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...

11 days and counting....

Since the Cubs cut ties with Kerry Wood and he's STILL NOT SIGNED...

That's a window Jim, and it's closing...

Tough Question

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20081119&content_id=3685573&vkey=hotstove2008&fext=.jsp&partnerId=rss_mlb

The San Diego Padres say the Cubs are still interested in trading for right-hander Jake Peavy. The Cubs, however, insist they would need to be very creative with their finances and get another team involved to swing a deal.

So here's the question. What to do? A month ago, I would've said go after Peavy all hard and old school. However now, after a bit of reflection, here's your rotation-

Zambrano, Dempster, Lilly, Harden, Marquis.

I can actually live with that. Right now, the need is a bat. The Cubs will tell you they need a left handed bat. I would argue that they need a bat that can hit righties as well as lefties. But let's say for the sake of argument, we need a left handed bat.

Looking back if anything failed the team during the season/offseason, it was offense. Due partially to the fact the Kosuke dropped his kibble in the last half of the season, and D-Lee forgot how to hit home runs. So given that, it would seem the offense has to be the bigger priority. So, Jake, unless Towers folds, looks like you're off to somwhere else, or stuck on that crap-ace team. At least the beach is nice eh?

Doin' it right.

I'm overdue for this post. Sorry.

It's good to see that Handry and Dempster did the right thing. The deal Demp signed is fair, prolly a little home-town discount, but again, what can you do with 60mil that you can't do with 50?

Now Ryan - this is not a license to suck. At least not for a few more years...
Definitely more than a minute

From Woody to the Big Unit?

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2008/11/cubs-interested.html

So is this kinda a if you can't beat 'em join 'em philosphy? I don't have a major problem with himReplacing Marquis. Prolly get us a few more wins. He's definitely not the Johnson of old, now he's just Johnson old.

So, noiw, thinknig ahead - Peavy, Zambrano, Lilly, Harden, Johnson?

OR

Peavy, Zambrano, Lilly, Dempster, Johnson (with Harden gonig to Pads for Peavy)

Just a thought. for a mninute

Jimmy - you've got some 'splaining to do...

Jimmy, Jimmy, Jimmy. You have been officially called out. What the H-E-Double-Idiot-Sticks are you thinking? From all I've read the conversation went something like this.
"Sorry Wood, we can't pony up the dough for ya, so go, get your big, long-term contract. We'll still respect you in the morning."
"Um actually Jim, my wife and I have talked aobut it and we'd like to stay. If you can't do a long term thing now, I get that. So let's do a year and figure it out next year."
"No really, Woody. we're good here. We'll miss you and we hate to let you walk away..."
"But Jim. Seriously, Whatever you think is fair. it's all good."
"Aww Woody, it hurts so much, but we just can't afford you."
"Ok, so what. Maybe like a mil. How's that sound?"
"Woody, poor poor Woody. You'll be missed. The fans all love you and you're a good closer too. Say hi to Walt for me."
"Jim. how 'bout half mil. how bout the league minimum. Seriously, I've got cash, I'm not worried aobut it."
"No...it's horrible, we just cant' afford a pitcher of your great skill..."
"Jim. Tell you what. Buy me a Happy Meal, and I'll see you in February. Cool?"
"Oh Woody, I'm so sorry we can't scrape the fund together to keep you."
"Yeah...whatever..."

So really Jim. WTF? Woody offers you not only a 1 year deal, but undoubtedly way below market value, and you piss him away because you got Kevin Gregg? What is the REAL reason you don't want Woody here? We're listening. Speak up. Why did you not sign Wood to a 1 year deal and make our bullpen that much better? Why Jim. Your reasons are bulls@#$. Tell us the real reason. This is far and away the WORST move you have made in your time here, and we just want to know why.

Can you spare us a minute to explain?

WTF Hendry?

http://blogs.chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports_hardball/2008/11/wood-leaving-cu.html

From Paul Sullivan -

While Wood was understanding about the Cubs' decision, which Hendry said was made in the best interests of Wood and his family, he did say he would've been amenable to staying and "would have done anything" to stay a Cub. The Cubs told him to go get a three- or four-year deal for more money, but Wood said he would've agreed to a one-year deal to stay.

So Woody's available to stay for one year, like I suggested in my previous post, and you say no thanks?? Are you freakin' kidding me? Why? so you can be Woody's buddy and let him walk and significantly deplete our bullpen.

Jim...Get Kerry on the phone, and beg him to come back...at elast for a minute. The guy wants to stay...don't be a d#$%...

Buh bye

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.

Peavy coming to town?

So, it seems the Cubs are becoming the front runners for the Peavy deal AND keeping Dempster. Only problem is, according to some experts, that would likely mean we can't resign wood and go cheap on a left handed right fielder. But is that really what the Cubs need?

Don't get me wrong, I was salivating over that rotation just a couple of weeks ago. But, if I remember correctly, and I'm quite sure I do, let's play a little pretend.

The Cubs get Peavy and send away oh say Pie, Marshall, Marquis (while eating some salary), and say a minor leaguer.

