Series Preview: Cubs VS Seattle

Tomorrow night the Cubs will return to action to battle the Seattle Mariners in the first of a three game interleague set. The off day today came at a perfect time for the club to rest up after dropping six of the last seven series. On Sunday, the bats showed some signs of life in a 12-1 stomping of the L.A. Angels to avoid the weekend sweep at Wrigley.

Geovany Soto was the only Cub to homer yesterday launching his eighth dinger of the year. It was good to see Geo go deep, but it was also good to see the Cubs finding some other ways to score some runs. Carlos Zambrano helped his own cause with a run scoring single and got his first win at Wrigley since last July. Z went seven innings and allowed only one run to improve 3-5 overall on the year. Despite the fact that the game was already in the bag, Andrew Cashner and Carlos Marmol got their work in pitching the eighth and ninth respectively. Neither man surrendered a run. Derrek Lee drove in four runs and Marlon Byrd, who was hitting lead-off doubled twice.

The Seattle Mariners are not having a fun 2010 campaign either. They are just 28-41, which puts them in last of four teams in the AL West and 13 game behind first place Texas. The M's have played decent ball at Safeco Field where they hold an 18-17 mark.

The Mariners also have an off day today. They are in the midst of a four game winning streak including a sweep of the Reds this weekend to kick off their six game homestand. They are also in the middle of 15 straight games against NL opponents.

Seattle has several former Cubs on its roster, most notably controversial outfielder Milton Bradley. The Ex-Cubbie is hitting just .215 with 6 homers and 25 runs batted in. He will be swamped by his old pals from the Chicago media all series long. Luckily for him, Bradley does not have to go back to Wrigley to face the Cubs' faithful, which he has publicly ripped since departing from the North Side. Pitcher David Aardsma is also with the Mariners. Aardsma was a piece in the Cubs bullpen during the forgettable 2006 season before they shipped him to the White Sox in the Neal Cotts trade. The only reason David will be remembered by Cubs fans is because his last name comes first alphabetically on the list of all the players in Cubs history. Garrett Olson is another familiar name on the roster. Olson has never appeared in a game in the blue pinstripes, but he was a Cub for a short time during the 2008-2009 offseason. Garrett came over from Baltimore in the Felix Pie deal but was sent to Seattle along with Ronny Cedeno in the trade that netted the Cubs reliever Aaron Heilman.

These two clubs don't exactly have a long history of playing one another. They've played a total of six games (three in Chicago, three in Seattle) most recently at Wrigley in 2007. The Cubs took two of three in '07 and in '02 when the clubs met in Seattle. Every year, they face off during Spring Training games. This spring, they played only one Cactus League game against one another... a 1-0 Cubs win in Peoria on March 28.

This series will be a homecoming for manager Lou Piniella, who led the M's from 1993 to 2002. The Mariners made four postseason appearances during his tenure including 2001 when they won 116 regular season games.

Cubs' legend and radio broadcaster Ron Santo decided not to make the trip to his hometown. Ronny, who's 70 years old and has already had several health scares this season, is feeling fine and just wants to stay back to rest up. He will rejoin the Cubs when they play at U.S. Cellular Field on Friday. Santo plans to cut back on his travelling because of his health. Dave Otto will fill in for this series.

Third baseman Aramis Ramirez is expected to come off the DL at some point during this series. Rami finished his rehab stint in Peoria 1-6 with 2 walks and 2 strikeouts. Gordon Wittenmyer reports that the Cubs will activate Aramis, who was hitting just .168 before going down with the thumb injury, prior to Wednesday night's game. The Cubs will have to make a corresponding roster move... which means Chad Tracy could be in danger of being sent back to Iowa once again.

