Sori-Uh-Oh Heads the Muskbag

Carrie must be backed up on her e-mail. She’s hitting us with some rapid-fire stupidity. Her latest entry is this week’s Muskbag. It’s chock full of awesome. And stupid.

Do you think Alfonso Soriano will be back before the All-Star break, because that’s what people are saying. Or do you think he’ll be out the whole six weeks?
– Beth G., St. Louis, Mo.

This is a great question to ask four weeks after Soriano was injured. I wonder if Hillary or Barack are going to win the Democratic Presidential nomination.

CARRIE: It may not take the full six weeks, but it’s unlikely Soriano will be ready for this week’s homestand — the Cubs’ last games before the break. Soriano took batting practice Saturday in St. Louis for the first time since he suffered a broken bone in his left hand June 11, and said his hand felt weak. The good news is that he’s taking advantage of this time off to strengthen his legs, and is in great shape. He might be back for the first series after the break at Houston, July 18-20. Soriano was elected to the starting lineup for the National League All-Star team, and said Sunday he was thinking about attending the festivities, but will not play.

Carrie can promise you one thing. Alfonso Soriano will miss no fewer than four weeks with his injury.

With the All-Star Game being played at Yankee Stadium, will the National League team have a DH? If so, will it be Aramis Ramirez or somebody else?
– Jeremy Z., Davenport, Iowa

Nope. Just the American League team will.

CARRIE: Yes, the National League team will use a DH, but who it will be is up to NL manager Clint Hurdle. The last time the All-Star Game was played at an American League stadium was in 2005 when Detroit’s Comerica Park hosted the event, and St. Louis first baseman Albert Pujols was the National League DH. Chicago’s Derrek Lee started at first base in that game.

I can’t predict who will start at DH for the National League, but I can predict this. Clint Hurdle will be tan as fuck.

Is it just me, or does anybody else think Kosuke Fukudome has scuffled in the leadoff role? I could be wrong, but he doesn’t seem to be his normal self ever since he was put in that role. Maybe it’s just bad timing or a coincidence.
– Jake R., Springfield, Ill.

Probably, since he’s only played 12 games there. But don’t worry. I’m sure good old Kosuke, who we’ve grown to know and love in his incredibly long tenure with the Cubs, will be back to his “normal self” soon.

CARRIE: With Reed Johnson back and Ryan Theriot as an option, Fukudome now will slide into the No. 2 hole while the Cubs wait for Soriano’s return. In 12 games as the leadoff man, the Japanese outfielder hit .260 (13-for-50) with a .362 on-base percentage. When he was batting fifth, he hit .316 (61-for-193) with a .427 on-base percentage. It’s too early to gauge his performance in the No. 2 spot — he’s 3-for-28 in seven games. What is a fact is Fukudome’s batting average and on-base percentage have dropped each month, but that could be partly because other teams have better scouting reports.

When asked Sunday about judging his first half performance, Fukudome said: “I’m enjoying playing baseball, but I’m not enjoying the results as much.”

Was he confident he can make the adjustments?

“It’s not about confidence,” Fukudome said through interpreter Ryuji Araki. “But that’s something I must do.”

It’s too bad Fukudome will no longer be able to sneak up on his enemies and drop bombs all over them!

Do you think Jim Hendry will pull the trigger and acquire a starting pitcher like [C.C.] Sabathia, [Freddy] Garcia or even Greg Maddux? Rich Hill is going through the Rick Ankiel situation, and the Cubs could use some help.
– Jack E., Iowa City, Iowa

If Freddy Garcia or Greg Maddux are the backup plan to Sabathia, we’re going to need a better backup plan.

CARRIE: This question was submitted before the Milwaukee Brewers made their deal for Sabathia, which was finalized Monday. The Cubs were interested in the reigning Cy Young winner, but didn’t match up well in terms of what the Indians were looking for in return. Cleveland reportedly wanted prospects who can play every day in 2009, and needed specific help at the infield and outfield corners. The Cubs have talented prospects at those positions, but they’re not as close to being ready for the big leagues.

The Cubs didn’t match up well in terms of what the Indians were looking for. Namely, “good players.”

CARRIE: Knowing Hendry, losing out in the Sabathia derby won’t stop him from looking elsewhere. Sean Marshall’s latest outing was encouraging, and the Cubs were able to survive when Carlos Zambrano was on the disabled list. Oakland’s Rich Harden may be available, but the Athletics have to decide if they are buyers or sellers.

