With all of yesterday’s excitement or non-excitement over Jorge Soler, Julie missed out on a potential minor-league signing that was reported. Our old friend, Ramon Ortiz may be of interest to the Cubs again this year.

The Chicago Cubs are interested in offering pitcher Ramon Ortiz a minor league contract with an invite to major league spring training camp, according to a major league source.

Ortiz split time between Triple-A Iowa and the Cubs in 2011. He was 1-2 with a 4.36 ERA with Chicago (22 games) and 6-3 with a 4.26 ERA at Iowa (16 games).

And here’s where the old part comes in: Ortiz is 38. I know it’s not old, but it’s old for a pitcher who’s not very good. If he signs, he’ll be in Iowa and available should someone get injured.

» Continue reading “Cubs Wednesday Headlines: Ramon Ortiz!”

In a glorious return from whatever ailed him, Ryan Dempster managed not to suck enough to lose to the Pirates.

He battled through five and came out with a win,” Quade said, “but I don’t think he was very happy coming out. But he never is, really. Fortunately, the bullpen did a good job.”

Quade said the blowup by Dempster happens all the time, not in front of cameras or the media.

“That’s what [Carlos Zambrano] does, but Demps was a little more forceful trying to convince me. I thought it was time [to take him out], he obviously disagreed. The volume was different. Z’s been pretty good from time to time. But yeah, he was adamant and fiery, and I like that. “

And remember FDR saying “the only thing we have to fear is fear itself”? Well, we have Jeff Samardzija to fear.

Samardzija has heard rumblings that he might be asked to start in the second half and said he he’s ready for anything.

“I’d start,” he said. “Obviously no doubt about it. I said for along time that’s what I want to do.”

I should never have subjected us to that on a Sunday morning, but there it is.

» Continue reading “Cubs Sunday Headlines/Live Game Thread”

I never quite know where to start on headlines these days, because it seems like the same story again and again. Ramon Ortiz wasn’t horrible, and the office wasn’t good enough. Oh, and Jeff Baker got hurt.

“Ortiz gave us a chance, he did a good job,” Cubs manager Mike Quade said. “It was an unfortunate first inning. After that we just couldn’t find a way to score.”

Losing players to injury has become a daily situation for Quade and the Cubs.

“He slipped on the Nix ground ball,” Quade said of Baker. “He may miss a couple of days. Day to day. It’s become my middle name.”

Despite Jeff Baker’s injury, he’s still trying to remain positive.

“I think under the circumstances everybody is upbeat and as positive as they can be,” Baker said. “It stinks. Guys are frustrated. You want to get better, you want to win. Like I said, it’s not a lack of effort or preparation. We are just not executing, and we’re getting out-executed.”

It’s a lack of good players.

» Continue reading “Cubs Wednesday Headlines: Still Sucky”