Spring Training Game Twenty-Seven: Cubs (13-12) vs. Mariners (11-11-1)
Game Time - 3:05pm C.T.
Coverage - TV: Comcast SportsNet - Radio: XM Channel 181
Location - HoHoKam Park, Mesa
Carlos Zambrano (1-1, 4.50/1.00) vs. Erik Bedard (1-0, 1.59/1.24)
Countdown to Opening Day...15 days. The Cubs will face the Mariners for the fourth and final time in the Cactus League today. Carlos Zambrano is slated to make his fourth start against the former Oriole Erik Bedard.
The very talented lefty needs a bounce-back season for the Mariners. After being dealt to Seattle before the 2008 season in a lopsided traded, Bedard was supposed to be the new ace of the Mariners' staff and led them into the post-season and beyond. Bedard struggled, spent most of the year on the DL and had many in Seattle calling the deal with the Orioles for Bedard one of the worst in Mariners' history...and had many of the experts calling the trade (five-for-one...Adam Jones, George Sherrill, Chris Tillman, Kam Mickolio and Tony Butler) one of the worst in the history of the game.
Derrek Lee is expected back in the starting lineup today...
Carlos Zambrano is coming off his longest outing of the spring against the Dodgers on St. Patrick's Day. He allowed three runs on three hits in five innings with a strikeout and two walks. But the highlight for Z's afternoon was the home run, double and four RBI he recorded off of Randy Wolf.
In his first three starts this spring, Zambrano has allowed five runs, all earned, on seven hits in 10 innings...with a hit batsman, three walks and nine strikeouts.
Erik Bedard will make his fourth start of the Cactus League season today. He has pitched rather well this spring for the Mariners and many think Bedard could be dealt during the season in order for Seattle to try to recoup some of what they lost for Bedard.
The talented southpaw has given p only one run on five hits in 5 2/3 innings with two walks and three strikeouts.
Tidbits from the Desert
Rich Harden will throw 70-75 pitches in a minor league game on Wednesday, the Cubs last day off of the spring. Multiple reports on Sunday morning indicated that after missing his start on Friday with the flu Harden's first turn in the rotation could be skipped when the season begins. Harden is saying he will be ready.
Ted Lilly expected back on Tuesday from the WBC and will throw a simulated game on one of the backfields at HoHoKam. Lilly has not gotten his work in while with Team USA and there are concerns about how far behind he may be in his preparation for the season.
Lilly is not expected to pitch on Sunday night for Team USA and if they make it to the Championship game against Korea, Jake Peavy is penciled in as Davey Johnson's starter.
Larry Rothschild on Talkin' Baseball
Larry Rothschild joined Bruce Levine Saturday morning and discussed the Cubs' pitching staff. Chad Gaudin was the first hurler asked about and Rothschild said they are planning on him making one more spring start then deciding on what will be his best role on the team.
Jeff Samardzija has thrown better this spring according to Rothschild than his numbers show. He explained the numbers "are deceiving" because he is throwing the ball much better than last year and his working on a number of things. Rothschild said they have really been working on his delivery and it is almost there.
Angel Guzman and his out of options status was the next topic in the conversation. Rothschild was asked about how much influence the front office may or may not have when it comes to showcasing pitchers for trades. He said that he's never received a call from the Cubs' front office to say pitch this guy on a certain day. Rothschild explained that the front office is aware of their pitching schedule during the spring...and have plenty advanced notice of which pitchers are going to throw on which days.
Rothschild added that the team does have to be aware of player's options. He pointed out that the Cubs are trying to win now as well as prepare for the future.
Levine asked if the absence of Geovany Soto has hurt the pitching staff this spring. Rothschild said it had not and pointed out with the length of Spring Training this year he would not have played everyday and they needed to look at the back-up options behind the plate. Rothschild added that Soto is a leader on the field. He takes control of the veteran pitchers as well as the younger ones not to mention he calls a great game.
Rothschild was asked which Carlos Zambrano will we see out of Spring Training. Rothschild said it can change quickly but Carlos has come into camp with a sense of purpose. He added that he thinks Zambrano has lost more weight since he reported to camp back in February.
It is a day-to-day thing with Zambrano according to Rothschild but he looks like "he's on a mission and if he can maintain it, he will have a great year." Rothschild finished by saying, "but it's how he handles the bumps in the road" that is key.
