Ty Wright, Bryan LaHair and Matt Camp all join winter league teams. Ryan Searle is handed another loss in Australia. One Cubs prospect goes deep off another. A full update on all the Cubs playing in the Caribbean Winter Leagues as the second half of the season begins. All that and more in today's Down on the Farm Report! … [Read more...]
A Series of Cubs Rumors, News and Notes
All eyes will be on San Francisco beginning Wednesday night as the Fall Classic kicks off between the Texas Rangers and San Francisco Giants. Maybe Marlon Byrd's fine performance in the All-Star game this past summer will get a mention before the mainstream media reminds everyone, once again, how long it's been since the Cubs went to, much less won the final series of the season. For those interested in reading how the Chicago National League Ball Club won their last series ... click here, … [Read more...]
From the Wire … Cubs Trade Blanco to Texas and Parisi Outrighted to Iowa
According to a tweet from the Sun-Times, the Cubs traded Andres Blanco on Saturday for a PTBNL or cash considerations. Blanco was out of options and with Mike Fontenot beginning the season as the Cubs back-up shortstop, it did not appear he would make the team. Updated - 3:39pm CDT - According to reports on WGN Radio and WGN TV, plus the transactions wire on Cubs.com, Mike Parisi was outrighted to Triple-A Iowa on Saturday. … [Read more...]
Marmol Zhelled in Z Ninth – Cubs 2 A’s 5
Game Twenty-Four - Cubs 2 A's (ss) 5 WP - Brad Kilby (1-0) LP - Carlos Marmol (0-1) Save - Fernando Hernandez (1) Friday was a busy day for the Chicago Cubs. They reduced their spring roster by seven players. Carlos Silva and Tom Gorzelanny were named to the rotation. James Russell appears to be the Cubs' 12th pitcher to start the season. Ted Lilly pitched in his first game of the spring ... and then Lou Piniella's crew played a game at HoHoKam that featured the returns of Aramis Ramirez and … [Read more...]
The Cubs Leave Tucson Behind with a Win – Cubs 7 Diamondbacks 2
Game Twenty-Three - Cubs 7 Diamondbacks 2 WP - Tom Gorzelanny (1-1) LP - Dan Haren (1-2) Save - None The Cubs, sans Lou Piniella and a majority of their regular roster, beat up on Dan Haren and the D'Backs in their final spring trip to Tucson. After this season both the Rockies and Diamondbacks will move their Spring Training homes to the valley east of Scottsdale. The Rockies and Diamondbacks will share the new state of the art facility. Alan Trammell served as the Cubs' manager while Lou … [Read more...]
A Big Day for Chad Tracy – Cubs 12 Rangers 1
Game Twenty-Two - Cubs 12 Rangers 1 WP - Sean Marshall (1-0) LP - Brandon McCarthy (1-3) Save - None Lou Piniella's crew won a Spring Training game for the first time since beating the Royals last Saturday. Sean Marshall put together another good outing in his last start before Lou Piniella announces his starting five on Friday. Marshall allowed one unearned run, a Chad Tracy fielding error in the first inning, on three hits with a walk and five strikeouts in four innings. Sean Marshall made … [Read more...]
Talkin’ Cubs Live – Cubs vs. Rangers – 03/24/10
Spring Training Game Twenty-Two: Cubs (11-8-2) vs. Rangers (6-12) Game Time - 3:05pm CDT Coverage - TV: MLBTV.com (Rangers Feed) - Radio: MLB.com (Cubs Feed) Location - Surprise Stadium, Surprise Sean Marshall (0-0, 2.57/0.86) vs. Brandon McCarthy (1-2, 7.00/1.89) Spring Training is slowly but surely coming to an end. Counting this afternoon's contest against the Rangers, Lou Piniella's crew has only 12 exhibition games left. The Cubs will reportedly reduce their Spring Training roster from … [Read more...]
Surprise! Surprise! The Cubs Pen Can’t Hold a Lead – Cubs 5 Royals 5
Game Twenty-One - Cubs 5 Royals 5 - 9 Innings WP - None LP - None Save - None Lou Piniella's crew played to a tie for the second time in their last three Cactus League games. The Cubs bullpen blew three different leads on Tuesday afternoon against the Royals after Ryan Dempster departed in the sixth with a 3-1 lead. Aramis Ramirez returned to the lineup for the first time since March 13. Ramirez drove in the Cubs' first run with a two-out single in the fourth inning. Ramirez finished the game … [Read more...]
Decisions Looming for Hendry and Piniella
The practice games are coming to end for the Chicago Cubs. While a majority of the Opening Day roster is set, there are still a few spots the Cubs must fill before turning in their 25-man roster on April 4. Reportedly, Lou Piniella met with his coaching staff following Monday's game to discuss final roster moves. There is also that "little issue" with adding a veteran arm to the bullpen. The Cubs are talking to the Blue Jays about Jason Frasor, will a deal get done? With just 13 exhibition … [Read more...]
Cubs Notes and a Rumor … Two Weeks Before Opening Day
The Cubs open the 2010 regular season in Atlanta two weeks from Monday. Lou Piniella and Jim Hendry have decisions to make over the next 13 days ... the Cubs still have 40 players on their Spring Training roster. The Cubs are expected to name their fourth and fifth starters this week ... but the injury to Carlos Silva could delay the announcement. Reportedly Piniella will meet with his coaches on Monday afternoon to discuss the Cubs' bench. It is 14 days until Opening Day! Here's the latest, … [Read more...]