Whither Al Alburquerque?
The Chicago Cubs will part with High A Daytona reliever Al Alburquerque in the deal for Colorado Rockies utility man Jeff Baker says Cubs.com.
This is a devastating, devastating blow to the Cubs organization. No, not because Alburquerque sports an excellent 2.08 ERA this year (come on, he’s 23 in High A - it’s not *that* impressive).
The blow is because it is yet ANOTHER beautiful, wonderful name exiting the Cubs. For an organization that has waved goodbye to Buck Coats, Rocky Cherry, and Rocky Roquet, certainly they must realize that these names don’t just grow on trees. And now… Al Alburquerque? I don’t really know how this team will survive.
Thank God for Milton Bradley.
Series Preview: Brewers v. Cubs, July 2 - July 5, 2009
The Chicago Cubs square up for the third time against the Milwaukee Brewers. Regarding the series almost two months ago against the Brewers, we said this: “This is one of those May series that, in retrospect come September, is going to look pretty damn important.” Well, this is one of those July series that… the Cubs need to get off their collective ass. A refresher on the series preview here at Bleacher Nation:
The idea is to hook you up with the bare minimum of what you need to know about every series this year. That way you can look like a genius, hardcore fan in front of all your friends, with minimum effort. Oh, and there will be pictures of hot chicks, too.
Check out the Brewers series preview, after the jump
Report: Cubs Have Acquired Jeff Baker from the Rockies
Well this certainly came out of nowhere.
The Chicago Cubs have acquired Jeff Baker(notes) from the Colorado Rockies, according to a source close to the club.
It is unclear who the Rockies will receive in return for Baker or the Cubs’ plans for him.
Baker, an infielder, went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to April 27 and was transferred to the 60-day DL on May 24. He began a minor league rehab assignment June 19. Yahoo! Sports.
Baker is 28, and put up a .791 OPS (a very slugging-heavy .791 - his OBP was just .322) last year, his first full year in the bigs. He plays second base and third, thus make a trade for him about two months too late. Kidding, of course, given that he’s been on the disabled list.
Presumably Baker would be added for a little depth, and maybe allowing Mike Fontenot to start against righties only once Aramis Ramirez comes back. I know, Aaron Miles already gave the Cubs that ability, but he’s not good at baseball.
No word on whom the Cubs are giving up at this point. In fact, no other confirmation of a deal at all at this point. So it still may not happen. We’ll call this a “rumor” for now.
Enhanced Box Score: Cubs 4, Pirates 1 - July 1, 2009
Now, if I weren’t on my positivity kick, I would point out that, despite the win, given that the Cubs managed just four runs and stranded a billion runners, the win was lucky. But since I’m all positive now, hooray! Series win!*
*against the Pirates.
Ballplayers Hate Lou Piniella, Ozzie Guillen
Apparently Lou Piniella isn’t just unpopular in Cubs fans circles these days.
In a survey of 380 Major League players, 26 percent said they did not want to play for Lou Piniella and 21 percent said they did not want to play for Ozzie Guillen. The results will be published in this week’s Sports Illustrated. Muskat Ramblings.
That makes Lou Piniella the most unpopular manager for players in all of baseball, and Ozzie Guillen is second. Both are actually a surprise to me, as I had always believed that the two were well-liked by those who played for them. But maybe you only hear that from players who currently play with them. Maybe Piniella really is a grousy old coot, and Ozzie really is a douche.
The saving grace for the survey: Tony LaRussa finished third.
Money Matters: Cubs and Sox Will Make Up Rainout
No surprise here.
The Cubs and White Sox will play one more installment of the Crosstown Classic Sept. 3 to make up for the June 16 game that was postponed due to rain.
The Cubs announced today that all tickets for that game will be honored at the gates for the Sept. 3 game, which is scheduled for a 1:20 start. There is no need for fans to exchange tickets.
Fans unable to attend the Sept. 3 game may request a refund by sending their tickets to the Wrigley Field Ticket Office at 1060 W. Addison St., Chicago, IL 60613 or by visiting the Wrigley Field ticket windows during business hours. All refunds must be requested before July 31. CHICAGO SUN-TIMES.
But don’t you dare request a refund! Roar!
If you got your tickets through Stub Hub, they’ll work, too. But if you can’t use them, take it up with Stub Hub.
Angel Guzman is Rehabbing, Um, Good
Chicago Cubs reliever Angel Guzman - a guy with a long, long history of injuries to add unfortunate color to his incredibly successful 2009 thus far - is rehabbing a strained triceps injury. As you’ll recall, Lou Piniella indicated the injury, which sent Guzman to the disabled list, was not particularly serious.
Angel Guzman had an efficient outing Tuesday night for the Class A Peoria Chiefs. Guzman, rehabbing from a strained right triceps, threw 11 pitches (nine for strikes) in one inning in a game against the Kane County Cougars. The right-hander struck out two of the three batters he faced, and the stadium radar gun clocked his fastball at 95 mph. He was expected to make another rehab outing Thursday if there are no setbacks. Muskat Ramblings.
Not unexpected, but good to hear. Guzman is eligible to return from the DL on Monday against the Atlanta Braves.
Aramis Ramirez Could Be Back by Monday
As we obsessively watch Aramis Ramirez’s slow return from a dislocated shoulder, he’s finally ready for his rehab assignment. It is going to start on Friday with the Peoria Cubs, and he’ll likely play through the weekend there.
If he feels well, he could rejoin the Chicago Cubs as soon as Monday, in time for a home series against the Atlanta Braves. Even if he does make it back to the team by then, I would not necessarily expect him to play the entire series.
Returning on Monday - or a little later in the week - would put Ramirez exactly at two months since his injury, which was the consensus timeline for his return once the full extent of his injury was understood. What Ramirez’s return means and doesn’t mean, after the jump
Enhanced Box Score: Cubs 0, Pirates 3 - June 30, 2009
Ah, the Cubbies. They end the month of June as they lived it: sucktastically. They went 11-14 on the month, and stand two games under .500.
Jeff Samardzija to Chicago, Jose Ascanio to Iowa
Filed under: Chicago Cubs Transactions, Cubs Minor Leagues and Prospects
The Cubs have recalled Jeff Samardzija from AAA Iowa, which sort of seems strange. In a corresponding move, the team sent successful reliever Jose Ascanio back to AAA Iowa, which sort of seems stranger.
I know Samardzija wasn’t being sent down for good, but is he really ready to contribute? And why does Ascanio get the boot? His 3.50ish ERA too lofty for the vomitous pen?
