The Cubs offense has struggled all year to score runs against all major league pitching, but especially that of the left-handed variety. Unfortunately for our beloved North Siders, Sunday night’s starter happened to be a lefty. Dale Sveum, take it away:

‘‘It’s the same story with left-handed pitching,’’ Sveum said as his team’s record against southpaw starters fell to 3-15. ‘‘We were getting beat consistently on fastballs. We swung at pitches out of the zone as well as not doing anything with pitches in the zone.’’

Last night’s was another close game that the Cubs managed to turn into a not-as-close game. Once again, Dale Sveum.

“The thing that’s going on all year long is we get into close ballgames and something breaks down,” Dale Sveum said. “We can’t score if it’s close or we just can’t make a pitch when it’s close to hold them or shut them down to get the game into extra innings. We’ve got to be better at those things — somebody stepping up and getting a big hit when it counts, not when we’re four or five runs down.”

The “not when we’re four or five runs down” must refer to the once-again futile ninth inning rally, a signature of these 2012 Cubs.

» Continue reading “Cubs Monday Headlines: Sun Rises, Cubs Can’t Beat Lefty Starter”

Sorry guys–running late for Father’s Day dinner! Entertain yourselves until I get back. I’ll give you a topic: The Holy Roman Empire was neither holy nor Roman. Discuss amongst yourselves.

And Happy Father’s Day to all the LOHO Dads!

Lineup:

Johnson RF
Barney 2B
Castro SS
Soriano LF
Baker 1B
Mather CF
Castillo C
Valbuena 3B
Maholm P

Carlos Marmol came in yesterday’s game to slam the door on the Cubs’ shutout of the Red Sox. He managed to load the bases then get out of the jam, so he’s now back in the closer role. Dale Sveum visited him on the mound after loading the bases. I wonder what he said to Carlos?

“He didn’t tell me any nice thing,” Marmol said. “He let me (stay in). It was nice, and I appreciate it. He said to just throw strikes, ‘I don’t want to take you out of the game, let’s go.’”

Does Sveum have any good reason for throwing Marmol back into the lion’s den?

“We made a conscious effort a couple days ago (to let Marmol close) because the way things had been going to solidify the bullpen,” Sveum said.

(snip)

“(Marmol’s use of his slider) wasn’t as bad as we’ve seen in the past,” Sveum said. “At least he has some conviction with his fastball now when he throws it, not like I am going to waste it and go back to my slider.”

That must be what Dale said when he visited the mound. “Throw your fastball with conviction!” » Continue reading “Saturday Headlines/Game Thread: Red Sox @ Cubs, 6:15 Central”

Well, not OUR minds. Theo’s mind.

The Red Sox visit Wrigley Field on Friday for the first time since 2005 to open a three-game series with Theo Epstein’s Cubs.

Epstein was the architect of the Sox’s two World Series champions in ’04 and ’07 before leaving Boston after last season to become Chicago’s president of baseball operations.

“First and foremost, it’ll be great to see everybody and renew acquaintances with everybody,” Epstein said. “It’ll be fun to have those guys in town.”

Both clubs are struggling in 2012 and have remained in the cellar of their respective divisions for most of the season. Looking to get back to .500, the Red Sox will hand the ball to Daisuke Matsuzaka.

Matsuzaka completed his return from Tommy John surgery with his first start in the Majors in nearly a year last weekend. Dice-K struck out eight in five innings vs. the Nationals on Saturday, but he took the loss after allowing four runs.

All I have to say is that they had better not play “Sweet Caroline” at Wrigley like they did the LAST TIME the Red Sox came to town. This is OUR PARK. Not theirs.

» Continue reading “Cubs Headlines/Live Game Thread: Memories . . Like the Corners of Our Minds”

Marlon Byrd has been traded to Boston for RHP Michael Bowden and a player to be named later.

As for Bowden, he returns to the team for whom he rooted as a kid growing up in the Chicago suburbs. The 2005 supplemental first-round pick — at the time, the highest selection by the Sox of a high-school pitcher under former GM Theo Epstein — looked like one of the top pitching prospects in the Red Sox system for several years, but his performance plateaued in the upper levels of the minors, where he was moved from the rotation to the bullpen.

The 25-year-old, who is now out of minor league options, went 2-2 with a 5.61 ERA in 39 big league games for the Red Sox, with a 3.00 ERA and three strikouts in three innings this year. However, the Sox designated him for assignment last weekend when they needed to clear a spot on the 40-man roster, and so he will have an opportunity to see if he can find success while pitching in the bullpen in the National League, reuniting with a number of officials (including Epstein and former Sox director of amateur scouting Jason McLeod, who is now Cubs Assistant GM) who saw him at his best in the minors.

While the identity of the player to be named is not known, a source said that it is not left-hander Andrew Miller(currently on the DL). That being the case, the Red Sox will have to create a spot on the 40-man roster in order to add Byrd to the major league roster.

Bob could probably hear the “squeeee!!!” I let out this morning upon reading this tweet all the way in New Zealand:

SQUEEEE!!!!! Right?

If the Cubs are indeed able to move Byrd, this mean we’ll see Brett Jackson in CF sooner rather than later? Does it mean Jackson will bring Anthony Rizzo with him? Or will Jed/Theo call up Tony Campana as a CF placeholder, causing me to beat my head against a brick wall to the point of unconsciousness?

