Wow, talk about some terrible drafting by the Chicago Cubs. You can say that all three of these players were complete busts after being drafted so high by the Cubs. In the past week, the team has cut ties with Ryan Harvey, Grant Johnson and Mark Pawelek. Three players right there that when they were drafted, we had all thought would be helping out the big league team about right now. I guess the team felt they needed to go in another direction even though the players are only in their 20’s.

I know a lot of people thougth Pawelek was a stupid signing when it happened. Sure he was a fireball thrower, but he played in the state of Utah and didn’t exactly face the best competition out of high school. Also, it was very weird seeing him sign the same day even though he was a Scott Boras client. Talk about taking seven figures from the Cubs and giving nothing back as far as production! Oh yeah, we can’t forget about the falling in the middle of the night over your Playstation and breaking your arm! Or having passport problems and getting shut down the rest of the year even though you were healthy. Sounds like there was more to Pawalek then most of us know.

Pawelek appeared in only 54 games over four seasons with the Cubs, mostly at short-season Low Class-A Boise. He was 6-12 with a 3.80 ERA and 147 strikeouts and 79 walks in 149 1/3 innings in those four seasons.

Pawelek was told “We have exhausted all efforts with you, and things did not go as we planned.’ Basically … ‘you’re not playing well and we don’t want you around anymore in Pawelek’s words.’”

Harvey is actually one player I was excited to see progress through the Cubs minor league system. However that never really happened as he only made it to Double-A Tennessee. Harvey compiled a career batting average of .247 in 471 games with a career .298 OBP. He was the Cubs first round pick in the 2003 draft and the sixth overall pick. Ryan had a very hard time hitting the ball in the minor leagues, and the Cubs had thoughts of coverting him to a pitcher as he also pitched in highschool but he didn’t want any part of that I have heard.

As for Johnson, he was the teams first pick in the 2004 draft even though he was drafted in the second round out of Notre Dame. Johnson struggled at Class-A Daytona Double-A Tennessee last season as he compiled a 5.32 ERA to go along with a 3-8 record.

The Cubs also released Paul Bako and Mike Stanton as they have trimmed their Major League roster down to 28 players. Expect to see a trade or release involving Chad Gaudin or Angel Guzman who both have struggled this spring and both are out of options. We could also possible see Jeff Samardzija be sent down Triple-A Iowa.

Wow, what a bigtime fight the Peoria Chiefs and Dayton Dragons had on Thursday night after batters were hit, a player broke his leg, and players sliding into second base with cleats up.  Talk about trying to show who can hurt the other players more it sounded like.  Also, the Chiefs pitcher that threw the ball into the Dragon’s dugout actually hit a fan that had to be taken to the hospital.

I found a youtube video of the fight happening.  I will tell you that there is foul language in the video so make sure your volume is down if you are at work or have children around.

The Chicago Cubs lost 8-3 to the San Francisco Giants on Thursday as the two teams split a four game series out in San Francisco.  The Cubs were right in the game until the the seventh inning when Carlos Marmol gave up a three run home run to Rich Aurilia.  Something is wrong with Marmol like we have blogged about before.  I just hope the kid can make it to the all stat break and get a much needed rest.  He needs rest for the body and the mind I’m afraid.

Sean Gallagher had one bad inning where he gave up four runs.  He was only charged with three runs however as one of the runs scored unearned due to a Cubs error.  Gallagher is now 3-4 and could be moved to the bullpen soon.

Jose Ascanio gave up two runs while Jon Lieber gave up one run.  The Cubs pitchers just didn’t have it going on the mound.  Hopefully they weren’t thinking ahead to the big weekend series with the St. Louis Cardinals.

Mark DeRosa had two rbi to lead the Cubs at the plate. DeRosa doubled in the sixth inning to score Derrek Lee and Jim Edmonds.  Lee had the Cubs first rbi in the first inning when he scored Reed Johnson.  It was nice to see Johnson make his return to the lineup as he went 1-3.

To make room for Johnson on the roster, the Cubs sent Eric Patterson back down to Triple A Iowa.

I hope everyone has a fun and safe July 4th tomorrow and we can all sit down and watch the Cubs beat the Cardinals!

Well I’m sure all the Cubs fans out there have heard that Alfonso Soriano was hit by a pitch in last nights game against the Atlanta Braves and will be out the disabled list for a while.  Soriano broke a finger on his left hand, and then finger will be in a splint for the next three weeks atleast.  Expect Soriano to be out until around August.

So what will the Cubs do now?  Start Mark DeRosa in left field and give Mike Fontenot that majority of the starts at second base?  What about giving Ronny Cedeno some time at second base?  Micah Hoffpauir looks to be the guy that will get called up to take Soriano’s spot on the roster and he can see some time at left field as well as first base and DH in the upcoming interleage matchups.

Another name to look out for would be Eric Patterson.  We could see Patterson being called up along with Hoffpauir and a reliver sent back down to the minor leagues as the Cubs will need an extra batagainst the Toronto Blue Jays this weekend.