October 2008 Archives

According to several reports, the Cubs announced on Friday afternoon they have declined the 2009 option on back-up catcher Henry Blanco. Blanco's option for 2009 would have been worth $3 million dollars.....Blanco made $2.8 million in 2008. The Cubs are expected to resign Geovany Soto's mentor to a lower guaranteed deal.

Baseball's off-season kicked into second gear on Thursday, less than 12 hours after the Phillies beat the Rays to officially end the 2008 campaign. There was a trade between the Royals and Marlins, a couple of big name players found out their options for the 2009 season would not be picked up, the Brewers named Ken Macha their new manager and 65 players filed for free agency....and four Cubs were among the players that filed on the first day full day of the Hot Stove season.

Ryan Dempster, Jim Edmonds, Chad Fox and Bobby Howry were the first of the Cubs free agents to file. Kerry Wood, Daryle Ward, Jon Lieber and Henry Blanco, if his option is not picked up, could be added to the list in the next few days. The Cubs have stated they want Ryan Dempster to return and have left the door open for Jim Edmonds as well. Indications are Edmonds could opt for retirement.

According to the transaction wire on Cubs.com, Billy Petrick cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Iowa on Wednesday. Along with Carmen Pignatiello and Casey McGehee, the Cubs have opened three spots on their 40-man roster since the end of the season.

Kerry Wood put together a solid year in his first full season as a closer in 2008. Wood, the oldest tenured Cub, avoided the DL for the majority of the year and now the pitcher formerly known as Kid K figures to file for free agency and test the open market.

The Cubs have said they want the 1998 NL Rookie of the Year to return to the only organization he has ever pitched for, but according to Ken Rosenthal, the length of the contract the Cubs are willing to offer, compared to what he may be offered from another club, might spell the end of the Kerry Wood Era in Chicago.

For the first time since Tug McGraw struck out Willie Wilson to end the 1980 Word Series, the Philadelphia Phillies are the World Champions of Baseball.

A big tip of the cap to the Phillies and their fans but especially to the former Cub Scott Eyre....or was it, Stevie Ire?

The Cubs made their second 40-man roster move of the off-season earlier this week by releasing Casey McGehee. According to a report from the Associated Press, McGehee was claimed off waivers by the Milwaukee Brewers and Joe Dillon was released in order to make room on the Brewers' 40-man roster for McGehee.

The Cubs released Carmen Pignatiello earlier this month, once he cleared waivers he was assigned him to Triple-A Iowa.

STOP! You are in the right place....it looks a little bit different with a lot more bells and whistles. But it is the same ole CCO, just a new and improved version.

Welcome to the long overdue redesign of ChicagoCubsOnline.com. For long time readers of the site, we certainly hope you like the new look and will enjoy using all of the new features the CCO now offers.

With the World Series in full swing and the Phillies up 3 games to 1, we figured this would be the right time to unveil the new site....without trying to pull a Scott Boras. Other than the new design, the CCO has several new features. Here is a quick list and overview of most of the additions and changes....

The early off-season rumors surrounding the Cubs might have gone from pure speculation to the point of absurdity on Saturday afternoon. While the Rays and Phillies are in the middle of a very good World Series, Phil Rogers stepped way out on the proverbial limb by stating, "don't be surprised if Jim Hendry tries to put together a package that would include a swap of first basemen, Derrek Lee and Adrian Gonzalez, who is supposedly untouchable."

The Cubs might have enough in the system to pry away Jake Peavy and Khahil Greene, who the Padres want to move, because of San Diego's wish to trim the payroll but to have enough to put "together a package" that included Adrian Gonzalez, one of the few cost-effective, productive players, on the Padres roster is a more than a little far fetched.

The third and final installment of the CCO's look at the 'Big Three' is focused on the Cubs' Gold Glove first baseman, Derrek Lee. Lee had a good season but did not put up the numbers expected from the third spot in the lineup. Lee struggled during the year hitting for power....and for most of the season, elevating and driving the ball. Lee's production dropped after the All-Star break (26 doubles and 15 home runs in the first half, 15 doubles and 5 home runs after the break) and many questioned if Lee was tired or suffering from an undisclosed injury.

For the second year in a row Lee's slugging percentage, doubles, home runs and OPS dropped. Lee hit 41 doubles in 2008 down from 43 in 2007 with 20 home runs, down two from his 2007 total of 22....all in 5 more games and nearly 60 more at bats. Lee also developed the bad habit of grounding into double plays and ended up with 27 for the season.

The rumors began a few short days after the Cubs made it back from the West Coast that Lee could waive his no-trade clause and approve a deal to one of the teams in California this winter. While Lou Piniella should move Lee out of his familiar spot in the lineup, Lee performed quite well against the top pitchers in the league and in the post-season. Lee brings more than a solid glove to the park each day. He saves his fellow infielders countless errors and is a productive player....

Former Arizona Diamondbacks' manager and current Cubs' color analyst Bob Brenly interviewed on Thursday for the vacated skipper's job in Milwaukee. Brenly is on a short-list of candidates that includes former managers Ken Macha and Willie Randolph. Brenly recently signed a contract extension to remain with Len Kasper in the Cubs' booth and some feel Brenly could be the best man for the job....especially with his knowledge of the team the Brewers have been trying to catch for the last two seasons.

According to a report by Paul Sullivan in the Tribune, if Brenly ends up on the Brewers' bench then former Cubs and current Arizona Diamondbacks' color analyst, Mark Grace, could take Brenly's vacated spot on Cubs' television broadcasts.