Cubs MLB Roster

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39 players are on the MLB RESERVE LIST (one slot is open), plus two players are on the 60-DAY IL and one player has been DESIGNATED FOR ASSIGNMENT (DFA)   

26 players on MLB RESERVE LIST are ACTIVE, and eight players are on OPTIONAL ASSIGNMENT to minors, three players are on the 15-DAY IL, and two players is on the 10-DAY IL

Last updated 4-24-2024
 
* bats or throws left
# bats both

PITCHERS: 13
Yency Almonte
Adbert Alzolay 
Javier Assad
Colten Brewer
Ben Brown
* Shota Imanaga
Mark Leiter Jr
* Luke Little
Hector Neris 
Jameson Taillon 
Keegan Thompson
Hayden Wesneski 
* Jordan Wicks

CATCHERS: 2
Miguel Amaya
Yan Gomes

INFIELDERS: 7
* Michael Busch 
Nico Hoerner
Nick Madrigal
Christopher Morel
* Matt Mervis
Dansby Swanson
Patrick Wisdom

OUTFIELDERS: 4
* Pete Crow-Armstrong 
# Ian Happ
Seiya Suzuki
* Mike Tauchman 

OPTIONED: 8 
Kevin Alcantara, OF 
Michael Arias, P 
Jose Cuas, P 
Brennen Davis, OF 
Porter Hodge, P 
* Miles Mastrobuoni, INF
Daniel Palencia, P 
Luis Vazquez, INF 

10-DAY IL: 2
* Cody Bellinger, OF  
Seiya Suzuki, OF

15-DAY IL: 3
Kyle Hendricks, P 
* Drew Smyly, P 
* Justin Steele, P   

60-DAY IL: 2 
Caleb Kilian, P 
Julian Merryweather, P

DFA: 1 
Garrett Cooper, 1B 
 




Minor League Rosters
Rule 5 Draft 
Minor League Free-Agents

Game 8 Thread / Astros @ Cubs (2 of 3)

Submitted by Rob G. on
Game Chat Chris Sampson vs. Jason Marquis (No pictures until we find out our what our little Internet Explorer problem is...) Lineups:
Biggio 2B Soriano CF
Ensberg 3B Jones RF
Berkman 1B Lee 1B
Lee LF Ramirez 3B
Scott RF Floyd LF
Burke CF Barrett C
Everett SS Derosa 2B
Ausmus C Izturis SS
Sampson P Marquis P

Comments

Submitted by sweeney on Tue, 04/10/2007 - 04:54 am

Greetings all. I have the pixilated pitchers pictures as well. Sorry about the annoying alliteration. I'll stop. This team is starting to remind me of the 2004 Cubs: hot and cold offense and way too many bullpen collapses. Also having He Who Shall Not Be Named as a non-factor is too reminiscient. I know it's early, but my feeling is this team is at best, a .500, give or take a game, bunch. At this point, I just want a winning season. Cubs will finish probably third or fourth. Living nearer to Cincinnati than Chicago these days, it's annoying to hear the Reds fans. The Reds are probably going to be pretty good. kack. Here's hoping the Cubs can beat up on Guy Caberello/Randy Keisler, when the time comes. Go Cubs!!!

Submitted by Silent Towel on Tue, 04/10/2007 - 04:01 am

Sweet Lou is platooning in left field. IMO, it's the right move. I like Matt Murton, but not nearly to the level of some of you. He's an OK fourth outfielder type. He hits for nice average, but his run production value is non-spectacular and his defense only so-so. A healthy Cliff Floyd can rake.

Submitted by cubswinthepennant on Tue, 04/10/2007 - 04:15 am

his defense only so-so. regarding Murton. And yet Lou Piniella uses him as a late inning defensive replacement in LF. Try again ST.

Submitted by Wes on Tue, 04/10/2007 - 04:33 am

And Floyd only has one wheel. Murton sure is a defensive upgrade over a guy who runs about as well as Uncle Lou does. Don't be an ass. Try again, big fella.

Submitted by cubswinthepennant on Tue, 04/10/2007 - 04:36 am

If Murton's job is going to be #2 defensive replacement for Floyd (behind Theriot), wouldn't that job be better handled by Felix PIe who can play outstanding defense in all fields? ......of course it would Murton could not be more expendable at this point. HIs defense isn't a problem, it's his lack of versatility defensively that does. And Piniella's having a hard time forgetting that three strikeout debacle batting second.

Submitted by BillyBucks on Tue, 04/10/2007 - 04:45 am

Oh, briother. Another day/month/year of checking Cubs home games scores at work, only to see they are down early, and that things will get progressively worse as the game wears on. This just sucks.

