Cubs News

Cubs can only wait for Soriano to shake slump
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July 3
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"It's times like these you can't live with Alfonso Soriano. But the Cubs can't live without him, either. Not if they want to get back to the playoffs. Even as the Cubs' lineup drools over the anticipated return next week of top hitter Aramis Ramirez, it's Soriano whose impact most directly affects this lineup. It's been that way throughout 2½ seasons with the Cubs and never more than during this season -- for better the first six weeks of the season, and for worse the last six weeks. Flawed, streaky leadoff hitter that he is, this is the deal with the baseball devils the Cubs made when they signed him to that eight-year contract: The top free-agent hitter on the market would have ungodly ..."
Cubs' Piniella hurting after flirting with old fire
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July 3
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"Lou Piniella is not a dragon, but the Cubs manager proved he still has fire. The proof came in the sixth inning Wednesday in Pittsburgh, when Piniella sprang out of the dugout and argued with first-base umpire Chad Fairchild after a close play at the bag. ''I'm done with that,'' Piniella said Thursday of questions about his famous fiery approach. ''You know, my chest was hurting after the ballgame. The trainer told me to take a nice, cold shower. I don't know why I had to answer that before. ''I went out and argued and I got kicked out, so now I don't have to answer that question anymore.'' Last month, Piniella was asked about his perceived lack of fire this season, and he dismissed the ..."
Minus Ramirez, Cubs break even in standings
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July 3
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"Here's the position the Cubs are in after beating first-place Milwaukee on Thursday: They are 2½ games out of first -- exactly where they were May 8, the day they lost All-Star third baseman Aramis Ramirez. Had someone told the Cubs they'd be the same distance from first nearly two months later -- while Ramirez nursed a dislocated left shoulder -- would they have taken that? ''Yeah, I would have taken that,'' general manager Jim Hendry said. ''You take the final result and the journey getting there, and it doesn't make you feel great, but collectively for how it's gone, and how little we've hit with men in scoring position ... I think we are somewhat fortunate not to be behind farther. ..."
Career night for D-Lee as Cubs blitz Brewers 9-5
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July 3
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"Benched leadoff hitter Alfonso Soriano had the best seat in the house for Derrek Lee's monster game against the Milwaukee Brewers on Thursday night as Lee drove in a career-high seven runs with a grand slam and three-run homer in the Cubs' 9-5 victory at Wrigley Field. Lee's night was a career first. And so was Soriano's. Since playing his first full season in the big leagues in 2001, Soriano never before had missed two consecutive games when healthy. But this is like no other time in Soriano's All-Star career. ''If I'm healthy? No,'' Soriano said of the rare benching. ''I get one, but not two. It's a little strange. It never happened before, but it's because I'm struggling at home ..."
Milwaukee Brewers expect race with Chicago Cubs to heat up
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July 3
Chicago Tribune
 
"In the past, back in the days of Cubbie Swagger, Aramis Ramirez ribbies and Ned Yost jitters, the pressure would have been on the Brewers during a four-game midseason series at Wrigley Field. But in these changing times, the National League Central theme seems to be keeping the pressure on the Cubs while they are down. If any team could use a jolt of confidence, it's the two-time defending division champions, not the team that chased them twice. After all, it was the Cubs who could have been swept 7 1/2 games out of first in these four games. "Considering where the two teams are, I would say, yeah, it's a big series," veteran center fielder Mike Cameron said. "We know it's a great ..."
Jeff Baker happy for opportunity with Chicago Cubs
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July 3
Chicago Tribune
 
"Joey Gathright lasted a little more than a month in a Cubs uniform before being traded to Baltimore for Ryan Freel, who lasted all of two months before being designated for assignment Thursday. Now the torch has been passed to Jeff Baker, an infielder acquired from Colorado for Class-A right-hander Al Alburquerque, who was also acquired in the Freel-Gathright deal. If may seem like a shell game, but general manager Jim Hendry said he wanted a right-handed infielder with a little more power off the bench. Baker, who played only 12 games with Colorado after suffering a sprained left hand, is a career .257 hitter with 22 career homers and 88 RBI in 231 games. "A different kind of player than ..."
Cubs manager Lou Piniella has fun with his ejection
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July 3
Chicago Tribune
 
