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Spring Training Game Twenty-Four - Cubs 3 Rockies 7
WP - Mark Redman (2-2) LP - Sean Marshall (0-1) Save - None
Spring Training in Arizona is very convenient. The travel time from park to park is minimal even during traffic delays, except for one destination....Tucson. The Cubs made the long two-hour trip for the second time in the last six days on Friday afternoon and while the starting nine featured a few of the everyday starters, most remained in Mesa, including Lou Piniella's jersey. The Rockies trotted out their very dangerous, regular lineup and Sean Marshall responded with a good outing. Marshall allowed 2 runs on 5 hits with 2 walks and 3 strikeouts in 4 innings of work. The Cubs staff as a whole had problems once again throwing strikes and issued 5 more free passes.
Ronny Cedeno had another good day at the plate. He was 2-for-3 with a double, a walk and a RBI. Matt Murton added a pair of hits in 4 trips and Felix Pie doubled and scored the Cubs first run of the game in the 3rd inning on a single by Sean Marshall. Micah Hoffpauir was 1-for-2, and scored one of the Cubs three runs after leading off the 6th inning with a double.
The Cubs announced more cuts on Friday afternoon. Neal Cotts was optioned to Triple-A Iowa and Koyie Hill was reassigned to minor league camp. Here is the rest from Friday and updates from the rumor mill.
The players that figure to have an impact for the Cubs during the upcoming season each had a decent day. Of the Cubs 10 hits, 4 were for extra bases....3 doubles (Pie, Hoffpauir, Cedeno) and a triple by Mike Fontenot. Ryan Theriot added another hit out of the leadoff spot and from all accounts, unless a trade is made, Theriot will start the season hitting in the top spot.
On the mound, Sean Marshall had a good day against the Rockies' explosive offense and Carmen Pignatiello threw another perfect inning with 2 strikeouts. The other pitchers on Friday afternoon (Rocky Roquet, Les Walrond, Ed Campusano and Jesse Estrada) will start the season down on the farm but Rocky Roquet and Ed Campusano could play a role for the Cubs at some point during the year.
Friday was a Spring Training game....in every way.
The Cubs record in the Cactus League dropped to 10-14 with the loss....only 8 games left.
The Cubs return to HoHoKam to face the White Sox for the second and final time of the spring. Ted Lilly is scheduled to make the start against Javier Vazquez.
News from Arizona
Lou Piniella announced on Friday he is going to continue to tinker with his lineup over the last week of the exhibition season. Kosuke Fukudome will be moved back to the 2-hole behind Ryan Theriot and he will use Derrek Lee, Aramis Ramirez and Alfonso Soriano in the middle of the order.
Piniella said Lee, Ramirez and Soriano are "interchangeable" and "there's no chance right now of Soriano going back to the leadoff spot" according to a report in the Tribune. Piniella cited the cold weather to start the season as the main reason for Alfonso Soriano being dropped in the lineup.
According to a report in the Tribune, Kerry Wood did not pitch on Friday in a minor league game. The report in the Tribune stated Wood would pitch on Sunday and Monday before Piniella announces his closer.
The six pitchers that will be in the pen to start the season, barring a trade, will be....
- Michael Wuertz
- Kerry Wood
- Carlos Marmol
- Bobby Howry
- Scott Eyre
- Kevin Hart
The seventh will be either Ryan Dempster, Jon Lieber or Jason Marquis. A report in the Sun-Times indicated Dempster and Lieber would start the season in the rotation with Marquis pitching out of the pen.
From the Rumor Mill
According to a report in the Sun-Times, Tim Lahey "is more likely to get traded than waived." Lahey was a Rule 5 draft pick and must remain on the Cubs active 25-man roster for the entire season, if healthy, or by rule he would be returned to the Minnesota Twins.
A report in the Detroit Free Press on Friday morning indicated the Tigers are interested in Michael Wuertz. The report stated the Cubs have shown interest in Brandon Inge and Marcus Thames. The Cubs are looking for a right-handed option in centerfield.
Brian Roberts is starting to wear on....well, Brian Roberts according to a report in the Baltimore Sun. Apparently the Cubs players and coaches are not the only ones tired of hearing all of the trade rumors about Brian Roberts.
Roberts is tired of daily answering questions about the possible deal. The following quotes from the Baltimore Sun speaks volumes....
"At some point in your career, your name is going to be thrown out there in trades and it's going to create some uncertainty," Roberts said before the Orioles' 7-4 loss today to the St. Louis Cardinals. "But, no, I didn't expect this to go all the way through spring training. It's not something that I'd want to go through every year, that's for sure."