Submitted by cubfanbudman on Tue, 04/10/2007 - 04:00 pm

2 leadoff guys on that never reach 2nd base. anyone observing how few pitches are taken in this lineup. no walks, no speed on the bases, equal no pressure on the defense. Theriot needs to be in that 2nd slot ----

Submitted by CubFanFormerly… on Tue, 04/10/2007 - 04:05 pm

The problem is not that Murton is not a good player, but that the Cubs, with their overwhelming righthandedness on offense, desperately need another left-handed power bat in the line-up, which Floyd gives them, to break up a the right- handedness of Lee, Ramirez, Barrett, and DeRosa (and force managers to make pitching changes that they might not otherwise make in late inningsf). One has to wonder at the Cubs pitch selection when Adam (Punchless) Everett beats you with a late inning home run (and not for the first time). Everett will be luck to get six more home runs the rest of the year and I expect a couple of them will be against the Cubs.

Submitted by Wes on Tue, 04/10/2007 - 04:06 pm

Yes, but Felix is a lefty. I can't understand why nobody around here understands handedness. Every armchair manager on this blog thinks you can interchange righties for lefties against whatever handed pitcher and it doesn't matter. Ask a baseball player who has played anywhere in the pros. Just ask him. Ask a righty if he'd rather face a left-handed hitter or a right-handed hitter. I bet I can tell you what he says. If you have Felix on the bench, you lose a righty with some pop in Murton. CWTP, I understand your man crush on Felix and you want Felix to be on this big league club, and you're entitled to that opinion. If you want him for Jones, I get it. That's fine. I disagree, but I can see your point. But you can't put Felix there and take Murton away because he and Cedeno are the only right handed bench bats we have. (I intentionally left Blanco off that list. If you pinch hit Blanco, you are bat shit crazy.) The reason Murton isn't playing is that Milwaukee has only 1 lefty reliever. Houston also has only one lefty reliever. You have to play the matchups. Especially when the guy you run out there instead of Murton has an OPS of close to .900 in the last three years against righties. (Murton's RHP OPS 200 points lower). Murton is not the best defensive replacement, I understand that. But he's the only right-hander probably AA or above who can play the OF reasonably well and can be depended on to hit in the 2-hole at the big-league level. Lou wants to get lefties in there against the righties. When you do that, you need righties on the bench when the lefty reliever comes in. Enter Matthew Henry Murton.

Submitted by Rob G. on Tue, 04/10/2007 - 04:12 pm

the problem with the Cubs right now is our offense is doing nothing...against Chris fucking Sampson. Get working boys....

Submitted by BillyBucks on Tue, 04/10/2007 - 04:22 pm

Errors on back-to-back plays by Izzy the Wizard. Nice. I think we have been had byt he Dodgers -- for a guy who's supposed to be all-world with the glove, he hasn't been anyting special in his time here. What an irritating game....

Submitted by Andrew on Tue, 04/10/2007 - 04:22 pm

I thought that Jones in the #2 hole wouldn't be bad but it hasn't worked out very well thus far. He seems to be under too much pressure to produce. Also, anyone else worried about DLee's power? I realize it's still early, but he's hit little else than singles.

Submitted by jacos on Tue, 04/10/2007 - 04:28 pm

What are you guys going to be like on April 20th when the annual "Cub Superstar Goes Down for the Season" game? ;-)

Submitted by The E-Man on Tue, 04/10/2007 - 04:37 pm

Good to see the team is working its way towards last place again. So far, you move the pieces around and the results are the same. Don't give me the Theriot argument. He failed to execute a bunt yesterday in a key situation, then struck out. The guy is no savior either. Hopefully the Cubs will pull it together before they find themselves well behind the Division leader. Statistically, you CAN win a division in April.

Submitted by The E-Man on Tue, 04/10/2007 - 04:42 pm

Another important reason why Bobby Howry's blown save in Cinci was a drag is that it wasted a great outing by Marquis - something that needs to be taken advantage of as today is the REAL Marquis.

Submitted by BillyBucks on Tue, 04/10/2007 - 04:47 pm

Hat trick for Izzy the Wizard! I know it's chilly, but, jeez -- show a little professionalism.

Submitted by Wes on Tue, 04/10/2007 - 04:47 pm

So I mentioned yesterday that the Cubs aren't getting anything out of the two hole. In fact, here are those numbers up to the minute: 6-31 194 avg. 4K 2BB 2RBI (one RBI a bases loaded walk by Theriot)

Submitted by The E-Man on Tue, 04/10/2007 - 04:55 pm

Well, Theriot is 0-8. No great shakes there either. Murton should be given a chance, I agree...

