Cub fans start new century by cremating their curses

By Eric Peterson

Dedicated Chicago Cubs fans will try to throw off a century of bad karma by holding the funeral at the beginning of the season this year.

Perhaps reinforcing the belief that the players themselves had nothing to do with all that losing, a "Cremating the Curse" event will be held from 2 to 7 p.m. April 5 at, yes, a funeral home - Michael's Funeral Home at 800 S. Roselle Road in Schaumburg, to be exact.

Fans are asked to bring in memorabilia from the four major curses in Cubs history to fill a logo-decorated casket. These curses are the Fred Merkle curse of 1908, the billy goat curse of 1945, the black cat curse of 1969 and the curse of Steve Bartman that haunted Wrigley Field in 2003.

The event is organized by Can't Miss Press, publishers of the recent best-seller, "Cubbie Blues: 100 Years of Waiting Till Next Year," and the emcee will be legendary Chicago comedian Tom Dreesen.

Other celebrity guests slated to appear are Billy Goat Tavern owner Sam Sianis, Ronnie "Woo Woo" Wickers, ex-Cubs outfielder Gene Hiser, former major leaguer Bob Miller and former Cubs Ball Girl Kathy Wolter.

Also there, and celebrating her birthday, will be Pat Brickhouse, widow of Cubs' longtime broadcaster Jack Brickhouse.

Tickets, available at the door, are $10, with a portion of the proceeds going to Chicago Baseball Charities.

The cremation of the cursed memorabilia will not take place that day, but will be done at the crematorium at Bohemian Cemetery in Chicago, where the ashes will be stored in a Chicago Cubs urn.

George Rawlinson, president of Can't Miss Press, said the event is a way for fans young and old to celebrate the culture that is the Cubs.

"The Cubs are a lot more than just baseball," Rawlinson said. "There's a lot of ambience at Wrigley Field."

The latter half of the five-hour event is expected to be the busier, with Dreesen arriving to oversee the proceedings at 4 p.m. Dreesen is also expected to mention the event during his March 31 appearance on "The Late Show with David Letterman."

What more can fans do to eradicate these curses? Just wait until next year!

Bucs' Veal eyes spot in pen

By Chuck Curti

Don Veal will be the first to say that success spoiled him.

In his first season as a minor-leaguer with the Chicago Cubs, he split the 2006 season between low and high Class A. He compiled an 11-5 record with 174 strikeouts — in just 154.1 innings — and an ERA slightly over 2.00.

That vaulted the hard-throwing left-handed starter among the Cubs’ best prospects, according to Baseball America magazine.

And that’s when, Veal said, his own expectations began to weigh him down.

“In Class AA, I put a little pressure on myself to get to the big leagues too quickly,” said Veal from the Pirates’ spring training complex in Bradenton, Fla. “Coming into the following year (2008), I improved the first half of the season and was really good. The second half, I fell off a bit.”

In 2006 and 2007 with the Cubs’ Class AA affiliate in Tennessee, Veal was a combined 13-20 with an ERA approaching 5.00. But the more alarming statistic was his walks; he issued 73 free passes in 2007 and 81 in 2008.

The Cubs lost some faith in Veal and made him available in the Rule 5 Draft in December. The Pirates, needing help in their bullpen, took a chance.

As a Rule 5 pick, Veal must make the Pirates opening-day roster and remain there the entire season. If he does not make the team out of spring training or does and is sent to the minors at any point, he must be offered back to the Cubs for $25,000. (The Pirates paid the Cubs $50,000 for the right to select Veal.)

Veal has made a good impression through the first half of spring training. Following his scoreless inning against Tampa Bay Monday night, Veal has pitched eight innings over eight outings. He lowered his ERA to 2.25 and has given up only three hits, but the walks are outnumbering the strikeouts (7-4).

“I’m starting to get into a groove a little bit,” said Veal. “A lot of the veteran guys have made it easier.”

