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This is much more progress than we've seen in 3 Spring Trainings. It's also good to see Larry being positive about his progress instead of the seemingly guarded way he approached Prior's previous STs. If he pitches in two Spring Training games it will be a record or him. I think he will and that he will be ready Opening Day. I don't recall Prior ever expressing that confidence last Spring.

They are still building up his arm so I expect him to continue to get stronger each time out.

89 mph is being kind. Reporters are saying he didn't reach the mid 80's If you read carefully it said when he was pitching last year. It didn't really say what his velocity is right now. . Sure it does. The writer is comparing the radar gun readings from last season to what he saw of his arm yesterday:

LOL@ The Player. Good call :lol:

I like his quotes but it's really his track record that sells me. 1500+ managerial victories and being the fourth active winningest manager speaks for itself (and it could have been a lot better if the teams he had in Tampa Bay had more advanced talent). He wasn't my first choice and that's only because of the issue of longevity; He probably isn't going to be here longer than his 4th option year. However, I always believed in his ability to get the best out of his players. On another note, I'll also admit that I liked the Baker signing initially but this pales in comparison because Dusty was not a championship manager... I think Piniella's three World Series victories (2 as a player) go along way with credibility in the locker room. So when he says to the team that "they have as much talent as any team [he's] managed" he gets their attention and gets them believing in themselves which is half the battle. I'm sure we won't agree with his every move but there are still Cardinal's fans that don't like TLR even though he's been nothing but a consistent winner as well. On a similar note, I recall watching a Cardinal's game last fall on Fox where TLR asked Lou about his plans for 2007 while also wishing out loud that Piniella wouldn't end up in the NL Central. Of course, those two are friends but Tony also knows first hand that Lou is a heck of a manager. Like I said, Lou has a good track record and I don't expect his result will deviate from the other veteran teams he's managed.

I agree

Selig hasn't been willing to take a hard line on a lot of issues during his tenure so I find it odd that he singled out the Cubs specifically. BTW, doesn't the Commissioner's office have to approve all contracts before they are finalized? If he really had a problem with any aspect of the deals (years, dollar amount, or both) be could have vetoed. I think the Cubs' angle has something to do with his roots in Milwaukee. As someone else already mentioned, why hasn't he openly denounced the spending of the Yankees (and Red Sox) over the years?

I find it interesting that Lou always seems to call Rothschild "the pitching coach." I wonder what, if anything, is behind that. It could stem from his own long history with Larry; whom Piniella brought to the MLs as a bullpen coach. Most likely it goes back to what Lou referenced in his first press conference; he's a delegator so he has confidence that the messages he gives to his coaching staff will be effectively delivered to the team.

Is it really fair to give only one season at 23 years old to him? I think if Cedeno can get improve his approach in AAA and return to 05 form while Izturis doesn't rebound as well as expected, he could easily be seen again starting. The 2B might say they are planning on him being a backup middle infielder who can play both positions. He's got the potential to at least be a cheap bench option for a few years as long as he develops a little more. I don't know if "fair" is the right word. It's a competitive business and any year a player fails to perform someone behind them gets better or is afforded the opportunity to showcase his talent. The Cubs didn't expect a lot offensively from Cedeno but his failures defensively opened the door for the Izturis trade, the DeRosa signing and even the emergence of Ryan Theriot on the ML club. Cedeno may get another look as a starter in 2008 depeding on how he plays in AAA (or as a backup if he surprisingly makes the team). However, I wouldn't be surprised if Theriot, who isn't a SS by trade but has shown the ability to adapt, moves ahead of Cedeno in the pecking order.

89 mph is being kind. Reporters are saying he didn't reach the mid 80's Maybe so-I'm just taking the results from the gun when he was up at Wrigley that I saw, but it's possible that the gun was a fast one. He definitely was getting it up to 89 and sometimes 90 on that particular gun in his starts for the Cubs at the end of last year though. For his sake, I hope you're right but I don't think that, in his current state, he makes the active roster (barring other injuries). My guess is that he starts the season on the DL which will allow him to make some rehab starts. The decision will be easier for Lou if everyone else in camp is healthy and pitching better.

89 mph is being kind. Reporters are saying he didn't reach the mid 80's

Lou also adds this about Miller I think Lou is just trying to keep it positive. Miller has always counted heavily on his velocity/ability to over power hitters. So unless he can reinvent himself as a finesse pitcher, he's probably going to be really bad (to maybe serviceable as a 5th starter for the Nationals etc) at best or washed up at worst. Luckily, his contract makes him easy to move in a trade or for a release.

I think Miller will either start the season on the DL or be traded (with the extreme option being his release). The Suntimes writer adds some interesting notes today:

Before panic sets in, let me include the rest of the section in that piece:

Kerry will be on the Final Word tomorrow at 10pm for those local to the Chicago market.

Oh really? So it took about 1 week of ST for the whole "Prior is our 5th starter" thing to be thrown to the 4 winds ;) LOL, apparently so. The Cubs must be reasonably pleased with his progress and health going forward... It looks like Marquis will get the 5th spot. :D

Wade Miller may be behind Prior because of reduced arm strength. Link Lou also would like to see more fastballs: Also, Marquis is likely the 5th starter so the rotation right now looks like Zambrano Lilly Prior Hill Marquis

For those who were wondering if Lou paid attention to stats, this is interesting news: Link Some pitchers may also be skipped if they have especially numbers against a particular team (kinda like Maddux not pitching against Arizona)

The article also focuses on Lilly's challenges, as a fly ball pitcher, at Wrigley Field. He says his focus will be on keeping the team in the game rather than his individual stats.

He will pitch against the Angeles on Friday, so says Foxsports

I think Lilly's going to need a long man more than Marquis-even last year, when Lilly was much better than Marquis, Lilly got pulled before the end of 5 innings 5 times, while Marquis only got pulled 3 times. In 2005, Marquis got pulled 5 times before 5 innings were completed, and Lilly got pulled 8 times. I would think a DH-less lineup should help Lilly stay in games longer in the NL

Prior sounds like he's healthy and confident that he will return to form: Link

The Cubs will never be able to fly under the radar. Yeah, I know. I laughed when I wrote it but it would still be nice. I think its annoying that local and national media are constantly telling the Cubs players they can't win. It really irked me to read some of the questions about curses that reporters/writers were asking Lilly on his first day in camp. It's ridiculous. I'm glad that Lou is taking a positive approach and telling them to focus on the future and not any past negativity.

I don't want the Cubs on their cover. I don't believe in curses but I think it can certainly be a distraction. It would be nice if they could fly under the radar.