Happy New Year! 2010
Happy New Year!
Go Cubs Go!
Still hoping Matt Holliday doesn’t re-sign with St. Louis, but Jason Bay’s new 4-year deal with the Mets heavily increases the odds Holliday remains a Redbird. And that’s trouble for the Cubs considering Holliday and Pujols combined for 60 HR and 190 RBI last year.
Scott Podsednik doesn’t belong on the North Side, and it’s not just a White Sox thing, either.
The guy’s injury prone and his defense isn’t what it use to be, which was never above average to begin with.
Despite Podsednik’s ability as a solid leadoff man, he’s just not the fit the Cubs need in center field. Better options are available (Reed Johnson) and the Cubs are better off taking a flyer on Scotty Pods.
Besides, an aging Alfonso Soriano in left field is already enough poor defense to overcome. Adding a second sub-par defender isn’t the shot-in-the- arm Jim Hendry should be looking for.
Strangely, I became a fan of former-Cub Doug Glanville while he was playing in Philadelphia, and not Chicago.
In high school my friends and I would take games in from the center field seats. With our sophomoric maturity at its peek, we relentlessly heckled the visiting team’s center fielder (not one of my prouder moments, mind you!).
Most players ignored us, but some shot us looks of disbelief and disapproval, which sadly entertained us. Others, however, like Glanville acknowledged the hazing and even played back.
Glanville’s specialty was flashing us his bright smile. The more we unloaded on him the wider it got. And for good measure, Glanville often faked throwing the baseball our way after catching the third out of an inning, and we loved him for it!
The bullpen could use a little rest so I’ll be taking a few days off to chew seeds and spend time with the family.
Enjoy the holidays and we’ll get back in touch next week!
When I said Tuesday the Cubs would get a sweet deal in return for Zambrano I wasn’t talking about Kie Igawa, who apparently was the return piece, offered by the Yankees.
Igawa is 31-years-old with a career 6.66 ERA in just 16 major league games. Not to mention, he missed all of ’09 throwing in the minor leagues.
Reportedly, however, the Cubs were still interested in eating the $8 million left on Igawa’s contract. Eh? To even think Igawa is the tipping point for such a deal is incredulous.
I’d prefer the Cubs not trade Carlos Zambrano.
You don’t easily replace top-of the-rotation arms in the big leagues. And to win anything you’ve got to have those golden arms…especially in the rotation.
I’m not, however, bothered by the rumors the Cubs are listening to offers for him. Zambrano’s stock is high and it’s likely the Cubs would get a sweet deal in return while ridding itself of a hot-tempered, lazy and fragile self-anointed star.
Milton Bradley had to go, that was a given.
Whoever the Cubs got in return didn’t much matter; just making Bradley Cubs’ history was sufficient.
As it turns out, it’s right-hander Carlos Silva, who’s been dead weight (and over weight) for the Mariners the past two years.
Silva, however, is better than his 5-18 record in Seattle.
Let’s not confuse the Milton Bradley trade for a great day in Cubs’ history. The fact is it’s far from it.
Sorry, but trading the most cankerous sore in Cubs’ history for Carlos Silva just isn’t on par with no-hitters, record setting performances or dare I say, a world championship.
Doesn’t mean I’m not happy to see Bradley go. The truth is I’m thrilled.
Sad knowing the biggest news this offseason is the grand opening of the The Rink at Wrigley, which opens Saturday at 11 a.m.
Further details include:
-Ryan Dempster throwing out the ceremonial first pitch to Blackhawks legend Stan Mikita.