"Lou Piniella's long-awaited ejection Wednesday night in Pittsburgh should curtail the questioning about his alleged lack of fire. "I'm done with that," Piniella said with a laugh. "My chest was hurting after the ballgame. The trainer told me to take a nice, cold shower." Piniella said he simply was arguing a call, not trying to make Cubs fans believe he still has the "fire" inside of him. Still, he said, "Now I don't have to answer that question anymore." Piniella said umpires have told him that if the bill of his cap touches them, he's in trouble, which is why he threw his cap down, which led to the ejection. "I was going to turn it around," he said. "But it was awkward, so I just took it ..."
7 RBIs for Derrek Lee in 9-5 Chicago Cubs victory over Milwaukee Brewers
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July 3
Chicago Tribune
 
"After Derrek Lee hit .189 with one home run in April, some Cubs fans cried for his benching. But Lee has been on fire since, and he hit two home runs with a career-high seven RBIs Thursday night in a 9-5 victory over the Brewers in the opener of a four-game showdown. "Keep going," Lee said. "Just about trying to help the team win. Tonight's a great night, but we're right back here [Friday afternoon] and it's another big game." The Cubs moved back to .500 at 38-38 and are now within 2 1/2 games of the Brewers and Cardinals, the division co-leaders after Thursday's action. The 11-game homestand against Milwaukee, Atlanta and St. Louis could be a pivotal point of the season, so it was crucial ..."
Lee, Cubs slam Milwaukee
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July 3
Wisconsin State Journal
 
"Seth McClung made his second start of the season for the Milwaukee Brewers on Thursday night, and it wasn't a memorable one. The big right-hander gave up seven hits and seven earned runs in 31/3 innings, paving the way for a 9-5 loss to the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. "It is disappointing to know that I got an opportunity to show what I could do," said McClung, who pitched out of the bullpen until recently. "It's disheartening. I know I'm better than the statistics I put up the last couple of times." Derrek Lee hit a grand slam and a three-run home run for a career-high seven RBIs, as the Cubs opened an 11-game homestand with a win over their NL Central rivals. The Brewers, who entered ..."
Pow! Right in the kisser
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July 3
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
 
"It was a question on the minds of many as the Milwaukee Brewers and Chicago Cubs began a four-game series Thursday night at Wrigley Field. Which was the bigger liability: the Cubs' underachieving offense or the Brewers' paper-thin starting rotation? For one game, at least, the answer was clear-cut. The Brewers might want to accelerate their pursuit of a starting pitcher. With Derrek Lee leading the charge with a three-run home run and grand slam, the Cubs pummeled fill-in starter Seth McClung and rolled to a 9-5 victory that was easier than the final score might indicate. Making his second start in place of injured right-hander Dave Bush, McClung was tagged for seven runs in 3 1/3 innings, ..."
Rockies trade Baker to Cubs for prospect
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July 2
Denver Post
 
"Jeff Baker, the Rockies multi-purpose utility man, was traded to the Chicago Cubs today in exchange for minor-league pitching prospect Alberto Alburquerque. Baker confirmed this morning that the trade had been made. "I'm looking forward to this opportunity," Baker said. Baker, who spent parts of four big-league seasons with the Rockies, is coming back from a stint on the 60-day disabled list because of an injured left hand."
Rockies send Baker to Cubs for prospect
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July 2
MLB.com
 
"The Rockies traded utility infielder Jeff Baker to the Cubs for Class A Daytona relief pitcher Alberto Alburquerque, who will be assigned to Double-A Tulsa, Rockies general manager Dan O'Dowd confirmed Thursday morning. Baker, who was at the end of a rehab stint for a right hand sprain, said he learned of the trade in a conversation with Cubs general manager Jim Hendry on Wednesday night."I haven't talked with [Cubs manager] Lou Piniella, but I did talk with Jim Hendry last night," said Baker as he headed to a flight Thursday morning so he could join the Cubs for their game against the Brewers at Wrigley Field on Thursday night. "I'm excited for the opportunity. I don't know what their ..."
Source: Cubs deal for Rockies' Baker
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July 2
Yahoo! Sports
 
"The Chicago Cubs have acquired Jeff Baker from the Colorado Rockies, according to a source close to the club. It is unclear who the Rockies will receive in return for Baker or the Cubs' plans for him."
Bucs Jones-ing for some runs
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July 2
Beaver County Times
 
