Cubs | The Baseball Zealot

Harden, Gaudin to the Cubs

“I like our team. I like it even more now with this addition.”

Cubs manager Lou Piniella

The Cubs wasted no time in turning the focus in the NL Central away from the Brewers and the C.C. Sabathia deal by making their own blockbuster deal. On Tuesday, they acquired Rich Harden and Chad Gaudin from the A’s for Matt Murton, Sean Gallagher, Eric Patterson, and AAA prospect Josh Donaldson.

What are your thoughts on the deal?

As for me, I’m pleased. I have the normal reservations about Harden’s endurance and health issues but aside from that, I think this helps the club tremendously. The fact that we got Gaudin is icing on the cake, in my opinion. We need some help in the bullpen and Gaudin is no stranger to the starting rotation.

I was listening to Episode 419 of Cubscast today and they had on Jordan Stepp from the Athleticscast podcast. It’s Jordan’s feeling that A’s fans are quite unhappy with the deal. To be fair, the kind of trade where a big ticket player is traded for several players with potential would be hard to be excited about. It’s possible in two years (two months?) Billy Beane would be hailed as a hero. For now however, he’s the one who selling away their best players.

One more note on Harden, it should be worth mentioning that he has a 17-10 record on the road. Perhaps that didn’t escape the Cubs attention either.

Will I miss any of the players given up? I think Matt Murton has reached his ceiling. Cute red hair can take you only so far. I honestly don’t know a lot about Josh Donaldson but he put together a good year while in Boise last year.

The two key players in the deal were Gallagher and Patterson and I’m sure Billy Beane knows it. Gallagher is a solid pitcher with a good K/BB ratio. Patterson has some good upside and it really depends how far he wants to take himself and how long he’ll take to get there (see brother Corey).

The key for the Cubs is Harden’s health. If he stays healthy, this is will pay big dividends for the Northsiders.

A belated welcome to Jim Edmonds

R.J. Anderson from Beyond the Box Score lists his lineup of players over 35 who are playing well. Guess who he has down at center field??

Jim Edmonds of the Chicago Cubs.

Ok, Cub fans, be honest. How many of you winced when heard that the Cubs were picking up Diamond Jim in mid-May? Or were you like me and figured that the price was right and there wasn’t much risk in the pickup. Many against the deal were Cardinal-haters who were letting that get in the way of logic.

Edmonds has generally been a power-type hitter who isn’t afraid to take a walk. Generally speaking, those qualities don’t tend to deteriorate as much with age compared to a speed guy who hits for average.

Edmonds’ stats for the total season are nothing to write home about. If you throw out his stats from San Diego and only look at his numbers since he came to the Cubs on May 15, he pretty much typifies his career stats.

Jim Edmonds	With Cubs 2008	Career
Batting average	.283	.286
OBP	.379	.377
Slugging Pct	.566	.527

Jim Edmonds throughout his career has been an excellent defensive centerfielder. Granted, any outfielder will lose a step or two with age and Edmonds is no exception. That said, he’s holding his own and actually doing alright.

And for those Cardinal-haters who need an excuse to accept Jim Edmonds, apparently he and LaRussa are duking it out in the press about Edmonds’ comments about being happy to be a Cubs.

Welcome to the Cubs, Jim!

Cubs fans from our 4th of July parade

Cubs fans had a presence in yesterday’s parade in Champaign-Urbana. If I’m not mistaken, this would be the same group who marched in last year’s parade.

A poster taking some liberties with an Abe Lincoln quote.

A Cub fan wheeling around with a rather tattered Cub flag.

No Cardinals fans contingent showed up in the parade. Must have been on the DL.

Go Cubs!

Rich Hill update: It don’t look good from here

After successive starts at AAA Iowa where he obviously lacked control and confidence, the Cubs’ Rich Hill was sent all the way to Mesa in the Rookie League to work on the fundamentals and maybe get his head together.

Please tell me if I’m saying the obvious here but I have to wonder if Hill is just done. In his first start at Mesa yesterday, he didn’t even get past the first inning. Pitching 1/3 of an inning, he gave up five runs, three earned including 3 walks.

The Cubs organization is considering giving Hill a break altogether to see that might work. I don’t see what other option they have.

hehe… The Cubs Brickyard have heard some other “news” about his future plans.

