Chicago Cubs News

Interest in Lilly about to pick up?
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July 29
Foxsports.com
 
"If the Astros trade right-hander Roy Oswalt, they will be even more unlikely to move righty Brett Myers. And if the Astros won't trade move Myers, then Cubs lefty Ted Lilly will be the best starting pitcher left on the market -- assuming, of course, that there isn't a late rush on a mystery starter. Last July, that starter was the Mariners' Felix Hernandez. This year, it could be the Royals' Zach Greinke. But for now, Lilly would be the best known starter available. The Phillies' acquisition of Oswalt would end their interest in Lilly. But the Twins and Dodgers remain active on Lilly, the Mets and Tigers are on the periphery and other teams could enter the mix. The Twins are on Lilly's"
Lee lowers boom twice on Cubs
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July 29
Houston Chronicle
 
"Carlos Lee might be in the midst of a bad — make that ghastly — year by his standards, but he has managed to remain atop the Astros' leader board in run production. Whether that serves as consolation for Lee or an indictment on how the rest of the team has fared at the plate is up for debate. What was certain Wednesday afternoon was Lee's ability to impact the Astros' chances of running away with a game that otherwise might have been tough to claim. Lee homered twice and drove in four runs in a span of two innings, and the Astros claimed their fourth consecutive series against the Chicago Cubs with an 8-1 come-from-behind victory before 28,046 at Minute Maid Park. "It's been so hard for me"
Lilly would be free to return as free agent
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July 29
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"The big question about left-hander Ted Lilly isn't so much whether he'll be traded this week but whether he'll come back next season as a free agent. The Cubs say they won't make that kind of decision until after the season. And several factors might come into play, not the least of which is how quickly and efficiently they can unload right-hander Carlos Zambrano. But with a continuing emphasis on grooming high-end prospects into a contending core, the value of having respected, tone-setting veterans such as Lilly and right-hander Ryan Dempster at the front of the rotation is part of the thought process going forward. ''We'll see,'' Lilly said. ''We're getting toward the end of July, and"
Derrek Lee says he was tempted, but exercised no-trade rights to nix deal last week
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July 29
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"The next 60 hours or so for the Cubs are all about Ted Lilly. First baseman Derrek Lee made sure of that when the pending free agent exercised his no-trade rights last week. He blocked a potential trade to the Los Angeles Angels and told general manager Jim Hendry he plans to remain with the Cubs through the last two months of his contract. ''I thought about it for a good 24 hours, kind of agonized over it,'' Lee said after the Cubs' 8-1 loss Wednesday to the Houston Astros. ''But the bottom line is family.'' The Cubs have been more focused this month on efforts to get value for Lilly, their top trading chip, as they near Saturday's 3 p.m. non-waiver deadline. They had not approached Lee"
Lee wants to stay with Cubs
Comment
July 29
Chicago Tribune
 
"Derrek Lee's decision to remain with the Cubs until the end of the season clearly expresses his desire to stay longer. But it remains unclear if he will get that chance. Lee said Wednesday the subject of a contract extension after the season was not addressed in his talks with general manager Jim Hendry before he opted to exercise his rights to block a trade to the Angels. "You guys know I'm having a terrible season,'' Lee said. "That's where my thoughts have been.'' Lee, a free agent at the end of the year, is in the midst of his worst season since 1999. He's batting .248 with only 11 home runs and 44 RBIs in 97 games. He was out of the lineup Wednesday for the 8-1 loss to the Astros."
Cubs' Derrek Lee rejected a trade to the Angels
Comment
July 29
Los Angeles Times
 
"Chicago Cubs first baseman Derrek Lee used his rights as a player with 10 years' big league experience and five years with the same team to reject a trade to the Angels last week. "It was very tempting," Lee told reporters in Houston after the Cubs' 8-1 loss to the Astros on Wednesday. "I didn't just say no right away. A lot of thought goes into it." According to a major league source, Lee vetoed the trade seven to 10 days ago. The Angels then turned their sights to Kansas City, acquiring Royals third baseman Alberto Callespo for two minor league pitchers on July 22. Lee, 34, called the process "agonizing" and said he spoke to several friends on the Angels before making the decision."
Derrek Lee tells Cubs he won't accept a trade
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July 28
ESPN.com
 
