Cubs may not be the slowest team, but they aren't built for speed

Fifteenth in a series

Editor's note: As the countdown continues toward the April 6 opener for the Cubs, Daily Herald Sports Writer Bruce Miles will offer his analysis of each position on the team and the key issues facing the club this season.

Q. Alfonso Soriano is talking about being a stolen base threat again. What kind of numbers should we expect from him, and is it wise to be tempting fate with his history of leg problems?

Miles: Considering he stole 19 bases in 109 games last year, 30 is not out of the question in a full and healthy year.

Given their park, the stolen base doesn't have to be a big part of the Cubs' offense, especially when the big hitters are hitting the ball out of the ballpark.

Q. Who has been maybe the most underrated base runner on the team the past few years?

Miles: Well, Mark DeRosa was pretty good, but he's not here anymore, as most Cubs fans are aware.

The various baserunning measures put out by organizations such as Baseball Prospectus haven't been kind to the Cubs. Just because of his overall baseball smarts, I like to watch Derrek Lee. He rarely makes bad decisions, whether in the field or on the bases, even if he doesn't run as well as he did in the past.

Kosuke Fukudome also displays good baserunning knowledge.

Q. How would you rate the Cubs' baserunning skills overall? If bad, who's to blame?

Miles: I'd rate them as average at best. Soriano hasn't been able to run much because of his bad wheels. Ryan Theriot has run into too many outs over the last couple of years.

The Cubs aren't built to be a running team, so that may not be a strength to begin with. Manager Lou Piniella probably would be better off not encouraging guys to steal third base. The other side of the coin is that coaches can't think for the players.

Q. The Cubs don't have too many plodders. Could this be one of their speediest teams in recent memory?

Miles: Such as it is. Joey Gathright looks to be their fastest guy. He's got to get on base when he plays to use that speed, and his career OBP is only .328.

Q. How do you see Lou using Gathright and what should fans expect from this speedster?

Miles: Gathright looks to be a late-inning defensive replacement and a possible leadoff hitter on days when Soriano doesn't play. The Cubs' media guide says he's been clocked at 3.3 seconds from home to first on a bunt.

When the Cubs play on the road in some of the bigger parks, I'm sure it'll be fun to watch Gathright run balls down in center field.

• Got a question about the Cubs for Bruce Miles? Visit his blog, Chicago's Inside Pitch, to share your questions and comments.