I know it's only spring training but

[Buford T Justice]

I have been impressed with the Cubs approach at the plate thus far. Starting with the stars all the way down to the players who won't make the club. I love how they have been moving players on the base paths. Can we really look forward to this during the season?

[Shawon12]

I agree. This team may not be ready to win it all, but they actually might be fun to watch for a change.

[biittner77]

The Cubs look to have more team speed this season. It seems like they've been stealing a lot of bases so far. I wonder if that's just ST or if the Cubs are planning on being more aggressive on the base paths. More importantly, having a team full of guys that run well (except for Ramirez) should mean more runs scoring from first on xtra base hits.

[TheDude]

I'm impressed with the fact that lead-off doubles aren't getting stranded. Guys on 3rd base with less than 2 outs are scoring.

 

That is how you win games and thus far, the guys are making it happen.

 

I'm also impressed with Sing. I had not seen him in play before, and I had no idea how big that kid is...looking at him in the batter's box was a little like looking at the Olympic Big Mac.

[JWCUB]

I'm impressed with the fact that lead-off doubles aren't getting stranded. Guys on 3rd base with less than 2 outs are scoring.

 

That is how you win games and thus far, the guys are making it happen.

 

I'm also impressed with Sing. I had not seen him in play before, and I had no idea how big that kid is...looking at him in the batter's box was a little like looking at the Olympic Big Mac.

 

Its hard to believe that Sing went unclaimed in the Rule V.

[Backtobanks]

I'm impressed with the fact that lead-off doubles aren't getting stranded. Guys on 3rd base with less than 2 outs are scoring.

 

That is how you win games and thus far, the guys are making it happen.

 

I'm also impressed with Sing. I had not seen him in play before, and I had no idea how big that kid is...looking at him in the batter's box was a little like looking at the Olympic Big Mac.

 

Its hard to believe that Sing went unclaimed in the Rule V.[/quote]

 

Especially for an AL team that needs a cheap DH.

[Buford T Justice]

I guess Dusty and the gang a really focusing on the little things?

[JWCUB]

I guess Dusty and the gang a really focusing on the little things?

 

That is the way it appears. They have a good combo of speed and power. I think the wildcard in the line-up is going to be Jones. We shall see how it all plays out. I'm gettin excited. :D

[Buford T Justice]

lets hope he was embaressed by the numbers he's put up and wants to turn things around. also let's hope Tony Gwynn helped him out as well.

[JWCUB]

He sure looks good this spring so far. I hope thats a true sign of things to come.

[Buford T Justice]

I must admit I have been impressed..

[craig]

I think much of the success is spring training, though. It's a lot easier to do the small-ball advance-the-baserunners sort of thing when you're facing mostly fastballs. Some of the better pitchers aren't throwing their full dose of breaking balls, and those they do throw aren't as effective as they'll be later. And in spring, you're mostly facing minor-league pitchers and mediocre pitchers. A little more difficult when you're hitting against Oswalt, Clemens, and Lidge.

 

To date, though, it certainly looks like the Cubs could be a much more fundamentally sound team, a faster team, and a more patient team at the plate.

 

And the early returns suggest that the cub farmhands compare pretty favorably, both the pitchers (Marshall, Hill, Ryu...) and the hitters (Sing, Dopirak, Pie, McGehee, Theriot...).

[JWCUB]

You have to crawl before you can walk. I think the Cubs are FINALLY heading in the right direction.

[Buford T Justice]

If this does follow thru throughout the season I'll have a renewed faith in Dusty.

[Abe Frohman]

The season is the season. Spring training can be misleading. Not to sound pessimistic, but Nomar was lights out last Spring....

[ConstableRabbit]

The season is the season. Spring training can be misleading. Not to sound pessimistic, but Nomar was lights out last Spring....

 

Wasnt he batting like .526 or something ridiculous like that?

[snoodmonger]

constable--

 

You spelled valiant wrong in your sig--you know, where you're making fun of Dusty's inteliigence. :wink:

[KatJ]

lets hope he was embaressed by the numbers he's put up and wants to turn things around. also let's hope Tony Gwynn helped him out as well.

 

And Kirby. Maybe his passing will light a fire in Jones. But I'd settle for having Kirby channelling his baseball abilities in his prime to JJ.