Veal remained in Bradenton after the Pirates’ minicamp earlier this winter to put in some extra work before spring training. He said the staff has made some adjustments in his delivery and worked with him on locating his pitches better.

“It’s just more of a natural delivery, less robotic,” said Veal. “I got too mechanical the last couple of years. I’m letting my body work for me instead of against me.

“I do feel like I’m getting closer. Hopefully by the end of spring, the manager has a tough decision.”

Perhaps more importantly, Veal said he’s cleared his mind and simply started to enjoy baseball again. That might be the change that helps him the most.

“If it’s in Pittsburgh or wherever it may be, I’m just going to go out and have fun.”

New release on life

McGehee makes strong bid for utility role

By Anthony Witrado

Phoenix - There was no writing on the wall for Casey McGehee to read.

Smoke signals hadn't been sent up for him to see.

In no way did he see the hit coming.

Yes, he knew a two-time all-star third baseman - Aramis Ramirez - was playing in front of him in the Chicago Cubs organization. But after putting up pretty solid numbers in the minors for six seasons and getting a September call-up last year, McGehee didn't think he'd get axed.

That's exactly what happened, however, just weeks after the Cubs' season ended. The Milwaukee Brewers immediately claimed him off waivers, and with some bench spots currently open and McGehee hot during spring training, the unexpected release from the Cubs could turn out to be McGehee's portal to the big leagues.

"It was a shock," McGehee said of leaving the Cubs, who drafted him in the 10th round in 2003. "This was the first time I felt I really had a chance to (make the Cubs' team), and to go from that to being told I'm let go . . . I didn't see it coming.

"But it's been great for me here. Sometimes a change of scenery gives you a new focus. You see there are other teams, other opportunities out there."

McGehee - pronounced "McGee" - is taking advantage of this latest one. After hitting .296 with 12 home runs and 92 runs batted in for Class AAA Iowa, the Cubs' affiliate, McGehee is batting .400 with three home runs and seven RBI this spring. One of those homers gave the Brewers the lead in the ninth inning March 9 against the San Francisco Giants, who went on to win on a walk-off homer in the bottom of the inning. He also hit a grand slam that didn't count in official Cactus League statistics against Australia's World Baseball Classic team.

McGehee didn't start hot, though. He had one hit in his first six at-bats as he tried to impress his new team. But after a couple of days off, McGehee focused and has been one of the team's hottest spring hitters.

"The first week or so I felt like I was pressing, trying to do too much," said McGehee, 26. "Some of it is human nature. It was the first time switching organizations and trying to make a good impression with guys in the clubhouse. You want to get off to a good start.

"After I had a couple days off in a row, I got my focus back and got back to playing my style of game. I felt more at ease on the field."

McGehee, who played outfield and even pitched in college before being converted to an infielder, has spent the majority of his time at third base this season, splitting time with Mike Lamb and Craig Counsell while Bill Hall was out with a partially torn calf.

With Counsell locked in as a bench player, McGehee's primary competition for the other reserve infielder slot has been Lamb, who hasn't impressed with his .265 average or his glove. McGehee, meanwhile, is known as a solid defensive player.

If he makes the team, McGehee would also give the Brewers their only right-handed bat off the bench, excluding backup catcher Mike Rivera.

McGehee's versatility in the field also gives manager Ken Macha the option to play him at first base or even as the emergency catcher. And as of the last week, McGehee has been getting time at second base.

"In the National League, (versatility) makes you extremely valuable," Macha said, noting how many years he and Counsell played in the majors because of that asset. "It means you can double-switch any time you want to.

"He continues to make a statement."

Sometimes younger players are reluctant to be so adaptable because it puts the dreaded "utility" label on them early, which could mean you'll never be a starter because you can give a team security as a bench player.

But McGehee welcomes the tag as he fights for a spot on the opening-day roster.

"The more places you can play, the better off you are," McGehee said.

