The first pitch of the Cubs’ 2011 Cactus League schedule is just a day away …
Mike Quade announced his first three lineups of the spring Friday and more pitching probables for the first four games were released.
Kosuke Fukudome will leadoff a lineup Sunday that Quade could run out on Opening Day against the Pirates according to Bruce Levine … that is if Clint Hurdle sends a right-hander to the mound in the first game of the year.
Mike Quade also said he will not name a captain for the 2011 Cubs. Quade does not believe in naming captains. The Cubs skipper said that he is the captain of his team.
Here is the update as the exhibition season has begun around Major League Baseball. Spring Training Pitching Schedule
Here is the updated pitching schedule for the first games of the spring:
- Sunday, Feb. 27 vs. A’s – Carlos Zambrano, Matt Garza, Carlos Marmol, Jeff Samardzija
- Monday, Feb. 28 vs. Brewers – Randy Wells, Andrew Cashner, Kerry Wood, Sean Marshall
- Tuesday, March 1 at Giants (Scottsdale) – Ryan Dempster, Casey Coleman
- Wednesday, March 2 at Brewers (Maryvale) – Carlos Silva, James Russell
- Thursday, March 3 vs. Rangers – Braden Looper
Starting Lineups
Mike Quade announced his starting lineups for the first three games of the Cactus League schedule Friday … as well as the backups for Sunday’s opener.
Starting Lineup for Sunday, Feb. 27 vs. A’s
Kosuke Fukudome – RF
Starlin Castro – SS
Marlon Byrd – CF
Aramis Ramirez – 3B
Carlos Pena – 1B
Alfonso Soriano – LF
Geovany Soto – C
Blake DeWitt – 2B
Carlos Zambrano – P
Backups for Sunday, Feb. 27 vs. A’s
Tyler Colvin – RF
Darwin Barney – SS
Fernando Perez – CF
Josh Vitters – 3B
Bryan LaHair – 1B
Brett Jackson – LF
Jeff Baker – 2B
Starting Lineup for Monday, Feb. 28 vs. Brewers
Reed Johnson – CF
Darwin Barney – SS
Tyler Colvin – RF
Alfonso Soriano – LF
Carlos Pena – 1B
Jeff Baker – 2B
Marquez Smith – 3B
Koyie Hill – C
Randy Wells – P
Starting Lineup for Tuesday, March 1 at Giants
Kosuke Fukudome – RF
Starlin Castro – SS
Marlon Byrd – CF
Aramis Ramirez – 3B
Geovany Soto – C
Blake DeWitt – 2B
Reed Johnson – LF
Bryan LaHair – 1B
Ryan Dempster – P
The starting pitchers, as well as those competing for a spot in the rotation, are expected to throw two innings in their first outing of the spring … the relievers are slated for an inning apiece. All pitchers will be on a pitch count.
As for the position players, all starters are expected to receive two at bats or play a minimum of five innings.
According to a report from Carrie Muskat, Kosuke Fukudome is the favorite right now to hit leadoff when the season begins.
News, Notes and Tweets
According to a tweet from Dave Kaplan, Geovany Soto said his shoulder is 100 percent healthy and he feels better than when he was 19.
Friday was the Cubs final day of the spring at Fitch Park. The team moved down the street to HoHoKam and will hold practice there Saturday. Minor League camp begins a week from Monday (March 7) at Fitch.
Angel Guzman is making progress and will face hitters for the first time Wednesday. Guzman will throw batting practice. Wednesday will mark the first time Guzman has faced hitters since 2009.
According to a report from Bruce Levine, Mike Quade had a conversation with Aramis Ramirez “and stressed to him that he would like good communication this season.”
Brett Jackson likes the fact that Mike Quade is a hands-on-manager. Quade corrected Jackson on a baserunning gaffe Friday and Jackson liked the way Quade handled the situation.
According to a report from Bruce Levine, Braden Looper and Todd Wellemeyer are ready to compete for a spot in the rotation. Looper and Wellemeyer are long shots to make the team and Looper said early in camp he wasn’t sure if he wanted to pitch out of the pen. The Cubs do not have a financial commitment to either pitcher if they do not break camp with the team.
Reed Johnson is the Cubs’ feel-good outfielder according to a report from the Sun-Times.
The clock is ticking on Josh Vitters according to a report from Comcast SportsNet.
Video from Mesa
Mike Quade on team captains … From Carrie Mukast:
“I don’t do the ‘captain’ thing. I get hockey and other sports, but I’m the captain, and that’s not my line. Somebody else used that who was a lot smarter and better than me — it was probably [Jim] Leyland. That’s how I look at this stuff. I don’t believe in putting that on somebody because everybody leads a different way. All of a sudden the ‘C’ is on your jersey, and I know some great players who were not comfortable with that at all. I would never put that on people. Performance more times than not starts leadership happening. Some guys do it verbally, some guys do it behind the scenes.”
The Cactus League
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Well, there is the update … and it’s time for baseball!