1500 Miles To Wrigley

Rotation Woes

2011-05-12T08:35:00.000-07:00

I envision two possible scenarios playing out on Saturday for the newly promoted Doug Davis:

1. He gets shelled and only lasts an inning and a third
2. He goes six strong but takes 3.5 paint-drying hours to get there.

I hope I'm wrong but I'm going to go with my gut and choose door #1. Davis, signed as a free agent by the Cubs last month, posted a 7.51 ERA with the Brewers last year in eight games started. The soft-tossing lefty tops out at about 85 mph with his fastball and uses a cutter in the low 80's as well. These numbers wouldn't worry me at all if we're talking about Greg Maddux, but we're definitely not talking about Greg Maddux. The Cubs are scraping the bottom of the free agent market for starting pitchers with this one.

As long as the Cubs are digging for has-been lefties may I suggest some other options?

Denny Neagle

Kirk Rueter

Glendon Rusch

Sean Estes

Remember this past off-season when the Cubs actually thought they had too many starting pitchers? Randy Well and Carlos Silva were vying for spots, Tom Gorzelanny was coming off a surprisingly productive season, and newbies Andrew Cashner and Casey Coleman were expected to compete as well. What an awful problem to have. I always hate it when I have too much of a good thing, especially when it completely backfires:

Gorzelanny: TRADED - he's currently 2-2 with a sub 3.0 ERA this year for the Nationals.
Silva: RELEASED
Wells: INJURED
Cashner: INJURED
Coleman: 1 win in 5 starts and a very impressive 6.29 ERA. Yikes.

There was never a question who the top three starting pitchers would be, but filling the void of those last two rotation spots has proven to be quite the task. Doug Davis is the latest contestant in what is sure to be a year-long battle to see which pitcher can hold the job the longest.

Jim Hendry: Should He Stay or Should He Go?

2011-05-10T13:31:00.000-07:00

Fox Sports posted an article yesterday arguing that firing Jim Hendry this year would be a bad decision. While the article makes good points in mentioning the talent of the Cubs' minor league system and how Hendry has set the team up for the future, I just don't see how it's possible to overlook all the poor decisions he's made in recent years. Sure, he recognized the talent of Starlin Castro and made sure he stayed with the club. Let's be honest, ANYONE knows a guy like Castro is a once in a generation talent. I really don't think you can pat Hendry on the back for that one.

Of course we all remember the amazing deals Hendry has made. No one can forget the trades for Aramis Ramirez, Kenny Lofton, Randall Simon, and Eric Karros. The Ted Lilly signing paid off and it was great to see Greg Maddux get his 300th win in a Cub uniform. However, in recent years Hendry hasn't really done anything too terribly productive. Rich Harden didn't pan out, Casey McGehee got away, and we don't even need to touch on the Milton Bradley saga. I'll go out on a limb and say the last truly productive move Hendry made was the John Grabow/Tom Gorzellany trade in July 2009. (Please see earlier post for rant on Gorzellany).

Anways, here's my list of some of the worst transactions Hendry has made during his tenure with the Chicago Cubs. They're not in order of ridiculousness because I don't think you can compare them. They're all head scratchers in their own unique way.

Alfonso Soriano contract: Do we really need to dissect this one? Soriano's 8-year $136 million contract comes off the books after the 2014 season. By this time he'll be 38 years old and still be playing left field every day. Only 40 more months to go!

Jeff Samardzija signing bonus: Does anybody realize how insane Samardzija's contract really is? He was a 5th round draft pick in 2006. That means 30 teams drafted for four rounds and didn't touch him before the Cubs finally grabbed him 149th overall. Hendry was sooooooo excited about Samardzija's talent that he signed him to a 5-year $10 million contract. This contract included a $2.5 million signing bonus, a no-trade clause, and can be worth a maximum of $16.5 million if the Cubs decide to pick up his options for 2012 and 2013. They certainly hope they don't.

