Our MLB editor provides weekly dispatches from major league games in Notes From the Clubhouse.The season is still very young, but the Cubs look very good. Two rookies -- right fielder Kosuke Fukudome and catcher Geovany Soto -- have them looking more like a 90-win team than the 85-win version that won the NL Central last year.
Fukudome arrived with great fanfare, hitting a game-tying three-run home run in the ninth inning on Opening Day at Wrigley Field. Soto, though less heralded, has been even better than Fukudome. He has more home runs and RBI than his Japanese counterpart, as well as a higher batting average and slugging percentage.
Chicago manager Lou Piniella, speaking with reporters before Friday night's game against the Nationals, made no secret of who he would pick for NL Rookie of the Year if it ends up coming down to Fukudome and Soto (and even though that's a long way off, it's a very real possibility.)
"I don't consider Fukudome a rookie. I didn't really consider Ichiro a rookie when I was in Seattle either," said Piniella. "It'd be like sending Alex Rodriguez to play in Japan and having him win Rookie of the Year over there. ... [Fukudome's] a seasoned professional baseball player."
Of course, Fukudome is eligible, and he's gotten much more media hype than Soto and Ichiro won the AL Rookie of the Year in his American debut. On the other hand, Soto actually is more deserving of the award at this point, considering he's out-hitting Fukudome and playing the much tougher defensive position.
Other tidbits from Nationals Park:
- Alfonso Soriano, who has been on the 15-day disabled list since April 16, took two batting practice sessions today and was driving the ball with impressive authority.
- There is some concern about the Chicago bullpen, which is excellent, but also is third in the majors in innings pitched this season. Piniella talked about the importance of getting either Michael Wuertz or Kevin Hart to step up their performance and take some pressure off of the trio of Carlos Marmol, Bobby Howry and Kerry Wood. Piniella has been very careful with how he has used his bullpen. Five different pitchers have closed ballgames for the Cubs already this year.
- Rich Hill, who was strangely banished from the rotation after four starts this year, despite pitching effectively and having the best starting upside of anyone on the roster not named Carlos Zambrano, will be available in the bullpen later this weekend.
- On a lighter note, Piniella says he's resolved not to take naps on team flights anymore. "I've been taking naps on the airplane and I think I'm just going to have a glass of wine and relax and not take a nap, because then I go back to my room and I can't sleep," says Piniella, who truly seems more laid-back these days. Case in point, when asked for his take on the Joba Chamberlain-Hank Steinbrenner flap, Piniella joked "I got no opinions."
