February 2009
Monthly Archive
Will the Cubs ever lose????
Posted by jpligon75 on 26 Feb 2009 | Tagged as: Blog
Ok, it was the first game. And being the eternal optimist, maybe the title is slightly far fetched. Sue me.
Cubs beat the LA Dodgers yesterday 5-3 in a come from behind victory highlighted by Micah Hoffpauir’s grand slam. I will say this, if the kid produces like he did last spring, Pinella would be a fool to not have him as a back up to both Lee, and Bradley. He’s 29 years old and ready to produce.
In a spring where there are few if any position battles, a name that we haven’t said at all made Lou Pinella’s interview after the game; former Minnesota Twins second baseman Luis Rivas. He came into the game replacing starting thrid baseman for the day Bobby Scales and really impressed Pinella. Looks like Pinella is looking for a back up for Aramis Rameriez, and Rivas might be an answer.
Jeff Samardzija looked decent in his first start of the spring. He is in line for the 5th starter spot, although I think he might be better off in AAA working on being a starter. He’s got options, and there is no reason to rush this kid when he’s got so much upside, and so little experience in the big leagues.
Leadoff hitter Alfonsio Soriano really impressed Pinella. He singled and walked…yes folks I said walked in two at bats, and his range in the outfield looked good as well. No just do that in October Fonzie.
Cubs 1-0 in spring. Next up the rival Brewers.
Brewers monitoring Chad Cordero (MLBrumors)
Posted by jpligon75 on 17 Feb 2009 | Tagged as: NL Central News
Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports that the Brewers will have a scout on hand for Chad Cordero’s next throwing session.
“We have interest in him,” said GM Doug Melvin. “This will be his first workout off the mound. We’ll wait until we get the report.”
Cordero, 27, missed most of the 2008 season after undergoing shoulder surgery. He has a 2.78 career ERA and 128 total saves in six MLB seasons. He’ll throw for several teams on Wednesday in California.
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Jpligon’s take– this is something the Brewers should definetly roll the dice with. Cubs did the same thing with Ryan Dempster a few years back. Cordero has some good stuff when he’s healthy.
Oh don’t tease us Lou….
Posted by jpligon75 on 17 Feb 2009 | Tagged as: Blog
For a manager that preaches speed, and on base percentage, Lou PInella sure is stubborn about his lead off spot.
When asked about the middle of the order yesterday, Pinella commented that he’s got a nice mix of players with Lee, Ramierez and Bradley, but wouldn’t be opposed to putting Soriano in that mix as well, and he’s got the spring to play around with it. Pinella admitted that Soriano doesn’t run as much as he once did, and that opens the door for possible change.
But as quickly as he said that, he also said that he loves and likes Soriano as his leadoff hitter. UGH!
I wish Lou would take the diaper and pacifier off Soriano and put him where he belongs as a number 4, 5, 6 hitter. Fukudome, Johnson, Theriot, Fontenot and Miles could all lead off, and do a better job of getting on base and stealing some bases.
We have 39 spring training games to see what Lou has in store. Stay tuned.
Isringhausen could return to Cardnals (MLBrumors.com)
Posted by jpligon75 on 16 Feb 2009 | Tagged as: NL Central News
Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch said in a radio interview on the Team 1380 that the Cardinals have spoken with Jason Isringhausen’s representatives and could still sign him. The Cardinals are keeping their options open and they could strike a deal if Izzy doesn’t yet have a job in a few weeks.
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JP’s take : Izzy is not the same pitcher he once was. And to be quite honest, he wasn’t very successful against the Cubs to begin with. This is good news for the Cubs as the Cardnals bullpen is really up in the air with a bunch of no names other then interim closer Ryan Franklin. Obviously the Cardnals don’t have all the faith in the world in Franklin if they are still talking to Izzy.
Brewers move on without CC, Sheets (MLB.com)
Posted by jpligon75 on 16 Feb 2009 | Tagged as: NL Central News
PHOENIX — Milwaukee general manager Doug Melvin said it all winter, until he turned a Brewers shade of blue in the face:
Short of discovering a gold mine buried under Miller Park, there was no way the team could replace CC Sabathia and Ben Sheets.
