Pitchers and catchers reported to camp on Friday. For the Cubbies, Ken Kadokura, Chad Gaudin, , Geovany Soto, Kevin Gregg, Jeff Samardzija, Neal Cotts, Kevin Hart, Randy Wells, Jake Fox, Koyie Hill, and Wellington Castillo all showed up on Thursday.
Good to see enthusiasm from a team that has only seven players on the roster left over from the 2007 Opening Day roster, the first as a Cub for Sweet Lou. This year's newcomers include pitchers Gregg, Aaron Heilman, and Luis Vizcaino; outfielders Milton Bradley and Joey Gathright; infielder Aaron Miles; and catcher Paul Bako.
I can't wait. Pie is finally gone, Big Z had Lasik surgery, Woody left town with the class he always exhibited while on the Cubs, the ownership situation is finally moving toward resolution, and there is depth and talent in abundance on this team.
This should be another banner year for the Cubs. Hopefully they can make this one last a little longer with some actual playoff results.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Cuban blogs the Cubs
http://blogmaverick.com/2009/01/06/the-cubs/
Interesting stuff from an interesting dude.
Interesting stuff from an interesting dude.
Monday, January 5, 2009
Milton Bradley, come on down
3 years, $30 million signing expected with physical on Thursday.
Bradley hit .321 with an on-base percentage of .436 last year primarily as a switch-hitting DH with Texas. He'll have quite the challenge fielding the right pasture at Wrigley, but Fukudome will be able to spell him late (as well as platooning with Reed Johnson in CF).
Switch-hitter Aaron Miles was added at 2 years, $4.9 million earlier, on the heels of moves that cleared room.
The Cubs dealt DeRosa and Marquis and let Kerry Wood move on.
DeRosa went to Cleveland for 3 minor-league pitchers. I'll miss DeRosa a ton. He was as versatile a fielder as you will see and he was coming off his best offensive season. Nevertheless, he is 33 years old and his quality production just wasn't irreplaceable. As the most obvious right-handed bat to be dealt (both in terms of return value and contractual situations), DeRosa had to go. He was a fan favorite and the best interview in the clubhouse.
Marquis is expected to go to the Rockies for reliever Luis Vizcaino. Latest hints are that the deal will get done Tuesday. This would appear to be primarily a money saving move. Marquis was due $9.875 million in the coming season, the final one in his deal. Vizcaino will make $4.0 million. The Cubs are also expected to pay around $1 million of Marquis' 2009 salary. Marquis was 11-9 last year, the fifth straight with double-digit wins, but his 4.53 ERA was nothing special and his salary was high for a back-of-the-rotation guy. No love loss from this fan as Marquis heads out the door. He was among the top 10 starters in run support to get to those 11 wins. Not a bad pitcher, but I think it was time for club and player to part ways. The Cubs also need to add relief arms prior to spring with the departure of Wood.
Bradley hit .321 with an on-base percentage of .436 last year primarily as a switch-hitting DH with Texas. He'll have quite the challenge fielding the right pasture at Wrigley, but Fukudome will be able to spell him late (as well as platooning with Reed Johnson in CF).
Switch-hitter Aaron Miles was added at 2 years, $4.9 million earlier, on the heels of moves that cleared room.
The Cubs dealt DeRosa and Marquis and let Kerry Wood move on.
DeRosa went to Cleveland for 3 minor-league pitchers. I'll miss DeRosa a ton. He was as versatile a fielder as you will see and he was coming off his best offensive season. Nevertheless, he is 33 years old and his quality production just wasn't irreplaceable. As the most obvious right-handed bat to be dealt (both in terms of return value and contractual situations), DeRosa had to go. He was a fan favorite and the best interview in the clubhouse.
Marquis is expected to go to the Rockies for reliever Luis Vizcaino. Latest hints are that the deal will get done Tuesday. This would appear to be primarily a money saving move. Marquis was due $9.875 million in the coming season, the final one in his deal. Vizcaino will make $4.0 million. The Cubs are also expected to pay around $1 million of Marquis' 2009 salary. Marquis was 11-9 last year, the fifth straight with double-digit wins, but his 4.53 ERA was nothing special and his salary was high for a back-of-the-rotation guy. No love loss from this fan as Marquis heads out the door. He was among the top 10 starters in run support to get to those 11 wins. Not a bad pitcher, but I think it was time for club and player to part ways. The Cubs also need to add relief arms prior to spring with the departure of Wood.
Thursday, December 18, 2008
'right for the price
The Cubs grabbed OF Joey Gathright. Gathright was signed to a one-year contract worth $800,000. A good price for a player like Gathright.
The OF had a down year offensively in 2008, but has serious speed (said to have been clocked at 3.3 seconds from home to first on a bunt) and a lot of upside. The left handed batter can play all OF positions and has played for Sweet Lou in Tampa.
