The Cub Reporter (TCR) | A Chicago Cubs Blog -

Last Day to Vote

Rob G. — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 14:49:46 -0600

The folks at Baseball Prospectus are running their annual Internet Baseball Awards which I find far more interesting and relevant than the ridiculous BBWAA vote. Today is the last day to vote though, so head on over.

- Cubs fan and PECOTA master Nate Silver of Baseball Prospectus (and occasional TCR reader) has branched out to politics with a new polling-analysis website. You can see his guest spot on The Colbert Report by following the link.

- More jokes at the expense of us Cubs fans courtesy of SNL and Bill Murray (go to about 3:30 left in the clip).

Brainstorm Session: Site Improvements

Rob G. — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 14:45:09 -0600

UPDATE 2: Bah, issues...will have to wait a couple of days on the archives.

UPDATE: I'm going to try and start importing our archives from the all-baseball.com and MVN days tonight. It may crash everything.

I'm not gonna be able to muster anything coherent about the Cubs this week. The organizational meetings start October 19th and I'm sure we'll start hearing some rumors around then about what the Cubs offseason plan might be. I think we can all pretty much guess it now anyway, left-handed bats, Dempster or another starting pitcher and filling out the bullpen.

That all being said, I'll probably be spending a good portion of the offseason working on improving the site and while I'm never at a loss for ideas, I would love to hear what things you guys would like to see. Just throw as much spaghetti as you can at the walls and we'll see what sticks. There's no such thing as a bad idea...except the really stupid ones. Now this sort of thing has a tendency to just lead to a bitchfest about everything that we don't currently offer or what sucks, but try to keep it positive and offer ideas on additions and improvements if you can.

And to help your brain get going, some topics to think about:

Content - what more would you like to see of? What less would you like to see of? Ideas for regular features? Anything you'd like to come back that seems to have disappeared.
Site Layout - Fuck that logo is big, make it smaller! Needs more advertising, etc.
Site Functionality - Pop-up comments, Searches, etc...
Community - Rate comments, posts, more chat oppurtunities, ban one commenter per week?
Merchandising - Is there an 8x10 photo of Arizona Phil you want for your desk? Let us know..

And whatever else you'd like out of your Cubs site of choice....

If You Can't Laugh at Yourself

Rob G. — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 09:07:11 -0600

Last one, I promise...

courtesty of the folks at ESPN 2 and thanks to 10man for the link.

"They Made God Angry"

Rob G. — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 12:25:47 -0600

thanks to jacos for the tip....

News & Notes

Rob G. — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 01:22:08 -0600

- Crane Kenney says the Cubs will increase payroll next year regardless of an ownership change.

''And when it all works, this is what it looks like,'' he said, referring to back-to-back postseasons and a 97-win season. ''It's like the Braves. That's the model -- the Braves and the Red Sox and the Yankees. Play like a big market, flex your muscle like a big market and hopefully perform like one on the field.''

- Sullivan is hearing that the Cubs will pursue a left-handed outfield bat to compete with Fukudome and Fukudome doesn't really care.

"If it means that there will be competition in right field, all I have to do is win that competition," he replied.

- Carlos Marmol got banged up a bit in a car accident in the Dominican Republic.

"Out of precaution they did different studies on my body, and I don't have any kind of serious injury," Marmol wrote.

- The headline says it all - "Harden to visit Shoulder Specialist". Apparently the Cubs have until today to decide on his option. They have until after the World Series on Blanco's.

- The same link says all the Cubs coaches have been asked back.

- Cubs organizational meetings begin October 19th in Arizona. A few rumors and notes in that link including...

Lee has a no-trade clause but could be asked to lift it if he's dealt to a team in California for pitching help. Lee lives in Sacramento, so it's not out of the realm of possibility.

Ronny Cedeno likely will be on the trade block again after yelling at trainer Mark O'Neal during a nasty exchange before a game in Milwaukee on the final weekend of the regular season.

Well that should add some fuel to the sign Teixeira/deal Lee flames. Trading Cedeno, moving Theriot to the utility role and signing Furcal would be kind of neat too.

- Paul Sullivan and I agree on something. I'm not comfortable with this...

The Cubs players spent much of the season downplaying talk of the alleged curse, only to have Cubs brass bring out a Greek priest to spread holy water in their dugout the day of the start of the playoffs. What kind of a show of faith in the high-priced team was that? Piniella and the players were blind-sided by the stunt.

Post-2008 Roster & Projected 2009 Organizational Chart

Arizona Phil — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 09:07:47 -0600

OCTOBER-DECEMBER 2008:

CHICAGO CUBS RESERVE LIST (40-MAN ROSTER) AS OF 10/7/08:

* bats or throws left
# bats both

NOTE: There are presently 40 players on the Cubs RESERVE LIST (40-man roster), plus two additional players on the 60-day DISABLED LIST (players on 60-day DL do not count against the roster limit)

PITCHERS (20):
Jose Ascanio – AUTO-RENEWAL (has ONE minor league option left)
* Neal Cotts – SALARY-ARBITRATION eligible (NO MINOR LEAGUE OPTIONS LEFT & CAN REFUSE OUTRIGHT ASSIGNMENT)
Ryan Dempster - can be FREE-AGENT
Chad Gaudin – SALARY ARBITRATION eligible (NO MINOR LEAGUE OPTIONS LEFT & CAN REFUSE OUTRIGHT ASSIGNMENT)
Angel Guzman – AUTO-RENEWAL or could qualify for SALARY ARBITRATION as a "Super Two" (has ONE minor league option left)
Rich Harden – SIGNED FOR 2009 (CLUB OPTION) or SALARY ARBITRATION eligible if CLUB OPTION is declined, and has right to DEMAND TRADE if CLUB OPTION is exercised
Kevin Hart – AUTO-RENEWAL (has TWO minor league options left)
* Rich Hill – AUTO-RENEWAL (NO MINOR LEAGUE OPTIONS LEFT)
Bob Howry - can be FREE-AGENT
* Ted Lilly - SIGNED FOR 2009 (has “NO TRADE” rights)
Carlos Marmol – AUTO-RENEWAL or could qualify for SALARY ARBITRATION as a "Super Two" (has ONE minor league option left)
Jason Marquis - SIGNED FOR 2009
* Sean Marshall – AUTO-RENEWAL or could qualify for SALARY ARBITRATION as a "Super Two" (has ONE minor league option left)
Billy Petrick – AUTO-RENEWAL (has TWO minor league options left)
* Carmen Pignatiello – AUTO-RENEWAL (has TWO minor league options left)
Jeff Samardzija – SIGNED FOR 2009 (has TWO minor league options left & has “NO TRADE” rights)
Randy Wells – AUTO-RENEWAL (has THREE minor league options left & CAN REFUSE OUTRIGHT ASSIGNMENT)
Kerry Wood - can be FREE-AGENT
Michael Wuertz – SALARY ARBITRATION eligible (NO MINOR LEAGUE OPTIONS LEFT & CAN REFUSE OUTRIGHT ASSIGNMENT)
Carlos Zambrano - SIGNED FOR 2009 (has “NO TRADE” rights)

CATCHERS (3):
Henry Blanco – SIGNED FOR 2009 (CLUB OPTION) or can be FREE-AGENT if CLUB OPTION is declined
# Koyie Hill – AUTO-RENEWAL (NO MINOR LEAGUE OPTIONS LEFT & CAN REFUSE OUTRIGHT ASSIGNMENT)
Geovany Soto – AUTO-RENEWAL (NO MINOR LEAGUE OPTIONS LEFT)

