I have been watching the remaining playoff games, and I’m still pissed off that the Cubs aren’t playing.  Am I the only one?  I wouldn’t think so but who knows lol.

I started thinking forward to the 2008 season, and what we might see out of the Chicago Cubs. Manager Lou Piniella will be back for his second season that is for sure. Will the team resign Kerry Wood?  Wil Geovany Soto be the opening day catcher?  What do you do with Jacque Jones?  Will Cliff Floyd be back?

As far as the free agents on the Cubs roster, I would expect the team to sign Kerry Wood, Daryle Ward, and Cliff Floyd if he chooses to come back.  Also, Scott Eyre does have a players option and has stressed that he would love to stay with the Cubs.  Time will tell what they do with Eyre, but I would expect him to be in Cubbie Blue in 08 as well.

That leaves Steve Trachsel and Jason Kendell as the free agents that the team would let go.  Neither player has a future with the Cubs team I don’t feel.  Atleast I sure hope not.

Right now I think we can expect Geovany Soto to be the starting catcher, Aramis Ramirez at thirdbase, Ryan Theriot at shortstop (would love to upgrade), Mark DeRosa playing second base, Derrek Lee at first, Alfonso Soriano out in leftfield, Jacque Jones/Felix Pie in centerfield, and Matt Murton in rightfield.

Time will only tell what the Cubs will be able to do as far as signing free agents and trades this offseason.� With the team up for sale, and no owner in place as of right now, nothing to drastic is going to happen.� I’d love to pick up a right fielder and a shortstop, but I understand if nothing happens at those positions as well.

Wow, not many of us were expecting to get sweeped by the Florida Marlins the past three game but that is exactly what happened.  After winning 10 of 12 games, the Cubbies have now dropped three in a row and to a team they did not beat all season long in the Florida Marlins.

Once again the Cubs starting pitching sucked from the first pitch.  This time it was Steve Trachsel who sucked it up.  Trachsel threw 4.1 innings while giving up five earned runs.  You cannot pitch like that when you need a big win.  Trachsel is a verteran and should thrown alot better then he did.  He has done absolutely nothing since coming to the Cubs.  Nice trade Mr. Hendry!

While the starting pitching sucked again, the offense was right behind them.  They could not get the clutch hit when they really needed it.  You don’t go up there hacking at the first pitch you seen when you need a big hit with runners on base.  Jacque Jones and Ryan Theriot had terrible at bats late in the ballgame at crucial times.

Tomorrow is a new day, the Cubs will be in Cincinnatti to take on the Reds and hopefully get back onto the winning ways.  Lets all sit down, watch the Padres and Brewers and hope for a Padres win!

The Chicago Cubs hit four homeruns in the “juicebox” tonight against the Houston Astros and they took the series 2-1.  Steve Trachsel picked up his first win since rejoining the Cubs as the Cubs moved back into first place of the Central Division by half a game over the Milwaukee Brewers.

Alfonso Soriano, Aramis Ramirez, Daryle Ward, and Cliff Floyd all connected for homeruns.  All were solo shots except for Ramirez who hit a three run homer in the first inning.  Ramirez’s homerun followed Soriano who led off the game with a long bomb.

Kerry Wood and Carlos Marmol shut down the door on the Astros in the final three innings.  Wood pitched the 7th inning, and Marmol pitched the 8th and 9th innings.  I hope Marmol can get some rest and not need to be used the next 2-3 days.  He could really use some rest at this point in the season.

The Cubs and Cardinals will begin a huge weekend series tomorrow night.  The Cardinals have lost seven in a row so it is important that the Cubs come out strong and win these ballgames.

The Chicago Cubs are no longer in first place in the Central Division after falling to the Pittsburgh Pirates today 10-5.  It was not the way the Cubs wanted to finish the road trip as they dropped two out of three against the Pirates.

Chicago got off to a promising start, taking a 2-0 lead in the second on former Pittsburgh catcher Jason Kendall’s two-run single up the middle against Matt Morris.  Matt Murton and Jacque Jones both scored on Kendall’s single.

It wasn’t long though as the Pirates rocked Cubs starter Steve Trachsel who only lasted two innings in the game. In his two innings of play, Trachsel let up six earned runs on six hits and one walk.  A Freddy Sanchez triple in the second inning with the bases loaded was the dagger for Trachsel.  Terrible performance out of the veteran that was brough in to help spark the team and give them a few good outing down the playoff run.

Alfonso Soriano and Geovany Soto both homered as they tried to bring the Cubs back, but the Pirates pushed across three more runs in the 8th inning to secure the win.

The Cubs play a huge game tomorrow afternoon as they play the St. Louis Cardinals in a make up game due to the rainout a few weeks ago.  This is a must win for the Cubs, they must come out and throw a good game, and hit the ball around the park.

The Chicago Cubs sure aren’t playing like they are in a playoff chase right now.  They aren’t hitting, they aren’t pitching, and the bullpen has been sucking it up as of late. 

It was another bad game for the Cubs on Tuesday as the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated them 6-2 at Wrigley Field.  Steve Trachsel was making his 2007 Cubs debut and lasted six innings giving up seven hits and three runs.  Trachsel will hope for better luck during his next outing, and hopefully the offense can help him out some.

In the 7th inning, Kerry Wood came in and had a terrible outing as he gave up seven hits and three arned runs.  It was Wood’s worst performance since rejoining the team in 2007.  Hopefully it was just a one time thing and Kerry will get out there and get a 1-2-3 inning in his next opportunity.

Kevin Hart, called up from Double-A Tennessee on Tuesday, made his Major League debut in the eighth. It was a tough introduction, as Hart entered with the bases loaded and none out. He walked Ramon Martinez on four straight pitches to force in a run, then got pinch-hitter Mark Sweeney looking at strike three. Rafael Furcal flew out to left, and Alfonso Soriano threw out Martin at home to end the inning.

It was the Cubs offense that couldn’t help out the pitches like the should have been.  They would get runners on, but just like all season they could never come up with that two or three run homerun to get the runners in.  This team is built for power and homeruns but it just isn’t happening.  Instead they are grounding into double plays every other ending to end the little rally they had going.  After Tuesdays game, Lou Piniella said that he will be making some changes and getting more speed into the lineup.  Hopefully more speed will equal more runs for the Cubs.  I would expect to see Felix Pie in center field if Piniella really wants to see speed.

The Chicago Cubs have made another trade as they have acquired Steve Trachsel from the Baltimore Orioles for Rocky Cherry and Scott Moore.  Lol, I know what most of you are thinking right now.  Am I really reading this right? LOL, well I’m sorry to say it but yes you are.

Jim Hendry wants more starting pitching to help down the stretch as the Cubs have 30 games left in pretty much 30 days.  He doesn’t want the pitching staff to come up shorthanded and throught this deal was good.  Hendry also mentioned that he sees Trachsel starting, not coming out of the bullpen, but he will leave that decision up to Lou Piniella and Larry Rothschild.

What do you feel about this trade Cubs Fans?

-Cliff