Ryan Theriot: Leadoff Hitter

Chicago Cubs manager Lou Piniella confirmed yesterday that there would be no leadoff platoon this year, and announced that Ryan Theriot would be the leadoff hitter.

Theriot batted .283 in 42 games in the leadoff spot last season when he took over for Alfonso Soriano, who was dropped to sixth. The Cubs, who used six leadoff men last season, began camp wanting to look at both Theriot and Fukudome there.

“I’m just glad he has the confidence in me to stick me up there,” Theriot said after Monday’s 5-2 loss to the Rockies. “I feel comfortable at the top of the order — one, two. One’s good, two’s good. Honestly, just as long as I’m in the lineup. I cannot get [Piniella] to let me hit fourth or fifth. I’m working on that, so we’ll see.” cubs.com.

Even though Kosuke Fukudome hits much better against righties than Theriot, and even though the case for a leadoff platoon has never been stronger, I can’t say I’m terribly angry about this decision. Having Theriot in the one-hole allows him to be the best kind of hitter he can be - i.e., a guy that works counts and tries to get on base. Theriot struggled when Piniella told him to start swinging hard. Presumably, as the permanent lead0ff hitter, Theriot will understand his role.

Further, the only real difference between the number one and number two hitters is a tiny amount of extra at bats over the course of the season. Fukudome’s goal will still generally be to get on base and see pitches.

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God’s Wrath Watch: Jeff Gray Will Finally Face Live Hitting

When the Chicago Cubs acquired Jeff Gray from the Oakland A’s earlier this offseason, he was a presumed member of the 2010 bullpen. But a nasty groin strain has kept him out of action for more than a month, cutting into his chances to land a spot in the bullpen.

Finally, though, he’ll soon be ready to face live hitting. Whether that is in batting practice or in a Spring Training game, however, is unclear.

Relief pitcher Jeff Gray should face live hitting some time by the end of this week, according to Piniella. The former Oakland Athletics pitcher strained a groin two weeks before spring training began on Feb. 17. ESPN Chicago.

Gray, 28, was fairly good in 26 innings last year for the A’s, but that was his first meaningful taste of big league action. Thus, the presumption that he’d automatically be a member of the pen may not be appropriate. Even with Angel Guzman out, Gray is going to have to demonstrate effectiveness before he’ll be handed a spot in the pen.

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Ted Lilly is Still a Recovery Machine

Chicago Cubs pitcher Ted Lilly, who just welcomed his first child into the world, is somehow ahead of his recovery schedule from shoulder surgery, despite a viral setback a couple weeks ago.

“We want to keep him under the radar gun and not talk much about it,” Piniella said of Lilly’s progress. “He’s coming along really well. He’s had no setbacks whatsoever. He’s actually ahead of schedule.

“We feel pretty good about the possibility of him pitching some Spring Training [games].”

Lilly did not face hitters on Saturday. He had said he was going to throw a live batting-practice session this weekend. The lefty, who was projected to be ready in mid-April or May 1, has made up for the time he missed because of a virus.

“He’s ahead of schedule, that I can tell you,” Piniella said. “I haven’t talked much about him because I don’t want him to push him too fast.”

The Cubs have two vacancies in the rotation and are still sorting out the candidates. Piniella has hinted they would have a decision made around March 22.

“Let’s just see everybody around one more time,” Piniella said. “Let’s not rush.” cubs.com.

Taking it easy with Lilly is obviously the right approach - it’s a long season. But that said, the difference between a rotation with a healthy Lilly and without is tremendous. If he’s able to get back having missed only a couple starts instead of four or five, the Cubs will be much better off for it.

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Are the Cubs Considering a Deal for Kerry Wood?

When Chicago Cubs reliever Angel Guzman went down, presumably for the year, rumors picked up about the Cubs adding another right-handed reliever. The kicker, of course, is that the Cubs were already looking for such a right-handed reliever, and efforts to add a guy now will be met with outrageous demands.

But maybe the Cubs can pick up a guy who’s got an outrageous contract, making the deal slightly more palatable. Maybe it could be someone who is loved by Cubs fans.

Kerry Wood, RHP, Indians — He would make a lot of sense for the Twins, as closer Joe Nathan will likely undergo season-ending Tommy John surgery. Wood makes $10.5 million, and with Minnesota’s budget stretched to $96 million and change — highest in team history — the Indians would have to pick up a good slab of it. The Twins are considering in-house candidates, but don’t be surprised if they look around. Wood also is drawing interest from his former team, the Cubs. The Boston Globe.

