After watching Cliff Floyd and Alfonso Soriano team up for three errors in Wednesday’s Cactus League game against the Rockies, the Cubs petitioned the league to allow them to use four outfielders on defense during the season.
“Frankly, I’m just not sure there’s any other way,” said manager Lou Piniella. “We’ve got four outfielders and none of them are any good in the field. Maybe if we play four instead of three we’ll catch a few of those pesky fly balls.”
The outfielders in question are Soriano, a converted second baseman who had trouble fielding the ball even at that position; Floyd, who’s coming off of several leg injuries and was never known for his glove; Matt Murton, a youngster who’s mediocre with the glove; and Jacque Jones, who can throw the ball approximately five feet in the air.
“I know this is a radical idea,” general manager Jim Hendry said. “But desperate times call for desperate measures. I spent $300 million on free agent contracts this year. If that doesn’t result in at least a division title, they’ll can my ass.”
Commissioner Bud Selig, who has never met a rule he didn’t want to rewrite, plans on making a decision by Monday’s season opener.