**For the record, Tim Lincecum was taken by the Giants in Round 1 of the 2006 draft, had a signing bonus that was $500,000 less than Samardzija's, and didn't see his first million dollar paycheck until 2010.

Kosuke Fukudome contract: Fukudome has played above average defense during his time in Chicago, but has yet to flash the offensive prowess that made him a batting champion in Japan. Instead, Hendry gets to shell out $14.5 million in 2011 for a right fielder with a career .265 batting average.

Zambrano contract extension: Hendry inked Big Z to a massive contract extension to the tune of 5 years 91.5 million in August 2007. You can't compare this contract to that of Soriano's in the age category, as Z will still only be 31 when he becomes a free agent again. The problem with this signing is Zambrano's inconsistency and mental instability. Z's anger management issues last year certainly weren't some big surprise. Everyone knows he's a ticking time-bomb, and it's up to Hendry to recognize that and spend money a little more wisely.

Josh Hamilton sale: Fans tend to forget that it was the Cubs who originally picked up Hamilton in the 2006 Rule 5 draft. What did Hendry do with the pick? He sold the eventual 2010 American League MVP to the Cincinnati Reds for $100,000 in straight up cash. However, a team has to pay $50,000 just to make a Rule 5 pick so Hendry only made a whopping 50K on the Hamilton deal. Genius.

Juan Pierre trade: The speedy Juan Pierre was acquired from the Florida Marlins in December 2005. He played all 162 games of the 2006 season with the Cubs and hit .292 while stealing 58 bases. The Cubs, however, finished 30 games under .500 and dead last in the NL central. At the end of the season the Cubs granted Pierre his free agency and he signed with the Dodgers. Jim Hendry got the guy for one year and let him go, and he gave up a prospect named Ricky Nolasco to get him. Nolasco has been a mainstay in the Marlin's starting rotation ever since and has posted double-digit win seasons every year except 2007. Those are wins the Cubs could have desperately needed.

Honorable mention: Mark DeRosa, Ted Lilly, and Tom Gorzellany trades

5 Burning Questions

2011-02-24T11:07:00.000-08:00

Pitchers and catchers reported last week and the first spring training games are looming. Every team has questions that need to be answered and, and always, speculation is in the air. Here are my 5 burning questions hovering over the Cubs’ spring camp:

1.) Who is the everyday second basemen?

I remember the days when you woke up every morning and just knew the answer to this question, but now it seems like 2011 will be the year of the 2B platoon. Let’s review the candidates:

Blake DeWitt
The left-handed side of this platoon is only 25 years old but I feel like we’re in for a Bobby Hill style disappointment. The former 1st rounder hasn’t done anything to solidify any sort of confidence in his ability be play the position everyday. A career batting average of .259 makes me feel like he’s destined for the bottom of the lineup. He doesn’t hit the long ball and has only 6 career stolen bases, so it’s not like we’re trading power for speed here.

Jeff Baker
The right-handed hitting side of the duo really isn't offering up a better solution. His numbers suggest he has more power than DeWitt, but in 6 big league seasons he's only played in 100 games one time. He does take his share of walks and has a better than average fielding percentage, but it appears that, at best, he's ideal for a platoon or pinch-hitting role.

in the running: Darwin Barney, Michael Young (hey I can dream)

2.) Can Quade continue his winning ways?

Mike Quade very quietly went 24-13 in his brief tenure at the helm of the already forgotten 2010 Chicago Cubs. He won 6 of 8 series (including 3-game sweeps of the Nationals, Cardinals, and Marlins) and went 8-2 in his last 10 games. The players appeared to be buying in to what he was doing, and additions of Carlos Pena and Matt Garza give Quade a bit more to work with than the 2010 version did. So the big question remains: does he pick up where he left off in 2011?

3.) Who is going to round out the starting rotation?

The top three spots in the rotation are locked up, but beyond that your guess is as good as mine. As spring training opens I figure there are five guys vying for the final two spots. Carlos Silva and Randy Wells figure to be the front-runners, but Andrew Cashner, Casey Coleman, and James Russell are all young talent looking to turn some heads. Cashner and Russell worked out of the 'pen last year while Coleman posted a respectable 4-2 record in eight starts in the last two months of the season.