"Chicago Cubs first baseman Derrek Lee has told the organization he prefers to remain a Cub rather than accept a trade. The Texas Rangers and Los Angeles Angels proposed trades to the Cubs over the past 10 days for Lee, who has 10-and-5 rights as a player who's been in the majors 10 years, including five with the same team. Cubs general manager Jim Hendry confirmed to ESPNChicago.com that Lee wants to stay with the Cubs until the end of his contract. Lee's five-year deal ends after this season."
Cubs willing to cover some of Lilly's salary
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July 28
ESPN.com
 
"Lilly had a rough stretch just before the All-Star break. But he's done nothing but help his marketability since, with 24 strikeouts in 20 innings and a 1.80 ERA in three starts -- including 5 2/3 shutout innings in Houston on Tuesday. The 34-year-old left-hander has more than $4 million left on his $13 million salary for this year. But the Cubs have indicated a willingness in recent days to take some of that money. And that would be a key to getting a deal done with the Dodgers, whose interest in Lilly has appeared to pick up lately as their chances of getting Oswalt have dwindled. The Cubs also don't seem to be operating from the same position of strength they were in a week ago. Back"
Best deal for Cubs' future? Re-sign Lilly
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July 28
Chicago Tribune
 columnist David Haugh
"Remind me again why the Cubs likely will trade Ted Lilly before Saturday's deadline? I understand the Cubs want to guarantee they get some form of compensation for Lilly rather than let him walk away for nothing as a free agent at the end of the season. But why let Lilly walk away at all? If I'm Jim Hendry, instead of trying to find the right trade partner for Lilly, I would focus instead on keeping him. I would make an 11th-hour appeal and lock myself in a room with his agent and vow not to come out until we work out a contract extension. Make Lilly the first big move of the 2010 off-season. Well, technically it would mark the second big move: Lou Piniella's retirement announcement"
Twins have asked about Lilly ... but there's a hurdle
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July 28
Foxsports.com
 
"The Twins have asked about Chicago Cubs left-hander Ted Lilly. Minnesota, however, is on Lilly's no-trade list, so it would be easier to deal him to other clubs. Lilly is owed about $4 million the rest of the season. It would require additional compensation for him to waive his no-trade to the Twins."
Cook, Cubs' Theriot part of trade winds
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July 28
Denver Post
 
"Ryan Theriot figures to be playing this weekend at Coors Field when the Rockies face the Chicago Cubs. Question is, which team will he be playing for? With Major League Baseball counting down the days to Saturday's trading deadline, Theriot's name has surfaced as a possible target for the Rockies. Meanwhile, the New York Post reported Tuesday that Aaron Cook is on the market. The Rockies also are known to be discussing Florida infielder Jorge Cantu and Toronto reliever Kevin Gregg. But that's assuming they will be buyers in the aftermath of their disastrous 2-9 road trip. Another loss or two and they could be sellers. In that event, various names could come into play, including Cook, Brad"
Cubs still awaiting that talk with 'Z'
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July 28
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"After taking a beating in the Chicago media and from fans after his sudden appearance on national TV Monday before speaking with teammates, Carlos Zambrano reached out Tuesday morning to the team's official website in an apparent try to explain himself. But judging from reaction in the clubhouse, neither public offering matters much to Cubs teammates, who publicly say they'll accept Big Z's return and anticipated apology in stride and continue about their business as usual. Privately, though, many of them suggest their lack of regard for Zambrano's self-serving media forays the last two days results from the feeling his actions were nothing out of character for the guy who's scheduled to"
Lilly would like to stay with Cubs, but understands he doesn't get final say
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July 28
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"Manager Lou Piniella, who's in his final two months with the Cubs, and pitcher Ted Lilly, who may be in his final week, shared a poignant five-minute ride to the ballpark Tuesday. ''And we talked a little bit about his situation,'' Piniella said after Lilly made an impressive -- and likely final -- start as a Cub in Tuesday's 6-1 loss to the Houston Astros. ''He wants to stay here. But he understands.'' Lilly, one of the most coveted pitchers available on the trade market, is expected to be gone by Saturday's 3 p.m. non-waiver trade deadline -- if not by game time Friday, when Carlos Zambrano is expected to be activated from the restricted list. ''That's what I've been hearing. And"
Cubs running back opening eyes
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July 28
Chicago Tribune
 