Game 1: Tuesday at 9:10 CT
Cubs Starting Pitcher: Ryan Dempster (5-5, 3.67 ERA)
Seattle Starting Pitcher: Jason Vargas (5-2, 2.88 ERA)
TV/Radio: CSN+, WGN Radio

Game 2: Wednesday at 9:10 CT
Cubs Starting Pitcher: Randy Wells (3-5, 4.92 ERA)
Seattle Starting Pitcher: Cliff Lee (5-3, 2.55 ERA)
TV/Radio: WGN, WGN Radio

Game 3: Thursday at 2:40 CT
Cubs Starting Pitcher: Carlos Silva (8-2, 3.01 ERA)
Seattle Starting Pitcher: Felix Hernandez (5-5, 3.39 ERA)
TV/Radio: CSN, WGN Radio

The Cubs are embarking on a six game road trip, but after the three in the Pacific Northwest they will be right back to the city of Chicago to play the South Siders. They are 31-38, 7 games out of first, and in third place in the NL Central. The bottom line: The Cubs are much in need of a series win... and against last-place Seattle a sweep would not be too much to ask for.

"I don't care who wins as long as it's the Cubs!"

Milton Bradley Traded to Seattle

Updated at 4:30 CT with Radio Recaps (bottom of post)

According to ESPN Chicago.com the Cubs have traded Milton Bradley to Seattle for right handed pitcher Carlos Silva. The Mariners will sent a total of $9 million to the Cubs, and $3M of that amount will be to even out the difference between Silva and Bradley's salary in 2010. The other $6 million "constitutes payroll relief for the Cubs and will be paid out over 2010 and 2011.

Bruce Levine says that the money could be used to help the Cubs add a center fielder so that Kosuke can be moved to right.

The Cubs have watched Carlos Silva in Venezuela the last 7-10 days.

As Paul Sullivan points out, the Cubs will visit Seattle for interleague play June 22-24.

Here is the official press release from Cubs.com.

Info on Carlos Silva:

• 30 years old
• Right Handed Pitcher
• 1-3 with an 8.60 ERA in only 8 games in 2009 due to injuries
• 4-15 with 6.46 ERA in 28 Games in 2008
• Career 60-64 record with an ERA of 4.72
• Signed by the Phillies as an amateur free agent in 1996
• MLB Debut: April 1, 2002
• Played for Phillies (2002-2003), Twins (2004-2007), and Mariners (2008-2009) before being traded to the Cubs
• Currently playing for Caribes in the Venezuelan Winter League. He has an ERA of 8.00 in 4 games there so far, going a total of 9 innings.

Ryan Theriot joined Waddle & Silvy today to talk about the trade & more:

• When asked about his mood after the Bradley trade, Theriot said he's doing better because the sun is out, and he heard a trade rumor that the Cubs are doing their best to get Drew Brees.
• Ryan saying that his memory of the Saints growing up is his dad throwing the remote at the TV by the second or third quarter because they were so bad. Now it's good times in New Orleans.
• When asked if he was avoiding the (Milton Bradley) topic, Theriot said, "What topic?"
• Theriot said that it really is surprising to him that Milton was traded to the Mariners.
• He said that he knows Silva is a bulldog and a good guy to have on your staff.
• Silvy said Silva has a good reputation.
• Ryan isn't worried about the Cubs.
• Talent wise, the sky is the limit for Milton Bradley. "Just my judging last season, it's really a coin flip what you're going to get," Theriot said.
• If things would have been going well on the field, it would have been a totally different story.
• Ryan learned how to stay humble and professional no matter what from Kerry Wood.
• Bradley was a wear on the entire Cubs team. Ryan did everything possible to try to help the situation, but it was just difficult for everybody. Bradley being gone will help the clubs focus and make the Cubs much better.

