With Rick Renteria in the fold and the GM Meetings beginning on Monday in Orlando, the Cubs should be extremely busy over the next six weeks leading up to the Christmas Holidays. Not only will the Cubs name their Major League coaching staff, but minor league coaching assignments will be announced in the coming weeks. The deadline to set their reserve roster to protect players from the Rule 5 draft is Nov. 20 and teams have until Dec. 2 to tender contracts to arbitration eligible players and … [Read more...]
Joe Girardi and the Search for the Next Cubs Manager
The Cubs know what they are looking for in a manager. The front office is looking for their new manager to be dynamic and creative with tremendous energy as well as a track record of developing Major League talent and while one with a Cubs’ background would help, it is not necessarily a priority. Did Theo Epstein have anyone in mind on Monday when he detailed what the front office is looking for to lead the big league team next year and beyond? The Cubs are expected to ask the Yankees for … [Read more...]
Dale Sveum Out as Manager of the Chicago Cubs
According to multiple reports, the Cubs have fired Dale Sveum and he will not return to manage the Cubs in the final year of his three-year contract. According to multiple reports, some members of Sveum's staff may return but those positions will not filled until a new manger is hired. Updated 11:14am CDT - The Cubs made it official and announced that Dale Sveum has been relieved of his duties as the manager of the Cubs. Theo Epstein said the Cubs want a "dynamic new voice and the … [Read more...]
Talkin’ Cubs Live – Cubs vs. Pirates – 04/01/13
Opening Day - Game One: Cubs (0-0) vs. Pirates (0-0) Game Time – 12:35pm CDT Coverage – TV: WGN TV – Radio: 720 WGN, XM Radio Channels 185/844 Location – PNC Park, Pittsburgh Jeff Samardzija (0-0, -.--/-.--) vs. A.J. Burnett (0-0, -.--/-.--) Chicago Cubs Baseball is on the Air! Spring Training is over … It’s Opening Day! Weather permitting … The Cubs and Pirates kickoff their 2013 campaign this afternoon. Even if the rain holds off (30 percent chance) highs are expected to be only … [Read more...]
Day Twelve of Cubs Camp: The White Team Tops The Blue Team in Intrasquad Action
The Cubs beat the Cubs on Thursday afternoon at HoHoKam Park in the first of two five-inning intrasquad matchups. The White Team, full of mostly veteran players, beat the Blue Team, that consisted of mostly minor leaguers, 7-3 in five innings. Jorge Soler stole the show on Thursday at HoHoKam Park. Soler hit a mammoth home run in his first at bat, walked and made a diving catch in left field. Starlin Castro was 3-for-3 with a double and three runs scored for the winning team and Nate … [Read more...]
Day Six of Cubs Camp: Bullpens and The Soler Show
Jeff Samardzija, Edwin Jackson and Matt Garza completed their second bullpen sessions of camp on Friday and Dale Sveum was happy with the way Garza threw on Friday. While the early part of the day was all about the bullpen sessions, the focus quickly changed when Jorge Soler stepped in the cage for his first batting practice of the spring. Jorge Soler reported to camp on Friday and reportedly put on a show in his first BP of the spring. Theo Epstein and Dale Sveum watched Soler hit. … [Read more...]
Cubs Down on the Farm Report – 02/11/13
With the Winter League seasons over and Opening Day for the Minor Leagues weeks away, it’s time to step away from reporting and move to more feature articles. As a preview to Spring Training, the Down on the Farm Reports returns to a feature entitled … Bubble Players and Bubble Busters Each year, a number of players are "on the bubble" as to making the Major League roster. This article takes a look at whom some of those players can be, and which players can "bust" their bubble. … [Read more...]
Jason McLeod Discusses the Cubs Farm System on MLB Network Radio
Jason McLeod joined Mike Ferrin and Jim Duquette during Power Alley (MLB Network Radio/XM Radio) on Thursday morning. The Cubs’ Senior Vice President of Scouting and Player Development talked in depth about 'The Cubs Way' and the entire organization. Jason McLeod sees Javier Baez as a shortstop and Junior Lake will likely see a majority of his playing time at third base during the upcoming season but the Cubs will continue moving him around defensively … and the Cubs are hoping the … [Read more...]
Day Two of the 2013 Cubs Convention … Dale Sveum and the Coaching Staff
Dale Sveum and his coaching staff were next up on Saturday. Sveum was joined by Jamie Quirk, James Rowson, Dave McKay, Lester Strode and newcomers, third base coach David Bell and assistant hitting coach Rob Deer. Chris Bosio was not able to attend and left the convention early. Bosio is recovering from knee replacement surgery. Sveum and his coaching staff discussed their first year with the Cubs, what challenges lay ahead for them in year two and what they have planned for Spring … [Read more...]
Day One of the 2013 Cubs Convention … Familiar Faces in a New Place
The 28th Annual Cubs Convention began Friday at the Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers and day one of the convention went the same as many before. Cubs fans filled the hotel with the same enthusiasm as in year’s past as they attempted to familiarize themselves with the new surroundings. There was plenty of optimism about the upcoming season but more about what lies down the road for the Chicago Cubs ... and Wrigley Field. … [Read more...]