Stay tuned for answers to these and more Cubs questions.

» Continue reading “Cubs Live Game Thread: Byrdless?”

The Cubs acquired 19-year-old first baseman Jair Bogaerts earlier this week to complete the compensation deal for plucking Theo Epstein from the Red Sox. We rejoiced that the months-long saga had finally come to a close. Of course, Chris Carpenter couldn’t help but go and get himself hurt, so now Red Sox CEO Larry Lucchino is being a big jerkface.

Boston Red Sox CEO Larry Lucchino said Friday that general manager Ben Cherington is “exploring” the team’s options in what he called an “ongoing” issue with the Chicago Cubs regarding compensation for departed general manager Theo Epstein.

Lucchino, who was in attendance at Boston’s exhibition game with the Minnesota Twins at Hammond Stadium, the Twins’ spring park, made the comment in the aftermath of elbow surgery for pitcher Chris Carpenter, one of two players the Red Sox had received as compensation for Epstein.

Lucchino seems to be implying that Carpenter was damaged goods, even though he passed a physical upon arriving at Cubs’ camp, then another before being traded. Is this what you’re trying to say, Larry?

“I’m not going to comment on it,” Lucchino said. “We assume everyone acted in good faith.”

Then why are you bringing it up? Because you’re a sourpuss? You didn’t want Theo and Theo didn’t want you. Move on with your life.

» Continue reading “Cubs Saturday Headlines: Theo Compensation Drama Won’t Die”

Bruce Levine reported last night that the Cubs are on the verge of trading beloved lefty reliever Sean Marshall. The return? Travis Wood.

The Chicago Cubs and Cincinnati Reds are close on a deal that would send reliever Sean Marshall to Cincinnati in exchange for left-handed pitcher Travis Wood and two minor leaguers, according to a source familiar with the situation.

Wood, who turns 25 in February, was 6-6 with 4.84 ERA in 18 starts last season with the Reds. Wood beat the Cubs in his major league debut on July 1, 2010, allowing two runs on two hits in seven innings. He finished his rookie season 5-4 with a 3.51 ERA in 17 starts.

Wood pitched 10 games at Triple-A Louisville last season, going 2-3 with a 5.33 ERA.

Other pertinent information: Marshall is a free agent after this season, Wood is still under control for five more years. In the “this is a little frightening” department, Wood has a 31.4% career fly ball rate (208 innings).

» Continue reading “Cubs Wednesday Headlines: More Wood For Cubs?”

Nothing official has been announced, but nearly everyone is saying that Dale Sveum will be the next manager of the Chicago Cubs.

There was no confirmation from the organization but multiple reports Wednesday night said Sveum, the Brewers hitting coach, has been offered a job that many had expected would be offered to Rangers pitching coach Mike Maddux. But is it the only offer he will have to consider?

So why is everyone convinced it’s Sveum?

Reports about the Cubs’ offer surfaced about three hours after team chairman Tom Ricketts checked into the Pfister Hotel for owners meetings.

While Ricketts declined reporters’ request for an interview, he talked casually in the lobby. During that conversation, he appeared to stumble after a reporter asked him if he had met with a job candidate. Epstein had said he and Hoyer would bring Ricketts into the process when they had selected a top candidate.

Did Ricketts meet with a candidate earlier in the day? Quite possible, and reports from SI.com’s Jon Heyman and Fox‘s Ken Rosenthal said Sveum was that guy.

Sorry, Doc. But isn’t Sveum still in play for the Red Sox job?

That could put Sveum in the middle of a power play between Red Sox expatriates Theo Epstein and Hoyer, and Epstein’s successor Ben Cherington — and possibly put Epstein in position to land a parting shot to the chin of Red Sox president/CEO and sometimes-rival Larry Lucchino.

‘‘We’re talking to the same candidates, so I guess you could never rule that out,’’ Cherington said of a possible showdown. ‘‘But I don’t think that’s necessarily the case.

‘‘I think they’re doing what they need to do, and we’re doing what we need to do. But the decision’s too important to react to what somebody else is doing. I believe that we’ve got to take our time and get the right person, and even then there’s no silver bullet.’’

So, kinda maybe?

» Continue reading “Cubs Thursday Headlines: Dale Sveum, Come On Down!”

Look, I’m exhausted. For two weeks I’ve been constantly monitoring the Theo-Epstein-To-The-Chicago-Cubs sitauation, and frankly, I’m sick of it. So let’s review where we are in a Donald Rumsfeld fashion:

The Known Knowns:

1. The Cubs and Red Sox are in negotiations for the services of Theo Epstein.
2. Compensation to the Red Sox will include no major league talent, no cash, nor Brett Jackson, Trey McNutt, or Matt Sczur.
3. Jed Hoyer will become the Cubs’ GM. Jason McLeod most likely will be his Assistant GM.
4. Larry Lucchino is a jerk and is willing to make Theo sit out in 2012 just to prove a point.
5. The Boston Media > Chicago Media on this story.
6. Bud Selig has threatened to get involved if the parties can’t get this done.
7. We know some of the hilarity that went on early in these negotiations: