2009 Repeating NL Central Division Champs Chicago Cubs Thread of Destiny

[TheMojoPin]

Apparently, the Cubs traded for John Grabow (http://www.suntimes.com/sports/baseball/cubs/1693479,cubs-john-grabow-pirates-trade-073009.article). Not too exciting, but better than nothing, I guess.

No word on who they gave up yet.

Blech, Grabow stinks.

[IMSlacker]

Blech, Grabow stinks.

But they're also getting Tom Gorzelanny. Yes, the Tom Gorzelanny. Excited now?

[TheMojoPin]

But they're also getting Tom Gorzelanny. Yes, the Tom Gorzelanny. Excited now?

Ehhhhh...Gorzelanny is a better option than Hart at least.

I keep hearing the Cubs have interest in Teahan. Maybe Gorz will be spun off as part of that deal.

[IMSlacker]

Cubs are sending Pittsburgh Kevin Hart, Jose Ascanio and Josh Harrison.

[Ritalin]

Good point that there's nowhere to put a bat in the everyday lineup, but I'd still like to see the add a bat.

[TheMojoPin]

Good point that there's nowhere to put a bat in the everyday lineup, but I'd still like to see the add a bat.

Why? I like the idea of adding someone like Teahan if the rumors are true, but they don't need to add anyone right now. The bench is very solid.

[TheMojoPin]

Cubs are sending Pittsburgh Kevin Hart, Jose Ascanio and Josh Harrison.

Wow, I'm much happier now. The reports I was seeing were predicting Jay Jackson was going to be included, and he's WAY too good a prospect for either of these guys. That's a much easier package to tolerate.

Apparently Gorz will be going to AAA, so hopefully that means Grabow to the pen will put Marshall back in the starting rotation where he belongs.

The biggest caveat is that Lou will use Grabow as a LOOGY and he's much better against righties than lefties this year.

[Ritalin]

Why? I like the idea of adding someone like Teahan if the rumors are true, but they don't need to add anyone right now. The bench is very solid.

Why do we always fight when we travel?

[TheMojoPin]

Why do we always fight when we travel?

You and me or the team?

[KingGeno]

Cubs fans are crumbs. Stay classy, lowlifes.

[jauble]

Cubs fans are crumbs. Stay classy, lowlifes.

http://www.santa-claus-suits.com/santa_claus_suits.jpg

http://baggas.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/duracell_batteries_set.jpg

Shut it.

[KingGeno]

http://www.santa-claus-suits.com/santa_claus_suits.jpg

http://baggas.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/duracell_batteries_set.jpg

Shut it.

Do your research ya lazy ass. Wasn't even santa, some drunk teenager asshole.

Shut it.

[Snoogans]

Do your research ya lazy ass. Wasn't even santa, some drunk teenager asshole.

Shut it.

yea, it was snowballs and ice chunks they threw at Santa. YOU ARE ALL A BUNCH OF SCUMBAGS

[TheMojoPin]

A Philly fan trying to slam another fan base? High-larious.

God, I wish this team's ownership situation was sorted out. I wouldn't mind seeing Hendry given the boot if the season ends with a shot at the playoffs, but I doubt he will since the budget is likely all but frozen through next year.

[TripleSkeet]

While Im not going to bash the fan for throwing a beer, I know our fan base has done alot worse (or better depending on your point of view), if that had happened in Philadelphia, the national media would be attacking the fanbase and the city relentlessly..

[TheMojoPin]

While Im not going to bash the fan for throwing a beer, I know our fan base has done alot worse (or better depending on your point of view), if that had happened in Philadelphia, the national media would be attacking the fanbase and the city relentlessly..

Because, as you said, so much worse has happened so often.

[Suspect Chin]

Did you see the Phillies fan in the bleachers throwing shit at the Cubs fan who threw the beer? That guy had balls.

[Ritalin]

Go Bears.

[TjM]

Because, as you said, so much worse has happened so often.

Lay off Mojo. It's not like Philly every assaulted Santa Claus or cheered a guy almost fucking dying

[Jughead]

Go Bears.

:clap::clap::clap:

[TheMojoPin]

Go Bears.

Definitely.

[epo]

Milton Bradley?

I don't know about that one. I don't think this club needs a head case in the dugout.

Good instincts, grasshopper.

