So, as we sit here looking at our current lineup, and based off what Al has posted the past few days, if we don't make any moves, here is what it looks like:

Fuld CF

Theriot SS

Lee 1B

Ramirez 3B

Fukudome RF

Soriano LF

Soto C

Baker 2B

Honestly, I don't think that looks to bad as long as we stay healthy, Fukudome can hit consistently, and we see Soto's numbers from 08.

Our bench is our biggest problem in my opinion. Fontenot, Hill, Hoffapuir?? who else?...

The bullpen is a mix of guys:Smard, Stevens,Marshall, Guzman, Grabow, Marmol

and our rotation of Z, Dempster, Lilly, Wells, Gorz? Silva?

I agree with the opinion to lets not sign FA's just to sign.. but if we are to sign FA I think the bench is something that needs to be addressed..

Now, if the rumors floating around come true: we get Ellsbury and Bucholz from Boston.. I'd take..

Another one I heard tonight, is Z to the Mets for Maine and Castillo... I am a little less excited about that.. but what if both happened?

How does a city go about becoming an affiliate? Do the Cubs go after the city, or does the small town contact the Cubs?

Who in the Cubs organization handles the affiliates. I have found minor league player personnel, but never a minor league director. Is this part of Hendry's duties?

Also, how long ago did the Cubs sign with Peoria? How long does a contract with an affiliate usually last?

Thanks!

Go Cubs!

My buddies and I have been online all morning trying to get tickets for the cubs vs reds july weekend games.. i was able to get through quickly and picked up Friday...

Then on Saturday I couldnt get 6 together for the longest time, I finally went to best available, and 6 came up so I bought them. I just got my tix conformation email and it says I bought the NA section.

Do they have someone watching to make sure no one brings beer into the section? or can you drink it but they dont sell it in those stands?? any help would be appreciated.. my friends arent too excited about going to the game and not being able to buy beers....

I told them I guess we'll have to just walk out and chug beers in between innings!

Looks like Dusty is bringing more of his boys to the Reds...

According to Hal McCoy of the Dayton Daily News, the Reds signed Jacque Jones and Daryle Ward to minor league deals today. 

Jones, 34 in April, hit .147/.239/.207 in 134 plate appearances for the Tigers and Marlins last year.  Jones played winter ball and had laser eye surgery this winter.  Troy Renck says he'll get $600K and an April out clause.

Ward, 33, hit .216/.319/.402 in 119 plate appearances for the Cubs last year.  He missed time with a herniated disc.

from chicagosports.com:

The Cubs have spoken to Rich Aurilia's agent and may offer Aurilia a one-year deal to take Cedeno's spot and back up Aramis Ramirez and Derrek Lee.

I think it would be a great veteran to have on the bench... I think our bench is something that we really need to make sure we have flexibility and depth.on

So we could have:

Aurilla, Fontenot, Gaithwright, Johnson, Hoff? on the bench

Continue reading this post »

Continue reading this post »

I am not in panic mode, but I believe we now see some glaring weaknesses that need to be corrected or add depth to the situation in case we see these problems again in Sept.

I have a man crush on DeRosa as much as the next guy, but now is the time for Hendry to do all that it takes to make the Roberts deal work. DeRosa will be our first sub and will still be able to start 3-4 times a week giving dome a rest in rf against lefties, can spell ramirez and lee when they go through their slumps, etc.. he can play 6 posiitons, he will find playing time. I am not sure what Baltimore wants but I think we need to do something along the lines of  marshall, cedeno, and a mid-level prospect or two. If I am Jim Hendry I would ask about the availability of Sherill. We saw in the all star game he can go two innings. I think maybe we can unload Howry, start thinking about next year- he wont be back, and we might have to get rid of Ascanio or another prospect. I know we are giving up a lot, but if we want to win it this year I think we have to make the moves. We never know about the new owners, etc.. we have the green light, lets go for it.

So we send Marshall, Howry, Cedeno, and two prospects for Roberts and Sherill.

I am not done making moves yet-

I still think we need another righty in the bullpen

I would like the trade of Taschner and Wynn-(cf backup-in case edmonds and johnson injuries linger- also would be a great bench player) - not sure what we would have to give up- maybe we could give them Pie, Wuertz?? some low level prospect?

If we cant get Sherill- then we need to do what we can to get Mahay

Also, if we can't get rid of these guys with trades then send Wuertz and Eyre away to AL teams for pitching prospects

That gives us a Lou's lineup of Soriano, Roberts, Lee, Ramirez, Edmonds, Soto, Fukudome, Theriot.  Although I would prefer a lineup of Roberts, Theriot, Fukudome, Ramirez, Edmonds, Soriano, Lee, Soto

Bullpen would be Lieber, Cotts, Gaudin, Tashchner, Sherill/Mahay, Marmol, Wood

Rotation of Z, Harden, Dempster, Lilly, Marquis- Lieber and Gaudin can spot start if injury, or maybe Smardjia?

Bench would be - DeRosa, Fontenot, Ward, Blanco, Johnson, Wynn

I know that makes 26, so maybe we go with only 6 relievers?

I know we just had the all-star break, but I think its important that during this 18 games straight stretch that we rest some of those that were part of the all-star games. Especially those that flew all over the country and to other countries.

Let me be Lou for the week:

Monday vs. LHP Johnson

Theriot SS

DeRosa RF

Lee 1B

Ramirez 3B

Soto C

Edmonds CF

Johnson LF

Cedeno 2B

Harden P

Tuesday vs. RH Micah Owings

Theriot SS

Fukudome RF

Lee 1B

Soto C

Edmonds CF

DeRosa 3B

Hoffpauir LF

Fontenot 2B

Marquis P

Wednesday vs. LH Doug Davis

Theriot SS

Johnson CF

Lee 1B

Ramirez 3B

Ward LF

DeRosa 2B

Fukudome RF

Blanco C

Lilly P

I hate for a complete overhaul... but I think we need to definetly get another reliever or two.

wood- blister/could linger, dont know how he is going to hold up down the line

marmol-which marmol returns for the 2nd half

howry- its middle of july and he still hasnt found his stuff

eyre-not reliable, I think Lou has no confidence in him

wuertz- iowa

marshall- not your power lefty you want out of the pen, positive is long relief

cotts- played well recently but has trouble with command

lieber- dL

gaudin- looks like a good addition

Hart/Ascanio- get rocked in the big leagues, still not ready for regular usage

July

18th @ Hou Lilly

19th @ Hou Z

20th @ Hou Demp

21st @ Ari Harden

22nd @Ari Marquis

23rd @Ari Lilly

24th Fla Z

25th Fla Demp

26th Fla Harden

27th Fla Marquis

28th @ Mil Lilly

29th @ Mil Z

30th @ Mil Demp

31st @ Mil Harden

Aug

1 Pit Marquis

2 Pit Lilly

3 Pit Z

4 Hou Demp

5 Hou Harden

6 Hou Marquis

7th off day..  then I bet we rotate the lineup again and probably pass over marquis

I dont see us going the rest of time until break with only 4 bench players.... who do we bring up to take murtons spot?? Soriano wont be ready until after the break...

hoff?  fox?

we also need to get rid of a pitcher... as mentioned in another thread I dont think we dfa marquis right now, but the smarter move might be to move marshall back down to iowa. then after the all start break work something out with marquis.....