The Friendly Confines turned very unfriendly this afternoon for Cub Fans.  The rain held off but that didn’t stop the Cincinnati Reds from raining 7 HR’s in the Wrigley Field bleachers this afternoon on their way to a 12-7 win.  The loss ended a 3 game winning streak by the Cubs and prevented the Wrigley faithful from an opportunity to wave their broomsticks. 

The Cubs would strike first on a double by Derek Lee scoring Ryan Theriot in the first inning.  Hot hitting Mike Fontenot would double and score on a 2 RBI single from “The Riot” in the 2^nd inning that gave the Cubs a 3-1 lead.  That would not hold for long as Lilly could not make it out of the 3^rd inning giving up 3 runs including the go ahead 3 run shot from Red’s second baseman Brandon Phillips.  The Reds would not look back from that point as they would get 4 more runs in the 4^th capped off by Ken Griffey Jr’s 605^th career HR.  Griffey finished the day knocking in 4 runs on 2 hits.  Fontenot again delivered in the 4^th with a one out 2 run shot to the right field bleachers.  He would finish the day with 2 hits, 3 runs, and 2 RBI’s. 

The Reds just continued to pour it on as catcher David Ross led off both the 5^th and 7^th inning with HR’s, his first multi-homerun game of the season.  Votto capped off the power display when he hit the Red’s seventh and final HR in the top of the ninth inning. 

The Cubs did get their first look at newly acquired RHP Chad Gaudin in the top of the seventh.  He got behind David Ross quickly and Ross made him pay by hitting his second HR of the day.  After Gaudin gave up a single to the next batter he went on to retire 6 in a row.  Maybe Chad just needed to shake off the butterflies he felt pitching for his first time as a Chicago Cub!  Watch for Gaudin to be the real sleeper in the blockbuster trade made Tuesday for Rich Harden. 

Ted Lilly took the loss today and was unsuccessful in his bid to win his 10^th game of the season.  Lilly now falls to (9-6) on the season and will not pitch again until after the All-Star break.  Red’s starter Bronson Arroyo gets the win despite giving up 5 runs and 7 hits in 5 innings.  He now moves to (7-7) on the season with a 5.97 ERA. 

Hold on Cubs fans there is a little brighter news to report…  First Round pick Andrew Cashner, the right-handed closer from Texas, signed with the Cubs today and even got to throw in front of Cub’s pitching coach Larry Rothschild.  He is all set to join the rookie league team in Mesa.  It was also confirmed today that Cub’s fans will get their first look at Rich Harden on Saturday as the Cubs host the San Francisco Giants at Wrigley Field.  The Cubs will most certainly have a packed house on hand to welcome him to his new home on the Northside.  The Giants series begins tomorrow as the Cubs will look to get back on track with Jason Marquis taking the mound in a showdown with talented Giant hurler, Matt Cain.  Let’s go Cubs!

Wow what a day for the Chicago Cubs as they made a big trade and then went out and beat the Cincinnati Reds by the score of 7-3.  The Cubs traded for Rich Harden and Chad Gaudin and had to give up Matt Murton, Eric Patterson, Sean Gallagher, and Josh Donaldson.  After the trade was announced the Cubs got down to business on the field.

Ryan Dempster threw seven innings and only allowed two hits and one run.  The one run came in the fourth inning when Dempster walked Paul Bako with the bases loaded.  Dempster is now 10-3 on the season with a 3.13 era.

Neal Cotts had some problems in the eighth inning as he walked two batters but Carlos Marmol came in to clean up the mess and get out of the jam.  That is now the third straight time Marmol has pitched well.  Bob Howry had some problems in the ninth inning as he gave up three hits and allowed two runs to score.  Howry was throwing the ball right down the middle and just letting the Reds hit it as he was out there pitching with a big league.

The Cubs will now welcome Harden and Gaudin on Wednesday and then go out and try to go up 2-0 in the three game series.

