The Cubs were locked in a 2-2 tie yesterday when Reed Johnson came to the plate. With runners on first and third and two out, of course REEDZ bunted and drove in the winning run.

“That was on his own,” Dale Sveum said. “He’s a good bunter, and I remember once in Boston, he did it against us with the bases loaded and it turned into a monster inning.”

Is REEDZ now the Cubs’ most tradeable player? Is tradeable a word?

“I guess you would always be shocked but where we are at now every player in here hears the rumors,” Johnson said. “I don’t really pay too much attention to them because I have always had rumors over my 10-year career and never been traded.”

Johnson has the reputation as a real good corner outfielder who will somehow always make the big play on offense or defense with the game on the line.

“It is a situation for me where when you are packing your stuff that’s when you believe you are headed someplace else,” he said.

Whatever happens, his mom will keep him apprised of the situation.

“I feel like my mom could be my agent because she always has an idea of where I’m going to go but I never end up anywhere,” Johnson said. “I might have to fire her.”

I’d be happy for him if he ends up on a playoff-bound team, but there’s not going to be much return for a fourth/fifth outfielder.

» Continue reading “Cubs Sunday Headlines/Game Thread: Reed Johnson Showcases Grit For Trade Suitors”

Today marks the second day in a row with no baseball being played. My fear is that with nothing happening, we may all go crazy and wind up in some Lord of the Flies situation. I hope I can dredge up enough news to avoid that. First up today, David Price of the Tampa Bay Rays sure seems to think that Matt Garza will be traded, and he hopes that it’s to a team in the AL East.

“Honestly, I talk to him about that every single day,” Price said of his former Rays teammate prior to the All-Star Game. “He’s one of my best friends in baseball. I hope he comes to the East, just so I can hang out with him. I told him whether he goes to New York or Boston, I hope he doesn’t go to Detroit, because the only time I’d see him then would be in the postseason. We’re done with [the Tigers on the schedule]. I hope he does. I hope he goes to one of those teams and I get to see him again. I told him if he goes to New York or Boston and we come there, I’m just going to stay with him. He said that was fine. I would like to see him pitch.”

Mr. Price, would you also like to make sure that one of these teams sends a great prospect return for Mr. Garza? We all like having him in Chicago, but we’re willing to part ways if it makes the future brighter. Joe Cowley of the Sun-Times also is writing about the future, and made a short list of players the Cubs definitely won’t be trading this month. Though I’m not sure he’s all that familiar with who’s actually on the team.

Right-hander Matt Garza is another big piece that will draw interest, but no player in a Cubs uniform is really safe, unless the back of their jersey reads “Sveum,’’ “Rizzo’’ or “Castro.’’

One of these things is not like the others.

» Continue reading “Cubs Thursday Headlines: Crickets Chirping”

The Cubs were on the verge of ruining Mother’s Day, facing a sweep by the Brewers. Jeff Samardzija and crew managed to band together to defeat the Brewers on the strength of the bullpen and late-inning offense. Spellcheck had only given up one run in five innings, but having thrown 91 pitches, Reed Johnson was sent to the plate to pinch hit for him.

“They caught me pretty quick there coming down the dugout,” Samardzija said. “But when you have guys like Reed and them to pinch hit for you, especially with the top of the lineup coming up it’s the way it goes sometimes.”

Johnson’s home run briefly put Samardzija in line for the victory, until reliever Shawn Campcoughed up the lead in the bottom of the inning. Camp then got credit for the victory when the Cubs went ahead for good in the seventh inning.

“It’s always good to be able to affect the game like that,” Johnson said. “I knew that he was up there pitch count wise so anytime we have a leadoff situation that’s usually my at-bat as well. Just go in there and put a good swing on it is all I was trying to do.”

Oh, Shawn Camp. Always looking to steal wins from the starters. Was pinch-hitting for Spellcheck the hardest decision Dale Sveum has ever had to make?

“I wouldn’t say it was a tough one,” Sveum said. “He was at his 90 pitches, he pitched well numbers wise, but the ball was up. You can tell it wasn’t coming out of his hand like it can. It was a time to pinch hit, a time to take a shot and the bullpen was rested. It wasn’t that tough of a decision, no.”