Bert Blyleven also joined the Waddle & Silvy show today to talk about Carlos Silva:

• Bert was there the day when Milton Bradley tossed the ball into the stands.
• As a Twins broadcaster and fan, he kind of liked Bradley's move to toss the ball into the stands.
• He also likes Jim Hendry's move to trade "his headache".
• Silva went to Seattle and had a miserable year after pitching well in Minnesota.
• Carlos has had some back problems, and in 2009 his shoulder flared up, so he made only 6 starts.
• Silva has good control, a good sinking fastball, and is a battler.
• Blyleven compared him to Carlos Zambrano, except he doesn't walk or strikeout a lot of guys.
• Carlos gives up a lot of home runs. In 2006, he gave up a league leading 30 home runs. When his sinker stays up in the strike zone, it's a very hittable pitch.
• Silva has a chance to turn over a new leaf with the Chicago Cubs. All is not lost.
• He "works his rear end off", has a great work ethic, and is a great guy to have in the clubhouse.
• Carlos is dedicated to the game of baseball. If he's healthy, Blyleven thinks he will be a great fit for the Cubs.

Yesterday (before the trade) Ron Santo talked with Waddle & Silvy:

• Ronny's feeling well. Marc had just had dinner with Andy Masur in San Diego, and Marc was talking with Marc for the first time in awhile.
• As long as he's feeling good, Santo will do as many games as he can broadcasting on WGN Radio next season.
• Ron has been working out every other day all winter.
• When he doesn't travel with the team, he goes nuts at home. He says he's better off being there.
• "I just love working with that man. He's the best," Ron said of his partner Pat Hughes.
• There was no doubt in Ron's mind that he'd be back for the next 3 years. He's been surprised that everyone has been calling him congratulating him on the 3 year contract.
• Broadcasting and watching the Cubs at the ballpark is like therapy for him. When he walks in the ballpark, he feels really good.
• Ron loves the Ricketts family taking over the team because he came up with the Wrigley family. He liked playing for a family owned team because it's more personable.
• Tom's definitely going to bring a winner here. The talent is there and the Cubs are on the right track.
• Ron believed definitely that Bradley would be moved. He was right. Santo added that there will be other moves for the Cubs.
• He thinks we'll see more trades than free agent signings.
• The key for the Cubs returning to postseason play is health. When you have 4 of your main pitchers out for a month, Aramis Ramirez out for 2.5 months, and bad years from Soto, Bradley, and Soriano, that's what happens. Soto has the talent to come back and stay healthy, and Ronny thinks Soriano will be back next year. Santo thinks Kosuke will be moved to right field.
• He likes Theriot in the leadoff spot or the number two spot, but the Cubs are still looking at other leadoff men.

Paul Sullivan joined Boers and Bernstein on 670 the Score today:

• When asked how he was, Sully said "Can you here the champagne?"
• Half the time you could get a good interview with Bradley half the time he was a lunatic.
• Hendry knew what he was getting with Milton Bradley
• Jim took all the blame, and rightfully so.
• Paul says that lots of this is Bradley's fault, but Hendry will have to live with the move to get him the rest of his career.
• Tom Ricketts was paying close attention to the Bradley situation to ensure that Hendry made the right move.
• At one point Jim thought he could get a serviceable player, but he got sick of trying to work out a better trade than Silva.
• The Cubs did not want to take this through Christmas.
• Marlon Byrd could be the next move. Sully is not a big fan of Byrd, he would rather the Cubs make a play at Jermaine Dye and leave Kosuke in center.
• The Cubs lack a power hitter for the 5th spot in the lineup.
• Sullivan says that the Cubs need to look at all options before they move Kosuke to right.
• Byrd is going to want a 3 year deal, he has the same agent of Milton Bradley, and he's getting older.
• Guys don't draw a lot of walks under Rudy Jaramillo. Rudy likes guys to swing.
• It's going to be interesting to watch what Jaramillo can do to reshape the Cubs bats.
• Sullivan says that the window is still open for the Cubs team because the division they play in is going to leave it open.
• Once you win the division and get in the playoffs, who knows.
• If Soriano and Soto have better years, that will help tremendously.
• It's hard to stay how much the Bradley stuff really affected the Cubs' play on the field.
• There were a hand full of people who didn't speak to Milton the entire season according to Sullivan.
• Once Hendry told the team the news that Bradley was going to be suspended for the last two weeks of the season, the team celebrated and cheered in the clubhouse.

Still more to come, expect this post to be updated once again.