"When you're talking about your life circumstances, yeah, it's tough not to think about it," said Roberts, who went 0-for-4 today and hit into two double plays, his spring average dropping to .293. "I'm trying to block it out the best I can. But that's tough when everybody wants to talk about it. It's frustrating at times. And times, you say, 'It's out of my control.' Most of the time, that's how I look at it. I'm here for a reason right now and I'll make the best of every day, but there comes a time where you'd like to know what's going on."
"I think at some point that needs to happen," Roberts said. "I'm not saying it has to be today or tomorrow, but if it gets to be Opening Day, I don't really want to deal with it for two more months. I can't imagine that [a trade] would happen on April 20. That doesn't really make much sense. I'd think if it doesn't happen by the end of spring training, it's probably not going to.
"I wouldn't say it would be a letdown if [a trade] doesn't happen. I'm going to play baseball either way. I love my teammates, the city of Baltimore. It's not like it would be the end of the world. But like I've said before, everybody wants to win and you always want to be in a situation where you feel like you have the best chance of doing that."
It is a good thing Brian Roberts is a favorite of Peter Angelos, it would be interesting to see how the Orioles' front office treats players they do not like.
Jeff Zrebiec stated the Cubs offered Ronny Cedeno, Sean Gallagher, Donald Veal and a fourth player believed to be Jose Ceda earlier in the spring and the Orioles are holding out for more.
Andy MacPhail still has a hand in the Cubs future....more than a year and a half after his employment ended.
Trips to the Northside
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if macphail is seriously holding out for more, than this deal is not worth it. unless we get payton and a prospect.
With all this "tinkering" of the lineup its beginning to feel like last year all over again. It will probably be the middle of May before Lou decides where to bat everybody. As long as they win... as long as they win...
Good point, Leeeeeee.
To make a point and not to be a grouch or a pessimist, the reference "Lou to Tinker"... may be as in Tinkers to Noe to Chance re. our future. The Baltimore Sun has an excellent report today by reporter Zrebiec about prisoner of war Roberts and Mr. and Mrs. MacPhail's little boy, Andy. Roberts comes across with admirable dignity while agreeing that his situation should have been resolved before now. The lengthy report says tht A. M. wants more than Cedeno, Gallagher, Veal and a fourth player believed to be Ceda. A.M. needs to learn that pigs get slaughtered.
You wonder whether it's still worth the team disruption that sustained uncertainity brings--even for a proven all star and exemplary team player. If Roberts happens by next Monday for the three named players and someone lesser than Ceda, I'm OK with the deal. Otherwise JH should look in different directions.
The San Jose Mercury reports that the Giants have talked to the Angels about acquiring first baseman, Casey Kochman and catcher Jeff Mathis, and the Mercury says the Angels likely want to keep Kochman.
It's late for me to be tinkering too, but the Giants need corner infielders badly. JH might be able to get Fields from the White Sox for Colvin + (since they can't trade Crede)and then package Hoffpauir, Fields + in a deal for the Giants Lincecum and their surplus switch hitting outfielder, Rajai Davis. Or perhaps, a deal with Cedeno, Hoffpauir, Hill and Petrick gets us Lincecum and Davis. Marshall would replace Hill. By all reports, Lincecum is a top of the order guy, and we need one badly. And let's hope that the big stepups in performance, that often happens the last 10 days of ST, happens for most of our underachieving players.
Hello guys...
Good thinking Jim K but why include R.Hill? Lincecum would be awesome...I could forget about Roberts if we could get him. I believe Hoffpauir/Ceda/Gallagher/Colvin/Samardja could get the Giants attention. Hill is a very good pitcher and so is Marshall. This would be my rotation;
1-BigZ[rhp]
2-R.Hill[lhp]
3-T.Lincecum[rhp]
4-T.Lilly[lhp]
5-Marshall/Lieber
Lincecum and Zambrano being basically as effective but with Hill in the middle to work the lefty/righy combination. Then Lilly would be the best #4 in the league and Lieber one of the top #5's. That is a solid rotation IMO.
Give me a sec. Jim [TP] I'm google-ing Lincecum's girl friend to see if he can make our team!
Agustin:
Since yoe are googling, do Alejandra Tejada.
(Miggy's wife) Caliente!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Nice to see that we're back with an emphasis on player's wives and girlfriends. How about sticking to some meaningful posts.
Cary:
Just a change of pace.
