Chicago Cubs Baseball

I admit I got it wrong. When Chicago center fielder Alfonso Soriano went down with a hamstring injury last night, it never occurred to me that the Cubs’ brain trust would turn to youth - specifically highly touted, top prospect, Felix Pie.

It was only after a night’s rest, contemplation over a hot cup of coffee and an assessment of Soriano’s injury did I dare dream the improbable. I promptly added the notion to yesterday’s entry more as an afterthought than a real possibility.

Call it a lack of vision on my part, or even narrow thinking. Personally, I like to view it as relying on history to repeat itself.

Cubs’ management, after all, has a track record of being off-step when it comes to handling their young talent.

In recent memory, the Corey Patterson case is the biggest blotch on the Cubs’ record in these situations . Pure hindsight reminds me that Patterson may have been ready for the bigs, but relied on too heavily once he got there.

And almost in deference to the court of public opinion, Cubs management promptly did an about face with regards to youth on the roster. Of course, much of this may have had to do with former Cubs’ manager Dusty Baker’s own reluctance towards young players.

Only when his hand was forced by injuries did Baker succumb to adding youngsters to the roster. In fairness I should say injuries and General Manager Jim Hendry’s lack of activity in the off-season free agent and trade markets.

Given the above I could only conclude that the Cubs brass stay true to form and draw from its current pool of players to fill Soriano’s slot.

The call-up of Pie not only showed that this is not a kinder, more gentler regime. Instead it revealed itself willing and wanting to win.

The move paid off - at least for today. The kid made the leap from Des Moines to Wrigley Field in a single bound, performing above expectations.

At the plate, Pie went 1-6 with an RBI double. It was his defense that caught the eye, however. His strike to gun down San Diego’s potential winning run in the 10th revealed alot - a good, accurate arm, baseball moxie and a willingness to take a chance.

Much like Cubs’ management did when they made the call to Des Moines.

The Cubs lost, but it was a fresh beginning for this 2007 club. And I guessed I learned sometimes it’s okay to be wrong.