Recap: Milwaukee vs. Chicago Cubs

Bill Hall belted a three-run homer and Corey Hart went 3-for-4 with a solo shot, as the Milwaukee Brewers topped the Chicago Cubs, 9-6, in Cactus League play.

Dave Bush was credited with the win after allowing a run on six hits in a four-inning start for the Brewers.

Welington Castillo recorded a three-run homer and one of Aramis Ramirez's two hits was a solo shot in the loss. Jeff Samardzija got the starting call for the Cubs, lasting just two innings after surrendering five runs on five hits and a pair of walks.

MLB Team-By-Team Previews 2009: Will This Be The Year Of The Cubbies? Or Just One More Disappointment?

by ChristiSunshine

The 2008 season held promise for the Chicago Cubs. Eight players were selected to the All-Star team (a NL-tying record), and at the break, they (along with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim) had the best record in the major leagues. Despite chalking up their winningest season in 63 years (97 wins), the Cubs fell to the LA Dodgers in 3 games in the NLDS. The signing of Joey Gathright could be the biggest (or at least best) news of the off-season. He has swiped 78 bases in his four year career and he is a versatile outfielder, which will be helpful given that Alfonso Soriano is injury-prone. The general consensus is that the 2009 regular season will be similar to the 2008 season, and that the Cubs should finish a good 10 games ahead of the closest competition in the NLCS (the Milwaukee Brewers).

Key losses: Kerry Wood, Mark DeRosa, Jason Marquis

Key acquisitions: Milton Bradley, Aaron Miles, Kevin Gregg, Joey Gathright

Projected lineup:

1. LF Alfonso Soriano
2. SS Ryan Theriot
3. 1B Derek Lee
4. RF Milton Bradley
5. 3B Aramis Ramirez
6. C Geovany Soto
7. CF Kosuke Fukudome
8. 2B Mike Fontenot
9. (pitcher)

Projected rotation: Carlos Zambrano, Ryan Dempster, Rich Harden, Ted Lilly, Aaron Heilman

Strengths: Pitching. Three starting pitchers should pitch at least 200 innings this season…Zambrano, Dempster, and Lilly. If a pitcher is pitching 200 innings, it means he is pitching deep into his games, which usually means he is pitching well (and hopefully winning). This will allow the bullpen to stay fresh.

Weaknesses: The month of October. Given the fact that the Cubs are one of the few teams with a payroll not affected by the economy, it is unspeakable that they should have consecutive division titles with no playoff wins.

Player(s) to watch:

* Geovany Soto: Soto won 2008 Rookie of the Year honors. If he is able to avoid a sophomore slump, he could continue to prove himself one of MLB’s finest catchers.

* Milton Bradley: While playing in the AL for the Texas Rangers in 2008, Bradley hit 22 HR’s and 77 RBI’s with a slugging average of .321. He also led the AL in On Base Percentage (OBP). If Bradley’s transition into the NL goes smoothly, he could prove to baseball fans that he is the real deal.


Projected finish: 95 wins, best record in the National League

News and notes: The acquisition of Gathright added some much needed speed to the Cubs’ roster. One question to be answered is whether Fontenot can handle 2nd base as skillfully as DeRosa. While there is no question Marmol can handle his job as a closer, the absence of both Wood and DeRosa will be felt, especially in the clubhouse.

Originally Published At:
http://www.faniq.com/blog/MLB-TeamByTeam-Previews-2009-Chicago-Cubs-Blog-20691

Fantasy Baseball 2009: The Chicago Cubs

By Brad Berreman

In this Monday edition of my continuing series taking a look at some potentially undervalued fantasy players on each major league team, the Chicago Cubs are on the docket.

Here are my top five Cubs that could be good values on draft day.

1. RPs Carlos Marmol and Kevin Gregg

Marmol and Gregg are competing to be the Cubs' closer, and whoever wins the job immediately moves into potentially huge fantasy value.