"The Cubs' scouting staff is beaming about the success of fifth-round pick Matt Szczur, an outfielder who is being promoted to low-A Peoria after batting .397 and scoring 16 runs in 18 games with rookie-level Boise. Szczur, a running back, will return for his senior season at Villanova after a short stay at Peoria. He was Colonial Athletic Association Player of the Year in 2009, leading his team to a national championship in the Football Championship Subdivision. Szczur (pronounced See-zur) used his speed to hit safely in all 18 games for Boise. He's on the NFL radar as a kick returner and wide receiver, and will decide whether to concentrate on football or baseball after the season. He"
Myers outshines Lilly in showcase game
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July 28
Chicago Tribune
 
"Showcase Night went fairly well for Ted Lilly, but no so well for the Cubs. While Lilly held the Astros scoreless for 5 2/3 innings, he was nowhere near as strong as counterpart Brett Myers. A large group of scouts was studying both closely, and it was Myers along with first baseman Lance Berkman who made the biggest impressions. Berkman delivered a grand slam off reliever Andrew Cashner and Myers turned in a 12-strikeout complete game 6-1 victory to even the series. "For the most part I like the way I threw,'' Lilly said. "I would have really liked to keep up with Myers. I had my hands full trying to do that. He pitched a great game.'' Lilly and Myers both are expected to file for free"
Padres looking into Theriot and Keppinger
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July 27
ESPN.com
 
"The Padres have been trying to hone in on a left-field bat. But their three main targets -- David DeJesus, Corey Hart and Werth -- are suddenly either hurt, prohibitively expensive or fading off the market entirely. So the Padres now seem to be shifting toward just adding depth. Among the names linked to them: Ryan Theriot and Jeff Keppinger."
Oswalt talks going nowhere, Dodgers looking into Lilly
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July 27
ESPN.com
 
"A source familiar with the Roy Oswalt talks tells Rumblings they're "going nowhere" at the moment. And there are increasing questions at this point as to whether Oswalt is going to get traded, period, unless the price drops considerably. As we reported yesterday, the Astros have asked teams for four players -- one front-line young player off the big league roster, two high-end prospects and one second-tier prospect. And at this point, said one source, "nobody is even close." So the Dodgers are now looking into Ted Lilly. The Phillies have kicked around a variety of other options -- from bullpen (primarily Scott Downs) to infield bats (primarily Miguel Tejada). And the Cardinals, according"
Big Z eager to apologize to teammates
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July 27
MLB.com
 
"Carlos Zambrano said Tuesday that he can't wait to see his Cubs teammates to apologize in person, something he would have done sooner if allowed. "I know I made a mistake," Zambrano told MLB.com on Tuesday. "I'm a person and a human, and I know when I make a mistake. I have to come to the team and apologize. "I'm not going to [apologize] because [the Cubs] said I have to do it," he said. "I'm going to do it from my heart. I want to be clear and at peace with my teammates." Zambrano spoke to MLB.com before traveling to Albuquerque with the Triple-A Iowa team. Currently on the restricted list for Chicago, he was expected to pitch Tuesday or Wednesday, and then be activated Friday when the"
Tigers manager Jim Leyland says Cubs lefty Ted Lilly's name has not been mentioned in trade talks
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July 27
Michigan Live
 
