Cubs, Sox work out kinks this spring
Amber Kuehl
Sports Editor
Spring is in the air and in Chicago that translates to one thing: baseball season is finally here. Whether it’s the Cubs or White Sox, each team is getting ready for the regular season in Arizona for Spring Training.
Both the Cubs and the Sox hope to move on from disappointing 2009 seasons, where neither team reached the ultimate goal, the World Series, let alone the playoffs.
For the Cubs, the 2010 season is especially important. This year has the potential to be manager Lou Piniella’s last year managing the Cubs, or any team, as the 66 year old talks of retiring after this year.
It may also be the final season for first baseman Derrek Lee and the left handed pitcher Ted Lilly, both nearing the end of their contracted time with the Cubs.
Piniella has three winning seasons with the Cubs. In 2007 and 2008, Piniella led the team to consecutive postseason appearances by winning the National League Central Division. In 2009 the Cubs did not make the playoffs but did boast a winning record of 83 wins and 78 losses, a winning percentage of .516.
In six seasons with the Cubs, Lee has a batting average of .302 with All-Star appearances in 2005 and 2007. He’s had a few injuries the last few seasons, but that hasn’t stopped from returning to the game in full force.
Lilly has pitched for the Cubs since 2007. In three seasons with the Cubs, his average ERA is 3.67 and made the 2009 All-Star team. Though he is currently rehabbing from offseason shoulder surgery, Lilly is ahead of schedule and already throwing to hitters. He is expected to return by the end of April.
The Cubs have a lot of work to do besides worrying about the contracts of a few top players. They still need to decide on the fourth and fifth pitchers in the starting rotation because of Lilly’s injury, settle the bullpen issues and decide on the bench players.
The Cubs are looking at righty Jeff Samardzija and lefty Sean Marshall as the top two pitchers to fill the holes in the rotation. Both have struggled as starters in the major league, but Marshall has done a great job as a reliever in previous seasons while Samardzija has struggled in the majors.
The Cubs are also exploring the idea of Carlos Silva and Tom Gorzelanny for rotation spots. Gorzelanny is a left-handed pitcher, which is something the Cubs would like to have to replace Lilly.
As everything stands now, Samardzija and Marshall are likely to be in the starting rotation, along with Carlos Zambrano, Ryan Dempster and Randy Wells, all of whom are right handed.
Justin Berg, a reliever, has locked down his spot in the bullpen. This leaves one more bullpen spot open and four pitchers competing for the spot. There is also space for another bench guy, and the Cubs are looking for someone who can play all three outfield positions.
Sam Fuld can play anywhere in the outfield, but he hasn’t shown that he can hit with consistency in Spring Training or the big leagues. Kevin Millar, a veteran player, can play outfield and first base, but the Cubs aren’t sure he’s versatile enough to make the final cut.
The Cubs also hope to produce more runs than they did last year by adding hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo to the payroll. Cubs fans hope Jaramillo can solve the hitting problems, especially when it comes to Soriano, who should have hit for a better average than .241 in 117 games last season. Jaramillo worked with Soriano in Texan in 04-05, where he boasted averages in the high .200’s. The Cubs want Soriano to be batting at least that throughout the regular season.
Also working with Jaramillo is catcher Geovanny Soto. Soto lost 40 pounds during the off season. His rookie year, 2008, Soto batted .285 and earned the title Rookie of the Year. Last season he batted a poor .218 and also packed on some weight. This season Soto said he’s going to be better with help from Jaramillo and his new lighter form.
While the Cubs have a good problem of too much talent to choose from, ranging from handy veterans to shiny new rookies, the White Sox have bad problems on and off the field.
This Spring Training has been drama filled for the Sox. Manager Ozzie Guillen seems unable to get along with the management, especially after his son resigned from the White Sox front office, despite the fact that Guillen swears everything is fine between him and General Manager Ken Williams.
Guillen has managed the White Sox since 2004. In 2005 he led the Sox to their first World Series title since 1917.However, since then he has only led the team to one other playoff appearance, 2008, where the Sox lost in the first round. Last year the team finished third in the American League Central Division with a .488 winning percentage, 79 wins and 83 losses.