Marmol pitched well in a set-up role last season, with a 2.68 ERA and seven saves in 82 appearances. His K/9 was a robust 11.8 as led all major league relievers with 114 strikeouts, but his BB/9 of 4.2 will probably need to improve if he is to succeed at closing games on a consistent basis. But youth is on Marmol's side at just 26, and he is worthy of fantasy consideration even if he is not the closer.

Gregg had 29 saves in 2008 and 32 saves in 2007 with the Florida Marlins, so he holds the experience edge on Marmol. But his K/9 rate (7.6 last season) is not equal to Marmol's and his control (4.8 BB/9 last season, over 4.0 the past two seasons) was worse than Marmol's. He was battling a knee issue last season, so that may explain his dropoff. Gregg's groundball rate, 45% in 2008, was a significant jump from his previous levels and could help him succeed pitching at Wrigley Field if he can keep it up this season. Gregg has now publicly said he wants the job, which is a good sign of his confidence.

Marmol is probably the favorite this point, but the competition is not over. Keep an eye on this battle as your draft approaches, you won't be sorry.

2. SP Sean Marshall

Marshall is looking like the frontrunner to be the Cubs' number five starter so far this spring, as he is competing with the newly acquired Aaron Heilman and young phenom Jeff Samardzija for the job.

Marshall went 3-5 with a 3.86 ERA and one save in 34 games (seven starts) with the Cubs last season. Prior to 2008, he made 43 major league starts and had 13 major league wins during the previous two seasons.

Marshall's peripheral numbers are all trending the right way, as he has improved in K/9, BB/9 and K/BB in each of the last three seasons when you combine his numbers in the minors and with the Cubs. Despite a 4.15 ERA as a starter for the Cubs, his other ratios were all better as a starter than as a reliever last season. Marshall's numbers aside, being in the starting rotation is good news for his fantasy value if he secures a spot.

For 2009, I'm projecting Marshall to get double digit wins with an ERA around 4.00 with solid peripherals as long as he keeps a spot in the rotation all season. He does have some value in keeper leagues too, since he will turn just 27 during the season and he should be entering his best seasons.

3. OF Kosuke Fukudome

Fukudome hit .257 with 10 home runs, 58 RBI and 12 stolen bases in his first year in the major leagues last season. He was solid prior to the All-Star break (.279, .408 slugging percentage, seven home runs, 36 RBI, eight steals), but really struggled after that (.217, .326 slugging percentage, three home runs).

His drop-off late in the season could be partially attributed to his drop in hit rate (26.9% post All-Star break, 35.5% before the All-Star break), which could be a product of bad luck. Otherwise, his other peripherals did not drop off significantly. Fukudome will move over to CF with the newly acquired Milton Bradley taking over in RF, which is could impact his playing time as he may split time with Reed Johnson in CF.

I predict that Fukudome will get 450-500 at-bats and be an across the board fantasy contributor with slightly more value in NL-only leagues. Thus, I'm projecting him to hit .275-.280 with 10-15 home runs, 70-75 RBI and double digit stolen bases. His second year in the U.S. should bring better consistency as well, and he could be a nice fourth outfielder for your fantasy team.

4. 2B Mike Fontenot

Fontenot hit .305 with nine home runs and 40 RBI in at-bats with the Cubs last season. He hit .360 with a .540 slugging percentage after the All-Star break, and did display power prior to the All-Star break with seven home runs. He is the front runner to be the Cubs' starting 2B, and he may be starting to reach his potential.

Fontenot's walk rate was good last season at 12%, so his approach at the plate seems to be good. His contact rate, which was 79% last season and has hovered around 80% in recent seasons, is solid as well and could improve. As long as he gets full-time at-bats, Fontenot could be fairly productive for a middle infielder.

I'm projecting Fontenot to hit around .280 with 45-50 RBIs and the potential to get double digit home runs. His fantasy value is higher in NL-only leagues, but he could be worth a look in mixed leagues as a middle infield option.

