Looks like they got a pic of Old Style's dad.



29 days

Prior is supposed to be pitching on the WGN game. Hopefully his arm doesn't fall off.

I heard Prior hurt his arm changing the channel on his tv today...

They just said Rich Hill is getting the start

Looks like the Cubbies are having trouble advancing runners... already a double play and a force out. The same problem that has plagued them for quite a while noe.

My fault, Prior (and Wood) are supposed to be going tomorrow.

What was the final? I only got to see a little bit. I know the Sox won. Soriano had a helluva day, though.

13-2 Sox

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/boxscore.jsp?gid=2007_03_04_chamlb_chnmlb_1

It was like BP for them.

Novoa keeps the tradition with his yearly spring training injury:

quote:

---

Reliever Roberto Novoa has been held back because of an off-season car accident in which he suffered minor injuries. Novoa, competing for the final bullpen spot, could make his Cactus League debut Wednesday. … Outfielder Tyler Colvin has a right quadriceps strain, while outfielder Felix Pie jammed his right ankle Saturday during a slide. Pie said he's OK and will be ready to play Monday against Seattle.

---

http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/cs-070304cubsbits,1,3298941.story?coll=cs-cubs-headlines

OS, this pretty much sums up yesterday's game.

Prior seemed to have a rough outing but Woody and Lilly did well.

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/boxscore.jsp?gid=2007_03_05_chnmlb_seamlb_1

Did anyone get to see how Miller did a couple of games ago?

Cross my fingers



27 days.

I ventured over to NSBB.com and some were already talking of moving Woody back to the starting role. Apparently, they're not much different than our football thread.

Yeah, one good inning in Spring Training and he's ready to move back to the rotation? Give me a break.

I heard Jayson Stark this morning on the M&M morning show that Prior's fast ball was topping off at 81 mph. If that stays the same I don't see him getting that 5th spot.

Neal Cotts is also getting more attention for that 5th spot. I don't know how I feel about having 3 lefties in the rotation though.

Also, Theriot's supposed to be getting time at 3rd and OF. According to Piniella it's to prepare him for his role this season. I know his spot isn't secure, but that may be a good sign for you Theriot fans.

26 days.

I heard sweet lou on dan patrick and I am starting to believe. he sounds great.

Looks like Miller has an early leg up on Prior for the #5 spot in the rotation. And if he doesn't get it, Miller does not want to go back to the bullpen.

http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/cs-070307cubs,1,2743476.story?coll=cs-home-headlines

Also looks like Pie is actually making some noise and could make the team.

http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/cs-070307cubsbits,1,5068416.story?coll=cs-home-headlines

This one's for you OS

I've got to say, a lot of the winter ball reports on Pie were overblown, but he has done well so far. After Aramis' performance though last year I just don't know how much stock to put on Spring performance.

I'm wondering what will happen to Prior if Miller, or possibly Cotts, gets that 5 spot? Does he becoma reliever, do we send him down or do we trade him? I don't think he has the same stuff he used to.

25 days.

Guys, Prior has thrown 1.1 innings in Spring Training.

I know his lone outing wasn't impressive but I'm going to hold off on casting him to the depths of AAAA for a few days.

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Check out "Texas A&M & Baseball In No Particular Order"
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[This message has been edited by AgRyan04 (edited 3/8/2007 6:35p).]

Yeah, but his fastball was clocked at 81...even Woody hit 95.

But your point is well taken Ryan. I'll hold off on "the skies falling" posts until it falls.

The fastball concerns me but at the same time why would the Cubs even trot him out there if he was throwing like that? I mean, they couldn't have been suprised at what he was hitting on the gun. They know all that kind of stuff.

We all know that the Cubs will make up some crazy tweak or soreness to keep a guy out of a start so I can't imagine them trotting him out there if he was hurt.

Maybe he was working on something. Perhaps release point, arm slot or maybe new mechanics?

I have no idea but omething seems strange about the whole situation. Just my $0.02.

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Check out "Texas A&M & Baseball In No Particular Order"
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[This message has been edited by AgRyan04 (edited 3/8/2007 9:54p).]

So, can somebody give me a quick summary of this thread?