Gathright adds another versatile player to the roster and another low-priced bargaining chip. This may impact Pie, who is out of options. Milton Bradley is still on the radar as an every day option in the OF.
The OF had a down year offensively in 2008, but has serious speed (said to have been clocked at 3.3 seconds from home to first on a bunt) and a lot of upside. The left handed batter can play all OF positions and has played for Sweet Lou in Tampa.
Gathright adds another versatile player to the roster and another low-priced bargaining chip. This may impact Pie, who is out of options. Milton Bradley is still on the radar as an every day option in the OF.
Monday, December 15, 2008
What's going down this offseason
Fukudome was invited to join the Japan team for the World Baseball Classic on March 5-23.
Cubs signed Reed Johnson ($3 million), Chad Gaudin ($2 million) and Neal Cotts ($1.1 million) to one year deals, avoiding arbitration and said they would offer contracts to Cedeno, Wuertz and Kevin Gregg (the reliever picked up from the Marlins).
If you were under a rock, you missed Kerry Wood moving on and the constant blabbing about Jake Peavy. The Cubs are also after a lefty bat, with the mercurial Milton Bradley in the fore of pundits minds at the moment.
Allegedly, the Cubs are trying to dump Marquis' salary and I don't blame them. Numerous other cubs (Fontenot, De Rosa to name a few) have come up in hot stove talk, but their value is obvious and the Cubs will not part with players like that without getting something good.
All-in-all, nothing much has happened since the end of the season. Team wasn't sold. No huge names in or out (I love Kerry and was sad to see him walk out of town, but he doesn't fall under "major moves" distinction). No major off-season troubles.
The Bears are about to drop off the NFL playoff picture, so we can start daily yammering about the upcoming baseball season any time now.
Cubs signed Reed Johnson ($3 million), Chad Gaudin ($2 million) and Neal Cotts ($1.1 million) to one year deals, avoiding arbitration and said they would offer contracts to Cedeno, Wuertz and Kevin Gregg (the reliever picked up from the Marlins).
If you were under a rock, you missed Kerry Wood moving on and the constant blabbing about Jake Peavy. The Cubs are also after a lefty bat, with the mercurial Milton Bradley in the fore of pundits minds at the moment.
Allegedly, the Cubs are trying to dump Marquis' salary and I don't blame them. Numerous other cubs (Fontenot, De Rosa to name a few) have come up in hot stove talk, but their value is obvious and the Cubs will not part with players like that without getting something good.
All-in-all, nothing much has happened since the end of the season. Team wasn't sold. No huge names in or out (I love Kerry and was sad to see him walk out of town, but he doesn't fall under "major moves" distinction). No major off-season troubles.
The Bears are about to drop off the NFL playoff picture, so we can start daily yammering about the upcoming baseball season any time now.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Cubs Collect Awards and Little Else
Congratulations to Geovany Soto, named NL Rookie of the Year, and Lou Piniella, named NL Manager of the Year.
Small solace for a season that ended in ignominious defeat.
All indications are that top pitcher Jake Peavy will be headed to Atlanta. Trade talks were reportedly serious with both the Braves and Cubs. The Atlanta deal is said to be better. The Cubs are allegedly trying to get another team involved in their deal to shine it up a bit.
If the Peavy deal doesn't happen, the Cubs surely have to resign Dempster.
Small solace for a season that ended in ignominious defeat.
All indications are that top pitcher Jake Peavy will be headed to Atlanta. Trade talks were reportedly serious with both the Braves and Cubs. The Atlanta deal is said to be better. The Cubs are allegedly trying to get another team involved in their deal to shine it up a bit.
If the Peavy deal doesn't happen, the Cubs surely have to resign Dempster.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Macha named new Brewers manager
Sporstline has the news.
I guess all the speculation as to who will replace Brenly was for nothing.
And no, Paul Sullivan, Santo was not the right man for the job. I love Ronny, but he needs to stay on the radio side. Not because he's a "homer" (which, in Santo's case just means he roots for the Cubs. He is not biased in his judgements), but because the TV booth needs a more sedate personality. I also would hate to spoil a great radio team of Santo and Hughes and likely result in both the radio and TV broadcasts losing a little luster. Santo is perfect for the radio. Let him stay there.
I guess all the speculation as to who will replace Brenly was for nothing.
And no, Paul Sullivan, Santo was not the right man for the job. I love Ronny, but he needs to stay on the radio side. Not because he's a "homer" (which, in Santo's case just means he roots for the Cubs. He is not biased in his judgements), but because the TV booth needs a more sedate personality. I also would hate to spoil a great radio team of Santo and Hughes and likely result in both the radio and TV broadcasts losing a little luster. Santo is perfect for the radio. Let him stay there.
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