It is, of course, unclear why the Boston Globe would have unique visibility to the Chicago Cubs’ reliever desires, and this report also ignores recent statements by both Jim Hendry and Tom Ricketts that the Cubs’ payroll is maxed out.

But if they could swing a deal where they only pick up a few million of Wood’s deal? Maybe they’d consider it. Wood, as you know, spent his entire career in Chicago before leaving via free agency last year to Cleveland. Last year was arguably the worst of his career, and assuredly the worst since he became a reliever - he had a 4.25 ERA, a 1.382 WHIP, and converted just 20 of 26 save opportunities.

Still, he’d look pretty great back in a Cub uniform.

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So the Cubs Aren’t Getting Cuban Shortstop Hechavarria

Last week, there was a head-scratcher of a rumor that had the Chicago Cubs attached to a top Cuban shortstop prospect, who is free to sign with any team. Yesterday, word trickled out that the kid - Adeinis (not Adeiny, apparently) Hechavarria - would more likely be signing soon with the Blue Jays.

The Post has learned Adeinis Hechavarria is going to get more money than the $8 million Jose Iglesias Iglesias got from the Red Sox.

However, it won’t be from the Yankees. And it has nothing to do with the Yankees not wanting to spend the money on the Cuban refugee shortstop.

According to an industry source Hechavarria is close to signing a $10 million deal with the Blue Jays because he didn’t envision himself playing short for the Yankees.

Hechavarria, 21, was leery of Derek Jeter’s impending extension that will keep him at short for the foreseeable future.

Having seen Hechavarria work out often in the Dominican Republic, the Yankees were high on the 6-foot-1, 170-pounder with a body that resembled a young Alfonso Soriano. NYPOST.com.

Alfonso Soriano? Oh, well, in that case, we don’t want him. Kidding, of course.

The Cubs’ interest was always a bit perplexing given the expect cost, and the fact that Hechevarria and Starlin Castro sound like they are both equally good at short and equally ready to play in the bigs.

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God’s Wrath Watch: Derrek Lee Still Has Foot Issues

Last Wednesday, Chicago Cubs first baseman Derrek Lee fouled a ball off his foot, and was pulled early from a Spring Training game. No one was terribly concerned - and I don’t want to induce PANIC, I’m not terribly concerned yet either - but Lee hasn’t seen game action since.

Manager Lou Piniella reiterated yesterday that the injury wasn’t serious, calling it “just a bone bruise.” Piniella said that Lee will not be taking Monday’s trip to Tucson to play the Rockies - though many players try to figure out ways to avoid the two-plus hour bus trip, so the fact that Lee is not going is not any additional reason for concern.

The Cubs expect Lee to get back into game action by mid-week.

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Cubs Are Not Opposed to “Cubs Tax,” Which, um, Duh

Late last week, based on some comments by Cubs Chairman Crane Kenney, everybody was reporting that the Chicago Cubs would not utilize the so-called “Cubs Tax” to keep the team Springing in Mesa, Arizona. The Tax is a ticket surcharge on all Cactus League games, and would help finance new facilities for the Cubs.

We did not report this, because we knew it was bunk. The “Cubs Tax” was never up to the Cubs - it was a decision by local and state legislators in Arizona. It’s up to them to determine how they want to finance the facilities for the Cubs. It was never up to the Cubs.

“The Cubs support the efforts of the legislators to find a solution that will be satisfactory to everyone,” Kenney said in the statement. ”As far as the Cubs are concerned, all financing options are still on the table.”

Earlier in the day, Kenney told reporters the surcharge was not needed by the Cubs to help fund the new complex.

“The plan for our facility can be managed through the Mesa property tax referendum, that will happen in November, and the (1 percent extra) car rental tax,” Kenney said. “The ticket tax is not needed for what we’re building.”

All of the other 14 Cactus League teams and commissioner Bud Selig have opposed to ticket surcharge, feeling their fans are subsidizing the Cubs in their new venture. Chicago Breaking Sports.

All Kenney was saying - why he was saying, I don’t know - was that the Cubs do not necessarily need the ticket surcharge in order to stay in Arizona. The facilities could be financed any number of ways, and the Cubs presumably don’t give a poop where that financing comes from.

End of non-story.

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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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