5. SS Ryan Theriot

Theriot hit .307 last season with one home run, 38 RBI and 22 stolen bases. He only struck out 58 times in 580 at-bats in 2008, which translates easily to an excellent 90% contact rate. His on-base percentage in 2008 was a solid .387 as he increased his walk rate to 11% from 8% in 2007. One negative is his drop-off in stolen base success last season, as he went 22-for-35 last season after going 28-for-32 in 2007.

Theriot should get plenty of opportunities to score runs as part of a solid Cubs' lineup. He may hit toward the top of the order, but he could also hit toward the bottom. Either way, he should be a decent source of batting average, stolen bases and runs scored.

I'm projecting Theriot to hit around .290 with 20-25 steals and 80-85 runs scored. Don't look to him for power numbers, as he has just seven home runs in the equivalent of a less than three major league seasons. His upside is somewhat limited, but Theriot could be a solid draft day value in NL-only and deep mixed leagues.

Detroit hosts first spring training games played in Phoenix, 80 years ago this month

By Ron Matejko

In 1929, the Detroit Tigers became the first Major League Baseball team to base their spring training in Arizona after manager Bucky Harris convinced the Tigers owner that training in the dry climate would benefit the team. They set up camp at Riverside Park in Phoenix for a little more than a month where they played minor league games exclusively against the Chicago Cubs and Pittsburgh Pirates. Detroit traveled to California, Texas and Louisiana to play most of the games but they also hosted two games, which were the first spring training games ever played in Phoenix.

The first spring training baseball game took place on March 26, 1929, when the Detroit Tigers played an exhibition game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, which the visitors won 7-4. On the Pirates was star outfielder George Grantham, who was a former Kingman resident.

The second, and final, game that year was on March 27 against the Chicago Cubs. The Cubs were led by superstar Rogers Hornsby but the team also had three players and a coach with ties to Phoenix. Ace Pitcher Art Nehf was a former Phoenix resident, as was coach Grover Land while pitcher Ivan Green and catcher Earl Green both played at Phoenix High School. The Tigers withstood a five-run rally and scored in the ninth to win 11-10.

According to a story in the March 26, 1929 edition of the Prescott Evening Courier, the two games were considered a tryout for Phoenix to see if the games drew well enough to warrant a team, or for teams to make a permanent move to the Valley for spring training. Apparently it didn’t go as well as hoped as the Tigers didn’t return and spring training didn’t resume in Phoenix until 18 years later.

Corey Koskie thankful for 2nd chance with Chicago Cubs

By Dave van Dyck

TUCSON, Ariz. — Professional athletes have such special skills and lead such gifted lives that they take them for granted.

Until it ends before it should, as it did for Corey Koskie.

Now trying an unlikely comeback with the Cubs at 35 after spending 21/2 years battling postconcussion syndrome, Koskie could play in a game by Tuesday. After all that time in a dizzying fog, the simple things seem special.

"My biggest thing is being healthy, that I'm able to do this and put on a uniform, that I cleared medical exams," Koskie said. "Sweat and hit and throw and take ground balls and come back the next day and do the same thing. That's the biggest [thing], to be able to do all that stuff. Anything after this is a bonus."

Realistically, Koskie stands very little chance of breaking camp with the Cubs. But even manager Lou Piniella admits, "I'm curious to see for myself" exactly what the former Twins, Blue Jays and Brewers third baseman can do.

"It's worth a shot looking at him," Piniella said. "He's certainly a guy who's had success, and obviously he wants another crack at it."

Koskie wants that last crack at being in a clubhouse again, panting from workouts, facing pitchers throwing fastballs. Those are things athletes forget that should mean so much.

"It took longer than anybody expected," he said. "Now I'm back to the life I had before the injury. If this doesn't work, whatever happens, I can put that part of my life behind me and move on."

Koskie has been symptom-free for nearly three months after a physical therapist worked on straightening his neck. In fact, Koskie never did actually hit his head on the ground July 5, 2006, while trying to catch a popup behind third base. The freakish injury was more like whiplash. But Koskie knew immediately that something was wrong.

