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 is [...]

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

Jim Hendry’s Christmas Wish List

A CubHub.net exclusive! We have intercepted Jim Hendry’s Christmas wish list! Yes, even the Cubs GM makes requests of Santa Claus and the Clark-Addison Cubs fan blog has obtained his 2009 Christmas wishes.
Sources familiar with the matter indicate Mr. Hendry has petitioned Jolly Ol’ St. Nick to aid him in his turnaround of the Cubs [...]

November 24, 2009  Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,   Posted in: Jim Hendry, book, lineup, oddities  4 Comments

Hendry Compares Notes With Other MLB GMs

With the Ricketts family firmly in control, Cubs GM Jim Hendry is attending the annual GM meeting in Chicago. He has a lot on his plate and is no doubt discussing who needs what, or more accurately, who needs to dump what.
For many MLB teams, the economic climate is forcing clubs to cut payroll and [...]

November 10, 2009  Tags: , , ,   Posted in: Hot Stove, Jim Hendry, Team Ownership, biz of baseball, controversy, players  One Comment

First Signing for 2010 Cubs Must Be Owner

The 2009 Cubs were a major disappointment by nearly any measure. They didn’t hit, they didn’t field, even the Cubs vaunted pitching staff faltered. The team sustained major injuries, fought on and off the field, and was generally unlikeable. One of the main causes of this (that is controllable) is the lack of leadership at [...]

October 19, 2009  Tags: , , , ,   Posted in: Team Ownership, biz of baseball, observations  One Comment

Cardinals making statement in NL Central

I am certainly not a fan of the Cardinals team – never have been. But it’s hard to argue with their methods.  Cardinals GM John Mozeliak has acquired Mark DeRosa, Julio Lugo, and now Matt Holliday to bolster his offense in pursuit of the NL Central Division Championship. The Cards are doing what they believe it [...]

July 25, 2009  Tags: , , , , , , ,   Posted in: Hot Stove, Jim Hendry, observations, players, rivalries, roster, stats  One Comment

The resurgence of Kosuke Fukudome

Cubs center fielder Kosuke Fukudome is quietly putting together a very solid year. As May is closing out tomorrow, his .311 batting average and .441 on-base percentage illustrate the rebound he is making from a horrible second half of 2008. Kosuke is hanging in better on pitches, getting plenty of walks, but most importantly he [...]

May 30, 2009  Tags: , , , , ,   Posted in: biz of baseball, lineup, observations, players, roster, stats  No Comments

Talking Baseball radio with Bruce Levine

ESPN AM1000 in Chicago has probably the best baseball radio show going: “Talkin’ Baseball” with Bruce Levine and now co-hosted by Dave Juday. Levine is in my view one of the most insightful and informed members of the Cubs media contingent. I think he sees and more importantly tells more than most baseball reporters. The show [...]

May 23, 2009  Tags: , , , , , , ,   Posted in: review, the media  One Comment

Hendry must influence Peavy’s ultimate destination

Cubs GM Jim Hendry may or may not be willing to do what it takes to bring San Diego Padre’s ace Jake Peavy to the Northside. He may not have the lattitude with a management in transition to commit the players or finances to get the deal done. Or he may feel the price is [...]

May 22, 2009  Tags: , , , , , ,   Posted in: Hot Stove, Jim Hendry, biz of baseball, players, rivalries  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 offers [...]

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