The Cubs haven’t won too many games against the Pirates over the past couple of years. Until this year, that was a point of frustration. Now it just looks like something that’s obviously correct.
- Jim Hendry said some things about the trade deadline yesterday, but didn’t actually say anything. The gist: the Cubs will probably make some trades, will probably refuse to make others, and won’t make trades just for the sake of making trades. Okey dokey.
- Marcos Mateos’ injury is a forearm strain (not an elbow injury), similar to that suffered by Randy Wells. In the grand scheme of things, it’s good news, but he’ll still miss four or five weeks. He had no structural damage, so it’s ok to feel some relief.
- Carlos Zambrano’s rehab outing in Peoria went well, at least statistically – he threw four innings, giving up just one unearned run, three walks, three hits, and striking out four.
- The Cubs will now officially enter the AS break without a three-game winning streak, making them the first such team since the 2000 Astros.
- Matt Garza on his first half with the Cubs: “I was on the DL, battled through two months of blistering cold… having the time of my life. What’s not to smile about? I’m 27 years old, father of three and I get paid to play a baseball game. What’s there to complain about? I’m at the highest level of my profession. I’m having a blast.”
- Cubs prospects feature in this week’s BA Hot Sheet. Well, that is to say, one features in the Hot Sheet (Brett Jackson), and one features in the not-so hot section (Hayden Simpson). Austin Kirk shows up “in the photo,” too.
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maybe not much coming down the pike from minors….but better than paying free agents….bring em all up and lets see what they have…Interestingly Sandberg found a way to win with our minor leaguers…so there may be some hidden talent down there…
Hendry will again wuss out and get took at the deadline because he doesn’t know what he’s doing. The definition of insanity is trying the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. Well, he’s been doing that since the infamous decision to save Zambrano for game 4.
Sori, Dempster, Z, Soto, Fuk, Ramirez, and Marmol all still have a collective record of 0-6 in the playoffs but because Hendry doesn’t know how to start over most will still be here next year, which means we’re already screwed for 2012. And yes, Hendry is truly crazy because he WILL make a trade or two just for the sake of making a trade. Most likely it will be a player or two who played well for the Cubs for a couple of young unknown pitchers and outfielders who will add to an already overly crowded minor league system but will do nothing to help the Cubs in 2012. Examples: Lilly, Lee, Gorz, Fonteblow, Theriot were all traded for a bunch of nobodies and Blake DeWitt. I’d say that’s pretty good examples of making a trade just to make a trade. Considering how much money he has to play with and a huge fan base, the results show Hendry is easily the worst GM in baseball. And yet he STILL has a job…
Technically Ramirez is 6-11 in the playoffs.
Que? What team other than the Cubs and Pirates did Ramirez play for and amass a 6-5 playoff record?
All with Cubs:
2003- 3W/2L vs. Braves, 3W/4L vs. Marlins
2007- 3L vs. D-backs
2008- 3L vs. Dodgers
In 2003 he had 11 hits, 4 HR, 10 RBI
2007-2008 2 hits, 0 HR, 0 RBI
6-12, for some reason I always forget the ’03 NLDS went 5 games. The good old days, when Aramis could hit and played shitty defense. Oh, wait….
Since we’re all not so keen on Hendry’s trading skill, what trade could come up first? My own thought is that Pena, Marmol or Fuku may be traded first. What do others thnk?
I’d like to see Byrd, Fukudome, Grabow, Pena, Ramirez and Soriano gone.
yeah but, only if we can get something in return, well, for byrd, kosuke, pena, and ramirez at least. the problem is hendry doesnt know his ass from a hole in the ground so ultimately, we’d loose on those trades. soriano would be simply to unload the money so you obvioulsy wouldnt expect much if anything in that trade (depening on how much of his salary the cubs agree to pay)
wow jim hendry is the smartest man ever!
I am becoming more and more of a Garza fan …. a man who truly loves the game and respects what he has … Go Garza!
Me too, although I’m sure some will see this as him not taking his job seriously.
He looked pretty damn serious against the Sox and the Nats. If they think he’s not serious, then they probably don’t actually watch the games.
yeah he looked serioulsy BAD against the nats. i was warming up to him, thinking maybe hendry didnt totally blow that one, but he couldnt get his shit together in the 3rd and it was a little scary.
