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| Chicago Cubs Online |
| Chicago Cubs Online is a website dedicated to the Cubs and their "Faithful" fans. Updated daily with Cubs news and transactions, rumors, game recaps, game previews, opinion columns and history on the Chicago Cubs. |
| Language: English |
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| Rambling on a Whim and a Choi |
| 2012-02-10 00:35:00 |
It's Friday, we're eight days from the greatness of Spring Training, the Cubs have three players in another guy's top 100 prospects, we haven't signed Cespedes and it looks like Soriano is wearing the blue pinstripes this season at 1060 W. Addison.
So, with that said, and with many more things unfurl, let's get rambling.
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| Cardenas Gives the Cubs Flexibility |
| 2012-02-09 22:30:00 |
The Cubs claimed utility-man Adrian Cardenas off waivers from the Oakland A's Monday. To make room on the 40-man roster for Cardenas, Blake DeWitt was designated for assignment. Cardenas takes DeWitt's role as the backup infielder, and made the one-time Dodger expendable.
Not only does DeWitt really play only two positions--second and third base--and neither one that well. DeWitt cannot really hit enough to be a regular in the big leagues. He has been just below league average at the plate, and his fielding has been from decent at third base, to awful at second.
Last season, the Cubs experimented with Blake DeWitt in left field, which was just as bad as seeing Alfonso Soriano out there every day. The reality is that DeWitt doesn't have the bat to play third, or the glove to stay at second, and definitely not good enough to field shortstop.
Enter Adrian Cardenas ...
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| Down to Single Digits ... and Other Cubs News and Notes |
| 2012-02-09 00:05:00 |
The countdown to pitchers and catchers officially reporting to Fitch Park has reached the single digits ... just nine more days before Cubs Camp begins.
While Yoenis Cespedes was receiving a tour of the Marlins' new stadium, the Cubs released their television schedule for the upcoming season. Opening Day from Wrigley Field against the Nationals (April 5) will be televised on WGN TV ... along with at least 62 other games this season. The Cubs complete 162-game schedule will be televised this season with 63 on WGN TV, 80 on Comcast SportsNet, eight on WCIU and eight on FOX. The broadcast schedule currently lists three games as TBD (to be determined) that will either air on ESPN, WGN or FOX. The Cubs 2012 season concludes on WGN on Wednesday, October 3 against the Astros at Wrigley Field. Of course, Pat Hughes and Keith Moreland will call all of the games on 720 WGN.
The Cubs farm system was in the news again. MLB.com released their list of the top 20 prospects in the Cubs system for 20...
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| Cespedes Update, New Numbers, Fitch Park ... and Other Cubs News and Notes |
| 2012-02-08 00:05:00 |
10 days until pitchers and catchers officially report to Fitch Park ... The Cubs loaded the equipment truck Tuesday that is bound for Mesa. Several players are already at Fitch Park preparing for the start of Spring Training and the new arrivals include Matt Garza, David DeJesus, Dave Sappelt, Jeff Samardzija, Josh Vitters and Darwin Barney.
The Yoenis Cespedes tour began Tuesday. Cespedes acquired a visitor's visa and arrived in Miami Tuesday afternoon. Cespedes reportedly met with his agent, Adam Katz, Tuesday night to go over the next step of the process.
Yoenis Cespedes is expected to meet with the Marlins and tour their new park Wednesday. According to Jayson Stark, the Marlins have limits on the contract they are prepared to offer Cespedes. Miami is planning something spectacular but they are not sure it will be enough to sign him. David Samson told Jayson Stark the club could make an offer to Cespedes by the end of the day [Wednesday]. Samson admitted the Marlins want him but ...
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| Cubs Continue Tweaking the Roster ... and Other News and Notes |
| 2012-02-07 00:05:00 |
There are only 11 days before pitchers and catchers officially report to Fitch Park and the Cubs' new regime is not finished tweaking the roster.
After avoiding arbitration in January by agreeing to a one-year, $1.1 million contract for 2012, the Cubs designated Blake DeWitt for assignment Monday to make room on the 40-man roster for Adrian Cardenas. The offensive oriented utility man was a sandwich pick of the Phillies in 2006 and one of the top prospects in Oakland's organization after Billy Beane acquired him in the Joe Blanton deal in 2008. Cardenas has two minor league options left and is expected to compete for a spot on the Cubs' 25-man roster this spring.
