Archive for April, 2009

Bradley Down; Door Opens for Hoffpauir

Bruce Levine is reporting that Milton Bradley actually tweaked his groin in batting practice prior to yesterday’s game in Milwaukee and then went on to aggravate it later on in the fourth inning. Bradley’s injury, a first degree strain of his right groin, is considered mild so he is not likely headed to the DL. The injury [...]

April 13, 2009  Tags: , , , , ,   Posted in: game day, observations, players, roster  No Comments

Opening Day at Wrigley Field

So far, the 2009 Chicago Cubs have seen two other teams celebrate their home openers, the Astros and today the Brewers. On Monday, the clouds will part, angels will sing, and (as Crane Kenney is known to put it) the “cathedral of baseball” will open a new season on the Northside. If you are feeling [...]

April 11, 2009  Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,   Posted in: Wrigley Field, game day  3 Comments

It is still early for Kevin Gregg

It is early. Very early. Just a reminder: 158 games remain in the regular season. Now, I’m not a necessarily a big Kevin Gregg fan. I only know him by his numbers from last year and looking at those, I’m not impressed. He would be fine as closer for a lesser team. But for a major [...]

April 10, 2009  Tags: , , , ,   Posted in: Lou Piniella, game day, game strategy, lineup, observations, players  No Comments

Kosuke Fukudome Breaks Out

Last night in Houston, Kosuke Fukudome broke out in a big, big way. He went 4 for 5 plus a walk, including a double and a homer. Offensively this was his best game as a Cub, having last had a 3-hit game on August 25, 2008 and his only other 4-hit game last May 1st. Kosuke [...]

April 9, 2009  Tags:   Posted in: observations, players, stats  No Comments

Cubs Off-Season Review

If you don’t already monitor Tim Dierkes’ MLBtradeRumors.com, you should. He does a great job running down the leads, suggestions, rumors, and wishful thinking on roster moves for all 30 major league teams. Just posted is their Cubs Off-Season Review, which takes a fair look at the changes made from last year to this and [...]

April 7, 2009  Tags: , , ,   Posted in: Hot Stove, Jim Hendry, Team Ownership, biz of baseball, players, playoffs, roster, stats  No Comments

Cubs start season off right

From the second pitch of the game in yesterday’s season opener at Minute Maid Park in Houston, the 2009 Chicago Cubs got off to the start they need to in order to fulfill their lofty exptectations for this year. Alfonso Soriano batting leadoff belted the second pitch from Roy Oswalt out of the park to [...]

April 7, 2009  Tags: , , , , , , , ,   Posted in: game day, game strategy, observations  No Comments

The Pat Hughes Interview – Part 3

In the third and final installment of our exclusive interview with Pat Hughes, the Voice of the Chicago Cubs, we cover a range of topics. The first clip begins with Pat’s favorite visitor to the broadcast booth: Jimmy Buffett. Then he goes into keeping the broadcast interesting in spite of the many bad teams he’s [...]

April 3, 2009  Tags: , , , , , , , , ,   Posted in: feature, interview, the media  No Comments

Review: Cubs Annual 2009

The Cubs Annual 2009 from Maple Street Press looks like a magazine but reads like a book. With 128 glossy color pages there are just two advertisements; one for the Boise Cubs minor league affiliate and the other for the publisher. Edited by ubiquitous Cubs expert Al Yellon of popular blog Bleed Cubbie Blue, this volume is packed [...]

April 2, 2009  Tags: , , , , , , , ,   Posted in: book, feature, review  3 Comments