INFIELDERS (8):
Ronny Cedeno – SALARY ARBITRATION eligible (NO MINOR LEAGUE OPTIONS LEFT & CAN REFUSE OUTRIGHT ASSIGNMENT)
Mark DeRosa – SIGNED FOR 2009
* Mike Fontenot – AUTO-RENEWAL (has ONE minor league option left)
* Micah Hoffpauir – AUTO-RENEWAL (has TWO minor league options left)
Derrek Lee - SIGNED FOR 2009 (has “NO TRADE” rights)
Casey McGehee – AUTO-RENEWAL (has THREE minor league options left)
Aramis Ramirez – SIGNED FOR 2009 (has “NO TRADE” rights)
Ryan Theriot – AUTO-RENEWAL or could qualify for SALARY ARBITRATION as a "Super Two" (has TWO minor league options left)

OUTFIELDERS (9):
* Jim Edmonds - can be FREE-AGENT
Jake Fox – AUTO RENEWAL (has ONE minor league option left)
* Kosuke Fukudome – SIGNED FOR 2009 (has FOUR minor league options left & has “NO TRADE” rights)
* Sam Fuld – AUTO-RENEWAL (has TWO minor league options left)
Reed Johnson – SALARY ARBITRATION eligible (CAN REFUSE MINOR LEAGUE OPTIONAL ASSIGNMENT & OUTRIGHT ASSIGNMENT)
* Felix Pie - AUTO-RENEWAL (NO MINOR LEAGUE OPTIONS LEFT)
* Brad Snyder – AUTO RENEWAL (NO MINOR LEAGUE OPTIONS LEFT)
Alfonso Soriano – SIGNED FOR 2009 (has “NO TRADE” rights)
* Daryle Ward - can be FREE-AGENT

60-DAY DISABLED LIST (2):
Chad Fox, P – can be FREE-AGENT
Jon Lieber, P - can be FREE-AGENT

NOTE: A player on the 15-day or 60-day DL must be reactivated no later than 11/20, but a DL assignment is automatically terminated when a player eligible to be a Free-Agent under Article XX of the CBA files for free-agency during the post-World Series Free-Agency Filing Period. Also, a player is automatically removed from the 40-man roster when he files for free-agency under Article XX.

======================================

ELIGIBLE TO BE ARTICLE XX FREE-AGENT:
Henry Blanco (club option with buy-out)
Ryan Dempster
Jim Edmonds
Chad Fox
Bob Howry
Jon Lieber
Daryle Ward
Kerry Wood
NOTE: MLB players eligible to be free-agents under Article XX of the CBA must file for free-agency during the “Free-Agency Filing Period” (first 15 days after conclusion of the World Series). During the 15-day “Free-Agency Filing Period,” MLB clubs retain exclusive negotiating rights with their own free-agents, although the other 29 MLB clubs can talk to the player about everything except money (they can discuss the benefits of playing in a particular city, how the player will be used, where the player will bat in the lineup or whether a pitcher will start or relieve, length of contract, no-trade rights, etc). Clubs then must decide by December 1st whether to offer salary arbitration to their own free-agents, and if they do offer salary arbitration, the player has until December 7th to accept or decline the offer. If the club does offer salary arbitration to the free-agent and if the player is rated as a Type “A” or Type “B” free-agent by the Elias Sports Bureau statistical service, the player’s old club would receive one or two compensation draft picks in the next June’s Rule 4 Draft if the player signs with another club (two picks if the player is rated Type “A” and one pick if the player is rated Type “B”). If the player’s old club does not offer salary arbitration on 12/1, the player’s old club can continue to negotiate with the player, but the club would not receive a compensation draft pick (or picks) if the player signs with another club.

=====================================

SIGNED FOR 2009:

+ has “NO TRADE” rights
% can demand trade per Article XX of CBA if club option is exercised

Henry Blanco - $3M club option or $300K buy-out
Mark DeRosa - $5.5M
+ Kosuke Fukudome - $11.5M
% Rich Harden - $7M club option or salary arbitration
+ Derrek Lee - $13M
+ Ted Lilly - $12M
Jason Marquis - $9.875M
+ Aramis Ramirez - $15.65M
+ Jeff Samardzija - $1.3M
+ Alfonso Soriano - $16M
+ Carlos Zambrano - $17.75M
TOTAL (SO FAR) - $112.575M (includes Blanco and Harden club options)
NOTE: TOTAL does NOT include so-called “pro-rated” signing bonuses that are used by MLB and the MLBPA for the purpose of calculating club payroll to determine possible “Competitive Balance Tax” obligations (tax is applied when a club’s payroll reaches $155M), because signing bonuses are usually paid in full when a player signs a contract (which is why it’s called a “signing bonus”) except when otherwise noted.

==============================

ELIGIBLE FOR SALARY-ARBITRATION:
Ronny Cedeno
Neal Cotts
Chad Gaudin
Angel Guzman (could qualify as a "Super Two" - see NOTE)
Rich Harden (but only if 2009 club option is declined)
Reed Johnson
Carlos Marmol (could qualify as a "Super Two" - see NOTE)
Sean Marshall (could qualify as a "Super Two" - see NOTE)
Ryan Theriot (could qualify as a "Super Two"- see NOTE)
Michael Wuertz
PROJECTED ADDITION TO PAYROLL IF ALL FIVE PLAYERS WHO ARE DEFINITELY ELIGIBLE FOR SALARY ARBITRATION (not including Rich Harden, Angel Guzman, Carlos Marmol, Sean Marshall, and Ryan Theriot) ARE OFFERED ARBITRATION: $7.5M
NOTE: Players who accrued at least 86 days of MLB Service Time (MLB ST) in 2008 and who have accrued at least two years but less than three years of MLB ST through the 2008 season could possibly qualify for salary arbitration as a "Super Two" post-2008 if the player rates among the top 17% in MLB ST of all players in that category. The four Cubs players who are eligible to possibly qualify as a "Super Two" post-2008 are Ryan Theriot (2+118 MLB ST), Angel Guzman (2+095), Sean Marshall (2+087), and Carlos Marmol (2+084).

Clubs must decide by December 12th whether to offer salary arbitration to players who are eligible. If the club elects to offer salary arbitration, the club and the player proceed onward through the arbitration process, but the player and the club can reach an agreement at any point prior to a hearing. If the club decides not to offer arbitration to an arbitration-eligible player on 12/12, the player immediately becomes an unrestricted free-agent at that time and is free to sign with any MLB club (including his former club), and the player’s old club receives no compensation if the player signs with a new club.

============================================

AUTO-RENEWAL (PRE-ARBITRATION)

NOTE: 2009 MLB minimum salary is $400K with a $65K minimum “minor league split salary” ($32.5K minimum “minor league split” for players with no MLB ST who are on 40-man roster for the first time). Also, a minor league split salary for an “auto-renewal” player must be at least 60% of what the player was actually paid in salary during 2008 season. Clubs must tender contracts to “auto-renewal” (pre-arbitration) players on December 12th. If no contract is offered, the player is considered “non-tendered” and immediately becomes an unrestricted free-agent and can sign with any MLB club (including his old club). If a contract is tendered on 12/12, the player has until the first week of March to negotiate with his club, but if no agreement is reached by that time, the club can automatically renew the player’s contract for an amount no less than 80% of the previous year’s salary.

