Spring Training 2010

[Clapp]

<!--quoteo(post=81251:date=Mar 2 2010, 04:06 PM:name=funkster)-->QUOTE (funkster @ Mar 2 2010, 04:06 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->I find it hard to believe we're going to be witnessing his "break out" season.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
He's absolutely capable of it as we've seen in spurts... but something I wouldn't bet on.

[Fella]

Fuk's numbers against lefties in Japan were good and he was just fine in 08 too. He was awful last year, but it was only in like 60 ABs.

I agree with AZPhil though. As Clapp knows I've been saying all winter, I think this is the year Fuk has a big breakout year, guess we shall see. Even if he is only as good as last year an .830 OPS against righties ain't half bad.

[AnnoCatuli]

<!--quoteo(post=81143:date=Mar 1 2010, 09:13 PM:name=ruby23)-->QUOTE (ruby23 @ Mar 1 2010, 09:13 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->


<!--quoteo(post=81144:date=Mar 1 2010, 09:37 PM:name=Fella)-->QUOTE (Fella @ Mar 1 2010, 09:37 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Yeah I don't think so either. Millar is a mascot, nothing more.

Fontenot also can't play SS at all, not even a little, so I still think there is a good chance he will suck enough in spring to convince Lou we need Blanco. If not then the bench will probably be Nady, Fontenot, Hill, Tracy, Fuld.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->


Lou has fallen in love with Millar. While I am not happy with that bench, I can accept it, to a small degree.

Hill- good backup catcher

Tracy- Best 3B on our team outside of Ramirez, plus he can back up 1B and in a pinch he can play the corners.

Nady- Backs up the corners, and CF in a pinch
Fukudome can play RF and CF, and I am sure if desperately needed LF.

Baker- Can back up 2B, 3B and corner OF in a pinch

Fontenot- bad defensively at SS, but he would be the emergency SS if Theriot is injured. That would only be for a game, likely a few innings.

Millar- Yeah, he is a mascot. Lost his edge, and bat. But if Lou likes a guy, he usually finds room for him.

I am just making these observations off of the interview Lou gave on the Score a week back. He talked up Nady, Baker/Fontenot, Hill, Tracy and Millar. Never once did he mention Blanco. Nor did he even hint at his name or stumble to think of "that short stop from triple A."

The closest he came to mentioning Blanco was when he said the team had a lot of injuries and we had to depend on the kids from triple A.

[Fella]

Yeah there is no doubt in my mind that Lou has no current plans for Blanco to make the bench, like I said, I'm just hoping Lou realizes before opening day that Fontenot can't play SS, and decides to keep Blanco.

[Coach]

We won't need Blanco when Starlin is on the Opening Day roster

[AnnoCatuli]

<!--quoteo(post=81274:date=Mar 2 2010, 06:59 PM:name=Coach)-->QUOTE (Coach @ Mar 2 2010, 06:59 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->We won't need Blanco when Starlin is on the Opening Day roster<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Castro will not make the opening day roster. Lou has already made that clear.

He likely wont be brought up until June

[cigar]

<!--quoteo(post=81278:date=Mar 2 2010, 08:02 PM:name=AnnoCatuli)-->QUOTE (AnnoCatuli @ Mar 2 2010, 08:02 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=81274:date=Mar 2 2010, 06:59 PM:name=Coach)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Coach @ Mar 2 2010, 06:59 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->We won't need Blanco when Starlin is on the Opening Day roster<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Castro will not make the opening day roster. Lou has already made that clear.

He likely wont be brought up until June
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Unless Theriot gets hurt. Lou has also made it clear that he has no problem with bringing up Castro if something happens to Theriot. Castro is going to be the one of the reasons that Blanco doesn't make the team if he doesn't make it.

[Ace]

The Cubs won't use Castro off the bench, so I'm not sure I see how Blanco not making the team has any impact on Castro. Do you mean that the Cubs won't have to try and keep Blanco in case Theriot gets hurt?

[DaveB]

<!--quoteo(post=81273:date=Mar 2 2010, 07:45 PM:name=Fella)-->QUOTE (Fella @ Mar 2 2010, 07:45 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Yeah there is no doubt in my mind that Lou has no current plans for Blanco to make the bench, like I said, I'm just hoping Lou realizes before opening day that Fontenot can't play SS, and decides to keep Blanco.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->


Totally agree Fella. Fontenot played so horribly last year, his perceived 'offense' doesn't deserve a spot over Blanco. I'd much rather have Blanco on the team, and there we go, a guy who can backup both SS and 2B (Castro is not going to make the Opening Day roster, and we're in serious trouble if we have Fonte out at SS).
And like I said earlier, Blanco showed last year he isn't a complete dud at the plate, I think he can continue to develop and start to bat better.

[rok]

Douchebags, all of them...
http://news.moneycentral.msn.com/provider/...amp;id=11191050
<!--quoteo-->QUOTE <!--quotec-->Angels, White Sox snub Cactus League kickoff event
March 2, 2010 6:15 PM ET

bizjournals.comAll bizjournals.com news

Mike Sunnucks

Hurt feelings over plans for a new Chicago Cubs spring training stadium showed up Tuesday at the annual Cactus League kickoff breakfast in Mesa.

The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and Chicago White Sox skipped the event, which was held at Hohokam Park -- the Cubs’ current spring training base.

Angels spokesman Tim Mead said his ballclub skipped the event because of its opposition to the financing plan to pay for a new Cubs stadium via an 8 percent charge on all Cactus League games. The Angels train in Tempe.

“We are very strongly opposed,” said Mead.

He and other sources familiar with the event said the White Sox skipped it for the same reason. White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf was one of the first critics of the ticket charge to help his crosstown rivals. The White Sox organization did not respond to requests for comment.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

[ruby23]

If the shoe was on the other foot, I might feel the same way . . . but it's not, so I don't . . . so fuck 'em.

[Butcher]

They should all just think about what would happen to the Cactus league if the Cubs left. They're the biggest draw there, by far.

[biggz]

Delicious butthurt is delicious.

[rok]

<!--quoteo(post=81341:date=Mar 3 2010, 09:53 AM:name=ruby23)-->QUOTE (ruby23 @ Mar 3 2010, 09:53 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->If the shoe was on the other foot, I might feel the same way . . . but it's not, so I don't . . . so fuck 'em.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I might feel the same way if those other teams weren't such gigantic hypocrites for taking public funds for their own stadiums.

[Coldneck]

<!--quoteo(post=81348:date=Mar 3 2010, 11:21 AM:name=rok)-->QUOTE (rok @ Mar 3 2010, 11:21 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=81341:date=Mar 3 2010, 09:53 AM:name=ruby23)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ruby23 @ Mar 3 2010, 09:53 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->If the shoe was on the other foot, I might feel the same way . . . but it's not, so I don't . . . so fuck 'em.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I might feel the same way if those other teams weren't such gigantic hypocrites for taking public funds for their own stadiums.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Would you have been pissed if the Cubs were forced to add a fee to their tickets so the White Sox could build The Cell? I totally understand the why other teams are pissed off. Attendance might decline a bit, but the Cactus League is not going to disappear if the Cubs were to leave.

This fee is similar to all of the franchised Subway Restaurants in a city being charged a tax so the new biggest location can build a new store.