You may have heard yesterday that Carlos Pena had been put on waivers, and had been claimed by the Yankees. Don’t expect him to be going anywhere.
“It’s very flattering to see the interest, but it’s even more flattering to see how the Cubs pulled back and retained me,” Pena said after the Cubs’ 3-2 win over the Atlanta Braves on Wednesday.
(snip)
“We were able to talk today,” Pena said. “The conversation was to reassure me how much they think of me. I told him how much I appreciate being a Cub and how much pride I take wearing the uniform. Regardless of what people were saying or what I was hearing, I said that I’m wearing this uniform and that’s my entire eternity right here.”
Entire eternity? Wow. Carlos is dedicated. What does it mean that the Cubs don’t want to save a million dollars for the rest of the season? Not that any of us were still holding out hope, but it probably means we can kiss any chance at Prince Fielder or Albert Pujols goodbye. Keeping Pena now appears to mean that the Cubs hope to retain him next year. I suppose there are worse options if they’re not going all in for Fielder or Pujols.
In other news, Randy Wells didn’t suck last night.
“This one feels pretty good,” said Wells (5-4), who missed two months with the injury. “I still won’t make any excuses for it, but it definitely was a hard thing to come back from. I think the biggest thing obviously is the physical health, but besides that the confidence, cutting the ball loose and having the confidence that it’s going to carry and stay on the line that you want it to. Every start the confidence starts to come back and start to feel better.”
Way to go, Randy!
Remember how horrible the Cubs have been with RISP? Bruce Miles had a chat with Rudy Jaramillo about it.
“Basically, what we’ve been trying since spring training with men in scoring position is trying to hit the ball up the middle and the other way,” Jaramillo said.
“It’s easier said than done, obviously. What’s going on right now is that we’re not trusting ourselves enough because we’re little concerned about getting beat with the fastball.”
“There’s a little anxiety,” Jaramillo said, not singling out any one hitter. “If your body’s coming out, with a little anxiety there, you’ve got to be more in control of your emotions.
“You see the body do something, what’s the mind doing to cause that happen? That’s kind of where we’re at. Everybody’s a little different in how they process that so they trust it.
“We’re getting plenty of runners. We just can’t get that one hit at that crucial time. If we could, you know how that happens. Then it snowballs. We’ve seen it a little bit, but not enough.”
- Castro
- Barney
- Ramirez
- Pena
- Johnson
- Byrd
- Colvin
- Soto
- Garza
The Cubs are sucking our will to comment.
Two things-that is a sexy pic of Mr. Pena…and he is almost annoyingly nice and positive. Say what you’re really thinking Carlos! I’m sure it’s more along the lines of “God**mnit, I coulda gone to a team that will actually make the playoffs but now I’m stuck with these schmucks”.
Agreed and agreed! I kinda wish he had gotten the chance to compete
i don’t understand why you put a guy on waivers, have the team with the most money in the world claim him, and then pull him back.
it’s not meant to be understood. it’s the cubs.
It’s a cheap (and awkward) way of gaging interest in a player, or perhaps they were just trying to trade him until the YankMe’s got in the way…
I don’t understand why they pulled him back. Just let the yankees take him and get the waiver fee.
Why am i hearing that Ned Colletti is in the mix for the GM job? AAAAHHHHH!
See Ladyinred’s comment above.
Why not just give Quade that f*@%ing job, too?
They are holding my name back in reserve for a slow news day.
You do not want coletti, believe me..
OK Rudy, obviously pressing guys to hit the ball up the middle or to the opposite field when men are in scoring position ISN’T WORKING. How about we just try to the guys to hit the fucking ball safely, regardless of WHERE specifically it goes?
or just hit the ball. there’s always a chance it will fall in for a hit.
Not a great start, Matt.
Len and Bob are falling all over themselves about how Pena wants to be a Cubs. Know who else wants to be a Cub? Carlos Zambrano. And he’s been on a lot more bad Cubs teams and has produced a hell of a lot more.
Not for nothing, but 2 fights with teammates and a walkout? i’m all for forgiveness and second chances, but maybe the Cubs aren’t healthy for Zambrano
I know this isn’t a popular sentiment here, but walking out on a job is a reason for being fired at lots of jobs.
“the Cubs aren’t healthy for Zambrano.”
That’s the most accurate thing ever said. It’s like sending an alcoholic to the Cardinals.
all right! that was some great reading, catching up from last week. you guys were getting a little too depressed there for a spell and I thought maybe it was because hendry was no longer twisting in the wind and maybe he did serve a purpose with that target on his back, but I’m glad to see the smart-ass humor returning. let’s go cubs! we’re still NUMERICALLY in this. julie(LYH) and I’m still chuckling.
oh, by the way, let’s get pena out of the clean-up spot. this isn’t working.
byrd, byrd, byrd, byrd, byrd.(headshaking)
4 errors for the Cubs today. UGH.
Colin: “Mom, why does Tyler Colvin always have that look on his face?”
That was a hot mess. I have nothing more to add.
“Welcome to your 2012 Cubs.”