I freely admit this: I followed almost none of this afternoon's game, because when it's 75 degrees and sunny in Chicago in mid-March, it is far too nice to sit in the house when the game's not on radio or TV.
photo via d.yimg.com
The Cubs beat the Dodgers 12-3, behind a 17-hit attack that was led by... Carlos Zambrano? Yes, that's right. Z had a three-run homer and an RBI double and since most pitchers don't get two at-bats in a spring training game, much less get two hits, I'm sure Z was much prouder of his batting performance than his five innings of pitching, in which he allowed three hits and all three Dodger runs.
Koyie Hill had four hits including a two-run homer and is now hitting .414 for the spring. Yes, I know. Spring stats. Meaningless. Still, if Lou is evaluating Hill vs. Paul Bako, what else does he have to go on? Neither one of them has hit much during the regular season, and Hill's outhitting Bako now. If Hill could hit 150 points lower than that in the regular season, he would be a useful backup catcher. Reed Johnson had three hits and Andres Blanco, who's still around camp (hmmm... maybe he still has a shot at the backup IF job) had two hits, two runs scored and two RBI.
The bullpen, today consisting of Sean Marshall, getting in some work, Neal Cotts, Randy Wells and Kevin Gregg, allowed two hits and no walks in four innings today, a nice performance. I still think Gregg seems better suited for exactly what he did today: come in to start an inning (preferably, the ninth), with no one out and no one on. Carlos Marmol can put out the 7th and 8th inning fires and set up. That's how I would do it, anyway.
Really, you could have gotten all of this from the box score, like I did. It was a good day for Z. It was a gorgeous day in Chicago. Hope you were out enjoying it, too, especially because it's a one-day early spring treat; back to reality and the 50's this weekend.
Tomorrow, Ryan Dempster will face the Giants' Tim Lincecum. Originally, Randy Johnson was to have thrown for San Francisco tomorrow, but he has a "tiny touch of bicep soreness", according to manager Bruce Bochy. The game will be available at the MLB.com Mediacenter via MLB.com announcers.
0 recs | 64 comments
Z should DH
If he isn’t pitching during inter-league play
DTJchris - March 17, 2009
I dunno.
Yeah, he had a great day today. But there are times he strikes out and looks really bad doing it. Do we need the bats broken over the leg act again?
Al Yellon - March 17, 2009
Oh, I know it would never happen
just think Z would be ecstatic.
DTJchris - March 17, 2009
Of course he would.
The danger is that he’d have a GOOD day and then he’d want to hit EVERY day.
Al Yellon - March 17, 2009
or injure a knee
trying to turn a single into a triple
Cubbie-Tim - March 17, 2009
Doesn't he already want to hit every day?
chitownhawkeye - March 17, 2009
Just like our LF'er.
santoswoodenlegs - March 17, 2009
and RF'er
he did the break-a-bat-after-a-K in one of his few ABs so far.
ballhawk - March 17, 2009
Yeah...
don’t need him to strain his shoulder or elbow on that mighty swing of his.
EJThunder - March 18, 2009
who has the better arm
Hill or Bako for gunning down runners? That is possibly the only place Bako might have an advantage at this point.
Cubbie-Tim - March 17, 2009
I think they're pretty much a wash.
Both are decent, not great. Hill is seven years younger, and a switch-hitter.
We’re talking about a guy who might start 20 games this year. I say go with the younger guy.
Al Yellon - March 17, 2009
agreed
Cubbie-Tim - March 17, 2009
There are many considerations that only the eye of a coaching staff can say for certain
But of Hill came to camp really ready and recovered from his self-inflicted saw off fingers where he can actually give an AB and actually start 20-25 games and prepare the staff like it has been said, you love to give a lower 20 roster spot to a guy who has worked his way on.
This team is forming an interesting nucleus, Theriot, Fontenot, Johnson, K Hill(?) Miles, Lilly, Vzcaino, Cotts, and possibly Koskie(?), nothing like overachievers who are grinding workers.
Nothing like those kind of players, for in reality DLee, Fukudome, Dempster are also workers who developed their games.
Ivy Walls - March 17, 2009
Nucleus...?
