Lou Piniella Hearts Mark McGwire?

Chicago Cubs manager Lou Piniella is duty-bound to hate all things St. Louis Cardinals, but given his amicable relationship with Cardinals manager Tony LaRussa, it’s clear that Piniella doesn’t take his duty very seriously.

And now, he’s gone and said approximately one million positive things about new Cardinals hitting coach / old Cardinals cheater Mark McGwire.

“He worked on his swing endlessly,” Piniella said. “He swung and missed a lot early in his career. He learned how to make contact more and more. With his strength, the ball flew out of the ballpark.” …

Will McGwire have trouble gaining the respect of Cardinals players after acknowledging that he cheated?

“I don’t think so,” Piniella said. “I really don’t.

“He confessed. In this country, they forgive and forget. Who is out there that can’t confess to something? We in this baseball fraternity forgive him.”

Piniella said that since McGwire has been welcomed by Pujols, the Cardinals’ team leader, the rest of the players will accept him.

“Albert Pujols is on his side and that helps him immensely,” Piniella said. “He’s got to look at it as now he has a job to do. He’s got some good hitters to work with. Pujols is the best hitter in the game, so that’s a good start. Give them a little mental confidence and some fine tuning and you let them go. They’re all professionals.”

Although McGwire’s success could mean a few losses for Piniella’s team in its battle for the National League Central title, Piniella wishes the rookie coach well.

“I think he’ll do a nice job,” he said.

Piniella said he does not feel McGwire’s presence on the road will make it difficult for the Cardinals to concentrate on playing baseball.

“I don’t think it will be a distraction,” he said. “It would have been a distraction if he did not have his press conference. That would have been the topic all year long. Now that it’s old news, maybe when he shows up for spring training, the first week or so that topic will be revisited. But hopefully, they’ll leave him alone and let him do his job.”

Another test for McGwire will be how he is treated by boisterous Cubs fans when he visits Wrigley Field.

“I think Cub fans will treat him fine,” Piniella said. “We have a great rivalry. He’ll be accepted well. I think they feel he confessed and it’s over with.” NYTimes.com.

Right or wrong, Chicago Cubs fans will decidedly NOT treat McGwire “fine.” But for the existence of Sammy Sosa, Cubs fans would probably be in a righteous position to condemn McGwire and the Cardinals, and count imaginary N.L. Central titles that the Cardinals stole from the Cubs.

And, Lou, for what it’s worth: the media will definitely not “leave him alone.” This remains a big story, and the decision to bring McGwire on remains a huge boner (tee hee). And it is a decision that lasts all season long.

Carlos Zambrano is in Shape, and in Arizona

Pitchers and catchers report to Mesa, Arizona in 10 days, but that doesn’t stop them from showing up early if they’re so inclined.

And Carlos Zambrano is so inclined. And I am so inclined to say that is so awesome.

“We did it quietly,” general manager Jim Hendry said. “I don’t think he wanted any publicity for that. He’s going about his business well. I think you’re going to get a very well-focused guy who’s determined to rectify last year’s season.”

With Ted Lilly out until May, the onus will be on Zambrano and Ryan Dempster to get off to good starts and stay healthy, keeping the front end of the rotation afloat until Lilly returns. Zambrano stuck to his offseason workout routines, and the Cubs believe he’s committed to staying in shape.

“Carlos was a little heavy last year, there’s no question,” manager Lou Piniella told fans at the Cubs Convention. “He’s another player (besides Geovany Soto) we had a nice conversation with toward the end of the year.

“We said, ‘Look, we need for you to step up and give us 200-plus innings. We need for you to win 18-20 ballgames, the way you’re fully capable of. But to do that, you have to get yourself in better shape, where we don’t have to worry about pitch counts with you.’ ”

Piniella said Zambrano “promised” he would be in better shape and more focused.

“He looks absolutely wonderful, and I think you’ll see a heck of a better performance from him just because of that,” Piniella said. “The mental part of it? He’s mentally strong. He fights himself at times. He needs to harness that a little bit. But you want competitors on the mound, and Carlos certainly competes.” chicagotribune.com.

We’ve been hearing all offseason that Zambrano was in perhaps the best shape of his career, but to hear that he is also kicking it in gear this early probably proves it. Health is always the wild card, but clearly Carlos Zambrano is committed to dominating this year. If he can just keep it fit between the ears, he might just do it.