"Garrett Jones wandered by himself in the Pirates' dugout a half hour before Wednesday night's game with the Chicago Cubs at PNC Park. He was eagerly anticipating his first major-league action since playing 31 games with the Minnesota Twins in 2007. In the wake of a trade that sent outfielder Nyjer Morgan to Washington, Jones made his Pirates debut, starting in right field. "They traded some guys, and I was fortunate enough that it was a position that I played and I was able to get up here and try and help this team win," said Jones, who went 0 for 4 in the Pirates' 4-1 loss. Derek Lee hit a two-run homer in the first, and Kosuke Fukudome added a solo shot in the sixth for Chicago. The ..."
A no-stars break could benefit Cubs
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July 2
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"A year ago, the Cubs set a National League record with eight All-Stars. This time around they're looking for something better: A three-day break from the grind of what might be the most underachieving team in baseball so far. Fan voting for All-Star starters ends today, and unless .230-hitting Alfonso Soriano had a stunning few days of ballot-box stuffing, the Cubs won't have a starter one year after three were voted into lineup. In fact, if not for the mandatory-selection rule, the Cubs could conceivably go from eight to none, considering the team's all-around poor hitting and the fact that even on the stalwart pitching staff, the closer ranks 12th in the league in saves and only one ..."
Sam Fuld fills in, sparks 4-1 win over Pirates
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July 2
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"How might history have changed if Wally Pipp had a $136 million contract? We'll probably never know. Meanwhile, rookie Sam Fuld filled in for slumping leadoff hitter/left fielder Alfonso Soriano by reaching base three times, making a sliding catch to end the fourth and throwing out a runner at the plate to end Pittsburgh's last scoring threat in the fifth as the Cubs beat the Pirates 4-1 for just their second road series win in two months. Two days after being recalled from the minors, Fuld quickly showed what the Cubs have been missing at the top of their order during Soriano's .179 slide since May 19. Derrek Lee and Kosuke Fukudome also reintroduced some missing power with a home run ..."
'Private' remark strains media's relationship with Chicago Cubs
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July 2
Chicago Tribune
 
"Cubs manager Lou Piniella has maintained a good relationship with the Chicago media, though it has been strained by recent events. The Chicago Sun-Times recently published an off-hand remark Piniella made to a coach about Milton Bradley while venting in his office in San Diego in May, after one of its reporters overhead the remark in the adjoining clubhouse. General manager Jim Hendry was livid about what he considers an ethical violation. "It's just human nature to vent to your coaches, and I think our players realize that, and accept that," Hendry said. "Lou and I ... nobody likes to exchange pleasantries with us after you lose a game. People who question whether he has the fire one day, ..."
Piniella proves he still has firepower
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July 2
Chicago Tribune
 
"Lou Piniella finally blew his top Wednesday night at PNC Park, putting an end to the long-running story line about his alleged lack of fire. Piniella proved he still can emote with the best of them during a sixth-inning ejection in the Cubs' 4-1 victory over Pittsburgh. Was it the obscenities that caused him to get the heave-ho from first-base umpire Chad Fairfield after arguing a close call at first base on a would-be hit by starter Randy Wells? "I think the cap did it," Piniella said, referring to his traditional cap toss. "I didn't have to say much after the cap. I think the cap said it all. The umpire missed the call. What can I say? I saw it very plain from where I was." It was ..."
Pirates, Vasquez fall to Cubs
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July 2
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
 
"Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, from Squirrel Hill and Shady Side Academy, spent an inning and a half in the FSN broadcast booth early last night at PNC Park. Maybe he was seeking a Pirates farm report. Immediate, post-trade answers about the future of his hometown ballclub, however, were not forthcoming. Garrett Jones made his Pirates debut, but went hitless in four at-bats as a No. 3 hitter and failed in his attempt to make an acrobatic catch -- no Nyjer Morgan comparisons necessary -- of a Geovany Soto, sixth-inning triple. Virgil Vasquez made his second Pirates start a quality one, giving up three runs in six innings, but two Chicago homers were enough for a 4-1 Cubs win. And ..."
Cubs clout Pirates with two homers, 4-1
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July 2
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
 
