The Cubs Cactus League Rotation

[Jehrico]

Someone punch me in the face and tell me not to get excited about Prior and Wood please.

[punch]Ka Pow![/punch]

Don't get excited about Prior and Wood.

[98navigator]

Link

 

Kerry Wood threw to hitters Tuesday... is expected to get into Cactus League games next week as he continues to make progress.

 

"He's still not as sharp as he will be, but you wouldn't expect him to be..." "The arm speed is there, the velocity is there. It's just a matter of sharpening things up and getting out there enough and keeping him healthy."

 

"Stuff-wise, he's not behind," "Mound time and getting his feet back on the ground, he's there. He didn't pitch a lot last year, and when he did, he wasn't right.

 

"With him, we'll take it day by day,"

 

"His mind knows where he wants to be, but I don't know if his body is there yet,"

 

"He feels good, so he thinks it should be back to the way it should be. But it's been awhile. It's normal. You want to see a guy who's driving himself that way, as long as he doesn't drive himself to distraction."

 

Other news:

 

Mark Prior remains on track to start in the Cubs' fifth Cactus League game on March 5. Left-hander Sean Marshall.. threw off the mound Monday, will take two days off, and then throw another batting practice session.

 

"He's progressed fine," Rothschild said of Marshall. "His arm reacted fine and he's had no setbacks."

[98navigator]

I can't find the quotes, but I read that Lou plans to give his catchers more freedom to call games (except in some crucial spots). I could be wrong, but never got the feeling that Barrett called his own game.

 

 

Link

 

 

"We've talked to our catchers about getting them out on three or four pitches instead of working the count..." "Not too many good things can come from long counts. First of all, you're letting the hitters see all your pitches. Second of all, your infielders aren't going to be as attentive and they're not going to make as many good plays.

 

"Third of all, you have pitch counts and these guys will be out of the game sooner than you'd like to see them." "Fourth of all, you're in running counts all the time, so you're opening up holes for the hitter to hit the ball through. And finally, the manager's not going to be very pleased."

 

"As far as a pitcher now, he's a completely different pitcher," "He has a really good sinker, really good slider. When he was in Montreal, he was a four-seam fastball, curveball, change guy. His change, he was still working on. Now he's a four-pitch guy, maybe even a five-pitch guy. He's got a really good sinker. He's a totally different pitcher."

 

Who knew Lilly had a sinker? It would be great if Barrett/Blanco convince Lilly to use it more often!

[CuseCubFan69]

I can't find the quotes, but I read that Lou plans to give his catchers more freedom to call games (except in some crucial spots). I could be wrong, but never got the feeling that Barrett called his own game.

 

 

Link

 

 

"We've talked to our catchers about getting them out on three or four pitches instead of working the count..." "Not too many good things can come from long counts. First of all, you're letting the hitters see all your pitches. Second of all, your infielders aren't going to be as attentive and they're not going to make as many good plays.

 

"Third of all, you have pitch counts and these guys will be out of the game sooner than you'd like to see them." "Fourth of all, you're in running counts all the time, so you're opening up holes for the hitter to hit the ball through. And finally, the manager's not going to be very pleased."

 

"As far as a pitcher now, he's a completely different pitcher," "He has a really good sinker, really good slider. When he was in Montreal, he was a four-seam fastball, curveball, change guy. His change, he was still working on. Now he's a four-pitch guy, maybe even a five-pitch guy. He's got a really good sinker. He's a totally different pitcher."

 

Who knew Lilly had a sinker? It would be great if Barrett/Blanco convince Lilly to use it more often!

 

When was Lilly in Montreal? I assume Lou meant Toronto.

 

I have to assume that Lou knows that using this type of strategy/plan for hitting helps his offense too.

[CubColtPacer]

I can't find the quotes, but I read that Lou plans to give his catchers more freedom to call games (except in some crucial spots). I could be wrong, but never got the feeling that Barrett called his own game.

 

 

Link

 

 

"We've talked to our catchers about getting them out on three or four pitches instead of working the count..." "Not too many good things can come from long counts. First of all, you're letting the hitters see all your pitches. Second of all, your infielders aren't going to be as attentive and they're not going to make as many good plays.

 

"Third of all, you have pitch counts and these guys will be out of the game sooner than you'd like to see them." "Fourth of all, you're in running counts all the time, so you're opening up holes for the hitter to hit the ball through. And finally, the manager's not going to be very pleased."

 

"As far as a pitcher now, he's a completely different pitcher," "He has a really good sinker, really good slider. When he was in Montreal, he was a four-seam fastball, curveball, change guy. His change, he was still working on. Now he's a four-pitch guy, maybe even a five-pitch guy. He's got a really good sinker. He's a totally different pitcher."

 

Who knew Lilly had a sinker? It would be great if Barrett/Blanco convince Lilly to use it more often!

 

When was Lilly in Montreal? I assume Lou meant Toronto.

 

I have to assume that Lou knows that using this type of strategy/plan for hitting helps his offense too.

 

That was Barrett talking about Lilly. Lilly started in Montreal, and Barrett was the catcher then in 1999 when Lilly came up. Lilly pitched 24 innings there, and was gone to the Yankees the next year.

[goonys evil twin]

When was Lilly in Montreal? I assume Lou meant Toronto.

 

I have to assume that Lou knows that using this type of strategy/plan for hitting helps his offense too.

 

That was Barrett talking about Lilly. Lilly started in Montreal, and Barrett was the catcher then in 1999 when Lilly came up. Lilly pitched 24 innings there, and was gone to the Yankees the next year.