Cubs suspend Bradley for rest of 2009 (http://sports.espn.go.com/chicago/mlb/news/story?id=4490125)

The Cubs suspended their volatile outfielder for the rest of the season Sunday, one day after he criticized the team in a newspaper interview.

Shocker, huh?

[IMSlacker]

Go Bears.

[TheMojoPin]

Pretty stupid to drive their already minimal trading position down even lower.

This offseason is going to be a disaster: I can easily see them trading off both Bradley and Zambrano and getting shit in return or paying off huge chunks of their salary and then spending what little money they do have to sign an old, wrist-injured DeRosa back to placate the idiot fans.

[epo]

Honest question since I don't watch the Cubs...Are they gonna blow that team up in the off-season?

[Ritalin]

Thanks for the hat tip, Epo. Mojo thought I was nuts when I wrote that about Bradley.

Keep Zambrano. I say again: keep Zambrano. I think he can be fixed, and he'll still be a servicable number 2/3. I think he'll
settle down.

I'll take a bag of scuffed up balls for Bradley. Eat the contract. I don't care.

Go Bears.

[TheMojoPin]

Honest question since I don't watch the Cubs...Are they gonna blow that team up in the off-season?

No, but I fear the perfect storm of a loud, stupid fanbase, a loud, stupid local sports media and a new owner wanting to look like he wants to make a splash but not having the money to do so for the time being. Bradley's already the villain du jour so he's gone; some of the fans and certain members of the media love to hate Zambrano and are very vocal about it so he could get caught up in the "clubhouse cancer" purge due to his personality. That same segment also seems to look at the DeRosa as the greatest wrong to the organization since they let Maddux go, so I can very easily see the powers that be flipping out and signing him back to placate the idiot masses since they don't have the money to do much else. Nevermind that DeRosa is 33, has wrist issues and wasn't very good this year.

None of this is blowing up the team, but it's definitely not a move in the right direction.

[TheMojoPin]

Thanks for the hat tip, Epo. Mojo thought I was nuts when I wrote that about Bradley.

I didn't think you were nuts; everyone knew about his issues coming in but I had hoped and thought that he and the team doing well would overcome those issues and his talent would overshaow things. Unofrtunately the team sucked and Bradley got off to an ice cold start. He would end up being one of their most productive offensive players from June onwards but the damage was already done. People were pissed about the team doing poorly and his cold start as the big signing coupled with Milton being Milton and it ended up being a doomed deal.

I still think it's stupid to trade him just to trade him because the Cubs simply do not have the money to do so and they have a relatively small window for success due to the collective age of most of their starters. Yes, I understand it's an ugly situation, but who cares? Bradley is actually a productive player (especially if they just let him hit RH and in the #2 spot) and has shown he still produces even with the fans hating him. The other players don't like him, but fuck it, they're professionals. They don't have to like him and the "clubhouse cancer" crap is always a copout. I don't care how much of a jerk a player is: the other players pitching or hitting or defending has nothing to do with that other player when the action goes down. If they're so weakminded or petty to let the THOUGHT of someone hinder their play, fuck, they're hopeless: if that distracts them then anything negative in their lives is going to distract them.

They simply cannot afford to eat that contract. The only way I want him traded is if they're off the hook for his contract.

[weekapaugjz]

MPW a steve barton autographed baseball!

[TheMojoPin]

*Cracks knuckles*

*Then skulls*

*Then a beer*

[IMSlacker]

The Cubs signed Rudy Jaramillo (http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/chi-22-cubs-rudy-jaramillo-oct22,0,2202120.story) to be their hitting coach.

Huzzah!

[TheMojoPin]

The Cubs signed Rudy Jaramillo (http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/chi-22-cubs-rudy-jaramillo-oct22,0,2202120.story) to be their hitting coach.

Huzzah!

Eh.

I mean, he seems like he knows his stuff and I'm happy they held onto Von Joshua to go back to the minor leagues since he's one of the few people in their farm system who knows what the fuck they're doing, but it's not like a hitting coach is going to make or break this team. At least he's big on the specifics on a hitter's mechanics, though it's worrisome that Soriano had his worst offensive years (besides 2009) under him. On the flipside, Bradley had his best year working with him so that shoul....oh, riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight. Jim Hendry is an idiot.

[Ritalin]

The Cubs signed Rudy Jaramillo (http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/chi-22-cubs-rudy-jaramillo-oct22,0,2202120.story) to be their hitting coach.

Huzzah!

(quote Derrick Coleman)