"The Pirates never successfully got a runner beyond second base after the first inning against a rookie starting pitcher, and the Chicago Cubs got two home runs that proved enough in a 4-1 defeat of the Pirates tonight before 15,770 in PNC Park. The Cubs quickly collected two runs in the top of the first off Virgil Vasquez (1-1). Left fielder Sam Fuld doubled for his first major-league hit, and one out later Derrek Lee clubbed to center field his 12th home run of the season. The Pirates came back with a run in the bottom of the first, Andrew McCutchen leading off with a double and scoring on Brandon Moss' two-out single. Otherwise, they couldn't seem to get to Cubs rookie starter Randy ..."
Cubs pitching thwarts Pirates
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July 2
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
 
"After earning their first June winning record in 12 years, the Pirates opened their July schedule on Wednesday night with a more typical outcome of past seasons. Derrek Lee smashed a two-run homer measuring 438 feet in the first inning, and the Chicago Cubs led the rest of the way in a 4-1 victory over the Pirates at PNC Park. The Pirates mustered just six hits, but they managed only four -- all singles -- during the final eight innings off Cubs starter Randy Wells (3-3) combined with two relievers to hold the Bucs hitless after the fifth. "We fall into these ruts," said Pirates shortstop Jack Wilson, who was 0 for 3. "We've got to score runs. We should have made it more of a game, ..."
Cubs recall Samardzija, option Ascanio
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July 1
MLB.com
 
"Jeff Samardzija is back in a Cubs uniform. The 6-foot-5 pitcher was recalled from Triple-A Iowa on Tuesday, replacing righty Jose Ascanio, who was optioned to Iowa. Samardzija, who last pitched for the big league club on May 5, made 12 starts for Iowa but will be solely a reliever for the Cubs. Manager Lou Piniella acknowledged the challenge of a pitcher adapting from a starter to a reliever, but he said there was simply no room in the rotation. "It's a little bit of a problem," Piniella said. "But, look, to prove the pitches like the breaking ball and so forth, that's why they sent Jeff down originally." While pitching for the Pacific Coast League club, Samardzija went 5-3 with a 3.72 ..."
Ramirez isn't entire answer for plate woes
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July 1
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"What ails the Cubs offensively seems to be sinking deeper almost daily, even with the return to the lineup of would-be savior Aramis Ramirez a few days away. ''I think we've forgotten how to hit. I think that's the problem,'' manager Lou Piniella said after the Cubs were shut out for the eighth time this season -- already matching their 2008 total -- in a 3-0 loss to Ross Ohlendorf and the Pittsburgh Pirates. Ramirez, the Cubs' RBI leader last season (111) and before he hurt his shoulder May 8, is expected to return to the lineup Monday. But it's doubtful his left shoulder is strong enough to carry an entire lineup. ''I don't think Rami's going to hit a three-run bomb with nobody on,'' ..."
Bradley says he's in it for long haul
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July 1
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"For all the rough at-bats and rough spots with umpires, reporters and even his manager during his first three months in Chicago, Cubs right fielder Milton Bradley has no regrets and no qualms about spending another 2½ years in the fishbowl of Cub Culture. ''It's a beautiful thing,'' he said of all the time left on his $30 million deal, ''because I've got time to be the player I want to be and work through this rut and get there. ''And I've got the support of teammates and the manager and the GM,'' he said during a conversation with the Sun-Times before the Cubs' 3-0 loss Tuesday to the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park. ''They stand behind me, so I know I'll be able to work through it.'' ..."
Chicago Cubs lose to Pittsburgh Pirates
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July 1
Chicago Tribune
 
"Aramis Ramirez has an opt-out clause in his contract after the 2010 season, giving him an opportunity to test free agency if his $14.6 million salary is below fair-market value. But after learning how valuable he is to the Cubs during his two-month stint on the disabled list, Ramirez may want to start renegotiating now. Before the Cubs were shut out for the eighth time on Tuesday in a 3-0 loss to Pittsburgh, Ramirez laughed at the idea and said the Cubs' hitting woes were not related to his absence. "Nobody is hitting right now," he said. "We're pitching real well, but we're not scoring runs. I'm sure when I went down it was going to affect us a little bit, but we've still got guys ..."
Fair or not, Chicago Cubs' failures are Jim Hendry's fault
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July 1
Chicago Tribune
 columnist Rick Morrissey
"If you think Milton Bradley is having a rough year so far, how about Jim Hendry? The Cubs' general manager is responsible for signing the .238-hitting, currently benched Bradley to a three-year, $30 million contract before the season. He is responsible for signing "leadoff" hitter Alfonso Soriano, who is in the third year of an eight-year, $136 million contract. He's responsible for giving Kosuke Fukudome a four-year, $48 million deal in December 2007. Soriano and Fukudome have responded with batting averages of .232 and .260, respectively, this season. Meanwhile, the manager Hendry hired is under fire for not having enough fire, and his ace pitcher is under fire for having a raging fire ..."
Pirates beat Cubs, 3-0, at PNC Park
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July 1
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
 
