I don’t know…maybe no news is good news this spring. There just has been little to none to talk about let alone get all warm and fuzzy about. I mean we can talk about Micah Hoffpauir and how well he’s hitting the ball again this spring, no doubt will make the team this year….or maybe getting Little Hurcurles Mike Fontenot a pee test cause he’s a whole hell of a lot bigger this year….but other then that, there really isn’t much to talk about.

Well yesterday one of the few mysteries was solved when Lou Pinella named Sean Marshall the 5th starter rounding out a pretty stellar rotation of Zambrano, Harden, Lilly, Dempster and now Marshall. I think it’s a slight surprise considering Marshall has been used to coming out of the bullpen and spot starting where Aaron Heilman was brought in as a starter. I wonder what his psyche is gonna be like this April sitting in the bullpen to start. Of course with the uncertainty of Harden’s health, Heilman should be ready to go at any point. Marshall did come in as the favorite for the 5th starter spot, and Pinella said Marshall did nothing to lose it.

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This is not cubs related, but I couldn’t help but post this article from Yahoo sports. Gave me some goosebumps. Glad to see that these athletes get it right once in a while….

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MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – The flag traveled around the world and through the deserts of Afghanistan and Iraq. Sgt. Felix Perez brought it from home as a reminder and an amulet. The flag never left his Army backpack.

It accompanied Perez to Dolphin Stadium on Tuesday night. He needed some luck for his team, the United States, in its must-win World Baseball Classic game against Puerto Rico. Perez wore a Team USA hat and a Team USA hoodie, and his little sister, Jessica, draped his flag across her shoulders. The United States’ 6-5 come-from-behind victory in the ninth inning sent them into a frenzy. She danced around. He sat in his motorized wheelchair and roared.

On the way out, the 27-year-old Perez placed the flag in his lap and leaned over to a security guard manning Gate G. He was hoping some players from Team USA might sign it. The security guard led Perez and his sister to the U.S. clubhouse, and the flag went inside.

“The next thing I know,” Perez said, “I’m getting called to come back in there.”

And so began the coolest 30 minutes of Felix Perez’s life. On an evening when he felt especially proud to be an American – when a group of his sporting heroes wearing his country’s name across their chests banded together to win a game they had no business winning – Perez found himself surrounded by them, doused with celebratory Miller Lites, with the American flag that was with him during the worst moment of his life passed around the room and signed by every player on the team.

“Everybody,” Perez said.

Then they handed him a ball filled with signatures.

“Everybody,” Perez said.

The half-hour went too fast. Jimmy Rollins, who scored the winning run, wanted to chat more. David Wright, who drove it in, couldn’t hear enough about how the New York Mets are Perez’s favorite team. Almost half the team surrounded Perez for a photograph, the flag draped around his torso, a smile on every face, and none brighter than his.

“I’m just happy to see him happy,” Jessica said.

It’s been four years since Perez returned from the Middle East, where he spent four years. He enlisted after his 17th birthday and was in Afghanistan by the time he turned 20. He doesn’t like to talk about his injury. Some wounds don’t heal.

Perez played ball growing up in North Bergen, N.J., and still loves watching the sport. He attended Team USA’s first WBC game here, an 11-1 mercy-rule loss to Puerto Rico. When the Americans beat the Netherlands to stay alive, Perez woke up at 9 the next morning, called the box office and bought three tickets.

The stadium, practically empty at first pitch, filled to 13,224 by game’s end. It deserved more eyes. Puerto Rico scored in the sixth inning to break a 3-3 tie and tacked on an insurance run in the ninth for a two-run lead. The Americans, about to get bumped from the second straight WBC before the semifinals, needed something divine. Shane Victorino singled to right field. Brian Roberts singled to center. And then Roberts, who had joined Team USA just two days earlier to replace the injured Dustin Pedroia, stole second base – even though coaches laid down the hold sign. Roberts hadn’t quite learned the signs yet.

A walk to Rollins, and another to Kevin Youkilis, and the U.S. had cut the deficit to one run. Wright laced a 2-1 pitch from Fernando Cabrera down the right-field line, and out charged all of Team USA, from the bench and the bullpen, in a bull rush to home plate, then to greet Wright. His teammates kept pushing Wright, joyous and unbridled shoves, until he fell down and they buried his face in the dirt.

“I never thought that we’d be dog piling in March,” Wright said.

No one did. The malaise that clouded the previous games involving Team USA seemed infectious. For every Felix Perez, there were dozens, sometimes hundreds, of fans rooting for the opposing team. Every WBC game thus far, even the ones in Florida, felt like it was on the road.

Not even that dampened the Americans’ enthusiasm. They play Venezuela on Wednesday to determine seeding in Los Angeles, where they’ll face either Korea or the winner of Wednesday’s Japan-Cuba knockout game – and perhaps with a few more supporters who can appreciate what Team USA accomplished Tuesday.

“That was the greatest game I’ve ever been a part of,” catcher Brian McCann said. “Ever.”

Same went for Perez. He said he would rather Team USA win the WBC than the Mets win a World Series.

“We’re the U.S.,” Perez said. “This is our game. … This is the world. You’re representing your country. What is more honorable than representing your country?”

