PANIC! Aramis Ramirez Leaves With Sore Triceps

Ok, get it out of your system. Now relax. Yes, Chicago Cubs third baseman Aramis Ramirez left today’s game against the Cincinnati Reds with right triceps soreness, but it doesn’t sound serious.

Ramirez left after the top half of the third inning. He missed two months of the 2009 season after dislocating his left shoulder diving for a ball.

“There’s nothing wrong there,” manager Lou Piniella said. “He’ll be ready to go in a couple days, probably after (Monday’s game in) Tucson. He wasn’t going to Tucson anyways.” Chicago Breaking Sports.

We’ll keep an eye on things, but as long as the words “shoulder” and “death” aren’t used, I’ll sleep.

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First Spring Training Lineup Holds Clues for the Season

The Chicago Cubs will play their first Spring Training game tomorrow, and manager Lou Piniella has released the lineup for the game:

1. Ryan Theriot  SS

2. Kosuke Fukudome RF

3. Derrek Lee  1B

4. Aramis Ramirez  3B

5. Marlon Byrd  CF

6. Tyler Colvin LF

7. Mike Fontenot  2B

8. Geovany Soto  C

9. Randy Wells  P

Now, this lineup is, of course, both early and not necessarily indicative of the lineup Piniella has in his head for the regular season, but a few things should jump out at you.

First is, well, first. Ryan Theriot is batting leadoff, and not Kosuke Fukudome. This could be a sign that Piniella would rather have Theriot leadoff, generally, than Fukudome. Next, note that Marlon Byrd is fifth, with Tyler Colvin - who is holding Alfonso Soriano’s spot - batting sixth. This is almost certainly how things will play out at the start of the season, short of an offensive explosion for Soriano in Spring Training.

Then there is Mike Fontenot getting the nod at second base. This might mean nothing more than the fact that Fontenot was the presumptive starter last year, or that the Cubs expect to face a right-handed starter. But still, it’s interesting. It’s also interesting to see Geovany Soto all the way down in the 8 hole. Wouldn’t it be nice if he had a productive season?

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Someone’s Gonna Bat Leadoff, But Lou Piniella Doesn’t Know Who

Most of the Chicago Cubs’ lineup this year is set. We know that Derrek Lee and Aramis Ramirez will hit three and four. We know that Marlon Byrd and Alfonso Soriano will hit five and six. We know that Geovany Soto and the second baseman will hit seven and eight.

But one spot yet undecided is at the top of the order. Who’s going to lead off?

Kosuke Fukudome and Ryan Theriot say they want the job, which manager Lou Piniella said he likes to hear, but he’s not sure which will get the job — or whether it will be a combination of the two.

”I haven’t thought about it all that much, to be honest,” Piniella said. ”We’ll see what happens here in the spring with it. We’ll just use one one day and use one the next, and we’ll see. It depends how they’re swinging the bat, depends on who the [opposing] pitcher is — there’ll be some variable.

”But we’d like to stay constant, too. We’ll come up with something.” CHICAGO SUN-TIMES.

Haven’t thought about it much? Really, Lou? I mean, I get the deflection technique, but isn’t it, like, your job to think about things like that? Aren’t you being paid (an insane) $4 million per season to think about things like that?

Now that I’ve got that out of my system, I’ll say: I continue to hope that Piniella will seriously consider a leadoff platoon. Kosuke Fukudome hits righties so much better than Ryan Theriot. Ryan Theriot hits lefties so much better than Kosuke Fukudome. Look, I get wanting consistency of role, but in this case, the splits are so stark and clear that I struggle coming up with reasons to do anything other than a flip/flop of Fukudome and Theriot based on who is on the mound.

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Today is the Positional Reporting Date for Spring Training

By the end of the day, all of the Chicago Cubs invited to Spring Training will be in camp, preparing for the first full-squad practice tomorrow.

Of course, the date is largely a formality, as almost every Cub is already in Mesa. The only four remaining include three that make sense, and one that doesn’t. Veteran, established, positional players often don’t arrive until the reporting date, and so it is with Alfonso Soriano, Derrek Lee, and Aramis Ramirez.