Yet replacing those co-aces is precisely the challenge currently facing the Brewers, who won the National League Wild Card last season thanks largely to Sabathia and Sheets. Both pitchers have departed, Sabathia to a mega-deal with the New York Yankees and Sheets to surgery and free agency.
In their place? The Brewers signed former Cardinal Braden Looper last week to provide some depth, but it’s up to a pair of kids to do the heavy lifting. If the Brewers are to repeat as postseason participants, Yovani Gallardo and Manny Parra will have to lead the way.
“We all know we lost two great pitchers,” said Gallardo, who at 23 could emerge as Milwaukee’s new ace.
“CC and Sheets were huge to what this team did last year.”
“We’re going to have to prove that we can pitch,” said Parra, 26 and the Brewers’ only left-handed starter.
“That’s not just Yovani and I, but the rest of the staff. We’re all going to have to step it up to prove we can be as good as we were last year. That’s going to the only question for this team, really.”
It’s a significant question. Sabathia and Sheets have combined for 203 career wins, 475 starts and seven All-Star Games; Gallardo and Parra have 19 wins, 52 starts and have watched All-Star Games on television.
From July through the end of the 2008 regular season, Sabathia and Sheets combined to go 15-9. Parra was 2-7 and Gallardo took a no-decision in his only start.
Yet Brewers officials see good things ahead for both of their young guns. Gallardo is an exceptional talent who was slowed in 2008 by surgeries on both knees. He missed the start of the season after tearing cartilage in his left knee, then was sidelined again in early May with a torn ACL.
Parra’s path to the big leagues was slowed by shoulder injuries, but he has been healthy since 2006 and spent his first full season in the big leagues in 2008. He went 8-2 before the All-Star break but faded in the second half and was bumped from Milwaukee’s starting rotation in September.
“I didn’t even think about it at the time on a personal level because of the pennant race we were in,” Parra said. “In the end, I was happy with my season up until September, when it got away from me a little bit.
“I sat down at the end of the season and thought about it a little bit. Did my legs feel tired? Was my arm OK? I feel like I was healthy and strong, but obviously I wasn’t, judging from the way I was throwing at the end.”
Today, Parra understands the decision to remove him from the rotation. He got a boost in the postseason, making two scoreless relief appearances.
Gallardo was also boosted by Milwaukee’s National League Division Series showdown against the Phillies, even though he was the pitcher of record in the Brewers’ Game 1 loss after being tagged with three unearned runs.
The Brewers’ showed their faith in Gallardo with that assignment. He had made exactly one regular season start since undergoing surgery to repair his ACL, lasting four innings against the Pirates, yet he was handed the ball for Milwaukee’s first postseason game in 26 years. It allowed him to walk away from a trying season with a smile on his face.
“It was very tough year,” Gallardo said. “I went from not having any surgeries ever to having two last year, and it was very tough. But that’s baseball and things are going to happen. You just have to get through them.”
About seven weeks separate the Brewers from their April 7 opener in San Francisco, but today Gallardo appears a favorite to draw that assignment. He’s trying not to think about it.
“Every starter would like to be [the Opening Day pitcher] at some point,” Gallardo said. “I try not to think about it at this point because there are things you have to do now in spring to prepare yourself.”
He’s similarly stoic about “replacing” Sabathia and Sheets.
“The time was going to have to come eventually, where you have to step up,” Gallardo said. “That time comes for every player. We all have to keep playing hard with or without [Sabathia and Sheets] and that doesn’t bother me. Whether I am or am not one of the top guys in the rotation, it doesn’t change what I have to do.”
The rest of the rotation is set to include three more veteran right-handers: Looper, Dave Bush and Jeff Suppan. Manager Ken Macha does not plan to line up his rotation until the Brewers’ off day on March 24. Whatever his spot in that starting rotation, Parra is focused on the positives.
