Spring Training Game Eighteen - Cubs 3 White Sox 5
WP - Scott Linebrink (1-0) LP - Neal Cotts (0-2, BS 1) Save - D.J. Carrasco (2)
Lou Piniella's lineup was missing the Big Three of Aramis Ramirez, Derrek Lee and Alfonso Soriano while Ozzie Guillen played all but one of his projected everyday line-up....and the Cubs pitching staff performed quite well against a very dangerous offensive team.
Rich Hill was effective but not sharp and was helped by the White Sox aggressiveness at the plate. Hill struggled with his command and was unable to throw his signature curveball for a strike until the 2nd inning. Hill gave up 2 runs on 3 hits with 3 walks and a strikeout in 3 2/3 innings. Lou Piniella lifted Hill after striking out A.J. Pierzynski for the second out in the 4th inning. Tim Lahey was very impressive in his inning and a third but Neal Cotts gave up 3 runs in the 7th, including a 2-run homer by Jim Thome that actually left the park. Kevin Hart retired the Sox in order in the 8th with a strikeout.
Micah Hoffpauir and Casey McGehee both had big games. Hoffpauir was 3-for-4 with a double and continues to impress. McGehee doubled in the tying run with 2 outs in the 2nd inning and gave the Cubs a 3-2 lead with a solo home run in the 4th. Daryle Ward added a RBI single in the 3rd inning.
Kosuke Fukudome was involved in a collision in the 8th inning with White Sox 2nd baseman, Mike Rouse. Matt Murton hit a ground ball to the right side with Fukudome on 1st and Micah Hoffpauir on 2nd. Rouse bobbled the ball, he kept it in front of him, but it bounced back toward the basepath. In attempt to get the ball, Rouse ended up in Fukudome's way and actually flipped him. Fukudome landed awkwardly on his shoulder but left the field. Radio reports on WGN after the game did not indicate Fukudome was hurt. EDIT: According to a report on Cubs.com, Fukudome said he was fine after the game.
Rich Hill is a big key to the upcoming season for the Cubs and he has to get on track. Unlike most players that could probably shrug off a bad spring as just that, with Hill's track record he needs a strong finish or his spring performance could carry over to when the games actually count.
Hill could not find the strike zone on Saturday and threw a lot of pitches in 3 2/3 innings. Hill threw 5 straight balls to start the game. He tossed 24 pitches in the 1st inning alone, 10 for strikes. Paul Konerko was thrown out trying to steal 2nd for the last out.
Hill's strike to ball ratio was better in the 2nd but it was still not good. Hill retired the side in order and threw his best curve of the day to Jermaine Dye....16 pitches, 9 for strikes.
Hill appeared to get back on track with his command in the 3rd. The Sox scored a run after a leadoff double by Juan Uribe but Hill threw 16 pitches, 11 for strikes. Nick Swisher walked to start the 4th. Hill retired Dye and struck out Pierzynski looking to end his day....12 pitches, 6 for strikes.
Hill threw a total of 68 pitches in 3 2/3 innings....36 for strikes.
Tim Lahey improved his chances of remaining with the Cubs. He was impressive in his inning and a third. Lahey walked a batter but did not give up a hit and struck out 1. Lahey has good movement on his sinker and kept the ball down....3 ground outs to no fly ball outs.
Neal Cotts on the other hand served it up to his former teammates. After not allowing a run in his last 3 outings, he gave up 3 in an inning. Cotts had little to no movement on his pitches and the Sox took advantage....especially Jim Thome. Cotts days as a Cub are likely numbered.
Kevin Hart dominated the opposition again. The only way he does not leave Las Vegas with the big league club is if it comes down to a numbers game. Hart could be a valuable piece to the bullpen, especially as a long man.
Lou Piniella's crew is 6-12 in Cactus League play and a string of wins would be more than welcomed at this point. Hitting, pitching and winning are contagious....
Box Score from Saturday's game
Weather permitting the Cubs will host an Angels' split squad. Sunday will be the second time in 3 days the Cubs have played the Angels....they are 0-2 against the Halos in Cactus League play. Carlos Zambrano is expected to take the hill for the fourth time this spring against Nick Green.