With the rotation of Peavy, Zambrano, Dempster, Lilly, Harden, and Marmol closing, I'm projecting, all things being equal, the following -

95 games in which the Cubs lead or are tied after 5th inning
25 games in which the lead is lost after the 5th inning
30 games in which long relief is needed, long relief defined as starting nit he 4th inning or earlier.
30 games in which the Cubs come back/win late.
100 wins

Granted this is plus or minus 10%. But what it all adds up to is -

3 more losses in October.
1,000,000 "World Championship" t-shirts destroyed.
And at least another minute in the spotlight before wilting under the pressure...

Blago hypo

http://www.wgntv.com/landing/?Blagojevich-says-Obama-replacement-searc=1&blockID=127706&feedID=1536

"Blagojevich heaped praise on nearly every one mentioned, but refused to name any front-runners and said he hadn't even thought about it yet out of fear he would "jinx" Obama."

Yet this is the same guy who showed up for a Cubs Post season rally before THAT started...So Blago jinxed us? What the heck? You gotta get your priorities straight man. I mean this is the World Series we're talking about...not some stupid election...

Jeez.

:D

Dempster dipping the proverbial toe in the water...

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2008/11/dempster-will-t.html

Dempster Will Test Open Market

So Ryan says he won't sign with the Cubs before other teams have had their say. So, Ryan lemme get this straight - We signed you fresh off of Tommy John, put you in the bullpen into the closer job you wanted, left you there even though the fans wanted you dead (except me and I will argue that til my dying day), and then put you in the rotation like you asked, but F-you, I wanna talk to some other teams?

Tell you what - how about you go work at WalMart (because that's where you would've ended up had we not gotten your crippled a-hole off the scrap heap) for a couple days, then get back to us.

You're going to pitch here little boy. Hendry would be foolish not to sign you. You just want to squeeze as much money out as possible? What exactly can you do with 60 million that you can't do with 50? Greed...It's a deadly sin...

Hendry - Get he Padres on the line!

Think about that for a minute.

Random Thought....

This is my all time favorite joke, and I only get to tell it twice a year, so here ya go -

"And in local news, 17 people were injured today when told to 'Spring ahead, and fall back'..."

BOO YAH!!!!

What do to..what to do...

So I'm reading Bleed Cubbie Blue blog and he is projecting a Cubs lineup in 2009 -
http://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2008/10/20/637547/building-a-cubs-champion-i

I'll sum up...

Trade D-Lee for Matt Cain and lefty reliever Alex Hinshaw
Trade Sean Marshall, Ronny Cedeno, Michael Wuertz and Micah Hoffpauir for Aubrey Huff and Luke Scott
Sign a cheapie backup infielder like Alex Cintron and sign Kevin Millar
Release Fukudome.
Trade Cain and Pie for Ricky Nolasco.

That's the gist of it. So let's take a look.

First of all, with all due respect to BCB for their very well thought out and insightful moves, but there are some I gotta turn my head funny and look at it and say huh?

First off, Fuku ain't goin' nowhere. He's here for AT LEAST another year. Now does he HAVE to be in the majors? Not necessarily.
Second, there is no way in God's green earth that the Giants make that deal as is, at least not without further depleting our farm system.
Third, oh great a trade with the Orioles. Yeah...we saw how well THAT worked out last year.

as far as departures are concerned, not only will I let most of those guys go, I'll help them pack and drive them to the airport. Micah, I'm not ready to pull the plug on just yet. Yes, he's an outfielder with power who tears the cover off the ball in the minors, and we've heard that story before. Didn't like that ending either.

Marshall is a good solid pitcher who isn't cutting it with this rotation, Wuertz and Cedeno - SECURITY!!!

D-LKee hurts, be he's by far the most tradable of the big three. And if he can get us a Matt Cain or Ricky Nolasco, I can live with it.

That's all I got for this minute. More later.

Random Thought

If they had a TV series that was just treadmill accidents, I'd watch every week...

Following the team drunig the offseason Part V

New rehab assignment for Soriano

Alfonso Soriano, who had not been bitten by the injury bug prior to his signing with the Cubs has finally revealed a long-standing bug that has plagued him since his days in Washington. The good news is, there is a very-progressive therapy for this ailment.

Mark O'Neal, head trainer for the Cubs, explains the treatment. "Basically Alfonso will be preceded anywhere he goes by at elast one person. Always. He will never enter or exit a room first. He will hold doors open for others, male or female, never sit at a table first, he'll even wait for someone else to go to the bathroom."

Soriano's condition, Egomus Maximus, is severe in Soriano's case. It is trainer O'Neal's hope that this treatment is effective and gets Soriano back to where he needs to be. "You know, like 5th in the Batting Order."

Jim Hendry commented, "This is a pretty aggressive treatment. We think it'll go a long way toward curing what is clearly a very serious mental--I mean physical...PHYSICAL defect. Hoepfulyl it won't be too much of a problem going forward."

