Live Pitchers

Today was the first day that hitters got to face live pitching and new Cub Kosuke Fukudome showed some of his plate discipline.  Fukudome only swung at 2 of the 13 pitches he saw.

"I was ready to swing at a strike, but I didn’t see too many," Fukudome said through his interpreter Ryuji Araki. "That’s why I watched."

Can somebody embroider that on a pillow and give it to a few Cubs’ players?!  That’s the kind of thinking that Lou was looking for.  Derek Lee was also impressed.

"He looks good, looks great," Lee said. "Spring Training is Spring Training, but I feel he’s going to hit. He was a .300 hitter in Japan, so I don’t see why that’s going to change. The other guys who have come over have all done well."

State of the Stateless

So Cubs "Chairman" Crane Kenney talked to the players about the latest developments regarding the team’s proposed sale, the naming rights issue, the possible sale of Wrigley Field to the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority, the new 70-seat section near the Cubs’ dugout, the leveled playing surface and other matters.  Whatever happened to Sam Zell selling the Cubs right away?  What happened to that?  Now I keep hearing all this talk about selling the naming rights, or selling the Cubs and Wrigley seperate.  I hope there are some sort of MLB bylaws that prevent Zell from raping Wrigley Field before a new owner comes along.  And you think any of that money he makes would go back into the team, or lowering ticket prices, or at least lowering the price of beer at the ballpark?  C’mon guys, six dollars for a Bud Light!? Almost makes you feel bad for all the time you insulted the Tribune Company, right?   Well, let’s not go that far!

Ticket Bracelets Available At Wrigley

As most of you know by now, single game tickets for the 2008 Cubs go on sale at 10 am on Friday.  They are giving out bracelets Wedfnesday and Thursday for the random drawing on Friday.  The number that they pick will be the first person to get tickets and everyone lines up in order behind that person.  The winning number will be announced shortly after 6 AM and will appear online at cubs.com and on WGN 720.  For those of you who don’t want to brave the frigid Chicago temperatures, you can try your luck at the virtual waiting room.  People can start virtually entering at 9:30 am on Friday.  Good Luck

HIghway Robbery

Ticket will not be going on sale for dugout, bullpen and bleacher box seats will go on sale Friday, March 14 at 10 a.m. Tickets for the dugout seats are going to cost you 300 dollars per prime game (basically, any good game).  Not only that, but the new seats, by the Cubs bullpen, are only going to be available through an online auction.  It is believed that ticket prices for those games may run up to 1000 dollars!!!  Forget about beer and a hot dog, soon they will be selling caviar and Cristal!

Hate to Keep Bringing This Up

When Orioles second baseman Brian Roberts was asked about all the trade rumors, he said;

"I would never call this organization and say, ‘I want to be traded. I need to be traded.  I signed a contract. I signed a deal. I understand when I make a commitment, that’s what I’m here for. But as I said earlier, you want to win. … For this organization, if it’s better to send me to another place and get a couple of pieces for down the road, I understand that, too. The sooner the chance I get to win, the better off."

Now he didn’t say he wanted to be traded, but it’s pretty clear he wants out.  With Bedard and Tejada gone, this is a rebuilding project that Roberts wants no part of.  Hopefully MacPhail can take some time from polishing Bud’s shoes to make a deal before the season is over. 

Roberts Would Be Important Because

Lou stressed today the importance of resting the big 3; Lee, Ramirez, and Soriano.  Aramis Ramirez, Alfonso Soriano, Kerry Wood, Carlos Zambrano and a couple of others have workout programs designed specifically for them this spring in an effort to keep them healthy throughout the long season.

"We’re not going to push these guys to the point [of exhaustion]," Piniella said. "Like Ramirez isn’t going to steal 40 bases because he does a few more drills here in the spring."

How nice would it be to have Roberts at second and DeRosa giving all three of those guys a break once in a while?  Hate to sound like a broken record!

Don’t forget, whereever you are tomorrow, Thursday, is the 10th Annual Worldwide Toast To Harry is at 7PM, your time.  Raise a glass for Harry and a World Series in ’08

Go Cubs!