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2012 MLB Team Preview: Chicago Cubs

Posted by on 12 March 2012, 5:36 pm

Old-school Chicago Cubs Logo

The Chicago Cubs were in dire need for a big change, as they hit rock bottom in 2011.

The Cubs couldn’t score runs, had the most errors in baseball with 134 in total and finished the season 71-91. Everything bad that happened did and looking at the bigger picture maybe this was the best thing that could have happened in Chicago because ownership stopped trying to fix things on the field and realized things needed to be changed starting with the front-office structure.

So, is this the season that the Cubs get back on track or will things crash and burn again in Wrigley Field?

Let’s take a peak….

THE POSITIVES:

The Cubs ownership realized that they needed to shake this club and remold it from the top. And that is what they did when they hired former Red Sox’s GM Theo Epstein to be the team’s president of baseball operations and if anyone in baseball can fix a broken team it is Epstein. Epstein brought over Jed Hoyar to serve as the team’s GM, as like Epstein is an analytical-minded thinker and he knows the importance of scouting. Hoyar did a tremendous job revamping the Padres farm system and should thrive in Chicago.

Epstein also hired Dale Sveum to be the team’s skipper. Sveum is the perfect fit for a team that needs to get back to the fundamentals, while maintaining a positive and respectful atmosphere. Word on the street is that Sveum is already making a huge difference down in Spring Training camp, and that must music to Cubs fans ears.

In the grand scheme of things, one-way to look at 2012 is that things couldn’t get any worse than 2011.

THE NEGATIVES: Continue reading ‘2012 MLB Team Preview: Chicago Cubs’ »

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New York Yankees hot stove: Who is Jorge Soler?

Posted by on 15 February 2012, 6:05 am

With all of New York City under complete Lin-Sanity, any Yankees news has been put on the back burner.

Who is JORGE SOLER??

As pitchers and catchers report to Spring Training this coming Sunday, technically the off-season hot stove is still in session.

And the latest player rumored to be on the Yankees radar is a 19-year old, Cuban outfielder named Jorge Soler.

Now, if you are like me you might be wondering who is this Jorge Soler?

Soler is the other highly talented Cuban player who got overshadowed this off-season by fellow countryman Yoenis Cespedes.

Cespedes is five years older than Soler, and is considered more Major League ready because of it.

Now that Cespedes has signed a four-year, $36 million deal with the Oakland Athletics; the focus has started shifting to Soler and what he can bring to a team.

Soler make-up is of a five-tool player, but whether he will actually become the next Justin Upton is a whole different story.

The one advantage Soler has is time. At 19, Soler will have ample time to work his way up in the minor leagues, which is a luxury of added experience Cespedes will not be getting. Continue reading ‘New York Yankees hot stove: Who is Jorge Soler?’ »

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New York Yankees Trade Rumors: Opinions Wanted On Matt Garza

Posted by on 30 November 2011, 1:37 am

Chicago Cubs pitcher Matt Garza is the latest name floating around the Yankees Universe, as the Chicago Cubs are supposedly willing to hear trade offers for the right-hander according to Tom Loxas over at Cub Insider and confirmed via tweet from ESPN’s Buster Onley.

Here are Garza’s numbers from 2010-2011 (all stats compliments of baseball-refernce.com):

IS A GARZA TRADE WORTH THE YANKEES TIME?

The Yankees, along with the other 29 MLB teams are shopping in a pitcher’s market, which means no Black-Friday or Cyber-Monday sales this off-season.

In terms of Garza, his age is right on as he just turned 28-year old, but can he handle the heavy-hitting AL East now?

Garza spent his first two seasons in Minnesota, until the Twins traded him to the Tampa Bay Rays where he was from 2008-2010.

Any baseball fan knows that 2008 was the year the Rays went from bottom feeders to AL East champs. Garza went 11-9 with a 3.70 ERA and throwing 185 innings during the regular season; and in the 11 wins his ERA was 0.64.

The Rays made it to the World Series in 2008, and Garza took home the ALDS MVP honors after he beat-up the Boston Red Sox. Also, last season the Rays avoided getting swept by the Rangers the night Garza took the hill, so he definitely has exhibited postseason success.

