As many know, Spring Training wins and losses are meaningless and the same can be said about individual stats. Players often work on things they would like to improve on, especially pitchers. Take for example Craig Counsell of the Brewers who has changed his exaggerated batting stance and dropped his hands making him unrecognizable in the cage by his former manager. Counsell is hitting the cover off the ball in Arizona this spring (.600/.647/.733 in 7 games, 15 at bats).
Lou Piniella has been vocal in recent days about his players becoming a little more focused on preparing for the season. Regardless of the length of the exhibition season he has become concerned about certain players bat speed and is planning on getting more at bats and playing time for the players figured to be on the Cubs' Opening Day roster.
After Sunday's sixth straight loss the ever-impatient Piniella became a little vocal.
"Look, spring training wins and losses don't mean anything, but you don't want to get in the habit of getting your butts kicked every day either. That I can tell you, and that's exactly what's happening here."
Here is a look at the stats after the first 13 games of the players that should be introduced in Houston on April 6 and ones that could be there as well....
Spring Training stats have always been, and always will be, very deceiving. Some veterans will go at their own pace just tying to get in their work while others take the exhibition season a little more serious. For example, no one will soon forget the spring Nomar Garciaparra put together before the 2005 season. Nomar hit the cover off the ball but once the games started he struggled mightily before spending a majority of the year on the DL.
Then there are the young players that light it up and as soon as a third deck is added to the stadium they are playing in, they forget how to hit the ball.
But one thing is for certain, it is good sign as the spring wears on to see the veterans driving the ball offensively and showing better command with all of their pitches off the mound.
Position Players
(click to enlarge)
(* denotes participating in the WBC)
Kosuke Fukudome (as of Sunday night) is 1-for-4 in the first two games of the WBC with two runs scored, four walks and two strikeouts (.250/.625/.250/.875)
Geovany Soto was 2-for-4 with a double, a walk and a RBI in Team Puerto Rico's first game. (.500/.600/.750/1.350)
- Koyie Hill is slowly becoming the front-runner for the back-up catcher's job. The pitchers like throwing to Hill and if he keeps hitting, the return of Paul Bako will be cut short.
- Mike Fontenot is hitting the cover off the ball while Aaron Miles is, well...struggling at best.
- While early reports from Mesa suggested Luis Rivas might make the Cubs' Opening Day roster, the very versatile Bobby Scales is performing better than Rivas. Piniella needs to give Scales more at bats against Major League pitching and see what he is made of.
- Derrek Lee and Alfonso Soriano need to start hitting. No more excuses and it does not matter it is "only March 9."
The Pitching Staff
(click to enlarge)
(* denotes participating in the WBC)
Carlos Marmol struck out three in his one inning of work in Team Dominican Republic's loss on Saturday. For more on Marmol's outing, check out this post on the CCO Community Blog from Dorasaga.
Ted Lilly is slated to start game three for Team USA.
- The battle for the last spot in the rotation should be down to Sean Marshall and Aaron Heilman. Jeff Samardzija hits a wall after 35 pitches and Chad Gaudin should be the Cubs' long man out of the pen.
- Kevin Hart likely pitched his way to Iowa on Sunday and early returns on Jeff Stevens point toward Triple-A as well.
- Most have ruled out David Patton and Jason Waddell, but they have pitched extremely well. Piniella should run them out against Major League hitters and see if they can have the same success.
- Randy Wells has been perfect in very limited work, time for him to see more time on a mound.
The first 13 games are just that the first 13 games, but certain players need to start stepping it up soon.
I love the article in today's Tribune about Lou's frustration with the team's current performance. So let's see...he can't motivate them in the playoffs, and now he can't get them mentally prepared for the spring...gee just a great manager we have. Many here will say it's the players on the field, adn that they have to be accountable for readiness. But here we go again with Lou. It's getting very old, like him.
On the field, I agree with some posts from yesterday that Derrick Lee looks done. It's time for Hoffpauer to get the majority of playing time at first. We should have traded Lee to SF for a Sanchez or Cain.
And while it's still early in the spring session, when do we finally say "enough is enough" with Soriano at leadoff? But let's keep pampering his poor ego.
I personally have liked the majority of Hendry moves over the years, but the Lee and Soriano deals (time/$'s/no trade clauses) have been brutal. Boy, I would have loved to have seen DeRosa in left fulltime, and us pawn off Soriano to any potential taker (even for a bunch of prospects).
Hey Bryan - I agree with all your comments. And speaking of DeRo- He had 4 RBIs last night, and he looked good against Venezuela.. About made my cry in my frosty, refreshing, delicious, Coors Light.. :D
As it stands now, I see Gaudin, Hart, and Vizciano as the ones who are on the outside looking in. Maybe Samardzija is on the ropes too. I have not seen that change-up he needed for that 3rd pitch and I don't remeber his delivery ever looking so Turnbow-ish as it does now. Maybe it's the hair?
I am very pleasantly surprised to see Cotts doing so well. Although, he was pitching well at the end of last year too. The Cubs really need that lights out lefty from the pen.
It's all "what if" now with DeRosa gone, but the guy would have given us Soriano numbers at a third of the salary, and with more position flexibility and positive leadership.
These are times when you just hate no-trade clauses, as it handcuffs the team flexibility. And I still question what warranted 8 years and a no-trade clause to Soriano when he couldn't make it work with the Yankees, Rangers and Nats. Again, I like most of Hendry's move (e.g. Lilly, Ramirez) but the Soriano deal really is, and will continue to be bad (5 more years to go folks on this).
