Big Z: Too good, too late

Carlos Zambrano is an enigma. There is no telling what will happen when he takes the mound for the Chicago Cubs. He could get shelled for 8 runs in just an inning and third as he did on opening day 2010 against the Braves in Atlanta. Or Big Z can effortlessly toss 8 2/3 shutout, [...]

September 11, 2010  Tags: , ,   Posted in: controversy, Jim Hendry, legal issues, observations, photo of the day, players, roster, stats  One Comment

Cubs and Zambrano have a long road ahead

I was impressed with the ‘conclusion’ to the Carlos Zambrano matter announced by Jim Hendry yesterday.  I think the consensus arrived at by Hendry, Zambrano with his agent, MLB and the players union was both supportive and creative but perhaps not as matter-of-fact as Hendry would like us to believe. Big Z will be evaluated by [...]

June 29, 2010  Tags: , , , , , , ,   Posted in: controversy, Jim Hendry, legal issues, players  One Comment

Z, Interrupted

The washout of last night’s Cubs vs. Pirates game in Pittsburgh delayed the return of Cubs ace Carlos Zambrano to the starting rotation until Friday in Houston. It baffled me that he was sent to the bullpen to begin with, and even more-so the way he was used. On the surface the entire exercise was a [...]

June 3, 2010  Tags: , , , ,   Posted in: controversy, observations, players  One Comment

John Dewan’s Stat of the Week™

The $91-Million Set-up Man Chicago Cubs manager, Lou Piniella, has asked his $91-million pitcher, Carlos Zambrano, to become an eighth-inning set-up man. How do the Cubs get to the point where they are sending their Opening Day starter to the bullpen three weeks into the season? Here are the key facts: Ted Lilly, the Cubs [...]

April 22, 2010  Tags: , , , , , , ,   Posted in: John Dewan, observations, Stat of the Week, stats  No Comments

Fallout from the Cubs opening day blowout

Yes, it’s just one game, and no it was not lost due to the horrendously blown call on the trap by Nate McClouth on Marlon Byrd. Today’s 2010 season opener against the Braves in Atlanta was a lousy game from top to bottom. Cubs were twice doubled off base, committed 2 errors, pitchers walked 8 [...]

April 5, 2010  Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,   Posted in: game day, game recap, game strategy, lineup, Lou Piniella, players, roster  No Comments

Cubs Spring Training Report

 Here is a first-hand report from CubHub.net Special Correspondent, Karen G…  This past weekend was the second of what I hope will be annual trips to Cubs Spring Training Camp in Mesa, AZ. I had such a good time last year when I stopped for a day on the way back from the west coast [...]

March 6, 2010  Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,   Posted in: Uncategorized  One Comment

Ricketts should keep eye on the ball

Tom Ricketts is a smart, likeable guy. He talks a good game for the most part, but most of what I hear lately has very little to do with winning baseball in 2010.  I heard a Lou soundbite from the Cubs Convention: ‘We have a good team up here in Chicago’ he said. And Lou [...]

January 20, 2010  Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,   Posted in: Hot Stove, Jim Hendry, lineup, Lou Piniella, observations, players, playoffs, Ricketts family, Team Ownership  No Comments

Carlos Zambrano announces his retirement

Chicago Cubs pitching ace Carlos Zambrano got his 100th career victory at Cincinnati on Friday. Everything about the game was quintessential Big Z. He was nearly unhittable, but walked 5 in 6 2/3 innings. He batted lefty against right handed Reds pitcher Micah Owings and couldn’t catch up to his fastball. So when he came to [...]

June 6, 2009  Tags: , , ,   Posted in: controversy, game recap, oddities, players  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

Cubs Fantasy Baseball Preview

I’ve been a Yahoo Fantasy Baseball player for several years. Too often I draft with my heart instead of my head and collect too many Cubs. Sticking too long with Mark Prior and Derrek Lee has done me more harm than good. My Yahoo trophy case is actually pretty full (13) in spite of this [...]

March 28, 2009  Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,   Posted in: Fantasy Baseball, feature, players  2 Comments