Baseball Season is Coming Soon

Just a reminder that we still hate the St. Louis Cardinals.

White Sox Sign Dotel, Cut Former Cub Aardsma

From the White Sox Official site:

Dotel and the White Sox agreed to a two-year, $11 million deal, a rumor that took root as early as last Friday. Dotel will earn $5 million in 2008 and $6 million in 2009, giving the White Sox a trio of seasoned pros to get the ball to one of the game's top closers..............To make room for Dotel and Ramirez on the 40-man roster, the White Sox designated right-handed reliever David Aardsma for assignment.

So Scott Linebrink wasn't enough? Now I understand improving the bullpen, and granted they are only committed to Dotel for 2 years instead of 4 like with Linebrink, but how does this help them? Aardsma may not have learned how to throw another pitch besides a fastball, but he would have been better than Dotel.

Dotel will be hurt withing a month, and it'snot like it will matter. The Sox rotation is so bad behind Buerhle (Vasquez is going to get crushed as a #2) that the long relief will get all the action out of the bullpen. I actually feel bad for Bobby Jenks cause he is good, it's just too bad his General Manager thinks investing in late inning relief is going to solve something, when he needs 3 more starters.

Aardsma out, Dotel In (whitesox.com)

The Opening Day Lineup As of Today

Here's the Opening Day lineup according to Lou Piniella today:

1. Alfonso Soriano - LF

2. Ryan Theriot - SS

3. Derrek Lee - 1B

4. Aramis Ramirez - 3B

5. Kosuke Fukudome - RF

6. Mark DeRosa- 2B

7. Geovany Soto - C

8. Felix Pie - CF

9. Carlos Zambrano - P


Random notes:

- Obviously this means nothing, since it's Jan. 19.

- I'd rather see an OBP guy like Fukudome bat ahead of Aramis Ramirez, the team's RBI guy.

- How patient will the Cubs be with Felix Pie?

- Carlos Zambrano actually said that he'd rather have Ted Lilly be the opening day starter.

- I'm excited to see Geovany Soto play a whole season with the big club.

Lineup, As of Today [Cubs.com]

Selig Given Extension in Old White Guy CLub

According to Foxsports.com:

Bud Selig was given a three-year extension as baseball commissioner through the 2012 season. The unanimous decision made at Thursday's owners' meeting came two days after Selig and union head Donald Fehr
testified before a congressional committee that both criticized baseball for its steroids problem and praised the sport for strides made during the past three years.

Don't get me wrong, Selig has done wonders for the sport in expanding the playoffs and bringing in Interleague play. However, he is just another crony used by the owners to keep their little club intact and making money.

I guess part of me just isn't a fan for one reason. The reason is pointed out by Phil Rodgers at the Chicago Tribune:

White Sox Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf had been among those encouraging the 73-year-old Selig to remain on the job after his current deal ended. Selig dealt with a scare involving skin cancer in 2005 but is believed to be in good health. He works out daily and sees no reason why he can
not remain on the job.

I just hate anything that Jerry thinks is a good idea. I mean, for some reason he thinks it's a good idea to keep Kenny Williams as his GM.

Selig Stays through 2012 [foxsports.com]

Cubs Add Depth, Sign Lieber

Ken Rosenthal from Foxsports.com has confirmed that the Cubs have signed Jon Lieber to a 1-year deal. While the Cubs adding depth to the starting rotation isn't a problem, the following might be:

Lieber will be in the Cubs' rotation, according to a source; without that Understanding, he would have signed with another club. He was offered more money by other teams, but wanted to return to the Cubs.

While I have no problem with Lieber being in the rotation, we can only hope this is a prelude to the Cubs dealing for Brian Roberts. Sean Marshall has been rumored to be included in that deal. Another possibility is that Dempster will return to the bullpen, or Jason Marquis could be headed out of town. Hopefully this is just the first deal that is small deal, made in anticipation of a much bigger deal.

Lieber headed back to Wrigley [Foxsports.com]

Roberts to Cubs?

According to several sources, the Cubs and orioles have finally completed the long rumored trade to send Brian Roberts to the North Side. The Cubs have supposedly sent Sean Marshall, Sean Gallagher, and Ronny Cedeno to Baltimore in exchange for the second baseman.

Roberts was a target of Jim Hendry's from the day Fukudome signed, in order to try nd improve the OBP from the lead off spot. This will likely move Soriano down in the line up and DeRosa back to the super utility man.

As soon as we have confirmation on this deal, we'll have the exact particulars.

Roberts to Cubs (mlbtraderumors.com)

****Update 11:30am*****
mlbtraderumors.com is now reporting that the original report this morning started by oriolehangout.com was erroneous. The Orioles are denying anything has changed recently, but Phil Rodgers (chicagosports.com) believes a deal will be completed sometime this week. Stay tuned.

(Getty Images file photos)

Angel Pagan Era is Over

The Chicago Cubs today traded outfielder Angel Pagan to the New York Mets for Minor League right-handed pitcher Ryan Meyers and outfielder Corey Coles.

I liked Pagan as a backup outfielder because he was fast and a switch hitter. Pagan, however, was never going to be a starting outfielder. The fact that the Cubs were able to get 2 players for him is pretty remarkable if you ask me.

Pagan Shipped to the Mets [Cubs.com]

Happy New Year!

Thanks to all of those who've read our little Cubs blog in '07.

While the Cubs didn't win the World Series as we had hoped, it was a crazy/wild/funny/frustrating season as usual.

As long as you continue to read, we'll continue to write about the Cubs, make fun of the Cubs' opponents, and bash the areas sportswriters when they need to be bashed.

And 2008 will be the year of the Chicago Cubs! (If not, we'll have fun either way.)


Thanks again & GO CUBS,
Bryan & Dave