Knowing Hendry, he might go get someone, but just in case he doesn’t, aren’t Sean Marshall and Carlos Zambrano awesome?

What’s the update on Hill? I’ve read a number of articles stating there is nothing physically wrong with him. I was shocked to see Marshall called up before Hill was. Any plans on getting Hill back in the rotation?
– Noel T., Lincoln, Ill.

Yep. Pretty soon, Hill will be good enough to crack the rotation. In Iowa.

CARRIE: There is nothing wrong physically with Hill in terms of aches or pains. What’s wrong is that he’s out of sync mechanically. He took another step in his comeback Sunday when, pitching for the Cubs’ rookie league team in Mesa, Ariz., he gave up one hit and one walk over four innings while striking out six. He’ll be back.

And when a pitcher gets out of sync mechanically, the first thing you want to do is get him as far away from Larry Rothschild as possible.

I’m having a debate with a friend over the definition of a perfect game. He believes a perfect game is when a pitcher has “no walks, no hits, no errors.” By that definition, a strikeout with a passed ball or a wild pitch would still constitute as a perfect game. Tell me I’m not crazy, and a perfect game means no one reaches base, period.
– Nick D., Palatine, Ill.

The internet is difficult!

CARRIE: You’re not crazy. According to Major League Baseball, a perfect game is when a pitcher (or combination of pitchers) pitches a victory that lasts a minimum of nine innings, and in which no opposing player reaches base. The pitcher cannot allow any hits, walks, hit batsmen or any opposing player to reach base safely for any other reason. That means, 27 up, 27 down. If a batter reaches on a passed ball, wild pitch or an error, it is not a perfect game.

No Cubs pitcher has ever thrown one, although Milt Pappas came close on Sept. 2, 1972. Pappas missed his bid when he walked San Diego’s Larry Stahl on a 3-2 pitch with two outs in the ninth inning.

The Cubs were victims of a perfect game by Sandy Koufax, who struck out 14 on Sept. 9, 1965, at Dodger Stadium. Cubs pitcher Bob Hendley gave up one hit and an unearned run in that game, and the combined hit total for both teams — one — is a Major League record for fewest in a perfect game.

Ask a simple question, force Ed Hartig to work overtime.

What happened to the Cubs’ Minor League roundup? I can’t seem to find it.
– Ray N., Sarasota, Fla.

I’ll sum up. Pretty much everyone down there sucks.

CARRIE: It’s no longer under the “Features” section of Cubs.com, but I’m hoping that’s temporary and am lobbying to get it back (please don’t send e-mails — I know it’s missed). I have been listing some highlights, although not all, from Cubs Minor League games in the game previews.

Speaking of Minor Leaguers, thanks to David S. for doing the research on Italian-born players. Alex Maestri, born in Cesena, Italy, is currently pitching at Double-A Tennessee, but if he makes the big leagues, he wouldn’t be the first.

There have been at least six, including Julio Bonetti of Genoa, Italy, who reached the Major Leagues for the St. Louis Browns in 1937, and pitched 1 1/3 innings for the Cubs in 1940. In that game, he gave up three runs on three hits and four walks, and that was it.

Among the other Italian-born big leaguers: Rugger Ardizoia (1947), Reno Bertoia (1953-62), Hank Biasatti (1949), Marino Pieretti (1945-50) and Lou Polli (1932-44). Pieretti pitched for the White Sox in 1948 to ‘49. Maestri began the year at Class A Daytona, and was 5-3 with a 3.69 ERA in 15 games (14 starts). He’s 0-1 with a 6.55 ERA in two starts for Tennessee.

What in sweet hell was THAT?

I’ve been a Cubs fan my whole life. I’m tired of hearing about the curse. Do you think Cubs fans will stop talking about the curse any time soon, or do the Cubs have to win it all to quiet the talk?
– Jon O., Eaton, Ohio

This has to be HJE’s very own Son of Jim Essian, Adam Eaton Pussy, doesn’t it? A “J.O.” from EATON? Come on!

CARRIE: I think they have to win it all. Maybe having six Cubs plus Soriano plus Lou Piniella on the NL All-Star team will help win the game, and secure home-field advantage for the World Series. And, if it makes you feel any better, neither Lou nor the players believe in curses.

They’re too busy believing in DOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!

Another informative, entertaining Muskbag is in the books. You mean you guys don’t print these out and keep them in leather-bound volumes?

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