Cubs Connection

Can Jaramillo Power The Cubs Back To The Top?

Sunday November 1, 2009
Wrigleyville

In an effort to regain the status of an offensive powerhouse, the Cubs hired long-time Texas Rangers hitting coach Rudy Jarmillo. He is signed to a three-year, $2.4 million contract.

Cubs General Manager Jim Hendry was qouted by MLB.com saying "We feel we're the beneficiary of good timing. When you get an opportunity to put somebody in place who is so well respected and so universally considered at the top of his profession, you jump at the chance of that."

Jaramillo leaves the Rangers after 15 seasons leading 17 hitters to Silver Slugger Awards, four Most Valuable Player Awards, three homerun titles, and three rbi crowns.
This is an impressive resume, but as Cub fans we must also look at the decline of many of the Rangers hitters:

Player 2007 2008 2009
Blalock .293 .287 .234
Kinsler .263 .319 .253
Hamilton . .304 .268
Murphy .343 .275 .269
Byrd .307 .298 .283
Cruz .235 .330 .260
Saltalamacchia.251 .253 .233
Davis . .285 .238
Teagarden .319 .217

The numbers show that from 2008 to 2009 seven regulars batting averages dipped .15 points or more. However, the power numbers of these hitters improved greatly:
Player 2008 AB/HR 2009AB/HR
Blalock 21.50 18.48
Kinsler 28.78 18.26
Hamilton 19.50 33.60
Murphy 27.67 25.41
Byrd 40.30 27.35
Cruz 16.43 14.00
Saltalamacchia 66.00 31.44
Davis 17.35 18.62
Young 53.75 24.59

These numbers indicate that Jaramillo and the Rangers sacrificed average for power. Even so, their .260 team averaged bested the Cubs by five points and their 224 homeruns were 63 better. On top of that, the Rangers only hit into 97 double plays compaired to the Cubs 134.

What does this spell for Cub fans, lots of excitement via the long ball and a good chance to again be the NL centrals best.

Cubs Second Half Needs list

The Cubs have played poorly in the first half of the 2009 season, However, they are still in contention and if they can fill the following needs they just might make the playoffs for the third straight season.

Catching: Geovany Soto is off to a slow start which I believe a big part is due to the departure of Henry Blanco. Koyie Hill has done a fine job as the backup, but Blanco was a big support system for Soto.
NEED: Pick up Blanco if the opportunity arises

Firstbase: Derek Lee started out very poor but has come on strong. Lou needs to continue to push him with the idea of playing Hoffpauir more.
NEED: Keep the pressure on Lee

Secondbase: Fontenot is not the answer and neither is Baker!
NEED: Replacement

Thirdbase: It will be a welcome sight to see a healthy Aramis Ramirez back at third. However, if he performs well I believe it would be wise to more him for an productive middle infielder.
NEED: Possibly move Ramirez

Shortstop: Ryan Theroit is a nice ballplayer but for the Cubs to get to the next level they need a shortstop of much better calibur. In game one of Sunday's doubleheader he looked more like a little leaguer than a major leaguer. In the second inning Fukudome fooled Ludwick into believing he would catch Thurston's hit only to have Theroit standing at short rather than at second base where he belonged. Then in the fifth he drops Pujols (sun battled) pop up which landed directly in his glove.
NEED: Replace Theroit

Leftfield: What can I say, the Cubs a stuck with Soriano so we can only hope he gets into one of his hot streaks real soon.
NEED: Soriano to get hot

Centerfield: Fukudome has cooled and I believe Fuld should be the everyday centerfielder until he proves he should not
NEED: Relace Fukuedome with Fuld

Rightfield: Bradley has come around a bit and gives 100% effort but is not a championship type ballplayer. His baserunning blunders are proof enough. Hoffpauir may not be the answer but the Cubs need to find out what he can do when allowed to play on a daily basis.
NEED: Get Hoofpauir's lefthanded bat (with power) into the line up.

Pitching: I believe for the most part the Cubs have the pitching to get the job done.
NEED: To workout a few kinks but pitching should not be a problem.

The Cubs needs are simple, other than the idea of moving Ramirez for a productive middle infielder. If the Cubs can do that, I believe they have a chance to surpass the Cards and win the Central. If not, it will be a long offseason for the Cubs.

GO CUBS GO

Harden Charbroiled Redbirds

Sunday April 26, 2009
Busch Stadium St. Louis, MO.

Cubs 10
Cards 3

Rich Harden saved the Cubs from a three game sweep with another great performance. He went six strong innings allowing two runs, four hits, two walks and struck out nine. It is nice to see that he  apparently at full strength. Excluding his start against the Rockies, he is 2-0 2.50 era 0.89 whip with 27 strikeouts vs. 6 walks. The Cardinals Todd Wellemeyer did not fare as well. He went five innings allowing six runs, eight hits, walked two and struck out five.