 

Lilly truly is a journeyman pitcher. He was drafted and signed by the Dodgers, then traded to the Expos while still a prospect. He was traded again as a PTBNL to the Yankees. Then he was sent to Oakland, and finally Toronto. The Cubs are his 6th organization.

[CuseCubFan69]

When was Lilly in Montreal? I assume Lou meant Toronto.

 

I have to assume that Lou knows that using this type of strategy/plan for hitting helps his offense too.

 

That was Barrett talking about Lilly. Lilly started in Montreal, and Barrett was the catcher then in 1999 when Lilly came up. Lilly pitched 24 innings there, and was gone to the Yankees the next year.

 

Lilly truly is a journeyman pitcher. He was drafted and signed by the Dodgers, then traded to the Expos while still a prospect. He was traded again as a PTBNL to the Yankees. Then he was sent to Oakland, and finally Toronto. The Cubs are his 6th organization.

 

I didn't realize that, thanks guys.

[98navigator]

Suntimes

 

Cubs pitcher Kerry Wood, who said he felt great during a 27-pitch session of throwing to hitters Tuesday and said he's fully recovered from the chest bruise he got slipping in his hot tub just before camp opened.

 

 

 

''It felt great...'' ''Just the location wasn't where I wanted it. The slider wasn't where I wanted it. But my arm felt great. I had pretty decent pop on the ball and got a little feedback from the guys.''

 

'I'm not really concerned about the shoulder right now.''

 

''I sure would like to get into a game before the seventh or eighth,''

[Bruce Miles]

Anybody want tomorrow's lineup today? No? Didn't think so.

[CuseCubFan69]

Anybody want tomorrow's lineup today? No? Didn't think so.

 

Bruce....you're evil.

[Bruce Miles]

OK, from Lou's envelope to you. Somebody start a game thread:

 

Soriano, CF

Murton, LF

Lee, 1B

Ramirez, 3B

Barrett, C

Jones, RF

DeRosa, 2B

Izturis, SS

Marquis, P

[Danny82]

Whew.

 

That is the perfect line-up, given the resources.

 

*edit* Well, I guess I don't know for sure about the 5 and 6 slots, but I'm not sure it's all that important.

Edited February 28, 2007 by Danny82

[Ding Dong Johnson]

Why isn't Izturis batting 11th?

[wastra]

OK, from Lou's envelope to you. Somebody start a game thread:

 

Soriano, CF

Murton, LF

Lee, 1B

Ramirez, 3B

Barrett, C

Jones, RF

DeRosa, 2B

Izturis, SS

Marquis, P

 

I almost teared up, reading that. It's exactly how I would make out the lineup with these players. I can't say I could EVER say the same thing when Dusty was making out the cards.

 

Could we actually have a manager with some common baseball sense???

[CuseCubFan69]

OK, from Lou's envelope to you. Somebody start a game thread:

 

Soriano, CF

Murton, LF

Lee, 1B

Ramirez, 3B

Barrett, C

Jones, RF

DeRosa, 2B

Izturis, SS

Marquis, P

 

Nice lineup Lou and thanks Bruce.

[DesMoinesCub]

Isn't Marquis a decent hitting pitcher? Anyone up for swapping Marquis and Izturis? Wow, I am starting to think like Tony LaRussa...somebody help me!

 

Overall, I really like the line up and am glad to see Murton in the 2 spot. I wouldn't be opposed to having Jones hit 5th and Barrett 6th either, but overall it looks good.

Edited February 28, 2007 by DesMoinesCub

[RichHillIsABeast]

Anybody want tomorrow's lineup today? No? Didn't think so.

 

:( Don't tease me.

[CuseCubFan69]

OK, from Lou's envelope to you. Somebody start a game thread:

 

Soriano, CF

Murton, LF

Lee, 1B

Ramirez, 3B

Barrett, C

Jones, RF

DeRosa, 2B

Izturis, SS

Marquis, P

 

I almost teared up, reading that. It's exactly how I would make out the lineup with these players. I can't say I could EVER say the same thing when Dusty was making out the cards.

 

Could we actually have a manager with some common baseball sense???

 

I don't know about you but I think it moved when I saw it.

[goonys evil twin]

OK, from Lou's envelope to you. Somebody start a game thread:

 

Soriano, CF

Murton, LF

Lee, 1B

Ramirez, 3B

Barrett, C

Jones, RF

DeRosa, 2B

Izturis, SS

Marquis, P

 

I almost teared up, reading that. It's exactly how I would make out the lineup with these players. I can't say I could EVER say the same thing when Dusty was making out the cards.

 

Could we actually have a manager with some common baseball sense???

 

I don't know about you but I think it moved when I saw it.

 

 

I'm still laughing.

[Chocolate Milk]

OK, from Lou's envelope to you. Somebody start a game thread:

 

Soriano, CF

Murton, LF

Lee, 1B

Ramirez, 3B

Barrett, C

Jones, RF

DeRosa, 2B

Izturis, SS

Marquis, P

 

Wow, most excellent.

[Chris]

It's going to be a great season.

[CUBZ99]

OK, from Lou's envelope to you. Somebody start a game thread:

 

Soriano, CF

Murton, LF

Lee, 1B

Ramirez, 3B

Barrett, C

Jones, RF

DeRosa, 2B

Izturis, SS

Marquis, P

 

Bruce - as always, your awesome. Lou seems like he is going to be an easy person to root for. Can't wait for tomorrow and baseball to begin.

[Chris]

Somebody start a game thread

 

Done, kind sir.

[CuseCubFan69]

I keep waiting for Bruce to say April Fools.

 

Who is pitching against the Cubs in that game?

[Laura]

zito