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Friday, April 18, 2008

Daily Herald: Pie still in Cubs’ plans

Cubs manager Lou Piniella says center fielder Felix Pie isn’t a forgotten man. Quite the contrary, to hear Piniella tell it.

“I’ve gotten involved,” Piniella said before Thursday’s game, which Pie did not start. “We’re just shortening up his swing, getting him to hit more front-sided as opposed to back-sided. It might take a little bit, but I think it’s going to really help him.”

The program, Piniella said, is intense.

“He’s taking batting practice every day,” the manager said. “He’s working in the cage. He’s working with our hitting coach right now, as we speak. We’re filming everything, so he can see it. At the same time, we’re doing a few other things with the strength coach that will help him, too. Last night, he took four pitches out of the zone. We’ve tried to simplify things.”
...
“I told him I said there’s no hurry,” Piniella said. “ ‘When you feel comfortable, we’ll get you out there.’ I would think a week or so of taking b.p. and getting some weight shift and some front-arm extension and a little shorter swing, this kid will catch on. When he does and he feels comfortable with it, we’ll run him out there.”

C’mon… he looked GREAT at the plate so far this season, I thought (as a Brewer fan). 
Start him now, start him everyday, start him always, start him at all nine positions (but if he starts hitting, bench him) :P

NTNgod Posted: April 18, 2008 at 02:02 AM | 7 comment(s)
  Related News: GeneralChi Cubs

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   1. 1k5v3L, Useless  Posted: April 18, 2008 at 01:12 AM (#2749359)
“I told him I said there’s no hurry,” Piniella said. “ ‘When you feel comfortable, we’ll get you out there.’
"Just don't get your nuts in a twist," Piniella continued.
   2. scareduck  Posted: April 18, 2008 at 01:13 AM (#2749361)
I like pie.
   3. Belfry Bob  Posted: April 18, 2008 at 08:27 AM (#2749471)
"Hold the bat a little higher. No, not that high. Now, tilt it back just a tad. Move your feet apart a couple more inches, NO, not that much, that's IT! Now, shift 35% of your weight onto your back foot. Come on, didn't you hear me? THIRTY-FIVE percent, not TWENTY! Now, keep your head up. Not that far up. Bear down. Loosen up. Relax. Bore in on the pitcher. Now wink at him."

"Got all that? Once you get it down, it'll all be second nature, and then you'll really be a ballplayer."
   4. Belfry Bob  Posted: April 18, 2008 at 08:39 AM (#2749485)
“I’ve gotten involved,” Piniella said before Thursday’s game, which Pie did not start. “We’re just shortening up his swing, getting him to hit more front-sided as opposed to back-sided. It might take a little bit, but I think it’s going to really help him.”

The program, Piniella said, is intense.

“He’s taking batting practice every day,” the manager said. “He’s working in the cage. He’s working with our hitting coach right now, as we speak. We’re filming everything, so he can see it. At the same time, we’re doing a few other things with the strength coach that will help him, too. Last night, he took four pitches out of the zone. We’ve tried to simplify things.”
...
“I told him I said there’s no hurry,” Piniella said. “ ‘When you feel comfortable, we’ll get you out there.’ I would think a week or so of taking b.p. and getting some weight shift and some front-arm extension and a little shorter swing, this kid will catch on. When he does and he feels comfortable with it, we’ll run him out there.”

"You got heart, kid, but you move like a god-damn ape. The only thing special about you is ya never got your nose busted - well, leave it that way, nice and pretty, and what's left of your mind...Hey kid, did ya ever think about retirin'?...You think about it. Lay off that pet shop dame. Women weaken legs. You'll be able to spit nails, kid. Like the guy says, you're gonna eat lightning and you're gonna crap thunder. You're gonna become a very dangerous person. Go for the ribs, don't let that bastard breathe! Down! Down! Stay Down!"
   5. Calvin Schiraldi  Posted: April 18, 2008 at 10:37 AM (#2749730)
I like this. You know what I wish? I wish there was a time you could do this kind of work with a player before the real games start. You know maybe a month or six weeks. Hey, you could even go someplace warm like Arizona or Florida. Maybe other teams would do it too and you could play exhibition games with them?

Nah, that's crazy.
   6. Moses Taylor's bus bench has been Tom Sellecked  Posted: April 18, 2008 at 10:43 AM (#2749752)
I like this. You know what I wish? I wish there was a time you could do this kind of work with a player before the real games start. You know maybe a month or six weeks. Hey, you could even go someplace warm like Arizona or Florida. Maybe other teams would do it too and you could play exhibition games with them?

Maybe that wasn't enough for him. Remember he did miss a week with the twisted balls. But I fully support this. I agree with NTN that he has looked like ####, and any progress he made in ST went right out the window when the games started. I also worry about the boos, so maybe it's better to play him more on the road than at home. It doesn't hurt that Johnson's off to a great start, but I really hope they're making Pie watch Fukudome's approach.
   7. Slinger Francisco Barrios (Dr. Memory)  Posted: April 18, 2008 at 12:35 PM (#2749936)
#1 is inexplicably hilaripus.
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