On the same day that Rudy Jaramillo was fired, the Cubs walked seven times en route to a 4-3 win over the Tigers. Were the Cubs batters free to be patients without the shackles of their former hitting coach? Darwin Barney, take it away.

“The toughest part of the game is being aggressive and selective at the same time,” Barney said.”You look in your zone early in the count even though (the pitcher) is going to try and get you out early. If you get them deep in the count, you probably have a better chance, so that was kind of our approach tonight.”

Darwin showed him most of all, knocking in three runs and scoring the winning run. He then went on to talk more about Rudy Jaramillo and Jeff Baker’s bad approach at the plate.

“Rudy was very individualistic,” Barney said. “He worked with guys on different things. With me, it was more the mechanical side of things early and I felt I had a pretty good approach to hitting and did my homework. With other guys, he talked more approach. You’re not going to really talk to someone like Jeff Baker about his mechanics. He’s been doing this for a long time, and he knows how to hit a baseball. You probably talk to him more about the approach. He worked with guys on different things and what they thought they needed.”

Despite all the players blaming themselves for the firing of Mr. Jaramillo, Theo Epstein wants everyone to know that’s not the case. Jaramillo’s forte was swing mechanics, and the Cubs have a new philosophy.

‘‘I think mechanics are important,’’ Epstein said, ‘‘but until we sort of embrace as an organization the right approach, mechanics almost have to take a back seat at times. And that was part of the motivation for the move.’’

James Rowson, 35, moves from the minor-league hitting-coordinator job to take over on an interim basis, Epstein said, and will be re-evaluated after the season.

‘‘We decided that it was best that if you’re going to embrace a new message to have a new voice to go with it,’’ Epstein said of the timing. ‘‘It’s not based on results. It’s more trying to get a new voice with a new message. We have a certain philosophy we believe in, and we have a lot of growth that awaits us as an organization, and [we’re] trying to get there.’’

It’s like angels singing every time he speaks.

» Continue reading “Wednesday Headlines: Cubs Stick It To Jaramillo, Walk Seven Times”

I’m just kidding about Soler Watch.

For now.

Tonight IS, however, the first game of the non-Rudy Jaramillo Era, which was kicked off by some scathing blog comments from the crowd here at LOHO. As if on cue, Theo fired Rudy this afternoon:

CHICAGO — The problem wasn’t Rudy Jaramillo, Theo Epstein said, but a need for a change in philosophy.

Jaramillo, a well-respected hitting coach with the Rangers who couldn’t seem to have the same success in Chicago, was dismissed on Tuesday as the Cubs’ hitting coach, because the team wanted to commit to a new message, Epstein said.

“Rudy’s not to blame for the results,” said Epstein, the Cubs’ president of baseball operations. “That’s something we’re all accountable for. We put the roster together. It’s probably more on us than it is on him.

If there was ever any question as to whether or not Theo reads this blog, I think we have put it rest.

On an additional note, because Theo DOES read this blog, I’d like to point that out that I’m available to stand outside the batting cages and tell hitters that their timing is off for far less than $3 million per year. Think about it, Theo.

» Continue reading “Cubs Live Game Thread: Soler Watch, Day 1″

We’ll start out today’s headlines with the news that Yoenis Cespedes has officially established residency in la Republica Dominicana. So how soon should we expect his signing with the Cubs to be announced?

MLB said Cespedes cannot finalize a contract until he obtains an unblocking license from the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control because he is a Cuban national who has established residency in another country.

I wish President Obama were a Cub fan. I bet he could grease the wheels on that one. In news of other Cuban refugees, some pitcher in whom the Cubs might have interest should be available soon.

The Rangers, Yankees, Cubs and White Sox have expressed the most interest in Concepcion, agent Jaime Torres said. The lefty worked out in front of Rangers personnel, including Nolan Ryan, in the Dominican Republic today. The Phillies, Giants, Blue Jays, Red Sox and Royals have also expressed interest.

Concepcion has an offer on the table and will likely sign within two weeks, according to his agent. He defected from Cuba last June while playing in the Netherlands.

» Continue reading “Cubs Thursday Headlines: Cuba Libre”

Most of this site was worried about the employment status and health care benefits of one Rudy Jaramillo. Fret no longer, as Rudy will continue to receive two dental cleanings and $120 toward the eyeglass frames of his choice.

