General manager Jim Hendry has countered the Milwaukee Brewer’s trade for CC Sabathia with a trade of his own.  Hendry and the Oakland Athletics worked out a trade that will send Rich Harden and Chad Gaudin to the Cubs for Matt Murton, Eric Patterson, Josh Donaldson, and Sean Gallagher.

I don’t mind one bit giving up Murton and Patterson in the deal, I would have rather had someone else go instead of Gallagher but you have to give up something good to get something good in return.  Murton should now get some good playing time on the A’s so the trade is very good for him.  I’m not sure what the A’s plan will be for Patterson but Gallagher could go right into their rotation.

So Cubs fans, is Hendry done wheeling and dealing?

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!

The Chicago Cubs were not able to extend their 14 home winning streak to game as the Baltimore Orioles got the better of them on Tuesday night.  The Cubs had their chances in the ninth inning as they loaded the bases with no outs but then it seemed the next three batters swung at everything in site and ended the came with three straigh strikeouts.

Ronny Cedeno, Kosuke Fukudome, and Henry Blanco all struck out with the bases loaded in the ninth inning.  I don’t know why all three of them went up there swinging the bat like they were considering how George Sherrill was throwing the ball.  Make him throw some strikes before you go up there hacking like that.

Sean Marshall who was just called up from Triple A pitched 4 2/3 innings as he gave up seven hits and four runs in his return to the big league team.  Marshall started the game off strong but then started to fade in the fourth and fifth innings.  I don’t know if it was fatigue or what but he really lost control over the game in the fourth and fifth innings.

Michael Wuertz pitched one inning after Marshall left the game and he didn’t fare to good.  Wuertz gave up two hits and three runs in only one inning of action.  Neal Cotts, Jon Lieber, and Carlos Marmol pitched the rest of the game for the Cubs without allowing another run to score.  Marmol still didn’t look that good out there, hopefully get can figure out what is wrong and get it fixed soon.

Jim Edmonds had a three run home run in the seventh inning that made the score 7-4.  Edmonds led the team with three rbi.  In the eighth inning the Cubs scored two runs on a Aramis Ramirez single.  Fukudome also had a solo home run in the game as he scored the Cubs first run.

Hopefully the Cubbies can start a new home winning streak on Wednesday night as they will send Ted Lilly to the mound against the Baltimore Orioles.  GO CUBS GO, lets get back on the winning track!

I should also mention that Daryle Ward is back with the big league club and Micah Hoffpauir was sent back to Triple A.  Ward is expected to be the DH this weekend against the White Sox.

Ok, this move is a little confusing I think.  The Chicago Cubs have sent down Jose Ascanio to Triple-A Iowa and called up Neal Cotts.  Reports are saying that Lou Piniella doesn’t fully trust Scott Eyre down in the bullpen and wanted to get another lefty in there.

Ok, so Ascanio throws the ball very well when given the chance and he still gets sent down for a player who has struggled in the past with the big league team?  I don’t quite understand the move, but half the time us Cubs fans don’t know what Hendry and company are really thinking.

What do you think of this move?

Daryle Ward has been place on the 15 day disabled list with a bulging disk in his back.  Ward is hitting just .200 (5-for-25) but has come up big as a pinch-hitter in this homestand, despite his back pain, coming up with game-tying and game-winning hits against Arizona in consecutive games.

Micah Hoffpauir has been called up to take Ward’s spot on the roster.  Hoffpauir can play the corner outfield positions as well as first base but I would expect most of his at bats to come as a pitch hitter just like Ward has done.

Exactly what I did not want to happen even though last night it appeared it was guranteed to happen.  Jim Edmonds has had a physical today in Chicago and if he passes that physical he will be the newest member of the Chicago Cubs.   We blogged here at CCB last night about the deal, and why we didn’t want it to happen so I won’t get into all that again.

But it appears that Felix Pie is headed back down to the minor leagues where he has proven that can hit and defend down there without any problems.  He needs work at the major league level, and right now the Cubs aren’t going to give him that chance.  Hell before we know, Pie will be out of options in the minor leagues.

Please Edmonds, suck it up so the Cubs can release you in the first two weeks.

The redhead is back with the Chicago Cubs!  Matt Murton was called up from Triple-A Iowa on Friday and Eric Patterson was sent back down to Triple-A.  Patterson was called up after the Alfonso Soriano injury and went 0-6.

We will see if Murton gets any starts out in left field or if he will come off the bench like most people are thinking.  If he can hit the ball and get on base I think he is a better option in left field then Mark DeRosa, who is better suited at second base.

What does everyone else think?

The Chicago Cubs have signed outfielder Reed Johnson to a one year contract after he was released by the Toronto Blue Jays.  Johnson can play all three positions, bats right handed, and will more then likely platoon with Felix Pie in centerfield.

Johnson is a career .281 hitter, and has a lifetime .308 average against left-handed pitching.  Overall I think it is a good pickup for the Cubs, better then trading for Marlyon Byrd or Jay Payton etc.

The Chicago Cubs made a round of roster cuts today to get their spring training roster down to 50.  The two most notable players to be send down were Tyler Colvin and Billy Petrick. Petrick was sent to Triple A Iowa, while Colvin was sent to minor league camp.

Other players sent to the minor league camp included Esmailin Caridad, Jose Ceda, Geoff Jones, Andres Torres, Bobby Scales, Wellington Castillo, and Josh Donaldson.

With the moves, the Cubs’ spring roster now is 50, and consists of 26 pitchers, four catchers, 12 infielders and eight outfielders. 

The Chicago Cubs and the San Diego Padres will be playing in the 2008 Hall Of Fame game on June 16th in Cooperstown, NY.  This years game will also be the last Hall of Game, which is an exhibition game in the middle of the season.  If agree with the decision of not having it after this year, I don’t see the point in playing an exhibition game during the middle of the season.

The game will begin at 2 p.m. ET, with pregame festivities starting at noon with the Hall of Fame Game Day Parade on Main Street and a Home Run Derby at Doubleday Field.  Ticket prices are $12.50 for first- and third-base seats and $11 for outfield seats. Tickets will be available for purchase just one of two ways for the final Hall of Fame Game, in-person during a one-day sale on March 8, or for members by phone beginning March 8.