I can do it in one word:

ARGH



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[This message has been edited by AgRyan04 (edited 3/8/2007 9:59p).]

You're probably right Ryan. I don't want to make a bigger deal of it than it is, but I think I wondered about the PR side of it. What would happen if they didn't really give him much of a shot. Also, pretty much every returning starter gets a start. I'm not so much concerned with injury as much as I'm wondering if he still has. You are right, though. It's still quite early and it certainly could've been any number of reasons.

Sometimes I just don't trust the Cubs and their PR dept.

Something to keep an eye out for tomorrow: the Cubs will be taking on the Rangers and get their first look at Sammy since he left.

One of the more interesting NL storylines this year has got to be Sammy Sosa.

Guys, thanks for info. Keep posting!

From the Trib, on Woody and Prior:

quote:

---

...Wood is starting another chapter in his career. He pitched an inning of relief Thursday, serving up a grand slam to Terrmel Sledge after the inning was extended when a wild pitch on strike three went to the backstop. Wood's 21-pitch outing, in which he averaged 92-94 m.p.h. on his fastball, wasn't as dominant as his first outing, a 1-2-3 inning.

"He had real good stuff," manager Lou Piniella said.

Wood struck out three and professed satisfaction with the life on his pitches.

"I had better stuff this time than I had the other day," Wood said. "My slider was better. I hit a guy with it. Still had him fooled. … The results, obviously, weren't the same, but I threw the ball very similarly."

Wood said he's feeling "great" and having a good time, but doesn't feel like a full-fledged member of the bullpen yet.

"I really haven't spent a whole lot of time with the guys I think I'll be down there with," he said. "It's a little hot down there. Better get used to it."

Prior, meanwhile, will make his second outing Saturday against the Royals in Surprise, Ariz., following Ted Lilly in relief.

"We're looking for improvement," Piniella said. "Even small improvement because there's still plenty of time. We'd like to see him get a little crisper, command his breaking ball a little better and, if possible, even pick up a little velocity."

There's one line of thought that Prior's shaky first outing suggests he won't be ready for the start of the season, even if he's healthy. Piniella didn't discount that theory.

"My philosophy is you look at the player, what's best for the player," Piniella said. "That really answers a lot of what's good for the team. I don't look at what's good for the team. I look at what's good for the player.

"If the player is not quite ready, or if he's not up to par, and you're asking him to do something that, in fairness, he's not capable of doing, why ask him to do it?

"That's what this competition is. We'll see where it takes us. I don't know myself. We have [Neal] Cotts in the mix too."

Is it too early to say who's in the lead?

"Obviously, from a pitching standpoint …" Piniella said, before stopping himself in midthought.

After a long pause, Piniella changed course.

"Let's just leave it," he said. "I don't want to get myself into any poor explanations."

---

One thing I like about Lou is that he's a straight-shooter. It may be harder for him to propogate the Cub office propoganda.

http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/cs-070308cubs,1,3071157.story?coll=cs-cubs-headlines

On Pie:

quote:

---

Piniella said he would bat Felix Pie second or eighth in the lineup if he makes the team and starts. Pie is hitting .429 and playing stellar defense. "He told me today before the ballgame, if I have to pick up bats, I want to be on the major-league club,"

---

Whoa, Lou! we're already talking about him starting?

http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/cs-070308cubsbits,1,5658241.story?coll=cs-cubs-headlines

...

Box score from yesterday's game:

[http://sports.chicagotribune.com/merge/tsnform.aspx?c=chicagosports&page=mlb/scores/final/preboxscore.aspx?GAMEID=18063

I'm keeping my eye on Pigniatello. He might be solid in the bullpen.

[This message has been edited by bluestainedivy (edited 3/9/2007 12:34p).]

24 days.

If Pie makes the team, he'd better start. If not, send him to Iowa where he can play every day. Sounds like he's really showing that he can play. Might to time to start shopping ****head around again.

Maybe something will come up at the end of spring training when teams realize they have a need in the OF. I'm not entirely opposed to keeping Jacque, but I do expect him to play better mentally this year.

You just had to reply to that other thread.

I did, too.