Submitted by BillyBucks on Tue, 04/10/2007 - 04:59 pm

.....and the Cubs create yet another Cy Young candidate in the form of the immortal Chris Sampson. If Fonzie keeps flailing at leadoff, and JJ keeps doing his .200 thing in the #2 hole, the fans will turn ugly very, very quickly. Another year of DLee up with the bases empty ain't gonna fly. Why Lou things Jacque is a good #2 guy is beyond me.

Submitted by cubfanbudman on Tue, 04/10/2007 - 04:21 pm

.......looks like the cubs assembled bad fitting expensive pieces so we can trade everyone prior to the trib selling the team. who would buy an overpriced last place ballclub?

Submitted by jacos on Tue, 04/10/2007 - 04:34 pm

E-man- Luckily the 2004 Yankees and 2004 Red Sox are not in this division.

Submitted by Huntsville Dave on Tue, 04/10/2007 - 04:36 pm

Well, on the positive side, Guzman threw a nice 3 innings of work. I guess I’ll take my victories where I can get them, even if they’re not on the scoreboard...

Submitted by BillyBucks on Tue, 04/10/2007 - 04:43 pm

With new additions Floyd and Ward, the 2007 Cubs will set a world record for grounding into DPs.

Submitted by Wes on Tue, 04/10/2007 - 04:44 pm

Don't think you can blame that one on Ward. The bat exploded. Looked like he had that one squared up pretty good, too.

Submitted by jacos on Tue, 04/10/2007 - 04:12 pm

I blame this loss on Cesar IsntMUCHOFAFIELDERturis!!!!! CONTRACTION IS NEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Submitted by Rob G. on Tue, 04/10/2007 - 04:13 pm

missed most of the game, but it appears to have been a rather epic day with the glove for Cesar, huh? yesterday Adam Fucking Evertt, today Chris Fucking Sampson. Unbelievable....

Submitted by Tito on Tue, 04/10/2007 - 04:14 pm

This team is 3-5 and already people are slamming them. Some things never change on this board, I guess.

Submitted by Silent Towel on Tue, 04/10/2007 - 04:16 pm

Feast of famine offense that can't overcome a marginal pitching staff. Where have we heard this before. This is a 4th place team ladies and gentleman. Memo to Jim Hendry...you might want to head out to Kinkos after the game and get copies of your resume ready.

Submitted by Tito on Tue, 04/10/2007 - 04:17 pm

One thing I can agree on with some of you here is that I'd really rather see Murton getting the bulk of the PT. If Floyd is healthy and productive, great, but Murton's a waste on the bench.

Submitted by Jastro on Tue, 04/10/2007 - 04:25 pm

Your Cubbies need to hit more balls up the middle on Houston, though left field worked alright for them in the ninth. You've hit our closer now; why he pitched the ninth I do not know! jastro@jastroworld,com

Submitted by Pedro Filipe Costa on Tue, 04/10/2007 - 04:28 pm

This is for Cubs fans.. PUT IT IN THE BOOKS... YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!

Submitted by jacos on Tue, 04/10/2007 - 04:36 pm

Yikes! Astro fans invade. Shouldn't they be having a candle light vigil for the return of Roger Clemens?

Submitted by Silent Towel on Tue, 04/10/2007 - 04:44 pm

Houston sucks. The lineup looks like a group of extras from the movie Deliverance. Tell your clubhouse attendant to purchase some barber shears and some friggin razor blades. The Billy Bob look went out years ago.

Submitted by BillyBucks on Tue, 04/10/2007 - 04:45 pm

On Cubs.com, Lou basically says that this team was built to hit fly balls for home runs, and that they don't have the type of team that can score runs in these conditions. NOW he tells us. To those who say "Relax, it's early" -- it gets old when you say that every year. And, pretty soon, it's not so early any more. Reminds me of most of my golf rounds -- "relax, a few early double-bogeys won't kill you..." Sigh.

Submitted by Silent Towel on Tue, 04/10/2007 - 04:54 pm

BillyBucks, your anger should be pointed at Jim Hendry. He is the dim witted idiot who thinks handing over a bunch of blank checks will magically cure the mess he's created previous. And I've got a newsflash boys and girls...the "top" prospect of this organization, Felix Pie, is yet another feast or famine type hitter. The feast or famine offense LIVES at Wrigley.

