CUBBING

AuthorHouse

Contents

Let's Go CUBBING!....................................................vAbout The Author.....................................................ixForeword.............................................................xiiiIntroduction by Jake Fox.............................................xvPrologue: The End of the 2008 Season.................................xxiChapter 1. Time Moves On.............................................1Chapter 2. Play Ball.................................................29Chapter 3. Batter Up.................................................49Chapter 4. On Deck...................................................77Chapter 5. In the Hole...............................................105Chapter 6. The Dog Days..............................................137Billy Goat Responsible, Of Curse.....................................167Chapter 7. In the Stretch............................................171Chapter 8. The Finish Line...........................................203Postlogue The Whys, Wherefores, and Therefores......................215Chicago Cubs Owners..................................................225Cubbing Quiz Answers.................................................2272009 National League Standings.......................................2312009 Chicago Cubs Individual Batting Statistics......................2322009 Chicago Cubs Individual Pitching Statistics.....................2332009 Individual Chicago Cubs Fielding Statistics.....................2342009-10 Winter Roster................................................235Acknowledgments......................................................237

Chapter One

Well, here it is. Next year. Spring Training. 2009.

The same team that won the division in 2008. Only different.

But-as Lou Piniella said about last year again and again and over and over-"enough is enough!!!"

Spring Training. 2009. Mesa, Arizona. The 101st next year!

Friday, February 20, 2009

Striding into Fitch Park, wearing grins from ear to ear, were those Cubs corner guys, Silver Glovers Aramis Ramirez and Derrek Lee. They've forgotten 2008 when Ramirez clubbed 27 homers among his 287 total bases, and Lee had 288 total bases and 20 homers. I shouldn't say forgotten because they were great years, but this is another year, so 2008 is relegated to the back of their minds.

Spring Training began on a bright pleasant "but still winter" day that forecast a bright pleasant season. Although spring actually is a month from now, it's spring here because it's Spring Training time. The pitchers and catchers started activities for the 100th straight year without a Cubs World Series appearance. It was a much smoother beginning than the previous year when Jose Ascanio was mauled during a robbery at a convenience store, Mark DeRosa was rushed to a hospital when he suffered an irregular heartbeat at a morning workout, and the '95 Nissan belonging to strength coach Tim Buss was demolished by a sledge hammer.

This year-2009-to a man the Cubs tried to put last season out of their minds, especially the fact that they had the best record in the league before playing their three worst games to open post-season action. The Cubs had eight All-Stars and five players who hit at least 20 home runs. The season will open April 6th, a week later than usual due to the World Baseball Classic.

Manager Lou Piniella laid down the law: "Don't think about last year; think about this year here. That's all you can do," he emphasized.

But few did.

So on February 13th-Friday the 13th, would you have it any other way?-the Cubs' World Championship season unofficially got underway as the pitchers and catchers reported to Mesa's Fitch Park.

Carlos Zambrano, ace of the team's pitching corps despite a 5.80 ERA the second half of last season, sported a bushy mustache. That didn't shock his teammates and Cubs officials as much as his announcement he would have Lasik eye surgery at the end of Spring Training, just before the start of the season that had the Cubs a virtual unanimous choice as National League champion.

There's nothing more boring to a ballplayer than routine drills and exercises and no games to play. But it's almost unanimous that time is killed with the enjoyable pastime of golf. Airport observers see the players reporting each March for Spring Training, not with batbags as part of their luggage but golfbags of all shapes and sizes.

Piniella and Zambrano are riding bicycles around HoHoKam. The Big Z says he's doing his cardio work.

Thus was time killed until....

The 39 Steps (Step One)

Wednesday, February 25

Camp opened only five days ago but it seems like fifteen or twenty. Finally, at last, it's a game day, the first of 39 exhibitions until the opener at Houston on April 6th. To get the Cubs off to a good start, Piniella invoked the Spirit of Notre Dame by starting young Jeff Samardzija, an All-American wide receiver on the 2005 Irish football team. A 6-5 right-hander, he gave up two runs, three hits, and two walks in two innings.

