Wrigley East

The winter meetings start next week and the Cubs are going to be making noise. Whether they make any moves remains to be seen, but there is already noise.

I've been saying for the past couple weeks that the Cubs need to avoid "biting the apple" that is Jake Peavy. Now I am hearing about a 5 for 1 trade in the works. In it, Baltimore continues their quest to turn Camden Yards into Wrigley East.

The rumor, and yes it is only a rumor, plays like this: The Cubs send Felix Pie to Baltimore in return for a highly valued minor league pitcher. That pitcher is included with Sean Marshall, Jason Marquis and two other (likely minor leaguers) to San Diego for Peavy.

The biggest thing wrong with this is why would San Diego take on Jason Marquis. The idea is that the Cubs won't take Peavy without unloading Marquis, but San Diego wants to cut salary, so why would they take on someone who is only 2 million cheaper than Peavy?

I don't see it happening, but it's the winter meetings. They've got to talk about it. Especially since the White Sox are making some actual moves, bumping Javier Vasquez to the Atlanta Braves. There is some positive action from a team.

I wouldn't be surprised if the only thing that happens to the Cubs next week is that they sign Bobby Abreu to play right field. Even that is reaching. Although it is a strong possibility, that may not happen until January.

We'll keep watching.

Peavy Again

Just when you believe you were done with this topic of conversation, it rears it's head again.

Lou Pinella publically states that the Chicago Cubs have plenty of starting pitching. Six solid, experienced starters. They include, Zambrano, Dempster, Lilly, Harden, Marquis and Marshall. We're happy with that group! We even have a couple more we could consider down the road (Samardija, Mathis, etc.).

Then, it comes up that the Baltimore Orioles want to partner with the Cubs on a three-way deal with the Padres. They want Pie and have a pitcher the Padres may want in return for Peavy.

Oh, happy day. We can finally acquire Peavy. I'm thrilled.

Isn't this going backwards? Aren't we giving up a left-handed hitting outfielder to acquire a seventh starting pitcher? Now if we were sending Marquis and Hoffpauir to Baltimore for a couple kids and tossing Fontenot and the kids to San Diego for Peavy, then my ears may perk up.

Otherwise, hush!

Baseball Fan in Winter

It doesn't feel like winter yet. We haven't had any significant snow. Thanksgiving is tomorrow.

But I am a baseball fan. I'm bored.

This is a rough time of year for me, the baseball fan, because very little is happening. Even the hot stove talks are boring.

Last year it was Brian Roberts and Kosuke Fukedome all the time. This year, there was a little talk about Jake Peavy until the Cubs resigned Ryan Dempster and now there's nothing to talk about at all.

Oh, sure. Mark Teahan and Raul Ibanez. Woo. It's possible that neither of those will happen, and if they do, it could be March before they do occur.

Sooo... I'm bored. Bored, bored, bored. December 7th is the Rule 5 Draft. Yay. Can't wait.

Come on Spring!

Casey McGehee

This is old news. It happened at the end of October and here it is, just a week before Thanksgiving. Yet, I didn't get a chance to sound off.

I'm disappointed the Cubs waived Casey McGehee.

There. I feel better now.

I like keeping an eye on the minor leagues and like seeing young players get a chance. I'm still rooting for Felix Pie, Michael Wuertz and Sean Marshall. I'm even rooting for Ronnie Cedeno, a little.

I really thought Casey McGehee had a shot at the roster this spring. He can hit. He can play third and first. If the Cubs were serious about sending DeRose to right field, then McGehee would have been a wise choice to back up Martinez.

Didn't happen. It was a long shot, but somewhere along the line Hendry decided that McGehee needed to go to make room for someone else.

Still, I'm rooting for McGehee, even though he is now with the hated Milwaukee Brewers. I still hope he does well, maybe well enough to be traded to an American League team, hmm?

What Now?

The Cubs are pretty set. Yes, there are murmurs about right field and shortstop and the bullpen. This morning I wrote that it would be neat if the Cubs signed Randy Johnson.

Still, the Cubs are pretty set.