"If the Detroit Tigers are interested in Chicago Cubs left-hander Ted Lilly, it would be news to Tigers manager Jim Leyland. "I heard a rumor that we were getting a guy from the Cubs," Leyland said with an incredulous tone. The name of the player was escaping him, and a reporter asked if it was Lilly. Leyland said it was. "Yeah," Leyland said, "and I've never heard Ted Lilly's name mentioned." And what about Boston Red Sox third baseman Mike Lowell, whom the Tigers scouted last week on his rehabilitation assignment with Triple-A Pawtucket? According to ESPNBoston.com, Detroit and the Texas Rangers have lost interest in him. The Tigers have used Don Kelly and Scott Sizemore at third since"
Zambrano's apology stunt careless, selfish
Comment
July 27
Chicago Sun-Times
 columnist Rick Morrissey
"The apology was supposed to be made in front of teammates, not a microphone and a camera. That was what the Cubs had said and, presumably, that's what Carlos Zambrano had been told. Before he would tell anyone else he was sorry for his volcanic dugout eruption a month ago, he would face his fellow Cubs, admit he had let them down and ask for forgiveness. Instead, Big Z met ESPN for a very public apology Monday that should have his teammates fuming. It gave them a crystal-clear indication of where they stand in the pecking order: somewhere behind him and the millions of viewers and readers who saw or read the deeply held regrets he expressed to the Worldwide Leader in Sports. The situation"
Silva bounces back, picks up 10th victory
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July 27
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"Ted Lilly. Derrek Lee. Kosuke Fukudome. Xavier Nady. Cubs general manager Jim Hendry can trade anyone he wants before the non-waiver deadline at 3 p.m. Saturday, but he's not going to do better than the first trade he made last winter. Carlos Silva? Nobody saw this coming. OK, maybe they saw that double off the wall on his second pitch Monday night. But when Silva settled down to pitch five good-enough innings after lasting a combined 2 1/3 innings his last two starts, he accomplished something in a few months he couldn't come close to doing in two years with the Seattle Mariners. He won for the 10th time in 14 decisions, beating the Houston Astros 5-2 -- and doubling his two-year win"
Ramirez: I guess I'll stay with Cubs next season
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July 27
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"The Cubs don't know what their roster will look like by the end of the week, much less the end of the season. But next year is already starting to come into focus. When Aramis Ramirez said Monday for the first time that he expects to exercise his $14.6 million player option for next season, it appeared to set at least six of the first eight spots in next April's opening lineup for the Cubs' new manager. Whether that's enough change for fans who had hoped to see drastic roster movement -- if not a housecleaning -- in the wake of back-to-back disappointing seasons, general manager Jim Hendry's offseason agenda won't be especially long if he can move some contracts during the season."
Hall of Fame restructuring Santo's 'Golden' chance?
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July 27
Chicago Tribune
 
"With the Hall of Fame restructuring its election procedure for those long retired, the Cubs' Ron Santo will have to wait until at least the summer of 2012 for his next chance at election. And if he fails then, he would have to wait another three years. Santo will likely be included on a newly formed "Golden Era" ballot that will be voted on a year from December. Unlike past years, the list will include not only overlooked players, but managers, umpires and executives from 1947-1972. The ballot will have 10 names and be voted on by a 16-member committee of Hall of Fame members, team executives and historians/media members. It will take a three-fourths majority to elect anyone. This"
Silva prevails with help from his defense
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July 27
Chicago Tribune
 
"Imagine Carlos Silva's relief. A strong candidate for the All-Star team, Silva had come crashing down since he was left off the National League team. His sinkers had been staying up in the strike zone and driven to the outfield gaps. His control had been shaky as well, resulting in his having managed only seven outs in 19 days entering Monday's game against the Astros, the opener of a six-game trip for the Cubs. Silva struck back at Minute Maid Park, earning the victory in a 5-2 game. He was helped out greatly by running catches from right fielder Tyler Colvin in the first inning and center fielder Marlon Byrd in the second. Both had to go full out to take extra-base hits away from"
Zambrano apologizes — but not to teammates
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July 27
Chicago Tribune
 
"There's a Carlos Zambrano impersonator on the loose. Zambrano, man of his word, had said he wouldn't be doing any interviews for the time being — not because he wanted to disrespect the reporters seeking him (especially those covering the Cubs) but because he had too much respect for his teammates. He wanted them to be the first to hear his side of the story on the June 25 meltdown at U.S. Cellular Field. And, you know, when Big Z says something, you take it to the bank. Something is clearly amiss, however. There was a man who looked a lot like Zambrano, and who looked like he was in actual pain, speaking to ESPN reporter Pedro Gomez on Monday. What about the teamwide apology? Cubs manager"
Carlos Zambrano apologizes for tirade
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July 26
ESPN.com
 
