Actions speak louder than words

Add comment August 8th, 2008

Jim Edmonds didn’t need to comment on Tony LaRussa or anything else about the St. Louis Cardinals, especially when he had two home runs planned.

Amends with Edmonds

Add comment June 23rd, 2008

I know I’m not the only one who owes Jim Edmonds an apology. After the latest installment of the Crosstown Classic, Edmonds has earned my full respect. He’s proving why he’s playing the game: for the love, not the money.

When San Diego cut the former Cardinal in May, he could have easily taken the rest of the year off to sit around and collect hefty pay checks from San Diego and St. Louis. Instead, he took pocket change from the Cubs (much to the dismay of all Cubbie Nation) to prove he can still play at a top level.

I was at Saturday’s game where Edmonds hit two homers in a 9-run fourth inning, and the above picture doesn’t begin to portray the love Wrigley showed him. When Edmonds jogged back on field in the top of the fifth, he had the entire center field bleachers on their feet bowing in praise and left the entire White Sox contingent speechless.

So, here’s to Edmonds, a Cub who is hitting .299 in 26 games (after hitting .178 in 26 games with San Diego) and a player I will fully defend when St. Louis fans give him an ear-full on July 4. 

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.