The Cubs have not announced the signing of 19-year old lefty Gerardo Concepcion. Concepcion and the Cubs reportedly came to terms on a contract last week that could end up being worth as much as $8 million. If the reports are accurate and Concepcion agreed to a Major League deal, Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer will have to clea...
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| Cubs Down on the Farm Report - 02/06/12 |
| 2012-02-06 00:01:00 |
Winter League Wrap-up
This year's Winter Leagues saw an increase in the number of players from the organization, but an overall decrease in participation. While 33 players that were affiliated with the Cubs' system for all or part of the off-season were part of winter baseball, 19 ended up playing less than ten games with their temporary clubs. Movement played a prominent role as fans said goodbye to Austin Bibens-Dirkx, Andrew Cashner, Robert Coello, Marwin Gonzalez and Carlos Zambrano while saying hello to Alfredo Amezaga, Juan Apodaca, Anthony Rizzo, Dave Sappelt and Casey Weathers.
Some prospects, such as Junior Lake, Scott Maine, Marcos Mateo, Rebel Ridling, and Chris Rusin were effective in limited appearances. Others, such as Marco Carrillo, Bryan LaHair, Oswaldo Martinez, Blake Parker, Ryan Searle, and Kyle Smit performed well over the course of the season.
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| Weekend Update ... Thirteen Days Until Cubs Camp Officially Begins |
| 2012-02-05 00:15:00 |
The countdown to pitchers and catchers officially reporting to Spring Training has begun. It is only 13 days before the first workout for Cubs' pitchers and catchers at Fitch Park. The first full squad workout is on February 24 and the Cubs' first Cactus League game against the A's is less than a month away (March 4) ... Cubs baseball is just around the corner.
The Cubs have more roster decisions to make in the near future. According to multiple reports, the contract Gerardo Concepcion agreed to is a Major League deal. Concepcion would have to be added to the 40-man roster once the deal is official. The Cubs will have to open a spot to add the southpaw to the big league roster.
The next seven to ten days should also see Yoenis Cespedes sign with a team. The Cubs are considered one of the front-runners to sign Cespedes as well as Jorge Soler, once Soler establishes residency in the Dominican Republic and MLB makes him eligible to begin negotiating with teams.
Here is the update on '...
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| Avoiding Arbitration, a Minor League Signing ... and Other Cubs News and Notes |
| 2012-02-04 00:15:00 |
The Cubs crossed another task from their off-season to-do list Friday when they agreed to terms on a one-year deal with Matt Garza. The Cubs and Garza avoided arbitration just before his scheduled hearing in St. Petersburg. Garza had filed a $12.5 million salary arbitration number and the Cubs offered $7.95 million.
The two sides met just below the midway point and Garza inked a $9.5 million deal for the upcoming season that includes a $150,000 incentive package based on innings pitched. Garza receives $50,000 for reaching the 210-inning plateau and another $100,000 if he totals 220 innings in 2012.
With Garza under contract, the Cubs have signed all of their arbitration eligible players.
Lost in the news when the signing of Gerardo Concepcion was announced Thursday night was the Cubs inked lefty Ryan Rowland-Smith to a minor league deal. The Cubs have not announced the contract and whether or not the deal includes a non-roster invitation to Spring Training.
The Cubs did invite ano...
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| Rambling about the Cubs with Visions of Mesa |
| 2012-02-03 01:00:00 |
After a crazy a week, full of news and groundbreaking signings like those of Trever Miller and Matt Tolbert combined with another eye-opening list of prospects from BA that no one has ever thought of before, it is hard just to catch one's breath.
Can you sense the sarcasm? Good, because I am laying it on pretty thick.
And as I am typing this, word breaks across the wire that the Cubs landed themselves a 19-year-old Cuban prodigy. I am pretty sure that I had something to with that by typing the opening paragraph at the precise time I did. You are welcome.
And I digress, it has been rather quiet so new prospect lists are a good way to create conversation and discussion and debate. Who is the Cubs best prospect? I have no idea. That is as honest as I can be.
So, let's shake it up with some ramblings on a Friday. And I sure hope this can create some good banter to get the Super weekend started.
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