North vs. South For The First Time In 2012

Spring training is the time for opportunity, development, change and today is the chance for rekindling of rivals.  The North Siders are prepared to take on their cross-town rivals for the first time in 2012.  The game will take place in the afternoon Arizona heat and will pit several regulars against each other in the two clubs first game of significance if there is one in spring training.  The Cubs are slated to send Travis Wood to the rubber followed by Randy Wells and Rodrigo Lopez. Back in the lineup today for the Cubs after a strong performance last time out, Alfonso Soriano will step into the batters’ box first for the Cubs.  Pitching for the White Sox will be Chris Sale. 

The lineup he will face is:

1. Alfonso Soriano, DH

 

2. Darwin Barney, 2B 

3. Jeff Baker, RF 

4. Bryan LaHair, 1B 

5. Marlon Byrd, CF 

6. Joe Mather, LF 

7. Steve Clevenger, C 

8. Junior Lake, SS 

9. Edgar Gonzalez, 3B

With potentially 5 starters in today’s lineup there is no question that there is a little bit of intensity added to a very much less than meaningful spring training game.  Now it is time for the game to being in less than 2 hours time and see how the pitching stacks up for the Cubs as well as the bats and see if they can come back to life for the North Siders.  A big portion of today’s viewing should be given to see the bat of Alfonso Soriano and to determine is he is continuing to round into shape in time for early April.

Enjoy the game and Go Cubs Go.

Time for Intrasquad

It is that time Cubs fans! The Chicago Cubs have begun to play some intrasquad games and are ready to get the 2012 MLB season somewhat underway! This is where the true tests are given and see who can 'swim' and who will 'sink'.  Pitting "minor leaguers" against who is slated to make the big club and test their skills and see the potential that exists within the organization.  Big names are taking the opportunity to share some knowledge and help develop some players for the future while playing alongside the Cubs of today.

Stories to follow as spring training progresses in Mesa, AZ will be Matt Garza and to see he will be ready to throw from the rubber on opening days against the Washington Nationals April 5th for the north siders.

Will Alfonso Soriano round back into his old form and become the Cubs' clean up hitter, only time will tell and a good Spring Training will go a long way to being the star he once was!

Manager Dale Sveum will also take the opportunity to use players in roles he envisions for the regular season such as different infield positions or outfield positions, but most notably where to use some pitchers within his bullpen.  Pitchers to watch during this time would be Travis Wood, Randy Wells, Andy Sonnanstine, Casey Coleman and Alberto Cabrera would be just a few to name.

Stay tuned for some more developing stories as spring training notes come to fruition from Mesa the site of the stars of the Cubs today, and tomorrow!

Off The Record - Cubs Edition

Good Evening Followers....catch the first episode of Off The Record with myself as host and an few other insiders from different sports to provide outsider's perspective of the Cubs and baseball in general going into the season.  As Spring Training is upon us, this is the time where team dynamics are made and a culture is developed for a new team.  Dale Sveum is taking the team in a new direction and Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer are making the calls from up-top, see what these folks had to say about that and some exciting topics going into the start of the 2012 season.

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Alright thanks for the read and the views and come on back soon for more information quite often relayed here!

Compensation Finally Settled For Epstein

It has been months since the Chicago Cubs acquired President of Baseball Operations Theo Epstein from the Boston Red Sox.  With this deal having been made from both clubs just after the end of last season, it was announced at the outset that compensation would be sent back to the Red Sox in terms of a prospect.  Finally, ESPN.com is reporting the issue is resolved and it was done with the assistance of Commissioner Bud Selig.  Selig was asked to step in as a mediator to compensate the Boston Red Sox.  And finally, the longest drawn out trade of the off season in the MLB is settled - for the most part.  The Cubs have agreed to trade Chris Carpenter, a young right-handed arm. The 26 year old, played a little bit of time with the big club last year during June, and this will be the year he is ready to make the leap towards a full-time bullpen spot for a big league club.  So this move will help to solidify and add depth to their bullpen and maybe play AAA ball to start and move in and out of the big league club....this move is fine - the problem becomes ESPN reports that the Cubs and Red Sox will exchange ANOTHER player to be named later.

This deal was already the longest and most drawn out deal of the Winter, why can't two teams just settle this and move on with their decisions of who they've acquired.  Normally, when a trade is made with a player to be named later it is often dependent upon the success of the teams involved in the trade for the quality of player that will be traded.  Should this be the case, I see this as being inappropriate.  The clubs success or failure should not be directly tied to the President of Baseball Operations.  He is able to make moves for the club, however it is the players on the field who dictate the outcome and can hinge upon them rather than the front office staff.

Podcast with The Irate Italian

Another podcast that encompasses some of the week's hot topics and definitely had to throw in a little bit of the  Cubbies in there!

Check this one out, talk about the Super Bowl, 2013 Winter Classic, and the Detroit Tigers and their moves and chat about Matt Garza and a few other surprises to come....

Catch the podcast and stay tuned for more Cubs chats to come really soon.

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

Pardon My Interruption

Hey there Cubs fans....here is the latest of my thought from last while I had a sit down on PMI (pardon my interruption).  I sat down with the NFL insider Ivo the HITMAN Frankovich and Quinton the KRONWALLER Rossini.  We chatted about anything in the NHL, the Super Bowl to THE CHICAGO CUBS! So have a listen and hopefully enjoy this weeks episode...more to come

http://sportblogger.tk/

Check back soon for more CHI CUBS info

Cubs Prepare to Report for Spring Training

The February 16th date is fast approaching for veterans of the team for the Chicago Cubs.  Their off season is ending rather quickly and ready for the grind that is the 162 game regular season beginning in the windy city.  However, for the roster hopefuls time can't move fast enough because they want their shot at becoming an everyday player on the roster of the big club.

The training camp will be extra special for one family.  As highlighted on Cubs.com Tayler Scott the South African will be trying to crack the roster and he will bring his family and friends all the way from South Africa and introduce them to a game of which they have relatively no knowledge.  This will hopefully bring light of the game to a new area of the world and really try to grow the game globally through local heroes such as Scott.

Since it's been a while since my last post....


Roundup of the last week's events:

Cubs and Garza agree to terms on a new deal.  One Year $9.5Million deal are the terms and coming off career best marks of ERA and K's per 9 of 9 (which is awesome!)  A strikeout power pitcher is something that could help solidify the Cubs rotation in this year of transition.  If he proves himself again this year, a long term deal is definitely in his future.

Beautiful Pinstripes!

Cubs Acquire Second Baseman Cardenas.  Adrian Cardenes was claimed off waivers for the Oakland A's.  This is a very suspicious move by the A's and a good pickup by the Cubs.  In Triple-A last year he batted well over 300 and had 50+ RBI's in 120+ games.  Suspicious because I would not drop 300 hitters from AAA for nothing!  there is more to understand on this one, I will find more in the coming weeks as training camp draws nearer.

- I would love to hear what you think is actually (the problem) with Cardenes for him to be given up by Billy Beane for absolutely nothing!

Finally! Cespedes is coming to the US.  Once he gets to the US he will give every team a final chance to make an offer and then he will make his decision as spring training approaches for all teams.  This will be the final chance for Epstein and Hoyer to woo the Cuban free agent into coming to Chi town.


And just to get everyone in the mood for the season here is "Go Cubs Go" just for a little easy listening