March 2006 Archives

John Koronka was traded to Texas on Friday as a part of a 3-way deal with the Texas Rangers and Oakland A's. The Cubs received Freddie Bynum in return from the Oakland A's. Bynum makes the 25-man roster. Theriot was Optioned to Iowa (AAA)

Dusty Baker also named Todd Walker the Opening Day starter at second base.

Check back for more details as they are released....
Updated - 9:57pm C.S.T. & Updated: 10:06pm C.S.T. with the 25-Man Roster

According to ESPN.com, the Cubs traded John Koronka and a player to be named later to the Rangers for Freddie Bynum. Bynum, along with pitcher John Rheinecker, was traded earlier on Friday to the Oakland A's for pitcher Juan Dominguez.

Updated: 10:06pm C.S.T. with 25-Man Roster

The 'experts' have made their predictions for the 2006 season, but what are yours?

The Cactus League games conclude on Saturday and the 25-man roster is all but said and done....So how do you think the Cubs will do in 2006? Go on the record and give your opinion on how the Cubs will do this season. What do you think their record will be? How will they finish in the division? No more saying at the end of the year...."I was right" and not having anything to back up your statement. How many of you predicted 2003? What about 2005? And then there is the legion of lifetime Sox fans that swear they saw last year coming. So how does the saying go? Put your money where your mouth is....well this one won't cost you a dime.

Game Thirty: Cubs 7 Diamondbacks 4

Updated - 5:16pm C.S.T. and 9:04pm C.S.T. with a Photo Gallery from Cashman Field
Update - 5:16pm C.S.T. - The Cubs announced that Sean Marshall will start the Sunday night, ESPN game against the Cardinals on April 9th....not the April 8th game as previously reported.

The Cubs finished the Arizona part of the 2006 Spring Training schedule the same way they started it....with a win. Remember back on March 2nd when Opening Day seemed so far away and now it's just right around the corner. The Cubs got the offense going on Thursday, they pounded out 16 hits including a three run home run by Aramis Ramirez and Jacque Jones first home run as a Cub....a solo shot in the first inning. Derrek Lee had 3 hits and Matt Murton and Jerry Hairston had a pair of hits a piece.

Jerome Williams had his best outing of the spring, but unfortunately it was to little to late. Williams line looks good, but it is the 4 walks that is still alarming. Williams pitched 5 innings and gave up 1 run (a home run) on 3 hits, walked 4 and struck out 3.

Roberto Novoa was optioned to Iowa, The Cubs officially announced the new sponsor for the Bleachers and Sean Marshall will start against the Cardinals on April 8th

To no one's surprise the Cubs optioned Roberto Novoa to AAA Iowa on Thursday morning. Novoa missed much of Spring Training with Valley Fever and will benefit by time in Iowa. The roster now stands at 27....

John McDonough mentioned the new naming rights for the bleachers at Wrigley Field during Saturday's WGN broadcast. The Cubs made the official announcement on Thursday....the bleachers will now be called the "Bud Light Bleachers". Here is the press release.

Several reports out of Chicago are saying that Sean Marshall will start the second game of the home stand next weekend against the St. Louis Cardinals on April 8th.

Check back for update as they become available....

This past Monday was the 104th Anniversary of the First Use of the Nickname "Cubs"

On March 27, 1902, the Chicago Daily News used the name "Cubs" for the first time in print. While there are varying accounts of how the nickname the "Cubs" actually came about, one thing that is consistent is the date of its first use. The nickname was coined when Frank Selee (1902-1905) became the new manger of the Chicago National League Ball Club. The nickname "Cubs" was derived from the new manager, Frank Selee, rebuilding the team with young, inexperienced players.

This will be the last check in of the spring for the 'What Was or What Could Have Been' column. With the recent injuries of A.J. Burnett and Rafael Furcal, I thought this might be a good time to take a look at the numbers. For those of you that missed the news on Burnett, the Blue Jays' newest $55 million dollar man will start the season on the DL and miss his first two starts. Rafael Furcal has a back strain and is listed as day-to-day. An MRI revealed an annular strain of the disc fibers. The Dodgers have said the injury to Furcal could have an affect their 25-man roster that must be turned in on Saturday night.

So for those of you that missed the first edition of this column, from time to time during the season the CCO will take a look at the numbers of those players the Cubs signed in the off-season, let go in the off-season or did not sign or trade for in the off-season. So let's take a look....

Game Twenty-Nine: Cubs 4 Angels 8

Michael Restovich was assigned to the Minor League camp and Rich Hill was optioned to Iowa on Wednesday, the Cubs roster now stands at 28.

Updated - 10:10pm C.S.T., Plus Tidbits from Mesa

On the day with the wind blowing out, the Cubs offense got off to a great start against Angels pitcher and 2005 Cy Young Award Winner, Bartolo Colon. Juan Pierre led the game with a single, Jerry Hairston bunted for a single, Aramis Ramirez drove in a run with a single and Jacque Jones did the same. Before the fans were settled in their seats....it was 3-0 Cubs.

Carlos Zambrano gave up a lead off walk and struck out two in the first inning....Matt Murton made a great play and the Cubs were off and running....

The Cubs assigned Michael Restovich to the Minor League camp on Wednesday morning.
Updated: The Cubs optioned Rich Hill to Iowa (AAA) on Wednesday afternoon.

Updated
The Cubs assigned non-roster invitee Michael Restovich to the Minor League camp on Wednesday morning; reducing the big league roster to 29. Restovich had a decent spring for the Cubs in the beginning but his production fell off as of late. Restovich was only hitting .204 as of Tuesday. His OBP and SLG dropped to .250/.367. On March 24th Restovich's numbers were a respectable .278/.316/.500.

There are four more cuts coming....who will be next? This should have put Ryan Theriot on the 25-man roster when the season starts.

Updated 3/29/06 3:10 CST
Rich Hill optioned to AAA, the Cubs Big League Roster now stands at 28...three more to go.
Also, Kerry Wood will throw to live batters on Friday.

Dusty Baker joined Mark Patrick and Orestes Destrade on Tuesday Morning on XM Radio's morning show. Dusty was supposed to join them on Monday and was unable to do so. Baker was in his usual good spirits and the three of them talked about a variety of Cubs topics including: Mark Prior, Kerry Wood, Carlos Zambrano, David Aardsma, the Bullpen, Juan Pierre, Angel Pagan and the keys to the 2006 season.

Here is some of what Dusty had to say....

Game Twenty-Eight: Cubs 4 Mariners 3

Updated: 11:00pm C.S.T. with Roster Moves....its down to 30, Kerry Wood and Mark Prior Head for the DL and News from Mesa, plus Sean Marshall in the 4th Spot?

When Angel Pagan received the news that Marquis Grissom was retiring from baseball on Tuesday morning he could have taken a day off realizing he was probably going to make the Cubs big league roster....but he did not....talking about character. Pagan was inserted into the lead off spot and responded with a 2 for 4 day including a 3-run homer in the Top of the 8th to tie the game at 3. Pagan is now hitting .405 for the spring and looks to be a lock to leave Mesa and head to Chicago with the team.

Glendon Rusch had a quality start going 5 2/3 innings; gave up 2 runs on 8 hits and struck out 2....Rusch threw 80 pitches. Rusch will not intimidate batters the way that a healthy Kerry Wood or Mark Prior would, but if he can pitch like he did on Tuesday when the games count....he will put the team in a position to win ballgames.