4.) How does the return of Kid K affect the bullpen?

Kerry Wood gave the Cubs a hometown discount and turned down big bucks from the Yankees, so what does it mean for the bullpen? Wood's health is always a question mark, but if he can stay off the DL then the Cubs have a very formidable 8th/9th inning combo. Wood in the 8th inning to Carlos Marmol in the 9th inning is as dominant as.....well...when it was the reverse in 2008. Wood posted less than impressive ERA's during his year and a half stint with the Indians, but something clicked at the trading deadline last year when he was dealt to the Yankees. He went 2-0 with 31 strikeouts and 10 holds in only 26 innings pitched. If he can build off his 2010 resurgence then the Cubs' bullpen just received a very well priced boost of confidence.

5.) Will Castro and Colvin fall victim to the sophomore slump?

We all remember the catastrophic season that befell Geovany Soto in 2009. Fresh off an All-Star game starting nod and a Rookie of the Year award in 2008, Geo's batting average fell 67 points the following year and he drove in almost half as many runs. Starlin Castro and Tyler Colvin must avoid this same fate if the Cubs are going to contend in 2011. There is no doubt that Castro is going to continue to improve defensively, but like Colvin, he must provide consistent production at the plate. Unlike Castro, Colvin isn't assured a spot in the starting lineup. Quade will undoubtedly give him plenty of playing time and his power numbers will be there, but he will still need to improve on that .254 batting average.

Burning question honorable mention: Who the hell is going to play right field?

Marmol Makes it Long-Term

2011-02-04T13:15:00.000-08:00

The nastiest slider in the majors just got inked for an extended stay at the Friendly Confines. Carlos Marmol and the Cubs plan to announce on February 13 (pending a physical) a deal that would keep Marmol in a Cubs uniform beyond the 2012 season.

In an offseason full of significant free agent signings this contract extension will go down with very little fanfare. However, for the Cubs this may be the most important offseason signing of them all. Marmol's 16.0 K/9 in 2010 is a staggering statistic, and it's easy to forget he posted 38 saves for a team that was a complete failure. The kid is only 28 years old, and while we all know he needs to cool it with the walks, he hasn't even come close to reaching his potential.

Bullpens win ballgames folks, and the Cubbies just locked up one of the most dominant closers in the league.

Gone-zellany

2011-01-20T11:42:00.000-08:00

Please don’t hate me for my broken promises. It’s been 328 days since my last post and I’m well aware that running a blog with actual readers requires, at the very least, semi-frequent activity. I promise to keep the venting of utter frustration to a minimum because that’s really my only fear with this thing. The Cubs are going to do something stupid and it’s going to piss me off. However, I suppose both of those are foregone conclusions. Bear with me and I’ll try to keep the thoughts positive (most of the time.)

Here we go again....

The Cubs traded southpaw starter Tom Gorzellany to the Washington Nationals yesterday for three prospects. Pardon me while I scratch my head for a minute.
…....

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….....................

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um....why did this happen?

Gorz (I really don’t want to type his full name every time) isn’t the second coming of Jesus, and just might be the ugliest man in all of professional baseball, but he was amazingly efficient. Are the Cubs really that confident with the back of their rotation to feel they can part ways with a pitcher who had oddly similar numbers to Matt Garza in 2010.

It’ll be interesting conversation pondering the Cubs potential starting rotation as spring training gets going. Is this what Mike Quade is envisioning?

1. Dempster (Opening Day Starter)
2. Garza
3. Zambrano
4. Randy Wells
5. The Fat Man/Andrew Cashner/Jeff Samardzija

Even though Carlos Silva (aka Fat Man) had a jaw-dropping 2010, I don’t think anyone fully trusts him. Cashner is obviously the sexy pick if he can step it up, but a guy like Gorz answers this question pretty easily. He’s proven he can be a consistent starter in the back of the rotation and he’s LEFT-HANDED! The Cubs have only one lefty on the roster who has any experience as as starter and that’s Sean Marshall. He’s pretty much locked into his bullpen role and even with the addition of John Grabow I would hate to see the Cubs spot-start Marshall for any reason. He was a huge success in the ‘pen.

