The Cubs will kick off their 2010 Spring Training games this afternoon against the Oakland Athletics. No matter how the game goes this afternoon, there are questions that the Cubs and management will need to address before the season starts. To me, these are the keys of the 2010 Cubs season.

1. Will Carlos Zambrano win 15 games this season?
2. Will Ted Lilly recover from his injuries?
3. Will Alfonso Soriano finally play in 150 games in one season for the Cubs?
4. Is Aramis Ramirez’s shoulder 100% and can he stay off of the disabled list?
5. Can Derrek Lee stay healthy?
6. Who will win the second base job? Mike Fontenot or Jeff Baker?

One thing if for certain. Anything that new center fielder Marlon Byrd does will be an improvement over Milton Bradley did in 2009. Having Byrd in center will also allow Kosuke Fukudome to move back to his natural right field position.

Let’s set back and see how some of these spring training games go and hope that the team stays injury free. Staying injury free and getting Ted Lilly back will be the keys to the Cubs starting off the season on the right in my mind. Let’s just hope that it happens.

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Cubs ready for first Spring Training 2010 game

http://mlb.mlb.com/media/video.jsp?content_id=6511913

As if the Brewers jersey untucking after wins wasn’t enough of a joke. Listen, I am all for a little bit of cockiness in baseball. Aramis Ramirez and Alfonso Soriano certainly do their part, but Prince took it to a whole new level last night. One thing I admire about baseball over any other professional sport is just that, it’s professionalism among their athletes. Sure, we have the never-ending steroid saga, but you rarely hear about players choking their girlfriends/wives, getting arrested for DUIs (insert Tony LaRussa joke here), dog-fighting (I don’t need a link), or any of that other garbage that goes in the NFL. The NBA isn’t very professional either – take a look at Kobe Bryant’s past or this photo of Allen Iverson. The NHL has guys like Sean Avery. Similar stuff happens in baseball, but you definitely don’t hear about it as much – and it doesn’t create month long feature blocks on SportsCenter. I know what Fielder did wasn’t anything as profound as any of the incidents I just referred to, but it’s a clear example of a non-professional. It wouldn’t have made much of a difference to me, but it’s not like the Brewers moved into first place with that win – in fact, they are 11 games out of any playoff contention at all. Had they been in the heat of a pennant race, perhaps Prince’s actions are justified a bit more, to some.

Fielder’s Brewer teammate, Ryan Braun is just as guilty of this stuff, just look at his parade around the bases last September in a game against the Cubs. [Cub fan bias]Someone should have told him Bob Howry was on the mound and that C.C. Sabathia wasn’t gonna be able to pitch every game of the NLDS.[/Cub fan bias] They learned that soon enough anyway, I suppose. Fielder’s antics are reminiscent of an NFL endzone celebration, something that their league is trying to restrict, and certainly, baseball doesn’t need that garbage either. Lets not just dismiss the fact that this isn’t Fielder’s first act of havoc this season. Remember his trip into the Dodgers’ clubhouse after they were blown out in L.A.? Perhaps that is a whole other blog entry though.

So before you tell me that Fielder’s antics were equal to every other act of cockiness in the league, find me another photo in the history of baseball with anything resembling this scene at home plate and I’ll take it all back:

Didn’t think so. Sure, Soriano waves his hand in front of his face (which is really just more stupid than anything else), Zambrano is basically the definition of cocky, but this hurts him more than helps most of the time, and Aramis admires his home runs (him and also Albert Pujols, Manny Ramirez, and a lot of other great sluggers throughout baseball history), but they don’t do what Fielder did. Some of the Giants players publicly spoke out against the charade, and some Angels players even are speaking out about it. It’s good to know that players of other teams don’t approve. Maybe it’s just immaturity; it’s easy to forget Prince is only in his 3rd full MLB season, so hopefully sooner or lately he’ll learn. Hopefully he deservedly gets one in the backside whenever the Brewers and Giants hook up again – and if he decides to charge the San Francisco clubhouse this time, there’s probably no hope left for him anyway.

