Whether it was a bona fide Cub Occurrence or just that chronic issue of cramps, Cubs ace Carlos Zambrano was forced to leave the Cubs opener today in the top of the seveth after picking off Bill Hall at second base.
Zambrano, who has dueled Milwaukee ace Ben Sheets to a scoreless tie so far, favored his pitching hand after making the huge play for the second out of the inning. After manager Lou Piniella and trainer Mark O'Neal looked over Zambrano, Big Z left the game.
Last year's setup ace, Carlos Marmol, took over with a 0-2 count on Corey Hart and threw one pitch -- a called strike -- to finish the half inning.
It looked like a glorious start for Carlos Zambrano and Kosuke Fukudome -- until the rains at Wrigley poured fourth again in the bottom of the third inning -- sending the groundskeepers for the tarp at 2:41 p.m. for Opening Day's second rain delay.
It's coming down hard enough now to call into question whethet this thing might get finished or whether tomorrow's open date might have to be used for an Opening Do-over.
``Perpetual window'' is what Cubs manager Lou Piniella called the message from the weather people before the game. But was that 40-minute, 2 1/2-inning window the one? Anybody got the latest Doppler report?
If this renewal of the Cubs-Milwaukee division row get postponed, the innings that were played could be a frustrating what-might-have-been proposition for the Cubs.
While neither team has scored, Cubs ace Zambrano looks commanding today, striking out three of the 11 he's faces, walking one and allowing only one ball out of the infield. And that wasn't Tony Gwynn Jr.'s first-inning hit -- it was Corey Hart's fly to the wall that center fielder Felix Pie caught with a tougher-than-it-looked effort.
But the big highlight of the game so far came with one out in the Cubs' second, when Japanese sensation Fukudome stepped to the plate at Wrigley for the first time since signing that $48 million contract -- and drove the first U.S. pitch of his major league career over Gwynn's head in center for a double.\
He took third on Mark DeRosa's fly to Gwynn, and rookie Geovany Soto drew a four-pitch walk to put runners at first and third with two out for the first scoring threat of the game.
Pie struck out swinging at a Ben Sheets pitch in the dirt to end the threat.
Looks like we're going to get an Opening Day today after all, albeit about 40 minutes late.
After hours of steady rain throughout the morning and into the afternoon, Wrigley groundskeepers began rolling up the tarp at 1:04 p.m.. the sun broke through the clouds briefly about 1:30, and we've got an announced game time of 2 p.m.
While we're at it, let's play two. Ernie Banks, already honored in an impressive ceremony this morning in which he unveiled his new statue outside the Cub offices at Clark and Addison, just threw out the ceremonial first pitch after another abbreiviated pregame ceremony for him.
For all the rain, the newly resurfaced field seems to have held up well as the players, milling in the dugout, prepare to take the field.
Barring a trade or an injury, Lou Piniella has his seven-man bullpen staff set, and the quick return of probable closer Kerry Wood from back spasms only firms up a list that includes only one left-hander, Scott Eyre.
Piniella rattled off the names of the other relievers in his pen before Thursday's game: Wood, Carlos Marmol, Bob Howry, Michael Wuertz, Kevin Hart and ``one of the right-handers who doesn't make the rotation.''
With Ryan Dempster and Jon Lieber all but assured of nabbing the two rotation openings, that makes Jason Marquis the guy going to the bullpen if he's not traded.
Piniella's math also means that Sean Marshall is out when it comes to the Cubs' opening roster, regardless of what he does in Friday's start against Colorado and despite a 3.24 ERA. He's another guy who could be moved in a trade, or he'll wind up in the minors as important insurance for the rotation.
One easily overlooked byproduct of the equation is that left-hander Carmen Pignatiello, one of only two pitchers left in camp who hasn't allowed a run this spring, has no chance to make the club.
``Unless there's a trade here, there's just not going to be room. Let's not kid ourselves,'' Piniella said. ``It's been a good experience [for Pignatiello], but I just don't see where there's room for some of these [young] guys that have pitched well in camp. It's a shame, but it's the truth.''
Of course, if there's a trade, then there's also the issue of trying to make room for Rule 5 pick Tim Lahey, who despite recent struggles is a strong enough prospect the Cubs would like to try to keep him. But that requires keeping him on the 25-man roster, and unless somebody else is traded, Lahey is more likely to get traded than waived (he's well regarded enough that he would certainly be claimed and lost for nothing in return if the Cubs waived him).
Not the worst problem a team can have at this point in camp.
You know those donate-your-car-to-charity deals? Cubs strength and conditioning coach Tim Buss is thinking along those lines as he tries to come up with ideas of how to get the most out of what’s left of his 1995 Nissan that players took a sledgehammer to this week.