Essentially, the Cubs just gave up on Gorz as soon as they signed Matt Garza. I certainly hope those prospects from the Nationals were worth it.

Big Z's Big Meltdown

2010-04-06T15:18:00.000-07:00

Did anybody else feel like they got hit by a bus yesterday after Carlos Zambrano's 8-run meltdown over an inning and a third against the Braves? I mean seriously, what in the name of Tuffy Rhodes was that for an opening day performance? Big Z has always been historically bad on opening day (only one win in 6 appearances since 2005), but he didn't even leave the game with his dignity. On the bright side, Sean Marshall dazzled for almost three innings and whiffed five guys in the process, and James Russell was stellar in his big league debut. However, the cause for concern is imminent with this completely unacceptable performance from Zambrano. The Cubbie starting rotation is already a huge question mark and to see the #1 starter get his teeth kicked in like he did does not bode well for the ole confidence.

It was also nice to see Marlon Byrd get off to a great start. I heard Pat & Ron say he's the first Cub to hit a home run in his first at-bat with the team since O'Henry Rodriguez did it in 1998. I'll go ahead and log that little nugget of info away for the next time I'm on Cubs Jeopardy. Byrd's big fly was cause for brief elation until Zambrano took the mound at the bottom of the inning.

Opening Day was a bit of a downer but keep your heads up everyone. This isn't the NFL where seasons are won and lost in one game. This is baseball and we have 161 more to go!

Opening Day Anticipation

2010-03-30T14:56:00.000-07:00

Ahhhh Opening Day. It might be the most refreshing day of the year for a baseball fan. Every team starts at zero and it's the only week of the year where the likes of the Royals or Nationals might grace the top of their division standings for a few short days. Life begins anew and no matter what kind of off-season a team has, you can't help but feel optimism in the air. As the Cubs turn the corner to Opening Day 2010, let's check out a few memorable Spring Training happenings:

Holy Tyler Colvin: It's too bad Colvin is an outfielder because the Cubs really need to find a permanent roster spot for this kid. He led the team this spring in Avg, Total Bases, RBI, runs scored, and I'm sure a few other categories I've overlooked. How about it Tyler, can you play second base? How about a little third base? You should really work on that because you don't deserve to be merely pinch hitting.

A friend of mine made a good point...wouldn't it be interesting if the Cubs starting outfield by summer was Nady, Byrd, and Colvin? That would relegate the big money guys (Fukudome and Soriano) to the bench. Sure it won't happen, but those three have a very good shot at out-producing them.

The Fat Man Can Pitch! (kind of): Carlos Silva has actually made the starting rotation. How many of you honestly called this one? I think some of us half expected Silva to not even make the roster, especially after his disastrous spring training debut. Since then he's settled down, notched two wins and has given Piniella another back of the rotation option. Go Fat Man!

DLee vs. The Folding Chair: The freak injury of the spring without a doubt goes to Derek Lee, who had a folding chair collapse on him while he was eating in the clubhouse. The fall tweaked his back and cut his playing time short that afternoon, but other than that no harm done.

The No Name Bullpen feat. James Russell & Justin Berg: Chalk up another failure for the Jeff Samardzija experiment, as the Cubs sent him down last week in favor of Justin Berg. Both Berg and fellow newcomer James Russell will start the season with the big club in the head-scratcher that is the Cubbie Bullpen. Esmailin Caridad has some major league experience and four lefties (Gorzelanny, Marshall, Grabow, and Russell) add some depth, but it's a very iffy situation in my opinion. It's a little unsettling that Carlos Marmol is really the only sure thing. He didn't have to battle this spring for the closer's job so hopefully that'll help his confidence. While it'd be nice to think that all of these guys will produce, you have to wonder what type of deal Hendry is going to try to swing by the All-Star break for a veteran bullpen presence.