But the fourth? Shortstop prospect Starlin Castro. Interesting that a kid who has a lot to show in order to make the big club this year decided not to come early. I’m not criticizing - there may have been good reasons - I just find it interesting.

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Spring Training Participants

Here’s a helpful recap of the players participating in Spring Training with the Chicago Cubs this year - pitchers and catchers report this week. Thanks to Bruce Miles for putting this together.

Pitchers: Mitch Atkins, Justin Berg, Esmailin Caridad, Ryan Dempster, Rafael Dolis, John Gaub, Tom Gorzelanny, John Grabow, Jeff Gray, Angel Guzman, Ted Lilly, Carlos Marmol, Sean Marshall, Marcos Mateo, Mike Parisi, Blake Parker, David Patton, Jeff Samardzija, Carlos Silva, Jeff Stevens, Randy Wells, Carlos Zambrano

Catchers: Welington Castillo, Koyie Hill, Geovany Soto

Infielders: Jeff Baker, Andres Blanco, Mike Fontenot, Micah Hoffpauir, Derrek Lee, Aramis Ramirez, Ryan Theriot

Outfielders: James Adduci, Marlon Byrd, Tyler Colvin, Kosuke Fukudome, Sam Fuld, Xavier Nady, Alfonso Soriano

Nonroster invitees

Pitchers: Andrew Cashner, Casey Coleman, Thomas Diamond, Jeff Kennard, J.R. Mathes, Vince Perkins, James Russell

Catchers: Robinson Chirinos, Steve Clevenger, Chris Robinson

Infielders: Darwin Barney, Starlin Castro, Blake Lalli, Kevin Millar, Chad Tracy, Josh Vitters

Outfielders: Matt Camp, Brett Jackson, Bryan LaHair, Bobby Scales, Brad Snyder

Obvious player to watch: Starlin Castro

Dark-horse candidates to watch: Darwin Barney, Blake Parker

Pitching prospect to watch: Andrew Cashner

Annual Rule 5 pick: Mike Parisi

I’d also suggest watching John Gaub, a lefty with a chance to make the pen, Jeff Stevens, a righty with a chance to make the pen (received from the Indians, together with Gaub and another prospect for Mark DeRosa), and Casey Coleman - the Cubs’ minor league pitcher of the year last year, whom I think could have a very outside shot at landing the fifth spot in the Cubs rotation.

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Live Together, Die Alone: LOST and the Chicago Cubs

“Every man for himself is not going to work. It’s time to start organizing. We need to figure out how we’re going to survive here. Now, I found water. Fresh water, up in the valley. I’ll take a group in at first light. If you don’t want to go, then find another way to contribute. Last week most of us were strangers. But we’re all here now. And God knows how long we’re going to be here. But if we can’t live together, we’re going to die alone.” - Jack Shephard

I have generally avoided using this space to pontificate on things personal and outside of baseball. I figure you all come here to read about the Cubs, not my thoughts on health care reform. And for a guy who has an obsession with the television show LOST that is equaled only by his obsession with the Cubs, it’s hard not to go off about the show from time to time. Warning: this is one of those times.

But the truth is, this post is as much about the Cubs as it is about LOST. The parallels weaving their way through the show, the Chicago Cubs, and Cubs fandom are worth at least one, little article as we approach tonight’s premiere of the much-anticipated final season and dramatic conclusion of LOST. The article’s a bit longer than our usual fare here at Bleacher Nation, but I think it’s worth your time if you’re a fan of the Cubs or a fan of the show. Keep reading up on the Cubs-LOST crossover.

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Jeff Baker Wants to Punch Mike Fontenot’s Heart

Last year, Mike Fontenot was anointed the Chicago Cubs’ starting second baseman out of Spring Training following a 2008 season where he was dominant at the plate in a part-time role.

He struggled.

