Derrick Lee

You have to root for a guy like Derrick Lee. Despite last year’s freak accident, he never gets hurt. He works hard. He takes pride in what he does. He does not spend his free time bragging.

Even when beset by personal issues, like his daughter’s blindness, he finds a way to take a poor situation and turn it into a blessing. Late last year, Lee’s three-year old daughter was diagnosed with Lebers Congenital Amaurosis or LCA. The condition is an inherited form of blindness that is usually apparent shortly after birth.

Lee joined up with Boston Celtics CEO Wyc Grousbeck to form Project 3000. The organization has been formed to find people afflicted with the disease and find a way to eradicate it in the U.S. and abroad.

Lee has found two players to join him in the “Swinging for Sight” campaign this year. Michael Barrett has pledged $50,000 and will donate another $10,000 per home run. If he hits thirty dingers this year, that could amount to $350,000 total. Ryan Dempster has also pledged $50,000 and another $1,000 per save this year.

Lee took several weeks away from baseball at the end of the season last year, especially since it was clear the team was not headed for the post-season. So far this spring, he has not shown any signs of rust, hitting .471 in the Cactus League and smacking a three-run home run in the first inning and a double later on today.

Of course, he was the only one hitting today, and the pitching was a little weak. The Cubs wound up on the poorer end of an 8 to 3 score against the Padres. Neal Cotts continues to strike fear in the hearts of Cub fans, giving up a two run homer in the eighth and carrying a 9.00 ERA into the season. The comment, “he’s working on something” is not going to hold water for much longer. Fans, and hopefully Piniella, want to see Cotts get people out.

No word yet on the second round of cuts, but they should be coming up early next week. Most of the non-rosters should be sent down, with the exception of Tomas Perez, who is still contending for the 25th spot.

Tomorrow, the mighty Carlos Zambrano goes up against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Maybe somebody will join Lee on the “hit parade”.