“This gives us an opportunity to step in and play a bigger role,” Parra said. “I’m ready for it. I’m looking forward to it. Why would anyone be anything but happy about a chance like that?
“I’ve always wanted to be in this position, and I think I’m ready for it.”
Well it’s time to start the tradition
Posted by jpligon75 on 15 Feb 2009 | Tagged as: Blog
Go Cubs go by Steve Goodman will always be a great cubs tradition, but this one made it’s mark quickly last year, and this year will be even more.
Brings chills when i hear this song. Love it.
GO CUBS!!!!
Rest is the key for 2009 Cubs
Posted by jpligon75 on 14 Feb 2009 | Tagged as: Blog
One thing you can say about Lou Pinella, is that he is not afraid to change.
After a 97 win season, Pinella still thought that change was in order in the offseason, and change was made with a lot of additions and departures this year.
So look for guys like Lee, Rameriez, Soriano, and Soto to get a lot more rest this year with additions of Milton Bradley, Joey Gathright and Aaron Miles who can all play the outfield spots. Miles can also play the infield spots as well, and along with Micah Hoffpauir and Mike Fontenot, look for them to get some time playing in various positions to give the starters a rest.
I can’t say I disagree with Pinella’s direction. I don’t think that lack of rest is the reason the Cubs are 0-6 in the playoffs the last two years, but I think this should do nothing but help the cubs down the stretch and hopefully in the post season.
Finally on a side note, the full page article that Kerry Wood paid for in the chicago papers thanking the fans for cheering him on for the decade plus he was in Chicago was pure class, and I expected nothing less from him. Kerry Wood is going to be missed. That is the one move the Cubs made that I disagree with, but I have to understand from a business stancepoint. He wanted more then a one year deal, and given his health, I understand fully why the Cubs weren’t willing to do it. Doesn’t mean I have to like it!!
Pitchers and catchers reported yesterday, I will be having a lot more articles coming up in the near future!!
Go Cubs!
More moves by Hendry shake up the pitching staff yet again
Posted by jpligon75 on 02 Feb 2009 | Tagged as: Blog
Well the one thing you know about Jim Hendry is that he never rests on his laurels. In yet another move before pitchers and catchers report in 11 days, Hendry traded Rich Hill to the Baltimore Orioles for a player to be named, while dealing Michael Wuertz to the Oakland Athletics for two Minor League players.
Both moves free up spots in the 40 man roster, but none of the players the Cubs got will more than likely make it to the bigs at least at first. The Cubs acquired Minor League outfielder Richie Robnett and infielder Justin Sellers for Wuertz.
Robnett, 25, was selected by the Athletics in the first round of the 2004 First-Year Player Draft. He was added to the Cubs’ 40-man roster and will report to Spring Training camp.
Sellers, was selected by Oakland in the sixth round of the 2005 Draft and spent an entire season at Double-A Midland for the first time in 2008, batting .255 with 15 doubles, eight triples, six home runs, 46 RBIs and 10 stolen bases in 123 games. He will report to the Cubs’ Minor League camp this spring.
Both moves don’t shock anyone. Both players were out of options, and with all the moves that Hendry has made to bolster the bullpen, it was better to get something then nothing.
Cubs deal Hill to O’s, Wuertz to A’s (Cubs.com)
Posted by jpligon75 on 02 Feb 2009 | Tagged as: Team News
CHICAGO — The Cubs decided Rich Hill and Michael Wuertz both needed a change of scenery.
On Monday, the Cubs continued their offseason reorganization plan and traded Hill to the Baltimore Orioles for a player to be named, while dealing Wuertz to the Oakland Athletics for two Minor League players.
Cubs general manager Jim Hendry said he knew he wanted to move Hill but took into consideration that he wanted to find a place where the lefty would succeed. Hill will be reunited with Rick Kranitz and Alan Dunn, who are both on the Orioles’ coaching staff, and who both worked with Hill in the Cubs’ Minor League system.
“You hope, because he is such a good kid, that he gets back on track,” Hendry said.
