Inside Baseball for the Cub Fan
By Budd Glassberg
Reprinted with permission from the Zionsville Times
Sentinel on March 26, 2008
Spring training has very different implications for the many involved in playing the game. For the established veterans, it is a time to shake off the cobwebs of the winter indulgences and get back to the routine of excellence with their bats, gloves and arms. Many of them are certain to make the major league rosters so it is just a matter of getting back into playing shape. For a few of them, it will be their last spring training. It will be one last attempt of a once very fine athlete losing his job to a younger, stronger and quicker player. For minor leaguers, spring training is an opportunity to play with the best in the business and attempt to showcase their skills in hopes of being selected to take one of the 25 spots allocated to the major league roster for their team. With so many hoping to break through, it is a long shot for any individual to leave spring training on the major league team. Managers and coaches have the difficult job of giving all the prospects enough playing time during spring training while allowing the veterans to get enough at-bats and innings to enter the regular season fully prepared.
Before spring training began, the Cub management had been in negotiations with the Baltimore Orioles in hopes to acquire lead-off hitter and second baseman, Brian Roberts. While the negotiations have not come to fruition, the chance that a trade would happen has been like a Sword of Damocles hanging over the head of several of the current Cub players including possible leadoff hitter, Ryan Theriot, reserve infielder Mike Fontenot, and current projected second baseman Mark DeRosa. It has certainly put a strain on those players this spring, yet they have performed admirably and in a professional manner.
Some observations that Allan Rachles and I have formed from the first five games we witnessed are as follows:
· The Cubs will score runs, they scored seven or more runs in each of the games
·
The bullpen looks very solid,
Kerry Wood will be their closer. He has
not allowed a walk all spring. He is
lights out. Howrey and Marmol will be
the setup men. Hart and a rookie
Pignetello both look like they can get guys out. Lieber looked good except for
one errant pitch.
· The starters have not been sharp. Marquis looked good, but he tends to wither as the season wears on. Lilly and Hill were adequate while Zambrano and Dempster were rocked in their starts.
· Theriot and Pie are hitting very well and both have shown speed on the bases. Soriano has no discipline at the plate. I think Lou is making a mistake batting him second. Derek Lee is putting wood on the ball and should be batting second while Soriano bats third and can drive in more runs. Soto has shown power and a great arm for throwing out runners. Newcomer Fukodome handles the bat well, has a good glove and can run. He is a welcomed addition to the team. Ramirez looks great in the field and fine at the plate. DeRosa has shown versatility and discipline both in the field and at bat.
Guys on the bubble are Cedeno, Fontenot, and newly acquired Reed Johnson. All have shown bright spots although Cedeno has had trouble hitting curve balls.