With Zambrano, Dempster, Lilly and Harden, they have a strong top four in their rotation. Any number of people can compete for #5, including Marquis, Marshall, Gaudin and Samardija.

With Marmol, Gregg, Cotts and Wuertz, the bullpen is strong. Those who can't make the rotation will have spots in the pen, especially Marshall, Gaudin and Samardija.

Despite what people say, the Cub infield is solid. Soto will be behind the dish with either Blanco or Koyie Hill backing things up. Henry Blanco will probably be the next to sign. Ramirez, Theriot, DeRosa and Lee are around the horn. Cedeno, Fontenot and Hoffpauir will back-up the infield. Don't forget that Koyie Hill also has infield experience.

Soriano and Fukadome will be in the outfield. Don't let anyone tell you that Kosuke will start the season in Iowa or on the bench. Won't happen. Now whether he's in center or right is the question. Either way, Felix Pie and Reed Johnson will be around to cover what isn't covered.

So that's the team. Twenty-five fellows who are capable of marching this team to the playoffs again. They did it once. Why change anything now?

If we're lucky, Wood will come to Hendry and insist that he get a one-year contract, to prove his durability. Then when Lilly and Marquis leave next year, they can give Wood their money.

If that would happen (long shot) Wuertz would likely be the odd man out. He's out of options, but will land on someone's roster.

Would we like another left hand bat? Sure, but at what cost? There's no one that HAS to go. You could put together an arguement that Pie and Cedeno have worn out their welcome. You can gripe about Marquis. Still, Pie is very young and Cedeno and Marquis have done what we've asked. Why trade what we know for what we don't know.

I don't see much more happening this winter. Let's see what tomorrow brings!

Ryan's Return

"Thrilled" may be too strong a word, but I am very happy that Ryan Dempster is returning to the Cubs for 2009. If he can repeat his 2008 performance for the next couple of years, then I will use "thrilled" as a descriptor.

Now, we can set aside Jake Peavy for awhile and talk about fight field. Mark Teahan? Maybe. Milton Bradley? No! Raul Ibanez? Sounds like he'd rather stay in Seattle.

Not certain what the best course would be there. Maybe giving Felix Pie another shot? That may be the best solution.

Still, for now we relax. Hendry can let the world beat a path to his door. Randy Johnson? At the right price, he could still be considered for the fifth starting spot for a year. Might get him another ring and the Cubs into the Series. Brian Roberts? Stop it!

This is why winter is fun for baseball fans! Let's see what happens!

Where is baseball fan, Alex Dimm?

I posted my return in the blog, "A Dimm View of Life". Now I am returning to this blog as well.

I still find it hard to believe that I wasn't blogging during the 2007 post season, the 2007/2008 off season and the entire 2008 season. I had so much to say.

Now here we are in the 2008/09 off season. Just a few random thoughts to share.

I don't really want Jake Peavy. Nothing against Peavy, but I worry that he will be another Prior, Harden and/or Wood. Someone whose arm we always have to worry about.

I like the idea of resigning Dempster to a four year contract and signing Randy Johnson to a one year deal. That would offer a rotation of Zambrano, Dempster, Lilly, Harden and Johnson, with Rich Hill and others waiting for their chance to get in the rotation. Johnson and Lilly will probably depart next year. There will be room for young stars to develop.

Fukadome will play center and play it well. Let's find a lefty bat for left field. I wish we would stop talking about monkeying with the infield. Theriot and DeRosa are fine. They aren't going to cost us games at Short and 2nd. Leave them alone.

I will miss Kerry Wood. I wanted him back. He may still return, but I doubt it. It reminds me of when Mark Grace left Chicago. I was thrilled he got a WS ring in Arizona, but I wish he had gotten one here. It could have happened, but things don't always go as planned.

Finally, let's stop bashing Jim Hendry. Hendry has done a great job as GM. He's got a great team of executives around him. He has made a few gaffes, but not many. No GM will be perfect. He has helped more than hurt so let's stop complaining and support what he's doing. Two champions in a row? Not bad.