Cubs decide on Tracy over Millar: I think this is the most realistic decision, but it's hard to not think about the professionalism and clubhouse demeanor a guy like Kevin Millar can bring to a team. I hope he catches on with another organization. The Cubs need Chad Tracy's ability to play third base, so that seals Millar's fate. Let's just hope he doesn't hit like Aaron Miles.

Let the Kid Play

2010-03-15T19:37:00.000-07:00

Pop quiz: Which Cubs player is currently batting .435 in spring training, and is second on the team in runs scored and total bases?

Keep spinning those wheels because it's not any of the familiar names you're used to. No, it's not someone the Cubs acquired in the offseason, and no it's not Mark DeRosa so let's just get over that right now.

The man is Starlin Castro and if you haven't heard of him yet it's time to climb out from under your rock. The 19 year old phenom split time at Daytona and Tennessee in 2009 and played in the Arizona Fall League in 2008 and that's it. It seems everyone from the media to the players themselves have an opinion on whether or not Castro should break camp with the big club or if he should start the season with Ryne Sandberg in AAA. I don't really know where I stand on the issue, but it's hard not to salivate at the potential of what this kid can do; wreck havoc at the top of the lineup all while playing a stellar shortstop.

"But we already have Ryan Theriot at shortstop," one might say...
Simply put, it's time for Theriot to evolve and slide over to his left a little bit. I see second base in his future.

"He's only 19. He's just too young to be in the majors," argues the naysayer..
I think Aramis Ramirez put it best to the Tribune last week when he said, "if you're ready, you're ready."

For example, look at the Texas Rangers and what they did with rookie Elvis Andrus last year. He was 20 years old and was the Rangers' opening day shortstop. Texas has so much faith in Andrus that they made Michael Young, a perennial .300 hitter, move to third base to make room for him. Andrus batted .267, swiped 33 bases, and finished 2nd in the American League Rookie of the Year voting. I don't really follow the Rangers but I'm sure plenty of people argued the Andrus was too young to play everyday, I'd say he did a pretty good job of proving them wrong.

I suppose the safe way for the Cubs to play this is to start Castro at AAA and bring him up once he's had a few more at-bats at a higher level. I honestly don't think the Cubs can afford to keep him down very long and I'd be surprised if he's not a mainstay by mid-May. Theriot will move to second and the end will soon be near for either Jeff Baker or Mike Fontenot. The future is here and his name is Starlin Castro. Sit back and watch because he's (hopefully) going to do all the things we're paying Alfonso Soriano to do in the first place.

Stick a Fork in Angel Guzman. Now What???

2010-03-10T14:21:00.000-08:00

I think it's safe to say that all Cubs fans are sick of hearing about how good Angel Guzman is "going to be." Well, it looks like we can finally put the hype to bed. The ligament tear Guzman has in his right shoulder will most likely end what has turned out to be a very very disappointing career. Sometimes it's hard to stomach the fact that Angel Guzman is actually six months younger than Carlos Zambrano. There was a time when it was thought that Guzman was going to be just as good as (or even better than) Big Z. They are both from the same country, both signed major league contracts when they were teenagers, but Zambrano made his Cubs debut a full 5 years before Guzman. Big Z has been a workhorse his entire career, while Guzman hasn't even logged 200 total innings of work in just 88 games over the past four seasons. What happened? Is it just bad luck? Was it bad coaching or preparation? Should we blame the goat? Whatever the answer is, the Cubs now have a gaping hole in their bullpen, and Jim Hendry needs to find a solution quickly.