Micah Hoffpauir, a power-hitting first baseman and outfielder, grand-slammed the Cubs to a 5-3 win. Last season, he hit .362 at Iowa (AAA) and in 33 games with the Cubs .342. Joey Gathright, a free-agent outfielder, had three hits, one RBI, one run, and one stolen base.

Meanwhile, back in Chicago the Cubs reported that 98 percent of their seasonticketholdersrenewed,leavingabout200forawaitinglistof100,000. They sold 2,680,000 last weekend which virtually guarantees another 3 million attendance season, and even though the franchise increased the payroll about 10 percent, Cubs chairman Crane Kenney said that they will be able to add to the payroll if moves are warranted.

Thursday, February 26

A week ago this night, some of the Mesa earlybirds raised their glasses in a toast to Harry Caray, an annual event in 50 states and 101 countries. Most sites had 101-cent Budweisers as Cubs fans and 101 celebrities including Ernie Banks, Ryne Sandberg, Bob Costas, Jim Belushi, and Bobby Hull vowed that the 101st season since 1908 will be the charm.

A Fox trot was a feature of the 7-4 waltz over the Milwaukee Brewers as Jake Fox quick-stepped with a three-run home run. Starter Sean Marshall gave up one run in two innings on four hits.

The Cubs received 11 walks. Closer-to-be Carlos Marmol was touched for one run on one hit in one inning.

Friday, February 27

It was a year ago this day that Rick Sutcliffe was late for a coaches' meeting and claimed he felt ill. Two days later, he was diagnosed having colon cancer. It forced him to miss the rest of Spring Training and a trip to Japan to broadcast an Oakland-Boston series. He endured chemo and radiation treatments at the same time and in July was able to broadcast the All-Star Game.

And months later, on this day, he felt much, much better despite ostomy surgery, a great part due to the Cubs' 10-4 assault of the Texas Rangers as Mike Fontenot, Sam Fuld and Micah Hoffpauir homered. Ted Lilly struck out two while giving up two hits and no walks in two innings.

Back as a Spring Training coach, Sutcliffe said:

"Putting on this uniform today means more than it did before Game 1 in '84 and Game 3 in '89. It meant more than it did on Aug. 8, '88, when I threw the first pitch of the first night game. As I came walking out here, it was like I was floating on this grass."

Saturday, February 28

Cubs fans couldn't ask for a better conclusion to the first week of Spring Training for a season that is being geared toward the Cubs' first world championship since 1908 ... 101 years ago.

The Cubs blasted the White Sox 13-0 before a record HoHoKam Park crowd of 13,010.

Seven Cub pitchers shut out the Sox on six hits while the Cubs had 14 hits including a grand-slam home run by Brad Snyder. Starting pitcher Aaron Heilman struck out four while giving up one hit in his two-inning stint.

Sunday, March 1

Day of rest? Not at HoHoKam. And the world champs-to-be would have it no other way! There were deeds to perform and, yes, even lessons to be learned.

One of the lessons involved the fact that there's more to baseball than hitting and pitching. Errorless fielding, for instance. Official score today was San Diego winning 4-2 as the Cubs committed three errors allowing three unearned runs and an end to their modest four-game win streak. With good fielding, it would have been a 2-1 Cubs victory.

And a comment by Zambrano: "When I thought about hitting the ball to the moon, well, that's tough. I put good wood on the ball; it'll go out by itself."

Monday, March 2

While not managing, Piniella has been relaxing reading the books of the former Indianapolis Colts coach, the mild-mannered Tony Dungy, and UCLA basketball legend Johnny Wooden. One jokester said they were a gift from a National League umpire.

"I think it's smart," the fiery Cubs manager said, "to pick people's brains and learn from them. Get ideas you can incorporate."

The Cubs came up with several fielding gems but their bats were silenced in a 9-2 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks. Carlos Zambrano in two innings and Carlos Marmol in one inning gave up no hits and struck out 3 and 2 batters, respectively. Piniella had no umpire arguments.

Tuesday, March 3

There are Cubs fans and then there are CUBS FANS. In the latter category, put Brian and Loren Clark of Plainfield, Ill., who had a baby daughter born just before last Christmas. They named her Addison N. Clark. If that doesn't register with you, then you're not a Cubs fan-certainly not a Wrigley Field fan.

