One thing I've noticed while looking over the projections the past couple months is just how little power the Cubs have. Their starting lineup is practically filled with singles hitters. Alfonso Soriano still has some pop and so does Geovany Soto, but the rest of the lineup has none. I was wondering when the last time the Cubs starting lineup …
It’s going to be an even longer season for the ticket brokers
Expect to see a lot of this. Single game tickets went on sale on Friday, and as of this writing (~11 pm Sunday night) there are manyof tickets available for OPENING DAY. Poking around the ticketing site, you can buy singletons in in Field Box (OF), Terrace Box (IF), Upper deck box (IF, and the best seats in any ballpark), …
Players told to get sleep or else
MESA, Ariz. — Theo Epstein laid down the law at the Cubs Convention, stating firmly the organization would no longer tolerate players who enjoy the nightlife at the expense of getting a good night's sleep. "It's been a factor in ruining some careers," the team president said. "And I'm sure it's been an impediment to the Cubs in winning. … …
RED ALERT! Soriano Might Lead Off Some Games and Prove the Mayans Were Right!
As expected, the idea that Dale Sveum is kind of thinking about maybe, possibly considering the idea of potentially occasionally batting Alfonso Soriano in the lead-off spot has sparked the kind of panic that one usually associates with one of the Airplane! movies. Of course, the level-headed media that is famous for never over-reacting to things like they're the ones spending …
Are some players rushed to the Major Leagues
The guy I used to run The Hawkeye State with and who now helps run The High Porch Picnic, another Hawkeyes blog, asked me a question on twitter yesterday. I've always wanted your opinion: Did Corey Patterson not work out because he was awful, or because the Cubs rushed him? It's not something I've thought all that much about for …
What’s all this Jeff Samardzija starting crap?
I paid so little attention to Cubs baseball after the first few weeks that it's hard for me to believe that Jeff Samardzija threw 88 innings a year ago. I did know that however many innings he threw that they weren't the typically bad Jeff Samardzija innings. I also knew he got lucky. I probably paid no attention to Samardzija's …
Carroll’s Team Health Reports
For several years now Will Carroll has published Team Health Reports. He previously did so at Baseball Prospectus and now does so at SI. I've never been the biggest fan. It seems far too random. Let's take a look at this year's. 2B Darwin Barney Darwin Barney doesn't sound like a 2B, but he sure played like one last year. …
Cubs Want to Get PAID For the Rights to Televise Them Lose Games
I've been a bit distracted lately as I've been thinking about cats again, but as we all know (I'm assuming), Spring Training is here! With the bunting tournament in full half-swing and Kerry Wood drilling Castro on the wrist today, we're starting to see news on a more regular basis coming from the beat reporters. I am, of course, using …
On Ryan Braun’s overturned suspension
I’m not here to exonerate Ryan Braun or declare that he’s definitely clean. I have no idea if he used steroids or not, just like I have no idea if Roy Halladay has used steroids or whether Dee Gordon has used steroids. – Dave Cameron, Fangraphs This is nonsense. Let me first say that I am not even close to …
Another shitty Cubs season in review: Casey Coleman, Ramon Ortiz, Doug Davis, Rodrigo Lopez, James Russell
When Wells and Cashner hit the DL on the same day in late April, the Cubs slim chances at grabbing a playoff spot disappeared. What we did not expect was the massive pile of fail that came in its wake…which doesn't even take into account the fact that Randy Wells probably came back too soon from his injury because the …