Most Unlikely Spokesman

With DLee out until the All-Star break, the player least likely is now the Cubs' soundbite-master and clubhouse leader.

As a lefty batter with a .300 average, Todd Walker didn't become a regular until this year, his third as a Cub. In 2004, Grudzielanek's right-handed bat provided Dusty with a situational option for his game of ever-changing batting orders and situational appearances. Walker played almost every game last year before a vicious take-out slide by former Sux amd current Brewer left fielder Carlos Lee. (C. Lee, by the way, will be a first ballot Rim Jobber Hall of Famer if they ever build one. And, if they do ever build the RJHOF, it will probably be in Cleveland, the world's most boring place. But I digress.) Following the knee injury, Walker's playing time appeared to be limited by the (possibly incorrect) belief that he was never really tight with Dusty.

Walker didn't even show up at Cubs Convention; until that weekend, it looked like Walker was written off by Cubs management. He was the number one topic of fan anger at that gathering. There were few other questions posed besides, "Why don't you guys like Todd Walker? Why don't you just name him the starter? Why don't you want a left-handed .300 hitter?" The 2006 Cubs Convention was a turning point for Walker, whose stock was suddenly back on the rise in Spring Training. I could be completely wrong about this--maybe he really was the plan all along--but I consider the Walker movement at the convention to be a rare case of fan democracy prevailing.

The question of what to do with Walker has frustrated the heck out of Cubs fans for the last three years. Walker's been the best option at that position since the day he signed, but it seemed like management always disagreed, always had some alternative, always stood poised to trade him. How preposterous! Walker is a professional hitter, and for a team that has struggled to get guys on base ahead of the big boppers since...well...forever, singles and doubles should be a golden commodity, not trade bait for Preston Wilson or some gaggle of marginal ability. He's hit .290 as a Cub, and he's shown decent for a middle infielder. In the wake of the DLee injury, his move from second to first--the easist defensive transistion in baseball--means he won't be saddled with quesitons about his aptitude as a middle infielder, though I don't foresee him prospering in the three slot. As far as I'm concerned, he was poised to have a terrific season in 2006, but the DLee injury will most likely change everything.