Saturday, March 31, 2007

Box Score 3-30-07, Z deal close?? amd other notes

Here is the link to the box score yesterday-

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/boxscore.jsp?gid=2007_03_30_chnmlb_seamlb_1

-It was a hit parade as Barrett and Aram had homers

- The cubs had 6 doubles, one triple, and 14 hits in the game

- The contact off the bats was great even the outs were loud line drives

-Barrett, Aram, and Lee all had 2 rbi

- Lilly pitched ok, he pitched 4 innings, gave up 5 hits, 3 runs

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According to Chicago Tribune-
http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/cs-070330cubsbits,1,2905724.story?coll=cs-cubs-headlines

LAS VEGAS -- Negotiations over Carlos Zambrano's contract extension heated up Friday with a face-to-face meeting between general manager Jim Hendry and the pitcher's agent, Barry Praver.The two sides now appear close to consummating a deal by Zambrano's Opening Day deadline.

We had a nice conversation, and everything's positive and on the upbeat," Hendry said. "Hopefully we'll be able to come together."The parameters of the deal have been discussed, with both sides agreeing to five years. How far apart they are on the total package is unknown, though the Cubs' offer is expected to be under Barry Zito's $18 million-per-season range.Hendry's close relationship with Zambrano may be the key to getting the deal getting done. Zambrano apparently is willing to play for less money for the Cubs than he would receive on the open market, and his compromise during last month's arbitration proceedings proved the two sides aren't far apart."We went a little further down the line at the arbitration than we normally would have," Hendry said. "But I think a lot of good came out of that too. At the end of the day, there wasn't going to be any bad-mouthing in the courtroom, and he reiterated again how badly he wanted to be here."

The deal sounds all but done. I bet it is 5 years 85 million with incentives and a option for a 6th. The contract will be back loaded like the rest of them are this year.

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OTHER NEWS-

- Rusch visited his former teammates yesterday

- The cubs players and staff have high expectations this year

- The cubs are a high offensive team this year between Sori, Jones, Barrett, Lee, Aram, and Floyd/Murton the could have a combined 160 to 180 homeruns this year. That's not included the Derosa, Z, and Ward as the other guys who can hit dingers.

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