» Micah

If you are anything like me then you are getting a little bored with spring training games, it is great to have live

Derek Lee

baseball back, but it just makes me want the season even more, i don’t like the WBC, and the only reason i would watch it is to make sure that none of the Cubs players get injured. So i thought to break the monotomy i would start my season reviews a little earl. There are still many things left up in the air right now, the bullpen for one, the 5th starters role, the back up catcher, and a infielder who can back up Ramirez at 3rd, so there is a chance that by opening day this information could be out of date, however i will start with certain positions that have settled, to give the other question marks time to sort themselves out.

There is no doubt as to the starting first baseman, Derek Lee has been one of the most consistent Cubs players since he came to the North Side in 2004, swapping the sunshine of Florida for the winds of Wrigley. Derek Lee is not only a good offensive play, but his steller defense is invaluable to a Cubs infield. Defense is one area in baseball that is under rated. If people were to ask questions of Lee, it would be his ability to hit into double plays on a regular basis, he led the NL last season HIDP, batting 3rd ahead of the clean up hitter is a vital part of the line-up, one of the mos inportant in my mind, so he will need to lower that HIDP stat, Lee flashed some power last season but fell well short of his 2005 HR total of 46. Although he is not needed to hit with that much power in a lineup that is certainly not short of power bats with Soriano/Bradley/Soto and Aramis Ramirez.

Although this is not part of a baseball preview, i would also like to bring peoples attention to the charity that Derek Lee set up with Boston Celtics CEO Wye Grousbeck. In 2006 Dereks daughter Jada was diagnosed with Leber’s congenital amaurosis,  a rare genetic disease resulting in loss of vision, for further information please visit the First Touch foundation page at:

http://1sttouch.org/home.htm

You can help by just purchasing a Project 3000 wrist band, follow my lead and ‘Believe The Unseen’

Now back to the first base preview, when Derek Lee needs a breather, or god forbid he is injured, Micah Hoffpauier will be backing up first base. Micah installed his name into Cubs minds last Spring by belting home runs, he was given a opportunity during the season to perform in the MLB, and took advantage of it, hitting well over .300. Hoffpauier will be the main left handed threat off the bench, he will also backup the corner outfield spots, giving Soriano and Bradley much needed rest.

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Sean Marshall tossed 4 scorless innings tonight in a 7-2 loss to the Texas Rangers. Marshall who is fighting for the 5th starters role has now pitched 9 innings of ball this Spring and has only given up the single run, Sean Marshall and Aaron Heilman are battling it out on equal footing right now.

Milton Bradley singled in his first AB against his former team, Micah Hoffpauier had a hit in his only AB, and has a Spring BA of .303. A-Ram is batting .316 after having two hits in two AB’s tonight. Koyie Hill who is battling for the back up catcher spot had two hits in 2 AB’s.

Discussions involving the sale of the Chicago Cubs and Wrigley field are moving forward according to Bud Selig.

Brad Snyder hit a grand slam to put the Cubs as the only National league team to start the spring unbeaten. The Cubs used a 9 run 7th to beat the cross town rival White Sox 13-0. Micah Hoffpauier continued his strong spring with a RBI double, giving him 8 RBI’s in 4 games. Koyie Hill who is battling for the back-up catchers role also knocked in a pair with a 2 run double.

Aaron Heilman made the most of his spring start, striking out 4 of the 7 hitters that he faced. Heilman will battle Marshall, Guzman and Samardzija, for the 5th starters role in the Cubs rotation heading into the new season. Kevin Gregg who is batling Carlos Marmol for the closers role gave up one hit and struck out one batter in one inning of work.

The Cubs sit atop the cactus league standings after starting a perfect 4-0.

In other news:

Carlos Marmol has decided that he wil pitch in the WBC. Lou has told Marmol that it will not effect the battle for the closers role, and he will still be able to compete when he returns.

Corey Koskie and the Chicago Cubs agreed to a minor league contract today. Koskie will join the Cubs when team Canada are finished playing in the WBC. Koskie might be that cover for 3rd base the Cubs have been looking for all spring.

The Chicago Cubs continued there perfect start to Cactus League play by beating the Texas Rangers 10-4 Friday afternoon. Micah Hoffpauier, Mike Fontenot and Sam Fuld all homered for the Cubs as they moved past the Rangers in there first away game of the Spring.

Hoffpauier continued his strong spring by sending a 3 run shot in the stands, he now has 7 RBI’s this spring. Mike Fontenot who will be hoping to get more than 400 at bats this season for the first time in his major league career helped his cause by hitting a 2 run homer and also driving in two more runs.

Ted Lilly in his only cactus league start before leaving to join the USA camp, pitched two innings of scoreless ball. Rivas and Johnson knocked in the other runs as the Cubs continued there preperation for the new major league season.

Micah Hoffpauier picked up where he left off last spring hitting a grand slam to lift the Cubs past the Dodgers 5-3 on Wednesday. Micah will likely be counted on to be the main left handed power threat off the bench, and he did his chances of making the club a world of good in the first spring game of the new season.

Jeff Samardzija pitched 2 innings for the Cubs giving up 2 runs and 3 hits. Mitch Atkins pitched 2 innings and gave up one run on 3 hits.

Sean Marshall will take the ball today for the Cubs as they play host to NL Central rivals the Milwaukee Brewers.

Carlos Marmol is considering not pitching in the WBC, Lou Piniella made a joke comment to Marmol that while he was away pitching in the WBC, Kevin Gregg would be in Mesa pitching 98mph fast balls. Marmol and Gregg will compete for the closers role and Marmol doesn’t want to miss a beat, however he commented that it is always hard to turn down your country. He is expected to make a decision today on whether he will pitch in the WBC or stay in Mesa with the Cubs, I’m hoping that it is the latter.

Jeff Samardzija will pitch the opening cactus league game Wednesday agains’t the LA Dodgers at HoHoKam Park. Samardzija will be vying for the 5th starters role with Sean Marshall and Aaron Heilman. The young hurler from Notre Dame will be given the ball first and asked to show what he can do. Samardzija spent the majority of last season in the Cubs bullpen so will need stretching out if he is going to be considered for the 5th starters role. Set rotation pitchers like Carls Zambrano and Ryan Dempster will now pitch until the second week of games.

Rich Harden is yet to face live hitters, Lou is holding him back to make sure that his shoulder is fully healthy. Harden will pitch two more side sessions before facing the likes of Soriano and Bradley in live batting practice. Harden has commented that he feels great, and his daily routine to get himself ready to go is working fine.

Koyie Hill and Paul Bako will compete this spring to be Geovany Soto’s backup. Bako has collected quite the number of Jerseys from being moved around so much, he doesn’t offer much on the offensive side of the ball, but he can continue to mentor Soto, who is going into his 2nd full season with the Cubs. A little bit of healthy competition never hurt anyone.

The Cubs might be looking for extra infield help, although carrying 12 pitchers and 13 position players does not give much room for Wiggle. As of right now there is not a back-up for A-Ram at 3rd base, DeRosa who took on that role last season is now in Cleveland. Jake Fox has been taking ground balls at 3rd, however with a back up catcher, Hoffpauier, Johnson, Gathwright, and either Miles or Fontenot, there is not much room left to add cover at 3rd.