Weekend Roundup: Getting Set for the Busy Season

The Cubs should start making offseason moves some time in the near future! Here are the latest news, rumors and notes-

• According to several reports, Dale Sveum has asked Chris Bosio to be his pitching coach. No word on whether or not Bosio will accept the offer.
• Carlos Zambrano got hit in the face with a line drive while pitching in the Venezuelan Winter League last week. He will not pitch for Caribes again until December 6.
• If Craig Council decides to retire, there is talk of him joining Sveum's staff.
• Buster Olney tweeted this weekend that neither Albert Pujols or Prince Fielder are ideal long term targets for the Cubs.
• The Cubs offered arbitration to Aramis Ramirez and Carlos Pena, but not Kerry Wood. Wood is still expected to return, while Ramirez will most likely turn down the arbitration offer.
• Bruce Chen, a pitcher whom the Cubs had some level of interest in, re-signed with Kansas City last week.
• According to ESPN Chicago, Dale Sveum has the support of Yankees manager Joe Girardi.
• The Cubs are rumored to have interest in CJ Wilson.

That's it for now, but I'll keep you posted on Everything Cubs as always!

Weekend Quick Hits: Quade Leads the Pack, Wedge to Seattle, Roster Moves, & More

• Bruce Levine wrote today that the Cubs are getting closer and closer to naming their new manager. He said that Mike Quade is the leading candidate. Levine says that the announcement could come as early as next week prior to the start of the World Series. Major League Baseball does not allow managerial announcements during the Fall Classic.
• Bruce added the Ryne Sandberg is a candidate for the Toronto Blue Jays managerial position.
• Bobby Scales and Blake Parker have been outrighted to Triple-A Iowa, reducing the Cubs 40-man roster to 38.
• Josh Vitters has started for the Mesa Solar Sox twice so far this fall, once at first base and once at third base.
• The Mesa Cubs finished up the Arizona Instructional League with a mark of 7-9-4.
• There was an Internet rumor going around that Mike Quade was set to be named the manager with Ryne Sandberg as his bench coach, but several Chicago media members were quick to shoot down the report.
• Eric Wedge has been named the new manager of the Seattle Mariners, reducing the list of possible Cubs skippers even further. The Sun Times reports that the Tom Ricketts will not lose any sleep over Wedge going elsewhere.
• Gordon Wittenmyer reports that Joe Girardi continues to have interest in the gig.

That's it for now, but if news breaks on the Cubs managerial search we'll let you know!

It's All Over

The last day of the Major League Baseball season is always a sad one. Especially when it ends in early October for the Cubs. Especially when you're capping off a year as bad as this one. Especially when the payroll is expected to drop this winter.

However, there is still a reason to keep an eye on the Chicago Cubs. There is still a reason to hope. The Cubs finished strong. Today's 4-0 loss to the Astros was sour, but they still went 5-2 on the final road trip of the season. They went 24-13 in the 37 games under Mike Quade.

The Astros win today put them in fourth place in the NL Central. The Cubs dropped to fifth with a final record of 75-87. There are a lot of questions to be answered this winter.

Here's the latest from the final weekend of the 2010 season:

• The biggest question going around, "Will Mike Quade return as the Cubs full-time skipper in 2010?" Tom Ricketts and Jim Hendry were asked today, "When do you plan to have a manager in place?"
• Quade told Carrie Muskat that he feel good about his chance to return.
• Cubs legend Ron Santo will be honored in Mesa, Arizona next Saturday. Ron will have another shot at the Hall of Fame in December.
• Bob Melvin was interviewed for the manager's job by Jim Hendry on Saturday in Houston according to the report from the Sun Times.
• Carlos Zambrano wants to Cubs to go after Adam Dunn.
• Speaking of Big Z, Jim Hendry has announced that the big right hander will stay with the Cubs next season.
• Ken Rosenthal thinks that if the Cubs wait for Joe Girardi to finish his season to name their manager, they will be taking a risk. Many other candidates may have moved on by that time.
• CSN Chicago reports that Rudy Jaramillo plans to honor his contract as the Cubs hitting coach no matter who the team's manager is.
• While there is no time table for the search for a new manager, Jim Hendry expects to narrow it down in the next couple weeks.
• Tom Ricketts said on the WGN Radio broadcast today that the new manager will be in place by mid-November.
• Paul Sullivan reports that Jim Hendry was pleased with Kosuke's season. Hendry said that Kosuke did a much better job. He does not believe the team over-evaluated the right fielder.
• Carlos Marmol, Geovany Soto, and Sean Marshall are all arbitration eligible. They will all be due big raises once again.
• Xavier Nady is the only Cub set to become a free agent. Aramis Ramirez will take his player option for 2011.

Opening Day is at Wrigley on April 1 against the Pirates! I'll keep you posted on all the rumors and news... the best time to blog on the Cubs is during the winter!

Go Cubs Go!

Catching Up Quick Hits: Wedge Interviews, Silva Rehabs, Girardi Speaks, and More

First of all, I apologize for the hiatus the last few days. It's been a wild week and no posts have made it up onto the blog. We should be back to posting everyday, or every-other-day at the least!

