Happy New Year!
Happy New Year Cub fans, with the Cubs Convention coming up next
week, we're getting ready to kick off the 2007 Cubs baseball season
in Chicago. Hopefully, you got your Len & Bob Bash tickets for what
should be an incredible night of rock and roll featuring Ryan Adams &
The Cardinals along with The Redwalls the night before the
Convention, January 18th at the House of Blues. All the proceeds
from the Bash go to Chicago Cubs Charities. Special thanks to Bud
Light for making it all happen. For those who are attending, we have
a couple fun surprises in store for you!
All has been fairly quiet on the Cubs front lately after a red-hot
October, November, and December for the organization. It looks like
the pitching is pretty much set and the focus now seems to be on 1) a
LH bat, probably to platoon with Matt Murton in LF, 2) CF and 3)
whether or not Jacque Jones will be a Cub on Opening Day. #2 and #3
are somewhat related - if Jacque doesn't get traded, there's a good
chance he'll be the CF, with Felix Pie waiting in the wings.
I've hit a few Cubs-related blogs to do chats during the winter,
including northsidebaseball.com, insidetheivy.com, cubscast.com and
coming up this week, I'm a guest on a podcast hosted by the folks
from viewfromthebleachers.com. Check 'em out if you get a chance.
The more Cubs-related stuff on the web to read, the better!
Len
Comments
Can't wait for this season to start! I'm sure the guys are getting pretty anxious too.
Hope you had a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Posted by: cubfan | January 8, 2007 4:53 PM
I can't wait untill baseball starts in the april beacuse the cubs have a good team this yr so i hope Jacque jones stays with the cubs beacuse he had good numbers last yr.
Posted by: kristen | January 8, 2007 5:03 PM
Even some of the smallest moves by the Cubs have been exciting this pre-season. Not every trade or signing will be of the magnatude of Soriano, Zito or Sheffield. All I will say is that every good ball club needs team players to help do the job, day in and day out. Every team has it unsung hero's.
Case in point, Chicago has just added Neal Cott. Here is a young lefty who lead his x-team in relief appearances, as well as in the top 10 in his league, with 70 appearances. That type of strong support is going to make the starting staff in Chicago look even better, plus keep everyone rested, sharp and alert. Good move Cub's. Every move counts!!
Posted by: ronnie | January 8, 2007 6:46 PM
If the Cubs get a platoon partner for Murton, they are waisting resources. What we need is a platoon partner for Jones.
Posted by: Charlie M. | January 9, 2007 10:46 AM
If only the Cubs would give Matt Murton to Baltimore, so the Oriols could have the best young outfield in baseball.
Posted by: Jim Manis | January 9, 2007 10:57 AM
AH! The Redwalls are gonna be at the bash!? It sucks I'm not 21! Anyways, can't wait for the Convention, it will finally feel like baseball is right around the corner!
Posted by: Mal | January 9, 2007 1:32 PM
Hey Len,
Good to hear from you. Wish I could attend the Cubbie Convention but tickets just went too fast. As for our team heading into Mesa... maybe Korey with a K's little brother Eric will keep up his great play and make the team out of Spring Training as the centerfielder. I hear he's been taking balls out there. And as for that left-handed bat, Cliff Floyd is a multiple DL trip waiting to happen. Hopefully BIG JIM has learned his lesson about depending on players with a HISTORY of injuries. I CAN'T WAIT TIL' OUR BOYS OF SUMMER ARE BACK!!!!
Posted by: Lenny C | January 9, 2007 11:58 PM
I understand the desire to get another LH bat into the line-up, but -- I'm not sure there's enough of a need to platoon Murton to achieve it. Of the principle RH hitters in the projected line-up, only DeRosa had a significantly lower BA against RHP in 2006 (.278 vs RHP and .342 vs LHP). ARam, in fact, hit 50 points higher against RHP.
And Murton, the guy they want to platoon, hit .295 vs. RHP's. You're probably much worse than even odds of finding a LH hitter who'll do that well. By the way, Cliff Floyd only hit .266 against RHP (and .179 against lefties). His OPS against RHPs was also lower than Murton's.
Adding another veteran PH/spot starter, similar to Daryl Ward, might make sense, although Angel Pagan seems to be a pretty good fit for that role. But please don't waste/ruin Matt Murton by concocting some unneeded platoon!!!!
Posted by: scootk | January 10, 2007 1:46 AM
Its kind of a plug, but as Len mentioned he was a guest on a podcast this week, check out The Big League Baseball Report to hear Len talk about the 2007 Cubs!
Posted by: Phil Zuber | January 10, 2007 10:17 PM
I agree with Charlie M. It's Jones who needs the platoon partner, not Murton. Jones' numbers show a huge fall-off against LHP's. I really hope Lou give's TheRiot a shot to platoon out there. The lineup needs him and his hustle and fire. Then give TheRiot a few of the 2B starts against RHP's, where DeRosa struggles, and then you'll have something.
But leave Murton alone!
Posted by: scootk | January 11, 2007 6:37 PM
I completely agree with Charlie M. and Phil Z. that
Jacque Jones needs a platoon partner against left-handed pitching. Against left-handed pitching Jacque has .261 obp, .416 slug pct, and .234 avg. One trade that I think would benefit the cubs would be acquiring Ryan Church from the Nationals. Against left-handed pitching Ryan is .321 obp, .429 slug pct, and .265 avg. IMHO, there is much upside with Ryan Church.
Just my two cents.
--Jim
Posted by: JimR | January 13, 2007 1:36 PM
Is it true that Charlie M. and scotk are identical twins. They sound that way, and they both make a lot of sense, at least this time.
Posted by: Jim Manis | January 13, 2007 3:18 PM
Now that I hear that the Redwalls will be at the bash I am extremely jealous of all those who will be there, including you Len:) I made it to the Convention last year but am too poor this year. Nevertheless, I hope everyone has a good time and that we all root for a Cubs World Series win in 2007!
Posted by: Lauren | January 14, 2007 1:33 AM
Well, while we're keeping it in the "family," here's hoping Uncle Lou agrees that we make sense too.
Posted by: scootk | January 14, 2007 10:32 PM
id just like to say how pleased i am with everything that is going on,with that being said the one thing i cannot stand is more then half of the people on here act like jones is just a liability,the man had one hell of a year last year and will prolly have another great one,everybody can bring up how jones k's a ;ittle too much,well how about are "136 dollar man",ya he likes to too,about 169 times a year i beleive,so get off jones's back already.
Posted by: leo s. | January 20, 2007 2:35 AM
Len,
Hello, I was the person who met you at the convention on Saturday and gave you the Bears fridge magnet. I was extremely impressed that you took the time to talk to me and my wife and even shook her hand even though I was the one that came up to you. I had my reservations when you were hired two years ago BUT you know your stuff and your an all around good guy. I hope your with the Cubs family for many years. Go Cubs!!! Get the swagger back!!!!
Posted by: Mike Battista | January 21, 2007 10:04 AM
Dear Len and Bob,
I think you two are the best in the business and I really learn a lot from all your info.
I love the cubs and best of all I love to hear you talk ,very informative and very interesting. Keep up the good work.
Marilyn Spalo
Posted by: marilyn spalo | August 12, 2007 4:43 PM