I didn’t say anything about whether he was good or bad. I just said he was serious. I think he’s a good pitcher. It is his first year as a Cub. I think it’s a little too early to write him off. As for the third inning against the Nats, it’s a little hard to get your shit together when the defense is falling apart too.(that includes him and his throw to first. I think that was a case of “I’ll do it myself” gone wrong.)
Except for Rosscup and possibly Crawford. all the trades made for minor league players looks (at this point) like quantity over quality. Speaking of trades. Does anybody know what happened to A. J. Morris? He was the one of the players the Cubs got for Gorzelanny and was considered the better piece of the trade on the Cubs side.
I asked the same question. Apparently he is having surgery.
Offseason shoulder surgery. Hasn’t pitched yet this year.
A Rod on DL?…60 day?…if so, Ramirez could be traded today or tomorrow…
I thought the exact same thing
I have heard some good things. I’ll share as soon as I know a little more (and as soon as Rodriguez’s decision is final).
Something got to be stirring cause we just released Augie Ojeda. Who will we ever contend in 2012?
now that it might be a reality, it kinda makes me sad. despite the fact i have sometimes questioned his hustle (more so lately) aramis has really been my favorite cub of the decade. maybe d-lee, but when we got ramis for the playoff run in 03, he kind of became “that guy” for me. also there is a very tiny and extremely stupid part of me that still hopes we can make something happen this season or next (obviously not the playoffs, but some a magical comeback, or something, with unicorns). only rarely is the offense the issue with this team, at least the last couple months (save a few low scorers recently), and he is a huge chunk of our offense over that same period of time. i know i know: its insane. but i dont know when we’re going to have another 3rd baseman that going to drive in 100 rbi every year (more or less). certainly not going to get it from blake or lemeheu or vitters. I’ll miss his bat for that reason, and that little smirk when he actually flashes the leather.
Chipper Jones is also going on the DL, that’s two teams that need a 3B.
Good idea.
At this point, I kind of hope they don’t win three in a row all season. Has that ever been done before?
no worries, they probably won’t win two in a row the rest of the year.
Did anyone see the argument between Demp and Q after the 5th inning? I’m sure it was over not letting Demp stay in the game, but it’s very un-Demp to blow up like. On a side note Campbell is a horrible replacement for Brenley, not as bad as Buckner but not very good.
I agree, he is not even close to as good as Brenly.
wheres brenly tonight?
yeah thats what they said on tv bout dempster/quade
He us in Florida watching his son play. He plays for class A Daytona.
His son was in the MLB Futures?(not sure if that’s what it’s called) game. It’s like an all-star game for the minors from what I understand.
thx dano,,,,ive seen his son play a couple of times here in tampa..
Holy Shit, that was like a real baseball game! Almost looked like 2 good teams playing. demp struggled but we also squandered some opportunities.
Agreed, I don’t get to watch many games…nice to watch a good one.
Yes guys iam great win tonite..let’s get Ortiz a win tomorrow and run support..
Fixing what ain’t broke might be something that applies to his position, regardless of what critics say. It doesn’t take a long memory to remember the problems the Cubs had at third base before Ramirez — six different Opening Day third baseman in as many years before his arrival, and in the last 30 years, Ron Cey (1983-85) is the only other one to make it even three years in a row.
And you’d be hard-pressed to find many major-league third baseman this side of Alex Rodriguez or Adrian Beltre whose numbers this season compare to Ramirez’s .298 average with 14 homers and 49 RBI. In fact, Rodriguez doesn’t have as many home runs, and Beltre isn’t within 20 points of the average.
Whether he wants to come back could become just as big an issue if the Cubs decide renegotiating is their only option.
‘‘We’ll see,’’ said Ramirez, who also has said repeatedly he won’t waive his no-trade rights this season. ‘‘I want to win. And I think we can do it here. But they’ve got a lot of things to fix.’’
SO LETS KEEP RAMIREZ
So what will you do if they trade Ramirez
He’ll probably go be a fan of that team. I’m all for keeping Ramirez if he could do this for all of next season but I know that’s not possible. We’d just get the same slow start again and he’ll get hot after it’s too late.
I’ve met him several times..have several items autographed by him..so I will follow him where ever he goes..but my heart wil always bleed cubs red and blue
I was born and raised in Chicago.. Went to York high!…Aramis just happens to be my favorite player
The sad part is I now live in California ..which I go every year to see my beloved cubs play the bankrupt dodgers….lol