rockin500
02-28-2003, 01:27 PM
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz.--An improved Cubs bullpen has gotten most of the attention, but a bench with experienced re-serves could be just as valuable to a better record.
Left fielder Moises Alou mentioned Thursday how one of last season's problems was a bench that had some people who were unhappy in their roles and wanted to be every-day players. Alou didn't mention anybody by name, but outfielder Roosevelt Brown was vocal in his assertion that he needed to play every day to do well, and catcher Todd Hundley frequently scratched his head about being a backup to Joe Girardi.
"We had guys last year who were bitter because they weren't playing every day,'' Alou said. "They didn't want to pinch-hit. It creates a little bit of discomfort on any team. There is nothing wrong with complaining about not playing every day, but sometimes you have to understand it's your job.
"Now we have some guys who know their role and want to do it. We are a lot better in that part of the game.''
A NICE GESTURE: Ron Santo almost blushed when asked if the Cubs could take some of the sting out of his Hall of Fame rejection by retiring his No. 10 jersey.
"That's not for me to say,'' Santo said. "The Cubs had nothing to do with the sting. It was my fault. If [retiring his number] happens, that happens.''
The publicity-minded Cubs are likely to consider that honor. It would be the perfect opportunity to bolster Santo after he had a leg amputated in each of the last two offseasons.
JUGGLING LINEUPS: Pitching coach Larry Rothschild said Kerry Wood will start as scheduled today against San Francisco. Mark Prior, who was supposed to start Thursday against the Giants, will pitch today after Wood. It has rained the last three days in Arizona and set back the pitching routine, especially for some of the younger pitchers who would have had opportunities to pitch in the canceled intrasquad game Wednesday.
Rod Beck threw a simulated game Thursday morning before the rain hit. Rothschild said Beck got off some good split-finger pitches, but he added: "He has a ways to go.''
A SUPER REGULAR: The Cubs' pursuit of an offseason trade for Kansas City Royals third baseman Joe Randa made it clear they have considered returning Mark Bellhorn to supersub duty rather than starting him at third.
"He would have been a great supersub if we would have went out and got a bona fide third baseman,'' manager Dusty Baker said. "You have to adjust to the personnel you have. The only thing about Bellhorn being a supersub is why not give him an opportunity to be a superregular?
"What if Bellhorn is the man? Sometimes guys get it later. They do what everybody thought they were going to do in the first place. Last year at this time, this team didn't have a Mark Grudzielanek, a Ramon Martinez, a Lenny Harris, a Tom Goodwin or Troy O'Leary. Those are supersubs.''
Santo has talked with Bellhorn about third and vowed to keep advising him.
"He has to fall in love with it,'' said Santo, who fears that Bellhorn prefers second and first base to third.
http://www.suntimes.com/output/cubs/cst-spt-kiley28.html
Left fielder Moises Alou mentioned Thursday how one of last season's problems was a bench that had some people who were unhappy in their roles and wanted to be every-day players. Alou didn't mention anybody by name, but outfielder Roosevelt Brown was vocal in his assertion that he needed to play every day to do well, and catcher Todd Hundley frequently scratched his head about being a backup to Joe Girardi.
"We had guys last year who were bitter because they weren't playing every day,'' Alou said. "They didn't want to pinch-hit. It creates a little bit of discomfort on any team. There is nothing wrong with complaining about not playing every day, but sometimes you have to understand it's your job.
"Now we have some guys who know their role and want to do it. We are a lot better in that part of the game.''
A NICE GESTURE: Ron Santo almost blushed when asked if the Cubs could take some of the sting out of his Hall of Fame rejection by retiring his No. 10 jersey.
"That's not for me to say,'' Santo said. "The Cubs had nothing to do with the sting. It was my fault. If [retiring his number] happens, that happens.''
The publicity-minded Cubs are likely to consider that honor. It would be the perfect opportunity to bolster Santo after he had a leg amputated in each of the last two offseasons.
JUGGLING LINEUPS: Pitching coach Larry Rothschild said Kerry Wood will start as scheduled today against San Francisco. Mark Prior, who was supposed to start Thursday against the Giants, will pitch today after Wood. It has rained the last three days in Arizona and set back the pitching routine, especially for some of the younger pitchers who would have had opportunities to pitch in the canceled intrasquad game Wednesday.
Rod Beck threw a simulated game Thursday morning before the rain hit. Rothschild said Beck got off some good split-finger pitches, but he added: "He has a ways to go.''
A SUPER REGULAR: The Cubs' pursuit of an offseason trade for Kansas City Royals third baseman Joe Randa made it clear they have considered returning Mark Bellhorn to supersub duty rather than starting him at third.
"He would have been a great supersub if we would have went out and got a bona fide third baseman,'' manager Dusty Baker said. "You have to adjust to the personnel you have. The only thing about Bellhorn being a supersub is why not give him an opportunity to be a superregular?
"What if Bellhorn is the man? Sometimes guys get it later. They do what everybody thought they were going to do in the first place. Last year at this time, this team didn't have a Mark Grudzielanek, a Ramon Martinez, a Lenny Harris, a Tom Goodwin or Troy O'Leary. Those are supersubs.''
Santo has talked with Bellhorn about third and vowed to keep advising him.
"He has to fall in love with it,'' said Santo, who fears that Bellhorn prefers second and first base to third.
http://www.suntimes.com/output/cubs/cst-spt-kiley28.html