Ready for opener

[SKIPPER 11]

Good to be back on here. I havent seen much this spring except for some box scores. I do like the pitching rotation from top to bottom. I did read today that Fukudome will likely be the leadoff hitter. What does this mean for Colvin?? I dont see a whole lot of speed either with exception of Castro. Whats the word on 2b? I noticed DeWitt was hitting about .150 this spring.

[Bockstock]

Good to be back on here. I havent seen much this spring except for some box scores. I do like the pitching rotation from top to bottom. I did read today that Fukudome will likely be the leadoff hitter. What does this mean for Colvin?? I dont see a whole lot of speed either with exception of Castro. Whats the word on 2b? I noticed DeWitt was hitting about .150 this spring.

good questions

2b is anyone's guess. DeWitt hits lefties better than righties for his career.

I think Colvin played himself out a starting RF job with a poor defensive spring, no matter how he hit.

[ryno4ever]

I'm ready! I'll be sitting behind home plate on Friday, freezing my butt off... but it will be a beautiful day for baseball! I am taking my son with me for his first Opening Day experience. I asked him what he was most looking forward to (he's 11), and it was to hear Kerry Wood get announced! That's my boy! :) Quade seems to be getting a lot out of these players, as they seem to want to play for him. That, in combination with the early injuries of key players on each of the Reds, Brewers, and Cardinals... these guys HAVE to take advantage of it and come out of the gates strong and have a good April and May. You can't win the division in April/May, but you can certainly lose it!

[taz57]

Have a great time at the game Heather. The only opening day I ever went to was way back in about 1978. Myself and three buddies got standing room only tickets. We started out as a group way out in the last row of the upper deck by the rightfield foulpole. We decided to split up in groups of two to try to get better seats. After getting kicked out of closer seats for the first five innings, my buddy Joe and I scored on some great seats in the first row between the Cubs dugout and bullpen for the rest of the game. That was the game where Willie Smith hit a walkoff homer for a Cubs win.

[LeeEila's/rant]

Good to be back on here. I havent seen much this spring except for some box scores. I do like the pitching rotation from top to bottom. I did read today that Fukudome will likely be the leadoff hitter. What does this mean for Colvin?? I dont see a whole lot of speed either with exception of Castro. Whats the word on 2b? I noticed DeWitt was hitting about .150 this spring.

Reed Johnson changed things up for Colvin , Johnson can run. We need speed on the bags to make up for our lack of power. That gets me to DeWitt , I have no idea why he is not down in AAA. They say they are going to try to feed him some grounders at third and hope he can work there ( I don't think he will , he has no insticts ) , wouldn't that work better in the minors everyday ?

They really should have given his position to Bobby Scales , he has good enough feet a good enough bat but , the one thing he would bring is some speed on the bases. He could work as an infield utility guy and a pinch runner,

[LeeEila's/rant]

these guys HAVE to take advantage of it and come out of the gates strong and have a good April and May. You can't win the division in April/May, but you can certainly lose it!
__________________


So TRUE !! I agree 100% Ryno !!

[Bockstock]

Apparently Barney has been named the main 2b. Good for him, apparently he worked out and added alot of muscle in the offseason like Colvin did last year. Hopefully it bumps up his offensive numbers alittle bit.

[LeeEila's/rant]

Apparently Barney has been named the main 2b. Good for him, apparently he worked out and added alot of muscle in the offseason like Colvin did last year. Hopefully it bumps up his offensive numbers alittle bit.

Barney is a good call. He will give us some speed. Speed will be critical to this season because I can't see where we can get 200 home runs.

I still keep coming back to Soriano has to run. Not steal but just first to third type speed. Pena did show some speed in the spring but I don't see him getting on base enough with where they are hitting him.

Byrd slow , Ram slow , Soto slow , Baker slow , Colvin slow ,

real speed Barney , Fukudome , Castro

Speed on the bags will give our hitters more fastballs across the plate. So if Sori is hitting in front of Soto or Pena , got to show some speed.

[Banks]

I believe stolen bases are an underrated skill/platform of production.

I'd love to see the Cubs run some more. Impaticular, I agree with Lee... Fukudome, Barney, Castro and Soriano, should be encouraged to be more aggressive on the base path.

[Bockstock]

The Cubs have 3 guys who can be GB heavy at times in Dempster/Wells/Z (and possibly Cashner if you include his minor league numbers). Barney has a reputation as a defensive whiz, so this should save the Cubs a couple of runs.

[SKIPPER 11]

I agree with Bock about Barney. Watching the Cards and the Pads today, it was amazing the difference in the two teams middle IFs. Bartlett and Hudson were gaming it up out there. I think they turned 5 DPs. Now I dont know if the Padres can muster 400 runs out of their offense this season, but they can throw the leather around.

[SKIPPER 11]

I believe stolen bases are an underrated skill/platform of production.

I'd love to see the Cubs run some more. Impaticular, I agree with Lee... Fukudome, Barney, Castro and Soriano, should be encouraged to be more aggressive on the base path.

To me, its really a lost art in the game. It is starting to come back some- meaning stolen bases- but managers just value outs so much these days. It drives me crazy watching a P that is about a 1.7 to the plate- meaning very slow- pitch and baserunners just stay put.

With Byrd hitting third this year, i do expect more running from Fukudome and Castro

[TRIPLE PLAY]

Hope springs eternal! :rolleyes:

[cubbie_kern]

Kerry Wood looks extremely happy to be back on the NOrthside