13 WINS IN A ROW FOR BALLGAME & SOX

Cub fans had pretty much wiped their feet on the Sox after sweeping them at Wrigley the previous weekend, now it was time for the Sox to return the favor. Like I said before, I missed seeing the middle game of this Crosstown Classic at the Cell, Lindskoog Family Reunion. But was able to watch the game on TIVO Saturday night. And was able to watch Carlos Quinten take Carlos Marmol yard with what turned out to be the game winner. Just before the homer, FOX showed a closeup of Kerry Wood in the bullpen double flipping the bird to White Sox fans, no one said a word.

Mark Buehrle was on fire as he entered the finale of this three game set, matched up against a soft throwing lefty Sean Marshall. I was a bit concerned, as sometimes Sox hitters have troubles against this type of pitcher. But not Sunday night, Quinten hit a solo shot in the 4th to left, Brian Anderson hit one out with one on in the 5th, and Jim Thome blasted a two run bomb off a reliever in the 8th. The final score 5-1 Sox.

Even though the Sox won by four, there was plenty of drama & excitement. Cubs manager Lou Piniella was ejected early on for disagreeing with the firstbase umpire on whether Joe Crede checked his swing with runners on 2nd & 3rd and nobody out in the third. Nick Swisher made three great fielding plays at firstbase in this game. First he caught a throw from Buehrle that was ticketed from the rightfield line, then he grabbed a hurried off the mark throw from Alexei Ramirez (Ramirez tried to double the runner off 1st, Swisher from the seat of his pants threw to 2nd to double up the runner there), and then Nick put out a threat by snaring a 9th inning nobody out liner & doubling up a wayward Mark DeRosa off 2nd base. After going 5 for 5 on Saturday Derrek Lee struckout three different times on Sunday on high heat.

Monday night was halfpriced night at the Cell, only $8.50, to see the White Sox play the Indians, a fullhouse, with 8,000 walkup. A.J. Pierzynski was not in the lineup for Polish/American Night, go figure. Among those in the house were NickyV & Kathy, Al & Anthony, Tade, Big Bob, KevinS & his friends, Phil, Caramel-Corn Mike, and Jackie stopped by to visit.

It was a beautiful night for baseball on the Southside of Chicago as Gavin Floyd would be facing Jeremy Sowers, another softthrowing lefty. Jim Thome took a heater(?) on a line drive ride to left that cleared the fence with two aboard & two out in the 1st to turn a 1-0 deficit to a 3-1 lead. With two out and Orlando Cabrera on 2nd after a leadoff third inning double, Jermaine Dye ripped a single off the thirdbaseman for an RBI sinle. Later in the 3rd Nick Swisher stepped to the dish with the sacks drunk and unloaded for a grand slam to put the Sox up 8-1. The lead looked out of sight.

The lead was still a comfortable 8-4 one when Floyd left after six innings of work. Octavio Dotel pitched one inning of scoreless ball before giving way to Nick Masset. The Tribe relievers only allowed one run over the last five innings, another Swisher homer, this time from the left side. Things got a little tight as Masset, who hadn’t worked in a while allowed five hits & three runs (two unearned) in 1 2/3 innings, before Matt Thornton was called to save the day. The lefty Choo got an RBI single off the southpaw Thornton, which brought the tying run to the plate in the person of Casey Blake. Matt got Blake to fly to right to end the game and preserve a 9-7 win. Jhonny Peralta had a career night, going 5 for 5, with three doubles, a homer, three RBI’s and three runs scored, but it wasn’t enough.

Going back to the Cell Tuesday & Wednesday nights with Cliff Lee & C.C. Sabathia toeing the rubber for the Tribe, before I head out to Waupaca for the weekend of the 4th.

IT’S THE BADDEST PART OF TOWN

Last week I got tickets to see the Sox play the Cubs Friday & Sunday at the Cell. That was before going to Waupaca while the Sox lost three straight at the un-Friendly Confines. The Cubbies then hosted the Orioles from Baltimore, losing two of three to the Birds. While the Sox traveled across country and took two of three from the Dodgers. So now it was time for the rematch. I was not looking forward to sharing my home with Cub fans, but at least I wouldn’t be at Wrigley. I was excited to back the Sox as they tried to hang onto their 1/2 game lead over Minnesota. Remember I’ve got a ten game winning streak.

The Cubs had their best pitcher on the hill, Ryan Dempster, but he hadn’t won on the road. Dempster hadn’t lost at home, would the Cell feel like home, with all the Cub fans in the house? Jose Contreras started for the Good Guys in Black. The Cubs hamered Jose last weekend on the northside.

