In Like a Cub, Out Like a Lion

The storylines this Spring so far have been fairly entertaining, with the Cubs youth movement pushing for more playing time in battles for closer, (the fake battle for) center field, and (the semi-fake battle for) 2 starting rotation spots. This is all before mentioning the twist in Felix Pie’s olives or DeRosa’s so-called minor heart surgery. If the Cubs Movie guy had the cameras rolling and celebs talking this March, he would have ended up with a product that perfectly encased what it means to be eternally optimistic and eternally in denial.

That six letter word is always in play for us Cubs fans. And don’t act like you don’t know which word I’m talking about, because that would be a logic loop, not unlike the one that Neifi Perez will operate at your local county fair later this summer. But back to denial. I’m not talking about the 100 year stuff. My name isn’t ESPN, which mentioned the freaking anniversary over and over on cue DURING A SPRING GAME VS. THE ROCKIES.

I’d simply like to direct your attention to the fact that the young guys have played sparkling ball this March, and by and large the veterans have fizzled. But this is glass half full time, see below if you’d like Sheps’ take on the veteran offense, which in my mind has been equivalent to a dripping faucet. But don’t worry because the faucet is only at 85% right now. Whatever that means.

We cannot deny that every young player mentioned in every Brian Roberts rumor is doing well and that it’s causing a headache for Jim Hendry. Murton is doing what he always does, beating out infield hits, getting on base, and beginning to drive the ball with authority. Ronny Cedeno, ye of raw talent and raw brain, has strung together some more hits of late (and more caught stealings). Even Sean Marshall is batting 1.000. He’s also been solid on the mound, fyi. The anchor in the lineup has certainly been Micah Hoffpauir, whose Ted Williams-like spring should land him a spot on the Cubs roster if Sam Zell knows how to sniff a good investment. But the O’s would be even smarter to land a guy who is depositing his hits further from the plate than any other Cub.

With all the exhibition success these guys are having, I can’t deny that it’s affected my own feeling on the Roberts trade, and yesterday it snowed six inches outside of my apartment. I can’t imagine seeing all of this up close as a scout in Arizona and giving the green light to Hendry, despite my own love of clogged bases and the dream of Roberts scoring on smash hits by D-Lee, Soriano, Aram, Fukudome, and Soto.

Has it had an effect on what you think about the trade?