July 2007

2008 will be the 100th Anniversary of the last time the Cubs won a World Series. This past off-season (post-2006 season), the Cubs went on a $300M+ spending spree, hoping to win a World Series (or at least maybe get into the playoffs) before the Centennial Celebration commences. But with the new owners of the Cubs yet to be decided (apparently until further notice), it appears that the club's executives may take a passive approach toward the future, as evidenced by failing to sign Carlos Zambrano to a contract extension, taking the risk that he will walk away after the 2007 season. So here is what the Cubs might look like in 2008 should the sale of the club remain in limbo, and if the Trib decides to continue taking a more passive approach to player retention and acquisition during the next off-season:

If you purchased tickets for any of next week's Cubs/Giants games so your kids could one day say they saw Randy Winn or Mark Sweeney playing leftfield, you may be screwed. Per the Commissioner by way of Phil Rogers in today's Tribune:

When Aaron was chasing Babe Ruth's record of 714, then-Commissioner Bowie Kuhn ordered the Atlanta Braves to play Aaron during a series in Cincinnati rather than hold him out so he could hit the record-breaker at home. Selig seems set to follow that precedent if the San Francisco Giants should sit Bonds during their upcoming trip to Chicago and Milwaukee. "Clubs are in pennant races now," Selig said. "I would hope that would be the overriding issue and factor. You want to try to win every game and play your best team. … I hope everybody uses good judgment. I believe they will."

I apologize for the lack of original content the last few days, weeks, etc. We should have had some extraordinary first half review or second half look-forward for all our wonderful readers. Unfortunately real-life and a lingering family emergency has sapped my time and motivation these days. I do hope everyone understands. In the meantime, some Cub-related links worth reading. Baseball Prospectus Free Talent All-Stars Chicago Reader on Ryno's first half as manager (potentially some NSFW ads on there) Top 10 worst losses 4th Round pick Darwin Barney signs Southern League All-Star coverage - Nice night for most of the Cubbies Donnie Veal's latest player journal

Game Chat Carlos Zambrano vs. Shane Youman Lineups:

Soriano LF	McLouth CF
Theriot SS	Sanchez 2B
Lee 1B	LaRoche 1B
Ramirez 3B	Nady RF
DeRosa RF	Bay LF
Fontenot 2B	Bautista 3B
Pagan CF	Paulino C
Hill C	Wilson SS
Zambrano P	Youman P

In the aftermath of Friday night's loss at Pittsburgh to Pirates LHP Paul Maholm, Cubs manager Lou Piniella called for another right-handed bat, mainly to hit off the bench. Stating the player will almost certainly have to come from within the organization, the candidates named in Paul Sullivan's article in the Chicago Tribune are (alphabetically): 1. Ronny Cedeno 2. Jake Fox 3. Matt Murton 4. Geovany Soto Bringing up Soto to platoon with either Rob Bowen or Koyie Hill (both Bowen and K. Hill are out of minor league options, so it doesn't really matter which one stays and which one goes) could provide one right-handed bat immediately, and Fox (who can play 1B-3B-LF-RF and catch in a pinch) could be the other (replacing Felix Pie on the 25, or Jacque Jones if he can be moved). After going 4-5 Friday night, Cedeno is hitting close to .400 and would probably be an upgrade over Cesar Izturis at SS (if and when the Cubs can find a taker for Izturis).

A few quick tidbits for your discussion... - Bruce Miles with some news and notes heading into the break. The cliff notes version is that Hendry reiterated to him that he'll have the resources to add payroll for the stretch drive, Piniella is smart and Dempster wants to be a starter. At least that's what I got from it. - Neifi Perez suspended 25 games for using a banned stimulant. Reader (CA) Phil had the best line:

Now we know what put the ! in Neifi!

- Ryan Dempster won't be activated until after the break and Kerry Wood may start a minor league rehab assignment at around the same time. Wood could possibly be activated by the end of July.

