.com at 9:30 a.m., and they will be placed in a "virtual waiting room." Customers will be randomly selected from that group and must have signed up for a cubs.com account or they will not be allowed to purchase the tickets.

<p class="MsoNormal">Each customer is allowed just four tickets for one of the games. Ticket prices range from $20 (standing room only) to $145 (club box -- infield).