The Cubs got back to work on Day Three of Camp Lou IV. The team received good news on Ted Lilly’s right knee. Lilly complained of soreness in his knee on Thursday and went to the doctor to have it examined The MRI revealed normal wear and tear and Ted Lilly returned to the practice field
Ted Lilly threw on flat ground from about 150 feet under the supervision of Mark O’Neal, Lou Piniella and Larry Rothschild.
While the Cubs were receiving the good news about Ted Lilly, Jim Hendry was busy in Florida with the Cubs’ first arbitration hearing since 1993. Ryan Theriot and the Cubs could not come to terms on a contract and went to arbitration.
Ryan Theriot, the last arbitration case in the majors, will receive either $3.4 million this season … or the $2.6 million the Cubs offered. The ruling is expected on Saturday.
Here are a few notes from day three as the countdown to the first full squad workout has begun … Notes from Mesa
- Only six position players have not reported to Spring Training … Alfonso Soriano, Aramis Ramirez, Ryan Theriot, Derrek Lee, Kosuke Fukudome and Starlin Castro.
- Kevin Millar met the media for the first time on Friday. Millar joked about begging Jim Hendry for a job and discussed the importance of team chemistry.
- Sean Marshall, Carlos Silva, Tom Gorzelanny and Jeff Samardzija are the leading candidates for the fifth spot in the Cubs’ rotation according to ESPN.
- If Xavier Nady, Koyie Hill, Mike Fontenot and Jeff Baker make the Opening Day roster, eight or nine players will compete for the final two bench jobs according to ESPN … Micah Hoffpauir, Andres Blanco, Chad Tracy, Sam Fuld, Brad Snyder, Kevin Millar, Bryan LaHair, Tyler Colvin and Bobby Scales.
- Xavier Nady worked with Larry Rothschild on his throwing mechanics.
- Carlos Silva’s weight was a big topic of conversation on Friday. Silva showed up to camp out of shape … and concerns over how the Cubs will be able to use Silva have begun to arise.
Video from ESPN
Crane Kenney on Wrigley Field Improvements
Other Tidbits
“Four team’s fates could rest on starters’ bounce back efforts” according to a report from the Sporting News. Carlos Zambrano was one of the four named in the report … an issue discussed on XM Radio by Seth Everett and Jim Duquette. Everett described labeled Zambrano a “reluctant ace” while Duquette said he has been wanting for Zambrano to consistently pitch to his talent level for many years.
Baseball Prospectus released their NL Central preview on Friday. The Cubs are picked second behind the Cardinals (the only team in the central PECOTA is projecting to have a winning season). BP thinks the Cubs could win in 2010 with the amount of star power they have … along with some overdue good luck. On the negative side, BP pointed out the older, injury-prone lineup might keep them from winning.
Well, there’s the update … and I am sticking to it!
CCO Radio reports to Spring Training on February 23 with the first show of the new season.
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