Cubs manager Dale Sveum has made some of his first staff decisions, including retaining well-regarded hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo, one of the top-paid coaches in the game. He’s under contract through 2012.

Lester Strode and Pat Listach are expected to be back, but others weren’t so lucky.

Sources said first-base coach Bob Dernier and third-base coach Ivan DeJesus were informed they won’t be back.

And what of Doc’s close personal friend, Mark Riggins? Will he be able to keep up with his mustache maintenance?

Pitching coach Mark Riggins spoke with Sveum over the weekend, according to a source, and was expected to talk again soon.

Stick a fork in Riggins, please. But stay away from the mustache.

» Continue reading “Cubs Monday Headlines: Are You Ready For Some (More) Jaramillo?”

Today, Mike Maddux will join the ranks of interviewees for the Cubs’ managerial opening. We already learned that he wants to be nearer than Boston to his family in Dallas, has a brother named Greg, and has an affinity for Zappa-esque facial hair. Is there anything pertinent to potential managerial abilities we should know about? Take it away, Rudy Jaramillo:

 “He’s a teacher, and he has the ability of winning people over,’’ said Cubs hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo, who coached on the same Rangers staff with Maddux in 2009. “When you can do that, you can be an excellent coach and an excellent manager.’’

More than communication skills and a reputation for outside-the-box thinking, Maddux also has gained notoriety for conditioning and maintenance programs that have helped keep his key pitchers healthy.

I know that injuries are often just bad luck, but the Rangers’ primary starters made 157 combined starts this year. That’s pretty impressive. What won’t be impressive is if it’s the  current Cubs rotation making that many starts. Paul Sullivan wants you to know that Greg Maddux will probably help his brother with a bit of Cubs history before his interview.

Greg Maddux can give Mike a thorough scouting report on the organization, the executives, the media, the fans, the players, the farm system and the last few owners. If Mike Maddux is asked his theories on why the Cubs have not won a World Series in 103 years, as Sveum was on Monday, he can point to decisions such as the loss of his brother via free agency — what Dowdle conceded was a “miscalculation” for the ages.

The last few owners? The Tribune, Sam Zell and the Ricketts. What does the ownership before the Ricketts have anything to do with the job right now? And how much does Greg know of the new executives? I know that he told Theo he didn’t want to work next year.

“He wasn’t sure how much he could do next year,” Epstein said. “He wants to sort of put that off, but he certainly appreciated knowing he was welcome. I’m sure it will work out in some form or other down the road, and we agreed to stay in touch.”

Would that change if his brother were named manager? Who knows.

» Continue reading “Chicago Cubs Wednesday Headlines: Maddux Interview Today”

Mike Quade’s days as Cubs manager are done, but he’s not bitter.

“We had a really nice lunch at the Capitol Grill in Tampa,” Quade told ESPN Chicago on Wednesday. “Unfortunately, it didn’t quite end the way I was hoping it would.”

Quade was told by Epstein that the team was moving on without him as manager in 2012.

“Very disappointing,” Quade said. “But Theo and [GM] Jed [Hoyer] were first class all the way with me. I really enjoyed our conversations during our meetings. I truly wish them well.”

I wish Mike had told us what he had for lunch. It seems like a detail he should have included. I’d feel bad for him, but he’s going to get paid $1 million not to manage the Cubs. So now that Quade’s out of the picture, where do we go from here?

Two names at or near the top of the list, according to sources, are Texas pitching coach Mike Maddux and one-time Milwaukee interim manager Dale Sveum, who interviewed for the Boston Red Sox vacancy on Wednesday.

We’ve heard about Julie’s issues with reading the word “Sveum”, so let’s hope it’s Mike Maddux. There might be an even more exciting reason to hope for Maddux.

Epstein already has reached out to Mike’s brother, Greg Maddux, in hopes he’ll return next year after working as a special assistant to former GM Jim Hendry.

If Mike Maddux were to become manager, one source close to Greg Maddux believes the future Hall-of-Famer might reconsider his desire to avoid full-time travel and could even agree to work as pitching coach with his brother.

This is something I can get behind.

» Continue reading “Chicago Cubs Thursday Headlines: Farewell, Sweet Prince”

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!

» Continue reading “Cubs Live Game Thread: Pena Stays Put”

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”