Sean Marshall, perhaps Piniella's favorite Cub, faced the minimum nine batters in three frames. His curve was sharp and he demonstrated tactics gained from associating with Greg Maddux. If the season began today, Marshall probably would be in the rotation with Carlos Zambrano, Ted Lilly, Ryan Dempster, and Rich Harden. His pitching velocity seems to have improved this year.

Alfonso Soriano, Jake Fox, and Aramis Ramirez each homered in the Cubs 6-4 triumph.

Wednesday, March 4

Normally, the Cubs play a pair of games against the White Sox at Las Vegas en route to Chicago at the end of Spring Training, but two factors prompted a change this year. One was in deference to the WBC scheduling that lengthened Spring Training from six to seven weeks. The other was that in order for the Cubs to play the Yankees April 3-4 in christening games at the new Yankee Stadium, the ChiSox games are to be played Thursday and Friday.

The teams shared the same plane, the Sox on the left of the aisle and Cubs on the right, on the flights from and to Arizona and the atmosphere was congenial despite quite a bit of mingling.

A walk-off single accounted for the first clash victory. Ryan Theriot had three hits and Ramirez and Mike Fontenot two. Samardzija was touched for three runs on five hits over three innings.

Meanwhile, in Arizona the Cubs lost a split squad game 5-4 to Cleveland at Goodyear as Chad Gaudin gave up three runs. The Cubs squad was comprised of 15 minor leaguers plus Derrek Lee, Milton Bradley, and Aaron Miles.

Thursday, March 5

A hot topic all spring, almost to distraction, has been talk of the pending sale of the Cubs to the Ricketts family. It was especially prevalent in Las Vegas where bets were being made as to the sale date.

They are raising the final amount of money needed in a $900 million deal. Half of the amount is from family assets, half from loans, and, according to a Cubs spokesman, they are very close to settling all the terms of the sale. Others involved include the courts due to the Trib's bankruptcy and Major League Baseball. The sale is expected to be completed shortly after Opening Day.

Aaron Heilman hurled three shutout innings at Cashman Field in front of 11,174 mostly Cubs fans but the Cubs lost 4-3, as Sox leftfielder Josh Kroeger had three hits and four RBIs. He was a non-roster invitee by the Sox after playing for the Cubs Triple A Iowa team the last two years. Fox and Fontenot each had a pair of hits for the Cubs.

The loss evened the Cubs record at 5-5.

Friday, March 6

Ted Lilly has been working hard for a double purpose; he's No. 2 pitcher for the American team in the WBC and is slated to hurl against Venezuela next week. Carlos Marmol is a member of the Puerto Rican team but doesn't think he will compete in the WBC.

"It's a tough decision; you want to represent your country but you have to work for your career. I think this (Spring Training at Mesa) is best for my career," he said.

Another ex-Cub helped to do in the Chicagoans. Doug Mientkiewicz homered in the seventh inning as the Dodgers grabbed a one-run victory, 5-4. Milton Bradley finally saw action and is 2 for 5.

Ryan Dempster gave up two runs on three hits and a walk while facing seven batters in the first inning.

Saturday, March 7

Baseball took a back seat momentarily for Harden and Dempster as they devised a hockey game without ice or puck. They had hockey sticks and they used baseballs for pucks.

Both Canadians, Dempster played as a right winger and Harden assumed the role of defenseman. "If we played the Blackhawks in hockey," Dempster told one and all, "we'd do better than they would in baseball."

Observers included Chad Gaudin and Reed Johnson, who appear to be competing with goatees to see who looks most like a billy goat. They should trim up, or shape up, by Opening Day. When they do, can we say that they got rid of their billy goatees and hopefully the billy goat curse?

The hockey bit reminded longtime Cubs observers of the games played in 1992 by Greg Maddux and Mike Morgan dribbling an imaginary basketball through teammates in the Wrigley Field clubhouse.

Zambrano worked three innings and allowed four hits and two runs, the only scoring of the game won by Milwaukee, 2-0. Facing 14 hitters, he whiffed five, walked none, and hit Prince Fielder with a pitch.

