rockin500
04-20-2003, 02:51 PM
PITTSBURGH -- During the offseason the Chicago Cubs wanted to upgrade their catching corps because the tandem of Todd Hundley and Joe Girardi just didn’t cut the mustard. But, the Cubs were locked into a contract with Hundley, and he would be tough to trade.
Surprisingly, Cubs’ general manager Jim Hendry did what many people thought would be impossible.
Hendry dealt Hundley to the Los Angeles Dodgers last December. One of the players Hendry received in exchange was infielder Mark Grudzielanek, who has fueled the Cubs’ great start, hitting .364 in the leadoff spot.
Hendry upgraded the catching position, defensively and offensively, with his acquisition of Damian Miller from Arizona last November for two minor leaguers, and his pickup of Paul Bako from the Milwaukee Brewers for another minor leaguer.
The two catchers have contributed offensively, which didn’t happen very often with Hundley and Girardi. During the last Cubs’ homestand, Miller was 8-for-24 at the plate with three home runs and seven RBIs. In that same series, Bako went 2-for-6 with one RBI.
"So far we’re playing pretty good baseball," Miller said. "From a catching standpoint, I think we’re still learning how to deal with the pitchers and getting to know the pitching staff a little better, and that’s our most important job. Offensively, I think we’re contributing, and there is no doubt in either one of our minds that we could do that. Hopefully, we can keep it going and just keep having good consistent at-bats."
"We’re both off to a pretty good start," Bako observed. "Ultimately we’re here for the pitchers and we get the staff working and whatever we contribute out of the eight hole where we’re hitting, that’s a bonus. We’re looking forward to keeping it going as a unit."
Cubs pitching coach Larry Rothschild is pleased with the catching duo.
"Very much so," Rothschild stated. "They work very well together and with all the pitchers. With the game plan that we put together, they are very good at that, and I think as we go along they are better at adjusting to what the pitchers need to do. You’ve really got to get to know them well before you start to try to change things during the course of a game. That will happen because both of them are intelligent and very cooperative, and they pay attention to what’s going on during a game."
Manager Dusty Baker gives Miller and Bako high marks.
"I’m glad that we have them because they’re my generals, they’re my right-hand men," Baker explained. "They’re a direct reflection on me. They’re the field general, and I’m the general. Their job is to control and run the pitching staff, not only to produce offensively -- that’s really their second and third job. Their first job is to control the pitching staff and be aware of the ERA when they’re catching. I’m very proud of both of them."
Baker in control: Baker, in his first year managing the Cubs, has the club moving in the right direction. Above all, Baker has earned the respect of his players.
"He’s a great man, a great person," outfielder Sammy Sosa said. "He only asks you for one thing -- just play hard and that’s what we’re doing. I feel very good about this team. (Baker) has everything that he needs -- pitching and bullpen and everything. We’ve got guys to do the job, and everybody is contributing. It’s easy now, we’ve just got to keep it going and don’t take anything for granted."
First-inning lightning: The Cubs have outscored their opponents 24-8 in the first inning and are 6-1 when scoring at least one run in the opening frame.
Leadoff hitter Grudzielanek, who is batting .364 with one home run and six RBIs, tried to explain the Cubs first inning success.
"I think it’s a combination of a few things," Grudzielanek said. "Being prepared, focusing on jumping out. You know Bake (Dusty Baker) likes his teams jumping out early on them, putting something in their minds and having them think about what can happen so fast and quickly.
"It’s just one of those things, but I think it’s a combination of preparation and confidence and concentration, all of those things. Jumping on the other team early is vital."
http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/chc/news/chc_news.jsp?ymd=20030419&content_id=281828&vkey=news_chc&fext=.jsp
Surprisingly, Cubs’ general manager Jim Hendry did what many people thought would be impossible.
Hendry dealt Hundley to the Los Angeles Dodgers last December. One of the players Hendry received in exchange was infielder Mark Grudzielanek, who has fueled the Cubs’ great start, hitting .364 in the leadoff spot.
Hendry upgraded the catching position, defensively and offensively, with his acquisition of Damian Miller from Arizona last November for two minor leaguers, and his pickup of Paul Bako from the Milwaukee Brewers for another minor leaguer.
The two catchers have contributed offensively, which didn’t happen very often with Hundley and Girardi. During the last Cubs’ homestand, Miller was 8-for-24 at the plate with three home runs and seven RBIs. In that same series, Bako went 2-for-6 with one RBI.
"So far we’re playing pretty good baseball," Miller said. "From a catching standpoint, I think we’re still learning how to deal with the pitchers and getting to know the pitching staff a little better, and that’s our most important job. Offensively, I think we’re contributing, and there is no doubt in either one of our minds that we could do that. Hopefully, we can keep it going and just keep having good consistent at-bats."
"We’re both off to a pretty good start," Bako observed. "Ultimately we’re here for the pitchers and we get the staff working and whatever we contribute out of the eight hole where we’re hitting, that’s a bonus. We’re looking forward to keeping it going as a unit."
Cubs pitching coach Larry Rothschild is pleased with the catching duo.
"Very much so," Rothschild stated. "They work very well together and with all the pitchers. With the game plan that we put together, they are very good at that, and I think as we go along they are better at adjusting to what the pitchers need to do. You’ve really got to get to know them well before you start to try to change things during the course of a game. That will happen because both of them are intelligent and very cooperative, and they pay attention to what’s going on during a game."
Manager Dusty Baker gives Miller and Bako high marks.
"I’m glad that we have them because they’re my generals, they’re my right-hand men," Baker explained. "They’re a direct reflection on me. They’re the field general, and I’m the general. Their job is to control and run the pitching staff, not only to produce offensively -- that’s really their second and third job. Their first job is to control the pitching staff and be aware of the ERA when they’re catching. I’m very proud of both of them."
Baker in control: Baker, in his first year managing the Cubs, has the club moving in the right direction. Above all, Baker has earned the respect of his players.
"He’s a great man, a great person," outfielder Sammy Sosa said. "He only asks you for one thing -- just play hard and that’s what we’re doing. I feel very good about this team. (Baker) has everything that he needs -- pitching and bullpen and everything. We’ve got guys to do the job, and everybody is contributing. It’s easy now, we’ve just got to keep it going and don’t take anything for granted."
First-inning lightning: The Cubs have outscored their opponents 24-8 in the first inning and are 6-1 when scoring at least one run in the opening frame.
Leadoff hitter Grudzielanek, who is batting .364 with one home run and six RBIs, tried to explain the Cubs first inning success.
"I think it’s a combination of a few things," Grudzielanek said. "Being prepared, focusing on jumping out. You know Bake (Dusty Baker) likes his teams jumping out early on them, putting something in their minds and having them think about what can happen so fast and quickly.
"It’s just one of those things, but I think it’s a combination of preparation and confidence and concentration, all of those things. Jumping on the other team early is vital."
http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/chc/news/chc_news.jsp?ymd=20030419&content_id=281828&vkey=news_chc&fext=.jsp