Odds and ends
Some odds and ends on a cold and rainy day. Glad there wasn’t a game scheduled for today.
It’s always nice to win the day before an off day. Now the Cubs can go into St. Louis on a positive note. They just need to remember to pack the same bats they used yesterday.
Derrick Lee finally hit his first home run of the year. When he reached the dugout he was jokingly ignored by his teammates (instead of the usual high-fives). I really like the chemistry of this team. I just hope it results in positive outcomes on the field soon.
Looks like Pinella has finally decided where to put Ryan Theriot. Pinella will try him at shortstop for now, replacing Cesar Izturis. Theriot needs to be in the line-up daily, as he is batting .333 vs Izturis at .184. I know we got Izturis for his defense, but when you can put a bat at that position without damaging the defense too badly, I say go for it. (My friend Patti should also be very happy!)
Jeff Samardzija update: He is currently playing for the Cubs A team in Daytona, FL. His last outing he gave up three runs, only one earned, on five hits. He struck out four and walked three over 5 1/3 innings in a 3-0 loss. Samardzija is 0-1 with a 2.21 ERA in four starts.
For those not aware, Jeff Samardzija played both football (tight end) and baseball (pitcher) at the University of Notre Dame. He was drafted by the Cubs and signed a 5-year, $10 million contract after deciding not to pursue a professional football career. I will be providing occasional updates on his career until he makes his major league debut, which I hope won’t be necessary until next year at the earliest.