Mike

Cubs Blog

“Untuck ‘em”: Fielder’s antics lead classless Brewcrew

I know a lot of people thougth Pawelek was a stupid signing when it happened. Sure he was a fireball thrower, but he played in the state of Utah and didn’t exactly face the best competition out of high school. Also, it was very weird seeing him sign the same day even though he was a Scott Boras client. Talk about taking seven figures from the Cubs and giving nothing back as far as production! Oh yeah, we can’t forget about the falling in the middle of the night over your Playstation and breaking your arm! Or having passport problems and getting shut down the rest of the year even though you were healthy. Sounds like there was more to Pawalek then most of us know.

Pawelek appeared in only 54 games over four seasons with the Cubs, mostly at short-season Low Class-A Boise. He was 6-12 with a 3.80 ERA and 147 strikeouts and 79 walks in 149 1/3 innings in those four seasons.

Pawelek was told “We have exhausted all efforts with you, and things did not go as we planned.’ Basically … ‘you’re not playing well and we don’t want you around anymore in Pawelek’s words.’”

Harvey is actually one player I was excited to see progress through the Cubs minor league system. However that never really happened as he only made it to Double-A Tennessee. Harvey compiled a career batting average of .247 in 471 games with a career .298 OBP. He was the Cubs first round pick in the 2003 draft and the sixth overall pick. Ryan had a very hard time hitting the ball in the minor leagues, and the Cubs had thoughts of coverting him to a pitcher as he also pitched in highschool but he didn’t want any part of that I have heard.

As for Johnson, he was the teams first pick in the 2004 draft even though he was drafted in the second round out of Notre Dame. Johnson struggled at Class-A Daytona Double-A Tennessee last season as he compiled a 5.32 ERA to go along with a 3-8 record.

The Cubs also released Paul Bako and Mike Stanton as they have trimmed their Major League roster down to 28 players. Expect to see a trade or release involving Chad Gaudin or Angel Guzman who both have struggled this spring and both are out of options. We could also possible see Jeff Samardzija be sent down Triple-A Iowa.

Cubs Blog

Cubs release three top draft picks

Marmol didn’t sound to happy about it when he was asked about the decision. Here is what he had to say when he was asked if playing in the World Baseball Classic made a difference in the decision:

“I don’t think it would’ve made a difference,” Marmol said. “They knew what they were going to do before I got here. That’s why I say there’s not competition.”

Asked to clarify, Marmol switched his tone.

“I don’t know,” Marmol said. “I guess we’re going to get ready for the season, no matter what. You’ll see the same smile. I’ll be the same guy. I’ll throw my 80 innings, do my job. I can’t make their decision. I can’t control it.”

Sure Gregg has been named the starter, but things can sure turn around quickly. If Gregg does not perform in the first 10-14 games, I would expect the team to make a change and give Marmol a chance. Marmol will also get some opportunitis when Gregg needs a rest and hopefully that is very often because that would mean that the team is winning multiple games in a row.

In other moves, the team has announced that catcher Mark Johnson, infielders Andres Blanco and Esteban German and outfielders Brad Snyder and So Taguchi had been re-assigned to Minor League camp. Relief pitchers Kevin Hart and Randy Wells were both optioned down to Triple-A Iowa as well. Is Hart’s time done with big league team? He has had many chancs and still can’t keep a spot on the big league roster.

Cubs Blog

Kevin Gregg named the closer over Carlos Marmol

I just can’t get into Spring Training this year for some odd reason. I don’t know if it’s the heartbreak postseason of last year or what, but that is another reason for the lack of updates. But rest assured, we will be here throughout the entire season once opening day comes around and we get closer to throwing that first pitch!

As far as Spring Training goes, the Cubs currently have a 16-12 record in Cactus League play. Sean Marshall has nailed down the #5 spot in the rotation while the bullpen still has spots up for grabs. Chad Gaudin has pitched terrible while rule 5 draft pick David Patton has thrown the ball very well. Carlos Marmol, Kevin Gregg, Neil Cotts and Aaron Heilman have all notched spots in the bullpen Lou Piniella has said. Will it be Gaudin, Jeff Samardzija, or Patton that gets another spot?

The latest round of roster cuts seen Jake Fox, Sam Fuld, Jose Ascanio, Jason Waddell and Bobby Scales be sent down. Fox, Fuld and Ascanio were all sent to the Triple-A camp file Waddell and Scales were assigned to the Minor League camp. The Cubs currently have a 37 man roster as they head towards the last ten days of Spring Training.

So how do you see things shaping up for the Cubs as opening day nears? Will it be “The Shark” be in the pen or back at Triple-A in the rotation? Will it be Gaudin or Patton? Leave us a comment and let us know!