Then came the long recovery and endless visits to neurologists as he tried to work through symptoms that wouldn't go away.

"It's almost like being drunk," he said. "Your depth perception, your cognitive skills are off. It's like sitting in an office and looking outside and there's a window separating you from the outside. You're there, but you're not there. It's kind of hard to explain."

Koskie is best known in Chicago to South Side fans. He helped the Twins win three consecutive Central Division titles from 2002-04. His best season produced 26 homers, 103 RBIs and 100 runs.

Koskie is as anxious and determined as any first-year minor-league player as he works on his comeback. He felt good enough to be accepted for the roster of Team Canada. While he did not appear in a World Baseball Classic game, Koskie did play in an exhibition.

Never did something so painful as being drilled by a pitcher feel so good. Never did a sprint home leave him so breathless.

"My first at-bat with Team Canada," he said, "I got hit on the shoulder, and then I had to score from first [on a double]. That was a pretty special moment just to be like, 'I'm back, maybe I can do this again.' "

Curses! Foiled again

by Rick Olivares

YOU might recognize the above catch phrase as one oft uttered by Dick Dastardly, the infamous Hanna-Barbera cartoon character whose gross incompetence prevented him from winning those Wacky Races. He even had that hench-dog Muttley that had a wheezy laugh and muttered, “sassafrassarassum” when chastened.

Save from that cartoon that I loved as a kid, I don’t think I’ve heard of curses in the sport of car racing. However, in baseball, curses and superstition have a curious attachment to the game.

Folks from the Red Sox Nation believed in the Curse of the Bambino (that begun when Babe Ruth was traded to the New York Yankees in 1918) for 86 years until they finally reversed their misfortune in 2004 to win the World Series in dramatic fashion.

Before their historic victory, Boston fans tried all sorts of exorcisms from burning Yankee apparel to suggesting that Ruth’s body be exhumed in order to personally apologize to it. As ludicrous as they may sound, they were, nonetheless, a phenomenon, one that weaved itself into baseball lore and urban legend.

The end of their woes can arguably be traced to that game in August 2004 at Fenway Park when former slugger Manny Ramirez smacked a foul ball into the stands that struck a fan who lost two teeth.

Incredibly, that fan happened to live in a farm that was once owned by the Babe. That same day, the Yankees were scalped by the Cleveland Indians 22-0 and Boston has since supplanted New York as the top dog in the East (“Muttley! Do something!”).

While the curse was mostly quoted in a tongue-in-cheek manner, some took it seriously like Gino Castignoli, a Bronx-based Red Sox fan.

The handyman once worked as a construction hand in the new Yankee Stadium and there he buried a David Ortiz jersey under three feet of cement hoping to further jinx their ancient rivals.

Whether Yankee officials were unnerved by Castignoli’s claims, they quickly had the offending jersey found and excavated. “The first thought was, you know, it’s never a good thing to be buried in cement when you’re in New York,” said team president Randy Levine. “But then we decided, ‘Why reward somebody who had really bad motives and was trying to do a really bad thing? The hapless Chicago Cubs, on the other hand, have not been to the World Series since 1945.

Baseball’s current longest streak for futility is explained by the Curse of the Billy Goat.

The story goes that Billy Sianis, proprietor of the Billy Goat Tavern, a popular watering hole for Chi-town’s personalities, took his pet goat to a game against Detroit on October 6, 1945. He purchased two tickets, one for himself and another for his goat. By the seventh inning, security asked him to leave because of the goat’s odor. Sianis left but not before cursing that the Cubs not win another World Series.

The Cubs lost that match on October 6 that leveled the series at 2-2. They have not been back to the Fall Classic since. Sianis and a nephew of his, as well as some fans, have since attempted to break the curse by trotting out goats. It has been somewhat successful as the Cubs won their division on occasion, but they have yet to play in the big game.