Oh, okay.

» Continue reading “Cubs Monday Headlines: Escape From Milwaukee”

I know. Gross, right?

On the heels of an epic trainwreck against the Reds, the Cardinals arrive in town tonight, fresh off their 5th straight series win.

So this should go well for the Cubs.

If you can bring yourself to watch, you’ll see the Cardinals send Jamie Garcia (2-0, 3.06) to the mound to face Matt Garza (1-1, 3.66). Oh sure, on its face, it looks like a pretty even match up. But don’t worry, the Cubs will find a way to put victory  firmly out of reach by the bottom of the 3rd.

And in case you had designs on seeing Brett Jackson any time soon . . . .

» Continue reading “Cubs Live Game Thread: Guess Who’s Dropping By?”

Paul Maholm squared off against Jake Westbrook and the Cardinals today in a matchup that turned out to be precisely as exciting as I predicted it would. Despite teasing us with a promising first inning, Maholm returned to form in the second and the bullpen wasn’t any better. The Cubs slide to 3-7 with a 10-3 loss to St. Louis.

Maholm threw just 70 pitches today, 42 of them for strikes. He managed a 1-2-3 first inning that got everyone’s optimism generators warmed up, but promptly plunked Carlos Beltran to lead off the second, and it was downhill from there.

He followed that up by almost hitting Yadier Molina, and then never throwing another strike ever (give or take). His line for the day: 4.0 IP, 6H, 6ER, 1BB, 2SO. He also served up a three-run homer to Yadier in the third and hit Daniel Descalso too, for good measure. His ERA is a ridiculous and tragic 13.50.

Lendy Castillo and Rodrigo Lopez each pitched two innings of relief, and each gave up two runs. Castillo collected four strikeouts, but also gave up a two-run homer (to Matt Carpenter, the Lance Berkman fill-in) and a walk. If there’s such a thing as a “three true outcomes” pitcher, I submit to you that Lendy Castillo is that man.

» Continue reading “Cubs Game Recap: Maholm Gives Up 6 In Blowout”

When we entered a new era of front office management at Wrigley Field, we knew things would be different than before. We knew they would seek to cash out while players are at their maximum value, especially considering the sorry state of the team and farm system after 2011. This is why none of us were surprised when the Matt Garza rumors surfaced and should surprise none of us that teams are balking at the initial asking price.

Foxsports.com reported Sunday that Toronto will not trade prospects for Garza. However they still are involved in talks, according to a major league source.

The Jays have an abundance of young starters in whom the Cubs would be interested. Kyle Drabek and Deck McGuire are two right-handed starters who could move right into the Cubs rotation. Center fielders Anthony Gose and Jake Marisnick have star potential.

The Yankees were similarly unimpressed with what the Cubs asked for.

But the word out of Yankeeville– also known this winter as The Land of No — is that the asking price is out of the question. The problem is not money this time, at least not immediately — Garza will make about $8 million this year and is not eligible for free agency for two more season — but prospects; like everyone else in baseball, the Cubs are demanding at least two, and possibly all three, of the Yankees Holy Trinity of Jesus Montero, Manny Banuelos and Dellin Betances.

If the Yankees wouldn’t part with Eduardo Nunez for Cliff Lee, you can bet they’re not parting with even two of those three for Matt Garza.

It was a day of mixed emotions for those of us in the “that Cub has great pecs” club. Mark DeRosa was signed by the Washington Nationals (we didn’t really want him back, but we did want those pecs back), but Reed Johnson re-signed with the Cubs.

“I think I’m at home here with the Cubs,” Johnson said Wednesday. “I talked to (manager) Dale Sveum for an hour. This is a very smart guy, who I think we’ll all enjoy playing for. He’s a baseball guy. He understands the little things, as far as winning on a daily basis.

“I’m just happy coming back to a great organization and a great city, where I’ve grown to be comfortable.”

