It was back to business for the Chicago Cubs and the rest of baseball on Thursday. The team announced they avoided arbitration with Luis Valbuena and agreed to terms on a one-year deal worth $930,000. Matt Garza, Jeff Samardzija and James Russell are the three remaining arbitration eligible players for next season and the deadline to exchange arbitration figures is next Friday (January 18). Matt Garza should receive a slight pay increase from the $9.5 million he was paid last year to around … [Read more...]
Rambling on the Eve of the Beginning
One day. One day away. It is such a good feeling. And after a week of done deals, not so done deals, possible federal regulations violations and a way-to-healthy dose of speculation, it is almost time to throw the ball and catch the ball and hit the ball, and for Tony Campana, run around the bases ... fast. So, let's celebrate the beginning of the Spring Training and prepare ourselves to hear "Hope springs eternal" way too many times by doing some rambling. Jump in below. Let's have a … [Read more...]
Cubs Quiet and Stand Pat at Trading Deadline
The MLB non-waiver trade deadline came and went on Sunday afternoon with the Cubs not making any deals. The Cubs made only one change (Kosuke Fukudome) to a team that is on track for a 100-loss season. Sunday was an extremely quiet day on the Cubs front ... with little to no news or rumors. The week leading up to the deadline, Jim Hendry said he would not be blowing up his roster or making many changes, if any at all. … [Read more...]
Talkin’ Cubs Live – Cubs vs. Cardinals – 07/29/11
Game One Hundred Six: Cubs (42-63) vs. Cardinals (55-50) Game Time - 7:15pm CDT Coverage - TV: WGN TV - Radio: 720 WGN, XM Radio Channel 186 Location - Busch Stadium, St. Louis Matt Garza (4-7, 3.72/1.30) vs. Edwin Jackson (7-7, 3.92/1.42, 0-0, -.--/-.--) The Cubs will try to get back in the win column tonight and avoid falling to a season-low 22 games under .500 against their long-time rival St. Louis Cardinals. The Redbirds are coming off a rough series against the Astros (lost last two) and … [Read more...]
Rambling While Saying Sayonara
Hello, good day, hope you are all doing fantastic. It is Friday, and as well all know, that means it is time for some ramblings. It is time to just throw some thoughts out there, see what sticks, then ask some hopefully intriguing questions and create some debate. That is what we do here at the CCO, so let's get it on. The trade deadline is Sunday, and a certain third baseman might be changing his tune. So, without further ado ... … [Read more...]
From the Wire … Cubs Agree on Deal to Send Fukudome to the Indians
According to multiple reports, the Cubs have agreed to trade Kosuke Fukudome to the Cleveland Indians for two minor league prospects. The Cubs will reportedly pick up more than half of the remaining $4.7 million owed to Fukudome. The deal is expected to be finalized prior to today's game against the Milwaukee Brewers. Tyler Colvin is expected to replace Fukudome on the active roster once the trade is made official. Updated: 11:15am CDT - According to multiple reports, the Cubs have agreed to … [Read more...]
No Offense at All – Cubs 0 Brewers 2
Game One Hundred Four - Cubs 0 Brewers 2 WP - Zack Greinke (8-4) LP - Carlos Zambrano (7-6) Save - John Axford (29) Zack Greinke and the Brewers' pen blanked the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday night. The Cubs offense managed only four hits and three walks and have not scored a run since the first inning of Tuesday's game (17 scoreless innings). The Cubs looked overmatched against Greinke as he kept the Cubs off balance all night. Greinke tossed 6 2/3 shutout innings, allowed three hits, three walks … [Read more...]
One Bad Inning … and One More Loss – Cubs 2 Brewers 3
Game One Hundred Three - Cubs 2 Brewers 3 WP - Chris Narveson (7-6) LP - Ryan Dempster (7-8) Save - John Axford (28) So much for four wins in a row ... The Cubs three-game winning streak came to an end after a bad first inning for Ryan Dempster. The Cubs and Brewers scored all five runs in the first inning and Ryan Dempster was handed a two-run lead before he ever threw a pitch ... but Dempster gave up three runs on four hits and the Cubs offense could not push across another run. Ryan … [Read more...]
Checking In on the Cubs Rumor Mill
The countdown has begun to the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline, will the Cubs' GM be 'Trader Jim' or 'Stand-Pat Hendry'? According to a report from Comcast SportsNet, Jim Hendry sees a turnaround for the Cubs by 2012. Hendry "believes in the strength of the organization, that the scouting and player development departments are building a pipeline that will flow more and more talent into Wrigley Field" and he doesn't see the Cubs "as a long-term rebuilding project." According to Comcast … [Read more...]
Four Teams Interested in Fukudome?
According to a report from Bruce Levine, "at least four teams are zeroing in on Kosuke Fukudome". Levine has reported the Indians interest in Fukudome for a couple of weeks and reiterated Cleveland's interest in Kosuke again on Sunday. Kosuke Fukudome has a limited no-trade clause and can block a deal to six teams. It is unknown if Cleveland is one of the teams on his list. … [Read more...]
