Sniffle Sniffle

By: Clay

Hey Cubs fans, let's learn from this. We fall in love with players too quickly, as does our management and front office.

We placed Zambrano on a pedestal after the 2006 season when he posted monster stats, finished 5th in the Cy Young voting, won a Silver Slugger and became an All-Star for the second time. Big Z's 2006 stats look like this: 16-7, 214 IP, 3.41 ERA, 210 k's. Following the 2007 season, Z received a nice fat contract and hasn't done shit since. But we thought he was worth it because of what he did that season. Now, we couldn't get rid of him quick enough. We always excused his behavior by saying, "Oh, he's just a competitor. He wants to win". Well, I don't believe that's all. This guy has got some serious problems that aren't gonna be resolved by suspensions or trades. He needs some mental help and he needs it as a clause in a contract for any future employment. Or maybe just a prescription for Lexapro.

Apparently the current Cubs roster, the clubhouse is more relaxed and free of tension. So I doubt they would want to welcome him back if he does return. One option that could work is to trade Zambrano to San Francisco for Barry Zito. The Giants would also have to send about $46MM to help cover Zito since he is under contract through 2013. And I CLEARLY remember Cubs fans, including myself, hoping that Zito would sign with the Cubs after the 2006 season. At this point both guys are back end of the rotation guys.

They are a few other scenarios that could work out and you can read them here(http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2011/08/unloading-carlos-zambrano.html).

As much as I would like to win with Zambrano, it just can't happen. The Cubs had a window of opportunity to with with the core group of Z, Derrek Lee, Aramis Ramirez, Sammy Sosa, Kerry Wood, Ryan Dempster, Alfonso Soriano and Kosuke Fukudome from 2003 to 2008. The window has closed on these guys. Some have moved on, other remain because of unmovable contracts and poor performance. We have to move on from these guys. Let's build around Starlin Castro, Sean Marshall, Carlos Marmol and Matt Garza before it's too late. We can't keep this bad contract shit up and we sure as hell don't want to be the Yankees by keeping guys around years after they should have retired (Posada, Jeter, Rivera...).

I don't really now what to say. Same Old Shit. From me. From the Cubs players. From the front office. From the Fans. I don't know why we bitch about it. Apparently we like the misery because we aure as hell aren't doing anything about it.

We choked in 2003, underperformed in 2004, had the league MVP in Derrek Lee in 2005(I will NEVER let that go), and then laid too big, stinking piles of shit in the 2007 and 2008 playoffs...with basically the same core group. See? There i go feeling sorry for myself. Thank Science it's football season. I'm in the mood to watch the Bears O-line give up a handful of sacks each game and see some kickoffs go out of the endzone. Well looky there, more things to bitch about.

Now What, Captain Shit Dick

By: Clay

The Cubs were desperate to move the majority of their bad contracts, get younger, set themselves up to make offers to Pujols or Fielder in the offseason and compete in a winnable 2012 NL Central division. So what happened? Fukudome was sent to Cleveland, The Pirates asked about Geo Soto(not for sale according to Hendry), were linked to Aramis Ramirez and took a look at Carlos Pena(as did the Diamondbacks). The Cubs dangled Carlos Zambrano in front of the Yankees, who laughed and decided they would take their chances with Bartolo Colon. Marlon Byrd was also available but the rest of the league already knew what the Cubs didn't and that is that Byrd is a fourth outfielder, not an everyday player.

While deals can still be made through waivers, I would assume most of these guys to be around for next season.

Carlos Pena is cheap enough and hasn't really done anything to prove he is worth a larger contract from another team. The power came about Mayish but the avg is still shit. However, he is a cheap enough option that if the Cubs can't sign Prince Fielder or Albert Pujols in the off season, Pena could do the trick at first.

Carlos Zambrano almost figures to be a part of the 2012 Cubs unless the Cubs decide to settle VERY low on a trade. The Cubbies will certainly have to shell out the vast majority of what is owed to him if a trade did go down. On the bright side, if Big Z does stay on the North Side for the 2012 season, his '13 option will not happen(Option guaranteed if Cy Young (1st or 2nd in 2011 or 2012 top 4) and healthy] at completion of 2012 season). Booyah.

