PEBA outing

This summer I met up with a few people from the PEBA at the Cubs game.  Here are the photos.

Angel Guzman and other news

Well it looks like Angel Guzman doesn't have an angel looking over him. This poor guy has had more injuries derail what was a really promising career. Now it he has a tear in his shoulder that has an unpredictable recovery rate for surgery or he can try to rehab it without surgery, but that also will take a while. Now what gets me angry is the Ricketts family bought this team and won't spend any money on free agents. Kiko Calero would have been a perfect fit in our bullpen and signed a minor league deal with the Mets yesterday worth up to 1.5 million if he makes team and hits performance bonuses. Unless it has been Kiko's dream to pitch for the Mets, the Cubs could have offered him 1.5 million with a major league roster and say up to 800K in performance bonuses or even given him 2 years. I am pretty sure he would have taken that deal, it would have had the Cubs covered due to any injury (which they never seem to plan for) and it would have still been better than the deal they gave John Grabow this off-season. The Cubs could sure use Michael Wuertz now as he was given away and has now turned into a pretty solid reliever in Oakland (Thanks Hendry).

Wow, Carlos Silva looked like everything I thought he would out on the mound. Hopefully if he has a few more outings like this they Cubs just let him go. Honestly, if they consider themselves contenders, Carlos Silva should not be anywhere near the final 25-man roster. The good thing about today's game was Carlos Marmol struck out 2 guys and did not walk a batter. That is progress. That is about all I watched today as I had to go to airport to pick up wife and while listening to it on radio, I decided I didn't want to watch what I dvr'ed when I got back.

Cubs News

Well a couple days ago the Cubs signed Xavier Nady to a one year deal. It is not a bad signing as he is a right-handed bat that hits lefties well so Fukodome doesn't have to do it and he can let Derek Lee have a day off here and there in the hot summer months. I know he is coming off his second Tommy John surgery, but I think he can hold up for one year especially since he isn't a pitcher. A guy I was hoping to get was Jonny Gomes, though I know his defense isn't too good.

I think the next free agent the Cubs should focus on is Orlando Hudson and see if they can get him for a 1/6 million dollar deal. There isn't a big market for 2b's right now and it looks like the Nationals are only offering 3 million dollars. This would be an upgrade at 2b, making Baker and Fontenot backups which is a better spot for them on a team if the Cubs want to be contenders.

The Cubs also signed Chad Tracy to a minor league deal with an invite to spring training. Chad hasn't really been useful in a few seasons and I don't see him sticking to with the final roster.
A pitcher I hope the Cubs really watch this spring is NRI Thomas Diamond. He is best known for being part of the Rangers top pitching prospects DVD (John Danks, Edinson Volquez, Thomas Diamond) a few years ago. Diamond's career got sidetracked in 2007 he had to have Tommy John surgery and since he has been back has had a harder time finding the plate. This winter he looked good in the DWL, but that doesn't really mean he will do well in MLB. I just think that he is only 26 and was once a top prospect, so it can't hurt to give him a serious look in spring.

Congratulations to Andre Dawson for making the Hall of Fame and it was nice to see he wanted to wear the Cubs hat, but I do think the Hall of Fame made the right decision in saying the Expos are the team he was on in his prime. He may have gotten more publicity in Chicago, but he played his first 10 years in Montreal. I just wonder where are they going to find an Expos hat?

What were they thinking?

By now every Cub fan has given their opinion about the Carlos Silva-Milton Bradley trade, so now I will give mine.

I have no idea what Jim Hendry was thinking. I understand that last season Milton Bradley was a bad year for him all around, but these are all grown-ups, right? If this was all the Cubs could get for Bradley, then why not keep him and work out things out like adults. Bradley is primed for a rebound year, while Carlos Silva is well primed to get lit up again. Carlos was good for the Twins in 2005 and had a decent season in 2007, but in 08 he was bad, and in 09 before being shut down he was just awful. I am hoping that the Cubs aren't planning on putting Carlos Silva in the rotation except for if they need to due to injuries.

Right now I see the rotation in April, it looks like Ryan Dempster, Carlos Zambrano, Tom Gorzelanny, Randy Wells and Jeff Samardzja/Carlos Silva. I have left out Ted Lilly due to his surgery and don't think he will be ready until May. This is not a Division winning rotation, let alone a Championship rotation. This is going to be a LONG LONG SEASON...

Neal Cotts and other news

Neal Cotts was non-tendered which is no big surprise. Neal had gotten plenty of chances to prove himself as the Cubs lefty reliever, but never stepped up to the opportunity. This move saves the Cubs 1 million dollars and gives them an extra spot on the 40 man roster (currently at 37).

I read somewhere (rotoworld.com, I think), that the Cubs have some interest in Matt Capps. I know he had an awful year for the Pirates last year, but that was because he had an abnormally high hr/9 rate (1.66) and BABIP (.370). Neither is consistent of what he has done throughout his career and he even increased his k/9 and he increased the ground balls batters hit against him. Now after saying all that, as long as the Cubs don't brin him in to close, I think it would be a great move. Especially since he was non-tendered by Pirates and would probably cost the Cubs about 1.7-1.9 million a year and if he puts up his past numbers, than he would definitely be worth it.

Just an idea

I saw the other day that the Atlanta Braves designated OF Ryan Church for assingment. I think he would be a great fit for the Cubs. He can step in and start when needed without hurting the team and would fill many needs. He would be a good lefty bat off the bench, a good baserunner and lastly he isn't bad on defense. I know in past he has had some injuries, including the lingering concussion problem, but it is not like he will command 10 million dollars a year.
I have also read lately that the Milton Bradley trade talks haven't progressed and if the Cubs want to get anything useful for him, it is becoming more evident that they will need to eat more of his salary. I would almost say with his talent the Cubs should keep him if they can't get anything for him, but this is a time where I would say it is definitely "addition by subtraction". I know Luis Castillo isn't much these days, but he may be better than putting Mike Fontenot at 2b as the starter.

Mike Cameron and other tidbits

I have been reading that the Cubs are interested in getting Mike Cameron to take over the Center field spot. With Mike, you know not to expect too much in hitting for average, expect a lot of strike outs, and get some above average defense in center field. The problem is that he will command a bunch of money and Hendry will probably want to give him a 3 year contract. He will be 37 in a month and if Bill James predictions amount to anything he expects him to decline to the point offensively he won't be worth the money Hendry is going to offer.

Instead of going for Cameron, how about this, sign a RF that produces some runs, keep Fukodome in CF and re-sign Reed Johnson to platoon with Fukodome in CF. Reed can't hit righties too well and Fukodome can't hit lefties at all. Then trade Milton Bradley for Pat Burrell (if that rumor has any legs to it) and then either keep Burrell for 4th OF and ph or trade him for another player with more mobility or ability to start at 2b.

The Cubs have also been rumored to be interested in either Mike Gonzalez or Rafael Soriano from the Braves. While both have been offered arbitration, it would be worth signing one of the to split the duties with Carlos Marmol in the late innings. I am not sure if the Cub's first round pick is protected, but even if it is not signing one of these guys would tremendously upgrade the Cubs bullpen.