The good news is, Cubs’ nightmare season finally over
Lockers were being cleaned out and boxes were being filled with belongings as the Chicago Cubs hurried to get out of town at the end of a disappointing season.
“It’s a little weird to be packing up and heading home, because the last couple of years we’ve been still playing,” said Ryan Dempster, the losing pitcher Sunday as the Arizona Diamondbacks ended the year with a 5-2 victory.
Dempster, who won 17 games last season, gave up five runs and six hits in five innings, struck out 10 and walked one.
“I think a lot of us wish we had a little bit better year than we did,” he said.
Click here to read the full article – By Associated Press of Daily Herald
Chicago Cubs Sports Memorabilia
and other Chicago Cubs Gifts and Collectibles
For Cubs, it’s ‘Wait ‘Til Next Year: 101st edition’
The Cubs’ championship drought reached 101 years Tuesday night when the Rockies’ victory over the Brewers eliminated them from the National League wild card chase.
But the end came with far less fanfare than that which greeted the 100-year mark last October at Dodger Stadium, when the Dodgers swept the Cubs in the National League Division Series.
Conventional wisdom said the pressure was off the Cubs in 2009 because mentions of the streak would not be as prevalent as 2008.
“Last year, from Day One, that was the question,” first baseman Derrek Lee said when camp opened in February. “There are definitely fewer questions so far. That 100-year thing made for a good story, so maybe it will be a little quieter year. I hope it helps. Last year we had a great regular season. We just flopped at the wrong time. But maybe it will take a little pressure off, not having to answer the 100-year question. Who knows?”
Click here to read the full article – By Paul Sullivan of Chicago Tribune
Chicago Cubs Hats
and other Cubs Apparel
|
|
|
Cubs eager to see what Colvin can do
Tyler Colvin’s parents will be staying up late this weekend.
The young outfielder is expected to get a lot of playing time in the Cubs’ final 11 games, beginning with a four-game series in San Francisco that starts Thursday. Colvin’s family lives in South Carolina, so the time difference might be a little bit of a problem.
Colvin, called up after Double-A Tennessee finished the Southern League championship, made his Major League debut Monday against Milwaukee. His folks also may be shopping for a new computer.
“They were excited,” Colvin said of his parents. “They got to watch [Monday's game] on the computer. They stayed with it the whole game. They were a little disappointed [Tuesday] — the computer shut down in the ninth inning.”
Click here to read the full article – By Carrie Muskat of MLB.com
Chicago Cubs Sports Memorabilia
and other Chicago Cubs Gifts and Collectibles
Gregg competing to reclaim closer role
Kevin Gregg will spend the final two weeks of the regular season marketing himself as a potential closer. His chances of keeping that job with the Cubs are slim.
Gregg is one of four free agents on the Cubs. He lost the closer’s job on Aug. 18, but he hasn’t been banished to the last spot in the bullpen. Last Tuesday against the Milwaukee Brewers, Lou Piniella called on Gregg to face Corey Hart, Ryan Braun and Prince Fielder. On Friday against St. Louis, Gregg came in with one on and two outs in the eighth of a tie game to face Albert Pujols. That’s not an easy task.
“I think he’s the greatest hitter in the game, hands down,” Gregg said of the Cardinals’ slugger. “Coming in with a guy on, having to face him late in the game, tight situation — you’ve got to make your pitches, you’ve got to do your thing. He’s good. That’s the bottom line.”
Click here to read the full article – By Carrie Muskat of MLB.com
Chicago Cubs Sports Memorabilia
and other Chicago Cubs Gifts and Collectibles
Cubs need to improve defense
Cubs manager Lou Piniella’s preseason expectations for his defense weren’t lofty. Still, the Cubs have not met those expectations.
“Leaving Spring Training, I didn’t expect to lead the league in fielding, believe me,” Piniella said. “But I expected us to be at least in the middle, possibly a notch above there. But we’ve been in the bottom tier for a good portion of the year, and that makes it rough on the pitching.”
Going into Thursday’s series finale against the Brewers, the Cubs are in the bottom three in the National League in both errors and fielding percentage. The team hasn’t fared much better according to an advanced statistic called Ultimate Zone Rating, which indicates that the Cubs are about 14 runs below average on defense this season. That mark is 12th in the NL.
Click here to read the full article – By Andrew Simon of MLB.com
Chicago Cubs Sports Memorabilia
and other Chicago Cubs Gifts and Collectibles
Piniella wants more runs from No. 5 spot
Lou Piniella has not talked about next season with the Cubs’ front office. Once he does, the discussion will center on one issue. “We’ve got to figure out a way to get back up close to the number of runs we scored last year,” Piniella said.
Heading into Monday’s series opener against the Brewers, the Cubs are on pace to score about 140 fewer runs in 2009 than they did in 2008. Piniella believes the culprit is the fifth spot in the lineup.
“That’s a spot that needs to be solved this winter more than anything else,” he said. “It’s been a big problem for us.”
Click here to read the full article – By Andrew Simon of MLB.com
Chicago Cubs Sports Memorabilia
and other Chicago Cubs Gifts and Collectibles
Soriano to have knee surgery Tuesday
Alfonso Soriano will have arthroscopic surgery Tuesday on his ailing left knee and miss the rest of the season.
The Cubs’ left fielder has fought through pain and inflammation in the joint for much of the season and last played Sept. 3. He will finish the year with a .241 batting average, 20 home runs and 55 RBIs.
Team orthopedist Dr. Stephen Gryzlo will perform the surgery to clean out the knee, and Soriano will then have three weeks to rehab with the Cubs’ training staff before he goes home to the Dominican Republic for the offseason.