So, how has Garza fared vs. the AL East teams from 2008 till now?

Take a look (all stats compliments of baseball-refernce.com):

Garza’s numbers are just so-so against the AL East, but scouts say that he should be better but just hasn’t been. He features a two and four-seam mid-90’s fastball, a curveball that is wicked far less than hittable, a decent change-up and a slider.

Garza improved from being a pop-up to a ground-ball pitcher before coming into hitter friendly Wrigley Field, but in even more batter friendly Yankee stadium without more improvement….it could spell disaster.

He does have youth on his side, as remember that Cliff Lee did not come into his own till age 28-29. Continue reading ‘New York Yankees Trade Rumors: Opinions Wanted On Matt Garza’ »

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MLB Trade Rumors: Yankees Could Use Cubs Sean Marshall

Posted by on 18 July 2011, 1:22 am
BOSTON, MA - MAY 21: Sean Marshall #45 of the...

Image by Getty Images via @daylife

Chicago Cubs reliever Sean Marshall is a lefty, and an effective one at that the New York Yankees could use.

Even though Buster Olney, a senior baseball writer for ESPN tweeted that The Cubs are telling teams they have no interest in talking about Sean Marshall in any potential trade, in sports never say never.

After watching the Cubs vs. Florida Marlins game Friday night, you can bet that Yankees GM Brian Cashman was drooling.

Marshall entered the game in the ninth inning to finish off the job that the Cubs closer Carlos Marmol couldn’t do. With a score of 2-1 and two Marlins on base, Marshall struck out righty slugger Mike Stanton for the win.

It was a pressure situation, against a tough righty bat and Marshall struck Stanton out swinging.

So far in 2011, the 28-year-old Marshall has a 2.70 ERA in 43.1 innings pitched. He has given up just one homer, 13 earned runs; 10 walks and has fanned 45.

The Cubs might not be trading Marshal but if the price is right, and considering the odds of them making the 2011 playoffs are close to zero, you never know.

Cubs fans have been in such a drought that the organization has to do some serious revamping to get the team back into contention for 2012 and beyond.

Some young players might be just what the Cubs franchise needs. Yes, the moves they made this past off-season were a start in the right direction but it is not going to right the ship.

My guess is Marshall or Kerry Wood will be traded because they can get more for them from teams who are contending and desperate for some bullpen help, which both these two pitchers certainly offer.

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MLB Trade Rumors: New York Yankees Bullpen Could Use Some Chicago Heat

Posted by on 15 July 2011, 5:57 pm
Kerry Wood

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Over the last five years, New York Yankees GM Brian Cashman took the team’s farm system and built something out of nothing.

The Yankees haven’t had this much talent in the minors ever, and everyone has taken notice. Still, the Yankees are all about the now, not the next or five years from now but today.

The Yankees have a phenomenal team this season, old but wise and not quite worn out yet. This doesn’t mean the Bombers are perfect, as no MLB team is but the Yankees do have needs or holes to fill like everybody else.

One popular grab prior to the July 31st trade deadline is that of relief pitchers. You’d be hard pressed to find a team who couldn’t use a solid arm to come in the middle innings in late August.

Regarding the Yankees, getting a lefty specialist is a top priority because Boone Logan isn’t going to cut it much longer. Feliciano and Marte, who were hired for that role, are both still on the DL and there is no timetable when they might return to the Bronx.

It is no secret that the Bombers are window-shopping. For the remaining 29 teams, who are not in contention this could work in their favor. If they put a solid lefty on the table, it would be almost impossible for the Yankees to refuse.

Then reality hits because in 2011 more teams are in contention at the break than ever; which in turn shrinks the already scarce market for lefty specialists.

So, what does Cashman have to do?

Go out and dangle the goods in front of teams that aren’t playoff worthy that have a reliever that can get out lefties and who can handle playing in New York.

Specifically after enduring an embarrassing, first game to start the second-half up in Toronto.

The Blue Jays smoked the Yankees, 7-16; but after being 8-0 heading into the second the Bombers bats came back to life. With a score of 7-9 heading into the sixth inning, the Yankees were in a place to win. That is until LHP Boone Logan came in and gave up three runs; Sergio Mitre who continues to be totally useless followed Logan and gave up another couple runs.