Derrick Rose threw out the first pitch, a strike, to Mark Buehrle. I’ve had season’s tickets for the Bulls for 30+ years. I REALLY wanted the Bulls to draft local kid, Memphis point guard, two time Illinois State Champion at Simeon High School in Chicago. So I was very excited to give Rose a big Chicago welcome.

The Cubs leadoff man reached base, but with one on & one out, Derrek Lee grounded into a doubleplay. The Pale Hose jumped out to a 1-0 first inning lead, but that didn’t look like it would hold up, as Contreras lost control & got into a bases loaded jam, but DP Lee obliged once again.

The Sox pushed the envelope with aggressive baserunning, especially against Eric Patterson (who didn’t look any better than brother Corey & he wasn’t up to the challenge of playing LF). I wore my Nick Swisher tee, as luck would have it, Swish stepped in with the bags juiced, and took the ball the opposite way for a grand slam to put the game on ice. Dempster was tagged for eight earned runs, the Sox were up 8-0, enroute to a 10-3 drubbing of the Cubs.

Alexei Ramirez wasn’t available, as his wife went into labor. There were lotsa Cub fans there to see their team, but there were also some of my good friends, Adele, her cousin Mary, Dick & Bea, Steve, Caramel-Corn Mike, and new/old friend Dennis.

Rich going down-Hill?

What’s happened to Rich Hill? It looks like after his stint with the AAA Iowa Cubs, he’ll be demoted once again.

Three starts ago with the I-Cubs, he allowed only one hit in five innings. Cynics will joke that opponents could only get one hit because he couldn’t get the ball over the plate. In that game, he allowed seven walks.

The downward trend continued on June 11 when he gave up three runs in four innings while walking six. Unlike the previous game, Hill got the loss.

Finally, last Friday, Hill didn’t last even one inning. In 2/3 of a frame walked four and allowed three hits and six runs in front of a home crowd. Apparently, that was the last straw for Cubs management as he’s been sent down to AA.

At this point, I don’t expect him back for a while, if at all.

Hill came up through the Cubs system highly touted and while he’s had his ups and downs in the majors, he put together a solid season in 2007. There’s no doubt the hard throwing lefty has talent but confidence has been an issue. At this point, is it an over-statement to say he has a case of the yips?

Steve Blass, anyone?

Incentive is a wonderful thing for Carlos Zambrano

Carlos Zambrano says he wants to be healthy so he can pitch in this year’s All-Star game. The reason is simple: He wants the National League to win so his Cubs will gain home field advantage.

“I’m ready,” he said Thursday. “I want to pitch in the all-star game. I want to be there. I want to help the National League, so we can be in the World Series and get homefield advantage. With a little help from me, (Arizona’s Brandon) Webb and (Cincinnati’s Edinson) Volquez, and the rest of the hitters and pitchers, we can finally win one.”

I like his optimism… and his motivation.

Z is likely to come off the 15-day DL on July 4th, just in time for the midseason classic. He’ll begin throwing from a bullpen mound Sunday.

Lou and Ozzie "rap" for Chevy dealer

There are obvious perks to being a manager of a Chicago major league team in Chicago. You’re famous and you have the respect and adoration of at least half the town. You get to hang with people like Derrick Lee and umm.. Nick Swisher.

Ozzie gettin’ his groove on for a Chevy dealer

But then there those days where you throw all your self-respect out the window. All for an ad for a two-bit Chevy dealership.

C’mon Lou… was this in your contract or are you really that hard up for money??

CUBS WIN!!!

The Chicago Cubs have completed the Crosstown Classic at Wrigley Field why the Chicago Cubs are in first place. It has nothing to do with anything, but a mighty fine baseball club. The White Sox dropped all three games this past weekend playing at the un-Friendly Confines. Friday’s game was close, maybe with a bunt, following a leadoff 9th inning double, and the outcome could’ve been different. That’s like saying if IFs, ANDs, & BUTs were CANDY & NUTS everyday would be Christmas.

Aramis Ramirez was the star of the series, hitting two out Friday (including the game winner), knocking a three run blast that put Saturday’s game on ice, and hitting his 4th of the three game series was just the cherry on top of a Delicious Cubbie Sundae! The Cubs have the best record in baseball and are unbeatable at Wrigley.

Of course I’m a White Sox fan, but I’m willing to give the Cubbies their do. I’ll be at the Cell this coming Friday & Sunday to see the Southside version of the Crosstown Classic. I’ll be rooting for the Sox to return in the favor this weekend. My winning streak is at ten, hopefully I can increase it to twelve, and maybe the Sox can win one without me on Saturday. LET’S GO WHITE SOX!