Submitted by BillyBucks on Tue, 04/10/2007 - 04:08 pm

After seeing what Woody Williams and Chris Sampson did to this offense, I shudder to think what Wandy Wod-we-guez will do tomorrow. This reminds me of the 2004 team, which was built to hit fly balls for HRs. It works in the summer, but not the spring nor fall.

Submitted by Wes on Tue, 04/10/2007 - 04:09 pm

Would any other team was struggling to hit be considered feast or famine? Are the Royals feast or famine or do they just famine all the time? I'm continually puzzled by your assessment. Cubs are 10th in the majors in hitting. 12th in runs scored. The problem is that they're 23rd in slugging. The power will come. It's freezing ass cold in Chicago. But you've already condemned this team when we've played 8 of 162, so OK.

Submitted by Silent Towel on Tue, 04/10/2007 - 04:13 pm

Wes, this is an all or nothing offense. Cub hitters go up to the plate hacking. Sometimes it works, but more times it does not. And this is a team without the type of dominant pitching to overcome such an offensive approach. I challenge you to identify any team over the last 10 years who has won something meaningful with a hack-attack offense.

Submitted by crunch on Tue, 04/10/2007 - 04:17 pm

silent...people challenge you to support your rants all the time...why demand it of others?

Submitted by crunch on Tue, 04/10/2007 - 04:22 pm

actually, i guess i'll just go ahead as say the chicago white sox...but hey, that's already been said and ignored. so what's new...

Submitted by Wes on Tue, 04/10/2007 - 04:28 pm

Thanks, crunch. I would say the the Cubs won the lone series they played in not freezing weather. They scored some runs against the two best pitchers Milwaukee has. Almost every team that plays in the north goes through annual struggles when they break camp because it's so frickin cold. The numbers aren't even that bad, Silent. I told you. 10th in runs scored. What else do you want? Mets are scoring because Reyes is putting MVP like numbers early. As is A-Rod for the Yanks. The other teams in the top 10 in scoring are either southern teams or teams that have had at least series in a dome. All I'm asking is that you wait for warm weather before you sell this club short. If it's 80 and they still can't hit, then you were right. But "wait" isn't in your vocabulary, is it?

Submitted by Silent Towel on Tue, 04/10/2007 - 04:31 pm

The White Sox I recall from 2005 had a leadoff hitter, Scott Podsednik, who consistently worked the pitcher. During the playoffs he had four separate at bats where the pitcher threw 10 or greater pitches to him. Tadhito Iguchi was also marvelous at moving the runner over or shooting the ball to the opposite field in right. That team scored runs with two outs all the time, and it didn't always come from the long ball. They were a power-laden team that EXECUTED. And executed consistently.

Submitted by cubster on Tue, 04/10/2007 - 04:34 pm

we can ALWAYS get Jerome Burnitz to come out of retirement, at least he threw accurately even if he couldn't hit for months at a time. ...arrrgh

Submitted by Silent Towel on Tue, 04/10/2007 - 04:36 pm

Wes, the Mets make things happen on offense. Jose Reyes is an unorthodox leadoff hitter that gets into the head of the pitcher like no other hitter since Ricky Henderson in his prime. I watched a Mets game the other night. On three separate ocassions the Mets moved the runner along. Twice David Wright hit toward the opposite field, once for a RBI hit and the other time for a sacrifice. The other time Moises Alou was the hitter. Teams cannot win in this day and age by waiting for their big hitters to heat up. You've got to be able to execute. Take a look at the NY Yankees. They have as fearsome a lineup as anybody in baseball over the last 30 years. Yet despite all their thunder, they still have plenty of hitters who do the little things to perfection. Players like Damon, Jeter, Abreu, Cano, Giambi, even Posada. This attribute is sorely lacking on the Cubs. The best at it is Aramis Ramirez.

Submitted by Wes on Tue, 04/10/2007 - 04:43 pm

Those are all really heart-warming stories. Tugged at my heartstrings for sure. If you want Iguchi instead of DeRosa, your an idiot. Iguchi sucks. Now, as I said earlier, when your leadoff struggles and your second plate hitters are hitting under .200 that doesn't work. I clearly articulated that fact in comment #27. Please read again if necessary. Soriano is struggling and Murton/Jones/Theriot are struggling. That does not mean this team sucks. Soriano won't hit .200 all year. Jones won't hit .160 all year. I think you think they will. Some guys struggle out of the gate. Jones did last year and he came back to have a really good season. Lee and Ramirez will drive guys in when they're on base. But since they didn't today, and they didn't yesteday, WE'RE FREAKING SCREWED HOLY CRAP SELL SELL SELL

Submitted by garsky on Tue, 04/10/2007 - 04:45 pm

If the Cubs are committed to hitting Alf leadoff, they oughta get a little creative with the rest of the lineup. Like, maybe pretend Alf's the 9th hitter, and run Theriot and Murton out there as tho they were nos. 1 and 2. That way there would be a very good chance Lee would be hitting with SOMEONE on base...