Johnson hit .309 in 111 games in 2011. He credited hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo with his resurgence at the plate.

We’d grow to be more comfortable if you took your shirt off more.

» Continue reading “Cubs Thursday Headlines: Return Of The REEDZ”

I’m posting this a bit late for headlines, and I’m not sure anyone wants to recount the details of yesterday’s game, anyway. So we’ll look forward to today’s game. Or at least preview it, since not many of us are actually looking forward to it.

The mediocre starting pitcher the Cubs will make look like Roy Halladay today is Jeff Karstens (3-3, 3.57, 1.28). Will Karstens match Paul Maholm’s 91-pitch complete game yesterday? He might, because it’s the Cubs!

Pitching for the Cubs is Ryan Dempster (3-4, 6.29, 1.52). How many home runs will Dempster surrender today? It could be a wild one against the slugging Pittsburgh Pirates.

In other news, REEDZ! has been put on the DL with back spasms. Brad Snyder was recalled from Iowa to take his place on the roster. Geo Soto has been activated and Wellington Castillo sent back to Iowa.

Today’s lineup:

Fukudome, RF

Barney, 2B

Castro, SS

Ramirez, 3B

Pena, 1B

Soriano, LF

Campana, CF

Hill, C

Dempster, P

No word on why, if Soto is in Chicago, he’s not starting. Koyie Hill must be stopped. Game time is 2:20 Eastern/1:20 Central. It’s on WGN TV.

Before we get to tonight’s game, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention two big issues I had with last night’s game.

First, I’m sick of this “we don’t show fans on the field” broadcast rule. Let’s be honest, baseball is often boring.  Let’s be more honest, streakers are funny. Showing a streaker every now and again in a 1-0 game against the Astros in late September could really boost WGN’s ratings.

Second, the streaker who took to the field last night was, by all accounts, “a hippie.” As I didn’t see said streaker, I can’t verify, but Bob Brenly is old enough to know what a hippie looks like, so I trust his judgment. What kind of stadium organist doesn’t have the presence of mind to break into “Age of Aquarius” or “Hair” when there is a naked hippie on the field? That should be grounds for immediate dismissal.

Fortunately for us (anyone really want to see Mike Quade naked?), the Cubs will be going for a different kind of streak: a win streak.

» Continue reading “Cubs Live Game Thread: We’re All Going Streaking!”

I’ve been chirping about Cashner getting into the starting rotation since last season. Frankly, I could use a little help from said pitcher:

TEMPE, Ariz. — It was rainy, cold and windy at Tempe Diablo Stadium on Monday, just the type of weather one would expect in Chicago in April. Andrew Cashner did his best to show he could pitch under those conditions.

Cashner gave up four runs on seven hits and two walks over three innings — all statistics that won’t count in the Cactus League — in a rain-abbreviated game against the Angels. The game was stopped because of the inclement weather after 3 1/2 innings.

“I couldn’t control much out there today,” said Cashner, who started. “It was wet, windy and cold, but I still made some really good pitches today.”

Unfortunately, no one noticed because of all the bad pitches you also made. Booo. Do you want to see Silva in the starting rotation, Cashner? Is that what you’re about? No? Then I suggest you step it up already.

Today is the day Mike Quade is set to make some decisions about the roster. Has Cashner been good enough? Has Silva been bad enough? Has REEDZ been REEDZ-y enough? We shall soon find out:

TEMPE, Ariz. — Cubs manager Mike Quade will meet Tuesday with general manager Jim Hendry, pitching coach Mark Riggins and others to discuss the state of the team and make some roster decisions.

“It’s time to sit down,” Quade said Monday.

The Cubs have nine games remaining this spring, and some issues to resolve such as who will be the fourth and fifth starters. Randy Wells appears to have locked up one of those spots in the rotation, but how do they handle the competition between Andrew Cashner and Carlos Silva?

I’m not sure what kind of “competition” you’re in the running for with an ERA over 15.00, but we’ll just continue to swallow our rage, drink the kool-aid, and roll with it.

» Continue reading “Rainy Days And Cashner Outings Always Get Me Down”