Cubs Blog

Is it opening day yet?

The team isn’t hitting the ball that well at all. They are missing two starters (Soto and Fukudome) who are playing in the World Baseball Classic, but I don’t think that is the reason for the slump. I think they players think that they have 28 days until opening day down in Houston and they will start hitting the ball before then. This Spring Training is way too long, I wish that the teams would have started it a couple of weeks ago.

Alfonso Soriano, Derrek Lee and Aramis Ramirez have combined for two home runs and four extra-base hits in 54 at-bats so far this Spring. That’s just terrible production out three power hitters on the team. I’ve been reading articles in the newspapers this morning about Lou meeting with team and if the team losses two out of the next three I expect him to call a team meeting and really call out the veteran players that are not producing.

Here are a few Piniella remarks from an article in the Tribune:

“Look, spring training wins and losses don’t mean anything,” Piniella said. “But you don’t want to get in the habit of getting your [butts] kicked every day either. That I can tell you, and that’s exactly what’s happening here.”

“We’ve got some work to do,” Piniella said then. “This is no push-button operation, I can tell you that. I’m beginning to find that out.”

So how long until Lou unleashes his first tirade of the season? Will it come before opening day?

Cubs Blog

Spring Training continues on and Lou isn’t happy

Micah Hoffpauir who is hoping to make the active roster as a backup first basemen and outfielder led the way for the Cubs as he hit a grand slam in the fifth inning off of Dodgers pitcher Ramon Troncoso. The grand slam came right after an error by the Dodgers and Hoffpauir sure made them pay just like you always want to do. Hoffpauir also had a hand in the Cubs first run when he grounded into a double play with the bases loaded in the first inning.

Jeff Samardzija was the starting pitcher for the Cubs and he pitched two innings while giving up two runs on three hits and two walks. It wasn’t the outing that the Shark was hoping for but I won’t put a lot of thought on it as it was the first game of spring training and he will have a lot more chances to show he has command of the ball.

Mitch Atkins was charged with the other run that the Dodgers scored.

Hoffpauir wasn’t hte only only player to collect hits for the Cubs at the plate as Alfonso Soriano and Geovany Soto both had a single in the game. Soriano also added on a walk to his totals. Ryan Theriot also finished the game two of three at the plate.

Up next for the Cubs is an afternoon game with the Milwaukee Brewers on Thursday. Lefty Sean Marshall will get the start for the Cubs and he needs to show the team that he can control the ball and would be a good option for the fifth starter position.

Cubs spring training record: 1-0

Cubs Blog

Hoffpauir leads the Cubs past the Dodgers

Samardzija is hoping to make the 25 man roster which he is expected to do, however he is not taking any for granted and will be working his butt off to make the roster. He had this to say to Carrie Muskrat of Cubs.Com about the upcoming season:

“I love being around these guys so much and after getting a taste of last year and seeing how these guys play the game, I want to be here,” Samardzija said. “Guys like [Derrek Lee] and Reed [Johnson] are playing the game with a passion and it’s great not only to have that, but to have them play on your side. It’s not bad having D-Lee at first and hitting third.

“If I could pick a team to be playing with on the field, whether it’s out of the bullpen, whether it’s starting, this is the team I want to be playing with,” he said. “If I can help this team win some games, whether it’s throwing an inning every day or every third day, I feel I can do that.”

One thing that is for certain is young pitchers like Samardzija and Atkins will get plenty of changes to show that they can throw the ball and should on the 25 man active roster. The Cubs will be without Ted Lilly who is throwing in the Winter Baseball Classic and the Cubs will also be playing 39 Spring Training games this year.

Let’s all hope that it is an injury free spring training for the entire team and the Cubs play some good baseball while getting ready for the start of the 2009 season in April.

**photo courtesy of Getty Images**

Cubs Blog

The Cubs are ready for first Spring Training game

Piniella also said that Carlos Marmol and Kevin Gregg would both get the chance to close games while in Spring Training. Both pitchers will also throw earlier in the game at times as well so they will both be getting quite a bit of action as the team decides who to use in the closers role. Gregg will get quite a bit of work while Marmol is pitching in the World Baseball Classic as well.

