Lets get caught up shall we????

Sorry, I have been really busy lately and have not devoted the time to my blog. I do want to let everyone know my wife and I are expecting our first child in late November. So if it seem I am lagging a bit I apologise in advance if I do not give you up to date info on our beloved Cubs. I will try my best. Lets get to the news!

- The Cubs have sent down Rich Hill and called up Sean Gallagher. Gallagher will be the long man in the pen and Lieber will be the 4th starter in the rotation. I am finally glad Lou pulled the plug on Hill. He has been awful and could not throw a strike on Friday. Good for Lou, everyone knows Dusty would have left Hill in until the game was out of reach.

- The Braves have been keeping tabs on some inning eating guys like Millwood, Blanton, and even on Jason Marquis, who was a former Brave. The Cubs have been shopping Marquis all year but may hold onto him considering Hill is in Iowa and Lieber is in the rotation. They may want Marquis to still fill out the rotation instead of Marshall or Gallagher.

- The Cubs sent down Kevin Hart and called up Chad Fox. You might remember Fox as the guy who underwent surgery after his 05 season with the Cubs. Nice to see him back in the Majors( although he gave up walk off on Friday)

- According to sources the Cubs maybe in the market for another left handed bat. Insert Brian Roberts rumors! The Cubs maybe interested in Ken Griffey Jr playing RF and moving Fukudome to CF, leaving Pie on the bench and Johnson as the fourth outfielder. I do not see that happening for the Cubs considering there in the same division as the Cubs and the bounty will be high for Griffey. He would likely go back to Seattle.

- Aram was sidelined with a swollen bruised wrist Saturday. He was not available on Saturday but is expected to be in the lineup Sunday.

Finally A Cub's Rumor!!!

Thanks to the San Diego Union-Tribune-


That's a market the Padres have explored since last May, when they and the Cubs – frequent trade partners in recent years – considered various scenarios. The Cubs have kept tabs on Padres shortstop Khalil Greene, and the Padres have monitored Cubs center fielder Felix Pie, who lost playing time to Reed Johnson. After Edmonds went down last month, the Padres considered center fielders such as Jeremy Reed, who was optioned to Triple-A by the Mariners, and Tony Gwynn Jr. of the Brewers.

I doubt the Cubs would give up Pie straight up for Greene, let alone in a package for him. Although I do like the idea of getting Greene because of his defense and decent bat. He has never fair well at Petco and would benefit hitting in a hitter friendly division. I think if we offered a guy like Fuld, Colvin, or Eric Patterson in part of a package would seem fair. Either way the Cubs adding Greene would really benefit them, even though Theriot and Cedeno have been doing a decent job.

When Soriano returns, he will leadoff.

Thanks to Paul Sullivan for this-

DENVER - Alfonso Soriano's expected return to the active roster May 1 against Milwaukee is likely to bring back the old question of where he should bat in the lineup.


Reed Johnson's success in the leadoff spot, in addition to the team's .336 average and .429 on-base percentage over its last nine games entering Wednesday, could give manager Lou Piniella a handy excuse to move Soriano down to the fifth or sixth spot when he returns.

But when asked if he planned to insert Soriano back into the leadoff spot next week, Piniella paused for a few seconds before giving his response."Yeah, we'll put him back in left field and lead him off," he said. "We want to make sure he can do all the things a leadoff hitter needs to do. We don't really want to take any chances here early in the year of bringing him back too soon, and all of a sudden we have another problem on our hands.


"He's going to go through a full agenda of outfield play and running the bases and hitting and those sort of things to ensure that we can keep him as healthy as possible."

Soriano, who suffered a right calf strain on April 15, took batting practice Wednesday at Coors Field and said he's at 80-90 percent of full strength. He said he expects to bat first when he returns but will do whatever Piniella tells him to do.


Watching his teammates play so well without him has not been difficult for Soriano, unlike his stint on the disabled list last August.

"I'm OK because I know I can't play," he said. "I'm happy they're doing such a good job when I'm out. If they played badly, I'd try to get back quicker to help the team win. But if they don't need me right now, I don't have to come back so quickly."

I do not think Soriano should lead off, especially how great Johnson is doing in the leadoff spot. Soriano has leg problems, strikes out a a lot, and does not get on base. The thing Soriano does have for him is his power. Sounds like a 5 or 6 hole hitter to me.

I can see Lou giving him a shot in leadoff and if it does not work then Lou would have a reason to move him. Rather than him losing his job to injury, have him lose it himself that way Lou can say he at least tried. That could be Lou's plan in my opinion.

