 We may be battling snow and temperatures ranging from 15 to 45 degrees here in Chicago, but you can almost smell the warm air and cactus leaves of Mesa, Arizona. That’s right, spring training is in full swing, and the Cubs are back at HoHoKam Park. The sentiment may sound like a broken record at this point, but this season the Cubs are playing with a chip on their shoulder. After posting the National League’s best record in 2008, Wrigley’s Finest saw their postseason run come to a screeching halt when the Los Angeles Dodgers quickly disposed of them in the NLDS.
Now, as Year 101 gets underway, Chicago is out to avenge the “Ghost of 100 Seasons Past” and win a World Championship. The road to glory begins with the Cactus League. “Triple Play” returns in 2009 with a special Spring Training edition. Here are three developing storylines to follow from Arizona:
1. Kosuke Fukudome and the World Baseball Classic
It’s no secret that Kosuke Fukudome played poorly down the stretch. Actually, there’s no sense in euphemizing it: He was AWFUL. After starting the season with a .293 batting average through May, he saw that number slip each month thereafter until finally reaching a nadir of .100 in October. Fukudome will actually not be joining the Cubs in Arizona this spring, instead pledging his allegiance to Japan in the second installment of the World Baseball Classic. The WBC begins March 5 and Japan is seeking a second championship.
Playing in the WBC may actually be the best thing for Fukudome. Rather than getting two or three at-bats per game in meaningless Spring Training split-squad games, facing invitees struggling to make an MLB roster, he will most likely play full nine-inning bouts against some of the world’s best pitchers. There really is no better alternative for the Cubs outfielder to work on his swing than to face great pitchers, many of whom he will see throughout the MLB season. With some real games and extra help from his Japanese hitting coaches, he may be able to reclaim the form he showed early in 2008 and justify that four-year, $48 million contract. (Note: Ted Lilly and Geovany Soto will also be playing for Team USA and Team Puerto Rico, respectively. Don’t worry about them, though. They will be just fine.)
2. Leadoff Man
Alfonso Soriano is the leadoff man. Alfonso Soriano might bat in the middle of the order. Alfonso Soriano will bat leadoff. Alfonso Soriano could move down. Alfonso Soriano is going to be the leadoff hitter.
Lou Piniella has offered quite a few conflicting statements regarding Soriano’s position in the lineup. While the latest news ticker has him batting first, Piniella may just change his mind again. His most recent stance, on the second day of spring training, was that it was “improbable” his left fielder would move down in the order. Although, preceding this remark, Piniella said he would “take a look at the possibility [of moving him].” Soriano has also said he’d be open to such a possibility.
But should the Cubs tinker with the top spot in the order? After all, they were 69-36 with Soriano batting first in 2008. Conventional wisdom says they still should experiment with moving him down in the lineup. Regardless of the team’s record last year, Soriano strikes out too often and doesn’t work the count; both are undesirable qualities from a leadoff man. Spring training is the time to shake things up. Piniella should at least give it a shot. If it works out, maybe those 30-plus home runs he will likely hit will be two or three-run homers instead of solo shots. If it doesn’t pan out, hey, the Cubs won’t complain if he repeats those 29 home runs he smashed while batting first in 2008.
3. Jockeying for Position
Marmol or Gregg? Samardzija, Marshall, or Heilman? Fontenot or Miles? The battle for rights to a starting role (or in Marmol and Gregg’s case, the closer’s role) may be the most interesting story out of Mesa. It is sure to produce some great, healthy competition out of these players. Marmol was the Cubs’ lights-out setup man in 2008. While he did struggle in midseason, he still finished the year with 30 holds, 114 strikeouts, and a 2.68 ERA in 87.1 innings. He pretty much defined unhittable, posting an astounding 0.93 WHIP and a .135 opponent’s batting average. When given the opportunity to close, he shined, going seven of nine in save opportunities.
Gregg, on the other hand, was the Florida Marlins’ closer and saved 29 games in 39 chances last season, with a 1.28 WHIP, 3.41 ERA, and .203 opponent’s batting average. Marmol may have a leg up in this battle, what with the Cubs having groomed him to assume Kerry Wood’s spot. But don’t count out Gregg; he will turn some heads. Whether the closer’s role goes to Marmol or Gregg, the Cubs are sure to have a very strong back end of their bullpen.
Jeff Samardzija started the Cubs’ first Spring training game on Wednesday and did not leave a good first impression, going two innings and allowing two runs on three hits and two walks. His competitors for the fifth spot in the rotation are Sean Marshall and Aaron Heilman. Marshall is the early favorite to win the job, having made 50 starts in the previous three seasons with the Cubs. After making 45 total appearances in 2006 and 2007, starting 43 times, Marshall made only seven starts in 34 games in 2008. Still, without having any sort of consistency in his roles, oftentimes making relief appearances in between starts, and getting sent down to AAA, he almost always put forth a strong outing and had a smile on his face. The Cubs more or less owe it to Marshall to see what he can do as the team’s fifth starter. Plus, he’s a lefty.
Aaron Heilman was brought in via trade and was a major contributor to the Mets’ demise last season, blowing five saves in eight chances and posting a 5.21 ERA in 78 relief appearances. If he doesn’t start, we’ll have to wait and see how the Cubs use him. One thing is for sure: The last thing the team needs in 2009 is another Bob Howry. Samardzija is still young and wouldn’t be hurt by beginning the year either in the minors or in the bullpen. Barring a horrendous spring, Marshall is deserving of the number five spot in the rotation.
The switch-hitting Aaron Miles was signed after the Cubs traded fan favorite Mark DeRosa in January. He batted .317 in 134 games last season with St. Louis, with a .355 OBP. Mike Fontenot, on the other hand, batted .305 with a .395 OBP in 119 games for Chicago in 2008. Miles only drove in one more run (31) than Fontenot. The two are very evenly matched. The lefty Fontenot even managed to hit southpaws (.333 average) and right-handers (.302 average) alike. Miles was in that range as well, batting .315 and .317 against left and right-handers, respectively. It seemed like Fontenot was always coming through as a late game replacement last season and was on fire during a stretch in July, batting .484 with four home runs in 52 at-bats. But, he may not have what it takes to be an everyday starter. This one is a tossup, but either way it may turn out to be a trivial bout, with the Cubs likely platooning the two at second.
Closing Quote: "I boldly predict that we're going to have a breakfast spread tomorrow and peanut butter and jelly for lunch.” –Ryan Dempster, one year after openly predicting the Cubs would win the World Series in 2008.
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