Theriot? I guess
Fontenot? Maybe
Reed Johnson? Really more of role player
Koyie Hill? MIles? Koskie?
Those aren’t the nucleus of the team. They’re the backups and role players on this team. You want to talk about the nucleus? Geo, Ramirez, and Zambrano are really it. The guys you build a team around.
northernsails - March 17, 2009
any chance of Bako going to Iowa or Tenn
and working with the younger pitchers?
Cubbie-Tim - March 17, 2009
Doubt it.
If he doesn’t make the team, he’ll probably retire.
Al Yellon - March 17, 2009
Cubs might want to think of releasing him early enough for him to catch on
Ivy Walls - March 17, 2009
Blanco. ;-)
ballhawk - March 17, 2009
Lilly gives up a long home run
Dunn looks like he’s fitting in quite well for Team USA in RF, just saying..
Chanman25 - March 17, 2009
BUT...BUT...BUT...He's a terrible outfielder remember?
A terrible healthy outfielder.
santoswoodenlegs - March 17, 2009
and..who gets the FLU in ARIZONA??
Chanman25 - March 17, 2009
Prior got pneumonia out there one ST, which led to another season of towel throwing
Cubbie-Tim - March 17, 2009
eh, well comparing MB to Prior is definitely not reassuring..
Chanman25 - March 17, 2009
point taken
Cubbie-Tim - March 17, 2009
Didn't Steve Stone get some disease while he was out there one spring training?
Bill Potter - March 17, 2009
The Herp?
DTJchris - March 17, 2009
Not that one.
It was Valley Fever, IIRC.
Bill Potter - March 17, 2009
It was Valley Fever.
That’s serious business, and one reason he had to sit out two years while we were subjected to Joe Carter.
Al Yellon - March 17, 2009
Ahh yes, Joe Carter
Joe once asked Jim Mcmahon if he still fights with Pete Rozelle. Jim said, "No he’s dead. Crickets.
Employee22 - March 17, 2009
The clap
BLou - March 17, 2009
I would be happy with .260-.270
for any backup catcher for the Cubs, I just wish they would have brought Hank White back for one more year. He had a few clutch hits with the Cubs, above average defensively, and we all know how well him and Soto worked together.
slocs55 - March 17, 2009
But what if I told you could trade in Hank White
for a younger Andy White model, who could backup multiple infield positions?
Bill Potter - March 17, 2009
A backup catcher is on this earth to work well with pitchers and play good defense
It’s doesn’t matter a whole lot what a backup catcher hits when you have Geovany Soto as your primary catcher.
Paul Bako will be the choice. And rightily so. Koyie Hill is good at nothing, other than having the bus directions to all Triple A ballparks across the country memorized in his head.
BLou - March 17, 2009
Hill will be the choice, because...
… Lou does get mesmerized by good spring trainings. It’s the reason Micah Hoffpauir even appeared on Cubs radar — he impressed Lou last spring.
Al Yellon - March 17, 2009
because Lou worked his way into the lineup by competing
Ivy Walls - March 17, 2009
Didn't Lou already declare
Hoff will break camp?
Chanman25 - March 17, 2009
A backhanded compliment of Sweet Lou ???
I’m not quite sure I understand the ax you have to grind with Lou Piniella. But make no mistake it surfaces.
Actually, with Derrek Lee continuing to hit like a player that is 40 I’m starting to think Micah Hoffpauir could actually play a legitimate role at 1st base in 2009. But it still doesn’t solve the perplexing need for a strong defensive utility infielder who can help out at 3rd base and shortstop. And with the way our bullpen is scaring the living daylights out of me I doubt seriously the Cubs only go with 11 pitchers for too long.
BLou - March 17, 2009
I don't have an ax to grind. I like Lou.
But he sometimes gets fixated on certain things, or puts people in the doghouse where they never get out, and that’s to the detriment of the team.
Al Yellon - March 18, 2009
While it does not rank with dumping DeRo
For 2.5 million savings. if they choose Hill over Bako , they save $325.000 which may be real money these days
However Lou’s love of vets may trump Hill’s better hitting and versaltility. It is not clear if they can stash Hill in the minors if they go with Bako.