Game Chat Sean Marshall vs. Jason Bergmann Lineups:

Soriano LF	Logan CF
Fontenot 2B	Belliard 2B
Ward 1B	Zimmerman 3B
Ramirez 3B	Young 1B
Floyd RF	Kearns RF
Jones CF	Lopez SS
Hill C	Schneider C
Izturis SS	Fick LF
Marshall P	Bergmann P

The All-Star break will give Jim Hendry and the Cubs a great chance to minimize the effect on the 25-man roster of Derrek Lee's impending suspension. Here's how:

Game Chat Rich Hill vs. Matt Chico Lineups:

Soriano LF	Logan CF
Theriot SS	Belliard 2B
Lee 1B	Zimmerman 3B
Ramirez 3B	Young 1B
DeRosa RF	Kearns RF
Pagan CF	Lopez SS
Fontenot 2B	Fick LF
Bowen C	Flores C
Hill P	Chico P

I can't say I'm use to this feeling of expecting to win. I hope I didn't jinx us. If I did, send hate mail to jmariotti@suntimes.com.

In 1997, all Major League and Minor League teams retired uniform number 42 in honor of Jackie Robinson. Who was the last member of the Cubs to wear #42?

As always try to answer without a web search....

Game Chat Ted Lilly vs. Jason Simontacchi Lineups:

Soriano LF	Logan CF
Theriot SS	Belliard 2B
Lee 1B	Zimmerman 3B
Ramirez 3B	Young 1B
Floyd RF	Kearns RF
DeRosa 2B	Church LF
Pagan CF	Lopez SS
Bowen C	Schneider C
Lilly P	Simontacchi

Congrats to Alfonso Soriano, the National League Player of the Month:

Soriano hit .336 (41-122), with seven doubles, two triples, 18 RBI and 24 runs during the month. The 31-year old leftfielder led the N.L. with 41 hits and finished tied for the league lead with 20 extra-base hits. He added 12 multi-hit performances and finished with a .697 slugging percentage. Alfonso hit three home runs in his first three at-bats against Atlanta on June 8th. He homered in three consecutive games twice during the month, June 2-4 and June 22-24. The right-handed slugger recorded the third five-hit game of his career which included a three-run home run at Milwaukee on June 4th. This marks the third time Soriano has been voted a Player of the Month. He won the award in April and September of 2003 when he was a member of the New York Yankees.

He also led the league with 11 homers in the month of June. It would be nice if Derrek Lee led the NL in homers in the month of July.

Scott Eyre though is still waiting for his phone call. Soriano got edged out by MLB public relations in the final vote as Bonds surpassed him. As the MLB.com article states:

He trailed Soriano 1,332,581 to 1,213,423. In the final vote total, Bonds had 2,325,391 to Soriano's 2,202,513.

Hmm, two-plus months of voting results in a million-plus votes but in the last week they doubled their vote total? Okay, sure. Richard J. Daley approves. MLB public relations is also trying to save the managers of the respective teams some flak by telling us who are the manager's choices and who got in by player vote. One such player who got in by player vote was Derrek Lee, so congrats Derrek. The Cubs do have a shot to add one more All-Star to the team as the fans can vote for the final roster spot. Naturally, the man who is 10th in the NL in OPS (second among third basemen), leads the Cubs in RBI's and is tied for the team lead in home runs was put on the list - Aramis Ramirez. Wait...let me check that...nope, it's the guy with an ERA over four - Carlos Zambrano. Okay. Z's competition for the final spot are Chris Young, Tom Gorzelanny, Brandon Webb and Roy Oswalt. I guess they decided they needed an extra pitcher. If you just want to see another Cub at the All-Star Game, go vote for Z, if you want to give it the player who actually deserves it, then go vote for Chris Young and his 8-3 record and microscopic 2.14 ERA. Congrats to Derrek and Soriano, well-deserved All-Stars.