Talkin' Cubs

The Pirates are hot

Wally Haas — Fri, 16 May 2008 13:38:09 +0000

I posted about the Pirates before. The Cubs better not take these guys lightly this weekend.

The Pirates are 8-2 in their last 10 games and now are just one game under .500, the same record as the Brewers.

You’d have to say the Pirates and the Astros are the biggest surprises in the division right now. The Cardinals look like they’re starting to come back to Earth (3-7 in their last 10 games.) The Cardinals and Brewers (4-6) are the only teams in the division with losing records in the last 10 games.

Let’s hope we’re wrong

Wally Haas — Fri, 16 May 2008 13:00:08 +0000

I think Tony’s right about Jim Edmonds. I like Felix Pie a lot and wish the Cubs had given him a chance to work on his hitting at the major league level. Sure, Pie struggled early, but so did Aramis Ramirez and Alfonso Soriano. Veterans get the benefit of the doubt, as it should be, but if you stick by a player who has potential he may blossom if you give him a chance and show you have faith in him.
Think Lou Brock.
Reed Johnson looked very good early but has cooled off. I think Pie should have gotten some of Johnson’s at bats when Johnson started to struggle.

I hope Edmonds has something left in the tank. His bat and his legs looked slow in the little I saw of the game yesterday.

I don’t care that he used to play for the Cardinals. I’m just not fond of using retreads.

Good pitching, eh?

Tony Garcia — Fri, 16 May 2008 04:39:43 +0000

Let’s put it this way: Ryan Dempster didn’t think Ryan Dempster would be on pace for 20 victories at this point of the season. But he is after Thursday’s 4-0 shutout over the San Diego Padres.

If the former Cubs closer wants to race Carlos Zambrano to become the team’s first 20-game winner since 2001, I’m for it.

But Dempster, who was born in Sechelt, British Columbia, will have to pick up the pace if he wants to set the Cubs single-season record for victories by a Canadian hurler. Hall of Famer Fergie Jenkins went 24-13 in his Cy Young Award-winning 1971 campaign.

Rivalry weak

Tony Garcia — Thu, 15 May 2008 05:53:44 +0000

Tribune Cubs beat reporter Paul Sullivan, in his missive about the Jim Edmonds signing, actually thinks fans are against the move is because Edmonds was part of the great Cardinals-Cubs rivalry.

For a city that welcomed Dennis Rodman, Bob Probert and A.J. Pierzynski into the fold, Chicago is more than capable of opening the door for an enemy-turned-friend.

No, I’m mad because this is such a TYPICAL Cubs move to retard the progress of a prospect in the hopes that a player whose career started falling apart the minute Major League Baseball began its crackdown on performance-enhancing drugs … and was hitting .178 for the last-place Padres … and who couldn’t beat out Scott Hairston and Jody Gerut in the aforementioned San Diego outfield, will deliver shots onto Sheffield with regularity.

I hope I’m wrong about Edmonds. Then again, I hope for a lot of things.

Why … why … why …

Tony Garcia — Wed, 14 May 2008 23:06:18 +0000

Jim Edmonds is apparently minutes away from joining the Chicago National League Ball Club.

What, John Mabry, Todd Hollandsworth, Jose Macias, Troy O’Leary, Chad Hermansen, Rondell White, Curtis Goodwin and Roosevelt Brown weren’t available?

Don’t knock the Pirates

Wally Haas — Tue, 13 May 2008 12:35:05 +0000

Some experts have downplayed the Cubs early season success because they’ve won all six games against the Pirates. Check the standings. The Pirates are 18-20 and playing winning baseball (18-14) against everyone but the Cubs.

That makes me a bit nervous about this weekend’s matchup. The Pirates are playing well and are due to do something against the Cubs at Wrigley. Cubs are playing pretty well now too, so it could be a better series than most folks think.

Don’t mess with the Pie System

Tony Garcia — Mon, 12 May 2008 23:46:36 +0000

The San Diego Padres, the worst team in the major leagues, released Jim Edmonds this past week. He had been hitting .178 and is chronically creaky.

But, according to the Chicago Tribune’s Dave van Dyck, the Cubs may be interested in bringing the former Angels and Cardinals CF in to add left-handed pop to the right-handed hitting lineup. It would also allow the Chicago National League Ball Club to send down Felix Pie.

I must be nuts. I’m waiting for Piniella to get Pie in games more than once or twice a week, and here are the Cubs contemplating signing a guy who I wouldn’t put on our Monday morning softball team.

Peek here for Pie’s resume.

Raging Ryno

Gareth Sleger — Mon, 12 May 2008 20:55:15 +0000

When Lou Piniella and Ryne Sandberg were hired to their respective managerial positions before the 2006 season, there was little wonder about who would have the most ejections after a season and a quarter.

Well, surprise, surprise. Ryno is putting Sweet Lou’s temper to shame. Since the start of the 2006 season, it’s Sandberg 7, Piniella 1.

Bobby Cox, watch your back.

Big Unit of measurement

Tony Garcia — Sat, 10 May 2008 23:43:14 +0000

In order to complete a three-game sweep Sunday of the best team, recordwise, in the National League, the Cubs have to defeat a pitcher who sports a 12-0 mark in 13 starts against the North Siders.

Thank goodness Randy Johnson is 57 years old.

They better be friendly confines

Tony Garcia — Sat, 10 May 2008 02:37:39 +0000

Nothing like starting a 10-game homestand against the National League’s best team (after six weeks) with a victory and the top two starters set to roll the next two games.

After the D-backs exit, the Padres (a major-league worst 12-23) are in for four, and the Pirates (the Cubs are already 6-0 against the Bucs in 2008) finish the homestand.

This is definitely “step-on-their-throats” time for the Cubs.