The rumor mill turned it up a notch on Wednesday ... and it only figures to pickup momentum in the coming days. Jake Fox made a lot of headlines last spring by knocking the cover off the ball at Triple-A. The cries for Jake Fox to be called up to the big league club were finally heard in late May ... and Fox gave the offense a little boost when he was given playing time. Fox hit .259 with a .311 OBP and a .457 SLG in 82 games with 12 doubles and 11 home runs. The knock on Jake Fox has always … [Read more...]
Chicago Cubs: Looking Forward to 2010 … The Reserves and Rumored Additions
Monday it was the Starting Eight. Tuesday it was Lou Piniella's Pitching Staff and the third and final part on the CCO's look at the early projections for 2010 ... The Reserves and Rumored Additions. The Cubs' off-season appears to be centered on where (and when) Jim Hendry will trade Milton Bradley ... as well as how much of the remaining two years and more than $21 million the Cubs will have to send to his new team. Tampa remains the most likely destination for Pat Burrell. Reportedly Hendry … [Read more...]
Chicago Cubs: Looking Forward to 2010
With two weeks to go before the winter meetings in Indianapolis there are more rumors surrounding the Chicago Cubs than actual news, which is to be expected. With the 2010 payroll reportedly set very close to the amount that was paid to field the disappointing 2009 squad (between $140 and $150 million), most of the changes Jim Hendry is expected to make will come from moving players and their contracts. With a majority of the roster for next season set due to large contracts and no-trade … [Read more...]
Weekend Update … A New Priority for the Cubs?
Move over Marlon Byrd and Mike Cameron, the Cubs will make Curtis Granderson their number one target of the off-season according to Bruce Levine ... if he is indeed available. Some recently questioned if Curtis Granderson is actually on the block. After all he has a cost-effective contract for 2010 and should be an important part of the Tigers' organization moving forward ... but the Tigers are having financial issues, like many teams and most of the country. Detroit has several high-priced … [Read more...]
How Much Could Curtis Granderson Cost the Cubs?
Two years ago it was Brian Roberts, last winter Jake Peavy. Will this off-season be filled with one Curtis Granderson rumor after the other? Outside of Milton Bradley, the Chicago native has made the most noise in Cubs' circles since the rumor surfaced he could be available this winter. At the forefront of the Curtis Granderson-to-the-Cubs rumor mill has been Phil Rogers ... and the Tribune reporter tossed out two more trade scenarios Friday night that could have Granderson patrolling … [Read more...]
Holliday Walks Off the Cubs – Cubs 2 Cardinals 3
Game One Hundred Forty-Six - Cubs 2 Cardinals 3 WP - Ryan Franklin (3-3) LP - Aaron Heilman (3-4) Save - None After jumping out to an early 2-0 lead in the first inning, the Cubs lost the opening game in St. Louis on the fifth pitch of the bottom of the ninth inning. Ryan Theriot reached on a two-out single in the top of the ninth but was picked off first with Kosuke Fukudome at the plate with a 2-0 count to end the inning. Aaron Heilman took the mound to start the bottom of the ninth ... Matt … [Read more...]
CCO Radio…Talkin’ Cubs Before a Weekend in St. Louis
Only three shows remaining during the baseball season ... The CCO Radio returns following the finale of the four-game series against the Brewers. Jody Gerut's grand slam off of Randy Wells led to the Cubs 7-4 loss on Thursday afternoon. The Cubs finished the homestand with a 4-3 record after dopping the last two to the Brewers. LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD on the CCO Radio. What moves should the Cubs make in the off-season to improve the team? Call the CCO Radio. Want your voice and opinion to be … [Read more...]
Cubs Thrown for Another Looper – Cubs 5 Brewers 9
Game One Hundred Forty-Four - Cubs 5 Brewers 9 WP - Braden Looper (13-6) LP - Rich Harden (9-9) Save - None The end of Rich Harden's season is starting to look like the way it began, very inconsistent and ineffective. Rich Harden was hit very hard in his three innings of work and if the wind had not been blowing in the score could have been a lot worse. Harden gave up five runs, two earned, on five hits with three walks and three strikeouts on 71 pitches, 41 for strikes. Harden's three innings … [Read more...]
Murphy’s Law – Cubs 2 Mets 4
Game One Hundred Thirty-Five - Cubs 2 Mets 4 WP - Mike Pelfrey (10-10) LP - Randy Wells (10-8) Save - Francisco Rodriguez (30) The Cubs completed their season series against the Mets with a 3-3 record due in large part to another pathetic output by their offense ... and more questionable, at best, defense. In a game that Andres Blanco turned in one of the best plays one will ever see from a shortstop, it was an error by Aramis Ramirez that led to the Mets taking a 2-1 lead in the fifth. The … [Read more...]
Talkin’ Cubs Live – Cubs vs. Mets – 09/05/09
Game One Hundred Thirty-Four: Cubs (67-66) vs. Mets (61-74) Game Time - 12:10pm C.T. Coverage - TV: Comcast SportsNet - Radio: 720 WGN, XM Radio Channel 175 Location - CitiField, Flushing, New York Rich Harden (8-8, 4.19/1.29) vs. Nelson Figueroa (2-3, 4.50/1.66) Lou Piniella's crew enters play this afternoon just a game above .500 once again. A loss against the Mets today would mark the 21st time this season the Cubs have as many wins as losses. Derrek Lee is expected back in the starting … [Read more...]