Pitchers And Catchers Report

[Clapp]

Nice hair Soto.

[Coldneck]

<!--quoteo(post=17825:date=Feb 13 2009, 03:05 PM:name=Clapp)-->QUOTE (Clapp @ Feb 13 2009, 03:05 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Nice hair Soto.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

You're just jealous.

[Destined]

Baseball seasons underway, well you better get ready for a brand new day... [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/alf.gif[/img]

[ColoradoCub]

<!--quoteo(post=17830:date=Feb 13 2009, 01:24 PM:name=Coldneck)-->QUOTE (Coldneck @ Feb 13 2009, 01:24 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=17825:date=Feb 13 2009, 03:05 PM:name=Clapp)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Clapp @ Feb 13 2009, 03:05 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Nice hair Soto.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

You're just jealous.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

[img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/funny.gif[/img]

[Clapp]

<!--quoteo(post=17830:date=Feb 13 2009, 01:24 PM:name=Coldneck)-->QUOTE (Coldneck @ Feb 13 2009, 01:24 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=17825:date=Feb 13 2009, 03:05 PM:name=Clapp)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Clapp @ Feb 13 2009, 03:05 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Nice hair Soto.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

You're just jealous.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
[img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif[/img] Well done.

[Scarey]

It's a shame that Joe Pepitone has decided not to get involved since that beanball incident with Kramer. He looks so sad watching from the sidelines.

[Jody]

Joe Peptione up in this mutha fucka!!

[Butcher]

That's how I dos it, Larry.


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[Clapp]

<!--quoteo-->QUOTE <!--quotec-->"Last year, we had a darn good baseball team," Piniella said. "We just need to figure out how to stay [in the postseason] longer. I'm going to do things a little differently than I did last year as far as getting ourselves more prepared.

"I'm from the school where if something doesn't work, I tend to blame myself, and rightfully so -- I'm responsible for what happens on the field. I'm not assuming anything; I'm expecting we'll play well."

What did he learn from getting swept by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Division Series?

"I learned a lot," Piniella said. "I'm 0-6 in the postseason [with the Cubs]. There's room for improvement."

He's been reading about coaching philosophies in former Indianapolis Colts coach Tony Dungy's book. Piniella is quick to remind that the Cubs have done things right. After all, they have won the NL Central two years in a row.

"We've built nice expectations here, changed the culture here a heck of a lot," Piniella said. "Now we have to figure out how we go further. That's part of the equation for me. Resting is part of the equation."

What that means is regulars like Derrek Lee, Alfonso Soriano, Geovany Soto and Aramis Ramirez will likely get more days off during the season. Position players don't report until Tuesday, so we'll have to wait for their reaction. Piniella feels his squad is more versatile and that he has more left-handed options with the new additions, which include switch-hitters Milton Bradley and Aaron Miles.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

<!--quoteo-->QUOTE <!--quotec-->There are decisions to be made. The Cubs will carry 12 pitchers, but which ones? How many outfielders? Infielders? Micah Hoffpauir has a chance to be a key left-handed bat off the bench, and could get playing time at first. The Cubs need to feel Hoffpauir can be a better-than-average sub to give Lee a day off.

"One of the things I've noticed a lot here in Chicago the two years I've been here is the fact that you need to rest your team," Piniella said. "With this roster, I should be able to do that more than I did in the first two years."

<b>With 39 Cactus League games, expect to see a variety of lineups. Miles and Mike Fontenot will get time at third</b>. Reed Johnson and Joey Gathright could play all three outfield positions. Although the roster is nearly set, someone can still win a job, or at least impress the front office in case they are needed during the regular season.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Ace 1, Clapp 0.

<!--quoteo-->QUOTE <!--quotec-->Hendry met with Piniella and the coaching staff Friday. His message: Keep getting to the postseason and sooner or later, they'll break the door down and end the Cubs' drought, now at 101 since the franchise last won the World Series.

"We have to put [last year's postseason] behind us and get very positive this spring," Piniella said. "We have to go out and get off to a good start and re-establish ourselves as the top team in the National League and give ourselves another chance in the postseason. That's all we can do. We can talk about last year and the year before and so on and so forth, but it doesn't do any good. We know what we need to do with this club this year, and we're going to get it done."

Zambrano is well aware of the expectations.

