Inside the Cubs http://blogs.suntimes.com/cubs/ with sports reporters Chris De Luca and Gordon Wittenmyer en Copyright 2008 Fri, 16 May 2008 13:59:39 -0600 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/?v=3.21 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Soriano's on fire I remember when some people thought the Cubs were better off offensively when Alfonso Soriano was on the disabled list.

]]> http://blogs.suntimes.com/cubs/2008/05/sorianos_on_fire.html http://blogs.suntimes.com/cubs/2008/05/sorianos_on_fire.html Fri, 16 May 2008 13:59:39 -0600 Cub at heart? OK, maybe that's stretching it, but Jim Edmonds seems to have a genuine appreciation for the history and electricity of the Cub culture and sought the Cubs out as much as they pursued him. He said one of the things he missed after getting that trade to San Diego in the off-season was ``the excitement from the crowd.''

``And obviously the minute I walked into [Wrigley Field Wednesday] night [for a physical], the excitement was there. That's what I'm looking foward to.''

That's not all.

]]> http://blogs.suntimes.com/cubs/2008/05/cub_at_heart.html http://blogs.suntimes.com/cubs/2008/05/cub_at_heart.html Wittenmyer Thu, 15 May 2008 21:06:01 -0600 Edmonds singles in first at-bat Jim Edmonds drew a round of applause from the Wrigley bleacher fans today and was generally well-received at the plate before he ripped a Greg Maddux pitch to right for a single.

]]> http://blogs.suntimes.com/cubs/2008/05/edmonds_is_in_the_lineup.html http://blogs.suntimes.com/cubs/2008/05/edmonds_is_in_the_lineup.html Thu, 15 May 2008 11:03:53 -0600 Latest on Edmonds All indications are that Jim Edmonds won't be officially a member of the Cubs until after tonight's game.

]]> http://blogs.suntimes.com/cubs/2008/05/latest_on_edmonds.html http://blogs.suntimes.com/cubs/2008/05/latest_on_edmonds.html Wed, 14 May 2008 13:56:18 -0600 Eyre activated; today's lineup As expected, the Cubs activated Scott Eyre from the DL and sent down Sean Marshall.
Here's the lineup for today's game: 1. Soriano, LF; 2. Theriot, SS; 3. Lee 1B; 4. Ramirez, 3rd; 5. Fukudome, RF; 6. Soso, C; 7. DeRosa, 2nd; 8. Johnson, CF.

]]> http://blogs.suntimes.com/cubs/2008/05/eyre_up_marshall_down.html http://blogs.suntimes.com/cubs/2008/05/eyre_up_marshall_down.html Fri, 09 May 2008 10:38:54 -0600 Big Z and Mr. Bigglesworth Is it just me, or does the newly clean-shaven Zambrano look like Dr. Evil?

``Ninety-one point five milllllliion dollars...''

]]> http://blogs.suntimes.com/cubs/2008/05/big_z_and_mr_bigglesworth.html http://blogs.suntimes.com/cubs/2008/05/big_z_and_mr_bigglesworth.html Wittenmyer Mon, 05 May 2008 01:43:14 -0600 Lou on playing Soriano, sitting Mariotti Lou says the radio reporter asking that question that set him off Thursday was trying to ``create the news,'' asking something he already knew the answer to. Specifically, that taking Alfonso Soriano out of the game late for defensive reasons is absurd. ``You don't take superstar players out of the lineup,'' the manager said.

But in defense of WSCR-AM's Jesse Rogers, whether the question could have been rephrased, it wasn’t out of line -- especially considering it was Soriano’s first game back from the disabled list and Piniella has been known to do stranger things trying to secure a win.