Submitted by Wes on Tue, 04/10/2007 - 04:46 pm

Also, be of note, before the Yankees had the pleasure of teeing off on Sidney Ponson last night, they had only scored 3 more runs than the Cubs in 2007. However, They're awesome and we couldn't hit our way out of a pinata convention.

Submitted by mannytrillo on Tue, 04/10/2007 - 04:57 pm

Billy: "On Cubs.com, Lou basically says that this team was built to hit fly balls for home runs, and that they don’t have the type of team that can score runs in these conditions. NOW he tells us." I find this very funny. The one thing you can count on from Lou is he will speak his mind and I am sure he won't pull any punches taking shots at Hendry like this one.

Submitted by cubswinthepennant on Tue, 04/10/2007 - 04:58 pm

Theriot and Murton out there as tho they were nos. 1 and 2. Exactly what I was thinking. Theriot 2, Murton 3, DLee 4, Aram 5..... except where do we play Theriot?...SS? And then there's the problem with Theriot's hitting.... He's forgotten how.

Submitted by dave on Tue, 04/10/2007 - 04:00 pm

You could bat Barrett second or third - ideally third, as he also adds a little bit of power to the spot in the lineup, along with a good OBP.

Submitted by crunch on Tue, 04/10/2007 - 04:04 pm

theriot's hitting like normal...almost everything to the right side and hopes it doesnt find a fielder. at least he can take a walk and play all over with the glove well.

Submitted by cubswinthepennant on Tue, 04/10/2007 - 04:13 pm

theriot’s hitting like normal…almost everything to the right side and hopes it doesnt find a fielder. Well, you could not be more wrong. You were wrong the first time you said this and you're still wrong. I would prove you're wrong but I already did and you ignored it.

Submitted by Silent Towel on Tue, 04/10/2007 - 04:22 pm

Given that Alfonso Soriano IS and WILL BE the leadoff hitter (it's one reason why he agreed to come to the Cubs), the following is a lineup shuffle I might go with for a game or two. 1. Soriano - CF 2. Barrett - Cat 3. Lee - 1st 4. Ramirez - 3rd 5. Jones - RF 6. DeRosa - 2nd 7. Murton - LF (Floyd versus certain right-handers) 8. Izturis - SS (or flip flop Izturis and Murton)

Submitted by steve on Tue, 04/10/2007 - 04:22 pm

I ain't got much on this game. All I know is that we couldn't get anything going against Sampson, Mr. Gold Glover made three errors, and Soriano is slowly creeping under .200. No need to worry Cubs fans, it's just the weather.

Submitted by mannytrillo on Tue, 04/10/2007 - 04:41 pm

Well we had the "Neifi game", so is this going to be the Izturis game?

Submitted by Wes on Tue, 04/10/2007 - 04:00 pm

Barrett is still only hitting .192. Worse, in fact, than Jones hitting .233, Murton hitting .267, and Theriot hitting .000. Lee, Ramirez, and Floyd are the only ones really swinging the bat right now. Floyd even not so good today. Pick your poison of guys who aren't hitting to put at the top.

Submitted by Wes on Tue, 04/10/2007 - 04:53 pm

Gorzelanny 7 shutout for the Pirates against StL this evening. 2-0 Bucs going to the 8th. You think we've got hitting problems? The world champs are 27th in hitting at .223 and 27th in scoring, with a robust 20 runs in 63 innings thru 7 tonight.

Submitted by Joey from Iowa on Tue, 04/10/2007 - 04:43 pm

# 53, Silent...I'm gonna shit in your soup. What about the Boston Red Sox? Lest we forget, winners of OUR F**KING WORLD SERIES!!!!!

Submitted by MikeC on Tue, 04/10/2007 - 04:29 pm

Ohh god Silent Towel just suggested Barrett for the #2 slot in the lineup. Christ bring back Neifi, thats about as much good as Barrett would do hitting in that slot.

Submitted by mannytrillo on Tue, 04/10/2007 - 04:50 pm

Wes: "You think we’ve got hitting problems? The world champs are 27th in hitting at .223 and 27th in scoring, with a robust 20 runs in 63 innings thru 7 tonight." Yet somehow they are 4-4 and we are 3-5.