"If only every trade with the New York Yankees worked out this well. Right-hander Ross Ohlendorf tossed seven scoreless innings and struck out a career-high eight, as the Pirates clipped the Chicago Cubs, 3-0, on Tuesday night at PNC Park. On a day dominated by news of the trades of outfielders Nyjer Morgan and Eric Hinske and reliever Sean Burnett, Ohlendorf, acquired as part of last year's Xavier Nady deal with the New York Yankees, enjoyed the best start of his burgeoning major-league career. "A big key is that I didn't try to throw as hard as I could," Ohlendorf said. "I just tried to make good pitches." The 26-year-old Ohlendorf (7-6) allowed four hits and no walks, and he didn't allow ..."
Sanchez, Ohlendorf spark 3-0, Pirates triumph
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July 1
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
 
"Freddy Sanchez, the Pirates' No. 2 hitter with Nyjer Morgan traded earlier in the afternoon to Washington, went 3 for 3 and drove in two runs while Ross Ohlendorf tossed seven shut-out innings and struck out a career-high eight tonight as the Pirates defeated the Chicago Cubs, 3-0, before 17,054 inside PNC Park. Sanchez certainly has batted second in the order before -- the Pirates' record improved to 22-23 with him there this season. Yet a night after going 0 for 4 with six teammates aboard, Sanchez walked in his first plate appearance, singled and scored in the fourth inning, signled and drove in Jack Wilson with two out in the fifth, and doubled in pinch-hitter Steve Pearce with two out ..."
Forget trades, Cubs have enough to win right now
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June 30
Foxsports.com
 
"The idea that the Cubs need to counter the Cardinals' acquisition of Mark DeRosa is preposterous. The Cubs' $134.8 million payroll on Opening Day was the third highest in the majors. They should not need any help, other than the return of injured third baseman Aramis Ramirez. And frankly, it's pathetic that such a talented club would miss Ramirez this badly. Oh, the Cubs could use another bullpen piece, just like most contenders. But, give or take a DeRosa here, a Kerry Wood there, this group is not much different from the one that won the NL Central the past two seasons. Enough excuses already. Enough drama. Win some games. The Mets, when healthy, often are criticized for lacking passion. ..."
Cubs agree to terms with 21 Draft picks
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June 30
MLB.com
 
"The Cubs didn't waste much time inking up some of their Draft selections. Ten of the club's top 15 selections from this year's First-Year Player Draft have agreed to terms. Overall, Chicago has signed 21 of its 50 picks. That includes first-round pick (31st overall) Brett Jackson of the University of California Berkeley, who officially signed Friday. The junior center fielder hit .321 with eight home runs and 41 RBIs for the Golden Bears. Besides Jackson, five other players from the team's first 10 picks have reached deals. They include shortstop Wesley Darvill (fifth round), who has played for Brookswood Secondary School and the Langley Blaze of the British Columbia Premier Baseball ..."
The Bucs stopped there
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June 30
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"The Cubs finally discovered the missing piece to their wayward season: Pittsburgh. Having already traveled to St. Louis and Milwaukee twice each and Houston three times, the Cubs opened their first series of the season in Pittsburgh against a team they've spent the last five years thrashing. They almost casually beat the Pirates 3-1 on Monday night at PNC Park behind Rich Harden's best performance of the season. It was a stark contrast to the wild and woolly weekend on the South Side as the Cubs stepped from baseball's spotlight into its National League blindspot, playing in front of their smallest crowd this season -- by far -- as they opened a critical two-week stretch. ''Definitely,'' ..."
Still swinging at Cubs
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June 30
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"The White Sox might be done playing the Cubs until their September makeup game at Wrigley Field, but manager Ozzie Guillen fired another salvo Monday at an organization he believes looks down at the Sox. Although Guillen always has paid respects to Cubs general manager Jim Hendry and manager Lou Piniella, he said that on the whole, there's ''no doubt'' the Cubs see the Sox as second-class citizens. ''I don't care how many World Series we win or what we do, it's always going to be like that, and I don't change that,'' Guillen said. ''That's the way it is. ''Obviously, they're more popular than we are for different reasons, but we don't get down on that. We don't care about it. We have to ..."
Harden finishes month strong
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June 30
Chicago Tribune
 
