Chicago Cubs Baseball

Derrek Lee should stick to first base, because playing both sides of the fence isnt’ the forte of the Chicago Cubs infielder.

When asked recently about teammate Ryan Dempster’s prediction the Cubs would win the World Series in 2008, Lee did a verbal imitation of the Hokey Pokey:

You put your first thought in
You pull your first thought out
You put your second thought in
And you shake it all about

You do the hokey pokey
And you turn your thoughts around
That’s what it’s all about

“I love it. You kind of get criticized when you say it, but if that’s what you feel, why not say it?” Lee said. “I think all of us in here believe it. But at the same time, you also kind of want to fly under the radar. It puts a target on you. But it might be good for us.”

Whether or not Dempster’s statement helps or hurts Chicago Cub baseball waits to be seen. One thing is for certain, however. Lee does know how to do the dance.

‘I think I’m turning Japanese. I really think so’

He runs. He hits. He catches. Well, he runs and he hits. And Cubdom has come to learn, Alfonso Soriano speaks Japanese.

Evidently, the Chicago Cubs left fielder picked up a few phrases while playing four seasons in Japan.  Upon arrival to spring training camp, Soriano was quick to strike up a conversation with free agent signee Kosuke Fukudome in his native tongue.

Speaking through a translator, the gracious Fukudome responded, “I’m very fortunate to have good teammates around me who try to speak my language, and I’m very appreciative of that.”

In other words, an international incident has been avoided.