White Sox closer Bobby Jenks has sat the last few games with mild calf soreness, something that also bothered the closer last season. He hasn’t pitched since March 12, and though his injury isn’t good, it has allowed other players to step up and show Guillen what they have.
Matt Thornton and J.J. Putz have stepped up to fill in the void Jenks has left. Guillen told the Chicago Tribune if Jenks isn’t ready to go by Opening Day, Thornton is the one who would replace him.
Third baseman Mark Teahen is suffering from a sore right elbow, the arm he relies on most while throwing and batting. Teahen tried to play with his elbow wrapped, but his batting average suffered because of it.
The Sox moved Gordon Beckham to second base after acquiring Teahen during the off season. Last season Beckham batted .270 in 103 games for the Sox at third base. Beckham has made the transition smoothly, calling second base “easy”. At second base this spring, Beckham is batting .333 in 11 games.
Meanwhile, the pitching staff isn’t worrying about their opponents as much as themselves.
After a recent game, Sox pitchers and coach agreed they would do things differently during the regular season, but for now they want to work on getting their pitches down pat before they concentrate on winning games.
Mark Buehrle, Sox star pitcher, is 0-3 with a 3.86 ERA during Spring Training. Pitching coach Don Cooper doesn’t like to see that kind of stat, but he’s more worried about Buehrle not getting enough innings or pitches to prepare him for the regular season.
“To me, it really is about the starters getting their innings and pitches up, getting their stuff ready and getting their arms ready to compete come opening start,” Cooper said on the White Sox website.
Jake Peavy, the Sox number two starting pitcher, also hasn’t looked great this spring. He has two wins and one loss, with a 6.55 ERA. He’s been working on his fastball, and though he doesn’t like where his numbers are, Peavy’s not worried. He said on espn.com that he’s making quality pitches and he’s taking steps in the right direction.
Last season, Peavy battled injury not long after joining the White Sox after he was traded by the San Diego Padres. He was traded to the Sox in early Aug. 09 but didn’t debut with the club until mid Sept. Peavy came to the Sox recovering from a partially torn tendon in his right ankle and he injured his right elbow in a rehab start in the minor leagues. Peavy and the Sox hope that he can pitch this season without any injuries.
Veteran right fielder Andruw Jones has a .391 batting average in Spring Training. Catcher A.J. Pierzynski is batting .345 and Designated Hitter Mark Kotsay is at .407 this spring. With these three power hitters in the lineup, the Sox shouldn’t have a problem scoring runs.
The Sox haven’t made too many drastic changes from last season. They traded for Juan Pierre and Teahen and signed Putz, Jones and Omar Vizquel as free agents. They lost Scott Podsednik and Jermaine Dye to free agency, but they stand by their decisions and hope the recently acquired players can step up and take them to where they failed to go last season, the playoffs.
The rivalry in Chicago is hot and fans of both teams are ruthless. It’s always interesting come June when Major League Baseball allows teams to compete in interleague play, the time of year the Cubs and Sox have a showdown in Chicago.
This year’s Cross Town Classic will be exciting, no doubt. In Spring Training, the Cubs won three of four games against the Sox so the rivalry will be thick this summer.
Both teams have something to prove this year, that they can, and will win, despite all odds against them.
Sports Editor
Spring is in the air and in Chicago that translates to one thing: baseball season is finally here. Whether it’s the Cubs or White Sox, each team is getting ready for the regular season in Arizona for Spring Training.
Both the Cubs and the Sox hope to move on from disappointing 2009 seasons, where neither team reached the ultimate goal, the World Series, let alone the playoffs.
For the Cubs, the 2010 season is especially important. This year has the potential to be manager Lou Piniella’s last year managing the Cubs, or any team, as the 66 year old talks of retiring after this year.
It may also be the final season for first baseman Derrek Lee and the left handed pitcher Ted Lilly, both nearing the end of their contracted time with the Cubs.
Piniella has three winning seasons with the Cubs. In 2007 and 2008, Piniella led the team to consecutive postseason appearances by winning the National League Central Division. In 2009 the Cubs did not make the playoffs but did boast a winning record of 83 wins and 78 losses, a winning percentage of .516.