Jose Ascanio
Mike Fontenot
Jake Fox
Sam Fuld
Angel Guzman
Kevin Hart
Koyie Hill
Rich Hill
Micah Hoffpauir
Carlos Marmol
Casey McGehee
Sean Marshall
Billy Petrick
Felix Pie
Carmen Pignatiello
Brad Snyder
Geovany Soto
Ryan Theriot
Randy Wells
PROJECTED ESTIMATED 2009 AUTO-RENEWAL SALARIES FOR NINE PLAYERS: $4M
NOTE: Total does NOT include minor league split salaries for players on 40-man roster who are on OPTIONAL ASSIGNMENT to minors.

====================================

PROJECTED ESTIMATED 2009 TOTAL PAYROLL AS OF TODAY (includes the 11 players who are signed for 2009 and the five players who are eligible for salary arbitration, plus nine “auto renewal” players TBD who would be needed to fill-out the 25-man roster): $124M

==================================

ELIGIBLE TO BE MINOR LEAGUE FREE-AGENT:
Andres Blanco, SS
Mike Burns, RHP
Hector Carrasco, RHP
Edward Campusano, LHP
Robinson Chirinos, C-IF
Matt Craig, 1B-3B
Jason Dubois, OF-1B
Doug Deeds, OF-1B
Danny Fatheree, C
Luis Figueroa, INF
Dumas Garcia, RHP
Adam Harben, RHP
Josh Kroeger, OF
Jason Stanford, LHP
Bobby Scales, IF-OF
Andres Torres, OF
NOTE: Clubs retain exclusive negotiating rights with their own minor league free-agents until the end of the World Series. If a minor league FA is added to his club’s 40-man roster prior to the conclusion of the World Series, the player is not eligible to be a free-agent. Players eligible to be minor league free-agents who are not added to their club’s 40-man roster by the conclusion of the World Series are free to sign a major league or minor league contract with any organization, including their old club.

============================================

ELIGIBLE FOR 2008 RULE 5 DRAFT:
James Adduci, OF
Alberto Alburquerque, RHP
Mitch Atkins, RHP
Matt Avery, RHP
Justin Berg, RHP
Todd Blackford, RHP
Russ Canzler, 1B
Yusuf Carter, OF
Julio Castillo, RHP
Rafael Dolis, RHP
Jesse Estrada, RHP
Ryan Harvey, OF
Jim Henderson, RHP
Mark Holliman, RHP
Grant Johnson, RHP
Marcos Mateo, RHP
J. R. Mathes, LHP
Mario Mercedes, C
Jonathan Mota, INF
Jake Muyco, RHP
Leonel Perez, C
Vince Perkins, RHP
Jose Pina, RHP
Mark Reed, C
Gregory Reinhard, RHP
Kyle Reynolds, 1B
Tony Richie, C
Chris Robinson, C
Jayson Ruhlman, LHP
Alvaro Sosa, C
Nate Spears, 2B
Donald Veal, LHP
NOTE: A player on this list is not eligible for selection in the Rule 5 Draft if added to the 40-man roster by November 20th. Also, any free-agent who signs a minor league contract prior to the Rule 5 Draft is eligible for selection in the Rule 5 Draft.

=====================================

2009:

MINOR LEAGUE OPTION STATUS FOR PLAYERS WITH LESS THAN FIVE YEARS OF MLB SERVICE TIME (SPRING TRAINING 2009):

NOTE: Mike Fontenot, Angel Guzman, and Ryan Theriot would have to clear Optional Assignment Waivers before being optioned to the minors during Spring Training 2009 or anytime during the 2009 season. Sean Marshall and Carlos Marmol would NOT have to clear Optional Assignment Waivers before being optioned to the minors during Spring Training (prior to Opening Day), but Marshall would have to clear Optional Assignment Waivers before being optioned to the minors anytime during the regular season (starting on Opening Day), while Marmol would have to clear Optional Assignment Waivers beginning on June 4th. Because an Optional Assignment waiver request can be withdrawn if the player is claimed by another club, Optional Assignment waiver claims are rare.

NO MINOR LEAGUE OPTIONS LEFT:
Ronny Cedeno (can refuse Outright Assignment to minors)
Neal Cotts (can refuse Outright Assignment to minors)
Chad Gaudin (can refuse Outright Assignment to minors)
Koyie Hill (can refuse Outright Assignment to minors)
Rich Hill
Felix Pie
Brad Snyder
Geovany Soto
Michael Wuertz (can refuse Outright Assignment to minors)
NOTE: Players who are out of minor league options must clear Outright Assignment Waivers (which are irrevocable) before they can be sent to the minors. Players with at least three years of MLB Service Time and players who have been previously outrighted in their career can refuse an Outright Assignment and can opt to become a free-agent instead. (Free-agency option can be exercised immediately, or player can defer option until after the conclusion of the MLB regular season).

ONE MINOR LEAGUE OPTION LEFT:
Jose Ascanio (see NOTE)
Mike Fontenot
Jake Fox
Angel Guzman (see NOTE)
Carlos Marmol
Sean Marshall
NOTE: Jose Ascanio has used three minor league options through the 2008 season, but because he has spent only four “full seasons” on an active minor league or major league roster, he will be eligible for a 4th minor league option in 2009 as long as it is exercised prior to completing five full seasons.
Angel Guzman has used three minor league options through the 2008 season, but because he has spent only four “full seasons” on an active minor league or major league roster, he will be eligible for a 4th minor league option in 2009 as long as it is exercised prior to completing five full seasons.

TWO MINOR LEAGUE OPTIONS LEFT:
Sam Fuld
Kevin Hart
Micah Hoffpauir
Billy Petrick (see NOTE)
Carmen Pignatiello
Jeff Samardzija (see NOTE)
Ryan Theriot
NOTE: Billy Petrick has used two minor league options through the 2008 season, but because he has spent only three “full seasons” on an active minor league or major league roster, he will be eligible for a 4th minor league option as long as it is exercised prior to completing five full seasons.
Jeff Samardzija has used two minor league options through the 2008 season, but because he has spent only two “full seasons” on an active minor league or major league roster, he will be eligible for a 4th minor league option as long as it is exercised prior to completing five full seasons.

THREE MINOR LEAGUE OPTIONS LEFT:
Casey McGehee
Randy Wells (can refuse Outright Assignment to minors)

FOUR MINOR LEAGUE OPTIONS LEFT:
Kosuke Fukudome

======================================

PROJECTED 2009 CUBS ORGANIZATIONAL DEPTH CHART

* bats or throws left
# bats both

CATCHERS:
CUBS: Geovany Soto/Henry Blanco/# Koyie Hill
IOWA: Tony Richie/* Blake Lalli/Chris Robinson
TENN: Welington Castillo/* Mark Reed
DAYT: Luis Flores/Mario Mercedes
PEOR: Carlos Perez/Michael Brenly
EXST: * Matt Cerda/# Alvaro Sosa/Jose Guevara/Pat Mahoney/Juan Medina
DSLC: Carlos Gonzalez/Ricardo Parra/Jose Vigay/Yamel Liria

FIRST-BASEMEN:
CUBS: Derrek Lee/* Micah Hoffpauir
IOWA: * Kyle Reynolds
TENN: Russ Canzler/* Steve Clevenger
DAYT: Jovan Rosa/Luis Bautista
PEOR: Rebel Ridling/* Ryan Keedy
EXST: Sean Hoorelbeke/* Bryan Jost
DSLC: # Alexander Mejia/Melvin Camarena/Carlos Romero/Justino Guzman

SECOND-BASEMEN:
CUBS: Mark DeRosa/* Mike Fontenot
IOWA: * Nate Spears
TENN: Tony Thomas
DAYT: * Ryan Flaherty/Josh Harrison
PEOR: * Jake Opitz/Gian Guzman
EXST: * Logan Watkins/Dwayne Kemp
DSLC: # Ramon Bonilla/# Vismeldy Bieneme/# Jose Montecino

