Heh. First game of ST and Ronny is already in the doghouse. This season might not be so bad after all.

Lou: . . . .then you’ve got this idiot, what’s his name? Randy? Raffy?
Jim: Ronny.
Lou: . . . Rodney, throwing the ball all over the damn place. By the way, that kid can’t hit for [...]

One of the few things that gives me hope for a much-improved season this year is the fact that we finally have a hitting coach who had heard of, nay, actually UNDERSTANDS and strives to make others understand, OBP.

This morning, Muskat bears good news from Mesa:

It would be awkward to have our potential #4 starter lynched by the fans before regular season even starts. Or burried in a mound of towels hurled at him by disgruntled on-lookers. Accordingly, in order to avoid any unpleasantness, the Cubs have changed course and decided that Buttercup will be pitching the fifth Cactus League [...]

 
 
I love that photo, because he looks like he’s waiting for someone to come unlock his cage. 
It looks like our favorite Nutty Buddy and Cubs pin-up boy is willing to do just about anything to stay in Cubbie Blue.
MESA, Ariz. — Michael Barrett said Sunday he’s willing to negotiate before, during or after the season if [...]

 
He-who-shall-not-be-named knows that something went horribly, horribly wrong last year. And he thinks he’s narrowed the cause of it down to a singular moment in time:

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Don’t look now, but our favorite cubbie-come-lately is going to get the first Cactus league start. I know that Chris is thrilled, as he and he-who-shall-not-be-named formed a strong bond during the Cubs Convention:

 
MESA, Ariz. — Jason Marquis will make his Cubs debut Thursday when he starts in the Cactus League opener against the San [...]

ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick has apparently been spending some quality time with Lou & The Boys down in Mesa, and has some “insight” (and I use that term loosely) regarding some of the rumors that have been inducing heart palpitations in many of us lo these past few days:

But has anyone been paying attention to what’s going on down at ST lately?
I give you Exhibit “A”