Click here to read the full article – By Andrew Simon of MLB.com
Chicago Cubs Sports Memorabilia
and other Chicago Cubs Gifts and Collectibles
Below are links to memorabilia available for Alfonso Soriano.
|
|
| Alfonso Soriano Memorabilia |
Lilly dominant as Cubs shut out Astros
The left-hander, who does not have the go-ahead to steal bases, held Houston to four hits over eight innings, and Carlos Marmol picked up his fifth straight save as the Cubs beat the Astros, 2-0, Wednesday to win the series.
Derrek Lee belted a two-run homer, his 27th, in the fourth inning for all the offense Lilly (10-8) needed. Chicago began the day six games behind Colorado in the National League Wild Card race and won for the 10th time in the last 26 games.
“We’re fully aware of what we need to do,” Lilly said. “We have to win the game we’re playing. You’ve heard it a thousand times — we don’t have any influence on who wins the game we’re not playing in. We go out there and put all our concentration and physical and mental energy into the game that we have to deal with, and we’re putting ourselves in the best chance to win.”
Click here to read the full article – By Carrie Muskat of MLB.com
Chicago Cubs T-Shirts
and other Cubs Apparel
|
|
|
Z needs a tuneup
Carlos Zambrano’s back injury might be behind him, but the Cubs diagnosed another problem after this second consecutive bad outing since coming off the disabled list.
Zambrano gave up four runs and a season-high 11 hits in 3 1/3 innings in the Cubs’ 4-1 loss to the New York Mets on Sunday at Wrigley Field. Three of the runs were earned, but the unearned run came after an errant pick-off throw by Zambrano in the third.
The Cubs’ believe Zambrano’s latest problem is mechanical.
”[Pitching coach] Larry Rothschild says he’s opening up his front shoulder and they’re getting a good look at him,” manager Lou Piniella said. ”He’ll have to work on it.”
In his first start back Tuesday, Zambrano allowed a season-high eight runs in 4 1/3 innings against the Washington Nationals.
Click here to read the full article – By TONI GINNETTI of Chicago Sun-Times
Chicago Cubs Sports Memorabilia
and other Chicago Cubs Autographs
Below are links to memorabilia available for Carlos Zambrano.
|
|
|
|
| Carlos Zambrano Autographed Memorabilia | ||
Soriano scratched with sore knee
Alfonso Soriano was scratched from Tuesday’s game because of a sore knee that’s been nagging him for four months, but the Cubs left fielder will hold off on getting an MRI to see if he responds to treatment.
Soriano was examined during Tuesday’s game, a 15-6 loss to the Washington Nationals, by the team’s medical staff.
“[The doctor] thinks it’s nothing big,” Soriano said after the game. “He said if I keep playing, and I have a sore knee, we’ll do an MRI. I know I want to do it anyway, but he said if I play tomorrow or Thursday and it’s sore, we’ll do it right away.”
Click here to read the full article – By Carrie Muskat of MLB.com
Chicago Cubs Sports Memorabilia
and other Chicago Cubs Autographs
Below are links to memorabilia available for Alfonso Soriano.
|
|
| Alfonso Soriano Autographed Memorabilia |
Websites- Chicago Cubs Memorabilia
- Cubs Memorabilia
- Cubs Apparel
- Cubs Collectibles
- Cubs Banners
- Cubs Bar Stools
- Cubs Billiard Balls
- Cubs Board Games
- Cubs Bobble Heads
- Cubs Clocks
- Cubs Cue Racks
- Cubs Cue Sticks
- Cubs Dart Boards
- Cubs Dinnerware
- Cubs Drinkware
- Cubs Full Size Helmets
- Cubs Golf Barrel Headcovers
- Cubs Grillware
- Cubs Holiday Hats
- Cubs Holiday Ornaments
- Cubs Holiday Stockings
- Cubs K2 Fotoball Baseballs
- Cubs Lights and Lamps
- Cubs Mini Helmets
- Cubs Pens and Pads
- Cubs Pillows
- Cubs Potato Heads
- Cubs Pub Tables
- Cubs Rugs and Mats
- Cubs School Supplies
- Cubs Schutt Authentic Bases
- Cubs Schutt Home Plates
- Cubs Schutt Mini Bases
- Cubs Schutt Mini Home Plates
- Cubs Teddy Bears
- Cubs Wall Art
- Cubs Wall Clocks
- Cubs Waste Baskets
- Cubs Wooden Boxes
-
-
- Team Based Fan Blogs
- Arizona Diamondbacks Blog
- Atlanta Braves Blog
- Baltimore Orioles Blog
- Boston Red Sox Blog
- Chicago Cubs Blog
- Chicago White Sox Blog
- Cincinnati Reds Blog
- Cleveland Indians Blog
- Colorado Rockies Blog
- Detroit Tigers Blog
- Florida Marlins Blog
- Houston Astros Blog
- Kansas City Royals Blog
- Los Angeles Angels Blog
- Los Angeles Dodgers Blog
- Milwaukee Brewers Blog
- Minnesota Twins Blog
- New York Mets Blog
- New York Yankees Blog
- Oakland Athletics Blog
- Philadelphia Phillies Blog
- Pittsburgh Pirates Blog
- San Diego Padres Blog
- San Francisco Giants Blog
- Seattle Mariners Blog
- St. Louis Cardinals Blog
- Tampa Bay Devil Rays Blog
- Texas Rangers Blog
- Toronto Blue Jays Blog
- Washington Nationals Blog
Free Stuff
Check out our sponsors