"Cubs pitcher Carlos Zambrano apologized on Monday for his dugout tirade last month, professed his love for Chicago and thanked the team for helping him receive therapy for anger management issues. The former Cubs ace has been on the restricted list since June 29 following a three-game suspension for an emotional outburst aimed at teammates in the dugout of a June 25 game against the Chicago White Sox. During that game, Zambrano, who gave up four runs in the first inning, screamed at teammate Derrek Lee, who barked back at the pitcher before manager Lou Piniella, pitching coach Larry Rothschild and bench coach Alan Trammell stepped between them. "It was a moment of frustration," Zambrano"
Not a question of if Lilly will be traded, but when
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July 26
MLB.com
 
"We're hearing it's not a question of if Ted Lilly will be traded but when. The deadline is Saturday at 4 p.m. ET. Lilly's next start is Tuesday in Houston. Cubs assistant GM Randy Bush spent a long time talking to the left-hander in the clubhouse prior to Sunday's game."
Dawson's peak
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July 26
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"The game Andre Dawson loved most returned the love Sunday on its grandest stage, proving the message the former Cubs great repeated to fans in front of him and the game's greatest living members seated behind him. ''I didn't play this game with this in mind,'' Dawson said as he became the 203rd player to be inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. ''But I'm living proof that if you love the game, the game will love you back. I dabbled in other sports -- my knees are proof of that -- but baseball was my love and where I belonged. ''And I found out quickly that if you love this game, the game will love you back.'' On an afternoon when rain eventually broke for sunshine, Dawson, too,"
Manager job would suit Valentine fine
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July 26
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"ESPN analyst Bobby Valentine showed up to Wrigley Field on Sunday so sharp in his suit and tie that he appeared to be headed to a job interview. If Valentine has his way, he will be the next time he's in Chicago. The former Texas Rangers and New York Mets manager, who has been speculated to be among the potential candidates to replace Lou Piniella, said he wants to interview for the Cubs' managerial opening. ''I'd love to,'' he said. ''[The speculation] is flattering. It's flattering that people remember the name. It's probably a real easy one to spell, too. Most people have it on their calendar.'' However, when asked whether he'd contact the Cubs to request an interview, Valentine said,"
Haren trade to Angels heightens Lilly's value
Comment
July 26
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"The market for Cubs left-hander Ted Lilly just got a lot hotter with Sunday's trade of Diamondbacks pitcher Dan Haren to the Angels. The Angels weren't even considered one of the top pursuers of starting pitching. Cubs officials downplayed the idea of any deals being close, much less imminent, but the clock is ticking fast on Lilly, who's scheduled to start Tuesday night in Houston -- suggesting talks could ramp up dramatically over the next 24 hours. ''You think about it. There's no way to pretend it's not there,'' said Lilly, whose 3-8 record is mostly a function of the worst run support in the majors. ''The main thing is, just don't let it consume you. Don't put too much into it.'' The"
Cubs waste scoring chances in loss to Cardinals
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July 26
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"They say they still believe. Maybe they have to. But the reality is becoming more inescapable with every one-run loss on the pile, with every 12-inning and 11-inning home game they lose to division opponents when the margin for those kinds of losses disappeared sometime in June. And if Sunday night's 4-3, 11-inning loss to the St. Louis Cardinals on a night they outlasted Chris Carpenter didn't make reality bite hard enough, then this week's road-trip countdown to the trading deadline should leave little room for doubt. Tuesday's scheduled starter Ted Lilly starts the road trip as one of the biggest trading chips on the market in the wake of Sunday's Dan Haren-to-the-Angels trade. And"
Lilly's last day at Wrigley Field?
Comment
July 26
Chicago Tribune
 
"Ted Lilly was camped out at his usual position -- shortstop -- during pre-game batting practice on Sunday in what's expected to be his final day as a Cub at Wrigley Field. Lilly is one the top pitchers available on the trade market, and may have moved up a notch after the Los Angeles Angels acquired Dan Haren from Arizona on Sunday for Joe Saunders and three other players. Lilly has pitched better than Haren this year, though he's older and will become a free agent in November, so it won't take as much to pry him from the Cubs. He's 3-8 with a 3.88 earned-run average, though he has allowed 19 home runs in his 17 starts. He went 0-2 with a 6.57 ERA in July, but posted a 2.51 ERA over his"
Cubs' manager job interests Valentine
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July 26
Chicago Tribune
 