]]> http://blogs.suntimes.com/cubs/2008/05/lou_on_playing_soriano_sitting.html http://blogs.suntimes.com/cubs/2008/05/lou_on_playing_soriano_sitting.html Wittenmyer Fri, 02 May 2008 20:36:54 -0600 Chad Fox up, Kevin Hart down The Cubs made a roster move today with middle relief pitchers Chad Fox and Kevin Hart. Here's the official release:

]]> http://blogs.suntimes.com/cubs/2008/05/chad_fox_up_kevin_hart_down.html http://blogs.suntimes.com/cubs/2008/05/chad_fox_up_kevin_hart_down.html Fri, 02 May 2008 14:12:20 -0600 Soriano activated, Murton sent down As expected, the Cubs activated Alfonso Soriano from the disabled list. And he'll return to the leadoff spot. Matt Murton was sent down.

]]> http://blogs.suntimes.com/cubs/2008/05/soriano_activated_murton_sent.html http://blogs.suntimes.com/cubs/2008/05/soriano_activated_murton_sent.html Thu, 01 May 2008 12:10:22 -0600 Pick the lineup Cubs manager Lou Piniella feels the media fantasize about the Cubs' lineup. Knowing most of the media, Cubs lineups are deep on their list of fantasies. Judging from our e-mail, fans have their own fantasies about lineups.

So here's your chance. With Alfonso Soriano set to come off the disabled list Thursday, there will be a new dynamic to the Cubs' lineup. How would you fill out the top eight?

]]> http://blogs.suntimes.com/cubs/2008/04/pick_the_lineup.html http://blogs.suntimes.com/cubs/2008/04/pick_the_lineup.html Sun, 27 Apr 2008 13:11:21 -0600 Murton up, Patterson down The Cubs recalled Matt Murton from Class AAA Iowa and optioned Eric Patterson.

]]> http://blogs.suntimes.com/cubs/2008/04/murton_up_patterson_down.html http://blogs.suntimes.com/cubs/2008/04/murton_up_patterson_down.html Sat, 19 Apr 2008 10:13:14 -0600 Hey, man, booooo! Dusty Baker returned. And got booed. Just like the ex-Cubs manager said the fans at Wrigley would do before the game. But that didn't keep the new Cincinnati manager from smiling and looking happier than he has in years, at least around here.

``Life is good,'' he said behind the batting cage about an hour before the game. ``My life is real good.''

]]> http://blogs.suntimes.com/cubs/2008/04/hey_man_booooo.html http://blogs.suntimes.com/cubs/2008/04/hey_man_booooo.html Wittenmyer Tue, 15 Apr 2008 19:02:01 -0600 Lou's lost investment opportunity While talking about fiery pitcher Carlos Zambrano's angry outbursts during games gone wrong, Cubs manager Lou Piniella remembered being charged for water coolers he broke with his bat during his playing career -- four or five, by his estimate, at about $250 to $300 a pop.

But he made sure to make a point each time he had to pay up.

]]> http://blogs.suntimes.com/cubs/2008/04/lous_lost_investment_opportuni.html http://blogs.suntimes.com/cubs/2008/04/lous_lost_investment_opportuni.html Wittenmyer Sun, 13 Apr 2008 00:40:09 -0600 New year, same Big Z He might be off the caffiene and energy drinks but even a better hydrated, less jacked-up Carlos Zambrano is no less hulking, animated and reactionary on the mound than he ever was. Anyboyd watching Friday's game on TV saw that in the Phillies' decisive sixth inning when Pat Burrell drove a run-scoring double over lead-footed Daryle Ward, who was in right field getting his first start of the season.

]]> http://blogs.suntimes.com/cubs/2008/04/new_year_same_big_z.html http://blogs.suntimes.com/cubs/2008/04/new_year_same_big_z.html Wittenmyer Fri, 11 Apr 2008 22:00:21 -0600 It's the buddy system for Lou Only Bobby Cox has been kicked out of more games than Lou Piniella among active managers, but the Cubs' skipper wasn't about to bite when asked if -- like Ozzie Guillen's public beef with umpire Phil Cuzzi -- he had any problems with particular umpires.

``The umpires are all my buddies,'' Piniella said, smiling.

]]> http://blogs.suntimes.com/cubs/2008/04/its_the_buddy_system_for_lou.html http://blogs.suntimes.com/cubs/2008/04/its_the_buddy_system_for_lou.html Wittenmyer Thu, 10 Apr 2008 23:26:21 -0600