Doggie Stalker - March 17, 2009
I like Hill much better, Bako has showed nothing more than what Hill has done
Chanman25 - March 17, 2009
I just hope
they go with Hill for whatever reason.
sue369 - March 18, 2009
My money is on Hill
I thought that Bako had the edge going in, but with the Soto-less Cubs giving them all kinds of at-bats, it really appears Hill has the advantage at this point. He’s definitely got more pop than Bako, and he switch hits, right?
I can’t say I’d be unhappy with either of them, though.
JodyDavis - March 18, 2009
The US is about to lose to Puerto Rico
Now this is embarrassing. We can’t beat a tourney that WE created!!
Chanman25 - March 17, 2009
Not only can we not beat a tourney we created
we can’t even win a game in a tourney we created.
DTJchris - March 17, 2009
against our own territory!
Chanman25 - March 17, 2009
Ye of little faith...
USA gets 3 in the btm of the 9th to win and advance to the semi-finals
MillsChC - March 17, 2009
Someone forgot to tell
David Wright.
Josh Timmers - March 17, 2009
That means Geo is back to ST!!!!!
Madison Cub Fan - March 18, 2009
Ted Lilly is still out
Josh Timmers - March 18, 2009
Lilly may not pitch again in the WBC.
With the USA in the semi’s, there are only two more possible games, either this Saturday or Sunday, and the final on Monday. I suspect Roy Oswalt starts one of them.
Jake Peavy may start the other one, if there is one.
Al Yellon - March 18, 2009
There is also today's
meaningless seeding game versus Venezuela. So, actually there are 3, but I don’t see Lilly pitching in any of them, unless it’s in relief.
Bill Potter - March 18, 2009
Hallelujah!
EJThunder - March 18, 2009
holy hell
what a remarkable finish, too bad I didn’t watch it
Chanman25 - March 18, 2009
I'm...drunk.
dtpollitt - March 17, 2009
What?!
EJThunder - March 18, 2009
Bout Dam time they hit
wow save some of them 17 hits for when the season starts, will ya? I see D Lee isn’t even hitting his weight (.179) And he doesn’t seem to concerned. I’d be looking over my shoulder or calling my agent, or calling my mama, LOL
LarryCubFan - March 18, 2009
I watched a bit of the game on Saturday
Lee was up with a man on first. Lets a couple decent pitches go, goes after a pitch down and away and tries to pull it. End result, DP. He has been saying all spring about getting good AB’s, and he continues to chase the crap, just like the 2nd half of last year.
I know batting practice means nothing, but he was hitting line drive after line drive all over the field the other day, with a couple of dingers. I think he’s trying too hard and not relaxing during games, even the ST games.
Lou is going to have to make a tough decision about Lee’s playing time this year if Lee can’t get it going.
We all agree he’s not a #3 hitter, but Lou will plant him there until he rots.
BigJohnAZ - March 18, 2009
Reminder.
Lee hit like this last spring, too (he hit .163). Then he had one of the best Aprils of his career.
Al Yellon - March 18, 2009
Too bad the rest of the season...
didn’t really pan out the way he wanted it to.
Still, I think that Lee is capable of improving on the past 2 years.
EJThunder - March 18, 2009
On a Dodger note...
Damn are they in a bit of trouble.
Their rotation is in shambles. Why aren’t THEY going after Pedro??
EJThunder - March 18, 2009
Exactly.
Surprising. Of course, the reports could be just rumors, although the Astros have scheduled a press conference this morning.
Al Yellon - March 18, 2009
However.
The Astros say they have had no contact with Pedro.
Al Yellon - March 18, 2009
I wish circumstances were such
That we could kick the tires on Pedro. I know he’s not what he used to be, but even when he’s mediocre he still has that attitude, and he’s a winner. But we already have too many pitchers with undefined roles, and he’ll probably cost someone 3 or 4 million.
JodyDavis - March 18, 2009
The press conference was about Aaron Boone
Going to have open heart surgery to correct a congenital defect in a valve. The doctors do think that he can play baseball after recovery, but he is not sure if he will at this point. Best of luck Aaron.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090318/ap_on_sp_ba_ne/bbn_astros_boone_surgery
Qixotl - March 18, 2009
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