"Bobby Valentine joined Ryne Sandberg and Bob Brenly as officially having interest in succeeding Lou Piniella as the Cubs' manager next year. Valentine, who was at Wrigley Field on Sunday as an analyst for ESPN on "Sunday Night Baseball," said it would be an opportunity any manager would like. "Lou's been a fabulous manager his entire career, he's done a great job here," Valentine said. "He's leaving, possibly, without doing what he came in there to start with (win a World Series), but he still might be able to do that, and I'm wishing that's the case. "As far as the job coming open at the end of the season, anyone that considers himself a manager would think about how attractive this"
Zambrano will rejoin Cubs next weekend
Comment
July 26
Chicago Tribune
 
"Carlos Zambrano will throw one more outing for Triple-A Iowa before returning from the restricted list next weekend in Colorado. "We thought all along it would be in the Colorado series," manager Lou Piniella said. "And it looks that way." Zambrano threw two scoreless innings on Saturday against Round Rock in a 29-pitch outing, allowing one hit while striking out three. "He threw strikes, had good movement on the ball," Piniella said. "It was a positive effort." Climate control: The Cubs entered Sunday's game tied for first in the National League in home runs (30) in July and first in slugging percentage at .473. They were second in runs scored (108) and batting average (.277). The hot"
Cubs lose to Cardinals in 11 innings
Comment
July 26
Chicago Tribune
 
"Whether the Cubs are deluding themselves into thinking they're still in a pennant race seemed immaterial for a few hours Sunday at Wrigley Field. With a cool breeze blowing in from left field, the possibility of sweeping the Cardinals was reason enough for a season-high crowd of 41,406 to elevate the importance of Sunday's game, no matter how many mathematicians concur the Cubs' playoff chances are practically nil. In a seesaw affair that included a handful of made-for-ESPN moments, the Cardinals wound up with a 4-3, 11-inning win, moving back into first place in the NL Central by a half-game over the Reds. Felipe Lopez's solo homer off Cubs rookie Brian Schlitter snapped a 3-3 tie in the"
Dawson: 'This is for my mother'
Comment
July 26
Chicago Tribune
 
"On the January day he would learn he had been elected to the Hall of Fame, Andre Dawson made a morning visit to a Miami cemetery. There he paid tribute to his late grandmother, Eunice Taylor, and mother, Mattie Brown. The two women raised him, instilling a work ethic and a belief in God, which along with the genes also passed along by an absent father put him on the road to baseball's version of immortality. Brown died in 2006, after she had assured Dawson he would eventually be elected to the Hall of Fame. "She said it's inevitable,'' Dawson said. "What God had planned, no man can change. … She did the impossible every day. She raised a family. She kept it together some way. More than"
Dawson's Hall speech thanks Cubs, fans
Comment
July 26
Chicago Tribune
 columnist Phil Rogers
"There are few better settings in baseball than the pastoral land near the Hall of Fame. Each July baseball fans gather there to worship, celebrate or just remember some of the best players ever. Some arrive by bus, others park downtown and walk a mile south on Susquehanna Avenue to the Clark Sports Center, with ancient trees and stone walks lining the road. It's a route every fan should follow at least once. But for Sunday's induction, it was only the second-best possible site. How great would Andre Dawson's induction have been at Wrigley Field, a stage set in right field, before legions of fans letting him know that they were not worthy? Seldom has there been a more personal bond between"
Dawson, Herzog, Harvey inducted into Hall
Comment
July 26
MLB.com
 