Here is my ideal lineup-
Johnson CF
Theriot SS
Lee 1st
Aram 3b
Fukudome RF
Soriano LF
Derosa 2b
Soto C

or

Johnson CF
Fukudome RF
Lee 1st
Aram 3b
Soriano LF
Derosa 2b
Soto C
Theriot SS

Either one of these would work for me but I like the first lineup more than the 2nd. When Soriano is activated we will likely see this lineup trotted out there by sweet lou.

Soriano RF
Johnson CF
Lee 1st
Aram 3b
Fukudome RF
Derosa 2b
Soto C
Theriot SS

Lofton an Option?? Other Cubs Notes.

Thanks to MLBTR-

Heyman and Buster Olney both believe the Cubs should sign free agent Kenny Lofton to help fill in for Alfonso Soriano. However, Olney noted that the Cubs don't seem interested.

I would not mind this move but the Cubs are currently doing well wtih Soriano gone and the chemistry seems good. They just put together a 7-1 homestand without him. Soriano had been struggling before he got injured so it is like we have been playing without him anyways. The only way I consider signing Lofton is if Pie does not start to come around. Lofton would be used as a left fielder because how well Reed Johnson is doing in center and once Soriano comes back, Lofton would be moved to the bench. Right now it does not make sense of the Cubs considering that Pie is actually starting to heat up and improving his swing.


Here is something interesting-

Did the Cubs have a shot at getting Johan Santana a few months ago instead of rival National League contender New York? The two-time Cy Young Award winner said he would've considered waiving his no-trade clause for the Cubs, but the Twins never told him the Cubs called. Cubs officials won't comment publicly about Santana, but privately they said they called the Twins when general manager Bill Smith put Santana on the block last winter and were told Santana wouldn't waive his no-trade clause for any team that didn't train in Florida or play on the East Coast.

http://www.fannation.com/truth_and_rumors/view/47618

WOW! The Twins really screwed the Cubs on this one. It would have been nice for the Cubs to at least have a shot at getting him. Could you imagine Santana and Z in the same rotation??? Tough! It is really too bad but oh well the Cubs are doing just fine without him.

-CHICAGO -- Cubs outfielder Alfonso Soriano, sidelined with a strained right calf, is able to ride a stationary bicycle now and said he hoped to begin running more strenuously this week when the team goes on the road.

Soriano was placed on the 15-day disabled list April 16, and is expected to be activated when his time is up May 1, for the Cubs' game against Milwaukee.

"There's no more pain," said Soriano, who doesn't have to wear the large boot that he had for the first few days he was on the DL. "It's still a little sore, but no more pain."

He has been able to hit off a batting tee in the Cubs clubhouse and expected to hit in the batting cage in Colorado, where the team plays a two-game series against the Rockies, beginning Wednesday.

That is good news for Soriano and the Cubs. My only concern is having Lou put him in the leadoff spot with the team rolling like it is. I think they should put him in the 5 or 6 hole and leave Johnson in leadoff. Here is my two lineups with Soriano.

Johnson CF
Theriot SS
Lee 1st
Aram 3b
Fukudome RF
Soriano LF
Derosa 2b
Soto C

Johnson CF
Fukudome RF
Lee 1st
Aram 3b
Soriano LF
Derosa 2b
Soto C

Fukudome, day to day.

Fukudome will be out of the lineup today with an eye irritation. He is listed day to day. Murton will be in LF today with Derosa in RF. Fukudome may be used to pinch hit in an emergency and will likely be in the starting lineup Monday or Tuesday. It is more of a precautionary thing according to the Cubs staff.

Murton called up. Johnson leading off.

The Cubs are changing things up. Matt Murton was not in the Iowa lineup tonight and has been called up to start in LF for the Cubs against a good lefty tomorrow. Also Lou will start Johnson in CF and have him leadoff Saturday. It is about time!

I am really liking Johnson and think he deserves the everyday CF job.

Marty Brennaman rips Cubs.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ky9Kso9q_Ws

Could not believe what I was hearing. I have never heard an announcer rip a team like that in my lifetime. He is a jerk and frankly should not be on the radio. It was in poor taste to go on for mins. about a club that is not your own and continually rip them for things you do not understand. You do not hear Ron or Pat saying anything like this( maybe Ron talking about the Mets, but is not that bad). I should expect this from a guy who said that Dusty Baker is the answer to the Reds problems.