Things will start picking up down in Arizona and here at ChicagoCubsBlog.net once the team starts playing in some games and we have roster moves to blog about. For now, we are six days away from the first game and we don’t expect any big moves or drama before then.

Cubs Blog

Cubs Spring Training Thoughts So Far

The two big questions heading into Spring Training for the pitchers is who will be the fifth starter and is Carlos Marmol ready to take over as the closer. I’m going to blow a little bit about both of those questions today and give you my opinion. I’d welcome your opinions as well via the comments section.

First off lets talk about the 5th spot in the rotation once again. As we have blogged about before, I expect Sean Marshall to win this position during Spring Training however we cannot forget about players like Chad Gaudin, Jeff Samardzija and Aaron Heilman. I feel that Gaudin, Samardzija, and Heilman would all be better served in the bullpen rather then taking the mound every fifth day. I feel that Samardzija needs to work on his control and possibly develop another pitch to be a quality starter. Gaudin I would rather see out of the pen as he has pitched there for the Cubs in the past and I’ve just never seen him throw the ball to start a game so I’m unfamiliar with him. Heilman I would have to put an asterik by. He has started in his career and is an average starter. A lot of people would probably compare him to Jason Marquis who the Cubs traded to the Colorado Rockies in the off season. He can spot start and throw out of the pen and I’ll predict that he opens up in the pen with southpaw Sean Marshall getting the nod in the rotation.

For the closers situation, the Cubs will be looking for Carlos Marmol or newly acquired Kevin Green to fill the void left behind by Kerry Wood. As we all know, Wood signed a free agent deal with the Cleveland Indians during the off season when the Cubs wouldn’t offer him more than a one year deal. This will be Marmol’s job to lose heading into Spring Training and I see it coming right down to the end just like it did in 2008 when Wood, Marmol, and Bob Howry were competing for the job. If Marmol does struggle at all, don’t expect the Cubs to wait to long before they give Gregg the shot at closing out games. He closed the last two seasons down in Florida for the Marlins and did a pretty good job. I think Marmol will hold down the closers spot but I also expect Gregg to get his fair share of saves during the regular season when he fills in for Marmol when he needs a rest.

So how do you think things will end up with the rotation and the closers job?

Cubs Blog

Yes! Pitchers and Catchers Report To Spring Training!

I sure hope that Jim Hendry is not trading both Marshall and Fontenot for Teahen as that would be a very bad trade in my opinion. I think giving up Marshall for Teahen would be too much to be honest. If the Cubs were to trade for Teahen at this point, I think they would stop looking at the possibility of getting Raul Ibanez or Milton Bradley.

Hmm what are you thoughts on this Cubs rumor?

Cubs Blog

Sean Marshall for Mark Teahen?

“The Cubs are thrilled to be the Yankees’ first opponent in the new Yankee Stadium and are honored to take part in this historic event,” said Cubs chairman Crane Kenney.

I don’t mind playing these games but I really doubt we see the regulars playing a full game in the short two game series. It is just to close to the regular season that you don’t want to risk having someone like Derrek Lee or Aramis Ramirez get hurt in an exhibition game.

Once information about tickets is released, we will let you know. More then likely you will have to order through the yankees or ticketmaster.

Cubs Blog

Cubs and Yankees set to open up the New Yankee stadium

Piniella also said that Kerry Wood would start out the season as the teams closer.  He was in a battle all spring with Carlos Marmol and Bob Howry.  Wood proved to the coaches that he could pitch on back to back days and did a good job so he earned the spot.  If Wood struggles, look for Marmol to be thrown into the position.

Cubs Blog

Piniella says Marquis and Dempster are in the rotation, Wood is the closer

Gallagher is a guy that will probably be called up at some point in the season.  That is if he isn’t traded before hand.  Gallagher is a key player in any trade that happens for Brian Roberts of the Orioles so who knows if he will make another pitcher for the big league Cubs.

The spring roster now has 38 players, and includes 19 pitchers, three catchers, 10 infielders and six outfielders.

Cubs Blog

The Cubs send Sean Gallagher and Jose Ascanio to Triple A

The only way I see Fukudome moving to center field is if Felix Pie starts off very slow or gets injured.  Pie needs to play everyday and hopefully that is what the Cubs will do.  Fukudome would rather play right field as well so this is pretty much just an insurance deal.

Cubs Blog

Cubs to try Kosuke Fukudome in center field