A Chicago Blog

Hopefully this is the only time I link to this video all season long.

There’s some risk in the Cub’s choice to pick up Jon Lieber, but his numbers are good and he knows how to pitch at Wrigley so it’s hard to imagine anything negative about this move. It’s about time Hendry started going after pitching. I hope we can pick up one more vet before March.

Today Congress questions MLB Commissioner Bud Selig, Special Investigator George Mitchell, and Players Union Boss (and slimy weasel) Donald Fehr, on the Steroid-Asterisk era in baseball. It should be interesting, if only to watch Selig & Fehr both dance and weave around questions regarding their seeming do-nothing stance for YEARS on the use of [...]

I’m still a little confused by the pursuit of lead-off man Brian Roberts. Don’t get me wrong, I understand why the Cubs are interested in Roberts: .290 AVG, .377 OBP. But they’re looking at trading Sean Marshall, who is one of the more consistent Cubs starters. They obviously hope that Dempster can take the fifth [...]

Reader Dan writes:
Well, I can’t even say that it was “good while it lasted,” as this season’s Cubs team completely gasped and sputtered its way into the playoffs. Then, when in the playoffs, did absolutely N-O-T-H-I-N-G (you are excused Mr. Zambrano).
Is it too soon to make a wish list/hoped for recommendations for next season?
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I know, I know. I should feel as paranoid and as nervous as I did when the Cubs made the playoffs in 2003. After all they are the Cubs. They are capable of losing any game at any time. But for some reason I’m just not as jittery. I don’t feel confident that we’re going [...]

With Soriano out, the mood on the north side is likely to sour very quickly. But the reality is that their starting pitching a far bigger problem than Soriano. Between Pagan and Jones and perhaps Felix Pie, I’m pretty confident the Cubs can take care of the outfield in Alfonzo’s absence. But what are they [...]

Seriously. Read the Sun-Times today. Couch goes out of his way to find something negative about the return of Kerry Wood. Couch writes:
So how long will Wood, who’s throwing 94 mph, really be a bit part?
Here’s a prediction: Within two weeks, he’ll be an important part of the bullpen. And the hype will build around [...]

Bears camp is underway and of course all the news so far is terrific. We know Grossman will be at least a little better and if not he’ll get pulled. We know the running game will be more physical than last year. We know that Turner is going to put Grossman in the shotgun more [...]

The news is good so far about Kerry Wood’s recovery. But I’m afraid to be excited. Instead I think I’ll just go back and read Bissinger’s article again.