But while you continue to bitch like the poor sport, little baby you are, we will win the division and be heading to the playoffs. So continue to rip the Cubs and its fans while the Reds and you can be content with 3rd or 4th place like you finish every year. You are absolutely off base Marty and do not be surprised if you get a good "welcome" when you come back to Chicago for the next series.

CUBS FANS- THE BEST IN BASEBALL!!!!!!!!!!

GO CUBS!!!

Cubs Notes and Rumors.

Here is some tidbits from today-

- The Cubs place Soriano on the 15 day DL with a strained calf muscle. The called up Eric Patterson. Patterson will give Lou lots of options, he can put him in all outfield positions and all infield positions except 1st base.

- The Rays like Matt Murton but find his asking price a little steep. The Cubs are valuing him as a .300 hitter with 20+ homeruns, which they should.

- The Red Sox may trade Crisp but they will have to be blown away by an offer and they do not wan to eat any of his contract ( which is roughly 11 million). I think the Cubs should make a play for the switch hitting outfielder. Especially since Soriano is out and his legs will not be 100% the rest of the year. Trade some of the farm, pay the contract, and have Crisp in CF as soon as possible.

Soriano injured, will not head to DL.

Thanks to Cubs.com-

CHICAGO -- Cubs outfielder Alfonso Soriano had to leave Tuesday's game after the top of the first inning with a strained right calf. His status was day-to-day.

Soriano ran to catch Ken Griffey Jr.'s fly ball in left center field with two outs in the Cincinnati first, doing his trademark hop to catch the ball. As he came down to land, Soriano couldn't put any weight on his right leg, and hopped a few times on his left leg. Shortstop Ryan Theriot helped the outfielder as he hobbled off the field.

Soriano missed time in April 2007 because of a sore left hamstring, injured nearly one year ago to the day on April 16, and suffered a more serious injury to his right quad last August.
Mike Fontenot pinch-hit for Soriano in the first inning, and Mark DeRosa moved to left field.
Soriano had gotten off to a slow start this season, batting .175, with two homers, five RBIs and two stolen bases. Last September as the Cubs' leadoff man, he hit .320 with 14 homers and 27 RBIs.

I have stated before the hop is not necessary and this proves it! Soriano you better come back soon and toughen up because you could have prevented this injury by not doing your "trademark hop". This is plain frustrating, not to mention idiotic!

Cubs Notes and Rumors.

We actually have quite a bit of news and rumors to go through today-

- Lou said they have moved Rich Hill to the pen and will be available to pitch tonight against the Phillies. Lou stresses it is not a permanent move and that Hill will be moved back to the rotation just in time for him next start. I think he should have Lieber in the rotation because of how well he has pitched. Besides Z and Dempster he is the only one pitching well out of the gate.

- Cubs prospect Jeff Samardzija topped Dodgers prospect Clayton Kershaw in his best performance in his professional career. Former number one pick Ryan Harvey collected three hits off Kershaw, a sign that maybe he is coming around. Thanks to MLBRUMORS

- The Tigers continue to struggle and now they have lost D-Train hyper extended right knee. This could force the Tigers to make a move to strengthen there weak rotation. They have looked at Snyder who was DFA'd. They could look at trading for Jason Marquis or Sean Marshall from the Cubs who have a lot of depth in the rotation. It is just a thought.

- Lou will give Fukudome Saturday off against the Phillies. He will likely have Reed Johnson in CF, Derosa in RF, Cedeno at 2b/ss, and Theriot at 2b/ss against the tough lefty Hamels.

- I wonder if moving Fukudome to center could be a thing we see a lot. I really like him in RF but he looked pretty good in CF too. I still like him in the 5th spot though.

- The Cubs may decide to send Pie to AAA if he continues to struggle and bring up Murton or Fuld. Pie has struggled out of the gate and Lou does not seem to patient this year, so he could pull the trigger before May the way Pie is going.

- If the Cubs doe send Pie if AAA the may decide to acquire a CF via trade or free agency to platoon with Reed Johnson. Names that come to mind are Reggie Willits, Gary Matthews Jr., Kenny Lofton, Juan Pierre, CoCo Crisp, Johnny Damon, Melky Cabrera, and Nate McLouth. I would prefer a guy like McLouth, Cabrera, and Matthews because they all have power, speed, and play great defense and all could leadoff. My next tier would be Crisp, Damon, Pierre, Willits, and Lofton. All also could leadoff but hardly any power, besides Crisp the play average defense and are very streaky.