I got to check out my first Spring Training game yesterday afternoon, albeit on television. The Cubs were playing the White Sox in Mesa, Arizona in HoHoKam Park. In front of a sellout crowd of about 13,000 people, there were a few brights spots in the Cubs team even though loosing 13-2. The White Sox are showing that they’re continuing to mash the ball much as they did last season. They pitched really well to. It looks like the White Sox are going to be right in the thick of things again in the AL Central.

Rich Hill pitched really well yesterday for his first time on the hill this spring. He only made the one mistake to Paul Konerko (Happy Birthday Paul today by the way) that got mashed over the left field wall. He struck out 3 in his two innings of work, including the first two batters that he saw. Hopefully Hill can continue his great pitching from the end of last season.

Alfonso Soriano, who is starting his 8 year $136 million contract with the Cubs this season, ended up the day 3 for 3 with one of the Cubs two RBIs. Derrek Lee had the other with a solo Homerun to lead off the 4th. A couple of the Cubs bullpen pitchers got their first work of the season, and got roughed up pretty bad. Will Ohman gave up three runs in this one inning of work and Bob Howry gave up two in his debut.

Lou Pinellia has said that he’s happy it’s spring training, but he really wants to get a win. His pitchers are pitching decent overall in the spring minus some walks, but his hitters are having a slow go at things. There has been a few too many errors for the Cubs early on as well, but from mostly their backups. Most of the backups are playing for minor league roles or trying to get on the 40 man roster. The Cubs 25 man roster is pretty much set for the season. They, for once, have extra pitchers for both the rotation and bullpen. Mark Prior and Wade Miller will be fighting for the final rotation spot, and there will be an odd man out or two in the bullpen. One thing is for sure, there won’t be any younger starters this season with the exception of Rich Hill, who is starting his first full season, but has seen action the last two at the big league level.

In other news, former Cub great, Sammy Sosa hit his first homerun in 19 months. As much as he did for the Cubs in the 90’s and early 2000’s, it’s great to see him on a ballclub again trying to compete at the major league level.

Hopefully there are a few more televised games this spring training before the start of the season. Today, Mark Prior will get the start and Kerry Wood is also slated to pitch an inning of relief. With this start, Prior will match his spring training apperances for the last three years combined.

Hopefully this is the start of good things to come for the Cubs this season. As much as I’d hate to say it, let’s see if buying your team can get you a world series. It hasn’t helped out the Yankees too much the last years. Although, they have had a knack for getting players who had career years during their free agent season. Carl Pavano, and Jaret Wright are just to name a few.