Nothing small about Fontenot's contributions
MESA, Ariz. - Long about four years ago, the Cubs were unveiling the second baseman they got from the Baltimore Orioles in the trade for superstar Sammy Sosa.
His name was Jerry Hairston Jr.
On Saturday, Cubs manager Lou Piniella all but unveiled the Cubs' starting second baseman for 2009, a guy they got from the Orioles in the Sosa trade.
His name is Mike Fontenot.
"If the season started today, Fontenot would be in the everyday lineup," Piniella said before the Cubs played the Angels at HoHoKam Park.
That news sounded just fine to Fontenot, who got the rest of the day off after taking batting practice.
"I feel like every day I come out here, I'm always competing, no matter," Fontenot said. "Like this year, I might have a chance to get a starting job. I'm out here competing, just to get on the field as much as possible. It makes you feel good, but you've got to keep coming out here every day and putting up numbers to stay out there. You know how Lou is. Throughout the season, he's going to play the hot hand as long as we're winning."
The 28-year-old Fontenot has been the hot hand in spring training, going 13-for-35 (. 371) with an on-base percentage of .421. He looks to have won the job over switch hitter Aaron Miles, although Piniella plans to have Miles get plenty of time backing up Fontenot at second and Ryan Theriot at short.
"He's done a real nice job here this spring and probably been our most productive hitter," Piniella said of Fontenot. "He's done a nice job at second base. He's gaining a leg up on that position right now, no question. We're going to get all these guys at-bats. Our plans are, assuming everybody's healthy, 350 at-bats for Miles and Fontenot and more than that for Theriot."
Piniella reiterated that center fielder Kosuke Fukudome, a left-handed hitter, would bat second on most days, with Fontenot hitting sixth.
Fontenot made it to the big leagues in 2005, getting into seven games before spending all of 2006 in the minors. He caught Piniella's eye during a brief call-up in 2007, and the manager has taken a liking to him. Last year, Fontenot hit 9 homers and 22 doubles in 119 games with a nice OBP of .395.
"He's gotten better," Piniella said. "I tell you what, for a little guy, he drives that ball pretty well."
The 5-foot-8 Fontenot has a ready rejoinder for anybody who wonders how anybody that "small" can hold up over a long season.
"I think that's funny because the AL MVP isn't any bigger than I am: Dustin Pedroia," Fontenot said of the Boston Red Sox star, who is 5-9. "There are a number of guys in this game, no matter if they're a half-inch taller or whatever, they play through the season and play good in the big leagues. So I just take it from that standpoint. If I keep getting my work in and doing things like that, things will pay off."
And maybe the statute of limitations is up on talking about the Sosa trade.
"Sammy Sosa?" Fontenot said. "He's a great player. He's a little bit older now, too, I guess. It's a long ways from there, I guess. When I came over, I was happy coming over here. Cubs. It's like they're an American team. Everyone loves the Cubs, and it's been a great five years I've been over here."