At one time Chan Ho Park and Kiko Calero were on the Cubs' radar, but they both signed with other teams. Park saw the dollar signs from the Yankees and Hendry was paranoid about injury concerns with Calero (even though he posted a 1.95 ERA in 2009) so he went to the Mets. The latest name on the board is Jason Frasor from the Blue Jays. Frasor is a Chicago native who had a decent year last year (2.50 ERA and 11 saves). He may not be the most ideal candidate, but in my opinion Hendry already dropped the ball by not getting Park or Calero so I hope he just pulls the trigger. The talent pool as of right now for available relievers is pretty much dried up, and I'm sure Frasor would welcome a ticket out of Toronto to return home.

Another intriguing idea is John Smoltz. He is currently without a team and while his numbers with the Cardinals last year weren't spectacular you can't deny his clubhouse presence and mentoring capabilities. Wouldn't it be nice if a future Hall-of-Famer could help Carlos Marmol find that consistently he's painfully lacking? Smoltz is an obvious injury risk so I highly doubt Hendry would sign him if he wouldn't even bite on Calero, but I think he should at the very least be given some consideration.

The fact that the Cubs need bullpen help isn't some great mystery and I'm sure Hendry will get a deal done simply because he knows he has to. Be ready to hold your breath this year when Randy Wells exits after six shutout innings because we will all be wondering the same thing.....can the bullpen hold the lead?

Theriot Gets Greedy

2010-03-02T15:33:00.000-08:00

I realize I'm a bit a late with this topic, but I still feel the need to comment...

I was extremely happy to see the Cubs win their arbitration hearing against Ryan Theriot last month. Ryan you greedy little man, what on earth were you thinking? You made $500,000 last year and are set to earn $2.6MM in 2010, a well deserved raise. How is that possibly not good enough for you? I would think a nice little pay bump of just over two million would set your mind at ease. Your request to earn an additional $800,000 this year is both unnecessary and undeserved.

For all you Cubs fans who grew up in the late 80's to early 90's like I did, I'd like to offer up a comparison. Ryan Theriot is a carbon copy of Rey Sanchez. Remember that guy? A total defensive whiz but really couldn't hit his way out of a paper bag. They both play middle infield and both would probably cause Chip Caray to describe them using the word "pesky."

Humor me for a minute here and let's compare some stats...

Rey Sanchez:
1993: 11 2B's, 28 RBI, 0 HR, .282 Average
1994: Strike-shortened season, so I'm not going to count it (but he did bat .285 with 83 hits)
1995: 22 2B's, 27 RBI, 3 HR, .278 Average

Ryan Theriot
2008:19 2B's, 38 RBI, 1 HR, .307 Average
2009: 20 2B's, 54 RBI, 7 HR, .284 Average

Theriot has been a great hitter the past two years and a great guy to have at the top of your lineup, but then again so was Sanchez in his "prime" (if you really want to say he ever had a prime). Yes, Theriot had a solid 2009 and definitely proved that he was worth a raise. Sanchez went on to put up some pretty decent numbers with the Yankees, Giants, and Royals after he and the Cubs parted ways in 1997. My point...think about Rey Sanchez and if he was ever worth $3.4MM for one season. The answer is most definitely no, and that is the same reaction Ryan Theriot should get until he can consistently prove he can match his 2009 production. C'mon Riot, knock in 60, bat .300 and flirt with 200 hits in 2010 and then you have a legitimate argument.

Happy Birthday Harry

2010-03-02T11:06:00.000-08:00

Yesterday would have been Harry Caray's 96th birthday. We should all take time to honor one of the greatest baseball announcers who ever lived, and what better way to do that then by watching this?

Can Samardzija be trusted every 5th day?

2010-02-19T11:45:00.000-08:00

The latest from Jeff Samardzija is that he wants a chance to start. Hmmmm, really Jeff? Pardon me for not having total confidence in you. You haven't exactly lived up to that ridiculous $2.5MM signing bonus the Cubs gave you in 2007.

Spring training is all about proving yourself and the Cubs have a ton of money invested in Samardzija. I hope he finds his groove and proves the critics wrong, but he's been a model of inconsistency since making his MLB debut in 2008. Remember that feeling in the pit of your stomach you always got when Bob Howry came in for some middle relief duty? That's the same feeling I get when Samardzija takes the mound. You just never know what's going to happen. I can't imagine feeling that for 5+ innings (if he can last that long).