Buss hopes to come up with a plan that helps pass along the good fortune several Cubs pitchers sent his way when they bashed up his old beater – and then presented him with a shiny new SUV.
``It was unbelievable,’’ said Buss, who knows only that pitchers Ryan Dempster, Jon Lieber, Kerry Wood and Scott Eyre were among the ringleaders. ``When something like that happens, you realize how good people are.’’
And that’s why the wheels are already turning on how to pay it forward by turning the mangled metal into a charitable contribution – even after his initial reaction to seeing his creamed car was ``three ulcers and a heart attack.’’
Buss said players already have volunteered to autograph what’s left of the car, which still rolls, might still run, has no windows, and has a rolled-up trunk lid, a hole in the roof, a bumper in the back seat and doors tied shut, including one with the seat belt. It’s ``parked’’ in the players’ lot at HoHoKam Park.
``I actually think it looks better now that it’s all smashed up than it did before,’’ said Dempster, who added that ``it just kind of shows what a good guy he is and, as hard a time as we give him, how much everybody respects him.’’
The, uh, SUV shows it, that is.
As for what’s left of the other one, any takers? Any suggestions?
MESA, Ariz. -- The decision over the Cubs’ final spot in the rotation could come down to the final days before the season starts, unless a trade in the next week speeds up that process. Either way, the fifth spot could wind up just as important as the spot manager Lou Piniella plans to lock in by early next week.
That’s because Piniella said he plans to pitch his entire five-man starting staff on its full rotation throughout April, even with three off days the first 15 days of the season, in part to continue evaluating the back end of the staff.
``We’re not going to a four-man,’’ Piniella said this morning. ``And the reason being is, let’s find out who our third-best starter is. So we’ll be pitching our rotation, to find out during the course of the season, too.’’
Piniella said he plans to have the closer role resolved as well as at least ``80 percent’’ of his rotation by next Tuesday. He’d like to have all the big decisions made by then, and probably will if the Cubs make one of the trades they’ve been pursuing this spring.
``A lot of things here are [affected by] what can happen trade-wise or not,’’ Piniella said. ``And that’s why you’ve got to be a little cautious in what you say or don’t say.’’
Even after a postgame meeting with front office staff Sunday, Piniella said he wasn’t given an indication what to expect on the trade front.
Meanwhile, Kerry Wood has emerged as the late-camp favorite for the closer role, with back-to-back assignments Wednesday and Thursday, as well as an inning-plus appearance over the weekend being the final tests for him.
As for the rotation, right-hander Jon Lieber or right-hander Ryan Dempster is expected to be named to fill the No. 3 slot between lefties Ted Lilly and Rich Hill, with the fifth spot coming down to today’s starter, Jason Marquis, left-hander Sean Marshall and the guy left over from the three-hole decision, barring a trade of Marquis and/or Marshall.
Cubs manager Lou Piniella offered a cryptic quote this morning that should only fuel rumors of a pending deal to acquire center fielder Coco Crisp from the Boston Red Sox. Asked if projected Opening Day starter Felix Pie, who has been out of action because of a testicular torsion — or twisted testicle — is in danger of losing his starting job, Piniella said:
‘‘I don’t think so. As long as he’s fine, and there is no reason to assume he won’t be. What we have here in camp, he’ll be our center fielder.’’
It’s no secret the Red Sox have been scouting the Cubs in recent days. They are in need of veteran pitching with concerns about Curt Schilling (shoulder), who will open the season on the 60-day disabled list, and ace Josh Beckett (back).
The Cubs have three pitchers with secure spots in the rotation — right-hander Carlos Zambrano and left-handers Ted Lilly and Rich Hill. Right-handers Jason Marquis, Jon Lieber and Ryan Dempster are battling for the final two spots. Piniella said he expects to have a firm decision on his rotation a week from today.
‘‘Actually, the guys are making it easier because they are pitching well,’’ he said. ‘‘Whoever we choose, will have the luxury of throwing the ball well. The sad part about it is we can only use five. Somebody’s going to have to go in the bullpen.’’
Big day in Mesa for Cubs and ex-Cubs tomorrow, with the San Diego Padres coming in for a home exhibition game. Don't expect to see new Padre hopeful Mark Prior on the trip, but Michael Barrett said he plans to be there for the first game the teams play since he was traded last June after a rough month of baseball that included an especially rough afternoon with Big Z.
Speaking of Cubs in new places, look for Kosuke Fukudome to move to the No. 5 spot in the order against the Padres for the first time this spring, and unless he gets the day off, Alfonso Soriano will slide out of the leadoff spot, to No. 2, in what could be the significant lineup change of the season.
Piniella says it's possible he might even toy with Soriano somewhere else in the lineup but for now wants to see what he can do in the 2 spot. And, no, he doesn't plan to ask him to bunt.
