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***rok*** · 02-22-2009, 12:23 PM

Honestly, it seems as though Sullivan is rooting for Z's career to spiral downward and become a complete disaster, and he wants to be the only one who is accurately documenting it in his articles. Out of all the Trib reporters who have been downsized out of a position during the company's bankruptcy, how in the hell has this troll managed to keep his job?

veryzer · 02-22-2009, 02:57 PM

i'm just guessing, but i bet that 5.80 post all star era is the result of those two or three games he got killed in at the end of the season.

HTC · 02-22-2009, 07:17 PM

Heck, he was a Cy Young contender until he got bombed by St. Louis at Wrigley in August.

Clapp · 02-22-2009, 07:20 PM

QUOTE Ted Lilly, who will be pitching for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic, will start on Friday for the Cubs against the Texas Rangers.

That may be the left-hander's only Cactus League game before he leaves to train with the U.S. team in Florida. The 17-game winner was scheduled to pitch an exhibition game on March 4 for Team USA and then start the third game of the World Baseball Classic.

Cubs pitching coach Larry Rothschild said Lilly and Carlos Marmol, who may pitch for the Dominican Republic, are not that far off their routines and are not being rushed to pitch in the event.

The Cubs will open Cactus League play on Wednesday against the Los Angeles Dodgers at HoHoKam Park with Jeff Samardzija and Mitch Atkins each going two innings. Sean Marshall, who is battling for the fifth spot in the rotation, was slated to start Thursday against the Milwaukee Brewers.

QUOTE Rich Harden is about a week to 10 days behind the other starters, Rothschild said. He has been throwing off the mound and there have been no setbacks.

"As long as he keeps progressing, he'll be fine," Rothschild said.

On Sunday, pitchers faced hitters for the third straight day. It was first-round pick Andrew Cashner's turn to deal with the big hitters like Derrek Lee, and he had manager Lou Piniella watching behind the cage. The 22-year-old wasn't fazed and asked Lee and Geovany Soto about his changeup, a pitch he's been working on.

"Lee told me, 'Keep it down, it's a good pitch,'" Cashner said. "I'm just going to go about my business and keep my mouth shut and see what they have to say."

"He's got a nice, easy arm strength," Rothschild said. "He's pretty diligent about what he does. He's a good kid and it's nice to have him in camp. Obviously, we're going to go real slow with him."

What was even more impressive was that Cashner did better on Sunday than in an earlier session with hitters when there was nobody watching.

"You can understand why we drafted him where we did," Rothschild said of Cashner, who is growing a beard to try to look a little older.
Link(Cubs.com)

Clapp · 02-22-2009, 07:31 PM

QUOTE "I hate leadoff," Theriot said. "I just want to hit third. I think 'D-Lee' should hit leadoff."

D-Lee, a.k.a. Derrek Lee, who has primarily batted third his entire career, was sitting in the middle of the Fitch Park clubhouse, calmly reading the newspaper when Theriot tried to oust him from his spot.

"No," Lee said, shaking his head.

Lee's home run numbers have dropped the last two seasons -- he hit 46 in 2005 and 20 last year -- but Theriot doesn't seem a likely fill-in. The shortstop hit one home run last year. One.

"How about fourth?" Theriot said, knowing better than to argue with the 6-foot-5 Lee.

Piniella has the ultimate say, even though there are times when he seems a little fickle. Early last week, the Cubs manager surprisingly suggested that Soriano would be dropped in the order. That prompted plenty of discussion as to where Soriano should hit -- fifth? Sixth? Three days later, Piniella confirmed the left fielder would stay No. 1.

Piniella was talking about Cactus League games, but confirmed Soriano is the leadoff man again for the regular season. It's worked so far -- the Cubs were 69-36 with Soriano leading off last year -- even if he isn't the typical get-on-base, take pitches kind of hitter.

"He's a different leadoff hitter," Theriot said. "With one pitch, he can win the game for you. First pitch of the game, bam, he hits a homer, and the other team is like, 'Oh, no, here we go.'"

The Cubs' 3-4-5 combo was a bit of a mystery with the addition of Milton Bradley. <b>Piniella says he's leaning toward a batting order of Soriano, Aaron Miles, Lee, Bradley, Aramis Ramirez, Kosuke Fukudome, Geovany Soto and Theriot.
</b>
"That seems like a real nice lineup to me," Piniella said. "Left, right, left, right -- we have some balance, we have some speed."

Those who doubt Piniella's projections should remember the Cubs led the National League and ranked second in the Majors in runs scored last season (855), the first 800-run season since 1998. They finished with a .278 team batting average, the highest since 1937, when the Cubs batted .287. Five players had 20 or more home runs (Soriano, Lee, Ramirez, Soto and Mark DeRosa) and four had 80 or more RBIs.

