Cubs: Five things to know
Miller from Cubs camp
MESA, Ariz. -- Five things to know about the Chicago Cubs:
1. You probably went through fewer starters in your old '75 AMC
Hornet than Cubs manager Dusty Baker has ripped through leadoff
hitters during his three years in Wrigley. Here's why the Cubs were
thrilled to acquire Juan Pierre, and here's why they're praying
he has a good year: Pierre will become the 19th leadoff hitter employed
by Baker for the Cubs. From Lenny Harris to Corey Patterson
and everywhere in between, Chicago has searched everywhere but the
Amazon Rainforest and still come away lacking.
2. A river runs through it: The Cubs anticipate a fluid lineup
this season, especially early. As of now, Pierre will bat leadoff, Derrek
Lee will hit third and Aramis Ramirez fourth. Aside from
that, Baker is writing nothing in ink. Todd Walker and Jerry
Hairston Jr. are taking their battle for the second base job into
the final week of the spring.
3. With Mark Prior all but officially set to join Kerry
Wood on the disabled list to open the season, the Cubs catch a break
in the schedule in that they do not need a fifth starter until April 15.
They play only every other day through the season's first four days,
with off days sandwiching their second game of the season at Cincinnati
on Wednesday, April 5. Carlos Zambrano, Glendon Rusch, Greg
Maddux and Jerome Williams will start in the first four
slots, and left-hander Sean Marshall, a 23-year-old whom the Cubs
picked in the sixth round of the 2003 draft, has captured their
attention this spring. Lefty Rich Hill and right-handers Angel
Guzman and Jae Kuk Ryu are vying with Marshall for the open
spot.
4. One early question involves Lee, an MVP candidate last summer
who sprained his shoulder during a World Baseball Classic game a week
ago. He's rejoined the Cubs at camp after being sidelined for Team USA's
final two games. Will he be oiled and ready come opening day? "It
probably didn't help Derrek, the fact that he's getting his stroke and
then missed a few days," Baker says.
5. Baker is entering the final season of his contract in Chicago,
so you can expect a whole lot of speculation until that situation is
resolved. If the Cubs start poorly, things could turn really ugly really
quickly. One thing that will help: The Cubs bullpen, with newcomers Scott
Eyre and Bobby Howry and holdover closer Ryan Dempster
and setup man Scott Williamson, should be better.
