Yesterday, the Chicago Cubs announced their final roster cuts for Spring Training, sending down Micah Hoffpauir, Sam Fuld, and Chris Robinson, and releasing Kevin Millar. That meant that Chad Tracy, who’d been locked in a perceived struggle with Millar to win the last bench spot on the Cubs, would be making the team. For his […]
After this weekend’s statements from MLB Commissioner Bud Selig that he had “taken over” the plans to finance new Spring Training facilities for the Chicago Cubs, which would keep them Springing in Mesa, Arizona, there were some reasonable concerns about whether the Cubs would indeed remain there. New owner Tom Ricketts is trying to ease […]
As we predicted (I’m almost as good at predicting as I am at tooting my own horn), today the Chicago Cubs selected Chad Tracy as their 25th man, which led to the release of Kevin Millar. We’ll go into more detail on the move later.
Sometimes I come across a rumor from the far reaches of the ‘net that emanates from sources I don’t know. That is not to say it might not have a nugget of truth – I simply can’t vouch for it. But I figure you are all big boys and girls, and can decide for yourselves […]
Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Ted Lilly is coming along nicely in his rehab from shoulder surgery, and once again, it looks like he’ll miss just two starts. Ted Lilly is on track to return to the Cubs as early as April 19 in New York. Manager Lou Piniella said Lilly will throw three innings Tuesday […]
The Chicago Cubs have but one roster decision left to make before the start of the season, and manager Lou Piniella said he’ll be making it soon. Cubs manager Lou Piniella said on Monday that the team will make final cuts sometime Tuesday or early Wednesday. The only competition left is the 25th man on […]
Each time I post a story on Milton Bradley, I sincerely believe that it will be the last one – at least for a long while. But then newsworthy tidbits keep popping up. Milton Bradley wasn’t in the Mariners’ lineup for Sunday’s game against the Cubs and when approached by Chicago reporters, the outfielder declined […]
Yesterday, Chicago Cubs manager Lou Piniella announced that outfielder Tyler Colvin had won the 24th spot on the Chicago Cubs, and he’ll act as the team’s fifth outfielder behind starters Alfonso Soriano, Marlon Byrd and Kosuke Fukudome, and fourth outfielder Xavier Nady. “Everybody who is here has special merits,” Piniella said. “It’s just a question […]
Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig is not a popular man in too many circles, and he’s likely to remain that way with Chicago Cubs fans. The Chicago Cubs, seeking to work out an agreement with the State of Arizona and the city of Mesa to preserve that city as their Spring Training destination for […]
Mike Parisi was selected this year by the Chicago Cubs in the Rule 5 Draft. The gist: that means he was a guy who’d been in the minors a long time without being placed on a team’s 40-man roster, and the Cubs wanted to give him a shot to make their 25-man roster. Usually, if […]
Tyler Colvin exploded at the plate yesterday – again – with four hits including a triple and a homer against the San Diego Padres. The hits came against Major League caliber pitching, including lefty Clayton Richard, to boot. The kid has done nothing but hit (literally, nothing but hit: he has yet to take a […]
As predicted earlier this week, Andres Blanco has been traded, rather than exposed to waivers. Today, according to multiple reports, Blanco was sent to the Rangers for a Player to be Named Later. When the Cubs announced earlier this week that Mike Fontenot definitely would be the backup shortstop, the writing for Blanco was on […]
Yesterday, Chicago Cubs manager Lou Piniella announced the back-end of the rotation – Carlos Silva and Tom Gorzelanny – which also meant that he was announcing that Jeff Samardzija and Sean Marshall would start the year in the bullpen. And for Samardzija, who has said repeatedly that he wants to start, it was a bitter […]
Yesterday the Chicago Cubs trimmed their Spring Roster for the fifth time, crushing the hopes and dreams of seven players: outfielder James Adduci, infielders Darwin Barney and Bobby Scales, catcher Robinson Chinoros, and relievers John Gaub, Jeff Gray, and Marcos Mateo. With yesterday’s announcement that Jeff Samardzija would indeed be in the bullpen, these cuts […]
As we predicted earlier today, Lou Piniella has announced that the Chicago Cubs will round out their starting rotation with Carlos Silva and Tom Gorzelanny to start the season. He did not say what would happen when Ted Lilly, who is expected to miss the first couple of weeks of the season, returns. Piniella also […]
I know, I know – another Milton Bradley story. Get over it already, and all that. But this was too good not to post. Some Seattle Mariners bloggers were recently asked about Milton Bradley, and about his upcoming season in Seattle. The results were predictable – things will be better, Bradley wasn’t really the problem in […]
Whither Andres Blanco. The Chicago Cubs have been experimenting with Mike Fontenot quite a bit at shortstop this Spring, even as Fontenot was trying to nail down the starting second base gig. Apparently the experiment has proved successful, as it looks more and more clear that Fontenot will open the season as the backup at […]
The days of the Spring Training Battle Watch are growing short, my friends. I know, your collective hearts are breaking. Yesterday, the Cubs put the wood to one of the best starting pitchers in the National League, Dan Haren. It would be nice if it were real. On to the battles… Tom Gorzelanny probably just […]
When the Chicago Cubs took Tyler Colvin with their first round pick in 2006, you could hear the groans from across Chicago. The kid – talented, to be sure – was projected as a third or fourth round pick, and the Cubs had just tabbed him in the middle of the first. What was up? […]
Chicago Cubs reliever Angel Guzman finally underwent shoulder surgery on Tuesday to repair a relatively serious tear. The surgery was a success, though Guzman is still out for the year. Cubs reliever Angel Guzman has had arthroscopic surgery to repair a career-threatening injury to his right shoulder. The procedure performed Tuesday by noted orthopedist Dr. […]
The Cubs mollywhopped the Rangers today 12-1, behind a strong effort from… Sean freaking Marshall. He threw four innings without giving up an earned run, striking out five, walking one, and giving up three hits. As I said yesterday, if this guy does not land a rotation spot, he never had an actual chance to […]
While we still have no official word from Chicago Cubs manager Lou Piniella on the final makeup of the rotation and the bench (much less the bullpen), we do have a pretty good idea of how things are trending at this point. Paul Sullivan has offered his thoughts: Carlos Silva and Tom Gorzelanny appear to […]
Chicago Cubs third baseman Aramis Ramirez still isn’t quite over his triceps injury. He finally got into some game action yesterday, but just as a DH. Playing third base will have to wait – but he might be ready by Friday. “I felt pretty good out there today,” Ramirez said. He has been sidelined because […]
Chicago Cubs starter Ted Lilly, recovering from shoulder surgery, had hoped to make it into a Spring Training game this year, but it looks like it won’t happen. Cubs manager Lou Piniella said Lilly will throw in minor-league games starting on March 27. With Cactus League starters progressing to five and six innings, the team […]
The Cubs lost to the Royals 5-5 today (yes, that’s a tie … but it’s the Royals), behind a mediocre outing from Ryan Dempster. On to the battles yo… Two young relievers who are on thin ice – Marcos Mateo and John Gaub – probably shouldn’t have worn their Timberlands for this one. Each blew […]
The Chicago Cubs, like most teams, are dealing with a few injury issues at this late Spring stage, but most are expected to abate early in the regular season at the latest. Or sooner, in the case of pitcher Carlos Silva, who left his last start a little early with thigh issues. The Cubs’ Carlos […]