THIRD-BASEMEN:
CUBS: Aramis Ramirez
IOWA: Casey McGehee
TENN: Josh Lansford
DAYT: Marquez Smith
PEOR: Josh Vitters
EXST: John Contreras/Carlos Morales
DSLC: # Nelson Pierre/Juan Pena/Pedro Ramirez

SHORTSTOPS:
CUBS: Ryan Theriot/Ronny Cedeno
IOWA: * Matt Camp/# Matt Matulia
TENN: Darwin Barney/Jonathan Mota
DAYT: Nathan Samson/Jose Made
PEOR: Starlin Castro/# Marwin Gonzalez
EXST: Junior Lake/George Matheus/* Hak-Ju Lee
DSLC: # Robert Bautista/* Melido Perez/Miguel Salazar

LEFT-FIELDERS:
CUBS: Alfonso Soriano/* Brad Snyder
IOWA: * Tyler Colvin
TENN: Ty Wright
DAYT: Brandon Guyer
PEOR: * Drew Rundle/Elvis Lara
EXST: * Ryan Sontag/TeWayne Willis/* Sean Williams
DSLC: Jesus Morelli/# Jose Valdez/Albert Hernandez/# Gregorio Robles

CENTER-FIELDERS
CUBS: * Felix Pie/Reed Johnson
IOWA: * Sam Fuld
TENN: * Jonathan Wyatt/Yusuf Carter
DAYT: * Tony Campana
PEOR: * Cliff Andersen
EXST: * Kurt Calvert/# David Macias/* Clark Hardman
DSLC: * Francisco Guzman/Manuel Pestana/Pedro Medina

RIGHT-FIELDERS
CUBS: * Kosuke Fukudome
IOWA: Jake Fox
TENN: * James Adduci/Ryan Harvey
DAYT: * Dylan Johnston
PEOR: * Kyler Burke/Jericho Jones
EXST: * Nelson Perez/Kevin Soto
DSLC: Alejandro Damian/Luis Andrades

STARTING PITCHERS

CUBS:
Carlos Zambrano
* Ted Lilly
Rich Harden
* Sean Marshall
Jason Marquis
* Rich Hill

IOWA:
Mitch Atkins
Randy Wells
* J. R. Mathes
* Donald Veal
Justin Berg

TENNESSEE:
Esmailin Caridad
* James Russell
Billy Muldowney
* Jeremy Papelbon
Marco Carrillo
Alessandro Maestri

DAYTONA:
Hung-Wen Chen
Jay Jackson
Casey Coleman
Aaron Shafer
Robert Hernandez
Alberto Alburquerque

PEORIA:
Chris Carpenter
* Jeffrey Beliveau
Josh Whitlock
Ryan Searle
Kevin Kreier
Ryan Acosta
Justin Bristow
Dae-Eun Rhee

EXST:
Larry Suarez
Alberto Cabrera
Chris Huseby
Oswaldo Martinez
* Jeffry Antigua
Julio Pena
Yohan Gonzalez
Miguel Sierra
Dionis Nunez
Diego Encarnacion

DSLC:
Edilmar Infante
Hector Mayorga
* Marcos Perez
Roderick Pichardo
Ramon Reyes
Luis Liria
Eduardo Figueroa
Ramon Garcia
Jose Tineo
Starlin Peralta

BULLPEN:

CUBS:
Carlos Marmol (closer)
Jeff Samardzija
Chad Gaudin
* Neal Cotts
Michael Wuertz
Kevin Hart
Angel Guzman

IOWA:
Jose Ceda (closer)
Rocky Roquet
Jose Ascanio
* Casey Lambert
Gregory Reinhard
Jesse Estrada
Mark Holliman
* Carmen Pignatiello
Billy Petrick
Jim Henderson

TENNESSEE:
Brian Schlitter (closer)
Matt Avery
Marcos Mateo
* Jayson Ruhlman
Jordan Latham
Blake Parker
Grant Johnson
Vince Perkins

DAYTONA:
Andrew Cashner (closer)
Steve Vento
* Dustin Sasser
Michael Cooper
John Muller
* Zach Ashwood
Jake Muyco
Todd Blackford
* Chris Siegfried
Craig Muschko
Jose Pina
Jon Mueller

PEORIA:
Dan McDaniel (closer)
David Cales
* James Leverton
Audy Santana
* Luke Sommer
Cedric Redmond
* Mark Pawelek
Erik Hamren
Harol Tolentino
Bubba O’Donnell
Mike Perconte
Tommy Mejia
Marcus Hatley

EXST:
Manolin DeLeon (closer)
Rafael Dolis
Tarlandus Mitchell
Kitt Kopach
* Leon Johnson
Toby Matchulat
Eric Allen
Carlos Rojas
Andres Quezada
* Cody Hams
Adam Spencer
Miguel Corletto
Jon Nagel

====================================

POST-2009:

ELIGIBLE TO BE ARTICLE XX FREE-AGENT AFTER 2009 SEASON:
Henry Blanco (if 2009 club option is exercised)
Mark DeRosa
Reed Johnson
Rich Harden
Jason Marquis

=======================================

PLAYERS SIGNED BEYOND 2009:
Derrek Lee ($13M in 2010, then FA – has full “no trade”)
Ted Lilly ($12M in 2010, then FA – has full “no trade”)
Aramis Ramirez ($15.75M in 2010, $14.6M 2011 player option, and $16M 2012 mutual option with $2M buy-out – has full “no trade”)
Kosuke Fukudome ($13M in 2010 and $13.5M in 2011 – has full “no trade”)
Jeff Samardzija ($2.5M in 2010: $2.8M in 2011, $3M mutual option in 2012 - player can opt out only if he is eligible for salary arbitration, and $3.5M mutual option in 2013 - player can opt out only if he is eligible for salary-arbitration)
NOTE: Samardzija must accrue six years of MLB Service Time before he can be a Free-Agent
Carlos Zambrano ($17.875 in 2010 and 2011, and $18M in 2012, plus $19.25M vesting-player option in 2013 – has full “no trade”)
Alfonso Soriano ($18M 2010 through 2014, then FA – has full “no trade”)

=====================================

PROJECTED ELIGIBLE FOR SALARY ARBITRATION POST-2009:
Ronny Cedeno
Neal Cotts
Mike Fontenot (would be eligible to possibly qualify as “Super Two”)
Chad Gaudin
Angel Guzman
Koyie Hill
Rich Hill
Carlos Marmol
Sean Marshall
Felix Pie (would be eligible to possibly qualify as a "Super Two")
Geovany Soto (would be eligible to possibly qualify as "Super Two")
Ryan Theriot
Michael Wuertz
NOTE: Cedeno, Cotts, Gaudin, and Wuertz will definitely be eligible for salary arbitration post-2009, but in order for Fontenot, Guzman, K. Hill, R. Hill, Marmol, Marshall, Pie, Soto, and Theriot to be eligible, player would have to spend part, most, or all of 2009 season (depending on player) on MLB 25-man roster (or 15-day or 60-day DL), and Fontenot, Pie, and Soto would still have to qualify as a "Super Two" (TBD).

