Lou and Hendry on Comcast Live

Jim Hendry appeared on Comcast Live today, Lou was interviewed over the phone. I missed the show, and forgot to Tivo it, but there are a few clips up.

Hendry remarked on how much was left to do before Spring Training starts. Several big names in trade and free agent markets are left, which he finds unusual this late in the game. This hints at a possible alternative to a trade with Baltimore would be a pretty major signing instead.

Jim spoke about some of the key battles - not a lot of them, but they're important. I suspect he talked about the back of the rotation at some point, but not in the clips.

Starting with center field, only one of the young lefties, Pie or Fuld, will make the team. The other will go down to Iowa, presumably, to get regular playing time. Hendry referred to the fact that he has a few guys in camp who are the fast, athletic type. He later mentioned (or earlier, who knows how this was edited) that the 25th man that Lou wants is a speed and versatility type. To me, that's Ronny Cedeno, who is out of options and has been playing some center field.

He listed Ascanio, Lahey and Hart as interesting guys in the pen. Ascanio is probably not ready, and Lahey could be a surprise. Hart has a couple of roles he could fill, according to Hendry. Sounds like Lahey could go back from whence he came, unless his heavy sinker convinces Larry and Lou to give him a shot. Hendry says he weighs 240-250, so I can see why he was converted from catcher. His knees should be thankful.

Lou talked about having what amounts to a more settled and predictable camp. While Hendry expects to make moves before they head South, Lou will "tinker" less than last year, once they get to Arizona. The players know what to expect, as do the coaches that were new to Lou. Familiarity breeds comfort, I guess.

Lou will work the guys hard - he points to the bad start as a big reason behind the lousy October games against Arizona. He wants to start fast and not ever get so horribly behind. He's been clear on that fast start point all Winter, so I think we know what the message and sound bite will be for the next few months.

Sure, just like Brant Brown's stone hands led to the sweep at the hands of the Braves, it is possible the hard battle to make the playoffs led to the quick exit. I think there's more to it - the team wasn't great, but good; and the key hitters went stone cold.

Lou can point to the sweep all he wants as impetus for a fast start. The reality is Milwaukee will probably be better than last year, the Reds could be good, and we won't be so lucky next time. The Cubs can't afford a slow start, more so than last year.