The Cubs responded to his struggles (and Aramis Ramirez’s injury and Aaron Miles’ totally unpredictable sucking) by acquiring second baseman Jeff Baker from the Colorado Rockies. All Baker did was hit .305 with an .810 OPS in his time with the Cubs. And now, understandably, he wants to be the Cubs’ starting second baseman.

“Guys who you’re competing with for the same spot, you’re still good friends and [the competition] doesn’t change anything,” Baker said. “As long as Mike and I have the same mindset that it’s about what’s best for the team and about what’s best for the team that day, I don’t think anything will change. We’re both professional players and we both want to win.” …

“It’s one of those things, coming over here was a fresh start and an opportunity for me,” Baker said of the Cubs. “The one thing I’ve noticed about the Cubs is if you play well, you’ll get the opportunity to play. I’m going to try to take advantage of it and I’m going to go out there and go 100 percent. It’s not going to be from a lack of effort or lack of preparation.”

This offseason, he started hitting earlier than usual. Baker has been working out at George Mason University, which is near his home in Dumfries, Va.

“There’s no one there in December,” he said of the school, located in Fairfax, Va. “I started going a couple times a week and I’ve been going every day in January.”

He’ll be in the Cubs’ camp in Mesa, Ariz., when pitchers and catchers report Feb. 17.

“For me, taking ground balls off a gym floor is good,” Baker said, “but it’s definitely nice being out on the grass and I like the warm weather, too.”

He did not take the attitude that he’ll be a backup on the Cubs.

“I always prepare like I’m going to be a starter,” Baker said. “I believe I can play every day in the big leagues and I can be productive and help a team win. It doesn’t really change how I go about my business or my offseason.

“The opportunity to start doesn’t come along too often,” he said. “I’ve been fighting for one my whole career. If I get that opportunity in Spring Training, it’s something I’m going to try to grab hold of tight and not let go.” cubs.com.

For now, the Cubs expect to platoon the two second basemen, which may be the best move for all involved. Baker can pick up some extra at bats by spelling Aramis Ramirez at third or Derrek Lee at first, and Mike Fontenot can sit against lefties.

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The 2010 Chicago Cubs Batting Order is Largely Set

Without too many moving parts from last year to this, the batting order for the Chicago Cubs is not as prone to questioning as it has been in years past. In fact, the main question - why in the sweet hell is Alfonso Soriano still leading off - mercifully faded away, for good, last year.

But the addition of new center fielder Marlon Byrd and departure of Milton Bradley did leave one lineup question: what changes with Byrd instead of Bradley? The answer: nothing. Manager Lou Piniella says Byrd will replace Bradley in the five hole.

“That, to me, is the most important thing to our team this year offensively — who hits fifth,” Piniella said at the annual Cubs Convention.

Piniella said he plans to take a look at both Kosuke Fukudome and Ryan Theriot as the team’s potential leadoff hitter. From there, he seems confident in his spring training order.

“We have Derrek Lee who’s a wonderful, wonderful three hitter,” Piniella said. “[Aramis]Ramirez is very productive at the four spot. And we’ve settled in with Soriano at the six hole, and I think he’s comfortable with it. We really just have the fifth hole to look at, and I’ve talked to the new hitting coach [Rudy Jaramillo] at length about Marlon, and he thinks he can fit in there.” ESPN Chicago.

That means the early favorite on the lineup is as follows:

1.) Ryan Theriot, SS / Kosuke Fukudome, RF
2.) Ryan Theriot, SS / Kosuke Fukudome, RF
3.) Derrek Lee, 1B
4.) Aramis Ramirez, 3B
5.) Marlon Byrd, CF
6.) Alfonso Soriano, LF
7.) Mike Fontenot, 2B / Jeff Baker, 2B
8.) Geovany Soto, C
9.) Pitcher

Piniella has suggested that Fontenot will hit 7th, and Soto 8th, but you’ve got to believe if Soto finds his stroke again, it will be hard to keep him at the bottom of the order. Oh, and not to mention: it might be hard for him to find his stroke again while hitting at the bottom of the order.

But today is a day for clarity, not complaints. There’s plenty of time to gripe about the order.

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