Cubs exercise crowd control
Surplus in outfield leaves decisions for Piniella, Hendry
This tight squeeze means someone must go.
The early money on the odd man out was hot prospect Felix Pie. He's still the favorite, but his .321 Cactus League average -- after an 0-for-1 on Monday -- isn't making the decision any easier.
Having all those bodies in the outfield has presented the Cubs with one of their last remaining headaches in the desert now that Opening Day sits less than three weeks away. Here's the outfield casting call: Alfonso Soriano in center, Jacque Jones in right, Matt Murton and Floyd in left. Angel Pagan and Daryle Ward are in backup roles, and Buck Coats continues to make a case to stay. Don't forget that utilityman Ryan Theriot can play the outfield and so can second baseman Mark DeRosa.
Then there is Pie, whose time appears to have arrived, even if there isn't a spot waiting for him.
There has been passionate discussions within the organization on what is best for Pie and the Cubs. He could be returned to Class AAA Iowa and play every day or he could stick around and give the Cubs their best glove in the outfield.
''The organization will probably help make that decision,'' Piniella finally said. ''Everywhere I have been, usually the organization steps in and says, 'Look, I would rather have this particular player playing every day as opposed to sitting on the bench.' I will assume that at that time, [general manager] Jim Hendry will have a big say in what happens.''
And what does Hendry think?
''Too early to tell,'' he said. ''There are a lot of different ways to go. I'm very comfortable with where we are at on the 12th of March. But you have questions you couldn't possibly answer now. Who's going to be the fifth starter? Who are the last guys going to be in the pen? Going with 12 pitchers. ... There are a lot of things that would be foolish to project now.
''I'm very happy with the potential competition we are going to have the next three weeks, which is good.''
There is also the wild-card possibility of a trade.
Remember, the Cubs had shopped Jones in the offseason with few takers. Seems the San Diego Padres are now among the teams searching for some outfield help. Seeing as how Jones lives in San Diego, seems like the perfect fit for him and the Cubs.
But his 27 home runs and 81 RBI of last season would be tough to replace picking among the leftovers in the Cubs' group of outfielders.
Floyd has the potential to provide that kind of power, but he is coming off surgery on his left heel and didn't appear in a Cactus League game until Monday.
''I'm the one that slowed Cliff down,'' Hendry said. ''He could have played a while back. And I just felt that veteran position guys, they don't need more than a couple of weeks to get going. He has been swinging great in all of the workouts. He was probably mad at me for not letting him go until now. First time he swung the bat, he hit a bullet.''
''I think he is doing quite well and he works hard at it every day,'' Piniella said. ''He has been getting better jumps on the ball. We're still working a little bit on his routes. Do we expect him to win a Gold Glove his first year? No. But I think he will do a really, really nice professional job for us.''
Piniella was asked if Soriano the center fielder reminds him of anyone. Again, an uncharacteristic long pause.
''Let's hope he reminds me of Mike Cameron by the time this summer is over, or Junior Griffey or Eric Davis,'' Piniella said with a laugh. ''I've had some really good center fielders.''
He has another one up and coming in Pie.
Pie keeps getting playing time and Piniella said Soriano will get some looks in right field this week, with Jones getting some starts in center. Even with a little shuffling, this deck has too many cards.
''We have a good problem to have,'' Hendry said. ''I come from the school that you can't have too many good players. So it will take care of itself. Playing time always does.''