Submitted by Wes on Tue, 04/10/2007 - 04:08 pm

The magical machine that spits nubmers out that are occasionally applicable tells me that's becuase they have an ERA under 3.50. We have an ERA over 4.25.

Submitted by Rynox on Tue, 04/10/2007 - 04:14 pm

So, is this considered a "quality start" for Marquis? Joey from Iowa:
What about the Boston Red Sox? Lest we forget, winners of OUR F**KING WORLD SERIES!!!!!
It's *very* difficult to put together an offense-type team like the '04 Bosox. The more orthodox way is to build a team around a solid starting rotation. For this reason, I would have preferred the Cub's spent the money they spent on Soriano on Schmidt. That having been said, I'm not all doom and gloom just because they lost a few games. It's a good offense and good bullpen, they'll come around. Plus, the rest of the division is crap (even crappier now that Carpenter will miss a month), so I'm optimistic. And... once you make it to the playoffs it's all a crapshoot anyways. Go Cubs!

Submitted by Rynox on Tue, 04/10/2007 - 04:22 pm

Wes:
The magical machine that spits nubmers out that are occasionally applicable tells me that’s becuase they have an ERA under 3.50.
Sometimes I honestly think Dave Duncan could make Jeff Bagwell into a .500 pitcher. How close is he (Duncan) to retirement?

Submitted by The E-Man on Tue, 04/10/2007 - 04:58 pm

Very discouraged. Starting pitching has been very adequete to better. All of the Central teams have been playing in the same shit. Where is the hits with RISP? You pay someone big-ass money to produce w/RISP and they strike out. Hit into a GIDP. Pop out. It is fucking horseshit! Where is "the swaggar"? Craig Biggio is 80 friggin' years old! He gets two doubles and scores two runs!! Isn't it cold for him too?

Submitted by Dave in Pittsburgh on Tue, 04/10/2007 - 04:02 pm

And your woeful Cards hung in and hung in, and eventually manufactured winning run (lots of help from failing Bucs bullpen) in the 12th. Give Tony LaRussa credit for riding pretty close herd on his pitcher and infield (numerous strategy visits to the mound) during the extra innings. I was at that game, mainly just waiting for the first fireworks night of the season, after the game. Man it was cold, I think we might have set an MLB record for "heating degree-days."

Submitted by George Altman on Tue, 04/10/2007 - 04:11 pm

I'd use this lineup for a few days if I were Lou: Soriano, cf DeRosa, 2b Lee, 1b Ramirez, 3b Jones, rf Murton, lf Barrett, c Izturis, ss When Pie has exceeded the number of days in 2007 NOT on the 25 man roster so he can be credited with less than 1 years service time, I bring him up to play CF. He bats 6th or 7th depending if Barrett is hitting by that time, Soriano moves to LF, and Murton or Floyd gets traded (whoever brings back the most value - my guess is Murton). Murton's RH bat and lack of versatility just doesn't fit with this team.

Submitted by Virginia Phil on Tue, 04/10/2007 - 04:24 pm

The Cubs' lefthanded-hitting old guard of Floyd, Jones and Ward have combined for zero home runs this season, but it's nice to know that a few younger guys have some pop in case a rookie is ever allowed to join this team. Pie, Coats and Hoffpauir all homered tonight in Albuquerque. Iowa gave up seven runs but scored nine for the second night in a row.

Submitted by Wes on Tue, 04/10/2007 - 04:39 pm

Woe. Oh woe. Woe are Cub fans everywhere. It only took a week this year. That's at least twice as fast as last year. We actually had a nice start last year.

Submitted by tarzan wallis on Wed, 04/11/2007 - 04:08 am

ST, Keep repeating the lie that the 2005 Sox played small ball and it will become the truth. 11th out of 14 in the league in hits, 11th in walks, 11th in batting average, 11th in OBP, a rotten 67 caught stealing in 204 attempts. They pitched their way to the World Series. Contreras shaved almost 2 runs a game off his ERA from '04. Garland lowered his over 1.3 and Garcia over 1.4 runs per nine innings. Cotts' ERA in '04 was 5.65 and in '05, 1.94. Politte went from 4.38 to 2.00. The Sox won because a lot of their pitchers had career years. If these pitchers had the same season in '04 they had in '05 they would have won even more games since the offense scored 3/4 of a run more per game in '04, a year that no one was talking about Ozzie's amazing small ball.

Submitted by tbone on Wed, 04/11/2007 - 04:11 am

"Pie, Coats and Hoffpauir all homered tonight in Albuquerque. Iowa gave up seven runs but scored nine for the second night in a row." - Virginia Phil What happens in the high altitude of Albuquerque stays in Albuquerque.