The curse has also taken on added life when 32 former Cubs won a World Series title after bolting the Windy City.

While the Cubs struggle to break out of the doldrums, in the Far East, residents of Osaka, Japan, home to the Hanshin Tigers, hope that the sun has set on their own curse.

After the Tigers won the Japan League on November 2, 1985, by beating the Seibu Lions, 9-3, in Game Six to close out the series in six matches, fans celebrated by dressing up to resemble the players on the Hanshin lineup and jumping off the Ebisubashi Bridge into the murky waters. Since no one remotely resembled the team’s American import, slugger Randy Bass, fans stole the statue of Colonel Sanders from a nearby KFC restaurant and threw it into the river.

The statue was not recovered and the Tigers, although they have won two Central League crowns (just as Major League Baseball is divided into the American and National Leagues so is the Japan League with the Central and the Pacific) they have not won another Japan Series, the equivalent of the World Series.

But there is hope on the horizon. On March 10, the statue was found rather inadvertently when construction workers building a new walkway along the adjacent Dotonbori Canal found the upper half of the Colonel. Although the lower half was found the following day, the Colonel’s eyeglasses and left hand are still missing.

Should the Tigers, who have been considered the Boston Red Sox of Japanese baseball, finally win again, the Osaka City Council ordered the Ebisubashi Bridge rebuilt to make it more difficult for revelers to jump off. In the meantime, KFC outlets in the city have placed statues of the Colonel inside the stores and have riveted them to the floor to make them difficult to steal.

Incredibly, on Thursday, Match 12, KFC president Roger Eaton further fed the fettered imagination of the superstitious when he advertised an open letter to announce the fast food giant’s plans to help the Cubs and the Tigers end their curses and title droughts.

Wrote Eaton: “Our hope is to bring it to Chicago for opening day. As you can tell by the photos, the Colonel is in a fairly delicate state, and likely isn’t up for a road trip around the National League.

“Plus, the fans in Japan probably won’t want to let him out of their sight for long, so he’d probably stay in Chicago just for the opening homestand.

“While we can’t promise the statue will snap curses of billy goats, black cats or even a foul-ball-interfering fan, we figure it can’t hurt.

“After a quarter-century, we think there’s enough good luck stored up in the statue to benefit the Hanshin Tigers and the Chicago Cubs!”

Should the Hanshin Tigers not win it all this coming November, I’m willing to bet that they will dispel another baseball myth. One perpetuated by actor Tom Hanks’ character Jimmy Duggan in the 1992 baseball film, A League of Their Own.

I guess we will all then find out...if there is no crying in baseball.

Cubs sign IF German to minor league contract

The Chicago Cubs on Friday signed versatile infielder Esteban German to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training.

German, 31, became a free agent on March 9, when he cleared waivers with the Kansas City Royals.

German is a career .277 hitter with seven homers and 102 RBI in 366 major league contests with Oakland (2002-2004), Texas (2005) and Kansas City (2006-2008). While primarily a second baseman, he has played six positions in his seven seasons.

Chicago Cubs Spring Training

by Travis Lay

Here are some of my brief thoughts from my visit yesterday to Hohokam in Mesa Arizona to watch the Cubs play the Mariners.

* The weather in Arizona this time of year is absolutely perfect. I have now been to Phoenix three times with this being my first to watch Spring Training. All three times have been in February, March or April and maybe that is why I think the weather is always perfect. I have never been down here in August or July when it is 120 or 195 degrees, however hot it gets down here. Yesterday it was a perfect 80 degrees with a slight breeze and not a cloud in the sky.

* Fans came from everywhere to watch the Cubs play. I met two guys from Chicago, of course, and I over heard one guy talking and he was from the Virgin Islands. The guy from the Virgin Islands wasn’t too big of a baseball fan because he was tying to keep score. I say trying because in the bottom of the second when Sam Fuld of the Cubs stole second base and the ball got past the second basemen he wasn’t sure how to score that and ended up giving up.