There is nothing out there right now. Same old, Same old, in regards to Brian Roberts, Coco Crisp.
One guy hates Marquis, another guy hates Dempster.
Hopefully, some trades will go down and we can analyze. Untill then, I'm looking for some thong shots of Alejandra Tejada.
As a Tucson Resident I feel the need to defend spring training baseball in Tucson. First, let's not forget there are three teams down here that have to travel to Phoenix as well, so the feeling is mutual. Second, it is only about 1 hour 20 minutes from my driveway to Mesa, all Freeway, not very taxing at all. The trip from Ho Hokam to Glendale is far from convenient and takes 45 minutes on a good day. Finally, a bus trip should not effect performance of players. If this were true, than boy would we be in trouble during the regular seasone traveling on plane rides that are much longer. Tucson is a beautiful town and has far less distractions than the hustle-bustle and nightlife of Phoenix.
Jeff, I meant no disrespect to the area. The Cubs players for a long time have seemed to avoid that trip as do a lot of the veterans that make the trip to Mesa.
Arizona is much better for Spring Training baseball than Florida...and that is the reason more and more teams are moving there.
Jeff is right about the Tucson trip not being a tough one--unless your K. Wood and have back spasms. We visited a retired family member there last week (retired Army Colonel and 2 tour Vietnam patriot). He points out that, with today's prima donna athletes, quiet Tucson is losing out to Phoenix because a lot of players want more action off the field. Catering to vets is so out of hand that many are left behind on 10 mile trips around Phoenix.
Re. why Hill?, I included him, Austin because I figured the Giants would want a ready starter in return. Ceda, Gallagher and Samardzjia are likely one too many pitchers for a team that needs position players more. Cedeno Hoffpauir and Donaldson with one of Veal, Ceda or Samardzjia might work. I was trying to keep Ceda and Samardzjia.
JImK I vote for you to replace tinkerer JH... you've always got interesting creative ideas, a bit far fetched but creative.
By the way Andy, you're really not any more dynamic than you were in Chicago; you're just as dumb in a new way. How long do you think its going to take GM's to figure out your wimpy ploy of playing only when you're dealt the full house. If you don't know what you want or can reasonably expect to get by now you are a moron. Skip that thought. You are a moron. Have fun rubbing Angelo's toes.
JImK I vote for you to replace tinkerer JH... you've always got interesting creative ideas, a bit far fetched but creative.
By the way Andy, you're really not any more dynamic than you were in Chicago; you're just as dumb in a new way. How long do you think its going to take GM's to figure out your wimpy ploy of playing only when you're dealt the full house. If you don't know what you want or can reasonably expect to get by now you are a moron. Skip that thought. You are a moron. Have fun rubbing Angelo's toes.
No worries Neil, I'm just a proud Tucsonan!
Jeff
Pat Hughes just said Kerry Wood is throwing today.
Cary…relax, it is just having a little fun with that subject but in a respectful manner. Not intended to offend you or any CCO pal. I don’t think I have ever used foul language here or written anything to insult other posters. In fact, a couple of weeks ago somebody was not happy with similar comments that I made and charged at me and I kept quiet because everybody is entitled to their opinion and I respect that, the same way I respect you. But we are all grown ups here and I happen to note that not only some baseball players have a lot of money but they also [some] have pretty wives and girlfriends. To me, that is cool…not insulting.
JimK, I agree with what you said and I had not noted that what SF need is more position players. Still I believe that keeping Hill is as important for the championship as adding a future ace like Lincecum. Given the fact that SF was ready to give Tim Lincecum straight up for Toronto’s Rios [great player also] I don’t feel that your suggestion is impossible to accomplish and would probably be a stronger move than Roberts. Especially if we get to keep those arms in AAA.
Do we need a lefty out of the pen or what? I'll bet Lou bit the end off his sharpie as Eyre kept hitting bats. Eyre gives the impression that he no longer has the skills to be effective.
On March 26th (I think)all teams must release players with conditional contracts or pay them a full year's salary. There should be a lot of roster tweaking about that time, and maybe JH picks up veteran lefty pitcher who can help. Someone likely knows, but I think such a player can be signed to a minor league contract and kept in reserve at AAA.
Agustin,
I could be wrong, but I believe it was SF that killed the Lincecum for Rios deal. The Giants decided to keep Lincecum and Cain and build their furture around those two future aces. I think the Giants are trying move veterans like Dave Roberts, Ray Durham and Randy Winn to make room for the few young, talented position players they have like Rajai Davis, Eugenio Velez and Kevin Frandsen.