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Mark DeRosa is a rare talent. Not only does DeRosa swing a big stick, but DeRosa is especially valuable because of his ability to play several different positions on the baseball diamond. And as we inch closer toward free agency, it will be fascinating to see how DeRosa will benefit from his versatility. Back in 2006, DeRosa inked a nice three-year deal with the Chicago Cubs, but make no mistake about it, Mark DeRosa is an established commodity now. Will he be paid like it? Let's take a look.The Case for DeRosa-VersatilityMark DeRosa can play all over the field. This is ...
It has finally happened, Lou Piniella has come to his senses on Kevin Gregg as the Chicago Cubs closer.
After last nights game against the San Diego Padres, in which Kevin Gregg gave up four runs in the bottom of the ninth for his sixth blown save, Lou Piniella stated that, "I think we're going to make some changes as far as what we're going to do late innings."
Piniella also said of Gregg's performance that, "[The tough losses] all end the same way—with a home run ball. We'll see what we'll do. I'm going to think about it tonight."
Cub fans have ...
I've tried so hard to play nice, and be eloquent with my arguments regarding the Chicago Cubs. I've given them the benefit of the doubt and even tried to support the cloud's silver lining for months.
I'm done.
What you'll read below is what I really think and feel about the 2009 Chicago Cubs. I'm not writing this piece to be a Pulitzer, but to take off the charm and happy face and tell you where I am at with these Cubs.
If you're personal friends with or are related to anyone in the Cubs organization, please don't take this personally. I don't hate anyone with ...
The Cubs need a closer—a competent closer, that is.
Closer Kevin Gregg has been erratic at best this season. Gregg has a pedestrian 4.47 ERA, has blown six saves, and has given up a whopping 12 home runs in 56 innings. After last night's debacle in San Diego, it looks like Cubs manager Lou Piniella has had it with Gregg as the closer.
"I think we're going to make some changes as far as what we're going to do in late innings," Piniella said. "We'll have some word [Tuesday]."The Cubs can simply insert Carlos Marmol as closer for the remainder of the ...
The Cubs need a closer—a competent closer, that is.
Current closer Kevin Gregg has been erratic at best this season. Gregg has a pedestrian 4.47 ERA, six blown saves, and has given up a whopping 12 home runs in 56 innings. After last night's debacle in San Diego, it looks like Cubs manager Lou Piniella has had it.
"I think we're going to make some changes as far as what we're going to do in late innings," Piniella said. "We'll have some word [Tuesday]."The Cubs could make Carlos Marmol closer for the remainder of the season. The right-hander has dominant stuff that ...
With two outs in the ninth inning on Monday night, Kevin Gregg once again blew it.
With two strikes against San Diego’s Chase Headley, Kevin Gregg once again blew it.
With the Chicago Cubs five games out of first place and desperately needing to collect some consecutive wins, Kevin Gregg once again served up a titanic-sized meatball on a platter down the middle of the plate, ultimately blowing it.
This time around, the pitch was made to Kyle Blanks, ending the game on a three-run homer that was as hard to swallow for the Cubs and Cubs fans as any loss this ...
Jeff Samardzija has been a disappointment for the Chicago Cubs this year, getting knocked around pretty good when he wasn't being shuttled back down to Iowa.
In 17 appearances with the Cubs this year, Samardzija has compiled a 7.81 ERA. After his only start of the season last week—seven runs in three-and-one-third innings—I suggested to a friend that the former Notre Dame All-America wide receiver consider joining the Chicago Bears. Seriously, he could probably start this season.But then I saw this (the above photo) after Saturday's game. Apparently the Cubs demoted him to the grounds crew, as he can be seen getting ready ...
Well, if you can't beat winning teams, at least beat up on the sub-.500 teams. While that's not necessarily a recipe for success in the playoffs, it just may be a path to get there.
Cubs Schedule
It is with this thought in mind that I look at the remaining Cubs schedule and notice that, of the 47 games left, 28 are against opponents with losing records, only 12 are against teams with winning records, and seven are against a team right at .500.
As the Cubs have shown in their current series against the woeful Pirates, that is a good thing. Actually, ...
Lastings Milledge? Brian Bixler? Steve Pearce?
Seriously, I had to rub my eyes and think about it a second to confirm that the Cubs weren't playing the Indy Indians, the Pirates AAA affliate. Quite a few of these guys I saw on my last stop at Victory Field, and they weren't any good there.
So call me unimpressed at the Cubs 3-1 win over the Pirates Saturday, given the level of talent on the field. It's expected that you take two of three at home from teams like this; honestly, at this point, you're almost obligated to sweep, given the circumstances. So ...
Sorry Cub fans, but the season is over. Actually, it was over the instant the St. Louis Cardinals traded for Matt Holliday and made the Cubs second-class citizens in the NL Central. Or maybe it was earlier than that. The Cubs were doomed when they traded Mark DeRosa (21 HR and 63 RBI this season), signed Milton Bradley (.263, 8 HR, 30 RBI) for 3 years $30 million instead of OFs Adam Dunn, Bobby Abreu, or Raul Ibanez (if you are unfamiliar, look their numbers up), and traded NL All Star Jason Marquis for literally nothing. DeRosa was replaced with ...
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