The status of his upper lip for this Spring Training - recall that Zambrano showed up last year looking like a mustachioed mix of Zorro and Ron Jeremy - has yet to be reported.

How About Tony LaRussa for Cubs Manager?

With Tony LaRussa coming up for free agency soon, and Lou Piniella wavering between retirement and returning in 2011, maybe the Chicago Cubs will consider LaRussa for their next manager spot?

You should see your face right now. No worries - he feels the same way we do.

“You’ve got a double-headed whammy there. I have a lot of friends and fans that I’m close to with the White Sox. And you know White Sox and Cubs, they don’t mix. I’ve got friends and fans that I’m close to in St. Louis, and the St. Louis Cardinals and the Cubs don’t mix. So I think if there is one place that I don’t fit, just because of my past, it would be the Chicago Cubs.” Chicago Breaking Sports.

There is no denying that Tony LaRussa - for all his pitcher hitting 8th weirdness - is a great manager. There’s also no denying that Tony LaRussa is a douche.

Andrew Cashner Could Wind Up the Cubs Fifth Starter

At the outset of the 2010 season, the Chicago Cubs will have two holes to fill in their rotation - those left by Ted Lilly, who will be recovering from shoulder surgery, and Rich Harden, who will probably also be recovering from shoulder problems, but will be doing so in Texas. The Cubs are expected to fill the slots internally, with the primary candidates being Sean Marshall, Tom Gorzelanny, Jeff Samardzija, and Carlos Silva.

But there is another possibility: the Cubs’ 2008 first round pick, Andrew Cashner.

“I need to have a good spring training, and whether I make the team or not, I still can make a good impression for later on down the road,” Cashner said. “I have a chance at the rotation and a chance at the bullpen, so I have to pitch good and let (the Cubs’ organization) do the worrying.”

Cashner was selected by the Cubs 19th overall in the 2008 draft. Since then, he has worked his way up through the Minor Leagues quickly, posting a 2.60 earned run average in 24 games played in 2009 in both the A and AA levels.

Right now, Cashner spends his off-season days in Tomball, Texas, near his hometown of Conroe, working out with former Horned Frogs-turned-professionals, brothers Chad and Royce Huffman. With some hard work, Cashner said he has a good chance to get his shot at the big show sometime this season, if not at the beginning.

“I’ve just got to make the team first,” Cashner said with a chuckle, bringing himself back to the present. “Even if I don’t make it, guys get hurt later on in the year, and I think I’d have a good chance later in the season, but I’m going to give it my best shot. I just want to help the team win and help them get to the World Series.”

In his time at TCU, Cashner was utilized out of the bullpen as a closer, shutting down opposing offenses with a powerful fastball. However, at the Major Leagues level, Cashner said he would like to see batters from the other side of the game and gain valuable lessons from the four starters the Cubs already have slotted for starting roles.

“I think being in (the Cubs’) starting rotation, that would be awesome,” Cashner said. “There’s some great guys to learn from. I mean you’ve got (Carlos) Zambrano, (Ryan) Dempster, (Ted) Lilly and (Randy) Wells up there right now. There are guys that have been there for a while and can really help you out a lot.” TCU Daily Skiff.

Manager Lou Piniella mentioned at the Cubs Convention last month that Cashner would be given a chance to win the fifth starter spot. Cashner was brilliant last year in his first full professional season, but because he was a reliever in college, the Cubs had him on a pretty serious pitch count. It seems highly unlikely that he would be ready to not only go deep enough into Major League games as would be necessary, but also to go the full season.

Still, he’ll have a shot, and he’s certainly got the stuff. It’s more likely that Cashner makes his way up to the big club via the bullpen in the second half of the season, not unlike Jeff Samardzija did two years ago.

Fourth Outfielder Watch: Jonny Gomes is in Love with the Chicago Cubs

Add another name to the list of possible fourth outfielder options for the Chicago Cubs: Jonny Gomes. After raking for the Cincinnati Reds last year, Gomes was non-tendered for fear that he’d bring in too much money for the small-market club in arbitration. Gomes, 29, was presumed to be looking for a starting gig, but as the offseason winds down and options thin, he appears to be willing to accept a reserve role.

And he also appears to be madly, madly in love with the Chicago Cubs, with whom he’s been speaking.

