Cubby-Blue

What Is Going ON Outside?

I went outside this morning, and I was shocked.
I've been working weekends and everything for well over a month, and I forgot about...outside.
Do you know what's going on out there?
It's all...change and life and sun and warmth and a freaking robin!
God.
Last night I lit the grill and the sun was still out.
When did that happen?
Well it only means one thing: baseball.
Yeah, it's been on the radio and tv, but real tangible spring is in my back yard - that signals real change.
Last night I stopped at the grocery on the way home, and there were suddenly a million bags of fertilizer in front.
Inside there's that aisle that's labeled "seasonal", and it's loaded with clay pots and Miracle Gro and shiny grass clippers.
I'm suddenly in kind of a really good mood.
And I read this morning that young Sean Marshall is absolutely dominating in Arizona.
If everything's right in the baseball cosmos, he'll be the 5th starter and win 17 games.

Alright, even on this gorgeous day I still have to go in - it's that busy.
Probably you've seen one before today, but if not I hope you get outside and see the robin.
And then pretty soon you'll see cardinals, and not the flying kind.

PS: Reed Johnson started a blog. He already seems funny. And, he's asking for help with a name, so go help! (DB - thanks for the heads up on that!)

Where IS Ted Lilly?

Of course I know he's throwing for the United States Of America in the WBC.
But man, I've heard NOTHING about him, and he's a guy I've missed a ton over the winter.
The last we really saw of him, he was gonna start against the Dodgers in Los Angeles.
But the series didn't last that long.
How bad would THAT stick in your craw?
I bet he's been thinking about that ever since.
Finally the big chance to shake off that '07 playoff meltdown, and poof!
No mo season.
I heard Big Z's going to be the opening day starter, I heard Carlos Marmol is permanently emotionally scarred from giving up a run to the Nederlanders (puh-leez), I heard Jake Peavy's team sucks, I heard Aaron Heilman just had a bad year in NY, I heard Jeff Samardzija wants that 5th starter role, I heard Rich Harden gets hurt sometimes but is the best number four ever, and I heard Sean Marshall is quietly turning out to actually be that 5th starter (my opinion along with yours I'm sure).
But I've heard zilch about the 185 pound guy that ran over Yadier Molina last year.
Then yesterday, I saw his photo in USA TODAY.
It said he'd given up a homer to our Venezuelan ex-backup catcher (don't get me started on that) Henry Blanco in a USA loss to the Home of Henry.
And I just went, "WHERE THE HELL IS TED LILLY?"
I'm already sick of the longest spring ever, and I'm already sick of the freaking WBC.
But I guess I'll have to watch some to see my favorite mini? (______)* badass.
Terrible Ted Lilly of the Valley of the Shadow of Death.

Ahhh.
Felt good to write that name again.
And if you want to visit someplace where everything's Ted, go visit The Ted Lilly Fan Club.
Those guys are funny fanatics, and they've got the best name of any Cubs blog.

*Commenter Lizz wrote in early this morning, and pointed out that "mini bad-ass" was in fact incorrect. "There is nothing mini about TL's badassery" was the quote.
And  so then I tried to think of what that descriptor should be.
Can't.
So my question to you is, what kind of bad ass is Ted Lilly?

Japan vs Chicago in Mesa

Well, I just like the way that sounds.
Japan vs. Chicago in Mesa.
I looked this up online so I'm pretty sure it's incorrect - Japan is 142,000 square miles, Chicago 227, and Mesa is 108.
Probably my proportions are wrong in the illustration, too - oh well.
But it's cool that Kosuke Fukudome is playing for his country versus his team in a suburb of Phoenix.
If you've never been to Phoenix, it's really one big area with the division between city and suburbs being defined by streets.
If you see a sign that says "welcome to Mesa", then on the other side of that sign it says "welcome to Phoenix".

It's just an exhibition game, but what a bunch of fun this would be.
I see Kosuke's listed as a right fielder, but he played center last game, and hitting...
Well his stats say he's got 2 hits and 4 walks in 7 at bats, but it also says he has 2 strikeouts.
That's mystifying, but maybe he struck out and the catcher dropped the ball or something.
Nah, probably the stat guy's a drinker.
But he's hitting .286 in the 3 games Japan has played so far in the WBC.
Man, I'd take that average, Kosuke.

After hearing he and Lou shared a big hug and Lou's thinking a 1-2 punch of Alfonso-Kosuke at the top of the order (did he specify vs righty or lefty pitching? can't remember), well, it's a good vote of confidence for the Cub center fielder. And I really hope he's turned it around and will stop with the spinning around thing.
Carlos Marmol's Dominican Republic team was booted by the pesky Nederlanders, so he should be in camp soon.
Fukudome's Japanese team is into the second round, so who knows how long he'll be...not there.
Today he'll be facing Big Z, who promised to throw him straight fastballs down the middle.

With Carlos' sense of humor, I'd be looking for the first pitch going to the backstop.

Uh Oh

Well, I had no idea what to put in today until I went to, as usual, MLBTR and found a sort of distressing article about the new right fielder for the Chicago Cubs.
I'm not putting it in here or even quoting from it.
He sounds a little confused, a little selfish, a little...cuckoo.
Go here to read if you want.
It's an article from The Fort Worth Star Telegram by a guy named Gil Lebretron.
Never heard of the writer, or the paper.
Honestly, I could care less.
I already know Milton's out there.
I want to see him on the field playing before I make my own judgement.
But you know... just shut UP, dude.
Let your glove and bat do the talking, we'll understand that better.

In other news, Rich Harden looking good in his first spring action.
Dempster of course doing well, but also Aaron Heilman with 3 scoreless and 5 strikeouts vs the Mariners.
Bats sort of waking up, but I wish the big guys were doing it.
Gonna keep a watch on catcher Koyie Hill, who's outhitting Bako by a ton.

Lastly, I hate doing posts like this.
I really do wish Milton hadn't said these things - he makes himself a target and I feel guilty for taking the bait. But at least I'll try to make it funny.

Same Old Farnsy

When he came up with the Cubs, you thought this guy was going to be something special.

He had that smoking fastball, big strong guy.

But of course there were also the rumors - serious party guy.

In 2001 he pitched 82 innings and gave up 65 hits and 25 earned runs.

Had 24 holds.

That was the year you really cheered when he came in because opposing batters were absolutely overmatched.

He was never that good again.

People figured out that his fastball had one trick only: speed.

It lacked movement.

And then it started going out of the park.

He's bounced around, and for some insane reason the Kansas City Royals gave him a pretty lucrative 2 year deal for $9.25 million dollars.

And yesterday against the Cubs?

One inning, 3 hits, 3 earned runs, 1 walk and 2 strikeouts.

He may turn out to be this year's Eric Gagne signing, not because of injury, but because of result.

(By the way, Gagne was released by the Brewers yesterday - damaged shoulder.)

Anyway, the same old Farnsy.

This illustration is from 2003, from the Cubs/Cardinal series that Buzz Bissinger made famous in his excellent "Three Nights In August" book.

On the bright side for the Cubs, Alfonso hit a dinger yesterday.

But it's been Mike Fontenot's spring so far.

Yesterday 2 for 3 - a homer and a double - with 2 runs scored and a walk to bring his average to .367.

Lou batted him in the 3 hole.

Guy weighs what I did in high school.

Pretty sure he's out there at 2nd on opening day.