Day Four of Camp Lou IV ended early due to rain. Pitchers got their work in before the rain cut the workouts short on Saturday. Rain is expected in the Phoenix area for the next few days but it is expected to be in the mid 60s and sunny on Tuesday for the first full squad workout. Kosuke Fukudome and Ryan Theriot reported to camp on Saturday. Ryan Theriot said there were no hard feelings between him and the club over losing his arbitration case. There are only four position players that have … [Read more...]
Destination: Fitch Park
Charley Steiner once said, "There is something liberating about those magical words, pitchers and catchers report to Spring Training." The off-season is over ... the Cubs' baseball season begins today. While the official reporting date for Cubs' pitchers and catchers is today, many players are already in camp and were on the field on Tuesday. On Saturday over 40 players had already reported, it appears a majority of the Cubs' Major League roster has made their way to Mesa, Ariz. Jim Hendry and … [Read more...]
Joe Nelson Interested in the Cubs
With only four days remaining in January, there are numerous big league players trying to find a job for the upcoming season. The Cubs are looking to add to the backend of their bullpen ... and a reliever with a good track record has expressed interest in the Chicago Cubs. According to a report from the Tribune, Joe Nelson would like to pitch on the North Side in Twenty-Ten. The 35-year old right-hander posted a 3-0 record with a 4.02 ERA and a 1.46 WHIP in 42 games with the Rays last season. … [Read more...]
Peripheral Moves on the Horizon for the Cubs
Official releases should be flying out of the offices at 1060 West Addison on Wednesday. Not only are the Cubs expected to announce deals with Xavier Nady and Chad Tracy, there is a press conference scheduled for 11:30am CST on Wednesday morning in Arizona. At that time, the Cubs are expected to make the official announcement that Mesa is their first choice to build their new Spring Training complex ... dubbed Wrigleyville West. The Cubs announced their Spring Training broadcast schedule on … [Read more...]
Park and Nady to the Top of the Cubs List?
The conflicting rumors and reports that surfaced on Monday are what make baseball's off-season interesting and frustrating all at the same time. For the last week, it appeared that Ben Sheets was out of the Cubs' picture. The Cubs publicly stated during the convention they are not pursuing a free agent starter ... and several reports from the media indicated the same. Then Jim Bowden tweeted and reported during his show Monday night on XM Radio that the Cubs are one of five teams negotiating … [Read more...]
Cubs Quiet … For Now
Will the Cubs end the first month of Twenty-Ten quietly or with some activity? There are two holes Jim Hendry would like to fill ... an outfielder and a relief pitcher. The names are out there. But could Hendry be working on a deal that has not been leaked to the media? The Cubs also have three players that are unsigned and one could be headed for arbitration. After reports late last week suggested the Cubs had chosen Mesa over Naples, the official announcement from the Ricketts family is … [Read more...]
Is Jonny Gomes the Cubs First Choice?
Two of the Cubs rumored options have come off the "big board" in the last 48 hours. Rick Ankiel agreed to terms with the Royals and Jose Contreras will pitch for Charlie Manuel in Philly this season. Jim Hendry has two spots he would like to fill before Spring Training ... a right-handed outfielder and a reliever. According to Dave Kaplan, the Cubs are in negotiations with Jonny Gomes. Lou Piniella's former outfielder is the Cubs first choice to fill one of their two needs. Here's the latest … [Read more...]