Bricks & Ivy

Spring Training Update

The latest update for the Cubs in Mesa--somewhere that we should be, damn it!

Jacque Jones went 2-2 with a solo shot. What is interesting about that is both hits came off lefties--Rich Hill ("the next Barry Zito!") served up the homer, and John Koronka gave up the single. Jim Hendry has been criticized lately because of the Jones signing--not because he has had a couple of down years recently, but because he sucks at hitting lefties (career BA: .227. Uggg.). And something like 22 starting pitchers in the NL Central are lefties. Good to see he came to camp ready to swing.

Derrek Lee hit a two-run double (weird), and Todd Walker hit at the DH spot with the aid of a new rule in Spring Training that allows NL teams to have a DH in games.

The Todd Walker controversy is really beyond me. He is, for whatever reason, going to really have to battle for the spot at second base. Is Todd Walker average-to-liability defensively? Yes. Is he one of the best hitting second basemen in the NL? Absolutely. Which top of the lineup looks better to you?

Pierre
Walker -or- Neifi/Hairston
Lee
Ramirez

That's what I thought. But Hendry really wants the guy out of here, and it is frankly starting to piss me off. Especially with Walker's attitude: either he is a public relations master, or he really does not want to play anywhere else. This quote is from an article on Cubs.com:

"I don't mind," Walker said about being the DH. "I'm at the point now, if I get some at-bats and get to play -- like I've said, if I can play for the team I want to play for, I'm happy.

"There aren't too many DH's in there [in the National League]," he said. "I've got to try to fight it out out there on a daily basis."

See?? He wants to be a Cub! He is a contact hitter! And he's witty! What else do you want, Hendry?

Some other notes:

--Kerry Wood and Wade Miller are both ahead of schedule, and could be ready to start in May. This means that they will be back on the DL ahead of schedule in June!

--Juan Pierre, Derrek Lee, and Jacque Jones all showed up to camp a few days early. Lee has been quoted as saying something along the lines of this offseason he spent his time in the batting cages and not the golf course. If this does not put the fear of God into NL Central pitchers, I do not know what will.

--Lastly, the Cubs are beating the Oakland A's 4-1 in a full-squad game as we speak.

posted by GA Hill @ 3:56 PM