Cubs 2009 roster dominoes start to fall? DeRosa dealt, Miles added, more moves to follow…

December 31, 2008 by wpbc 8 Comments

This morning the Chicago Cubs signed free agent switch hitting 2B Aaron Miles to a two year $4.9 million deal. This deal has been made because of other moves that are in the process of happening as we speak…

Rumors are swirling that a Cubs/Rockies deal that will send Jason Marquis to Denver for reliever Luis Vizcaino will be the next domino to fall in a string of deals by Cubs GM Jim Hendry which will change the look of the Chicago Cubs from the end of 2008 to 2009. That deal would free up salary so Hendry can sign free agent OF Milton Bradley.

Somewhere in all of this the Cubs will send DeRosa to Cleveland for prospects (that’s why they added Miles). The DeRosa deal will free up his payroll and give the Cubs the prospects that will be teamed with Sean Marshall and others in a trade to the Padres that brings Jake Peavy to the Northside.

Wow! Jim Hendry has alot of balls in the air right now. If this works out as reported he will have retooled the Cubs without adding significant payroll.

UPDATE: ESPN 1000′s Bruce Levine is reporting the DeRosa deal is done. DeRosa dealt to Cleveland for three pitching prospects Jeff Stevens, Chris Archer, & John Gaub.

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RIP: Sports Corner

December 29, 2008 by wpbc 13 Comments

They all fall down eventually.

Vehere sent me a text this morning that informed me that the Sports Corner over at the corner of Addison and Sheffield has been tore down. Maybe they are making way for another ‘Mega-bar’ in the neighborhood. (I can’t imagine that corner without some sort of tavern).

So I found this writeup on a blog called A Beef Sandwich w/ Sweet and Hot Peppers. (Mmmmmm, a beef sandwich that just made my lunch choice easy.)

If you never had been, The Sports Corner was just a small joint compared to the mega bars that now surround Wrigley (Cubby Bear, Moran’s, Harry Caray’s). There is only one way to describe the Sports Corner, when you wanted a drink, a bartender would walk by, if you made eye contact, they would stop and take your order. That’s a rare thing these days.

I found out today that the little tavern that could was demolished on December 24th. Another piece of the neighborhood taken to make way for progress and better monetary use for the land.

As one who was kicked out of the Sports Corner at least twice (both times stone sober btw). I have to say that a part of me will miss that bar. That was the bar where the famous PITP story was first told to me just hours after Sammy Sosa had been told the tale of woe. The place also had Special Export, which always made for a fun time out. I wasn’t a regular by any stretch, but it will be missed. Long live the mega bar!

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Olney: Cubs maxed out

December 28, 2008 by wpbc 12 Comments


There was a little nugget buried in Buster Olney’s writing today on Manny Ramirez over on the 4-letter’s website.

The Cubs have maxed out their spending for the winter and in any event couldn’t consider an outfield of Ramirez and Alfonso Soriano.

Now I never expected the Cubs to go after Manny, so that isn’t news worthy. What surprised me was the idea that the Cubs are maxed out. Maxed out as far as what? Now there is no proof to any of this, this is just Olney’s report. So this should all be taken with a HUGE GRAIN OF SALT. If true, this would mean there are some real concerns regarding the Cubs adding any sort of payroll at this point. We can speculate on the reasons. Lord knows, I’ve done so in the recent past. Still, the Cubs being maxed out at this point is news to me. I had not heard that before today and am kind of surprised to hear it in the msm. I struggle with that being the case, but who really knows at this point what is happening behind the curtain at Clark and Addison.

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Cubs look to far east for relief help

December 27, 2008 by wpbc 7 Comments

I have wondered what the Cubs were planning on doing with their bullpen for sometime. The Cubs have lost veterans Kerry Wood and Bob Howry along with prospect Jose Ceda. They added Kevin Gregg, but if bullpens are a numbers game…Jim Hendry has to do some adding. Today in the Tribune, Paul Sullivan gives us a peak at what the Cubs might do. They may look to Japan for veteran help:

The pitcher they’re most interested in is Ken Kadokura, a 35-year-old right-hander, and they also had a tryout for 34-year-old left-hander Shigeki Noguchi. The Yomiuri Giants released both veterans after the 2008 season.

Kadokura, who spent most of ’08 in the minors, has a career record of 76-82, with 10 saves and a 4.36 ERA.

He throws a fastball, a splitter and a slider and could get a look as a middle reliever, with Jeff Samardzija getting an opportunity to start in spring training games.

“He hasn’t pitched on the mound lately, but he is in great condition and has great command,” Cubs Pacific Rim scout Steve Wilson told Nikkan Sports News. “We need some experienced pitchers for the bullpen.

“I will suggest [general manager] Jim Hendry consider signing him, at least as a spring training invitee.”

The Cubs believe having another Japanese-speaking player around will help Fukudome feel more comfortable.

So, from the sounds of this, Samadzija will start in the Cactus League, and Kadokura if signed has a real chance to land a spot in the Cubs pen. I wish I could tell you more on Kadokura, but I don’t know.

PM UPDATE–the rototimes chimes in with this:

Considering Kadokura is 35, was released by the Yomuri Giants and spent a lot of the season in the minor leagues, it seems odd that the Cubs would be interested in acquiring his services. Kadokura has a career record of 76-82, with 10 saves and a 4.36 ERA.

So after years of going after other big league teams released players, the latest resurrection project comes from Japan. YeeeeeeeeHaw!

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Cubs tier their fanclub

December 22, 2008 by wpbc 15 Comments

Well it worked for ticket sales several years ago. Now the Cubs are tiering their fan club to different levels. Ed Sherman from his blog on Crain’s Chicago Business explains:

For a fee of $249, the Cubs Club Marquee level gives the member a chance to purchase up to 12 tickets in a special Marquee level pre-sale.

For $129, the Cubs Club Ivy Membership levels allow fans to purchase up to four seats in a special Ivy pre-sale. 

Do you think there might be a few fans who will sign up for the first crack at tickets for the White Sox and St. Louis games? It sure beats freezing your tail off or paying premium prices for a ticket broker.

The Cubs easily could sell out their entire season with an unlimited Cubs Club membership, but they are going to set limits to ensure tickets still are available to the general public. Matthew Wszolek, Cubs director for sales and promotions, said the cap would be from 4,000 to 5,000 members at the Ivy and Marquee levels.

“We’re not talking about just games in April,” Mr. Wszolek said. “You can get a Cubs-Sox ticket through Cubs Club. The value on that alone is considerable.”

Yes, it is. It isn’t difficult to imagine a number of Cubs Club members will be ticket brokers and/or fans looking to sell tickets to premium games to those brokers and make a quick profit.

“We’re aware that possibility exists, but we truly feel this is something that Cubs fans desire, and it’s an opportunity we want to provide,” Mr. Wszolek said.

There is a cheaper option to join the club if buying tickets isn’t a priority. For $19.95, you could receive the standard membership that includes the e-mails and other stuff.

At $129, in addition to being able to buy tickets in advance, Ivy members will have a special gate entrance at Wrigley Field.

If you go for the whole enchilada at $249, you’ll get all the goodies plus a special non-game, on-field event for all Marquee members.

At some point this goose will stop laying golden eggs. I wonder when that will be. Cubs management continues to come up with new cash generating ideas.

So we get a wpbc poll question:

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