“Absolutely,’’ said Gomes, confirming discussions. “I’m a big fan of the game, a student of the game, and I follow a lot of history. I’m not only a player but also a client. Obviously, I’m a big fan of the Cubs, and a big fan of the city – it’s probably one of my favorite cities on the tour, as well as my wife’s.’’

Gomes, who lives in Scottsdale, Ariz., a few miles away from the Cubs’ Mesa spring training facility, wouldn’t comment on details of where talks stood, but he said he feels he’s a better fit than some of the other players the Cubs have contacted.

“Most guys are [seeking multi-year deals]. I think that’s kind of where I stand out with other free agents,’’ he said. “With Rocco [Baldelli], Xavier Nady, Reed Johnson and Jermaine Dye, I’m one of the youngest. If I was ever to hold out for a multiyear deal or a while lot of money, it wouldn’t be after a year with [281] at-bats, regardless what the run-production numbers were. I definitely want to be treated fair, but I’m not really looking to break the bank or for a lot of years. I’m looking to help the team get to the playoffs.

“With the guys on the free agent market out there right now, I think I can bring a lot to the Cubs with what I have. I’m comfortable playing left and right, and messing round with some ground balls at first base in spring training.’’

He’s also comfortable with manager Lou Piniella, his manager in Tampa Bay when Gomes finished third in the American League Rookie of the Year voting in 2005….

Gomes, who says he’s been in contact with the five usual suspects of teams looking this winter for corner outfielders (including the Yankees, Royals and Braves), said another factor separating him from other free agents, such as Dye:

“What the Cubs have to offer, I’m totally OK with,’’ he said. “They’re asking for a fourth outfielder, and others are looking to start. I’m just looking to get in there. And I think it would be great to get back with Lou. I know how hard he is on young players and expects a lot, but we built a pretty good relationship in Tampa.

“I think it would be a good fit for both sides.’’ CHICAGO SUN-TIMES.

In more than a decade of obsessively combing over rumors and  transaction details, I have never - never - heard a player publicly make such impassioned statements about wanting to be with a particular team while simultaneously describing why he’s a better option than the particular other players that had been rumored targets for the same spot. Heck, he even said that he’s not looking for very much money!

That all said, the Cubs will have to make a decision on Gomes carefully. Although he put up huge numbers in part-time duty last year for the Reds, his previous three seasons were, at best, so-so. The good news is that his numbers last year weren’t merely inflated by playing in Great American Ballpark - he had an OPS well over .800 on the road last year.

For his career, Gomes has raked lefties to the tune of an .885 OPS, which would make him a good platoon-mate for Kosuke Fukudome. And at just 29, there is still some upside.

Still, Gomes may not be a perfect fit for the Cubs. The fourth outfielder will be expected to be the top bat off the bench, and Gomes has never been much of a pinch hitter - just a .608 OPS in 67 pinch hit appearances. Further, the biggest knock on Gomes is his defense. Sure, he can play both corner outfield spots, but he doesn’t play them very well. Ideally, the Cubs could find a reserve outfielder who could play all three outfield positions - or at a minimum could play very good corner outfield defense. That will not be the case with Gomes (or Jermaine Dye, for that matter).

But whatever the flaws, by making very public entreaties like he has, Gomes is sure to get a long look from the Cubs. If nothing else, they’ve got to toss a low-ball offer his way, right?

Ted Lilly: Baseball Thrower

Ted Lilly’s offseason has been one of surprise and fear.

For Cubs fans.

When the Chicago Cubs announced that Lilly had undergone a minor shoulder surgery in November, it seemed to come out of nowhere. Some knee issues had been reported, but nothing more than a mention of knee stiffness here and there had been discussed at length. So when Lilly decided to have his shoulder cleaned up at the same time he was having his knee cleaned up, it caught us all by surprise.

Which led to the fear. Lilly had been the Cubs’ best starter in 2009, and shoulder surgery, no matter how euphemistically described, is never a good thing for a pitcher. At best, Lilly is expected to miss the first month of the season, and even then, only if he was able to start throwing in January. Well, it’s January, and Ted Lilly is throwing a baseball.

Lilly — the Cubs’ lone All-Star in 2009, when he went 12-9 with a 3.10 ERA in 27 starts — worked out at Northwestern University with pitching coach Larry Rothschild and some of his teammates. They are in town to take part in the 25th Cubs Convention, which opened Friday at the Chicago Hilton.

