It's Quiet...Too Quiet
The most remarkable thing about the Cubs' spring training camp this year is that there really hasn't been anything remarkable.
Everyone was waiting for Lou Piniella to explode into paroxysms of rage. But he's kept his cool, even in the face of some less-than-stellar performances the first week of Cactus League games.
I'm actually rather enjoying the Piniella Era so far. Oh, it's early days yet, I know. But it's nice when a manager actually makes an attempt to explain why he's doing certain things. There was precious little of that when Dusty was here; he was a nice enough guy, but his unwillingness (inability?) to present a coherent rationale for his decisions made him look bad.
With Mount Lou seemingly dormant, the punditocracy turned its attention to Alfonso Soriano's OJT in center field. Alas, he has yet to be slain by a misplayed can of corn, and so the reporters were left to find other diversions.
Prior and Wood are up to their usual hijinks, and that helped fill the column inches. But the fact that they're hurt again isn't remarkable anymore, is it? It's almost a given at this point that the pair will stay in Arizona when camp breaks.
For a team coming off a 96-loss season, the roster is quite settled. The only real question is whether we'll head north with eleven or twelve pitchers. Piniella has said it depends on how long he thinks the starters will go; if he thinks they won't last deep into their starts, he'll take the extra arm to avoid overworking the bullpen crew in April.
Piniella's decision on the pitching staff (I think he'll take twelve) will affect the only other question mark -- the last guy off the bench.
Ryan "The Riot" Theriot is definitely in. As is backup catcher Hank White. Daryle Ward will probably make the team, despite his poor showing so far, if only because he fits the cliché of the veteran pinch hitter that every ball club has to have. In the unlikely event Ward doesn't make it, we could see Buck Coats make the roster. As Harry Caray would say, Coats should make the team just because he's got a great ballplayer name.
The practical upshot of all this is that Ronnie Cedeno, Felix Pie, and Angel Pagan appear to be on the fast track for another all-expense paid tour of the PCL. Pie was a longshot to make the team, especially after Hendry couldn't con anyone into taking Jacque Jones off our hands (where are you when we need you, Chuck LaMar?). And the rumor mill, while not actually buzzing, is at least muttering softly about other teams' interest in Pagan.
Not exactly compelling stuff. So what's a 24-hour news cycle to do?
Well, if you're Sully, you write puff pieces about Sammy Sosa and Adam Greenberg. Or (as Jim informed me of one source) you spread idle speculation that Rich Hill would get optioned back to Des Moines to make room for Prior. Such gab is so idle that not even this rag mentioned it.
I can't get too bent out of shape about it, though. There's nothing wrong with a bit of quiet. Especially after the self-inflicted soap operas of the last few years. If there's idle speculation, at least it's about baseball matters, and not boom boxes or players being mean to the media.
Everyone was waiting for Lou Piniella to explode into paroxysms of rage. But he's kept his cool, even in the face of some less-than-stellar performances the first week of Cactus League games.
I'm actually rather enjoying the Piniella Era so far. Oh, it's early days yet, I know. But it's nice when a manager actually makes an attempt to explain why he's doing certain things. There was precious little of that when Dusty was here; he was a nice enough guy, but his unwillingness (inability?) to present a coherent rationale for his decisions made him look bad.
With Mount Lou seemingly dormant, the punditocracy turned its attention to Alfonso Soriano's OJT in center field. Alas, he has yet to be slain by a misplayed can of corn, and so the reporters were left to find other diversions.
Prior and Wood are up to their usual hijinks, and that helped fill the column inches. But the fact that they're hurt again isn't remarkable anymore, is it? It's almost a given at this point that the pair will stay in Arizona when camp breaks.
For a team coming off a 96-loss season, the roster is quite settled. The only real question is whether we'll head north with eleven or twelve pitchers. Piniella has said it depends on how long he thinks the starters will go; if he thinks they won't last deep into their starts, he'll take the extra arm to avoid overworking the bullpen crew in April.
Piniella's decision on the pitching staff (I think he'll take twelve) will affect the only other question mark -- the last guy off the bench.
Ryan "The Riot" Theriot is definitely in. As is backup catcher Hank White. Daryle Ward will probably make the team, despite his poor showing so far, if only because he fits the cliché of the veteran pinch hitter that every ball club has to have. In the unlikely event Ward doesn't make it, we could see Buck Coats make the roster. As Harry Caray would say, Coats should make the team just because he's got a great ballplayer name.
The practical upshot of all this is that Ronnie Cedeno, Felix Pie, and Angel Pagan appear to be on the fast track for another all-expense paid tour of the PCL. Pie was a longshot to make the team, especially after Hendry couldn't con anyone into taking Jacque Jones off our hands (where are you when we need you, Chuck LaMar?). And the rumor mill, while not actually buzzing, is at least muttering softly about other teams' interest in Pagan.
Not exactly compelling stuff. So what's a 24-hour news cycle to do?
Well, if you're Sully, you write puff pieces about Sammy Sosa and Adam Greenberg. Or (as Jim informed me of one source) you spread idle speculation that Rich Hill would get optioned back to Des Moines to make room for Prior. Such gab is so idle that not even this rag mentioned it.
I can't get too bent out of shape about it, though. There's nothing wrong with a bit of quiet. Especially after the self-inflicted soap operas of the last few years. If there's idle speculation, at least it's about baseball matters, and not boom boxes or players being mean to the media.
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posted by Bob at
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