"The Hawk, the Rat and the Lord all took their places in the National Baseball Hall of Fame behind the Clark Sports Center on a rare grey and rainy induction Sunday. Andre Dawson, Whitey Herzog and Doug Harvey were this year's inductees, raising the total of plaques in the Hall of Fame to 292. That number includes nine umpires, 19 managers and 203 players. Forty-seven previously elected members were on the stage for the 68th Hall of Fame induction ceremony. Midway through the three-hour event, and just as Harvey's pre-recorded acceptance speech began on a giant video screen, the heaviest rain suddenly ended and the weather was just fine, as the sun played hide and seek with storm clouds"
Andre Dawson a worthy choice for Hall of Fame
Comment
July 25
Toronto Star
 columnist Richard Griffin
"On Sunday, outfielder Andre Dawson will become the second player to enter the Hall of Fame at Cooperstown wearing the colours of the Montreal Expos, joining Gary "The Kid" Carter. Both men, teammates, dominated the NL at their positions in the late '70s early '80s. With the Expos franchise transferred to Washington, unless Tim Raines is ever voted in, "The Hawk" could very well be the last. There could not be a more deserving representative for the Hall and for Montreal than Dawson. I worked with the man as a rookie and then for the first 11 years of his career and it should say all that needs to be said that I gave my youngest son the middle name, Andre, after Dawson. I was hoping that"
Roy-O gets KO'd by Reds' big bats
Comment
July 25
Houston Chronicle
 
"Rarely has one start midway through a lost season held as much potential as it did for Roy Oswalt on Saturday night. Consequently, there has rarely been such a letdown. A flirtation with contending suitors? Rejected. An invitation to the record book? Declined. A farewell to the home crowd? Spoiled. Of course, in a season that has seen nothing go right, why should this? Oswalt, the top pitching name on the trade market, saw his bid to tie Joe Niekro's Astros record for career wins emphatically turned aside in a 7-0 loss to the newly termed first-place Cincinnati Reds at Minute Maid Park. The righthander, who has another week to receive the trade he requested in May, gave up six runs on nine"
Could Detroit be next stop for LHP Ted Lilly?
Comment
July 25
Detroit Free Press
 
"Tigers manager Jim Leyland was asked about two of the hottest names in trade-deadline talks — Red Sox third baseman Mike Lowell and Chicago Cubs left-hander Ted Lilly — and insisted he has not heard their names mentioned and expected that president and general manager Dave Dombrowski would consult him if something was imminent. "I've not had any discussion about either one of those players with anybody that is important," Leyland said before Saturday's game against Toronto. "I've heard a couple players a couple weeks ago, and I haven't heard anybody since." Leyland said he and Dombrowski have not spoken about specific players in trade talks in two weeks. He did concede that things usually"
Cashner survives battle with Pujols
Comment
July 25
Chicago Tribune
 
"It was an old-fashioned baseball battle — Andrew Cashner vs. Albert Pujols — that eventually went to the youngster. In just his 22nd major league appearance, the Cubs' Cashner was trying to preserve a three-run lead in the seventh inning Saturday, but Cardinals were standing at the corners, there were no outs and Pujols was waiting in anticipation at home plate. With his fastball consistently at 100 mph, Cashner kept throwing the ball and Pujols kept fouling it off. Finally, on the eighth pitch, the Cardinals slugger connected, and while it turned into a sacrifice fly, the out helped preserve an eventual 6-5 victory for the Cubs."
Andre 'Hawk' Dawson gets all due respect
Comment
July 25
Chicago Sun-Times
 columnist Toni Ginnetti
"Count Whitey Herzog among those who wanted to see Andre ''Hawk'' Dawson inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame today as a Cub. After all, Herzog, who joins Dawson today on the induction podium, saw everything he didn't want to see as the St. Louis Cardinals' manager in Dawson, the Cub. 'I was very upset when he came to Chicago because I knew what kind of player he was,'' Herzog said Saturday as Dawson sat beside him. ''He was a five-tool player. But the thing I admired about him the most, because I used to talk to [then-Cubs manager Don Zimmer] about all he went through with his knees, was he was out there every day. He rang the bell every day. He always went full speed to first"
Cards are blanked again
Comment
July 24
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
 