"After Monday's 3-1 win over Pittsburgh, the Cubs have only one more game remaining in one of the strangest months in franchise history. It wasn't exactly the June swoon of seasons past, but more like a full-moon June in which every day was an adventure. There were seven extra-innings games, the Gatorade dispenser was replaced after one too many bashings and Milton Bradley tossed a ball into the bleachers after forgetting how many outs there were. Manager Lou Piniella told Bradley to go home after a dugout meltdown and later apologized for calling him a "piece of [expletive]." Carlos Zambrano won his 100th game, announced he'd retire when his contract ends, missed a team charter and ..."
Cubs' Ramirez likely to start minor-league rehab Thursday
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June 30
Chicago Tribune
 
"Cubs manager Lou Piniella said Aramis Ramirez would begin his minor league rehab Thursday if all goes well during batting practice the next three days. "He'll know [when he's ready]," Piniella said of Ramirez, who suffered a dislocated left shoulder May 8. "He's a professional hitter. He can tell us more than we can tell him. He's worked hard, to his credit. We thought it would be about two months, and that's going to be about the time frame." Piniella expects Ramirez to play four or five games. That suggests Ramirez will be back for next week's series against Atlanta at Wrigley Field. Angel Guzman will begin his minor league rehab assignment with Class A Peoria on Thursday at Kane ..."
DeRosa and Bradley agree that being a Cub can be overwhelming
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June 30
Chicago Tribune
 
"Milton Bradley recently told WGN-AM 720 he was "overwhelmed" by the Cubs experience after signing as a free agent. Though he had been told what to expect by general manager Jim Hendry and Derrek Lee, Bradley had to find out for himself. He dug himself a deep hole and now has to climb out of it. Former Cub Mark DeRosa, now with St. Louis, told the Tribune he also felt "overwhelmed" in his first few months as a Cub. "But I was never the big signing coming in," DeRosa said. "They got [Alfonso] Soriano that year, and Lou [Piniella] was big. Teddy Lilly was big. Me and Jason Marquis, we were kind of the under-the-radar signings. A lot of people didn't really know who I was and didn't know what ..."
Pirates' offense does little in 3-1 loss to Cubs, Harden
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June 30
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
 
"The Pirates' offense made Chicago's Rich Harden look dominant, as they went down quietly to the Cubs, 3-1, tonight before 15,400 at PNC Park. Duke was not at his sharpest, allowing more solid contact than usual on his sinker, but he still limited Chicago to three runs and seven hits over his seven innings. The Cubs scored on Andres Blanco's RBI single in the second, Ryan Theriot's solo home run off a 1-0 fastball in the third and Milton Bradley's RBI double in the fourth. The latter was a laser to the fence in center, even though Bradley had to reach down for a finely located slider. Harden, owner of a 4.95 ERA, performed as most starters with ERAs in that range do to the Pirates: He held ..."
Hits no problem for Bucs; runs another story
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June 30
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
 
"The Pirates on Monday were able to put pressure on Chicago Cubs right-hander Rich Harden. Scoring runs, however, was a different story. The Pirates knocked out eight hits - seven of them singles - over Harden's final three innings, but all it added up to was a 3-1 loss against the Cubs. Once again, left-hander Zach Duke (8-6) was the victim of poor run support. The Pirates have scored a total of five runs in Duke's six losses. "We've struggled to give a lot of our pitchers support this year," Freddy Sanchez said. "We've been up and down. Zach's pitched great all year and we haven't been able to give him run support on a consistent basis." Sanchez went 0 for 4 and twice failed to come ..."
Harden, Cubs take care of Pirates
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June 30
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
 