In six seasons with the Cubs, Lee has a batting average of .302 with All-Star appearances in 2005 and 2007. He’s had a few injuries the last few seasons, but that hasn’t stopped from returning to the game in full force.
Lilly has pitched for the Cubs since 2007. In three seasons with the Cubs, his average ERA is 3.67 and made the 2009 All-Star team. Though he is currently rehabbing from offseason shoulder surgery, Lilly is ahead of schedule and already throwing to hitters. He is expected to return by the end of April.
The Cubs have a lot of work to do besides worrying about the contracts of a few top players. They still need to decide on the fourth and fifth pitchers in the starting rotation because of Lilly’s injury, settle the bullpen issues and decide on the bench players.
The Cubs are looking at righty Jeff Samardzija and lefty Sean Marshall as the top two pitchers to fill the holes in the rotation. Both have struggled as starters in the major league, but Marshall has done a great job as a reliever in previous seasons while Samardzija has struggled in the majors.
The Cubs are also exploring the idea of Carlos Silva and Tom Gorzelanny for rotation spots. Gorzelanny is a left-handed pitcher, which is something the Cubs would like to have to replace Lilly.
As everything stands now, Samardzija and Marshall are likely to be in the starting rotation, along with Carlos Zambrano, Ryan Dempster and Randy Wells, all of whom are right handed.
Justin Berg, a reliever, has locked down his spot in the bullpen. This leaves one more bullpen spot open and four pitchers competing for the spot. There is also space for another bench guy, and the Cubs are looking for someone who can play all three outfield positions.
Sam Fuld can play anywhere in the outfield, but he hasn’t shown that he can hit with consistency in Spring Training or the big leagues. Kevin Millar, a veteran player, can play outfield and first base, but the Cubs aren’t sure he’s versatile enough to make the final cut.
The Cubs also hope to produce more runs than they did last year by adding hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo to the payroll. Cubs fans hope Jaramillo can solve the hitting problems, especially when it comes to Soriano, who should have hit for a better average than .241 in 117 games last season. Jaramillo worked with Soriano in Texan in 04-05, where he boasted averages in the high .200’s. The Cubs want Soriano to be batting at least that throughout the regular season.
Also working with Jaramillo is catcher Geovanny Soto. Soto lost 40 pounds during the off season. His rookie year, 2008, Soto batted .285 and earned the title Rookie of the Year. Last season he batted a poor .218 and also packed on some weight. This season Soto said he’s going to be better with help from Jaramillo and his new lighter form.
While the Cubs have a good problem of too much talent to choose from, ranging from handy veterans to shiny new rookies, the White Sox have bad problems on and off the field.
This Spring Training has been drama filled for the Sox. Manager Ozzie Guillen seems unable to get along with the management, especially after his son resigned from the White Sox front office, despite the fact that Guillen swears everything is fine between him and General Manager Ken Williams.
Guillen has managed the White Sox since 2004. In 2005 he led the Sox to their first World Series title since 1917.However, since then he has only led the team to one other playoff appearance, 2008, where the Sox lost in the first round. Last year the team finished third in the American League Central Division with a .488 winning percentage, 79 wins and 83 losses.
White Sox closer Bobby Jenks has sat the last few games with mild calf soreness, something that also bothered the closer last season. He hasn’t pitched since March 12, and though his injury isn’t good, it has allowed other players to step up and show Guillen what they have.
Matt Thornton and J.J. Putz have stepped up to fill in the void Jenks has left. Guillen told the Chicago Tribune if Jenks isn’t ready to go by Opening Day, Thornton is the one who would replace him.
Third baseman Mark Teahen is suffering from a sore right elbow, the arm he relies on most while throwing and batting. Teahen tried to play with his elbow wrapped, but his batting average suffered because of it.
The Sox moved Gordon Beckham to second base after acquiring Teahen during the off season. Last season Beckham batted .270 in 103 games for the Sox at third base. Beckham has made the transition smoothly, calling second base “easy”. At second base this spring, Beckham is batting .333 in 11 games.