====================================

MINOR LEAGUE FREE-AGENT POST-2009:
Ryan Harvey, OF
Jim Henderson, RHP
Leonel Perez, C
Jose Pina, RHP
Tony Richie, C
Nate Spears, 2B

=============================

POST-2009 FIRST TIME ELIGIBLE FOR RULE 5 DRAFT:
Francisco Acosta, RHP
Alberto Cabrera, RHP
Matt Camp, IF-OF
Marco Carrillo, RHP
Welington Castillo, C
Jose Ceda, RHP
Tyler Colvin, OF
Arturo Florentino, RHP
Robert Hernandez, RHP
Edilmar Infante, RHP
Dylan Johnston, OF
Kitt Kopach, RHP
Blake Lalli, C
Josh Lansford, 3B
Elvis Lara, IF-OF
Alessandro Maestri, RHP
Matt Matulia, INF
Jon Mueller, RHP
Billy Muldowney, RHP
Dionis Nunez, RHP
Jeremy Papelbon, LHP
Blake Parker, RHP
Mark Pawelek, LHP
Carlos Perez, C
Andres Quezada, RHP
Rocky Roquet, RHP
Tomas Sanchez, RHP
Audy Santana, RHP
Miguel Sierra, RHP
Harol Tolentino, RHP

Stuff

Rob G. — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 12:55:32 -0600

This all still sucks donkey balls, but I'm starting to look at the positive. The only one being that my October is suddenly going to have a lot more free time.

I moved some stuff around on the right sidebar and there's a handy payroll cheat sheet to help you plan out the 2009 Cubs team.

One and Done

Rob G. — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 01:59:43 -0600

So how do you revenge fuck a baseball team?

You follow a baseball team for six months, 161 games, and just about every play of every inning and then they go and just tear your heart out. The one time you really needed them, the one thing you ever wanted out of this relationship and they can't even be bothered to show up. For six months they were the best girlfriend a guy could imagine - not only did you have that special spark with them, but they had all the fundamentals as well. They were the kind of girl that you needed more than she needed you, but still would bring you lasagna at work...just because it was a Wednesday.

And then it's the big weekend corporate retreat with your promotion on the line and she ends up forgetting to take her anti-depressants, sleeps with your boss, then the guy you were vying for the promotion with and you find this all out when you walk in on her taking on 3 guys from the sales team. On top of that, the only reason she brought you lasagna on Wednesdays was she was meeting up with your boss at a hotel room around the corner once a week.

Fuck the Cubs!

I feel like I should go root for the White Sox or Brewers now, just to show them. Or try and bang some of the player's wives, but I don't think the Angel Fan wife will approve of that one.

Observations from the ballpark after the jump...

- The Angel Fan Wife and I headed to the game and she broke out the T-shirt she made in June for the last Cubs/Dodgers game we went to, since it ended in victory. The shirt has a Cubbie Bear logo on it and the words, "Let's face it, he's married to the Cubs and I'm just his mistress". They'll soon be widely available at TCR store. She also brought out the Angels cap to make sure we caught hell from everyone we passed.

- I mapped out a pretty solid route to the park to avoid the major conjested areas since not only was there the Dodger game, but also a USC home game and a concert downtown. I made it from Long Beach to parked in 40 minutes, 15 of them waiting in line for parking. I was surprised to see the lot full with about 25 minutes still to game time. I guess Dodger fans were taking this one seriously.

- We actually did end up around about half a dozen Cubs fans surrounded by a sea of Dodger fans of course. To say the least, they took every opportunity to heckle the Cubs fans, although they really hated the one guy wearing Yankees gear whenever he stood up to take a whiz. But the Dodgers fans right in front of us, who were the most vocal, were a pretty good-natured group and the heckling is a lot easier to handle when the jokes are pretty good. There was one unfortunate asshole who literally talked through the entire game while looking back at the group of Cubs fans looking for someone to engage him. I'm not sure he saw more than 10 pitches. He was equaled out by the obnoxious Cub fan filled up with liquid courage that decided to stand up and scream at the slightest Cub positive moment. I think he got hit by about 100 ice cubes and two cups of beer plus other assorted ballpark snacks throughout the night. And no, I was not that fan. This was me throughout the night.

- First pitch - Soriano swings. I'm ready to jump off the upper deck.

- Kuroda was popping 95-96 mph to start on the Dodgers stadium gun and I wondered where the hell that came from. Harden was hitting 88-91 and whenever he tried to put a little extra on it was nowhere near the strike zone. That's when I wrote "Game Over" in my notebook. Just kidding, I didn't have a notebook, nor do I hate Jews.

- I couldn't tell from my vantage point if Martin was safe on that play from third, but the Cub fan next to me got a text message on his cell that said the replays showed he was out. When things go bad, they go real bad for the Cubs, as we all have painfully learned.

- The Dodgers crowds usually get a bad rap and for the most part it is deserved. But last night's crowd was quite electric, and they even managed to get through a game without doing the wave. Heck, they even stayed for the 9th inning.

Not much else to say, I think I'm probably gonna take a few days, maybe weeks off from this baseball thing. This one's a little too painful...

Game 3 NLDS / Cubs @ Dodgers

Cubnut — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 19:43:28 -0600

Game Chat | Press Pass | BR Preview

	Rich Harden	vs.		Hiroki Kuroda
	*5-1, 1.77, 89 K, 30 BB, 71 IP	*2008*		9-10, 3.73, 116 K, 42 BB, 183.1 IP
	1-2, 6.43, 5 K, 7 BB, 7 IP	*Post*		(None)
	*NL stats only

LF	Alfonso Soriano		SS	#Rafael Furcal
2B	*Mike Fontenot		C	Russell Martin
1B	Derrek Lee		LF	Manny Ramirez
3B	Aramis Ramirez		RF	Andre Ethier
C	Geovany Soto		1B	*James Loney
CF	*Jim Edmonds		CF	Matt Kemp
RF	Mark DeRosa		2B	*Blake DeWitt
SS	Ryan Theriot		3B	Casey Blake
P	*Rich Harden		P	Hiroki Kuroda

Our very own Rob G. will be in the stands at tonight's game. Be sure to look for him on the broadcast.

Thoughts on Hiroki Kuroda from "Blue Notes," the L.A. Times blog about the Dodgers:

...when the Japanese import is on, dude typically gets into a serious, sometimes unhittable groove. But he's often the Bizarro-version of that pitcher after the first bit of trouble, more often than not tossing himself further into trouble than figuring a way out of it.

In two starts against the Cubs this year, Kuroda has pitched 15 1/3 innings and allowed one earned run. In other words, we really haven't come across that "first bit of trouble" part.

In his last two regular season starts, against the Brewers and the Mets, Harden walked 11 men in 11 innings.

Rich—we've already tried the walking-lots-of-guys thing in this series and it just doesn't seem to work for us.

The Dodgers are one victory away from reaching the NLCS for the first time in 20 years, which is also how long it has been since they played in a World Series.

Twenty years without a World Series—how pathetic is that?!

Cubs 2008 Comebacks

Rob G. — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 11:01:05 -0600

I can't say I'm feeling too confident about tonight's game, but for the few hours between now and game time, I'm just going to keep playing these clips over and over and hoping the Cubs have another comeback left in them this season.

The first one isn't a comeback, but Rich Harden fans 11 Nationals (Game Thread Link)

Cubs overcome an 8-0 deficit to Rockies (Game Thread Link)

Daryle Ward pinch-hit 3-run HR to give Cubs lead in the 9th (Game Thread Link & Recap)

Ramirez hits go-ahead grand slam versus Phillies (Game Thread Link & Recap)

Soto ties Brewers with 3-run HR (Game Thread link & Recap)

Go Cubs Go!