"The Pirates did not have too much trouble last night putting pressure on Chicago Cubs right-hander Rich Harden. Scoring runs, however, was a different story. The Pirates knocked out eight hits - seven of them singles - over Harden's final three innings, but all it added up to was a 3-1 loss against the Cubs. Harden (5-4) won for the first time since May 12, snapping a career-worst three-game losing streak. He worked seven innings and allowed a run on nine hits and a walk and struck out nine. The Cubs came into the game having lost six of their previous eight games. Their 35-37 record marked the first time they had been two games under .500 since the fourth game of the 2008 season. Once ..."
Cubs calling up outfielder Sam Fuld
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June 29
Chicago Tribune
 
"The Cubs will call up Triple-A Iowa outfielder Sam Fuld today to replace Aaron Miles, who is headed to the 15-day disabled list with a hyper-extended right elbow. Fuld, 27, played in 14 games for the Cubs in 2007, making a memorable catch in right field during the pennant race. He is 0-for-6 as a Cub, but hit .286 at Iowa, including .417 in his last 10 games."
Cubs-White Sox finale in September could be a beaut -- or bust
Comment
June 29
Chicago Tribune
 
"And so, until we reconvene one last time in September, it's back to baseball with a Central theme for the Cubs and Sox -- get upwardly mobile in their divisions. Hot division races should be the goal of North and South Side baseball fans, because that one-game Cubs-Sox shootout Sept. 3, tentatively, at Wrigley Field could be a one-game shootout of importance. And with the added excitement of, perhaps, some leftover unexploded fireworks after Sunday's 6-0 White Sox victory. At the end of September, one Chicago team, or both, could win or lose its division by one game, and the rainout makeup could be that game."
Alfonso Soriano getting along fine with Milton Bradley
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June 29
Chicago Tribune
 
"So how are Alfonso Soriano and Milton Bradley getting along? Just fine, Soriano said Sunday, two days after he said Bradley's only problem is his "attitude," and that if Bradley is not 100 percent on board with the team concept, "we don't need him." "I wasn't just talking about him," Soriano said. "We have 25 players, and if you're available to play this game and help the team, you're welcome here. If not, then we need somebody else." Before his confrontation Friday with Piniella, Bradley spoke of feeling "like an island" in the Cubs' clubhouse. Soriano said he's never sure when Bradley is in the mood to talk. "I try to help him, and if I do something wrong, I want him to help me, because ..."
White Sox blank Cubs 6-0
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June 29
Chicago Tribune
 
"It was a wild and wacky windup to the weekend, a nearly literal Cubs vs. White Sox, Round 3. The KO went to the Sox by a final score of 6-0, although the majority of body blows came from Carlos Zambrano. Not only did Zambrano lose his cool -- hitting two Sox batters and nearly creating a bench-clearing brawl -- but he put his Cubs behind in the all-time series 36-35. Zambrano's only good deed was keeping the 39,745 fans at U.S. Cellular Field as highly charged as he was all afternoon, making this a reprise of the 2006 series that produced a fistfight between catchers and Zambrano pointing at his head in apparent warning after a home run. And he could have one more chance to create chaos ..."
Perfect time for Cubs to waive bye-bye to Carlos Zambrano
Comment
June 29
Chicago Tribune
 columnist Phil Rogers
"As Lou Piniella was saying on Friday, enough's enough. Get Carlos Zambrano out of here, even if the Cubs have to give him away. He's not the guy you want as the ace of a curse-busting team, and at this point, it's wishful thinking that he'll ever mature into that guy. Proving that I did not attend Kellogg, Wharton or even the Acme School of Business, I offer this proposition for Jim Hendry: First thing Monday morning, put Zambrano on waivers. If anyone claims him and the $62.75 million left on his contract, which runs through 2012, immediately trade him for whatever is being offered, from a bag of balls to a 32-year-old minor-leaguer. Because Hendry gave Zambrano a full no-trade clause in ..."
White Sox slap down Cubs
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June 29
Minneapolis Star Tribune
 
"It was a wild and wacky windup to the weekend, a nearly literal Cubs vs. White Sox, Round 3. The KO went to the White Sox by a final score of 6-0, although the majority of body blows came from Cubs righthander Carlos Zambrano. "The last two games feel like we played five or six games," said Sox righthander Scott Linebrink, who pitched two perfect innings in relief of John Danks. The last game by itself -- maybe the sixth inning by itself, when the Sox scored twice to take a 5-0 lead -- had enough drama for five or six games. Dewayne Wise was the punching bag for Zambrano after Chris Getz scored from third on what was supposed to be a suicide squeeze but turned into a stolen base when ..."
Ramirez gearing up by taking cuts
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June 28
MLB.com
 
