October 2006 Archives

Happy Halloween from everyone here at the CCO!!!

More from the Rumor Mill and Aramis Ramirez had a No-Trade Clause
Updated - 7:41am C.T. - With Info on Alfonso Soriano

When the 2005 season ended most thought the Cubs were entering the most important off-season in the club's storied history....well, little did anyone know that there would be so much change on the horizon just a year later. When Andy MacPhail resigned on October 1st there was a renewed excitement about the future of the Cubs. John McDonough was given the title of interim President, said all of the right things, and Dusty Baker's contract was not renewed a day later.

At the surprise of many Lou Piniella was hired and he has starting filing out his coaching staff, then the Cardinals....those (insert expletive here) Cardinals won the (insert expletive here) World Series and the free agent filing period began. The Faithful have seen a lot of in activity out of Jim Hendry's office and no one is answering those very important questions....mainly, who is going to be on the field come opening day 2007?

Aramis Ramirez, Carlos Lee, Vicente Padilla and Scott Spiezio Top List of 39 Other Free Agent Filings on Monday

According to Bruce Levine on ESPN 1000 in Chicago, Aramis Ramirez has opted out of his contract as expected and filed for free agency. Henry Blanco also filed for free agency to bring the total to four...Wood, Pierre, Blanco and Ramirez.

Updated - 5:52pm C.T. - Yahoo Sports has confirmed that Aramis Ramirez did opt out of his contract. Carlos Lee and Scott Spiezio also filed on Monday.

Updated - 7:43pm C.T. - Juan Pierre Filed for Free Agency

The free-agent filing period has begun and several names have already filed....among them Kerry Wood, Alfonso Soriano, Jason Schmidt, Gary Matthews, Jr. and Adam Eaton added their names to the list on Sunday night....all have been mentioned as a possibility to sign with the Cubs this off-season.

With the off-season now in full swing, here is a list of upcoming dates for the Faithful to add to their baseball calendar:

November 2 - 8 - The MLB Japan All-Star Series, Japan - Official Info from MLB.com
November 6 - Tickets for the 22nd Annual Cubs Convention goes on Sale - 10:00am C.T.
November 11 - Free Agent Filing Deadline
November 12 - Free Agency Period Begins
November 13 - 17 - The General Managers Meeting in Naples, Florida
November 13 - 21 - BBWAA (Baseball Writers Association of America) Awards
December 4 - 7 - Baseball Winter Meetings in Orlando, Florida
January 19 - 21, 2007 - 22nd Annual Cubs Convention

So while the two big dates are the General Managers meeting and the Winter Meetings, let's take a look at a few of the second tier free agents that might be able to help the Cubs in 2007 and beyond....oh yeah, and the daily dose of rumors as well....

Kerry Wood, Alfonso Soriano, Jason Schmidt, Gary Matthews, Jr. and Adam Eaton filed for free agency on Sunday

According to several reports, including one on ESPN.com, Kerry Wood officially filed for free agency on Sunday night. The filings on Sunday bring the total to 89 of an expected 200 that will be filed by November 11th. Alfonso Soriano, Jason Schmidt, Gary Matthews, Jr. and Adam Eaton were other names mentioned on Sunday.

Soriano and Matthews are expected to receive new offers from their current teams and Kerry Wood is expected to return to Chicago in a relief role. Schmidt is thought to have been unhappy in San Francisco and several reports have indicated he will not return.

Did everyone remember to fall back? Four weeks ago today the Cubs played their last game of the 2006 season against the Rockies and to say there as been a lot of change would be an understatement. There are a lot of holes still to fill and a lot of questions to answer before the Lou Piniella era takes the field in February at Fitch Park....including a new team president?

Here is the latest from the mill and news from the AFL....

Updated - 6:45pm C.T. - Bonds, Garciaparra and Thomas Leads List of Free-Agent Filings and Jacque Jones Named to the All-Star Team

Before the usual check around the rumor mill, the baseball world lost one of the good guys on Friday, former Major League pitcher Joe Niekro passed away at the age of 61. Niekro suffered a brain aneurysm on Thursday. Joe was the brother of Phil and father of Lance, who plays for the San Francisco Giants. Niekro was drafted by the Chicago Cubs in the 3rd round of the 1966 draft and he pitched for the Cubs, Padres, Tigers, Braves, Astros and Twins and finished his career with a 221-204 record with a 3.59 ERA.

Will Aramis Ramirez join Barry Bonds on the free-agent market? For those of you that missed it, several reports indicated on Friday afternoon (and continued on Saturday) that Barry Bonds will declare himself a free agent. The Giants named Bruce Bochy their new manager and less that 12 hours later apparently Bonds has decided to "fly the coup". Bonds hitting the free-agent market could have an effect on the Cubs, not from a signing standpoint but from a financial one for another team.

Now that the Series is over and the free-agent filing period has begun, the attention will turn to Aramis Ramirez. Jim Hendry has 15 days to restructure his contract or lose his exclusive negotiating rights. Most still think that Ramirez will opt out of his contract and the biggest suitors seem to be out West.

Here is the latest from the mill....

Well, the 2006 season is officially over and hat's off to the St. Louis Cardinals for winning the World Series. As soon as Adam Wainwright struck out Brandon Inge to end the game, I could not help but have an empty feeling. Not only is the season over, but for the second straight season I had to watch one of the Cubs biggest rivals celebrate a World Championship.

This Cardinals championship is their 10th, second only to the Yankees. I remember the last time they won in 1982 when they beat the Brewers and I remember when they lost to the Kansas City Royals in 1985 and to the Minnesota Twins in 1987. I have been following baseball for nearly 30 years and have seen all but one fall classic over that span but the last two have been very difficult to swallow.

Mike Quade, Matt Sinatro and Lester Strode Offically Added to Piniella's Staff

The Cubs announced three more additions on Friday afternoon to the coaching staff. Mike Quade was hired to coach 3rd base, Matt Sinatro was hired to coach 1st base and Lester Strode was hired as bullpen coach. The three will join Larry Rothschild and Alan Trammell on the new staff. The Cubs have not announced their new hitting coach, yet....Von Joshua, Dave Keller, Ron Jackson and Chris Chambliss are the rumored names to fill the vacancy and Chambliss was interviewed by the Brewers on Thursday.

1989, what a year, what a team, but unfortunately another playoff disappointment. However, thanks to the Box office smash "The Boys of Zimmer" I am never more than a 'play button' away from reliving some great moments and fantastic memories. This is not a fancy DVD, but a VHS tape in a ratty old red and blue box that take the pole position on my movie shelf. This column reflects my love of the movie, my love of the Cubs and the reappearance of the fourth greatest Cubs song in history.

With the rain in St. Louis making most of the headlines on Wednesday there was little said about the boys on the Northside of Chicago. The Cubs did make a change in their front office on Wednesday and announced that Paul Weaver will be the new special assistant to the general manager. Weaver has been a Major League scout for the past 28 years. Weaver, 54, worked for the Arizona Diamondbacks for the past 2 seasons and before that for the Houston Astros from 1980 to 2004 and he started with the San Diego Padres in 1978.

The Mesa Solar Sox are nearing the midway point of their season and the representatives from the Cubs are playing extremely well....especially Eric Patterson. Joe Girardi, Gary Sheffield, Scott Boras, Alex Rodriguez, Andruw Jones and World Series ratings....here is the latest....