Article:Spring Training Game Review: Chicago Cubs vs. Kansas City Royals

Spent the afternoon yesterday next door at the Surprise, AZ Rec Campus watching the second tenant, the Kansas City Royals take on the Chicago Cubs. Got there early as the Cubs are always a huge draw, and good thing as the attendance topped out at 10,621. Walked through the gate and immeditately came upon a Chicago autograph table, with Ferguson Jenkins representing the Cubbies and former Chisox outfielder Ron LeFlore the South Siders. There were maybe 20 people in line waiting to meet Fergie, guess how many were in LeFlore's line? I'll give you a hint, the same number of World Championships the Cubs have won in the last 100 years.

Sat behind the Cubs bullpen and watched starter Ryan Dempster loosen up. He appears to have lost a significant amount of weight, probably as a stamina builder in his return to the rotation, and he really looked good. He ended up pitching four innings, allowing one hit, one run while walking and striking out two each. He was followed by Kerry Wood, who also appeared a bit thinner. I don't know if the Cubs staff went on an off-season Nutri-system program or what, but conditioning won't be an issue for them this year.

The thing about pitchers is they warm up differently, starters to relievers and power pitchers to finesse guys. Relievers throw more fastballs and concentrate more on release point and getting loose than worrying about where their slider is going. Wood was impressive, to say the least. His delivery appears more compact, with a more defined arm circle than in the past. He pitched an inning, topping out at 98 mph, with one strikeout, on a nasty, 84 mph curveball. I heard the Cubs closer job is between Wood, Carlos Marmol and one other guy who's name escapes me, but if Wood pitches like he did yesterday it will be hard for Lou Piniella to resist the tempation of not giving Wood the job at some point during the season.

The game itself wasn't close, as Dempster, Wood and three other relievers combined on a two-hitter in a 13-1 victory. Darryl Ward, starting as the Cubs DH, went 4-4 with three RBI, Eric Patterson, Corey's little brother, went 3-4 with four runs scored and a two-run homer, rookie first baseman Micah Hoffpauir was 3-3 with two ribbies and two runs scored, with Felix Pie also having three hits, with Alex Cintron having two hits. The Cubs had 21 hits total for the game, with Royals starter Brett Tomko allowing nine hits and six runs in his 2.1 innings of work. The only pitcher of the six used by the Royals who escaped the afternoon unscathed was righty Roberto Giron, who retired both hitters he faced and was rewarded for his performance by being sent to minor league camp after the game.

Word of caution for Cubs fans, the team isn't as good as it showed yesterday, and the Royals aren't that bad, it was just one of those days.