"There were days five and six summers ago that the Cardinals' infield defense helped elevate Jeff Suppan. This time around it has helped keep him down. On a scalding afternoon when a hitter's wind blew at Wrigley Field, the Cardinals suffered one of their most thorough setbacks this season in a 5-0 loss that offered all sorts of bad history. Less than two months after he failed to secure an out against the Cardinals in a 16-pitch eviction from the first inning, Cubs starter Randy Wells (5-7) atoned by holding a suddenly dormant lineup to five singles. The Cardinals, who trailed from Suppan's first strike on, have followed an eight-game winning streak with their first consecutive shutout"
Lilly could be traded before weekend's over
Comment
July 24
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"With contenders struggling to find the right match for available starters Roy Oswalt and Dan Haren on the trade market, interest in Cubs left-hander Ted Lilly has stepped up dramatically and a trade could be completed by the end of the weekend, major-league sources said Friday. Lilly's trade value skyrocketed after he held the Houston Astros to one run in 7 1/3 innings Wednesday. His next scheduled start is Tuesday in Houston, and sources say the Cubs would like to complete a deal before that outing. The struggling New York Mets have shown the most interest in Lilly. The Detroit Tigers are also believed to be shifting their attention to Lilly after hitting a wall in talks with the Arizona"
Big Z story still a sorry state of affairs
Comment
July 24
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"Controversial Cubs pitcher Carlos Zambrano caused some confusion Thursday when he told reporters covering his minor-league tune-up opener Thursday at Class AAA Iowa that he would speak after his outing, then abruptly changed course and said he wasn't allowed to talk. Did the Cubs tell Big Z to zip it? ''No,'' general manager Jim Hendry said Friday. ''It's up to him.'' The fact Zambrano hasn't apologized to his teammates after going ballistic on many of them June 25 during a start at U.S. Cellular Field against the White Sox remains a sore spot on the North Side. ''He's got ground to make up in there,'' one key member of the Cubs said Friday, pointing at the clubhouse. According to"
Too soon for Cubs to phone it in
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July 24
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"Long before he had a mini fit in the dugout -- repeatedly slamming the little door to the clubhouse telephone during a maddening sixth inning when Ryan Theriot scored from second on a lost pop-up in front of the plate -- St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony La Russa was taking a thoughtful, lawyerly approach to the National League Central. Maybe he was being kind to old pal Lou Piniella. Or maybe La Russa has been down this road enough times to know it's way too early to put much stock in the standings during July. But on Friday morning, La Russa said the darnedest thing about the Cubs, a club most folks in Chicago wrote off a long time ago. ''The only time that you would ever say that a team"
Cubs blank Cardinals 5-0
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July 24
Chicago Tribune
 
"When Randy Wells faced the Cardinals in late May at Wrigley Field, he failed to retire a batter as he gave up five runs in the first inning. Wells became the first Cubs pitcher to give up six straight hits to start a game since Bill Bonham in 1975, and the first to leave without recording an out since Geremi Gonzalez in 1998. But on an unbearably humid Friday, Wells threw seven shutout innings against the first-place Cardinals in the Cubs' 5-0 victory in the opener of the series. "It was pretty miserable out there today," Wells said. But much more miserable for the Cardinals, who watched Jeff Suppan serve up home runs to Tyler Colvin, Geovany Soto and Alfonso Soriano while their offense"
La Russa ignores talk of succeeding Piniella
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July 23
Chicago Tribune
 
"Lou Piniella sat down on the dugout bench on a scorching Friday morning at Wrigley Field. "It's hot," he said. So would that make it a hot seat? "That's it," he said with a laugh. Piniella will be on the hot seat for only a couple more months before turning over the reins to the next Cubs manager. Who that man will be is the greatest guessing game on the North Side since, well, since Dusty Baker's job was in peril four years ago. St. Louis manager Tony La Russa, who is in the final year of his contract, was asked how he handles speculation he would be a candidate to succeed Piniella. "Just ignore it," he said. La Russa is not considered a target of general manager Jim Hendry, not to"
Zambrano to rejoin Cubs during road trip
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July 23
ESPN.com
 
"Chicago Cubs manager Lou Piniella expects rehabbing pitcher Carlos Zambrano to rejoin the team toward the end of the Cubs' next road trip, which stretches from Monday to Aug. 1. Zambrano, who was suspended June 25 and put on the restricted list after a dugout tirade directed at his teammates, including Derrek Lee, pitched Thursday for Triple-A Iowa in his first action since being activated. He threw 15 pitches in a less-than-impressive scoreless inning. "We talked about [it being easier for Zambrano to return on the road]," Piniella said Friday before the Cubs opened a series against the St. Louis Cardinals at Wrigley Field. "I think that [would] probably be a little easier. "But at the"