News from Arizona
Kosuke Fukudome said he was fine after the game according to a report on Cubs.com
Rich Hill was lifted in the middle of the inning on Saturday for two reasons....he hit his pitch count and developed a blister under his nail.
Micah Hoffpauir continued his impressive spring on Saturday. All Hoffpauir seems to do is hit, but most think he is blocked from the big league club. A report on Cubs.com indicated Hoffpauir has been working in the outfield. Lou Piniella likes what he has seen....
"You know what he's making me do? He's making me decide where I can put him on the field and get his bat in the lineup, that's what he is doing. It's simple as that. He's swinging the bat better than anybody we have in camp. He's been getting work in the outfield. We'll see. He wants a job and it's good to see. I wish we had a few more like him."
Kerry Wood may have the edge in the job for the closer's role according to a report on Cubs.com. Bobby Howry has not looked good and Carlos Marmol might be better served in the same role he had last year. Larry Rothschild discussed the closer's job with Bruce Levine on Saturday morning.
Rothschild said what might not make Wood as effective a setup man is the amount of times pitchers in that role have to get loose (Rothschild referred to it as getting up and down). He said a closer only gets loose as the 9th inning approaches. Rothschild did not indicate who had the edge and they will wait to make the decision until after the pitchers throw on back-to-back days next week.
A few thoughts...
* Glad to hear that Fukudome is fine.
* Cotts has got to go!!
* They are all outside in bridgeport alleys drinking "what ever is on sale" Beer celebrating todays win. I suppose they will start a tire fire and cook hotdogs over it. Ah, such is life in bridgeport.
I love Lou - that quote about Micah is classic.
Dusty would have said "I don't care if the kid's is hitting the ball THROUGH the center field fence - he ain't gonna play until I'm forced to play him because of an injury - and even then it won't matter because I'll give the job back to the vet hitting .187" :-)
That's a very good point about Kerry and closing. Considering it came from Rothschild though I suppose it SHOULD be a good point :-)
Jim-
I was out at the game today,and yes,they were dancing in the streets of Tucson. What I really find funny, is that part ot the reason the Sox are moving to Glendale next year is due to low attendance. Well, with the Cubbies in town, there were 11,000 plus with standing room only (gee the Sox aren't just the "other" team in Chicago, but the "other" team in Arizona as well)
I'm not sad to see the Sox go, I'm sad the Cubbies will only be coming to Tucson to play the D-Backs and Rockies.
Jeff
Jeff AZ:
Great line about the other team being the second team in Tuscon. Classic!
Speaking of Dusty, here in Cincy, Corey Patterson has pretty much been given the CF job as of Yesterday. Jay Bruce has had a terrible spring and is going to Lousville.
Tom Brennamen spent 45 minutes yesterday during the Reds/Red Sox broadcast ripping on the Cubs. How bitter is that guy?
After a week in Mesa and 3 games at HoHoKam: There are more negatives than positives to report--but it's fair to hold judgments a little longer. Z, Lieber (starters) and Hart, Wood, Marmol and Wuertz look like they can be counted on for strong performances in '08. Other than Theriot and Soto, who are doing well, our starting position players range between C- and C+ grades. Hopefully our stars can put up numbers and enthusiasm when it counts.
Non-starting position players, including Ward, Hoffpauir, Murton, Cintron, Patterson and McGehee are all doing very well. I didn't see Pie. Cintron seems a lock for a reserve IF position, and I hope Hoffpauir and Murton get decent opportuinites in the bigs. It seems likely that they have trade value for players that can help us and that we need more.
I'm guessing that Patterson is included in an O's deal for Roberts. Maybe JH can/should change course from the O's and send Hoffpauir, Patterson Veal, Donaldson and Petrick to the Giants for starter Tim Linecum and the versatile outfielder, Rajai Davis. Linecum is a 2-3 type, and my take is that we need a top starting pitcher and a lefty reliever more than anything else.
JimK...I really like yor proposal for SF and agree that what we really need is a solid SP.