Just got back: Cubs update

Sorry again, I went to the Cayman Islands with my wife to celebrate our anniversary and I didn't bring anything for computer access while I was down there. I am back now and will have much more frequent updates.

Well Jason Dubois was traded while I was gone for Jody Gerut. As much as I wanted to see Jason succeed with the Cubs, the AL is a better place for him (DH), and in the long run I think the Cubs get the better player. Gerut is still recovering from his torn ACL at the end of last season and I don't think the fans will see him at 100% until next season. He hits the ball well into the gaps, has some speed, and is very good defensively.

Again I hate to say this, but send down Ronny Cedeno or play him. He is not helping the Cubs or himself by sitting on the bench doing nothing. I figure he will be going to AAA in a week when Nomar returns, but I'd like him to get all the pa's in he can. Speaking of Nomar, I think that the Cubs should make him stay in the minors until he is hitting the ball well. Don’t just say he will get 20 pa's and then be up. He wasn't hitting well in the beginning of the year, so the Cubs need to make sure he is ready to return.

Play Matt Murton in LF. He is hitting well all year and Todd Hollandsworth has started to struggle. So let's see if Murton is ready for the majors, it is not going to hurt at the moment to replace Todd's bat for a week or so and it might help Todd find his stroke again.

Scott Williamson is getting close to returning to the Cubs which probably means Mitre will be sent back down. This is beneficial in many ways. First I think if Scott can pitch 85-90% as good as in the past the Cubs have themselves a very dependable set-up man. Next it gives Mitre a chance to start in the minors and get more innings in. He is young and needs innings, I also know I have been hard on him in the past, but I am starting to think he can be a good innings eater starter.

Hairston has done a good job since taking over in CF. I still am not too high on him either, but if he keeps his OBP up and reduces his caught stealing than my opinion will easily be changed. It looks like the job will be his for a while as Patterson has not done too well in the minors yet, but hopefully for him and the Cubs he does.

Kerry Wood looks like he will be out for a while, but this might be a blessing in disguise for him and the Cubs as I think Kerry can be a very effective closer. They say there is some fraying in the labrum, hopefully it is not too bad and he can return. This then lets the Cubs start Rich Hill who looks ready for the majors. I know about 2 months ago I said he needed more time in the minors, but after watching him come out of pen and then start the other night I am convinced he is ready. Another bonus is that Jerome Williams has an opportunity to stay in the rotation which I think in the long run will pan out for the Cubs (though there may be a few bumpy starts this year).

As I write this I see Dusty still sucks as he left Carlos Zambrano in to pitch the 8th as he blows the lead. Carlos wasn't the sharpest today and gave up a ton of base runners so why not go to the pen? One more reason why Dusty needs to go.

Cubs Update:

Sorry I have not written in a week, but it was finals time for me this week and I had ton of studying to do and I figured it was All-Star break time so why not take a few days off.

Now getting back to the Cubs, they should either play Ronny Cedeno or send him down. He is not getting any better by sitting on the bench doing nothing. I think he should be playing, but as long as Dusty is manager that is not going to happen, so why doesn’t Hendry get smart and let Cedeno keep developing in the minors? I’d say I wouldn’t mind him being on the bench if he was getting in the games and getting some pa’s, but he is not.

Also today the Cubs placed Adam Greenberg on the 15-day DL and brought up Ben Grieve (Sean smile). Adam didn’t really get a chance to prove himself after getting drilled in the head in his first major league at-bat and I hope he recovers soon, not so much for the Cubs, but for himself. Grieve helps the Cubs bench out as he is a good lefty pinch hitter and can give Burnitz a few days off in this hot summer.

All we need now is for the Jose Macias ERA to end.

Cubs miss placed blame.

I guess if you are Jim Hendry and Dusty Baker you need to put the blame somewhere, so why not send down Corey Patterson and Jason Dubois. While I agree that Dubois needs to play everyday and Patterson might need to go to Iowa to get a few hitches out of his swing these are not the answers to the Cubs problems. I am happy that Matt Murton is on the fast track, but he is not going to help the Cubs get out of their 8 game skid, and I have never been high on Adam Greenberg.

A list of a few problems:

1) Dusty Baker should be fired, if Dusty had a coin that had heads on both sides, he would still call tails. This man can’t manage and should be fired soon hopefully.

2) Jim Hendry. While he has had made some nice trades for the Cubs has left this team very unprepared for regular season. They have no bullpen, they have no bench and it looks like once again they are starting to lose heart.

3) Jose Macias. Can anyone tell me why he is still on the team?

4) Nefi Perez. Ok I have been nice to Nefi all month, but it is time for him to take a permanent seat on the bench. Let Ronny Cedeno play, if he is not going to play than way do you bring him up?

5) Take pitches. This team doesn’t ever take any pitches and have an awful pitch selection. Maybe this is the hitting coach, but since we have changed hitting coaches I am going to blame it on the players and Dusty Baker who has stated in past that he is not the biggest proponent on.