Infected

Rob G. — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 11:41:57 -0600

Somewhere along the way the Cubs contracted the "paralyzing suck" virus and it seemed to spread from one Cub to the next last night. I felt like I was watching 28 Days Later, just waiting for the Cubs fans at the park to start ripping each other apart. It started with Ryan Theriot, and not on that ill-advised bare-handed play. After Soriano singled and took second, Theriot flailed away looking thorougly overmatched by Chad Billingsley. What a fantastic time for a guy who hits the ball to the right side about 95% of the time to fail.

He sure made up for it later though when he attempted a bare-handed do-or-die play on a ball he should have probably have just gloved. I admit I stepped away for a second and only saw the back end of the replay. The Parachat crowd was 50/50 on whether Theriot would have even gotten Loney had he tried to field it cleanly, but nonetheless, it certainly wasn't a good play.

Next up was DeRosa, who turned two routine outs into none when he muffed an admittably hard-hit ball. Had he not been infected with "the paralyzing suck" virus, he might have realized he still had plenty of time to at least secure one out, but instead rushed his throw to still try and get a double play which was gone as soon as he didn't fieldl the ball cleanly.

Around the diamond it went and next up was Derrek Lee who did all he could to keep a hot smash in front of him, but unfortunately the "paralyzing suck" virus must mess with your equilibrium because he couldn't pick up where the ball went. And to complicate matters, Zambrano was a little late getting to the bag.

I think somewhere in that exchange, Zambrano caught it because a few hitters later, he left an absolute cookie up for Russell Martin that pretty much sucked the air right out of Wrigley.

Quick sidebar: That was just an absolutely fantastic drag bunt single by Furcal right before that. Hope Hendry can land him this time around in free agency.

Oh but, it wasn't done. Aramis booted a ball later in the game and the entire offense started hacking away down five runs rather than remain patient and try to chip away one run at a time. In the 7th, the virus spread to the dugout when Neal Cotts was brought in to face Andre Ethier and James Loney. Problem being with Bob Howry warmed up in the pen, Lou left Cotts out there to face Matt Kemp who predicatbly singled in a run. You ask, what's the difference between 6-0 and 7-0, I say a whole lot when you have as talented an offense as the Cubs do. They're in every game and the manager doesn't need to be giving up in the 7th inning.

By the 8th, Lou decides to go with his bullpen aces and they certainly weren't immune. Marmol gives up another two and Wood - in possibly his last game as a Cub in Wrigley - gives up one more. Everyone gets a ride on the "suck ass" carousel.

More ranting after the jump....

- Way to be a leader of the team, DeRosa...

Beforehand, Piniella was taken aback by second baseman Mark DeRosa saying the Cubs already were in a do-or-die situation. If that was the case, Piniella said, they might as well forfeit Game 3.

Piniella had a little talk with DeRosa and amplified his feelings afterward.

"And this is why I don't like talking about do-or-die things, and I heard that from a few of our players," he said. "I'll talk to them about it. This is not do-or-die. Actually, we're sending a pretty good pitcher out there on the mound in Los Angeles on Saturday in (Rich) Harden, and we're sending a darned good pitcher to the mound also on Sunday in (Ted) Lilly."

- Good to see the Cubs learned about being up front to their fans about injuries....

Multiple team sources confirmed Thursday that Harden received an anti-inflammatory shot for the discomfort that sidelined him for 12 days between his Aug. 29 and Sept. 11 starts.

It's not rare for pitchers to get anti-inflammatory injections, and insiders suggest it can be considered maintenance as much as injury relief for a pitcher with a history of problems but no structural damage.

- Alright, this curse shit is complete bullshit, but the last fucking thing anyone associated with the Cubs needs to be doing is perpetuating it. So a hardy fuck you to Crane Kenney:

The story began a couple days ago, when Cubs Chairman Crane Kenney left a message on Greanis’ voice mail to call him. Greanis thought his friends were playing a prank on him, but when he eventually got in contact with Kenney, he found out the reason for the call.

“He said, ‘I’m a devout Catholic, and I’m not superstitious, but if there is anything there, I want to take care of it,’” Greanis said Thursday.

The Billy Goat curse was placed on the Cubs in 1945 when Billy Goat Tavern owner William Sianis was denied entrance to a World Series game at Wrigley Field because he wanted to bring in his goat. The curse was immortalized in newspaper columns over the years, particularly by syndicated columnist Mike Royko, and gained widespread attention during the 2003 postseason when Fox played it up during the Cubs-Florida match-up in the National League Championship Series.

Kenney told Greanis that they wanted a Greek Orthodox priest to bless the dugout, since the alleged curse was placed by a Greek-American.

“I told him ‘I’m honored,’” Greanis said. “I said we’d bring some holy water and say a prayer. It’s not for ensuring the Cubs winning, but for being safe and protected. I’m a priest first, and a Cubs fan second. I don’t want anything to be mocked, and neither did Mr. Kenney.”

Greanis came to Wrigley on Wednesday well before the media was allowed inside the park. But a TBS cameraman setting up near the dugout saw the ritual and got some of it on tape. TBS then aired it during their pre-game show, ensuring it would get national publicity.

- However you feel about "The Sports Guy", Bill Simmons, his take on why this game means so much to many of us and why many of us take each and every loss so personally is about as spot-on as I've ever read:

The relationship between a fan and his baseball team is unlike anything else. If you love a team -- if you truly love it -- then that team infiltrates your daily life for six straight months (seven if you're lucky). You wake up, you shower, you eat, you work, you eat, you watch your baseball team, you sleep. When the Mets collapsed for the third straight season last week, my devastated friends who follow them all said the same thing: it wasn't losing again as much as reflecting on those 162 games and the hundreds of hours wasted along the way. They felt betrayed. Only baseball does that to you. It's a game of routine, of watching one at-bat after another, hoping something different happens, of relishing the little things that happen along the way. You don't know your favorite players personally, but you feel like you do

- I'll have the "pleasure" of being there for Games 3 and a possible Game 4. Sort of like the pleasure of contracting genital herpes.

Psandberg 23

Transmission — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 09:13:17 -0600

Psandberg 23: "The Cubs are my Ballclub"

The Cubs are my Ballclub, I shall not want.

They maketh me to watch games in green fields.

They restoreth my soul:

they leadeth me in the path of happiness for their name's sake

Yeah, though we walk through the valley of the shadow of elimination, I will fear no Dodger:

for Harden art with us;

his fastball and his splitter they comfort me.

They preparest a pennant before me in the presence of mine enemies:

They annointest my jersey with Wood;

my beer cup runneth over.

Surely goodness and victories shall follow me in all the days of my life:

and I will dwell in the house of the Cubs forever.

NLDS Game 2 Recap: Cubs 3, Dodgers 10

Transmission — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 23:59:50 -0600

Booted

W - Billingsley (1-0)

L - Zambrano (0-1)

Box Score, Photos

Things to Take from This Game

1. Alex Gonzalez Redux

Second inning with Ethier on first, the dodgers put on a hit and run. Loney hits the ball to shortstop. But with Theriot covering the bag, he's out of position, can't make the barehand stop of the chopper. Ruled a hit. Correctly. Two batters later, DeWitt hits a potential inning-ending double-play ball right at DeRosa, but it pops out of his glove, and everyone's safe with a run scoring on the play. Lee makes an error on the next play, a chopper right at him hit by Blake, loading the bases. A Furcal bunt and a Martin bases-clearing double to the left-center Gap, and the Cubs found themselves down 5-0 going into the bottom of the second. A particular shame as Z had looked really focused, sharp, pitching quickly, with an awesome fastball, only to have his defense betray him and then give up a legit double.