Let's catch up on all the latest Cubbies news and notes:

• Carlos Silva made a rehab start for the Peoria Chiefs last night. He went 2.2 shutout innings and is expected to make one more rehab before returning to the Cubs rotation.
• Tyler Colvin is still taking ground balls at first base, but the Cubs are not going to rush him into game action at his new position.
• Carlos Zambrano flew home to Venezuela to be with his nephew during an illness. He will rejoin the team this weekend and is scheduled to start against the Pirates on Monday.
• Lefty Scott Maine was called up from AAA-Iowa on Tuesday night and made his big league debut on Friday against the Reds. He is the 10th Cubs rookie to break into the bigs this season.
• Justin Berg was optioned back to Triple-A but should be back in the 'pen when rosters expand this coming week.
• Jim Hendry has started the interviewing process to find the next Cubs manager. According to Paul Sullivan, Eric Wedge has received the first known interview for the Cubs job.
• Joe Girardi, who is in town for the White Sox/Yankees series, met with the Chicago media before the game last night. Girardi says that he is focused on the Yankees and winning this year. He is not worried about his contract situation or coming to the Cubs at this point.
• Happy 67th birthday to former Cubs manager Lou Piniella and a happy 28th to tonight's Cubs starter Randy Wells!
• Ken Rosenthal reports that the Dodgers placed Ted Lilly on waivers yesterday, but Jayson Starks says a trade is unlikely.
• Gordon Wittenmyer has sources that tell him that Girardi would be a candidate, possibly a leading candidate, to land the Cubs job if he is available.
• Jon Heyman gave his take on the opening. He says that many feel it will be Ryne Sandberg, Mike Quade is a long shot, and Girardi is listed as the second most likely guy. Tony LaRussa and Bobby Valentine could also be in the mix according to Heyman.

That's it for now, but I'll keep you posted!

The Chicago Cubs All Decade Team- Position Players

The Chicago Cubs went 733-737 in the 2000s, but the ten "average" years will never be forgotten by most fans. This winter, you've been voting on the polls on our sidebar that asked you: "Who is the Cubs top (blank position) of the 2000s?", so now we put those poll-winners together for the Chicago Cubs all Decade Team...

*Note that all stats are from 2000-2009 only, with the Cubs only!

Catcher- Joe Girardi
Years with Cubs: 2000-2002
Became a Cub: On December 15, 1999 when he was signed
Batting Averages: .278, .253, .226
Awards/Honors: 2000 NL All Star Team
Notes: This was his second stint with the Cubs!
Where is he now: Manager of the New York Yankees

First Base- Derrek Lee
Years with Cubs: 2004-present
Became a Cub on: November 25, 2003 when he was traded from Florida in exchange for Mike Nannini and Hee Seop Choi.
Batting Average as a Cub: .304 in 815 Games
Awards/Honors: 2005 and 2007 NL All Star Team; 2005 NL batting title; 2003, 2005, and 2007 NL Gold Glove at 1B.
Notes: Signed through 2010

Second Base- Mark DeRosa
Years with the Cubs: 2007-2008
Became a Cub on: November 14, 2006 signed as a FA
Left the Cubs on: December 31, 2008 when he was traded to Cleveland for Jeff Stevens, John Gaub, and Chris Archer
Batting Average as a Cub: .289 in 298 games
Notes: Played 2B, 3B, RF, 1B, LF, and SS in both seasons with the Cubs.
Where is he now: Signed with SF Giants

Shortstop- Ryan Theriot
Years with the Cubs: 2005-present
Became a Cub on: September 13, 2005 when he made his big league debut
Batting Average as a Cub: .288 in 513 games
Honors/Awards: Led the NL in singles in 2007 and 2008
Notes: Currently looking to avoid arbitration with club

Third Base- Aramis Ramirez
Years with the Cubs: 2003-present
Became a Cub on: July 23, 2003 when he was traded from the Pirates with Kenny Lofton for Matt Bruback, Jose Hernandez, and Bobby Hill.
Batting Average as a Cub: .300 in 851 games
Honors/Awards: 2005 and 2008 NL All Star; 2008 Hank Aaron Award
Notes: Signed through 2011, plus 2012 club option

Outfield- Sammy Sosa
Years with the Cubs: 1992-2004
Became a Cub on: March 30, 1992 when the White Sox sent him to the North Side along with Ken Patterson in return for George Bell
Left the Cubs on: February 2, 2005 when the Cubs sent him to Baltimore for Dave Crouthers, Mike Fontenot, and Jerry Hairston
Batting Averages in 2000s: .320, .328, .288, .279, and .253
Honors/Awards: 2001, 2002, and 2004 NL All Star; 2000, '01, and '02 NL Silver Slugger; led NL in runs scored in 2001 and '02; led league in HR in 2000 and 2002; led NL in RBIs in 2001; and led the NL in Intentional Base on Balls in 2001 (with 37!)
Where is he now?: Announced his retirement on June 3, 2009 after the World Baseball Classic. He is currently "calmy waiting" his induction into the Hall of Fame.
Notes: *

Outfield- Moises Alou
Years with the Cubs: 2002-2004
Became a Cub on: December 19, 2001 when he signed with the Cubs
Left the Cubs on: January 5, 2005 when he signed with the Giants
Batting Average as a Cub: .283 in 438 games
Honors/Awards: 2004 NL All Star
Where is he now?: On March 5, 2009 announced that he would retire after the World Baseball Classic. He is now the GM for a Dominican Winter League team.
Notes: One of the few MLB players who batted without batting gloves.

Outfield- Alfonso Soriano
Years with the Cubs: 2007-present
Became a Cub on: November 20, 2006 when he signed with the team
Batting Average as a Cub: .275 in 361 games
Honors/Awards: 2007 and 2008 NL All Star
Notes: Signed through 2014- so he could be on the "All Cubs Decade Team 2010-2020", or also might end up on the "Not-So All Decade Team 2010-2020". Time will tell.

Up Next: The Pitchers