Paul Bako and Mike Stanton are out of work after being cut by the Cubs.  Bako battled with Koyie Hill all spring for the #2 catcher spot behind Geovany Soto, and ultimately lost out to Hill’s youth and bat.  Stanton of course is older than Jesus and was always a long-shot to make the roster.  The team is now more-or-less set and ready for the regular season which begins April 6 at Houston.  Damn, I’m ready now.

In something of an upset, Lou Piniella has named Kevin Gregg as the Cubs closer for 2009.  It was assumed all along that Carlos Marmol would get that job, but obviously, Gregg’s fantastic spring numbers – 0 earned runs allowed so far in Cactus League play – swayed the manager.  Marmol will be the #1 set-up man, the role he filled last year when the now-departed Kerry Wood closed.  Gregg does also have more closing experience than Marmol, having served in that capacity for two years with the Marlins.  Gregg figures to get a lot more save opportunities with the [...]

I’ll give this to Kosuke Fukudome – he doesn’t mince words about himself.  When asked by reporters why he struggled so much last year in the second half, the platoon centerfielder and overall disappointment replied:
“My stupidity.”
And then Fukudome was heard to laugh.  Like a man unburdened or a man consumed with anxiety?  We do not know as yet.  But, at least we are certain of one good thing:  Fukudome will only be starting part of the time.  So Reed Johnson should be ready to slide in on a full-time basis when Lou Piniella gets tired of watching his overpriced bust [...]

No, this is not some kind of crazy high-tech vehicle used by the CIA to disrupt communications in war zones…it’s Alfonso Soriano’s Hummer H2.  I don’t know about you, but if some guy drove a thing like that around my neighborhood, I’d have to seriously consider investing in an RPG launcher.  Obnoxious doesn’t even begin to describe that.  Then again, what would you expect from a dude who feels the need to turn every routine catch into a little ballet performance?  Alfonso is clearly attention-starved.  Of course, if he hits 40 homers this year and helps the Cubs to the [...]

It had to happen sooner or later, and now it has:  Fansided.com has added a Cardinals blog to the network.  The new site is called Red Bird Rants, and it’s written by a couple of schmos named Mike West and David Frissell.  I’m not sure why any sane person would want to read a blog dedicated to those ahems from St. Louis, but whatever…go check it out anyway and don’t forget to drop some Cubbie pride on their butts.

Derrek Lee is accusing major league baseball of using tactics usually associated with sleazy debt collectors or slimy telephone solicitors in pressuring him to take injured first baseman Kevin Youkilis’s place in the WBC.  “They started calling me,” Lee explained.  “They needed a first baseman. But I couldn’t go, not being 100 percent.
“I thought it was disrespectful, to be truthful.  They knew I wasn’t playing here [in camp]. How do they expect me to get off the trainer’s table and start playing there?”
I think we can all sympathize with Derrek.  I mean, we’ve all been there, right?  We’re getting ready [...]

I think we already had a good idea that Sean Marshall would begin the season as the #5 starter, but now it’s been made official by Lou Piniella.  This sends Aaron Heilman to the bullpen, where he joins Carlos Marmol and Kevin Gregg to create a pretty solid contingent of righties.  The left-handed side is where the issue is:  Right now it’s Neil Cotts and…that’s it cause there are no other lefty relievers on the roster.  And we still have no idea whether Jeff Samardzija will make the team or be sent to AAA for more work.  Lots of little [...]

Jeff Samardzija has a 9.90 spring ERA after giving up five runs in two innings to the Brewers on Monday.  More troublesome are his 6 walks and 2 hit batters in 9 spring innings.  Of course numbers aren’t supposed to matter in the spring – it’s all about getting your work in, as we’re constantly reminded – but this doesn’t hold when you’re battling for the 5th spot in the rotation against several other guys who are more established than you.  I think it’s safe to say we can forget about Samardzija as a starter at least for the foreseeable [...]

Lou Piniella says Mike Fontenot is currently in the lead to start the season at 2nd base – which should come as a shock to no one since his only competition is Aaron Miles and Esteban German, who’s been in camp for about four minutes.  Lou also said that, because of his preference for lefty bats in the 2, 4, and 6 holes, Fontenot would be his 6 hitter, with Kosuke Fukudome batting 2nd and Milton Bradley 4th.  In this configuration, Geovany Soto would be left batting 7th.  Let’s hope the Cubs‘ line-up is really good enough to warrant such [...]

How about Kosuke Fukudome batting second?  Yes, that’s the plan according to Lou Piniella.  “He looks wonderful,” Piniella said of the much-maligned outfielder, who is currently playing in the WBC with Team Japan. “He’s in really good shape. I told him we’re holding a spot for him, and we’ll put him out in center field and we’ll try him in the No. 2 hole in the lineup.
“He said he’s been working hard. He’s excited about this World Baseball Classic and afterwards, he’s looking forward to joining us.”
I know Fukudome has a reputation for being disciplined at the plate, but what [...]