Submitted by O. Julius on Wed, 04/11/2007 - 04:41 am

E-Man: Craig Biggio is 80 friggin’ years old! He gets two doubles and scores two runs!! Isn’t it cold for him too? Amen, brother.

Submitted by Pell Mell on Wed, 04/11/2007 - 04:04 am

Are you like me? Are you already sitting around rooting for the WSox to lose just so people at work don't give you the business about the Cubs losing? I swear, they're already at it. It's APRIL F'ING 11th!

Submitted by The E-Man on Wed, 04/11/2007 - 04:44 am

Don't hold your breath on Z signing. From today's Sun Times: "Team officials, including McDonough, say Tribune Co. will continue to run the team until selling it after the season. But unless a handshake deal has been struck privately with Zambrano and Praver pending the dust settling on the Zell sale, the same company that broke the bank over the winter seems willing to lose perhaps its most valuable on-field asset to free agency. Hendry said Monday he hoped a deal could be finalized and approved in ''the near future'' and said he wasn't worried about it. But McDonough said he couldn't say whether it might be a matter of days or months. ''I don't know what the timetable is going to be, and out of respect for the player and ... Jim and Barry Praver, it's just a process that's going to play itself out,'' he said. ''There's not really a timetable right now. I don't want to go into specifics, but there's some issues at hand here.''

Submitted by Rynox on Wed, 04/11/2007 - 04:38 am

In today's edition of Panicky Cub Fans v. The Chicago Cub's the prosecution calls their main witness, Small Sample Size, to testify. Judge: Small sample size, please raise your right hand and repeat after me, "I will tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth." SSS: I will tell the truth, and nothing but the truth. Judge: Panicky Cub Fans? PCF: Thank you, your honor. Small Sample Size, what is the Cub's current record? SSS: 3-5 PCF: And this is a record of the Cub's season thus far, representing the quality of play they've put on the field? SSS: Yes PCF: So it is not inconceivable that the Cub's will continue to play at this level from this point on? SSS: That is not inconceivable, correct. PCF: Great, let's talk about Alphonso Soriano. How has he contributed this year? SSS: Alphonso Soriano, 200/243/314, 0 HR, 1 SB. PCF: Looking pretty grim, what about Jacque Jones? SSS: Jacque Jones, 233/303/267, 0 HR, 0 SB. PCF: Prosecution rests. Judge: Defense, your witness. TCC: SSS, how much of the season has been played? {Some hesitation} SSS: 8 games. TCC: Give me a percentage. SSS: 5% {Mumbling in the court & jury} Judge: Order in the court. TCC: That's right, the seasons has just started. Let me ask you about someone else, do you know a Law of Averages? {SSS now obviously uncomfortable} SSS: ... yes, I think I've met him. TCC: That's right, you have. You see, the Law of Averages says, in simple terms, that everything "evens out". So it's not inconceivable that Alphonso Soriano & Jacque Jones will go on a hot streak and that Aramis Ramirez will go on a cold streak. One more question for the witness. Where were you on April 9th, 2006? {Long pause} SSS: Taunting Minnesota Twins fans. TCC: That's right, after a 1-5 start the Minnesota Twins go on to win the ALC pennant. Defense rests. For now.

Submitted by jacos on Wed, 04/11/2007 - 04:54 am

"Your Honor, the prosecution would like to call in a suprise witness...Johnny B Baker!" Gasps through out the court room

Submitted by Robr on Wed, 04/11/2007 - 04:10 am

The weather here in Chicago is brutal (snowing/raining/cold). I wouldn't be suprised if there is no game today.

Submitted by jacos on Wed, 04/11/2007 - 04:29 am

Suppose to snow this afternoon too, worse in the northern part of city. DH coming up. At this point Wade Miller will not pitch again until May.

Submitted by vorare on Wed, 04/11/2007 - 04:42 am

Ohh god Silent Towel just suggested Barrett for the #2 slot in the lineup. Christ bring back Neifi, thats about as much good as Barrett would do hitting in that slot. Did Barrett run over your puppy, or something? You're really unhinged when it comes to everything Barrett.

Submitted by Dying Cub Fan on Wed, 04/11/2007 - 04:47 am

the law of averages also says anything will happen that can, but the last time the Cubs won a National League pennant, was the year we dropped the bomb on Japan I'm guessing that today's game will be postponed.