Meanwhile, the pitching staff isn’t worrying about their opponents as much as themselves.
After a recent game, Sox pitchers and coach agreed they would do things differently during the regular season, but for now they want to work on getting their pitches down pat before they concentrate on winning games.
Mark Buehrle, Sox star pitcher, is 0-3 with a 3.86 ERA during Spring Training. Pitching coach Don Cooper doesn’t like to see that kind of stat, but he’s more worried about Buehrle not getting enough innings or pitches to prepare him for the regular season.
“To me, it really is about the starters getting their innings and pitches up, getting their stuff ready and getting their arms ready to compete come opening start,” Cooper said on the White Sox website.
Jake Peavy, the Sox number two starting pitcher, also hasn’t looked great this spring. He has two wins and one loss, with a 6.55 ERA. He’s been working on his fastball, and though he doesn’t like where his numbers are, Peavy’s not worried. He said on espn.com that he’s making quality pitches and he’s taking steps in the right direction.
Last season, Peavy battled injury not long after joining the White Sox after he was traded by the San Diego Padres. He was traded to the Sox in early Aug. 09 but didn’t debut with the club until mid Sept. Peavy came to the Sox recovering from a partially torn tendon in his right ankle and he injured his right elbow in a rehab start in the minor leagues. Peavy and the Sox hope that he can pitch this season without any injuries.
Veteran right fielder Andruw Jones has a .391 batting average in Spring Training. Catcher A.J. Pierzynski is batting .345 and Designated Hitter Mark Kotsay is at .407 this spring. With these three power hitters in the lineup, the Sox shouldn’t have a problem scoring runs.
The Sox haven’t made too many drastic changes from last season. They traded for Juan Pierre and Teahen and signed Putz, Jones and Omar Vizquel as free agents. They lost Scott Podsednik and Jermaine Dye to free agency, but they stand by their decisions and hope the recently acquired players can step up and take them to where they failed to go last season, the playoffs.
The rivalry in Chicago is hot and fans of both teams are ruthless. It’s always interesting come June when Major League Baseball allows teams to compete in interleague play, the time of year the Cubs and Sox have a showdown in Chicago.
This year’s Cross Town Classic will be exciting, no doubt. In Spring Training, the Cubs won three of four games against the Sox so the rivalry will be thick this summer.
Both teams have something to prove this year, that they can, and will win, despite all odds against them.
Great observations on both of Chicago's teams. Let's PLAY BALL!!!!!
Good article, well written, more emphasis and detail needed regarding Ozzie and the genius it took to capture the 2005 World Series Championship for the Sox.
Hey Ozzie lover--girl you trippin! It may have been genius that Ozzie used to capture the World Series 5 YEARS AGO, but we haven't seen that genius since! GO CUBS!!!!!!
Has it really been 5 years since the Sox won a championship (vs. the 102 year Cubbie drought)? Think I'll watch the 2005 DVD again and enjoy it all over again tonight. Watch out for the 2010 Sox as another championship is in the works!
Another White Sox World Series win in 2010? This must be an April Fool's joke!!
Hey Cubbie Fanatic - boy you dreamin! The Cubbie's will never win a championship with Superstar Self-centered Soriano in the starting lineup. You can only hope that Lou will play Ty Corvin in left and that a miracle occurs in the bullpen to bridge to Marmolade in the 9th. Go Ozzie!
Of course a White Sox fan is getting heated over a few harmless comments. There isn't even enough space here for me to discuss the problems the White Sox are in for this year. By the way--I'm not sure who you're referring to when you talk about Ty Corvin. The incredible back up player the Cubs have for the outfield is Tyler Colvin!
It's just like a Sox fan to get heated over a few harmless comments. I don't even have enough space here to list the many problems the Sox are in for this year. Oh, by the way, are you referring to Tyler Colvin, one of the many super talented back ups the Cubs have this year?
It's just like a White Sox fan to get heated over a few harmless comments. I think you're referring to Tyler Colvin, who's just one of many of the Cubs talented back up players. I'm not worried about my team. Can you say the same? Go Cubs Go!!