In 2007, Hill was 11-8 with a 3.92 ERA and led the team in strikeouts, fooling hitters with his sweeping curve. He was projected as the Cubs’ fourth starter last year but struggled with his control, walking 18 in 19 2/3 innings, and compiled a 4.12 ERA in five starts before he was optioned to Triple-A Iowa on May 3.
He pitched in the Venezuelan Winter League and had a good first outing Oct. 17, when he struck out six over 5 1/3 innings. But it was his only win, and he gave up 23 walks and 23 hits over 21 innings and posted a 6.86 ERA in nine outings.
Hendry said it was difficult to figure out what went wrong, and was concerned that Hill would have a tough time finding a job late in Spring Training if he didn’t make the Cubs’ rotation. The lefty, who turns 29 on March 11, was out of options.
The Cubs could receive a high-level player as compensation if Hill makes the Orioles’ Major League roster.
With the trade of Jason Marquis to Colorado and Hill gone to the Orioles, the Cubs are looking at Sean Marshall, Chad Gaudin, Aaron Heilman and Jeff Samardzija for the vacant fifth starter spot. Pitchers and catchers report Feb. 13. Heilman was acquired last week in a deal with the Seattle Mariners for Ronny Cedeno and Minor League pitcher Garrett Olson.
The Cubs have been adding relievers this offseason and decided to part with Wuertz, 30, who went 13-7 with one save and a 3.57 ERA in 265 relief appearances in all or part of five seasons with the Cubs.
“We felt Michael wasn’t as effective last year and felt with the new arms that we’ve added, there were guys who were ahead of him,” Hendry said. “It will help Mike, it will help the A’s and it will help us, too.”
The Cubs acquired Minor League outfielder Richie Robnett and infielder Justin Sellers for Wuertz.
Robnett, 25, was selected by the Athletics in the first round of the 2004 First-Year Player Draft. A left-handed hitter, he was limited to 82 games last season after early season surgery to remove a tumor from his stomach. He batted .236 at Triple-A, and has a .256 average in five Minor League seasons. He was added to the Cubs’ 40-man roster and will report to Spring Training camp.
Sellers, who turned 23 on Sunday, has “above Major League average potential” defensively, Hendry said. The infielder was selected by Oakland in the sixth round of the 2005 Draft and spent an entire season at Double-A Midland for the first time in 2008, batting .255 with 15 doubles, eight triples, six home runs, 46 RBIs and 10 stolen bases in 123 games. He will report to the Cubs’ Minor League camp this spring.
It’s been a busy offseason for the two-time defending National League Central champions. Outfielder Felix Pie and Cedeno, who also were out of options, were both dealt. The Cubs also have acquired Kevin Gregg from the Florida Marlins; dealt Mark DeRosa to Cleveland for three Minor League pitchers; signed free agents Milton Bradley, Aaron Miles, Paul Bako and Joey Gathright; acquired David Patton in the Rule 5 Draft; and traded Marquis for Luis Vizcaino. Gone via free agency are Kerry Wood, Bob Howry, Daryle Ward and Henry Blanco.
Giants still talking to Manny (MLBRumors)
Posted by jpligon75 on 01 Feb 2009 | Tagged as: MLB News
According to ESPN.com’s Buster Olney, the Giants are still talking to Manny Ramirez. Giants president Larry Baer said “we’ve got interest. But it’s one of those things where it’s got to fit.”
Some executives say the Giants want to prevent the Dodgers from getting Manny on a one year deal, but aren’t about to start a bidding war. If they end up with a Hall of Fame player for a year because of it, they’d be happy.
As one executive said, few teams have enough money remaining to sign Ramirez, so the Dodgers could conceivably offer $30MM over two years and still make the highest bid.
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jp’s comments:
As customary with a big rivalry like Red Sox/Yankees, and Giants/Dodgers, this should be interesting to see what happens with Manny. Of course Manny doesn’t care where he goes just as long as he’s the center of attention. I have a feeling it won’t be the Dodgers. But stay tuned, cause we’re close to the conclusion.
