How do the Cubs make you feel, CC?

Add comment September 16th, 2008

 

For the second time this season, the Cubs’ offense has made the National League’s new “best” pitcher feel like this. And in 14 NL starts this season, it’s probably only the second time CC Sabathia has had to bury his face/empty his stomach in his glove.

You do the math…or just see it for yourself:

Sabathia vs. NL: 9 wins, 0 losses in 12 starts with a 1.42 ERA (15 earned runs in 95 1/3 innings).

Sabathia vs. Cubs: 0 wins, 1 loss in 2 starts with a 4.77 ERA (7 earned runs in 13 2/3 innings).

Marquis move?

Add comment July 10th, 2008

The Brewers got C.C. Sabathia and the Cubs got Rich Harden. Now Cardinals manager Tony La Russa wants some of the action.

With Chad Gaudin added to the Cubs pitching mix, too, Jim Hendry may not be done shaking things up.  

Would the Cardinals dare re-acquire playoff black sheep Jason Marquis?

It’s a pitching situation

Add comment June 18th, 2008

 

The Chicago Tribune’s Paul Sullivan is reporting that the Cubs are preparing a multi-player package, including Matt Murton and Rich Hill, to trade for Red Sox free-swinging center fielder Coco Crisp.

I don’t mind dealing out either player (Murton: I really like the guy, but the Cubs clearly see no future in him and his Triple-A numbers make him great trade bait. Hill: Many will say it’s too soon to give up on him. But his horrid start to the season and his shoddy Iowa appearances make it seem that he peaked last season), but do the Cubs really need another center fielder, let alone an outfielder?  

Jim Edmonds has grown on Cubbie Nation and shown he’s more than worth the $250,000. Reed Johnson is the perfect player to rotate between left and center. And when all else fails, the ultimate jack of all trades Mark DeRosa can easily hold down left and give Fukudome a day off in right.

First and foremost, what needs to be addressed is the Cubs pitching staff. God knows they have done wonders so far this season and there is little to complain about. But, how much longer will a first place rotation/bullpen be able to maintain the wear-and-tear into the playoffs without making any upgrades?

One concern is the endurance of Ryan Dempster. Can the one-time closer continue to pitch like a No. 2 into September? After all, before this season, he’s only had six starts since 2004. Also, there will come a point where the void in the bullpen will need to be filled by someone other than Chad Fox, Kevin Hart, Sean Marshall, Jose Ascanio, Carmen Pignatiello or Neal Cotts.

As far as rotation pitchers go, the options are out there in C.C. Sabathia, A.J. Burnett, Erik Bedard, Randy Wolf and even Greg Maddux.

Rumors a plenty

Add comment June 13th, 2008

With Alfonso Soriano out for six weeks, focus has moved to Jim Hendry’s and Lou Piniella’s to do list.

We’ve heard talk of making a move for C.C. Sabathia as No. 2 in the rotation and adding left-handed power to the line-up in Ken Griffey Jr.

The latest rumor: Scott Podsednik? That’s a laugh. But then again, so was Jim Edmonds.