Team USA’s manager, Davey Johnson, grew up an Army brat, his father a prisoner-of-war in World War II.

“There is nothing more honorable,” he said.

Wright was raised near Naval Station Norfolk, one of the largest military bases in the country.

“When you see those guys and get a chance to see how much it means to them, that makes it extra special,” he said. “They take a lot of pride in that red, white and blue, and to have USA across your chest and have supporters like that – that’s what this tournament means.”

Outside the clubhouse, Perez started moving toward the stadium exit. His dad, Felix, had called. He was wondering where Perez and Jessica had gone. They were headed back to the car, Jessica said. They had a pretty amazing souvenir.

A minute later, Rollins walked by and spotted Perez.

“All right, baby,” he said. “Keep a smile on your face.”

“Hey,” Perez said, “as long as you keep swinging the bat, I’ll be happy.”

Perez lifted his right arm as high as he could to wave goodbye. He wasn’t sure he’d see these guys again. He said he might fly to Los Angeles for the finals. He doesn’t know.

Perez moved his hands onto the flag. It’s a struggle, but he wanted to touch his prize. He plans on hanging it next to his other American flag, the one his friends in the 82nd Airborne sent to him when he was injured.

The old flag’s traveling days are over. Sgt. Felix Perez brought it to his home Tuesday night as a reminder and an amulet. The flag never will leave his heart.

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So I am not really a big fan of the WBC truth be told, but it has had its share of excitement. The Dominican Republic has already been eliminated, which is a huge surprise. To make things even worse, the pitcher that took the loss for the DR was none other then our new closer Carlos Marmol.

Did anyone else cringe like watching a car crash when seeing the highlights of Marmol imploding? You couldn’t help but not wonder if somehow blowing this chance for his country would no doubt result in a lingering hangover effect going into the regular season. That’s the Cubs way of life.

I love the kid. He’s got stones, but you just have to wonder about his mental state right now. I hope Pinella and Hendry have something planned to try and take his mind off the WBC. Easier said then done when your playing for country pride, but we can’t afford to have a closer that could be pretty fragile.

Looks like Sean Marshall is in line for the 5th starter spot. Somewhat surprised that Pinella decided on this so early, and while nothing has been confirmed, if you read between the lines, that’s where it looks like he’s headed. Because of the couple days off in the first week of the season, the Cubs will be on a 4 man rotation to start, and probably add an extra hitter to start. The opening day nod at Wrigley will be between Zambrano and Dempster, both who have said they wanted the start, but only one will get the ball and that has yet to be determined.

Rich Harden made his first spring start on Tuesday and did quite well as he gave up two hits over two innings with no runs. Most importantly, no pain in his shoulder which will no doubt be the focus every time he’s slated to start. The Cubs brass are trying to not make a big deal out of this every time, but as always in Cubdom, we are waiting quite simply for Harden’s shoulder to fall off.

It’s been a quiet spring. I think that’s a good thing. Time to tune up for the regular season and make sure we don’t have any big sustained injuries.

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The Cubs and verteran Corey Koskie signed a minor league contract, terms not disclosed yet, although one of the details that did get mentioned is that if he does not make the major league roster, he has agreed to go to AAA Iowa for a minimum of 30 games.

A left handed third baseman and first baseman is a career .275 hitter who has played for Minnesota, Toronto and Milwaukee.

Cubs General Manager Jim Hendry loves this no risk all reward move. “He can back up at third, back up at first, hit off the bench,” Cubs general manager Jim Hendry said. “Why not?”

Koskie hasn’t played since July 5, 2006 when he suffered a concussion after chasing a fly ball and falling. He still has to pass a physical down in Tampa, but he did get approved to play for team Canada in the World Baseball Classic.

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jpligon’s take:

Hendry really knocks it out of the park more times then not with these low risk high reward players. Think back to Reed Johnson, Jim Edmonds last year, and signing Ryan Demptser after his surgery a few years ago. This couldn’t hurt. He could back up Rameriez, or Lee which gives just another left handed option which was sorely needed.

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Cubs are undefeated in spring training. Lets soak all that in.

Ok.

DId you drink the kool aid for the day?

Good.

All kidding aside, you can look at the score and think that all the big stars played a huge part, but in reality it was just bits and pieces of what you wanted to see.

Aaron Heilman pitched two scoreless innings strking out four which was the most impressive sign of the day. He is fighting for the 5th starter spot and certainly made his pitch with that impressive start.

Micah Hoffpauir had two more hits along with a walk to add to his already impressive spring start. This kid just is ready. I was the first to say after last season that I would be perfectly OK if we traded Derrick Lee for some pitching or outfielder and put Hoffpauir at first. It didn’t happen, and we’ll see just how many at bats the kid can get. You don’t want to be too stubborn and not utilize him when he’s getting to his peak. I hope that Pinella is wise to see this.

Neil Cotts and kevin Gregg also pitched scoreless innings as that’s about it on the regulars side.

All in all a very good day for the Cubbies, and anytime you can beat the White Sox in anything is a positive.

Next game vs San Diego Padres. Lets keep the streak alive!

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