"The goals are the same -- keep winning and keep going to the playoffs," Zambrano said. "We have a bad taste from the last two playoffs. We need to do a better job in the playoffs, and that's our goal -- to go to the World Series and win it all. That's the main concern right now."<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

<!--quoteo-->QUOTE <!--quotec-->"When I first stepped into the clubhouse, I saw [Ryan] Dempster had [Wood's] locker," Cubs pitcher Carlos Zambrano said. "<b>Woody was a big big part of our team and leadership. We will miss him. He sent me a message, a text message to Venezuela, and a tear came out when I saw that message</b>. But this is a business. Sometimes you're here, and tomorrow, who knows?"<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Link

[Scarey]

I know the Mark DeRosa topic has been beaten to death, but it seems to me that if they wanted to rest people more, DeRosa would have been a valuable piece to keep around.

Anyway, there's no real alternative at 1B besides Hoffpauir. Unless they want to put Soto there (I believe he has experience at 1b) I don't see how they rest Lee besides keeping Hoff on the team. If that's the case, I guess I can forget about the good SS glove I've been hoping for.

[Clapp]

<!--quoteo-->QUOTE <!--quotec-->Extended rest and some physical therapy during the winter has the shoulder feeling strong, Zambrano said Friday as pitchers and catchers reported to spring training. ''I'm ready to go,'' he said.

If anything, Zambrano's right eye might be more of an immediate concern. An infection has pushed back the laser surgery he hoped to have by now to correct an astigmatism. He's using eye drops to clear the infection and said he hopes to make a decision regarding surgery in about three weeks.

''I may do it. I don't know yet,'' Zambrano said. ''There's a small chance that I do it right now or do it during the season. Let's see how the drops work.''

Said general manager Jim Hendry: ''I don't think it's anything we're worried about not being able to be controlled.''

The shoulder's fitness should be revealed soon.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

<!--quoteo-->QUOTE <!--quotec-->Without confirming or denying the Sun-Times report last month that Rich Harden is pitching with a tear in his shoulder and treating it with therapy and conditioning, Hendry said the pitcher is dealing with issues no different than he has had for much of his career while choosing to avoid surgery that could sideline him for up to a year and a half.

''He's absolutely no different, except maybe stronger and better than the day we got him,'' Hendry said, referring to results of Harden's rigorous offseason program. ''He has issues that he had for years in Oakland. He's never had a surgery. And he has an area in his shoulder that you either continue to rehab it or, if you go in and operate on it, then you may miss 12 to 18 months. But it's certainly nothing that he hasn't been able to pitch with, at least the amount of time he pitched last year -- 24 to 25 starts.''<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

<!--quoteo-->QUOTE <!--quotec-->Beyond taking a cautious approach with Harden, the Cubs don't anticipate limiting others' activities for health reasons -- beyond possibly cutting back pitcher Kevin Gregg's fielding as he proves the soundness of his knee after minor offseason surgery.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Link(Sun-Times)

[Clapp]

Z has a sweet stache going on. Go to the video on the link.

<!--quoteo-->QUOTE <!--quotec--><b>Manager Lou Piniella said his biggest regret last October was not using Ted Lilly in the playoffs.</b> "So how about if we make Lilly the Opening Day starter to make it up to him?" he said with a laugh. Zambrano, who has yet to win on Opening Day, said, "I don't like being the Opening Day starter, but if I have to be the Opening Day starter, I have to do my job."<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

No shit, big mistake.

<!--quoteo-->QUOTE <!--quotec-->Carlos Zambrano said he's taking prescription eye drops and doesn't know if he will undergo Lasik surgery to correct a problem with his right eye. He won't pitch in the World Baseball Classic for his native Venezuela.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

<!--quoteo-->QUOTE <!--quotec-->The Cubs aren't worried that Rich Harden won't be ready to start the season, though they plan to limit the right-hander's workload during spring training because of recurring shoulder problems.

"We will not overtax him early here," general manager Jim Hendry said Friday as pitchers and catchers were checking in for spring training. "He feels really good, and if anything, we're going to have to be cautious with him that he doesn't feel too good and want to go too fast, too hard."

Harden chose to rehab his shoulder in Mesa after the 2008 season instead of having surgery that would have forced him to miss all of 2009. The Cubs picked up his $7 million option, and he's eligible for free agency in 2010.

"Nothing has changed with Harden from the day we got him except he has had a tremendous off-season of work," Hendry said.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

<!--quoteo-->QUOTE <!--quotec-->Carlos Marmol said the Cubs told him to stop throwing after he had pitched 10 innings for the Dominican Republic in the Caribbean playoffs.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Link

Then Miles:

<!--quoteo-->QUOTE <!--quotec-->Speaking of the mustache, Big Z said Lou told him it makes him look more intimidating. To whom, we're not quite sure.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

<!--quoteo-->QUOTE <!--quotec-->--Lou gave every indication that Alfonso Soriano will be the leadoff hitter, citing the two division titles in a row the Cubs have won with Soriano at leadoff.

