More lefties...

Let's hope they go on the "Not crappy" pile, but let's face it, history is not on Jimmy's side.

The Cubs acquired LHP John Grabow and Tom Gorzelanny from our Central Farm team, er, I mean the Pirates for Kevin Hart - yeah, the same one who won today - Jose Ascanio and 3B prospect not worth mentioning.

I was asked, via Twitter who moves into the 5th rotation spot then? Right now, I gotta go with Marshall until Lilly comes back. Gorzy is headed to Iowa because he recently started sucking and showed no sign of not sucking soon, but if he regains his form (circa 2006 I think) he could be a pretty good pickup. Grabow projects as a Type A Free Agent, which to the uninformed (myself included) means he should be good/very good -ish. So It looks like Grabow will be the lone lefty in the pen for now, with Marshall taking up the 5th starter role until Lilly comes back and then Marshall will no longer have to play left field - even though that was cool as crap when it happened...

That's how it looks right now anyway...

No Jake For You!!!

For those of you anticipating the best rotation in baseball, and yes that would've included alternate dimensions -

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/baseball/cubs/1297404,CST-SPT-cub25.article

On the continued rumblings -- notably out of San Diego -- that the Cubs still might be pursuing starting pitching, such as the Padres' Jake Peavy or free agent Randy Johnson, even after the Ryan Dempster signing: ''No. Starting we don't need. We're set. We've got six good starters [including Sean Marshall], and they're all experienced. Getting Dempster back was the key. We're in good shape with our starting pitching. Bullpen-wise, [we're looking for] possibly one more experienced pitcher. We've got a lot of young kids out there.''

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20081123&content_id=3689645&vkey=news_chc&fext=.jsp&c_id=chc&partnerId=rss_chc

The Padres are trying to cut costs, and acquiring Marquis wouldn't do that. He's owed $9.875 million in 2009. The Cubs headed into the offseason knowing they could afford either Dempster or Peavy, but not both.

Two sources in one day. Yeah...would've been nice, but I guess Jake will be getting his snuggles elsewhere...

We don't got Wood...

Pttth...well that sucks. As Jim Memolo put it - We finally figured out how to use this guy, and he's off to greener pastures. It seems the problem with Wood is, he's going to get a huge (comparatively) contract now that he's an established closer, and definitely top 3 on the market with so many teams having so many bad bullpens.

I swear he better not end up in St. Louis.

So now we get this Gregg guy. 9, yes that's right Nine blown saves last year. He didn't cost us anything really. Just some kid who MAY grow up to be big and strong, but no help right now. But I also see it as, we lost Woody too.

Now, it's possible that Hendry is assuming Woody wants big bucks, or more prohibitively, big years, but maybe Woody, being the good Chicago guy he is, write another blank check. Gimme one more year to get through the sale and get your lefty bat, then we'll talk some business.

Maybe, but I don't see it. Well, fare thee well Kerry. This is just the latest in a long line of disappointments coming from your career. If you end up in St. Louis or Milwaukee, I hope you vomit up your own appendix.

Seriously, he better have enough respect to go out of the central division. If not, he's just a bee-otch.

Trades...

Well the deadline has come and gone. Considering we'll prolly be second or third last on the waiver wire, I don't see much else happening. Eh well. The Sherrill idea was fun to think about.

Overall, can be unhappy. Harden's about to get his first win, unless "Bomb" Howry manages to blow an 8-run lead - even that should be safe from him...Gaudin's been filthy. The Brewers made a couple of big deals that will help them, but not enough. The Cardinals did squat. Which is, by the way, exactly what they'll do in this Divison.

One last thing - What the heck are the Sox thinking??? People are HAPPY about this? Glad I'm not a Sox fan, I'd be pissed...

All we are is minutes in the wind....

Competition is heating up...

Great news Cubs fans. There's news of an impact trae in the NL Central. No it's not the Cubs, Cards, or Brewers getting late inning help.

LaTroy Hawkins was recently acquired by the Houston Astros, further cementing themselves in the basement of the NL Central. Should make that race for last with the Pirates interesting to watch, needless to say.

Sources close to the trade said "Although the Pirates remain the team to beat for dead last in the Divison, the Astros have made a significant leap toward that feat with this trade." Actually, no one said that but me, and I'm not close to the trade, but it's still funny :D

Bada bum bum bum. Another minute bites the dust...

Khalil Greene?

So there's a rumor on mlbtraderumors that the Cubs are looking at Khalil Greene? Why in God's name? Greene's too much of an established starter to be a backup, and Theriot's bat looks too good in the lineup right now.

Some might speculate that Theriot's September last year might be cause for concern, but overall he's just too good to give up on, especially since he's been so valuable up to now and Greene's been....well....Greene.

I could see perhaps involving him in a multi-team deal, or to be used as trade bait, but aside from that, I don't see it.

That's a minute....

Harden/Gaudin = Cubbies

Initial reaction? Good deal. I'll hesitate on great deal for now - to be determined. Matt Murton, Eric Patterson and Sean Gallagher go to the A's.

Murton and Patterson and are corner outfielders (with Patterson also playing 2B). We have Fukudome and Soriano for 4 and 7 more years respectively - no job opportunities there. We've got Fontenot, DeRosa, and Cedeno at 2B. No job opps there. Gallagher will probably be good, but not today. So basically we gave away 2 pinch hitters and a bullpen guy.

Harden from what I've heard has Carlos Zambrano stuff with Kerry Wood injury history. Scary, both good and bad. I heard once that Harden has yet to pitch 10 consecutive starts without some sor tof delay/DL stint. Scary. Legit #2? Oh yeah. So now Dempster is #3 and Lilly is #4. Who gives a crap who is #5? Very good deal. I'll reserve judgement until Harden and Gaudin pitch a few times.

Ok, that's my minute, but more to follow I'm sure.

CC See ya...

Freakin' Brewers! Who said they can have a shot at the division?? Bad enough we have to deal with the overachieving Cardinals. Now they're getting a Cy Young winner for two third graders and a bag of balls? Ok, so LaPorte is a "Hot prospect". Want me to name some other Hot Prospects? Corey Patterson? Felix Pee-AAA? Hot prospect. Like we don't have a prospect or two to throw to the Indians...Actually we don't.

The gauntlet has been thrown Hendry. Think we can survive with Lilly being our number 2? 5 seconds? 4....3....NO! Now get on the phones. And if you counter with Randy Wolf, I swear I'll wait until you get married and then slap your wife!

Ok, that's my minute.