Figure out the Cubs’ magic number and mail early.
Never mind that baseball is closer to last year’s World Series than 1998’s. The Cubs have gotten their first inquiry for World Series tickets.
“But I’m not ready to deal with that yet,” Cubs media information coordinator Chuck Wasserstrom said. “I’ve got the (June 5-7) Sox-Cubs series to worry about.”
Left out: The Cubs began shuffling their lineup for the first time Sunday to deal with a run of three straight left-handed opposing starters.
Jose Hernandez, who became the first Cub in a decade to start all four infield positions last year, added center field to his starter resume Sunday to give Lance Johnson a day off. Matt Mieske, signed as a free agent from the Milwaukee Brewers in December, took over for left-handed-hitting Henry Rodriguez later in the game and is expected to get his first Cubs start this week.
Hernandez “is such a good athlete and has a lot to offer the ballclub, so I don’t want him to sit too many days without getting in there and getting three or four at-bats,” manager Jim Riggleman said. “We’ll put him out there, give Lance a day off and tomorrow do something similar with Mieske in the lineup.”
Hernandez, an infielder most of his career, was making only his second major-league start in the outfield and ninth overall appearance. But he and Mieske “are going to be keys for us,” Riggleman said. “If we’re going to ask them to go up and get a good at-bat as a pinch hitter, we’ve got to get him a game now and then to stay sharp.”
Sprayin’ Sammy: Sammy Sosa posted his 200th career stolen base in the first inning and continued his use of the entire field in 1998. After an opposite-field home run Saturday, Sosa sent a ground single through the right side to drive in the Cubs’ first run Sunday. It is the Sosa that Riggleman contends is the most dangerous.
“Whenever Sammy starts hitting the ball to right field, you usually see some home runs coming,” Riggleman said. “Sammy is totally aware of the importance of using right field. Sammy’s always trying to do the right thing up there. Sometimes the pitchers just make good pitches on you and don’t allow you to do what you want to do. Certainly he’s made every effort to use all fields.”
Numbers game: The Cubs have 13 games before a day off and Riggleman said he wants to give his bullpen some rest. But starters have been pulled with leads in four of the five wins. Even with a 5-1 lead Sunday, the Cubs went through three pitchers in less than seven innings as Riggleman adheres to the pitch-count and get-’em-some-work philosophies of substitutions.
Steve Trachsel was allowed to pitch into the eighth inning leading 6-1 Friday, then was relieved by Mark Pisciotta. Terry Mulholland was gone after 5 2/3 innings despite leading 2-1 with the bases empty Saturday.
“I went a little further with Steve than I really wanted to because we used so much bullpen in Florida,” Riggleman said. “I could just as well have taken Steve out after seven (innings). He had 100 and in spring training he never got to 100. But the conditions were good for pitching, so I let him go out there in the eighth. But at this time of year, 110 would be about maximum.”