Submitted by 10man on Wed, 04/11/2007 - 04:56 am

TCC: "Your honor to counter the prosecution's surprise witness, defense also calls a surprise witness of its own... Neifi Perez' 2005 Cubs stats!" SSS: Your honor, I object! That's my identical twin "Lightning in a Bottle!"

Submitted by mannytrillo on Wed, 04/11/2007 - 04:21 am

Wes: "The magical machine that spits nubmers out that are occasionally applicable tells me that’s becuase they have an ERA under 3.50. We have an ERA over 4.25." Exactly...pitching wins!!!

Submitted by dave on Wed, 04/11/2007 - 04:37 am

Just curious... how are Schmidt and Zito working out so far? Schmidt and Zito will both end being seen as heavy burdens on teams because of their high salaries and low level performances. While I would have loved to see Hendry sign an ace, there was only one available (Matsuzaka) and he was simply outbid for the guy.

Submitted by Tito on Wed, 04/11/2007 - 04:08 am

“You think we’ve got hitting problems? The world champs are 27th in hitting at .223 and 27th in scoring, with a robust 20 runs in 63 innings thru 7 tonight.” Yet somehow they are 4-4 and we are 3-5. Wow, one game better. They sure rock!

Submitted by no on Wed, 04/11/2007 - 04:17 am

*Sometimes I honestly think Dave Duncan could make Jeff Bagwell into a .500 pitcher. How close is he (Duncan) to retirement? * As long as they keep making greasy stuff to put on a ball, Duncan is going to be successful teaching people how to slather it on.

Submitted by The Cub Report… on Wed, 04/11/2007 - 04:27 am

[...] Reader Rynox posted this in the comments and it gave me quite the chuckle, thought everyone should be able to enjoy it. I’ve also included some add-ons by other readers.  (Rob G.) [...]

Recent comments

  • Cubster (view)

    White Sox DFA Bailey Horn. I'm thinking the Cubs would love to get him back although they probably won't have a decent chance of claiming him without another swap.

    WSox also call up former Cub Rafael Ortega (and additionally Tommy Pham). They are hurting and having a gawd awful April.

  • Childersb3 (view)

    White Sox DFA'd Bailey Horn.

    He wasn't producing good results in Charlotte (AAA).

    But Jed might bring him back with that open 40man spot. Then try the "sneak him thru waivers" gambit.

  • Cubster (view)

    Oh my, now I will have nightmares of me sitting in the bowels of the Wrigley security detention cell.

  • Cubster (view)

    One more thing...

    One of the reasons I come to this site...

     ...in addition to Arizona Phil, who is, as we all know, a treasure trove of well-written fresh information, honest evaluation, and sneaky-subtle humor regarding the entire Cub organization...

    ... is CubbyBlue and Tim's fantastic and timely visual takes on the Cubs (to be fair, he does have a much broader Chicago-flavored brush well beyond the Cubs).  Thanks for so many memorable images.  I am fortunate to own (one of my prize possessions) a print that I framed (55/200) of "The Last Out" with KB's shit-eating grin as he fields the series winning out of the 2016 WS.  

    https://images.app.goo.gl/WvFQs6P5UvuhgVqS8

    Tim, will you visit me if I do the text security thingy and description: Tim S? Or will I find myself in a Cub detention cell.

    i.e. "or send a text message to 773-839-**** with the keyword "Friendly" and include your seat location and a description of your issue.

  • CubbyBlue (view)

    Incredible moment. Huge part of the fun of working there is when something magic like that happens, and you get to interact with baseball fans. 

  • TarzanJoeWallis (view)

    That bear hug was indeed awesome. Word is that Dansby has become an outstanding clubhouse leader and that moment really demonstrated it. That reaction was one of a proud coach/mentor who’s student just excelled. I’m not even sure who was more overjoyed, Dansby or PCA. A veteran expressing that kind of unabashed support and enthusiasm for a struggling rookie is beyond fantastic to see.

  • CubbyBlue (view)

    BAHAHA! I've actually not seen a single fight, but can't wait to see 70 degrees for sure!

  • crunch (view)

    next time i roll up into wrigley i'll try to start a fist fight and maybe we'll meet.

    be prepared.  i'm gonna make you earn your money.

    seriously, though...that's a cool as hell "retirement" assignment.  i imagine it will be better with warmer nights.

  • Cubster (view)

    I was there for the PCA homer as well. 50 degree baseball is no longer fun when sitting in the shade (knit hats, scarves and gloves are football gear) but I agree it’s one of those really cool moments. I loved the bear hug given by Swanson at home plate and of course the added impact that the PCA homer became a game winner.

     

  • Cubster (view)

    Holy Screaming Bananas

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