* The one thing I hope to see while I am down here (going to the Rockies game today) is the pitchers running wind sprints on the warning track during the game. I didn’t get to see that yesterday.

* But I did get to see a Cubbie, number “91” as I called him, play second base. He was the only Cubs player on the field without a name on his jersey. It was a split squad game and maybe they pulled him from the stands before the seventh inning when he was inserted to play second.

* Most of the Cubs regulars were there and most of them started – Derrek Lee, Aramis Ramirez, Alfonso Soriano, Mike Fontenot and Reed Johnson all started and of them had three at bats before being pulled for replacements.

* The best part about the game yesterday was this:

- Top of the first inning Alfonso Soriano takes left field. We were sitting on the law in left field.

- A fan yells “Hey Fonzy!” Soriano then turned around to smile at him and wave. This was during the inning, live game action – albeit Spring Training live game action – in between pitches. Not in between batters, but in between pitches.

- A pitch or two later the same guy yells “Hey Fonzy! They Yankees were crazy to let you go!” Soriano turns around with a big grin on his face and start to tug on his Cubs jersey as if to say “I am with the Cubs now” while his grin was saying “Yep the Yankees should have kept me”. The guy made one more comment about the Yankees and Soriano turned around and gave the “thumbs down” motion. It was classic.

- During the next hitter the same guy says “Fonzy, you look bored!” Soriano then turned around with a bigger grin on his face and almost appeared to chuckle.

- Seeing this sort of interaction right in the middle of a game was so cool.

* After “Cubbie 91” was inserted I took out my binoculars and scanned the dug out – Lou was no where to be found. I know he was there at the start of the game because I was watching him interact with everyone during BP. By the seventh he had either retreated to the club house or made his way to Tempe to see the other half of his team playing the Angels.

* I am guessing there were 12,000 or more fans at the game yesterday. Sitting on the lawn in left field definitely had a bleacher bum feel to it. Lots of people with their shirts off drinking Old Style. Lots of people having a really good time.

* I had always heard that in split squad games, such as this one yesterday, the kids travel while the vets stay behind at the home ballpark. That was certainly true yesterday. I was hoping to see Ken Griffey Jr yesterday, didn’t happen. The only player from the Mariners that figures to be in the lineup on Opening Day that was in the lineup yesterday was Yunieksy Betancourt. No Griff. I should be able to see him today, they are playing the Rockies here in Tucson today and it is not a split squad game - I will definitely get pictures.

* I did take a lot of pictures yesterday and will take a bunch today too. When I get back to Denver I will get them on the computer and put up some slide shows for everyone to view.

My first experience at Spring Training was a blast and I am looking forward to getting over to Hi Corbett in the next hour or so to watch some BP and FP for the Rockies. More details to come on that game and how the players did later tonight when I get back to the hotel.

One more thing – I had In-N-Out late last night, finally. I can’t believe I had been in Arizona for two days and had not had In-N-Out yet. It was oh so good. Tonight I am going again for a double double with fries animal style.

Chicago Cubs spring training recap

Scores: Cubs 8, Mariners 1; Angels 8, Cubs 2.

Spring record: 8-9.

At the plate: Sam Fuld produced a homer, single, stolen base and two runs scored in Mesa. Ryan Theriot raised his average to .444 with a hit and Micah Hoffpauir to .302 with one in Tempe.

On the mound: Sean Marshall allowed one unearned run in 41/3 innings in Mesa, but Chad Gaudin started against the Angels and was torched for six runs in 12/3 innings.

In the field: Marshall's throwing error on a double-play attempt at first base led to the only run he allowed. But he also picked one runner off first base.

Slow starters: Leadoff man Alfonso Soriano is hitting .148 and No. 3 Derrek Lee .182.

Next up: Vs. Angels at 3:05 p.m. Saturday at HoHoKam Park; Aaron Heilman faces Joe Saunders.