waldo7239117: June 2009 Archives

According to Rick Dempsey of MASN, says the Baltimore Orioles should dump high priced older players such as Brian Roberts. Brian Roberts just signed a 4 year extension worth 40 million in February of 09.

Rick Dempsey had to say this:
"He is a quality position player who could draw a lot of attention from a contender and be worth a few good young prospects. Now the only reason I suggest B-Rob is because he has probably missed his window of opportunity to win with the O's and now that the nucleus is becoming much younger, having to wait two more years to contend may take Brian out of his prime and out of his value. I would hate to see him go, but it might be the best overall for the Orioles for the future".

Cubs/Orioles trade proposal:
Cubs get Brian Roberts and Danys Baez
Orioles get Mike Fontenot, Jeff Stevens, Mitch Atkins and Jake Fox. I think Fox is the deal breaker.

Roberts will then play second and Baez will be setup man with Guzman for ...

The Cubs are looking at the trade market but are unsure of needs as of right now. Jim Hendry is working the trade market harder than ever but does not know what there needs will be in July. Hendry wants to see what production he can get from Aramis Ramirez when he returns to action. Until then he wants his hitters that he has now to start producing and winning games. Hendry also mentions that he in unsure of who he will add come July. All this is according to Gordon Wittnymer of the Chicago Sun-Times.

Hendry had to say this: "For me to say either way in the middle of June makes no sense," he said. "We could be in the market for a player we never even dreamed of a month from now, You just kind of stay on top of it every day and react to what you may need."

Players I will love the Cubs too go after and could help in the long run and right now:

Dan Uggla: He can play 4-5 days a week with Fontenot going back to the utility roll which I think he is better at. Uggl ...

Pinella move Soriano down in the lineup, he is an embarrassment to the club. A lead off man is supposed to get on base and start a rally for the middle of the order. As of today Soriano is batting .226 with a OBP of .290 (really embarrassing). Soriano is batting first because he is more comfortable and wants to try to break the home run record (most home runs leading off the game) by Devery Henderson.

In the last month Alfonso Soriano got 19 hits with 3 home runs and struck out 33 times in 118 at-bats counting this game against the White Sox. Also Soriano is not stealing bases like he did because of his knee, another reason he should not be the Cubs lead off man. That is not good numbers for a guy starting the ball game.

Pinella if you want to win games, put Soriano on the DL until he is 90-100% healthy or move him down in the order. Who is the manager you or Soriano, your the one that makes the moves and that one has to be done.

Lineup with Soriano do ...

According to David Kaplan of CSN, the Cubs are still pursuing Mark Derosa. Craig Kenney said on the radio yesterday we can take on the contract of Mark Derosa without getting permission from Sam Zell. Derosa is making 5.5 million this year.

Hendry was on Monsters in the Mourning yesterday and hinted that they are going after Derosa again and he also mentioned that we would love to have Derosa back.

A source mentioned that the Indians want more in return than the Cubs gave up in the off season when the Cubs traded him. The Indians want a major league ready pitcher and the Cubs only have one in Jeff Samardzija. Samardzija has a no trade cause and said when he came to baseball he wants to be on the Chicago Cubs his whole career.

Other teams that might pursue him besides Cubs, Mets, Cardinals and Giants.

According to Jon Heyman of SI, the Colorado Rockies closer Huston Street has been heavily scouted by major league teams, he did not mention any teams. < ...

Ryan Freel will play 3B and bat first for Triple A Iowa. If everything goes as plan Freel could come back within a week. When Freel does return, Andres Blanco would be sent down (my opinion).

First at-bat: Ryan Freel grounds out to the third baseman on a 2-2 count.

Second at-bat: Ryan Freel flys out to the right fielder on a 2-1 count.

Third at-bat: Ryan Freel singles on a line drive to left field on the first pitch.

Ryan Freel was taken out in the 8th inning for 3B Luis Rivas. All in all this was a typical for Ryan Freel and I don't see him on the team much longer if he does not contribute. If the Cubs release, they will only have to pay 800,000 of his contract.

Other Notes from that game:
Jake Fox sat out.
Bobby Scales played first base.
Jeff Samardzija pitched 6 innings and gave up 4 earned runs.

Here are the players the Cubs drafted on day 1, day 2 and day 3.

Round 1, pick 31: Brett Jackson, position-CF college-California age-20.
Round 2, pick 79: David LeMaheiu, position-IF college-Louisiana age-20.
Round 3, pick 109: Austin Kirk, position-LHP school-Owasson High School age-19.
Round 4, pick 140: Christopher Rusin, position-LHP college-Kentucky age-22.
Round 5, pick 170: Wesley Darville, position-SS school-Brookswood High School age-17.
Round 6, pick 200: Brooks Raley, position-LHP college-Texas A&M age-20.
Round 7, pick 230: Blair Springfield, position-SS school-MacArthur High School age-18
Round 8, pick 260: Robert Whitenaack, position-RHP college-New York age-20.
Round 9, pick 290: Richard Jones, position-catcher college-South Carolina age-21.
Round 10, pick 320: Joseph Thomas, position-3B college-Florida age-20.
Round 11, pick 350: John Mincone, position-LHP college-New York age-19.
Round 12, pi ...

Rich Harden pitched 5 innings and got the win for Triple A Iowa Today. If everything goes right for Harden, he will pitch Saturday against the Minnesota Twins.

First inning: 1-2-3 inning with 2 strikeouts and a ground out, on 14 pitches.

Second inning: 1-2-3 inning with a fly out, line out and a strikeout, on 8 pitches.

Third inning: Gave up a 3 singles, 1 run, walk, bunt out, and 2 fly outs, on 22 pitches.

Fourth inning: Gave up a walk, ground out and 2 strikeouts, on 18 pitches.

Fifth inning: Gave up a ground out but reached on error, strike out and bunt out, on 9 pitches . Harden was taken out with 2 outs in the fifth.

Rich Harden's line for the day: 4.2 innings, 3 hits, 2 runs, 1 earn, 2 walks and struck out 6. Rich Harden walk, scored a run and a sacrifice bunt. Harden's rehab start was a pretty good one, just with that 1 bad inning that they scored a run and had a lot of base runners

Aaron Miles went 0-5 with a fly ...

In last nights game Kevin Gregg blew his second save. Since Gregg has been a Cub, he has not done anything. I think Gregg should be traded or demoted from the closer roll. I think it should be Guzman closer, Marmol 8th inning and Ascaino 7th inning.

Kevin Gregg is 31 years old and is getting 4.2 million this year. That is a lot of money for a guy that has trouble getting outs.

Here are a few names I wouldn't care if the Cubs traded for:

Joe Nathan: He is 35 years old and is getting 33.75 million thru 2011 and has a club option for 2012 worth 12.5 million. The Twins are in second place and are 3.5 games out of first. My guess is he won't be traded because the Twins will be in the race all year long.

George Sherrill: He is 31 years old and is getting 2.75 million this year. The Orioles are in last place and 7.5 games out. I think he will be traded because the O's want to get younger and the O's will be out of the race all year long.

Huston Stree ...