Samardzija made two starts in 2009. The first one came on August 12 when he gave up 7 runs to the Phillies and didn't make it out of the 3rd inning. He faired a little bit better on September 23 and lasted 5 innings on 3 earned runs against the Brewers, but he still surrendered 2 home runs.

He's only 25 years old and obviously has a ton of potential. My biggest worry is that the Cubs will feel the pressure to rush him into a starting role because of all the hype surrounding him. He needs to earn his spot.

Ricketts Family Priority #1: Rip Off the Fans

2010-02-17T16:15:00.000-08:00

Well, it looks like the Ricketts are making a great first impression on the North Side. This "Master Card First Chance Pre Sale" scheme is borderline criminal if you ask me. Starting on Monday Feb 15, fans have had the chance to purchase tickets to all home games via cubs.com before they go on sale to the general public on Feb. 19. The catch? Nothing really, just a small 20% premium added to the face-value of each ticket. Are you kidding me?!?! Can they really justify calling this a "pre-sale?" I'd say it's blatantly taking advantage of supply and demand. Gee, do you want to kick my dog while you're at it? The real stab in the back comes with the announcement that ticket prices for 2010 have increased by 10%.

C'mon, this is completely ridiculous. Taking in a game at Wrigley Field shouldn't cost a week's salary. It's coming to the point where the average middle class family isn't going to be able to afford four tickets to a Saturday afternoon game. The only people filling the seats will be business clients, celebrities, and upper class bigwigs who could care less about the game, leave in the 5th inning, and pay $9.50 for those margaritas in the plastic cups.

I can't imagine being a little kid right now and dreaming of visiting the friendly confines...

Son: Daddy, I really want to go to Wrigley Field this year. I want to see all my heroes. Can we please go to a game?

Dad: Sure son, I'd love to take you. Let me call my bank and see if I can take out a Home Equity Line of Credit so I can afford some seats.

I'm not naive enough to think that the Cubs aren't going to try to generate as much revenue as possible, but I feel like they're doing something horribly wrong in exploiting the loyalty of their fans to make an extra buck.

There Goes Johnny

2010-02-17T10:15:00.000-08:00

I am completely baffled as to why the Cubs have not pursued Johnny Damon this offseason. The rumor mill was swirling in December and many sites said the Cubs were "very interested," but nothing really materialized past that. Is it against Jim Hendry's philosophy to have a proven winner on the team? Do we not want a guy who fulfills every hole that Jim Hendry has been trying to plug this offseason? He can play the outfield, he bats lefty, and he gets on base. Oh, and he also does that one thing that Alfonso Soriano was supposed to do...he bats leadoff!!!

Yeah sure, I get the fact that Damon is 4 years older than both Xavier Nady and Marlon Byrd, but you can't deny Damon's durability. He's played in at least 141 games in each of his 14 full seasons in the bigs. In 2008-2009 alone he played in 131 more games than Nady did. Clearly age is not a factor here. Nady has also had an unprecedented two Tommy John surgeries. Is Hendry hoping we get Nady on the cheap because he won't be able to meet the extra $2 million of incentives built into his contract? If Nady plays half the season Hendry should consider himself lucky.

The rumors are that Damon is seeking roughly $7MM per year, while the Cubs decided Byrd was worth 3 years $15MM. Byrd has been a utility man his entire career before his break out year last year, and according to baseball-reference has made just over 6MM total in his 6 year career. Basically, he's going to almost double that in 2010 alone thanks to his lofty new Cubs' contract! You're telling me the Cubs can't squeeze another $2MM out of the Ricketts Family to land a guy like Johnny Damon but we're going to take a multi-million dollar contract flier on a guy who has only proven himself in one season?

Maybe Hendry is going with "quantity over quality" by signing two guys instead of one, but if I'm choosing between a guy with two Tommy John surgeries and a guy who has two World Series rings I'm taking the rings.