For Cubs, a little bit of this and that
As we unofficially begin the run-up to the Anthony Rizzo era with the Cubs, here are some thoughts related to that and other topics surrounding the North Siders as they hit the desert for three games against the Diamondbacks:
ŸManager Dale Sveum looks to have taken a lot of mental notes on how he’ll align things and then to make defensive changes once Rizzo comes up. A weekend call-up in Arizona did not seem imminent as of Thursday, even though the Cubs may want to start him away from the media hordes at Wrigley Field.
Bryan LaHair acquitted himself well in right field. He doesn’t possess great speed, but Sveum has the option of subbing Reed Johnson late in games, such as he did Tuesday, when Johnson made a nice running catch that LaHair likely wouldn’t have been able to run down.
At the plate, LaHair homered and singled in the first game of the series, and Sveum downplayed any effect a position change might have.
“People make a big deal out of moving around,” Sveum said. “When you’re up at that batter’s box, you’re not thinking about what position you’re playing or where you’re hitting in the order or anything like that. You’re locked in to getting a hit off the pitcher. So I don’t think it affects anybody when they’re moving around.”
ŸRizzo took a hitting line of .356/.419/.724 (1.143 on-base plus slugging) into Thursday’s action, and there’s little doubt he’s ready.
In addition to not wanting to restart Rizzo’s service-time clock, the Cubs have been looking to avoid a situation such as last year’s, when Rizzo batted .141 (18-for-128) in 49 games for the Padres.
Cubs general manager Jed Hoyer was the Padres’ general manager at the time, and he took the heat off Rizzo and put it on himself for rushing the kid.
Team president Theo Epstein termed Rizzo an “aggressive hitter” who “has a plan” and that lowering his hands has helped him get off to a great start this season.
ŸAlfonso Soriano will go back to left field this weekend as the Cubs resume National League play for the rest of the season.
When Rizzo comes up, Soriano will remain in left field, and it appears David DeJesus will stay in center field after moving from right to accommodate LaHair.
Soriano again thanked his manager and teammates for their support after fans booed him for not running out a line drive last Sunday on a split-second play.
“The guy’s a workhorse, man,” said pitcher Matt Garza. “He works his tail off day in and day out. He’s going to give it his all every time out. I get (ticked) off when the fans treat him the way they do. That’s ridiculous. The guy’s doing everything he can. He’s hit 20-plus homers every season.
“I’ll back him to the end. He’s a great dude. I love to have him out there. He cares so much about what he does. He takes a lot of pride in his craft. He deserves a lot more respect from the fans than what he’s getting.”
Garza had an interesting take on why Soriano hears the boos sometimes.
“When you give somebody the amount of money they give him, fans expect him to be 28 forever,” Garza said.
ŸManager Dale Sveum talked Wednesday of possibly starting either Chris Volstad or lefty Chris Rusin in place of Randy Wells next week, when that spot comes up. Wells lasted only 3 innings against the White Sox on Wednesday.
Volstad was 0-6 with the Cubs before being sent to Class AAA Iowa, where he is 2-1 with a 4.78 ERA. Rusin, a fourth-rounder in 2009, is 5-5 with a 4.56 ERA. He went to spring training as a nonroster man, and he would give the Cubs three lefties in the rotation, along with Travis Wood and Paul Maholm.
ŸCoaches and managers like the “inside” part of baseball, the game that often goes undetected. On Wednesday, they were still talking about a heads-up play Tuesday from catcher Geovany Soto, who went from second to third on a wild pitch that didn’t bounce too far from the plate.
Not only did Soto move up, but so did Tony Campana, from first to second. David DeJesus then drove in both Cubs runs with a single in a 2-1 victory over Jake Peavy and the White Sox.