Cubs Blog

The Chicago Cubs defeated the Cincinnati Reds in Dusty Baker’s return to Chicago by the score of 9-5 on Tuesday evening.  The Cubs used three long balls by Derrek Lee, Mark DeRosa, and Ryan Theriot to get by the Reds.  The wind was blowing out and the Cubs sure took advantage of it.

Lee and Derosa both finished with three RBI while Theriot had two RBI.  Aramis Ramirez also had one RBI in the game.  I just have to laugh everytime Aramis is at the plate, the guy just swings for the fences everytime, and I’ll predict that he hurts himself sometime this year swinging the bat the way he is swinginig right now.

Ryan Dempster picked up the win for the Cubs even though he didn’t pitch like he is capable of.  He was a little wild but kept the score close and ended up picking up the win as he pitched six innings of four run baseball.  Carlos Marmol, Michael Wuertz, and Kerry Wood and seen in action to close the game out.  Wuertz sucked it up, Marmol was able to get out of a bases loaded jam, and Wood looked great.

Alfonso Soriano was placed on the disabled list with a calf injury and Eric Patterson has been called up to take his spot on the roster.  Most Cubs fans thought it would be Matt Murton getting called up, but for some reason Jim Hendry choose Eric Patterson.

Alex Cintron has been released by the Chicago Cubs.  Cintron was mostly planned to be a backup for Ronny Cedeno or Mike Fontenot if they were ever included in a trade for Brian Roberts.

With Cedeno and Fontenot staying with the Cubs, Cintron really had no value with the team, and will now be looking elsewhere to play in 2008.

The Chicago Cubs have signed former Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Reed Johnson.  Johnson was released by the Blue Jays after they figured out they didn’t have much room for Johnson on the roster.

Johnson is expected to playtoon with Felix Pie in center field.

On Friday the Chicago Cubs trimmed their spring roster to 50 players after sending down 7 players.  Billy Petrick was sent to Triple A Iowa, while Tyler Colvin was the most notable player that was send to minor league camp.

Colvin isn’t the only player being sent to minor league camp as Esmailin Caridad, Jose Ceda, Geoff Jones, Andres Torres, Bobby Scales, Wellington Castillo, and Josh Donaldson we also sent to minor league camp.

Bruce Levine has reported that the Chicago Cubs have signed Alex Cintron to a minor league contract.  Most Cubs fans this morning are asking why Cintron?  The Cubs already have quite a few players that can play the middle infield positions.

Is this just an insurance incase Ronny Cedeno, Mike Fontenot, and Ryan Theriot stink it up?  I think there is going to be another move after this one, that will involve Cedeno more then likely where he will be headed to the Baltimore Orioles in the Brian Roberts deal.  Hmm sure makes things interesting!

Cubs Blog

Relief pitcher Michael Wuertz and the Chicago Cubs have agreed on a one year contract to avoid salary arbitration.  Wuertz will make $860,000 so he will receive a little raise but not the $900,000+ he was hoping for.

Wuertz went 2-3 with a 3.48 ERA last year.  If he can put away batters instead of throwing a bunch of crap to them when he gets them 0-2 or 1-2 I think he can be very good out of the bullpen.  Key is keeping the pitch count down when he does get in there and be under control.

Cubs Blog

I have to really question this signing by general manager Jim Hendry.  The Cubs have signed Japenese relief pitcher Shingo Takatsu this Chicago Tribune is reporting.  Yes, that is the same player that tried pitching for the Chicago White Sox and was terrible.

I don’t know what Hendry was thinking here.  Sounds like a stupid signing to me.

Jon Lieber is headed back to the Chicago Cubs after agreeing on a one year contract in the 3.5 million range.  Lieber will more then likely take over the 4th or 5th spot in the Cubs pitching rotation.  The deal could work its way up to the 7-8 million range if he hits all of his incentives.

Now what do the Cubs do with Sean Marshall, Sean Gallagher, Ryan Dempster?  Could that trade to Baltimore happen in the next few days?  Looks like it just might!

Cubs Blog