Last season was a huge disappointment for a Cubs team that had won two straight divisions the two previous years.  What was most disturbing was that the 2009 Cubs had pretty much the same personnel as the 2008 Cubs, with most feeling like Hendry had improved the team prior to the start of the season. [...]

Fukudome hasn’t been playing with the Cubs this spring, since he has been trying to help Japan win some games in the World Baseball Classic.  He has done ok, going 2-7 so far with the Japanese team.  As usual, he is walking a lot as well, drawing 4 bases on balls in only 11 plate [...]