Looks like a good move from here -- especially if/when the Cubs get Brian Roberts to plug into the leadoff spot.
Is it good enough to make a difference in the NL pennant race?
As promised, Cubs manager Lou Piniella took 1-for-7 right fielder Kosuke Fukudome out of the third spot in the order today, moving him to No. 2 and putting Derrek Lee back in the three hole.
The idea is to put the Japanese free agent in a more comfortable spot as he continues to adjust to unfamiliar American pitching, and he might move him again before settling on a spot for him.
``But believe me,’’ Piniella said, ``we’re not going to play around with it for too long. As soon as we get people healthy and put it together, we can come up with a determination pretty quick.’’
If Fukudome winds up batting second, that means a move to the No. 8 spot for Ryan Theriot.
Other camp notes this morning:
--Second baseman Mike Fontenot, who’s trying to win a utility infield job, is in today’s lineup as the shortstop – where he looked over his head in a brief try there last summer. But Piniella says he likes Fontenot’s bat and wants to give him a chance to make the club, which means he has to play more than one position. ``We better find out [whether he can play other spots],’’ Piniella said. ``It’s hard for a player competing for a spot on a roster if he can only play one infield position. So we’re going to see if he can play some short and maybe a little third.’’
--After a series of base-running gaffes the past two days, the Cubs went back to Little League instruction this morning and worked on situational base running, notably making the right decision on when to run from second to third based on where a ground ball is hit. ``You’ve just got to concentrate a little more,’’ Piniella said. That’s one way of saying it.
--Piniella raised the issue of depth concerns among the position players again this morning, but wouldn’t say whether he expected the club to add a player by the end of camp – as many others do – and said he hadn’t seen any of the crap-against-the-wall internet reports claiming talks between the Orioles and Cubs are back on. ``The only thing I do on the internet is trade stocks once in a while,’’ Piniella said. ``I don’t trade infielders. …And I certainly don’t read sports.’’
Lou Piniella apologized this morning for ``overreacting’’ to Jason Marquis’ assertion that he’d rather be traded than pitch out of the bullpen. Marquis said he doesn’t regret what he said Saturday -- ``I don’t think I said anything negative.’’
And ultimately nothing changed overnight about Marquis’ status or the likelihood he’ll be traded regardless by the end of camp if the Cubs can get a team to bite off at least most of what's left of the $16.25 million he’s owed on the final two years of his contract.
The two met this morning in Piniella’s office, and both said things were smoothed over. But Marquis still considers himself a starter and wouldn’t address the alternative.
``I’m committed to the Chicago Cubs first and foremost,’’ Marquis said this morning. ``I want to pitch here and that’s the reason I signed here. So I’m going to gout there and try to get better day by day and work on the things I need to work on. And [if he doesn’t win a rotation job] we’ll cross that path when we get to it.’’
Marquis said Saturday he would rather ``take my services elsewhere’’ to start if the Cubs didn’t want him as a starter this year.
``Look, I can understand why a player feels that way,’’ Piniella said this morning. ``The whole thing here basically is I wasn’t expecting it. It sort of surprised me. But I should have handled it better, and I apologize.’’
That doesn’t mean Marquis has been assured anything beyond a chance to win one of two rotation openings, with Jon Lieber, Ryan Dempster and Sean Marshall also in the mix.
``Look, we’re going to continue to go with the way we’ve been doing it,’’ Piniella said. ``Everybody’s going to get an opportunity here to start and we’ll see what happens toward the end of spring training. Look, competition is a part of this thing. We’ve got seven very capable people here to start. Is that my fault? No. That’s what we have, and I’ve got to give everybody a chance.’’
Piniella said his angry response Saturday to Marquis’ comments -- ``if that’s the case, he can go somewhere else’’ and ``you know, that galls me about Marquis’’ – were influenced by his mood after the team ‘s poor play in a loss to the Angels.
``I overreacted to it, that’s all there is to it,’’ he said. ``I’m human, and when I’m wrong I admit I’m wrong. And I should have handled the situation differently. I recognized it after I said it, but what can you do. On the way home I said, `Well, I stuck my foot in my mouth.’ But I already had stuck it, so what do you do?
``And, again, we’re going to give him every opportunity to compete and win himself a job, because. .. Basically, I like Jason, I really do. It has nothing to do with [anything] personal or otherwise, but we’ve got to be fair, too, and we’ve got to let people compete and let the process take hold.’’
Cubs left fielder Alfonso Soriano suffered a non-displaced fracture of his right middle finger when he took a fly ball off the bare hand in drills this morning, and the team said he'll be ``limited'' for the next three to five days.
The fracture is at the tip of the finger, and it's expected by the end of the week he'll be allowed to play to the level he can tolerate the pain or discomfort. He'll be allowed to do little more than cardio work until then.