Five Braves pitchers held the Cubs to seven scattered hits and no scoring threats.

Sunday, March 8

Oneri Fleira, Cubs VP of Player Personnel, looked over a morning workout and commented, "There's a vast disparity in the size among these guys and the football players working out I watched in Indianapolis. They were impressive and we've got to get more of those kinds of athletes playing baseball."

Fleira had attended the NFL Scouting Combine to observe exercises and programs he could put into the Cubs farm system.

Sean Marshall, Aramis Ramirez, and Koyie Hill stood out for the Cubs in a 7-2 loss to the Texas Rangers. Marshall, who hurled four shutout innings allowing two hits and striking out three, has a Spring Training ERA of 1.00 and appears to have snagged the fifth starting slot.

Ramirez and Hill, hoping to land the backup catcher slot, each had two hits. Ryan Theriot has a spring hitting average of .476.

Monday, March 9

It was a subdued session this morning as the word spread of the death in Dallas of the mother of Hall of Famer, Mr. Cub Ernie Banks. She was 97. It was suggested that the team dedicate the season to Essie Banks.

Chad Gaudin, who has hopes for the fifth starter position, tossed two scoreless frames. Samardzija pitched three innings, allowing two hits and the lone Royals score. Fontenot and Soriano homered in the Cubs 9-1 triumph which snapped a six-game losing streak, giving the Cubs a 6-7 record.

Fontenot, Paul Bako, and Micah Hoffpauir each stroked two hits.

Tuesday, March 10

This is reunion day for Piniella and "The Kid," as Ken Griffey Jr. was known in 1993 when both were Seattle Mariners. Then the Seattle manager, Piniella reminisced about Griffey paying off a steak dinner bet he lost.

"He brought a cow into my office," Piniella recalled. "The cow mooed a couple times and did other things and we got it out of there. It smelled like cow dung in my office for a good period of time.

"There in Seattle he was the best player in baseball and I got to see him firsthand. It was a thrill for me, it really was."

Griffey was 0-3 as the Mariners lost, 8-1. The Cubs threw starters Rich Harden and Ryan Dempster at the Mariners. Harden shut them out on two hits in two innings and Dempster blanked them on two hits in three innings. Seattle came into the game as the American League's top scoring team in the exhibition season.

The Cubs were led by Doug Deeds with three hits and Aaron Miles and Koyie Hill with two each.

Wednesday, March 11

Piniella's wife, Anita, gave him two options for this, a day off in the Spring Training schedule-touring the Grand Canyon in a helicopter or taking a ride around the Phoenix area in a hot-air balloon. He opted for the latter, despite being concerned it could drift south into Mexico.

But the ascension never occurred as he would not accept an early wakeup call and went bike riding instead.

Interesting to note is that most of the Cactus League parks up their ticket price for Cubs' games.

In WBC action, former Cubs backup catcher Henry Blanco homered off Cubs pitcher Ted Lilly when his ninth-inning throw nailed Derek Jeter at second base as Venezuela beat the U. S., 5-3.

As in all clubhouses, the Cubs are busy marking winners on the NCAA basketball tourney brackets. It appears that North Carolina is the favorite.

Thursday, March 12

Irony, happenstance, coincidence, chance-you name it-occurred on this day when the Cubs played the Japanese World Baseball Classic team in a non-Cactus League exhibition game. The Japanese team, with Kosuke Fukudome one of its members (he was 1-for-4), won, 3-2.

Fukudome, being groomed for center field this season, said he didn't want to bat against Zambrano. "He's too dangerous," he seriously claimed.

As the Cubs were forgetting the famed Billy Goat Curse that many think took its toll last October, the tale of a curse involving Japan's Hanshin Tigers was a staple of every newscast and telecast and many newspaper articles. It seems that fans thought a curse leveled by a Colonel Sanders of KFC fame prevented their team from winning a championship and in 1985 they tossed his statue into the nearby Dotonbori River. They thought it looked like Hanshin player Randy Bass.

(Continues...)

Excerpted from CUBBINGby R. RATHBONE LEONARD Copyright © 2010 by R. Rathbone Leonard. Excerpted by permission.
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