The addition of Miles and Bradley, both switch-hitters, gives the Cubs the balance the front office felt was missing. Bradley led the American League last year in on-base percentage and will likely help Ramirez reach 100 RBIs for the fourth straight season.

Maybe Bradley could bat leadoff? He did just that in 2003 with Cleveland.

"Once I got hitting in the middle of the order, I liked having that pressure on me, so I feel I'm better suited for that," Bradley said.

That means the only real switch in the middle is Ramirez, who batted fourth in all but two games last year. It shouldn't require much of an adjustment.

Theriot primarily batted second in 2008, but adopted a leadoff hitter attitude.

"'Sori' is an aggressive leadoff hitter," Theriot said. "Early in the count, he's making contact. More times than not, the pitcher has thrown only a few pitches. I was basically a leadoff hitter last year. I had to go up there and take some pitches for 'D-Lee' and 'Ramy.' I approached last year that, even though I wasn't the leadoff hitter, my responsibilities to the team were similar in what I had to do.

"I like hitting first. I'd rather hit second, obviously, because I have 'Sori' in front of me and 'D-Lee' behind me. I think hitting first would help with the stolen bases for me. I could be more aggressive, I could take advantage of some of the steal opportunities."

Soriano has felt stronger this spring than the last few years and says he wants to revive his running game, possibly swiping 30-plus bases. Ramirez also reported ready to go. Both trained at the team's academy in the Dominican Republic for about a month.

Where does Soriano want to be in the lineup?

"Be in the lineup, that's my preference," Soriano said, not picking one spot. "I like to play and be in the lineup. That's more important to me than anything."

Either Soriano, Lee, Ramirez, Bradley or Soto could handle the three-hole. Theriot? Remember, he hit one home run in 2008.

"I've been working on it," Theriot said of his power stroke.

Reminded that he connected on one last season, Theriot laughed.

"Let's hope I get one this year," he said. "I'm just happy I didn't get zero."

Piniella has Theriot slotted for eighth, and the shortstop smiled.

"I don't care as long as I'm in there," Theriot said. "A lot of that stuff changes. That's just all subject to who's doing what and the lineups. I think I'll hit third or fourth."
Link(Cubs.com)

Brock · 02-22-2009, 08:22 PM

QUOTE Piniella says he's leaning toward a batting order of Soriano, <b>Aaron Miles</b>, Lee, Bradley, Aramis Ramirez, Kosuke Fukudome, Geovany Soto and Theriot.

Ok now you're just trying to piss me off. [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink.gif[/img]

Clapp · 02-22-2009, 08:26 PM

QUOTE (Brock @ Feb 22 2009, 05:22 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE Piniella says he's leaning toward a batting order of Soriano, <b>Aaron Miles</b>, Lee, Bradley, Aramis Ramirez, Kosuke Fukudome, Geovany Soto and Theriot.

Ok now you're just trying to piss me off. [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink.gif[/img]
</div>
[img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif[/img] I want Fontenot starting, and I'd prefer Soto were moved up a spot, but... I'm okay with that placement of Soto, as at least he will be batting with guys on base a lot behind Bradley, Aramis, and Fuk. When Reed plays, Soto will bat 6th.

Brock · 02-22-2009, 08:30 PM

QUOTE (Clapp @ Feb 22 2009, 06:26 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Brock @ Feb 22 2009, 05:22 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE Piniella says he's leaning toward a batting order of Soriano, <b>Aaron Miles</b>, Lee, Bradley, Aramis Ramirez, Kosuke Fukudome, Geovany Soto and Theriot.

Ok now you're just trying to piss me off. [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink.gif[/img]
</div>
[img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif[/img] I want Fontenot starting, and I'd prefer Soto were moved up a spot, but... I'm okay with that placement of Soto, as at least he will be batting with guys on base a lot behind Bradley, Aramis, and Fuk. When Reed plays, Soto will bat 6th.
</div>

I stopped reading after seeing Miles 2nd. Soto behind Fuk is kind of retarded too, but that should work itself out when Soto plays like he should.

Clapp · 02-22-2009, 09:07 PM

QUOTE Jeff Samardzija is working on a changeup, a fourth pitch that he wants to bring out on occasion after ditching it last summer. "The 'splittie' was working so good for me last year, it was almost the same pitch," he said. "I just didn't have enough pitches every game to work in a fourth pitch, so I just kind of saved it. I'm confident with it. As long as it's down and below the knees, it's all right."

ruby23 · 02-22-2009, 10:02 PM

QUOTE (Brock @ Feb 22 2009, 06:30 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Clapp @ Feb 22 2009, 06:26 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Brock @ Feb 22 2009, 05:22 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE Piniella says he's leaning toward a batting order of Soriano, <b>Aaron Miles</b>, Lee, Bradley, Aramis Ramirez, Kosuke Fukudome, Geovany Soto and Theriot.

