February 2010 Archives

More rain cut short practice on Day 12 of Camp Lou IV. Lou Piniella said his team had a short day planned so the rain (and soggy fields) did not keep players from getting their work in as scheduled. The weather is expected to cooperate when the games begin on Thursday ... the forecast is calling for temperatures in the mid 70s and sunny for the first weekend of games.

The Cubs announced the pitching rotation for the first game of the exhibition season. Randy Wells will get the ball to start the spring on Thursday. Wells will probably go two innings then turn the game over to Sean Marshall, J.R. Mathes, Mike Parisi and Esmailin Caridad. Don't read anything into Wells starting the opener ... Jason Marquis, Ryan Dempster and Jeff Samardzija have been the three starters for the spring openers under Lou Piniella.

Here's the rest from a short Sunday, plus Gordon Wittenmyer on XM Radio ...

It is the last day of February and the first pitch of the Cubs' Cactus League schedule is in just four days ...

Apparently Day 11 of Camp Lou IV was anything but boring ... with Carlos Marmol throwing live batting practice. Lou Piniella said Marmol is "far ahead" of where he was last spring ... but he hit Starlin Castro on the "backside" with a slider, then jammed him and brushed him back. Castro was not hurt and Piniella admired the way he stayed in against Marmol.

The news came down that Ted Lilly would probably miss the first month of the season. Lilly was back at practice on Saturday and is expected to get a full day's work in on Sunday ... but he is well behind where he should be in his rehab.

The Cubs received positive news on Alfonso Soriano, he feels his knee is about 90% ... here's the rest from day 11 of Camp Lou.

The Cubs' first baseman and clubhouse leader joined Bruce Levine and Jonathan Hood on Talkin' Baseball (ESPN 1000) Saturday morning. The interview began with a typical Spring Training question from Bruce Levine about what Derrek Lee thought about his team after a week of practice.

Levine's second question sparked an honest answer from Derrek Lee, one that he did not mince words.

Lee was asked about the media recently trying to compare Marlon Byrd to Milton Bradley and the possible racial profiling associated with the comparison. Lee quickly called the comparison "ridiculous" and said "If it was a white guy who came over [to the Cubs] would he be [called] the anti-Milton Bradley?"

According to a report from ESPN Chicago, Ted Lilly will probably miss the first month of the season.

The Cubs were hoping to get Ted Lilly back around the second week of the season. Lilly's two setbacks since pitchers and catchers reported on February 17 have more than likely pushed the timetable back a couple of weeks.

The countdown has begun to the Cubs' Cactus League opener against the Oakland A's at HoHoKam Park ... only five days until the Cubs play an actual game.

Day Ten of Camp Lou IV was pretty quiet for the most part ... with a few exceptions.

Ted Lilly returned to the field and called his viral infection a setback. Lilly did not want to begin the season on the DL, but missing five days has turned the inevitable into reality. By all accounts, Lilly would not have been ready to pitch the first week of the season before his recent illness.

Lou Piniella wants another arm in his pen. Jim Hendry admitted to Dave Kaplan during his interview on Sports Central that a right-handed veteran reliever is on the Cubs' wish list. Bruce Levine reported that the Cubs continue to have conversations with the Padres about Luke Gregerson and the Blue Jays concerning Jason Frasor.

Here is the rest from day ten of Camp Lou and more from Jim Hendry's interview on Sports Central ...

Welcome to Open Forum Fridays. Just like the good ole USA, majority rules at the good ole CCO. Each Friday pressing topics will be written about and then decided by the CCO. Whether it's one topic, five topics or as it is this week, four topics.

We ask that you begin your comment or post with your answer on the topics for the day ... then feel free to explain how you came to your conclusion. The forum will be open until 5:00pm CST ... one hour after the forum closes, the majority's decision will be posted.

The Battles of Spring

Spring Training is heating up, and soon so will the competition on the field. Not only will the Cubs be playing other teams, but also they will be battling their teammates for starting jobs and playing time.

The match-ups listed below are my thoughts, with a winner and a loser. Please let us all know your thoughts below. Hey folks, it's "Open Forum Friday!"

After pretty much just a 'baseball day' on Wednesday, there was a little more news on Day Nine of Camp Lou IV ... some good, some not so good.

Angel Guzman was shut down on Thursday with discomfort in his shoulder. Guzman complained about the pain in his shoulder during warm-ups on Wednesday. Guzman has been slowed this spring by knee surgery and was expected to start throwing off a mound this weekend.

Rafael Dolis hit Ryan Theriot on his left hand during live batting practice. Theriot is fine, other than a bruised hand. Lou Piniella said Dolis felt horrible about hitting Theriot.

In the wake of the news about Angel Guzman, Lou Piniella said Esmailin Caridad made the team. Piniella said, "Look, Caridad's on the team. He's almost got to pitch himself off of it."

For the sixth year in a row it looks like Carlos Zambrano will be on the mound for Opening Day. Piniella said they have not decided but in his three years with the Cubs, Zambrano has been the Opening Day starter ... Piniella does not anticipate anything different this year.

Here is the rest from day nine of Camp Lou, with positive news on Alfonso Soriano, Jeff Samardzija and an update from the rumor mill ...

Happy 70th Birthday to Ron Santo!

The first week of Camp Lou IV concluded on Wednesday ... and what a week it was for the Chicago Cubs. After the excitement of pitchers and catchers reporting, Ted Lilly and Alfonso Soriano's knees, the weather, the Ricketts family, Starlin Castro and the first full squad workout, the Cubs just focused on baseball on the eighth day of Camp Lou ... well, for the most part.

For the Chicago Cubs, it's not about Twitter or a reality show ... it's about baseball.

The Cubs' brass spent time on the airwaves Wednesday. Jim Hendry on the Inside Pitch (XM Radio) then Dave Kaplan talked with Lou Piniella and Oneri Fleita during Sports Central. Here are the updates and notes from those interviews, plus video from Boys of Spring ...

Baseball America's Prospect Handbook for 2010 hit the stands on Tuesday ... with the Cubs top prospect, Starlin Castro gracing the cover. Castro was named the top prospect in the Cubs' organization.

Baseball America also recognized the improvement made in the Cubs' farm system. The Cubs organization jumped from 27th in baseball to 15th in Baseball America's pre-season talent rankings.

Tuesday was a big day for information from Baseball America. Along with the prospect handbook, Baseball America released their list of the top 100 prospects in the game. The Cubs system placed five players in Baseball America's top 100, tied for second most in the game. As for homegrown talent, the Cubs system tied for third.

Starlin Castro (16), Josh Vitters (70), Brett Jackson (74), Andrew Cashner (95) and Jay Jackson (98) are considered the top prospects in the Cubs system, but there are 25 more names to pass along ...

The Chicago Cubs took the field for the first time in 2010 on Tuesday. Day Seven of Camp Lou IV began with the Ricketts family addressing the team and concluded with a full day of practice ... for the first time in three days.

Derrek Lee, Aramis Ramirez and Starlin Castro reported to camp. Lee and Ramirez addressed their future with the Cubs ... and Castro gave a little glimpse of the Cubs' future.

Tom Ricketts sent the message to the team that the Chicago Cubs are now family.

Here are the notes from day seven ... just eight days until the first pitch of the 2010 Cactus League season.