Cubs Prospects
Bleacher Nation released the pre-season poll of the Cubs' top prospects according to multiple Cubs' bloggers. Ace has done an excellent job at gathering the information from some of the popluar Cubs' blogs on the net.
Let's Talk Cubs Baseball....
Today's lineup:
Soriano - LF
Miles - 2B
Lee - 1B
Bradley - RF
Ramirez - 3B
Soto - C
Blanco - SS
Gathright - CF
Zambrano - P
Guzman, Marmol, Patton and Wells are expected to pitch as well.
Z is lookin pretty suave there. Man, it would be nice for him to step up this year.
Derrek Lee saying, "Hey! There's your slugging!"
That was a good ab by Lee
I sure hope that Jake Fox makes the team....give him the shot as the RH bat off the bench who can back up at 3B and also be the third catcher if needed. He deserves a shot.....
Joe...good to hear from you and I don't see Fox making the Opening Day roster.
With them starting the season with 12 pitchers, that only leaves a back-up catcher and two spots in the bullpen.
Bench:
Miles
Gathright
Johnson
Hoffpauir
(back-up catcher)
Who do you take off?
Hey Neil....thanks....been hectic getting my daughter settled...but it's been great. Time to raise another Cubs fan!
Anyhow....personally although I know it won't happen, I would take Fox as the backup catcher. He may not be the greatest behind the plate, but I'm sure he can handle what 25-30 starts? The rest of the time the back uop catcher is there for his bat. Fox tops both Bako and Hill by a long shot as a bat. He would compliment Hoffpauir's LH power bat as the RH version.
If they keep Hill (I sure hope it's NOT Bako) then I would actually consider Gathright. Again, his limited use will be as a pinch runner and late inning defensive replacement. As Aaron said I'd much rather have his bat on the bench who will provide much more use.
As I said before...I have a HUGE concern about our bench....Hoffpauir is good...but after him...not much on the side of offense. Miles may get a base hit for us--but certainly no power. Johnson is decent with minimal power. But Gathright? sure... Hill/Bako? sure.... They need to do something.
Funny these posts mention Dunn....I thought of Aaron this weekend with Dunn playing defense at 1B during Wednesday's game and committing 2 errors..one being a throwing error that led to 4 runs. Then in tonight's game against Japan, they bring in a situation LH reliever to strike Dunn out swinging...and then Dunn ends the game by looking at strike 3. Thank GOD he didnt wind up in blue pinstripes.
If it came down to having to take one off, I take down that stiff Hoffpauir. Sorry. He's just a bat.
But alas, I know that's just silly. Why do we have to take either Bako or Hill. REALLY?
I know Lou is taking one of the two so it's a moot point. But still.
Matt the problem with Fox is that he cannot catch the ball. He can hit it a mile. Yesterday you mentioned him at third...I do not remember the last action he had there this spring.
He hasn't. And you're completely right.
He's done it a few times in the minors. And here's my argument. If he can do just the fundamentals, is he really a liability?
Everyone's idea of a backup is someone who can defend and get by with his bat. Why not try him at catcher though and 3B in a pinch?
He can be the anti-backup catcher. A so-so defensive catcher who can flat out rake?
Thinking about it, I sound kind of unfair. Fox = Hoff. He's just a bat too.
I do think Fox is a little more versatile though. And younger.
RC Cola...Z had to enjoy that a little
I enjoyed it.
XM reported this morning that Rich Hill will likely begin the season on the DL
Because of the flu? Or just because of his lack of work this spring?
Dealing with a couple of nagging injuries...mainly elbow soreness.
http://baltimore.orioles.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090322&content_id=4046362&vkey=news_bal&fext=.jsp&c_id=bal
Targeting for an April return
I read that as Rich Harden..Sorry! Haha, phew.
Hill, Harden, Prior...
Same guy.. ^^
I'm rooting for Hill though.
With Soriano at first, I wonder why there wasn't a hit and run with Miles? I would have at least liked to have seen Miles bunt him over or go to the right side.
Right there with you...wonder if someone missed a sign. Lou has been hitting and running.
Nice arm on Blanco
That Blanco is a keeper......or at least a high quality trading piece.