And then you look at the DeRosa deal and the only thing we have to show is Stevens, who's now projected to start at AAA. That was the best Hendry could yield. Ouch!
I would have welcomed a lineup of:
Theriot SS
Fontenot 2B
Ramirez 3B
Bradley RF
Soto C
Hoffpauer 1B
DeRosa LF
Johnson/FDome CF
But no such luck.
Inuendos and outuendos about comments on the last two topics: About Bradley's performance, the predictions of record (Feb 12th) from Aaron (The Bull) Dunn and JimK (The Saber) Bradley are: By the Bull, in 140 AB's, Bradley will be .270, 20 and 70 while The Saber said .295, 25 and 95. We'll have none of this slipping in a .315 now.
It's a little early to be burying the Cubs for 2009 and holding final services for DLee, Sori et.al. Sadly, moving Wood's and DeRo's comp were deemed necessary to make other player moves within the budget constraints--like re-sign Demp and sign Bradley. The big, long-term contracts were mostly applauded at the time they were done; and (again) sadly, most of those (throughout MLB) end up having some disappointing consequences.
Speaking of final services that are timely, here's a report some may have missed that I pass along with reverance. The Pillsbury Doughboy died recently of a yeast infection and complications from repeated pokes in the belly. He was buried in a lightly greased coffin.
Dozens of celebrities turned out to pay their respects, including Mrs. Butterworth, Hungry Jack, the Hostess Twinkies (aka the White Sox), Betty Crocker. Captain Crunch (aka Milton Bradley) attended from the Cubs organiztion. Aunt Jemima (aka Amy Finnell) delivered the eulogy and lovingly described Doughboy as a man who never knew how much he was kneaded.
In his AP story on the funeral, Agustin reported the funeral was held at 350 for about 30 minutes. For now, I'm suggesting that we keep hope alive for the Blue (at least until Memorial Day). I'm also suggesting that we all take pride in the representives of the Cubs/Faithful who paid repects for all of us at the Doughboy's funeral. He was a roll model for millions and was one smart cookie.
In January, I really thought Lou was trying to diffuse the significance of Soriano's position in the batting order, and that he had full intentions of hitting him lower. I was wrong. I cannot fathom how Lou can put him back there at leadoff. Wasn't the playoffs enough of a MAJOR sign? I don't care how many games the Cubs won with him at #1 last year. What I want to know is; what was the record against teams with winning records using starters with an ERA of 4.00 or less with Sori at leadoff? THAT is the true indicator. Statistically Sori hits best 7th. He's also not a liability there. I'd like to see:
1. CF Johnson/Fukudome/Gathright
2. 2B Fontenot/Miles
3,4,5 *interchangeable - Bradley/Ramirez/1B (Lee/Hoffpauir)
6. C Soto
7. LF Soriano
8. SS Theriot
*#1 Johnson against lefty starters
*#2 and #8 are interchangeable
*#3,#4, #5 are interchangeable based on lefty/righty starting pitcher
* Platoon Lee/Hoffpauir -
I'm curious to get your thoughts JimK. Of course others are welcome.
Lee with an RBI double, and Soriano is 1-2 with a two run HR so far, Cubs up 4-1. I wonder if Lou had his little pep talk today.
Lou Piniella has consistently said Miles and Fontenot will play a "mix, not a platoon" at 2B. So far, Fontenot is mashing the ball while Miles has struggled mightily. I strongly believe Fontenot should be the everyday second baseman despite his physiological limitations on defense. No matter who plays second, our middle infield defense will be average.
D-Ro is gone, gotta move on boys. I wish he was here but he is not. I really don't want to spend the rest of the spring and the 2009 season playing what if Derosa were still a cub. It's like wishing you could have sex with your incredibly hot ex-wife. Not gonna happen.
StevenF....A couple of months ago, these lineup suggestions were made--to maximize our hitting potential. Since Theriot and Fontentot both hit over .300 and had high OBP's against right handed AND left handed pitchers last year, I had them batting first and second. The biggest surprise--suggested by their effectiveness or not against lefty and righty pitching--was the platoon of Hoffpauir and Soriano in left. Off the top of my head, I don't remember the stats, but Sori sucked against right handed pitching and Hoffpauir creamed right handed pitching.
I don't remember now, but I think I had Bradley third and Aram fourth, the Hoffpauir/Soriano combo fifth and Lee sixth. I'm remembering Soto was seventh and the center fielder eighth.
At the time, I joked that Sori would be the most expensive platoon player in baseball. That won't happen because the biggest contracts play most of the time for reasons that are not always clear.
It seems to be usually the case that lineups reflect a manager's bias and his judgement. (I'm pimping for Lou and other managers here.) Earl Weaver was all about sensational pitching and the 3 run homer.
Lou's biases include preferring older players and keeping them comfortable. So he probably tells himself: Theriot wears down, Fontenot is likely not an everyday player, etc. re Johnson and Dome. Soriano is comfortable in the leadoff spot and the Cubs win a very high percentage of games when he hits there. I am manager of the year and I have won a ring as a mangager. I'll bat Soriano lead off most of the time.
Brian, before you start ripping on Derrek Lee and making way for Hoffpauir, remember the most important aspect of Lee's game; his defense. His offensive numbers weren't the best last year at .291/20 HR/90 RBI, but still decent. Hoffpauir's glove is questionable at best, while Lee seems to save errant throws from reaching the dugout at least once or twice a game.
And Lou? How quickly you forget that he's the first manager since 1906-'08 to take the Cubs to the playoffs in back to back seasons. I realize this doesn't make up for our failures in the playoffs, but a team doesn't win 97 games by mistake..