"Cubs third baseman Aramis Ramirez took batting practice Sunday for the third straight day, and he could be headed for a rehab assignment soon. Ramirez, on the disabled list since May 9 because of a dislocated left shoulder, had some soreness Sunday before he hit, but said he expected that. "It's like when you don't lift weights for a while, and then you lift, it's that kind of soreness," Ramirez said. "[Saturday], I swung pretty hard." He took batting practice on Friday, but he didn't swing as hard as he did Saturday. This was the first time he's hit since he was hurt. "It's only my second BP," Ramirez said. "I expect that. The first day, I didn't swing hard at all. Yesterday, I let it go ..."
DeRosa deal elicits mixed feelings
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June 28
MLB.com
 
"On the one hand, the Cubs players were happy to hear that Mark DeRosa was back in the National League Central. But he's playing for the wrong team. "I think it [stinks]," Cubs shortstop Ryan Theriot said of the deal that sent DeRosa from the Cleveland Indians to the St. Louis Cardinals for Chris Perez and a player to be named. DeRosa played two seasons with the Cubs, and was one of the most versatile -- and some would say most valuable -- players on the team, which won two division titles those years. But now he'll be playing for their Central rivals, who have a 3 1/2-game lead over the Cubs. "He's going to the Cardinals," Theriot said Sunday. "What do you want me to say? 'It's good? I'm ..."
Lee lends his support to Bradley
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June 28
MLB.com
 
"First baseman Derrek Lee reached out to teammate Milton Bradley with a phone call to make sure he was OK after the Cubs outfielder was sent home in the sixth inning of Friday's game against the White Sox. Bradley was disciplined by Cubs manager Lou Piniella, upset after the outfielder threw his helmet and overturned a water cooler when he had a bad at-bat in the sixth. Piniella had followed Bradley into the clubhouse, and there was an ugly verbal exchange. "I was disappointed being sent home, not knowing what to expect," Bradley said. Then, he got a phone call. "I was just looking out for a friend and a guy who I spend a lot of time with," Lee said. "I was just trying to reach out and try ..."
Piniella, Bradley clear air after incident
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June 28
MLB.com
 
"Lou Piniella apologized to Milton Bradley on Saturday, saying he was right in telling the outfielder to go home, but not in regard to a comment the Cubs manager made behind closed doors in the clubhouse. On Friday, Bradley threw his helmet and one of the water coolers after a bad at-bat in the sixth inning, and Piniella decided he'd had enough of the outfielder's tantrums. He told Bradley to take his uniform off and go, but then followed Bradley into the clubhouse, where the two exchanged words. Bradley was surprised Piniella followed him into the clubhouse. "He told me to get out of here, so I left," Bradley said. "Then he continued to yell at me some more." Others on the Cubs have had ..."
Beckham delivers for Sox in 8-7 win over Cubs
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June 28
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"Sometimes it's all about redemption. For the White Sox on Saturday, that meant not only coming back with an 8-7 victory over the Cubs, it meant Gordon Beckham and Alexei Ramirez bouncing back, as well. The Sox third baseman and shortstop committed three errors between them, leading to three unearned runs and a 7-6 Cubs lead. But Ramirez's two-strike, two-out single in the eighth drove in Beckham to tie the score, and Beckham's single with two outs in the ninth off Jose Ascanio drove in pinch runner Josh Fields with the winning run. "That's the good thing about baseball," Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said. "It gives you the opportunity to come back and do good stuff. "But we're still making ..."
SOX GET WIN TO PIE FOR
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June 28
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"Sometimes it's all about redemption. For the White Sox on Saturday, that meant not only coming back with an 8-7 victory against the Cubs, it meant Gordon Beckham and Alexei Ramirez bouncing back, too. The Sox third baseman and shortstop committed three errors between them, leading to three unearned runs and a 7-6 Cubs lead. But Ramirez's two-strike, two-out single in the eighth drove in Beckham to tie the score, and Beckham's single with two outs in the ninth off Jose Ascanio drove in pinch runner Josh Fields with the winning run. ''That's the good thing about baseball,'' Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said. ''It gives you the opportunity to come back and do good stuff. ''But we're still making ..."