--Kosuke Fukudome won't be here until mid-March because of the WBC. He is playing for Japan, but Hendry says the Cubs are monitoring hsi progress in Asia.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Link(Daily Herald)

[Clapp]

<!--quoteo-->QUOTE <!--quotec-->"If Sean pitches the way I anticipate and stays healthy, he's got a leg up for the fifth spot," Piniella said.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Link

[Clapp]

And Harden with some beardage:


Talking about starts...
<!--quoteo-->QUOTE <!--quotec-->"I want more," Harden said Saturday. "Thirty is what I'd like to get. I haven't really gotten that yet, and that's kind of my goal. I definitely want more."<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

<!--quoteo-->QUOTE <!--quotec-->"I never had the issues with my shoulder from throwing," he said. "How I initially hurt my shoulder and had these problems with it the last year and a half or so is because two years ago, I threw a pitch, had a comebacker, it was a one-hopper, and I tried to barehand it. It was over my head, over my throwing shoulder. That's when I did it. It wasn't really throwing, it was doing that."

What exactly is the problem?

"Everybody's got their opinions," Harden said. "It's funny -- people are telling me they're reading this and that. It's something I have to deal with."

He knows the word "tear" makes people skittish. There may be a tear, but it's nothing to fret about. Surgery was not something Harden considered.

"Last year, I was able to get through the season and have some success," he said. "Rehabbing it, doing the physical therapy and getting stronger, it's only going to feel better than it did last year. That's what I wanted to do. I'm happy with that. I'm looking forward to the start of the season."

In Chicago, Harden was peppered with questions about his shoulder when the stadium radar guns showed a decrease in velocity as the 2008 season wore on. He became weary of the topic.

"That's the way it is," he said. "I've got to deal with it, and that's fine. I can't worry or think about the way it used to be. I got through it last year and had some success. I'm feeling better, feeling stronger and hopefully I'll do better."<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

<!--quoteo-->QUOTE <!--quotec-->"It's not just [the Cubs], it's on me," Harden said. "Every year I learn more about my body and how I feel. You want to be out there every single game for 100-plus pitches. That's the way I am -- I want to be out there every game no matter what. You have to take a step back sometimes and evaluate how I'm feeling and manage it properly so I'm strong at the end of the season."

Even though he arrived in camp saying this is the strongest his shoulder has felt, Harden will be monitored so he doesn't overdo it. That's why he didn't throw off the mound with the others on Saturday at Fitch Park.

"Don't read anything into it," Cubs manager Lou Piniella said. "We have a much longer time this spring than normal, so we don't need to rush anybody. He's been throwing and feels nice and strong and healthy, but basically we're just holding him back a little bit."

That's also why Harden isn't pitching for Team Canada in the World Baseball Classic.

"It didn't make sense after the season I had last year and coming into this year with the shoulder," Harden said. "We just have to be careful with that. I worked so hard to get ready for the season, and we didn't want to rush it and go out there and potentially have an issue. My No. 1 priority is to the Cubs. They made a big commitment to me, picking up my option this year. My goal is to go out there and pitch as many games as I can and win."<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

<!--quoteo-->QUOTE <!--quotec-->Harden will pitch in Cactus League games, will be ready for his 25 starts -- and maybe more.

"We threw out that number -- he might pitch 32," Piniella said. "You never know. This kid loves to compete, but at the same time we're aware he's had some physical problems and we're not going to overtax him."

"The big thing for me this year is mechanics," Harden said. "I have to be consistent with my mechanics and get my arm in a good spot to throw without putting a strain on my shoulder or the rest of my body. That's going to be big for me -- and that's what I'm working with Larry [Rothschild] with. I've always been really long and dragged my arm sometimes."

He's a different pitcher now. Harden says he's not trying to register 100 mph on the stadium speedometers.

"The older I get, the more I get away from that," Harden said. "I used to go out there and try to put up big numbers. It was fun, but those times are over. Every once in a while, possibly, but it's more about pitching now and location and change of speeds. That's what the game is about, and the older I get the more I realize that."<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Link

[Ace]

If Fontenot and Miles are going to be the primary 3B backups, it means one of two things is possible:

a.) we could really make a run at O-Dog; or

b.) Hoffpaiur is gonna make the team.