Bob: "What in the world.."
Matt: "Lawl"
Matt..I missed what you are talking about. Please explain
When Bob Brenly noticed that the RF didnt even catch Soriano's flyout in foul territory.
He said that and I laughed, haha
I'm sorry...I know it's only ST, but when your pitcher (Z) is supplying most of the offense and you have most of your everyday players out there....that's pathetic, quite frankly, and reminiscent of the 2nd half of last year. How many times did we see big Z provide most of the offense when our everyday players couldn't get it done?
Aaron, did you see yesterday's game?
Yeah,
Soriano-LF
Theriot-SS
Bradley-RF
Fontenot-2B
Those are the only regulars that played, and went a combined 6 for 11 with 5 RBI.
I'm still not sold on this lineup. For cripes' sake, I'm I the only one that has SERIOUS concerns about our everyday players?!?! I just think it's a weird lineup with Lee in the 3 hole. You have to put your best run producers in the 3 and 4 spots...IMO, that would be either ARAM or Bradley (when healthy)...or Hoffpauir.
Am I the only one that thinks Lee makes our team worse, and not better? You take his awful salary ($13 million), and put a deserving player (Hoffpauir-$400,000) in his spot, and you got yourself the money necessary to go after a Jake Peavy or other high dollar player that can contribute.
I love Reed Johnson to death, but the guy is NOT an everyday player at this point. He's an awesome bench player. Fukudome is a joke, and he's stinking up the WBC right now as well. We'll have a combined $25 million locked up in 2 players that don't even belong on the roster. I would've rather had Abreu in CF than Fukudome right now.
Nice hit by Soriano...solid single to left center. Did not appear to be swinging for the fences with the bases loaded.
Aaron...Bobby Abreu in center? You lost me there.
I constantly hear your concerns over the Cubs everyday lineup...offensively. But players have to catch the ball. Just ask Team USA how that Adam Dunn experiment at first base worked out.
Marmol is throwing but not pitching.
Nice pitch by Guzman on the swinging strikeout by Jeff Clement
Neil,
I was being sarcastic there, but my point was...what is our identity? Are we a power hitting team? Are we strictly just a "balanced" team where it doesn't matter what type of hitter, just as long as your Batting stance is listed as:LH or S....I mean, really, what does out lineup say about us?
Soriano-when healthy is both power and speed
Theriot-slap hitting speed
Lee-contact hitter nowadays
ARAM-power
Bradley-all-around when healthy
Soto-power
Fontenot-power and excellent contact hitter
Fukudome-nothing as of late last year and early returns on the WBC
Lee, ARAM, and Bradley are the only ones you can realistic count on to have OBP's in the .360 and higher range, and when they're your primary source of power, that doesn't exactly bode well for your run producing ability, does it?
I would've loved anyone other than Fukudome in CF, and truthfully, either Dunn or Abreu in favor of Bradley (based solely on health), because if Soriano is leading off, and Lee can't be counted on as a run producer anymore, then you MUST have someone else you can count on to be a run producer and stay in your lineup for 140-150 games every year.
I know I sound like a broken record, Neil, and I totally understand if you and others might be tired of hearing it, but I'm just pointing it out as we go along, and I notice things.
I've noticed that our two biggest sluggers/run producers this spring won't even see much of the field this year, while one (Fox) won't even see an MLB field in all likelihood.
I think at this point, Gathright's a virtual lock to make the roster, and that saddens me, because as baseball purist, I hate the one dimensional players like Edgar Martinez and many other DH's, along with Gathright, that either can't even play a single damn position in the field, or can't even hit a ball off a tee squarely like Gathright. I'm sure he's swifter than the wind, and a great human being, but I cannot handle having player like that on our roster.
Even though they might not be tremendous with the glove, at least Fox and Hoffpauir can play multiple positions: Fox (Catcher, corner IF and corner OF), Hoffpauir (corner OF and 1B).
The funny thing is, with Fukudome and Johnson on the roster, all we really need is a corner IF/OF guy, because they can handle CF. In an extra inning game, I'd much rather have a Fox on my team than Gathright.
Anyway, that's just my point of view on all this. I think with the uncertainty surrounding Bradley's health...and decline of Lee, you almost have to have Fox AND Hoffpauir on the roster.