What is he made of–anti-diamond?(which is the opposite of diamond, and by my logic that should mean extremely brittle)

Ok, that’s a stretch–but he was pulled(by himself) from today’s game after feeling tightness in his quad during his first at bat.

A game that we won I might add.

Beating the Brewers 7-4 at Ho Ho Kam

THE HILL

Sean Marshall started the game and made a mild case for being the fifth starter, allowing (he’s a giver) the Brewers to collect four hits and a run while striking out one. Probably with that huge curve lefty’s like to toss. If you listen closely you can hear Aaron Heilman weeping softly into his pillow.

Chad Gaudin Another piece of the Harden trade(I do like to mention that don’t I?), followed by pitching two innings of his own and gave up(he’s not generous, just mediocre) three hits, a run, with a walk and a strikeout. I know he used to start for Oakland but I prefer to see him in the pen, or at AAA Iowa starting in case his buddy from the A’s(see..again) Harden goes down sometime this season.

ALSO PITCHED:

Carlos Marmol–a hit and a run in one. I think that one was a bomb. Yea, don’t do that Carlos.

Mike Stanton —  a hit a walk and a run with two k’s in one. He’s also about as old as this guy.

Kevin Hart — pitched a perfect inning. Eight more and you might be impressive. Probably starts in Iowa.

Chad Fox — No hits or runs with a strikeout in one. This is that old guy who’s arm keeps falling off.

Angel Guzman — A hit and no runs in the ninth. Way to go Angel. I mean it isn’t that bad that you’re nearly the same age as this fellow Venezuelan.

Overall nothing too spectacular. Most of these guys either have a defined role or are pitching for a spot in the pen. Most likely to make the Big Club: Gaudin, Hart, Marmol(of course). Most likely to die on field: Stanton. Guzman is out of options I believe, so for him to avoid going the way of the Oriole he better pick it up.

AT BAT

The Cubs up their total runs today to twelve(7-4) led by a Fox and a Hare(Gathright, because he jumps high…get it? Ehhh). Jake Fox, who started at first, hit a three run shot in the third and Gathright led off going three for three with one stolen base and one caught stealing.

Aaron Miles — started at second and went one for four with an rbi. Good for you Aaron, now go sit on the bench and let Fontenot have a turn.

Richie Robnett –went one for two with an rbi. Not a chance he makes the roster but at least we got something for Wuertz. He played right.

Micah Hoffpauir–one for four while starting in left. Why do you insist on trying to play positions manned by heavily bloated contracts Micah? Why?

Jake Fox –two for three with a fucking BOMMMB. Played first…badly.

Dwayne Barney – a hit and a run scored while playing short. In five at bats though Dwayne? Will definitely be in the minors by mid march.

Chad Gaudin –a double in his only at bat. Known to  tell friends he wants to be the “New Jason Marquis” Those friends have since been traded to Colorado.

It’s alway nice to beat up on the Brewers, especially against their supposed can’t miss Gallardo.

Nothing too earth shattering came from today’s game. Fox played well, but considering his age and defensive limitations, he just isn’t likely to beat out Hoffpauir. He would be a welcome backup for third , and in case of emergency backup catcher, but I just don’t see it happening unless he really turns it on. Joey Gathright had a good game, but until he can keep it up on a daily basis I’m not buying it. His speed would be a plus on a team led by a guy who was caught thirteen(or seventeen) times last year. STOP RUNNING RYAN.

The Cubs are in Surprise tomorrow to take on the Rangers. Game starts at 2:05 Central and can be listened to on WGN 720 am.

I was going to make a Prince Fielder is fat joke here but I already blew that load on Sabathia.

This is what the Brewers did.

Or quite possibly none of you.

But why did I? Oh HOW. COULD. I. have not mentioned the departure of the one and only, slider low and away, slider low and away, slider low and away,

Slider low and away

Slider low and away tossing Michael Wuertz. It’s simple.

I forgot.

Wuertz was traded earlier this month to Billy Beane’s A’s for minor league outfielder Richie Robnett and infielder Justin Sellers. Beane, the highly praised general manager of the A’s, seems to be a new favorite target of Hendry’s(along with former Cubs incompetent and current Baltimore GM Andy Mcphail and anyone the from the Pittsburgh Pirates. Seriously, anyone). Mid last season Hendry brokered a deal that brought Rich Harden and reliever Chad Gaudin to the Cubs in exchange for:

RHP Sean Gallagher and his 5.15 era/1.69 whip

IF Eric Patterson and his .192/.284/.246 line which, oddly enough, makes him the better Patterson.

C Josh Donaldson who actually performed quite well at High A. Don’t believe it? Me neither.

and last but not least…

THUNDER MATT MURTON with his boyish charm, ginger mane, and weak ground balls hit up the middle. He was last spotted hanging out with this guy.

You know, the guys we got did alright too( Harden 5-1, 1.77era/.972 whip; Gaudin 6.26era/ 1.4…Okay so he wasn’t all that great but he had some arm problems).

But I’m veering off topic as that was all last season’s news.

Outfielder Robnett finished up last year in AAA where he put up a .236/.307/.351 line. He will be twenty-five this coming season and could either start at AA West Tenn or spend a demoralizing six months riding the bench in AAA behind the aggressively mediocre So Taguchi.

Infielder Sellers will be twenty-three this coming season and spent all of last year at AA, where he projects to start off again after posting a .255/.333/.367.

Look for Wuertz to be floating in the East Bay by sometime midseason.

* all batting stats are .avg/.obp/.slg%

Mesa will soon become a battle ground. To the victor goes the final spot on the Cubs starting staff. The losers may get a spot in the pen, or may not make the major league club at all. From veteran hurlers to rookie phenoms, from crafty lefties to hard throwing righties, I cannot remember the last time the Chicago Cubs had so much talent battling for the last spot in the rotation. Just three years ago Glendon Rusch left spring training as the number 3 man on the Cubs staff. Dark times…

I cannot say I was heartbroken to see Jason Marquis traded to the Colorado Rockies earlier this year. Jason was brought in after the disastrous 2006 season in which no pitcher except for Carlos Zambrano started more than 25 games. Marquis was brought in to bring stability to the Cubs rotation, and to eat innings. In all honesty Marquis did what he was brought in to do. He also blew countless leads, and gave many Cubs fans heart attacks any time he was on the mound. Although the Cubs made the playoffs in the last two years, Jason did not start in any of the six games. Jason just wasn’t part of the long term Cub plan. Now the fifth spot in the rotation is open.

In the days before Spring Training officially kicks off I will write blogs about all of the guys competing for the final spot in the rotation. Starting with Chad Gaudin, Sean Marshall, Jeff Samardzija, and ending with Aaron Heilman, I will give you my analysis on each pitcher.

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!

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