Five truths about the Cubs
PITTSBURGH - With the Cubs just a week into their 2008 season, it wouldn't be wise to jump to any conclusions. But it's always fun to make a few small leaps.
As their series against the Pirates resumes tonight, these truths are starting to become self-evident:
Fukudome is the deal
Right fielder Kosuke Fukudome has been everything the Cubs had hoped, and then some.
"Spring training is a difficult thing to judge," manager Lou Piniella said. "You never know until the season starts. We had idea he was going to make good contact and hit the ball, and he has.
"Good player. Good instincts. Knows how to play baseball. He gives you a good, professional at-bat. Very adroit in the outfield."
That word "adroit" sent Japanese reporters scurrying to their American friends for help. They found out "adroit" is a good thing.
Fukudome is at or near the top of the National League leaderboard in several categories. He's batting .458 with 3 doubles, a home run, an on-base percentage of .581 (first in the National League Tuesday) and a slugging percentage of .708.
For the sabermetrically minded, his OPS (on-base plus slugging) is a staggering 1.289, ranking him third in the NL entering Tuesday.
Yes, it's early. But here's the scary part: Fukudome says there's more in his arsenal.
"It's not everything yet," he said through is translator. "I've still got a few more things I'm working on. It'll be a secret until the end of the season."
Fukudome says he's still making technical adjustments to get used to major-league pitchers.
Look out when that happens.
Wood looks good
Kerry Wood seems to be adjusting to his new role as closer just fine. He has 3 saves in 4 appearances.
"It could be a lot of fun," Wood said. "Obviously, it's not going to be a lot of fun when it doesn't work out. It comes with the territory. I'm enjoying it. It's working out so far."
Wood might have been taken aback by the chants of "Kerry, Kerry" he heard at Wrigley Field. He says the key is not to get caught up in it.
"You've really got to try to control the adrenaline when that starts happening," he said. "It's fun. It's a fun role to be in. When you're doing well and winning games, it's a good role to be in.
Lee is just fine
Speaking of on-base percentage and slugging percentage, first baseman Derrek Lee owns an OBP of .455 and a slugging percentage of .833 for a 1.288 OPS, right behind Fukudome.
His 3 homers seem to have allayed fears about a permanent power drop.
"My job in the 3-hole, I think, is just to be productive," he said. "Home runs make it easier. But I'll take a double with a couple guys on, also. I just want to be productive and create a presence in that 3-spot."
To err is human
Coming out of spring training, Piniella thought defense would be a strong suit of his team.
It hasn't worked that way so far, with 8 errors in seven games. No one has been immune. Gold Glover Lee and accomplished right fielder Fukudome have made miscues, with Mark DeRosa and Aramis Ramirez having 2 each.
"The season's weird," DeRosa said. "You never know how you're going to start swinging the bat, whether you're going to be hot or cold. The one thing you always can count on is playing good 'D,' and it seems like we've been the complete opposite right now.
"I don't think it's anybody doing anything wrong. It's just a matter of us bearing down. Like I said, this game challenges you every day in different ways. I haven't figured it out yet."
Open and shut
Piniella no longer will mess with taking left fielder Alfonso Soriano out of the leadoff hole, for better or worse.
The Cubs lost their first two games with Soriano batting second, but they've gone 4-1 since Piniella moved him back to the leadoff spot.
Still, Soriano needs to start hitting. Even since moving back to the top spot, he is 3-for-23 with 3 runs, 1 homer, 3 RBI and a surprising 3 walks.
Soriano can be a streaky hitter, and the Cubs would like one of those streaks to begin soon.