From the top floor of Tribune Tower to the bowels of Wrigley Field, the pressure is on the Cubs to erase the past.
The story line that will receive national attention all season long is not just the last 100 years without a championship. There is also the 27 years of Tribune Co. ownership, which has resulted in five postseason appearances but no pennants. And October’s postseason debacle, in which the Cubs hit .194 and scored six runs in getting swept out of the first round by Arizona.
Individually, the pressure is on Kosuke Fukudome to prove he’s worth his $48 million contract. It’s on Jason Marquis, who posted a 5.73 ERA after the All-Star break and was left out of the playoff rotation. It’s on Aramis Ramirez, who went 0-for-12 in the playoffs with five strikeouts. And it’s on Lou Piniella, who earned kudos for last year’s surge but widespread criticism for lifting Carlos Zambrano in Game 1 of the playoffs.
In fact, nearly everyone is feeling a little squeeze as the season begins Monday against Milwaukee at Wrigley Field. That goes from Zambrano to new closer Kerry Wood to converted closer Ryan Dempster to rookie catcher Geovany Soto and even to veteran first baseman Derrek Lee, who failed to drive in a run in the playoffs and struggled all spring, hitting .179.
“This is a veteran bunch,” Piniella said. “They know what needs to be done, and they know there’s unfinished business. I don’t need to motivate them too much.”
Management is also under intense pressure as Tribune Co. sells the team, having raised ticket prices by an average of 15 percent and floating the idea of selling naming rights to Wrigley Field. Cubs Chairman Crane Kenney gave general manager Jim Hendry a $120 million payroll, along with the promise to increase it if Hendry can find another piece during the season.
“I’ll let Jim say if he’s felt any pressure, but I’ve given him a mandate this year that our ship is not off course,” Kenney said.
Hendry added Fukudome and veteran pitcher Jon Lieber to the team that won the Central Division last year. That was enough to make the Cubs consensus favorites in what’s generally regarded as a weak division. As the players concede, there are no excuses for not getting the job done this season.
“I think we can go forward,” Ramirez said. “The front office did their part by getting the pieces we need. We needed a right fielder, and they went out and did it. We needed another starter, and they signed Lieber, and they got Dempster [in the rotation] now. We’ve got a great team. Hopefully we stay healthy.”
The key to the Cubs’ hopes will be their rotation. Last year’s staff finished second to San Diego in National League ERA. But Dempster had a 9.82 ERA in September in his final days as closer, and Marquis’ second-half fades have become a puzzle one no has been able to solve.
“I hope [Marquis is] not putting pressure on himself,” Piniella said. “No need for that. At times last year he pitched really, really well, and then, toward the end … I don’t have an answer.”
Marquis earned a reprieve in the rotation with a strong spring showing. He doesn’t believe his second half was as bad as others seem to think.
“The last three weeks of the season I struggled a little bit, which swayed the numbers,” he said. “But on the whole I think I had a pretty good year. I just need to be more consistent down in the zone and not let games get away from me.”
Lieber was placed in the bullpen but is ready to replace Marquis, Dempster or Rich Hill if any of them struggle early.
The Cubs have no fail-safe plan in right field, where it’s Fukudome or bust. The Japanese star looked mediocre in spring training, but those who watched him play in Japan say he’ll come through once the adjustment period ends.
“Fukudome shines in the toughest situations,” said Hideki Kuriyama, a baseball analyst for TV Asahi in Japan. “If you look back at the [World Baseball Classic], all the key hits from Japan were by Fukudome. He steps up when you need him most.”
Piniella said he’d bat Fukudome fifth against right-handers, at least to start the season. The Cubs’ No. 5 hitters had the fewest RBIs of any NL team last year, offering little protection for Ramirez, who arguably is their best hitter.
“I think it’ll help, but it’s not like I was walking a lot last year,” Ramirez said. “It wasn’t like they weren’t pitching to me. I’m a free swinger, and I’m not going to change. I’ve been like that my whole career. If I see a strike, I’m going to swing at it, and I’m going to put the ball in play.
“Let’s see how it plays out. I’ve never had someone who can hit 40 homers hitting behind me, or hitting .350. But I think it’s a good lineup.”
Alfonso Soriano would probably be a better fit behind Ramirez, but Piniella said he wants Soriano higher in the order to get “those extra at-bats.” Soriano felt the pressure of a $136 million deal early last season and wound up with no RBIs in April. He said he feels more comfortable after a season in Chicago, and showed it in September, when he hit a club-record 14 home runs in the final month.
Still, Piniella replaced Soriano with Ryan Theriot as his leadoff man, believing that Theriot’s fade to .202 in September was an anomaly.
Is that a leap of faith by Sweet Lou?
Perhaps, but no more than believing Soto is ready to be the starting catcher after only 30 major-league games. Or that Wood can remain durable in the closer’s role despite a history of injuries. Or that Felix Pie can translate his minor-league success to the majors. Or that Dempster’s control problems will disappear as a starter.
Every team that considers itself a contender faces various degrees of pressure, so the Cubs are really no different from anyone else, except, of course, for that 100-year thing. Lee, entering his fifth year in a Cubs uniform, will have to assume the role of team leader.
“I would think so,” Lee said. “I’m getting up there in years now. I’ve been on this team for a while, so I take that responsibility.”
Lee was the one who called the clubhouse meeting in May when the Cubs were struggling and ESPN.com was reporting a team insurrection against Piniella. While those reports were exaggerated, the Cubs quickly turned their season around and won the division before flopping in the postseason.
Most of that crew is back, so at least chemistry should be no problem.
“We’ve got a little mix,” Lee said. “We’ve got guys like me who are laid back, and guys like ‘Z’ and Dempster who are all over the place. We really started to jell together last year, and I think that’s going to help us get off to a better start this year.”
As the so-called centennial season starts Monday, here’s a bit of advice:
Don’t blink.
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psullivan@tribune.com
