Spring Training

Still no Brian Roberts, still no centerfielder acquisition. That's okay, because it still looks like at least one of those is going to happen before opening day. And Soriano has finally been nudged from the leadoff spot, thank god. It will be good to see him driving in runs this year. I don't really like him in the 2 spot though because he isn't going to advance any runners (unless they plan on stealing constantly, which may work because pitchers will avoid throwing him fastballs at all costs). 

Continue reading "Two Weeks Till Opening Day"

... and nothing overly exciting or positive has happened quite yet. Alfonso Soriano has a broken finger and Mark DeRosa just had heart surgery. Same old, same old.

The whole Soriano thing has been quite bothersome to me. I was jacked up beyond belief when the cubs signed him last year, but like most people, I was mostly let down by him last year. It's hard not to look at that mammoth contract he signed and to think that he is past his prime. He was playing with a bum hamstring last year and his ability to be a base stealing threat was diminished. And now this year, his hamstring supposedly is still not 100%, and now the broken finger. I hate to ask, "What's next?" but I'm sure we'll find that out eventually.

Continue reading "Cubs 2008 Preseason Begins..."

kid.  A once starter that will now be the Cubs closer, even though it is yet to be decided in Spring Training, he will become one of the most dominating closers in Cubs history.  His has the pitches and the potential to close out at least 45 games and have an ERA of 2.50.  It will be a different transition for him, but he probably owes it to the fans and the organization for not giving up on him. 

Continue reading "Carlos Zambrano Injured!!!"

After having 120 different lineups last season,  Sweet Lou Piniella wants to find the right combination during spring training.  His latest idea is probably one of the best he has came up with since juggling everyone around.  Lou suggested Fukudome would bat third, followed by Lee and Ramirez.  The whole lineup would probably look like this:  Soriano, Theirot, Fukudome, Lee, Ramirez, Derosa, Soto, and Pie.  It is a great combination of speed at the top and power in the middle.  "I've been thinking about our lineup and what makes sense and what we can try," Piniella said Friday. "Let me warn you, it's only Feb. 22, so there's plenty of time to adjust this thing."

Continue reading "POTENTIAL 3,4,5 HITTERS: FUKUDOME, LEE, RAMIREZ"

It's the first day of Spring Training and there are already too many distractions. Spring Training is about preparing for that 162 game season, working on fundamentals, hitting, pitching and learning how to communicate with Fukudome. Not about whether Aramis Ramirez raises chickens for cockfighting in the Dominican Republic. Not about bold predictions, as given by Ryan Dempster, who is not sure if he's even going to gain one of the starting positions in the rotation.

Continue reading "Too Many Distractions"

ed with the San Diego Padres this off-season I said to everyone I know that he'd be healthy for Spring Training.

So it wasn't a surprise to me when I opened my paper this morning to see that Mark Prior is actually at

Continue reading "San Diego to Benefit from Cubdom's Millions?"

ber he had arthroscopic surgery on the knee to clean it out and is expected to fully participate in Spring Training. Certainly the Boston medical staff will keep and eye on him and make sure he doesn’t reaggravate the knee. The is little doubt Ortiz will be ready for opening day, but will it take some time before the power returns to the level to which we have become accustomed?

Continue reading "Boston Red Sox Spring Training Stories To Follow"