Ok now you're just trying to piss me off. [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink.gif[/img]
</div>
[img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif[/img] I want Fontenot starting, and I'd prefer Soto were moved up a spot, but... I'm okay with that placement of Soto, as at least he will be batting with guys on base a lot behind Bradley, Aramis, and Fuk. When Reed plays, Soto will bat 6th.
</div>

I stopped reading after seeing Miles 2nd. Soto behind Fuk is kind of retarded too, but that should work itself out when Soto plays like he should.
</div>
Lou's goal is to alternate righty, lefty for the whole lineup. Since that is his goal, I honestly can't come up with a better lineup than the one posted.

***Butcher*** · 02-22-2009, 10:09 PM

I already hate Miles.

Brock · 02-22-2009, 10:46 PM

QUOTE (ruby23 @ Feb 22 2009, 08:02 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Brock @ Feb 22 2009, 06:30 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Clapp @ Feb 22 2009, 06:26 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Brock @ Feb 22 2009, 05:22 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE Piniella says he's leaning toward a batting order of Soriano, <b>Aaron Miles</b>, Lee, Bradley, Aramis Ramirez, Kosuke Fukudome, Geovany Soto and Theriot.

Ok now you're just trying to piss me off. [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink.gif[/img]
</div>
[img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif[/img] I want Fontenot starting, and I'd prefer Soto were moved up a spot, but... I'm okay with that placement of Soto, as at least he will be batting with guys on base a lot behind Bradley, Aramis, and Fuk. When Reed plays, Soto will bat 6th.
</div>

I stopped reading after seeing Miles 2nd. Soto behind Fuk is kind of retarded too, but that should work itself out when Soto plays like he should.
</div>
Lou's goal is to alternate righty, lefty for the whole lineup. Since that is his goal, I honestly can't come up with a better lineup than the one posted.
</div>

Technically it isn't alternating lefty, righty for the whole lineup since Soto and Theriot are back to back at the end. So there are plenty of ways to not have lefties back to back without having Miles anywhere near the top of the order.

I don't really want the worst hitter in the lineup getting the 2nd most at bats, but maybe that's just me.

***rok*** · 02-23-2009, 01:22 AM

QUOTE D-Lee, a.k.a. <b>Derrek Lee, who has primarily batted third his entire career</b>, was sitting in the middle of the Fitch Park clubhouse, calmly reading the newspaper when Theriot tried to oust him from his spot.
Um, no he hasn't. He only started batting 3rd during his 2005 season, which he's never come close to repeating. Nice research, Muskrat.

Runnys · 02-23-2009, 09:27 AM

QUOTE (Brock @ Feb 22 2009, 08:46 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ruby23 @ Feb 22 2009, 08:02 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Brock @ Feb 22 2009, 06:30 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Clapp @ Feb 22 2009, 06:26 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Brock @ Feb 22 2009, 05:22 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE Piniella says he's leaning toward a batting order of Soriano, <b>Aaron Miles</b>, Lee, Bradley, Aramis Ramirez, Kosuke Fukudome, Geovany Soto and Theriot.

Ok now you're just trying to piss me off. [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink.gif[/img]
</div>
[img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif[/img] I want Fontenot starting, and I'd prefer Soto were moved up a spot, but... I'm okay with that placement of Soto, as at least he will be batting with guys on base a lot behind Bradley, Aramis, and Fuk. When Reed plays, Soto will bat 6th.
</div>

I stopped reading after seeing Miles 2nd. Soto behind Fuk is kind of retarded too, but that should work itself out when Soto plays like he should.
</div>
Lou's goal is to alternate righty, lefty for the whole lineup. Since that is his goal, I honestly can't come up with a better lineup than the one posted.
</div>

Technically it isn't alternating lefty, righty for the whole lineup since Soto and Theriot are back to back at the end. So there are plenty of ways to not have lefties back to back without having Miles anywhere near the top of the order.

I don't really want the worst hitter in the lineup getting the 2nd most at bats, but maybe that's just me.
</div>

Aside from those two spots at the end it is alternating. It is going to be a managers nightmare trying to play matchups through the heart of our lineup. We won't go through another playoff series where a team does not use a lefty in 3 games. If Fuk can just hit .275-.285 for us that is a pretty good lineup. As for Miles, I am not going to worry about him too much, let's see how the spring shakes out.

***rok*** · 02-23-2009, 02:14 PM

Levine was just on ESPN 1000 ripping Sullivan about his treatment of Z. He said the whole thing was taken as a joke by most of the press, and Sully as usual is being a drama queen, and making something out of nothing. Imagine that.

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