This is where the Chicago Cubs come in, as they have a reliever named Kerry Wood who Yankee fans got to know very well last season. Wood should have been kept after a dynamite job in relief, but cheap skate Cashman didn’t agree. Continue reading ‘MLB Trade Rumors: New York Yankees Bullpen Could Use Some Chicago Heat’ »

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New York Yankees: Super Nova Not Letting Phil Hughes Steal His Spot

Posted by on 21 June 2011, 12:49 am
CINCINNATI, OH - JUNE 20: A Cincinnati Reds fa...

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The New York Yankees have not been void of injuries this season, with almost the entire bullpen, the Captain and two starting pitchers all currently sitting on the Disabled List.

Well, you certainly wouldn’t know it, as the active Yankees are cruising right along on the road and packing in the crowds during the first week of Interleague Play.

Over the weekend, the Bombers won two of three in Wrigley Field, the famous home of the Chicago Cubs. Also, according to ESPN Chicago the Cubs set a new attendance record during this three-game series with 126,283 fans in total to see them play the Yankees.

After the Sunday finale, they flew to Cincinnati and beat the Reds in the first of three with a score of 5-3.

This Monday night belonged to rookie pitcher Ivan Nova, who irrefutably flaunted how vital he can be in the starting rotation.

Nova pitched eight innings of one-run ball, fanning seven Reds, throwing 70 of his 105 pitches for strikes and didn’t issue one walk. He was locating his sinker to both sides of the plate, and he established a strikeout curveball early.

Closer Mariano Rivera had to come in and save the game, after lefty non-specialist Boone Logan hit 2010 MVP Joey Votto in the back with his first pitch. Logan got pulled after that one, and Mo posted his 18th save on the season.

Still, there was just one paramount performance and goes without saying that the Great American Ballpark is known to be a batting heaven, but not with Nova on the mound.

Nova clocked his third win in a row, certainly making the possibility of plunking Phil Hughes into the bullpen more realistic.

The Yankees have won nine of 11 and maybe the Boston Red Sox are to thank for this surge.

The Yankee players are sans their Captain for the first time since 2003, as Derek Jeter is in Tampa rehabbing his left calf. Even without Jeter, the players’ determination is undeniable and for the first time all season they look unstoppable.

As YES announcer Michael Kay says:

“Put that one on the left side!”

The Yankees are certainly showing that they can do that, at least away from Yankee Stadium.

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New York Yankees: Alex Rodriguez Injury Revealed

Posted by on 20 June 2011, 2:37 am

ESPN New York’s Wallace Matthews revealed that New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez has been suffering from a left shoulder injury; or as skipper Joe Girardi called it, “a small shoulder issue” for weeks now.

Wallace got this information from a clubhouse source, who asked that his identity not be revealed. This anonymous source referred to A-rod’s injury as a shoulder “strain” and said it had been lingering for weeks.

Without a doubt A-rod’s power numbers are at an all time low, posting just 13 home-runs on the season. Even so he is unquestionably producing posting 43 RBIs and a .289 batting average.

A-rod and the Yankees brass was forced to acknowledge the injury, but claim he is fine to play, as it hasn’t hindered him from partaking in 66 of the 70 games played so far this season.

Should Yankee fans be concerned?

Well, I would definitely keep an eye on the situation but not obsess over it.

The Yankee brass is not exactly forthright when it comes to the truth or extent of player’s injuries; so if it got worse don’t be surprised.

Remember that at this point in the season, with the All-Star game just two weeks away most players are beat-up and probably icing some area of their bodies.

A-rod has been doing this a long time, as this is his 18th seasons and I trust he knows when to quit and when to play.

The Yankees took two of three from the Chicago Cubs over the weekend, and in Sunday nights 10-4 victory. A-rod went 3-4, with three runs, a RBI, and a walk.

The only noticeable difference is that A-rod is not hitting home-runs, as he has only four in June so far. This should quiet the critics a little as the Yankees are certainly not in need of anymore home-runs, as they lead the Majors with a whooping 105 and behind them is the Boston Red Sox with just 85.

Let’s hope that this injury just gets blown out of proportion in the press, and that A-rod’s treatment on his “sore” shoulder helps it feel better.

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