A Tribute To “Ted F’in Lilly”

I know that traditionally in the baseball world when a players middle name is replaced with the aforementioned F word(fucking), that it’s used to display a fans displeasure.

example:

Aaron “Fucking” Boone

But I’m taking it back.

To honor the badassery that is Ted “F’in” Lilly.

You know all those Chuck Norris jokes where everything ends in Chuck Norris kicking somethings ass?

Well they should all end with the words “…and Ted Lilly”

Try it, it works. Sometimes…

Lilly makes his spring debut against the Rangers later today before hopping a flight to meet up with the other members of team USA . Lilly is the only member of the Cubs to represent our country in the  2009 classic, but is joined on the roster by former cub(apparently the best to ever don the uniform if you believe Internet message boards) Mark Derosa. I wouldn’t expect anything too eventful from him, probably two innings and out. So that’s six strikeouts and he hits the showers.

Things to watch for :

PITCHING

So far we’ve yet to see:

Jose Ascanio

Neal Cotts

Kevin Gregg

Marcos Mateo

Luis Viscaino

Randy Wells

Ed Campusano

J.R. Mathes

Matt Smith

Bill White

Andrew Cashner

Rocky Roquet

I expect to be able to cross a few names off this list. Notables to watch are Jose Ascanio, who came over from the Braves before last season In the  Ohman trade.

Ha. Ohman.

Andrew Cashner, the Cubs first round draft pick last year. A former closer in college, from what it look like the Cubs are either going to try him as a starter or are giving him lots of work to master his pitches in the minor leagues.  Rule-Fiver Ed Campusano could be intriguing after returning to the Cubs from Milwaukee as well as Cubs farm-hand Rocky Roquet. Campusano is the only lefty of the three I’ve mentioned so his probability of making the club is exponentially higher than the other two, who both need more time in the minors to develop. Today’s game could also give us the debut of former Marlins closer Kevin Gregg. Gregg was acquired in the off season for minor league pitcher Jose Ceda.

I’m going to address this now. I know Hendry was fleeced in the Juan Pierre trade, but just because you believe Ceda is going to turn into this doesn’t mean he isn’t going to turn into this.

Poor Rich.

Gregg is coming off a down season, yet was still able to compile sixty-one saves in his two years as Marlins finisher. We might see Cotts too.

Hooray!?

Hitting

Behind the plate so far we’ve seen:

2008 rookie of the year Geovany Soto

Paul Bako

That’s the joke.

But there are still at least three more catchers in camp this spring. Koyie Hill, the man who cut his own fingers off– packed them in ice–and then drove himself to the hospital, is actively battling it out with Bako for the right to backup Geovany. Koyie , a switch hitter known more for his defense than his plate prowess,  can’t be sure of how legitimate his shot is considering the size of contract the Cubs gave to Bako. The other two catchers in camp are minor league prospects who might actually develop into major league talent, and as fellow Cub fans know, is a rarity for position players with the Cubs. Problem here is that Geovany has emerged as a solid player and barring a drastic turn for the worse, Welington Castillo and Steve Clevenger could be little more than trading chips at this point. Clevenger so far has seemed handier with the bat, but both are making decent strides offensively as well as being solid defenders.

Also back in camp is perpetual Iowa Cub Jason Dubois.

He doesn’t get a link.

First Pitch is at 2:05 central time.

If anyone is interested, the Cubs Give away free pocket schedules. Just call 773-404-CUBS and follow the prompts. It took a few weeks but in my envelope I received two pocket schedules as well as a free Cubs logo decal sticker. Not a huge deal, but free.

I know, I’m like a child.