Some spring training notes
Sorry I haven’t been able to get an update on the blog lately regarding spring training. I have been pretty busy the past week, but I’m here now, and ready to talk Cubs Baseball!
It was interesting to hear Lou Piniella say it would be a three person battle for the closers role as pitchers and catches reported. Â Piniella mentioned Kerry Wood, Carlos Marmol, and Ryan Dempster would battle it out. Â Make you think what is going on as Dempster is supposed to get a look as a starter as well. Â Then out of nowhere yesterday, Piniella said that Bob Howry would be the closer if the season started today. Â Lol, does anyone know what is going on with the closers role?!
I thought it was pretty funny that Carlos Zambrano was wearing Fukudome’s jersey as the Japanese reported to spring training. Â After playing with Fukudome for a little bit, Big Z then gave him his jersey as they all had a good laugh. Â Gotta love a little joking around to keep the players lose.
As far as the starting rotation, it looks like the Cubs will be going with something like this:
1. Â Carlos Zamrano
2. Â Ted Lilly
3. Â Open
4. Â Rich Hill
5. Â Open
Piniella really wants to split up the lefthanders Lilly and Hill. Â I would probably pencil in Jon Leiber or Jason Marquis into that #3 spot and then the other in the #5 spot. Â Leaving out Sean Marshall unless Piniella wants to have back to back lefties in the #4 and #5 spots.
How do you all feel with the pitchers? Â What is the best rotation Lou can set up? Â What is the best option for closer at this point? Â Leave us a comment and let us know your opinion!
One more Cubs change: “Castro Quits”
Yeah, that’s what I saw in the news this morning. I thought, who is this Castro guy who quit the Cubs? A coach, a non-performing pitcher they were paying $13M???
Then I discovered it said “Cuba’s Castro quits. Not Cub’s Castro quits.”
- My Bad
I dont think Wood should be the closer right away. Give him some looks at it this spring and let him compete, but unless he is untouchable in the ninth this spring in Arizona, let Dempster or Howry, guys with experience shutting down games, be the closer to start the season. I want Wood to have the closer role as much as the next guy, but in due time. Let him prove his health as a middle reliever, then let him close games. But for now, Howry is probably the best choice, because I dont want my mother to have another stroke on accout of Dempster. But Im glad there’s excitment to look forward to this spring.