Fire Dusty Baker
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09 July
Open Thread
Questions? Comments?
Rich Harden trade reaction...
...
from the Bay Area: “I think (the A’s) just traded damaged goods.”
That's what's worrysome. Why would the A's trade thier ace so far from the deadline (when, presumably, the price goes up)? He's comming off of two sub-par outings, maybe he's breaking down again? The A's are still in the race at only 5 games out. Knock on (Kerry) wood he isn't injured. If he stays healthy, it should be a worthwhile deal. BIG IF.
But they're sorry to see him go in Oakland, right?
Wrong.
The Cubs wanted him, and they can have him. They need him more than the A's do. And they'll need to get skipper Lou Piniella a reliable pitch-count clicker to track Harden.
08 July
Get plenty of protein
I...
I don't know what to say...
(Scroll down to "Bug zapper")
After Derrek Lee spotted a bug in (Sean Gallagher's) locker Saturday in St. Louis, Gallagher ate it for an undisclosed sum of cash -- to the disgust and delight of Lee and teammate Reed Johnson.
(And don't forget to read the one underneath about Edmonds getting an x-ray.)
Get it back on track
The Cubs haven't won two games in a row since June 27-29 when they swept the White Sox. Next up is the Cincinnati Reds, who are fresh off of a 5-2 homestand against Pittsburgh and Washington. The Cubs are back at home, time to get it done.
07 July
On to Plan B
With C.C. Sabathia going to the Brewers, the Cubs are said to be looking at the A's right-hander Rich Harden. He seems like a perfect fit for the Cubs. He's a frontline pitcher, with a history of injuries:
2005 - Harden was sidelined with an oblique injury and missed more than a month (May 14-June 21). Then he missed another month (August 19- September 25) with an injured right shoulder.
2006 - Harden spent most of the season on the DL with a strained back muscle, then a ligament sprain in his pitching elbow.
2007 - A right shoulder strain sent him to the DL April 23 until June 22nd. He prompty retuned to the DL on July 12th and was shut down the rest of the year with the strained right shoulder.
2008 - He went to the DL after one start with (come on, you can guess) - a right shoulder strain. (April 10- May 11.)
Rich Harden and Jim Hendry: a match made in heaven. On the plus side, we still have Kerry Wood to teach him the towel drill.
30 June
Open Thread
What's on your mind?
What could be next?
For an injury depleated team? Now Ramirez
will miss the San Francisco series due to family matters.
As a sure series win starts looking like a sure series loss (or sweep.)
No kidding...
Got to love
this headline in the Tribune today.
"Cubs may be in market for another pitcher"
Way to go out on a limb on that one. I'll be they're looking for at least two. (A front line starter and a set-up man.) And if they're not - Jim Hendry is a bigger fool than we all thought.
12 June
Keep those fingers crossed
...that the Cubs plans for left field for the next six weeks work out. Why? Because old friend
Jacque Jones has been designated for assignment. Again.
Open Thread
Say it loud
Posts disappeared
Don't know what happened to yesterday's posts, they're disapeared like Rich Hill's command of the strike zone. Odd too, because one of them was about his walks at AAA. Well, there's an update today. In yesterday's start, Hill allowed three earned runs on four hits and more six walks. (He also hit a batter.) Over four innings of work, Hill threw 101 pitches, and only 53 were strikes. In 25.1 innings at Iowa, opponents are hitting only .213 against him. He's given up 24 walks, however.
If this guy could ever find the strike zone again, it would be a tremendous boost to this team. Maybe someone could suggest a new self-help/motivational book for him?
Place your bets
With Soriano out for 6 weeks, looks like Eric Patterson is getting the nod in left - at least for today. If *IF* Eric can get to the park on time, does anyone care to speculate when Eric will pass big-brother Cory in hits this season? (Cory has 31 so far.)
Only criticism of Dempster
The only criticism of Ryan Dempster's performance last night: You should have hit Brian McCann in the head in the fourth inning.
They pull a knife, you pull a gun. He sends one of yours to the hospital, you send one of his to the morgue. That's the Chicago way.
06 June
Sale update
Sam Zell says that bidders should get the financial books within the week and that preliminary bids will be due in July.
04 June
Maybe that's why he's not giving Wrigley to the state?
Sam Zell plans
to keep a finger in the pie that is the Chicago National league Ballclub after the sale.
"In all likelihood, the company will keep some kind of minority interest in the Cubs," Zell said, as he reiterated his interest in letting a new owner take over.
"An asset like that is an extraordinary asset for ego gratification and identification, none of which the Tribune took advantage of … nor do I think they were capable of doing that," he said. "It belongs in entrepreneurial hands and I think that would benefit the team, the city and, for sure, Tribune."
It was not immediately clear what percentage of the team Tribune looks to keep. Tribune Co. would realize some tax benefits in such an arrangement, but the small stake would protect its TV and radio assets' long-standing—and financially beneficial—links to the team.
Of course, with a minority owner like Zell who's just concerned with the bottom line and doing whatever it takes to maintain it, the Cubs could become the next
Indianapolis Clowns.