Ramirez also made a lame error a couple innings later. No damage was done, save to our pride.

And Theriot gives the Cubs infield the Defensive Anti-Cycle, an error by each infielder, when he throws one away in the ninth.

2. Manny Ramirez Redux

Manny hit a gargantuan home run. He's good.

3. Ah, screwit.

Cotts and Marmol struggled, the Cubs got through 2/9ths of a 9-run comeback in the bottom of the ninth, other things probably happened to.

The "we have not yet begun to fight!" "No, really... we haven't yet begun to fight...." details, below.

Game Recap

Pregame

Stockton still going on about crowd enthusiasm. Gyeh.
Another cool night, wind blowing in

Inning 1 - Top

Fastball low for ball one to start the game. Fastball at 91 on the outside for a strike, and then another, 1-2 count. Z pitching very, very quickly to start
Swinging bunt, Z with a nice bare-handed play to get him at first
94 fastball fouled off behind the plate to start martin.
Martin pop flies out to Fukudome in shallow right
Gun reads 97 on first pitch to Manny. Foul
93 on the inside corner, Manny not happy with it. Crowd roaring. They booed Manny when he came up to the plate.
Z blows a 95 mph fastball, up and outside, past Manny. Who knows what happens in ten minutes, even, but can't overstate that Z looks poised and focused so far.

Inning 1 - Bottom

Soriano lines a slider over the middle of the plate for a single into left.
Low fastball to Theriot, just barely short-hops martin. Tries for the backhand, and it skips away just a bit. Soriano takes second.
Theriot swings through a high fastball that missed its spot by about two feet, 1-2 count.
Theriot flails at a slider, strike three. Ball gets away, no advance from Soriano.
Nice breaking pitch from Billingsly to start Lee with a called strike
0-2 swinging at a low outside fastball.
News Flash: Billingsly has really good stuff.
The TBS broadcast crew declares this a Key Moment In The Game.
- No, it's not.
Martin sets up in on a 2-2 count, ball misses over the plate, confusing the ump who calls it a ball.
Lee waves at a sharp slider, K's.
Ramirez swings through a fastball outside, strike one.
Martin with a nice stop on a slider in the dirt
Works the count to 3-2.
Crowd on its feet.
Ramirez flies to medium-deep center. Nuts.

Inning 2 - Top

0-2 to start Ethier.
Z is throwing his next pitch right at every 9-10 seconds after receiving the ball from Soto
Ethier lines a 2-2 into right for a single.
Ethier runs, Loney chops one right to where Theriot was before going over to cover. Theriot turns back for it, tries for the barehand, it slips away. Runners at 1 and 3. Z jumps and twists in some frustration at the misfortune
Z throwing a lot of strikes, Kemp swings and fouls off first pitch. Strike fastball on inside corner, 0-2.
Crowd to its feet
supposed to be fastball outside, it sails up and in on kemp, just misses his jersey.
FAstball just a bit too low and outside, 2-2 count. Would have been nice to have.
Strike three called on Kemp. Huge strikeout. looks like a slider One out
DeWitt hits a sharp grounder right at DeRosa. DeRosa goes to one knee, the ball goes into his glove and pops back out. He lunges for it, does a backhand shovel to Theriot, but the pass is wide of the bag. Everybody safe, run scores, runners at 1 and 2. From an inning-ending DP to a chance to at least get the force at second to absolutely nothing. 1-0 dodgers
And now Blake bounces one to Lee, and the ball bounces up on lee a bit, and the ball bounces off him. A second consecutive error. Bases loaded. Z trying to stay composed. Rothschild comes out to calm Z down. Crowd booing the defense at first, now standing up to cheer on Z.
0-2 on Billingsly Strike three swinging on a 95 fastball. two outs. Crowd chanting "Z Z Z!"
Furcal pushes a bunt to shallow second base. DeRosa runs in for the bare-hand play, but it's too late. Safe at first. Run scores. perfect positioning by Furcal. 2-0 dodgers
2-0 on Martin. Now to 3-1. Martin lines one that splits the left-center gap. All three runs score. Double. 5-0 Dodgers
Z now overthrowing a bit. 97 high and outside to Manny. 96 mph blown past him, swinging. 1-2 count.
Called three on the outside corner. Inning over.

Inning 2 - Bottom

DeRosa bounces out to Blake.
Edmonds with a slow roller to short. Blake cuts it off and throws him out
Credit to parachatters for pointing it out, Billingsly is pitching away, away, away to the Cubs righties. Soto K's swinging at an outside fastball.
That was quick.

Inning 3 - Top

Ethier pops to DeRosa, right next to second base bag
3-0 on Loney. 3-1. Lines a shot to center, carries more than Edmonds thinks, but adjusts to make the stretching catch.
Kemp Ks swinging through a fastball. Nice to see a good bounce-back from Z

Inning 3 - Bottom

ferocious slider by billingsly, Fukudome swings and misses for 1-2. And another swing and miss for strike three. Crowd not happy.
Z walks! Go offense.
And 2-0 to Soriano. Honeycutt to the mound.
and winds up flying out to right.
Theriot with a sharp grounder right to Furcal, goes for the force at second. Inning over

Inning 4 - Top

DeWitt flies to Edmonds
and Blake grounds to Ramirez. Poor Z. He really has had it going, other than the Martin double...
a quick 0-2 on Billingsly. Credit to the fans, they're still cheering on Z.
Wow. Billingsly bounces one to Ramirez, who backs up on it. You know what happens when Ramirez backs up on a bouncer.
Furcal with a liner just in front of Soriano, runners at 1 and 2
Crowd chanting "let's go Z! let's go Z!"
On a strike call to Martin, Soto's throw back to Martin slips out of his hand, and bounces out to Z who fields it, makes sure the runners don't go anywhere. Soto goes to get the Resin bag.
Martin swings through a fastball ending the inning. Z still looks great

Inning 4 - Bottom

Lee with a sharp liner in front of Manny for a single.
Ramirez rolls out to Furcal, who starts the 6-4-3 with the force at second. Lee sticks his right hand way up in the air, as DeWitt sidearms the throw to keep Lee's slide low. The throw goes right into Lee's outstretched fingers. Ramirez safe at first, no interference called. Never seen that before. Lee seems to be fine.
DeRosa with a bouncer to Furcal, this time a very easy 6-4-3. Inning over.

Inning 5 - Top

Dear God. Manny hits a moon shot to center off of Zambrano. It lands on the roofing above the green area in straight-away center, with a thunk. Fastball that catches the inner third of the plate.
Ethier walks.
2-0 on Loney. Pops out to Ramirez
Kemp rolls into a nicely turned 4-6-3

Inning 5 - Bottom

Edmonds flies to the warning track in left-center. Manny catches it right at the ivy.
Soto grounds out to third.
3-2 on Fukudome, watches a called fastball strike on the outside corner. Inning over.

Inning 6 - Top

DeRosa makes a nice play on a DeWitt grounder. 4-3
Ron Darling, I think it was, asked Lou if this was a chance to get the bench in the game. Wow.
Fastball runs in on Blake, hitting him.
Billingsly bunts, Z fields, bobbles, fires to second. Blake clearly is safe. I mean, clearly. He's called out.
Furcal pops to Soriano

Inning 6 - Bottom

Z chops one out to Blake, nice charging backhanded stop, 5-3.
Soriano K's swinging
Theriot grounds to DeWitt. Knocks it down, easy 4-3.