Soriano still has 6 years left on his contract. "I plan to work hard with this treatment during the offseason and come back ready to go next spring. Now if you'll excuse me, we need to leave." Soriano then held the door open for four people, before leaving himself.

Seems to be helping.

Not true, not true, but it would be nice....

Headline of the day...

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/deluca/1239593,mark-grace-rips-cubs-102308.article

"Mark Grace says Cubs rolled over in playoffs
Says team should be humiliated after its latest playoff debacle "

Umm..yep

''They [bleeped] it up, honestly,''

Uh huh...

''That's twice now that this same group of players has gone out and played tight. ... I mean, come on, dude, are you kidding me?

Nailed it.

''And to get swept out, they really should be humiliated.''

Yeppers

"Honestly, that team for some reason, when [James] Loney hit that grand slam, you're only down two runs with five innings to play and that team just laid down. The place turned into a tomb. Damn, you're just down two, and you had come back all year. The team laid down."

Righto

(Chris De Luca) - And based on his words Thursday, Grace's color commentary might not fly in that overly sensitive clubhouse.

Nahhhh....he'll be fine...for a minute at least...

Following the team in the offseason Part IV

Life imitates occupation....

In an odd case of life imitates occupation, Reed Johnson was left at the alter by his recent and very attractive fiancee.

Previously, Johnson admits he'd been with a much less attractive partner for several years before she unexpectedly dumped him. Almost immediately, he hooked up with his current beau and was engaged to be married recently. Unfortunately, it didn't work out.

Johnson wasn't left as at the alter, per se, more like his wife-to-be couldn't find her way. After making perfect strides with the details such as the wedding reception, champagne, dress, flowers, caterer, chapel, etc. it seemed she just couldn't close the deal.

"She got lost on the way to the church. Funny thing, she's always the one with the map in the car, and throughout our relationship, she'd been dead on," Johnson said. "Just just couldn't produce in the clutch I guess...wait...are we still talking aobut Melissa?"

The status of Johnson's relationship is in flux. Melissa did state he might be a good alternate husband if one of three other candidates don't work out. She promises to not get lost next year...er..I mean next time.

We ARE still talking about Melissa, right?

Blah blah blah...if you believe this, go back to grader school, blah blah....

Jake coming to town?

I don't see if, but if so, dang this would be a friggin' scary rotation. Assuming Dempster resigns - Zambrano, Dempster, Lilly, Harden, Peavey. Who the heck is #1???

Reportedly the Pads want a couple of pitchers and a center fielder. Be nice if we could pawn off Marquis and Pie, pay some salary. Add in Sean Marshall? Marquis would fit well with that universe-sized outfield. I hate losing our best lefty out of the bullpen, but let's face it - Marshall is a starter and the Cubs right now are holding him back. Or...And here's a crazy thought.

Trade for Peavy, buh ye Dempster. Sure he caught lightning in a bottle, and maybe he'll be his dominant self for the rest of career. But I like what I see, not what I suspect. Peavy is a proven dominant innings eater year after year.

It'd be a nice deal, but honestly I can live with the rotation as is.

Just some interesting thought is all...

Here's a minute for ya.

Headline of the day..

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=ap-bonds-collusion&prov=ap&type=lgns

"Union says teams colluded against Bonds (AP)"

So does it really matter if all the teams said "he sucks and we don't want his baggage or his B$%^ing" collectively as opposed to individually?

Following the team during the offseason Part III

That's as good as it gets...According to Jim...and Lou

Jim Edmonds announced his inclination to retire today at a press conference attended by this reporter, Edmonds' dog, and several hundred cheering Cardinals fans. "While I have not made a final decision, it would seem that this year with the Cubs has been the pinnacle of my career. Yes, I do have a couple of World Series rings, and I'm building a third fireplace mantle to house all of my Gold Gloves, but since Lou [Piniella] said the team had a great year, and just because we didn't win a game in the playoffs [again], it doesn't mean this year wasn't a very successful year."

I mean Lou Piniella has been in this game for a long time, since I was in high school as a matter of fact, so if he says it was great, then who am I to judge. I must conclude that this was as good as it will get, and go out on top."

Edmonds, who has been classified by several scouts as "older than dirt" and "still owes Jesus six bucks" and "can't even keep up with a Greg Maddux fastball" seemed to be in a decline at the beginning of the year. He found himself playing center field at Petco Park where it would take a jet pack, and several 8 balls of cocaine to successfully defend. However, after being released, he was picked up by the Cubs in what could be characterized as the shrewdest no-brainer move of Jim Hendry's career.

"Well, not just anybody could've committed the financial resources to take a flyer on Jimmy, but I figured it was worth a limo and a pack of chewing gum," commented Jim Hendry who will pay a portion of Jim Edmonds' next contract should he decide to continue his play elsewhere - not because he has to, just because that's just what Hendry does. "It's true," Hendry admitted with a shrug.

If Edmonds decides to retire, it would cap a long and distinguished career on a super high note, according to Manager Lou Piniella. "Well, uh...Jim...let me tell you about Jim...He's ahhhh, a good ball player, and I prefer red licorice. Yeah."