THE DH
Having to find a ninth hitter for an already weak lineup is the last thing Cubs manager Dusty Baker needs right about now.
While Ozzie Guillen pencils in JIM THOME and his 16 home runs at designated hitter, Baker will need to select two players from a list that includes Neifi Perez, Jerry Hairston, John Mabry, Freddy Bynum, Ryan Theriot and Henry Blanco–one to fill the first-base hole left by the injury to Derrek Lee (possibly with Todd Walker moving from second base to first) and another to DH.
Perez, Hairston, Mabry, Bynum, Theriot and Blanco are hitting a combined .203 with one home run in 256 at-bats. Thome is hitting .292 with 40 RBIs in 137 at-bats. Even if it’s only for the weekend, the Cubs ought to consider importing Felix Pie or Buck Coats from Triple-A Iowa as an extra hitter. Pie has been hot lately, going 8-for-24 with two doubles and three homers in his last six games. Don’t be surprised if Baker uses Barrett as his DH and catches Blanco.
IT STARTS AT THE TOP
One newcomer, Scott Podsednik, set the tone for the White Sox in the opener of last year’s City Series. He used his speed seemingly to unnerve Greg Maddux in a 5-1 Sox victory at Wrigley Field.
Podsednik, who has asserted himself as a presence in May, had two hits in both of Maddux’s starts against the Sox last season, including two doubles in Maddux’s victory at U.S. Cellular Field. Look for Podsednik to try to get into Maddux’s head Friday afternoon.
This year’s newcomer, JUAN PIERRE, could benefit from the super-charged atmosphere that will await him at the Cell. He needs something to get him going and an emotional series away from Wrigley Field might do it.
OFF TO THE RACES
Look for both teams to be aggressive when they get men on base, putting pressure on pitchers and catchers. The White Sox have thrown out 23 percent of runners attempting to steal, which ranks 22nd in the majors. The Cubs are at 22 percent, which ranks 23rd.
Both are near the top of the majors in stolen bases, with the Cubs leading the Sox 38-27.
PATIENCE, PLEASE
One of the subtler keys to the White Sox’s success is the ability of their pitchers to throw strikes and not beat themselves. They enter the series having walked only 100, which is the second-best total in the majors behind Minnesota.
Friday’s starter, MARK BUEHRLE, has walked just 12 in 52 2/3 innings.
The Cubs’ hitters are a tough bunch to walk. They are 26th in the majors in walks.
Only Baltimore and Florida have walked more batters this year than the Cubs’ staff. Maddux should set a good tone, but walks could be a problem for Rich Hill and Carlos Zambrano.
TROUBLE WITH LEFTIES
Good thing Comcast SportsNet is televising batting practice Friday. It figures to be the debut of the Cubs’ new left-handed BP pitcher.
It’s a shame Baker and GM Jim Hendry didn’t take care of this detail before Zach Duke, Chris Capuano, Doug Davis and others in the fraternity of left-handed pitchers undressed the club. The Cubs enter the series batting .192 against lefties, which is the worst mark in the major leagues by 18 points.
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