Inning 7 - Top

Z still pitching, 0-2 on Martin. Martin K's looking
Z vs Manny again. A walk, not much drama
Lou comes out for Z. Nice ovation for Z as he leaves the game, Cotts in
Z on the bench, holding his head in his hands, and with a towel draped over it.
Cotts goes 3-0 on Ethier. Walks on five pitches
and 2-0 on Loney, Rothschild visits.
Loney rolls to DeRosa, can't quite turn the 4-6-3. Out at second, runners at 1 and 3, two outs.
Kemp slices one inside the right field line, bouncing off the padding (with a nice if irrelevant play on it by Fukudome) for a double. Runner scores, 2nd and 3rd. 7-0 dodgers
DeWitt pops to DeRosa, inning over. More booing.

Inning 7 - Bottom

Lee flies out to deep right.
Ramirez K's swinging. Billingsly cruising.
DeRosa lines a double high off the right-field Ivy. First extra-base hit for the Cubs.
Edmonds hits a high arcing double off the top of the left-center ivy. Kemp made a leap for it into the ivy, I thought he was going to make a spectacular catch. Lots of ivy come falling to the ground, as does the ball. Run scores, 7-1 dodgers
Soto grounds a single through the left-side hole, Edmonds holds at third. first and third, two outs.
Cory Wade in for Billingsly.
Fukudome bounces to Furcal, gets the force at second base. Inning over.

Inning 8 - Top

Marmol in for Cotts
Blake rolls a single through the left-side hole.
Bit of a nifty play as Angel Berroa pinch hits forWade, bunt rolls one out to Lee wide of first base. He shovels to first, where Marmol is racing to cover and DeRosa already is there. DeRosa grabs it, just beating Berroa. Blake to second
Furcal singles to right, and uncharacteristically, Fukudome Jacque Joneses one to the plate. Blake slides around the tag. 8-1 dodgers.
Martin K's looking
Manny bloops one into shallow right-center. Edmonds makes a nice diving effort for it, comes up short, lands awkwardly on his right wrist and elbow. Stays in the game. Furcal scores, 9-1 dodgers
Ethier K's swinging on a full count.

Inning 8 - Bottom

Fontenot in to hit for Marmol
and rolls to DeWitt
Soriano with a one-hopper to Blake. 5-3.
And Theriot with another pedestrian 5-3.

Inning 9 - Top

Wood in
Loney flies to Fukudome
Kemp flies out just short of the warning track in center.
Pierre hits for Wade. Hot smash to Theriot, Ball pops out of his glove. Picks it up, poor throw to first, hops away from Lee, for an error. Each infielder now has made an error. Pierre to second.
Blake rolls a single up the middle, just left of the bag. Pierre scores. 10-1 dodgers
Berroa with a single through the left side hole, Blake to second.
Furcal pops to Fukudome, mercifully ending the Cubs defensive effort for the night.

Inning 9 - Bottom

Saito in.
Lee lines a one-hop double into the left-center ivy. Ground Rule Double.
Ramirez lines one through the left-side hole. First and Third.
DeRosa lines one that lands just a fraction of an inch foul of the left-field line. Announcers think it had to have caught at least a blade of foul-line white-colored grass. Nuts.
Ramirez to second uncontested
DeRosaLines one to right-center. Kemp misjudges it a bit, it gets over his head for a double. Two runs score. Ramirez almost runs past Lee on the way. 10-3 Cubs. DeRosa keeps going to right-center with good results.
Pie hits for Edmonds. Have to assume that he's feeling the effects of that dive.
Broxton in to face Pie. This just isn't fair.
Well I'll be hornswaggled. Pie walks. Runners on 1 and 2
Ball one to Soto. Still no one out. Still down 7, though.
Soto rips one to the second baseman, but Berroa makes a nice leap for it (Berroa stayed in on a double-switch, forgot to mention that) for the out. Runners scamper back to the bags.
Fukudome K's looking, third K tonight, crowd boos.
Ward pinch-hits for Wood
3-1 on Ward. Crowd standing, but also sort of quiet.
3-2 on Ward, a fastball low and inside gets called strike three to end the gme. Ward was pretty surprised and upset. Rightfully so.

Parachat Recap

Pregame

Following the debate
Gravity is a gay jewish conspiracy
VPILFS
Snow on mars

Inning 1

Who are you praying to?
- Cozad the Goat King
- Siva
- Me
Excited about Z's start
ok, time to switch over to the debate during the commercials
More debate/cubs attention division. Fun night of chatter with so much good stuff going on.
Following the game, complaining about TBS announcers. Commercial! Over to the debate
NUCULAR!!!!!

Inning 2

Pretty intensely following the game. Parachat gets serious for the post-season? egads.
People who could field better than our second inning defense
Parachat has an aneurysm.
Despair.
Booze-smuggling mules.
Worst post-season: this one or last one?
- wow, tough question
Continuing our VP Debate Drinking Game

Inning 3

Regaining our sensibilities
Feeling bad for Z
Debating the egregiousness of the different defensive mistakes
Palin's "diversity."
Playoff history
Nukular Mavericks
More and more Palin talk.
Crazy Martha
Abstinence

Inning 4

More Palin
and more Nukular.
AND MORE BOBOS!!!!!
Nukular attacks against the Mexican Moose
more bemoaning of the Cubs' "defense"
welcoming new parachatters. Always glad to have people join us!
"Cubs are pretty Uggla tonight" - Nohit
BOBOS!!!!!!!!!!!!
Should the Cubs try a human sacrifice to get back into the series?
- yes.
The weird Lee play at second.
The Morneau Contract

Inning 5

something involving a circle jerk website and Chad. I really don't want to know, and if I'd read parachat any more closely at this point, my eyes would have bled.
If Scrooge McDuck owned the cubs.
Comparing Manny to Cholera.
Cubs ask for a bailout from Paulson.
Admiring my awesome Manny/Cholera comparison. Damn, I'm smooth
Donuts. We are informed that this is some sort of pornographic term, but either no one knows exactly what for, or is willing to say.
"Tony Gwynn makes Steve Urkel look like Gary Sheffield" - Logan

Inning 6

Q: What did Sarah Palin say when she opened a box of Cheerios? A: "Look! Donut seeds." - Ryno
The donut discussion gets graphic, and weird, and graphically weird
The horridly inaccurate but pro-cub call at second base.
Volcano Tacos
Chad's suicide watch
Oh wow.
What counts as sex?
Which would you rather have: Your preferred presidential candidate win, or the Cubs win the WS?

Inning 7

James Fenimore Cooper rules parachat.
Comparing the Cubs to late-80s Michael Jackson.
and with Johann's mom.
Cruel Santo death jokes
Showbiz Pizza
Molestation. Also not funny.
Skeeball
again, nice to see so many long-lost faces in parachat
Just what we need to complete a long and painful night: an esoteric music discussion!
Viagra.
Parachat rules of discussion
Rectal Prolapse
Shrinkage
Pinch-hit for Fukudome here?
- yes

Inning 8

Kellie Pickler vs. Sarah Palin
Things we wish would befall the Dodgers
Fukudome vs. Jacque Jones
Self-Mutilation
- I prefer Other-Mutilation, personally.
Fukudome's dreadlocks
Read Tomorrow's BCB Headlines, Tonight: "Don't Panic."

Inning 9

No one feels as if they've been slapped in the face by a giant penis
Boxing Mr. T.
Dissecting Fukudome
Cholera.
"They could cut off my balls right now and I wouldn't feel it" - RobG
Wood's future in a Cubs uniform.
What we'll do if the Cubs score 9 or more in the bottom of the ninth.
A Bartman lookalike?
Racist Carlos returns.