“It was a nice, moderate day of catch,” Lilly said. “I played catch with [prospect] Andrew Cashner. His arm definitely looks healthier than mine.”

Lilly had the procedure performed on Nov. 3 and was expected to miss the first month of the 2010 regular season. He said the time off has made him appreciate the game even more.

“I cherish this dream I had as a little kid to play baseball,” Lilly said. “I want to do it, and when you have something come up like shoulder surgery, you’re in a situation where you feel like if you don’t do everything you can, it could be taken away from you. I’m not ready for that.

“I’m going to do everything that’s in my control to not allow that to happen.”

Lilly hasn’t extended his throwing too much.

“It feels good to move it around,” Lilly said. “It’s a catch-22. If I don’t [move it], it gets stiffer.

“There have been no setbacks and no reason to slow down.” cubs.com.

All good news. Manager Lou Piniella said at the Cubs Convention that the team trainers believe Lilly is still on schedule for a May 1 return. In the interim, the Cubs will use some combination of Sean Marshall, Tom Gorzelanny, Jeff Samardzija, Carlos Silva, and early-season off days in the fourth and fifth spot in the rotation.

Hopefully the Cubs’ early season performance gives Lilly no reason to rush back.

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.

The Cubs Will Win This Year Because Marlon Byrd is a Nice Guy

Get ready to be overloaded with “addition by subtraction” type optimism pieces as we gear up for the 2010 Chicago Cubs season. The Cubs, apparently, are going to win eight to ten more games in 2010 simply by virtue of not having Milton Bradley on the team anymore. I question the statistical legitimacy of such a claim, but who am I to quibble with Lou Piniella - the guy who said it.

It’s no wonder the good-guy nature of newly signed outfielder Marlon Byrd — and clubhouse chemistry in general — was the undercurrent of the pre-convention media event Wednesday at Harry Caray’s downtown.

How important is it to new teammates that Byrd is a good clubhouse guy?

”As opposed to what? Who are you implying?” pitcher Jeff Samardzija said, smiling. ”You hear a lot about the clubhouse growing up as a kid, but you never really know going into it. But after being here for a couple years and understanding the dynamics of it, it means a lot.”

Especially after 5½ months of one underachieving, oversensitive outfielder grinding against the grain of a team already grinding through injuries and slumps.

Whatever Byrd might bring as a center fielder, it’s his reputation for a personality nothing like that of Bradley, his friend and former Texas Rangers teammate, that’s attracting more attention.

”Hopefully he’s a great guy. I’m sure he will be,” Samardzija said. ”That means a lot. When you’re on each other’s side and everyone’s on the same page, it means a lot. It makes going out and playing the game a whole lot easier.”

As opposed to what? Throwing helmets and tantrums so often your manager finally kicks you out of a game and calls you an unprintable name? Claiming umpires are out to get you? Eating your pregame meals alone in the trainer’s room? Taking yourself out of games? Refusing to pinch-hit and creating a dust-up over it with your hitting coach? Claiming that negativity within and around the organization is why the team hasn’t won a World Series in 100 years? Spending the final 15 games of the season at home because you’ve alienated and ticked off so many people that the general manager suspends you?

Piniella often downplayed the value of chemistry last season, deflecting Bradley’s drag on the Cubs. He used his Bronx Zoo collection of infighting Yankees of the 1970s as an example that friendships have little to do with championships.

But there’s no denying the shared focus on winning those Yankees had, regardless of their personal differences.

And there’s no denying the difference between that and what the Cubs went through last year. The Bradley saga — and by extension the chemistry problems — might have played out differently had he hit well enough and the Cubs stayed healthy enough to overcome the other issues and reach the playoffs.

But when asked about Byrd’s intangibles Wednesday, even Piniella said, ”There’s no substitute for having hard workers on the team and having good chemistry in the clubhouse.

”We’re going to start anew. I like the things we’ve done. We’re going to have a good ballclub this year. I’m looking forward to a team that will win this division again and give us another chance to move on and win the World Series.” CHICAGO SUN-TIMES.

So I guess it isn’t merely the subtraction of Bradley that will lead to more wins. It’s the addition of a good clubhouse guy like Marlon Byrd. I’m sure it can’t hurt, but let’s hope he performs as well on the field as he does in the clubhouse.

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