The defense Aramis Ramirez plays is just like that of a young Scott Rolen. NOT! A-Ram will not be around for the 2012 season. His 2012 option looks like this: Option becomes guaranteed if player wins one MVP from 2007-2011(sadly, no), places 2nd or 3rd in MVP twice from 2007-2011(...uh-uh), or wins LCS MVP(sigh), or is an AllStar 3 times from 2007-2011, or is traded and exercises 2011 opt). Aramis would have, and I guess still can, get a $1 mil bonus if he gets traded this season. I'm not sure if that applies after the trade deadline but I don't see why it wouldn't. Prospect Josh Vitters doesn't seem to be making much progress and more than likely will not be ready to play third at the major league level for 2012. However, I don't see any reason as to why he isn't getting a shot right now since this season is shit. More on that later.

The Cubs feel confident that Alfonso Soriano will be moved to an AL DH position by the beginning of the 2012 season, of course eating a LARGE portion of the salary. This is part of the reason they don't mind keeping Marlon Byrd around. Seriously, they've started him this long so they may as well keep him to replace Soriano. Plus, the Cubs organization likes the type of player that Byrd is.

As far as the rest of the team goes, I see Geovany Soto, Sean Marshall, Starlin Castro, Matt Garza and Carlos Marmol as the "untouchables". Decent starting catchers are hard to come by and I don't see any reason to move Geovany Soto until the Cubs are sure about Wellington Castillo. Seriously, no one wants Koyie Hill to start. Hopefully it isn't too late for the Cubs to realize that Sean Marshall should be starting. I don't even have to address why Castro is safe. Marmol is lights out most times and is signed through 2013. And considering the other options *cough* Grabow, Samardzija, Kid K *cough*...nuff said. If only Matt Garza got run support. What a Beast.

Jeff Baker I could go either way on. I like that he plays every position but guys like that are a dime a dozen as evident by the St. Louis Cardinals roster.

Blake DeWitt, PLEASE GO AWAY!

Reed Johnson is an ok 4th outfielder. Please Cubs fans, he doesn't need to start. He isn't good enough to be an everyday player. Your brains are clouded by Old Style and Roosevelt Brown.

Darwin Barney...will come back down to earth. But while he's hot, fine by me.

Randy Wells, Rodrigo Lopez, James Russell, Ramon Ortiz. Would YOU want these guys on your team? Fuck no.

Tony Campana, DJ LeMahieu, Lou Montanez...Who are you guys and what's wrong with our farm system. Is it too soon to bring up that Gretzky kid and have him lay down some bunts?

Ryan Dempster is a bit of an ass. He campaigned for Mike Quade last season and then to turn his back on Quade and throw a fucking tantrum about a month ago when he was pulled after 87 pitches... come on man. The roster had injuries up and down the list and Dumpster had just missed a start with back soreness. Dempster has been a great pitcher for the Cubs when compared to other Cubs pitchers during his tenure. When it's all said and done, Dempster is a above average closer and an above average starter. Then again, we can say the same for Armando Benitez and Carl Pavano. And who really wants those two as their teams closer and number one starter?

As for Mike Quade, he is managing game as if his career depends on it...because it does. Unfortunately, Quade is banking on wins and losses as the deciding factor for future employers, when he should actually be showing that he can develop and win with young talent. Let's face it, Quade wasn't given a team he could win with (which is why I think Ryne Sandberg wasn't given the job), therefore, he hasn't been given a fair chance to be judged by the players and fans. I say bring him back next season and maybe just get rid of Jim Hendry.

It's gonna take some money and a few bold moves to make the Cubs a contender for the 2012 NL Central. They posses the foundation to build a winning team. Also, I believe it's time for a new stadium. As great as Wrigley is, it's such a pain in the ass to get to, maneuver around in and the most obvious reason is because the Cubs can't FUCKING win there!

