There’s been a lot said in the past few months about the booing going on at Wrigley Field. As expectations have risen, so has the ire of Cub’s fans when the team has failed to execute. In previous times, the only boos were saved for the sun not shining, the beer not being cold, and the female fans not being hot. Times sure have changed.

A Cub’s player commented on the situation saying, “They have to understand we want to win just as bad as they want us to, and to be honest, we want to win more.�

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James Renwick – Scout.com
November 26, 2005 at 4:10am ET
What moves are necessary? The bullpen seems to have been shored up, the rotation is…well, what the rotation is going to be. Center field? Right? How about shortstop. ITI gives you the latest gossip from the GMs, and they might just put the Cubs infield among the elite in the history of the game. AS THE FREE PREVIEW WEEKEND CONTINUES ITI gives you the good stuff.

If you felt a little warmer Friday, that’s because the Hot Stove came to town, in a big big way.

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According to Athletics Nation rumors of Billy Beane shopping Barry Zito are running rampant. Now the part Cub fans will find very exciting:

I actually have a hunch that if Zito is traded, it will be to one of two teams. Either the Arizona Diamondbacks or the Chicago Cubs. Both are stocked with young talent, which Billy Beane covets and the Cubs have a ton of great young arms. The Cubs could also be looking to bolster a starting staff that has its share of injury problems over the past several years. We all know Zito’s stellar health resume. Zito would also get a chance to do the Curt Schilling act in Chicago (lead a pathetic and hopeless franchise to the promised land), and get to play on the bigger stage that he seems destined for. Of course his spotless injury record would be greatly tested by Dusty “Pitcher Killer” Baker.

Boy, would this be a coup for Hendry. Looking at the Cubs starting rotation as it is currently constructed we are looking at Zambrano, Prior, Maddux, Rusch and probably Jerome Williams (yes, I am leaving out Kerry Wood, that’s what Larry Rothschild told me to do. Anything out of Wood will be considered a bonus). That roatation does not inspire much confidence.

So if Billy Beane is dangling Zito, I hope Jim Hendry picks up the cell phone and makes a call. I no longer have any confidence in any of the Cubs prospects that were drafted and/or developed by the Cub organization. There is not one of them that I wouldn’t include in a deal for Zito or Juan Pierre for that matter. Yeah, I’d even deal the great Felix Pie.

Zito is an innings eater. Over the last 5 years he’s pitched 214.1, 229.1, 231.2, 213.0 and 228.1 innings. He has been pretty average the last few years. 11-11 in 2004 with a 4.48 ERA & 14-13 in 2005 with a 3.86 ERA. Still he started the season 1-6. He really put things together from that point on. Zito’s WHIP was down from 1.39 to 1.20 in 2005.

A front three of Zambrano, Zito and Prior would be most impressive. Hendry missed out on Mulder and Hudson last winter. I hope he takes a serious look at Zito as it could really help out the team on their run for the 2006 playoffs.

The Chicago Cubs added eight minor league players to their 40-man roster Friday and designated outfielder Adam Greenberg for assignment.

In his one game with the Cubs on July 9, Greenberg was hit in the head by Florida’s Valeiro de los Santos on the first pitch he saw in the major leagues.

Greenberg, 24 and a ninth round pick of the Cubs in 2002, spent the majority of the season at Double-A West Tenn, where he hit .269 with 25 extra-base hits and 33 RBIs in 95 games. Poor guy gets hitted in the head in first at bat and that was it for him. Hopefully he will be picked up and have a good career in the Major Leagues.

The Cubs purchased the contracts of infielders Brian Dopirak and Scott Moore, outfielder Felix Pie, catcher Jose Reyes and pitchers Carlos Marmol, Sean Marshall, Ricky Nolasco and Jae Kuk Ryu. The also sent infielders Mike Fontenot and Richard Lewis and pitcher Russ Rohlicek outright to Triple-A Iowa.

Pie, 20, is considered one of the top prospects in the Cubs’ farm system. He batted .304 at West Tenn last season. Boy, can’t we all wait until Felix Pie makes it to the Big Leagues. Lets just hope he isn’t rushed like Corey Patterson was.

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