So far we've looked at catchers, 1st basemen and 2nd basemen. 1st and 2nd base appear to be very weak for the 2012 Cubs and I can tell you before you read further that 3rd base is no different. The Cubs lost Aramis Ramirez to free agency who had been at 3rd since midway through the 2003 season. Before we …
Daily Facepalm 2.20.2012 – They’re back.
Player Recently in the Best Shape of His Life: Carlos Marmol Carlos Marmol dropped 515 pounds in the offseason. He dropped 15 of his own pounds and he dropped the 500-lb gorilla in his pitching arsenal: his mystifying cutter – not mystifying the way his slider can be (Where did that thing go?), but mystifying like the remake of Footloose (. . . …
A contest for folks who like scrap and heart
Hey guys, thought I'd share this in an un-OV blog so it doesn't intrude with the normal discussions about fatty acid polymerization or Breaking Bad stuff. We're having a contest to give away swag and all are welcome to enter, just leave a comment in the blog article linked below and you're automatically in. Thanks for playing! WSD contest for …
Daily Facepalm – 2.18.12, Evening Edition
Neverending Story Remember when we were on the 5-yard line in the Theo compensation talks? Remember when Bud Selig said he'd get involved if a decision hadn't been agreed to by sometime in November? Remember when he said the same thing about December? January? Remember two weeks ago when were told Bud would have a decision by week's end? Rememer …
Pitchers and Catchers report
Today is the first officially official day of Cubs spring training. Not much is going to be happening except guys running a few drills and whatnot, but if nothing else it's good to know that the sports universe won't be completely dominated by the NBA/NHL anymore…that is at least until March Madness. We'll get our first "Chicago Cubs Baseball Is …
My Top 2012 Cubs Prospects, Part 1
Following the Cubs minor leagues in 2012 is probably going to be more fun than following the big league team. Hopefully it will be more rewarding than what we're likely to see from the 2012 Cubs. Each year several sources release their top prospect lists. We talk a lot about them here and I thought I'd take a stab at …
Projecting the 2012 Cubs: 2nd Basemen
I don't really know why, but whenever I think about Darwin Barney I want to pronounce his name with a Boston accent. I guess it makes it more fun to think about Dahwin Bahney rather than what Barney is actually capable of producing. He returns for his 2nd full season though he's probably not the one who should be starting. …
Daily Facepalm – 2.17.12
This week in Best Shape of His Life Geovany Soto dropped 25 pounds this offseason. If you recall, he also lost a lot of weight before his breakout 07/08 seasons. If you combine this with the fact that Soto has been vastly more productive in even numbered years then he's due for something like 97 home runs this year. In …
Who do the Cubs trade for Theo Epstein?
The Cubs hired Theo Epstein 4 months ago and it was about that time that we were told the two sides were on the 5-yard line regarding compensation. I can only assume that Ken O'Keefe is running the offense. Every week we're told that Bud Selig will resolve the compensation issue soon. Each week goes by without a resolution. Recently …
The future Cubs
In a couple years the Cubs infield will include future stars like Hee Seop Choi, Bobby Hill and Brendan Harris. Sammy Sosa will be joined by Corey Patterson and David Kelton. Before long Nic Jackson will take over in CF while Patterson replaces Sosa. Future Hall of Famer Kerry Wood will be at the top of a rotation that includes …