Zambrano, Ramirez Will Use No Trade Clause

By: Clay

A couple days ago, Zambrano said that he did not want to be traded and last night, Aramis Ramirez said the same thing through his agent.

Ramirez's agent Paul Kizer, “He doesn’t even want to take a trade. He took less years and less money to stay in Chicago [in 2006], so that is definitely his first option. Aramis has a full no-trade clause, so he doesn’t want to go anywhere. He’s a 10-and-5 guy and I don’t think he’ll go anywhere. We will have to see when it comes to that.”

Aww how sweet. If Z and A-Ram really cared so much about the Cubs then they would accept a trade because thats the only way this team will ever get better. The Cubs need the prospects.

I'm The GM: Cubs Edition June 2010

BY: Guido

Well, if I'm the new GM then that means Hendry has been shown the door. Excellent.

My first move would be to declare the Cubs as sellers for the trading deadline. A-Ram, Soto, Marmol, Colvin, Byrd, and Marshall are untouchable in my book. Soriano, Zambrano, Fukudome, Silva, Dempster, and Lee are virtually unmovable and, unfortunately, the ones that need to be moved. Here's what I do:

I hang on to Lee. His contract is up at the end of the 2010 season so I would try and resign him. He isn't having a good year so he would be a cheap option. Of course this all depends on what Lee wants.

Soriano's contract is awful. There isn't anyway he can be moved. I would immediately start working him at second base in hopes that he will be comfortable enough to start the 2011 season there. Plus, when Soriano is hitting the ball, there isn't anyone better in baseball.

I'm keeping Castro at short and A-Ram at third. Castro is a building block for the future and we can chalk up 2010 as a fluke season for Aramis.

I would try and move Baker, Fontenot, and Tracy. I know I couldn't possibly get rid of all these guys, but I could try. Theriot would make for decent trade bait and he's only getting $2.6 mil per year.

The outfield will go Colvin in left, Byrd in center and Fukudome/Nady in right. This is a supreme outfield. Byrd is just in his prime and Colvin is realizing his potential. The other two...well you can't have three complete badasses.

The rotaion is gonna be the worst part to get a grip on. Dempster's contract isn't up until after the 2011 season. So he is locked down. Zambrano is under contract until after the 2012 season. Stuck with him. Lilly is in his last year of his 4yr $40 mil contract. He won't be cheap. I'd like to resign him but let's say he goes elsewhere. Silva will be a Cub until the end of the 2011 season. I don't resign Randy Wells. My rotaion would go: Lilly, Zambrano, Silva, Dempster and Cashner. I'd work Gorzelanny, Russel, Samardzija and Caridad out of the pen. Let Marshall work as the set-up man and Marmol as the closer.

I would not bring back Lou Piniella. I would not bring back Larry Rothschild. I would not name Ryne Sandberg as the new manager. I would do everything in my power to sign Joe Girardi as the manager. If Girardi doesn't want it, I'll go after Bob Brenley. I would move Greg Maddux to pitching coach. Rudy Jarimillo and Alan Trammell will stay on in their respected positions. I would make Steve Stone the Resident Bad Ass of all Baseball Matters.

Now, I'm not saying instant World Series or even success. It may take a couple years. But in the end, the rewards would be bountiful.

Cubs Opening Day Stinker

By: Guido

The Cubs another opening day game? Well, of course they did. But don't blame it on the umps.

Sure, it was easy to see Nate McLouth drop the ball during the replay of his diving catch, but that doesn't matter. It's not the replay that makes the ruling. it's the umpire. And if he didn't see it, then that's just the way it is. The game has always worked well without instant replay so let's keep the game the way it is. I know Aramis Ramirez says he saw McLouth drop the ball, but that means jack shit compared to what the ump called. Ramirez's responsibility as a base runner is to know what the ump has called.

In the end, blame the loss on Carlos Zambrano's good tempered pitching and the Braves' timely hitting. Hey, sometimes that's just the way it goes. you can't win them all. Cubs fans should know that by now.