Koske Fukudome, whom I have been very disappointed with, had a huge day celebrating his 32nd birthday. Koske was 3 for 4 at the plate with five rbi's and in the eight inning he hit his fourth homer of the young season off Trever Miller. The Cards did little with the bat. They were lead by Yadier Molina who was two for four and hit his second homerun of the season in the second inning off Harden.

The Cubs (9-8) will be back at it tomorrow night when they send Ted Lilly (lhp  2-1 2.41) against the  Diamondbacks (6-11) Yusmeiro Petit (rhp 0-1 6.00).

Go Cubs Go!

The Making of A Champion

Cubs fans, we are only 16 games (10%) into the 2009 seasons and we are four games behind a very good St. Louis Cardinal ball club. With over 140 games to go, our very good Chicago Cub ball club can easily make up that ground. In order to do so , they must begin to play championship caliber ball. What does that mean?

1. Hustle: How many of you notice Fukudome in the fourth inning trotting to second on Mike Fontenot's single to center. By hustling you put pressure on the opponent and if Rasmus happen to bubble the ball Fukudome is on third.
2. Production: The heart of the order must produce. This means Derek Lee must begin to produce. Since the 2008 all-star break Lee is htting .250 with 6 homers and 43 rbi's. I don't even want to begin to count home many runners he has left on base.
3. Defense: I believe this is an area the Cubs are very strong. However, as well as Fukudome plays the ball he all to often throws the ball up the third base line.
4. Close the game: The bullpen must have the ability to close out the game. If Kevin Gregg is going to close he must threw strikes and cannot allow runners to reach at the rate of 1.86.inning

In conclusion, the Cubs cannot wait much longer to begin making changes to form this team into a champion. I believe Johnson has earned the opportunity to replace Fukudome, Hoffpauir should play more firstbase and that the bullpen will be OK. The arms there, they just have to work through the early season struggles.

Go Cubs Go!

Cubs Boggs Down By Mitchell

Saturday April 25, 2009
Busch Stadium St. Louis, MO.

Cardinals 8
Cubs       2

Mitchell Boggs, the Cardinals 6' 4" 25 year old hard-throwing righthander, pitched like he belongs in their rotation. He went five and two-thirds innings allowing one unearned run, six hits, walked one and struckout three.

Sean Marshall went six strong innings for the Cubs. He allowed three runs, six hits, walked one and struck out five.

In the seventh inning Albert Pujols hit a 441 foot Grand slam to left, becoming the 23rd player to drive in 1,000 or more runs.

Today @ 2:15 PM ET, the Cubs will send righthander Rich Harden (1-1 4.20) against the Cards righander Todd Wellemeyer (1-1 5.29). The Cards will be seeking their 10th straight win at home and to put the Cubs five full games behind them.

Go Cubs Go!

Photos courtesy of the AP via mlb.

Bruce Almigthy

CUBS    7
REDS    2

Tuesday April 21, 2009
Wrigley Field, Chicago IL.

Rich Harden was nearly unhittable in his six innings. He allowed only two runs, three hits, two walks and eight. Jay Bruce was the only Reds batter who Harden didn't completely out match. Bruce homered to right in the second and single in the fourth to score Votto. The only other hit he allowed was ball hit right back to him which, in my opinion, should have been scored an error.The bullpen again performed very well. However, Neal Cotts continues to have control issues and his velocity appears to be decreasing. His fastball rarely reached 90.

Micah Hoffpauir had a good night at the plate. Leading off the second inning he hit his first homerun  and drove in another on a long flyball to center in the fifth. He also walked in the third.However, he was out done by Aramis Ramirez who was 3 for 5 with three rbi's. This brings Ramirez season batting average to .364

Tonight @ 7:05 CT the Cubs look to extend their winning streak to four. The will send their veteran lefthander Ted Lilly (2-0 3.86) against the Reds hard throwing young righthander Johnny Cueto (0-1 4.22).

Go Cubs Go!

Cubs looking to go One up on the Cards

Just as expected, this has been a great series, with the difference being the bullpens.

In game one the  Cubs pen went four innings allowing four runs and five hits while the Cards pen went three strong innings allowing no runs or hits sealing the 7 - 4 victory for the Cards.

Game two: Cards been goes four innings allowing five runs and six hits while the Cubs pen need to go only two innings and allowed no runs on one in the Cubs 8 -7 victory.

Game Three: Cards pen went five and two-thirds allowing three runs and five hits. The Cubs pen went five allowing one run and two hits leading the way to a 7 - 5 victory.

Besides very good work from the pen, limiting Pujols to one hit, a single to center in game one, has been a big factor.

Tonight in an attempt to go one game up on the Cards, the Cubs will send lefthander Ted Lilly (2-0 3.85) against the Cardinals righthander Todd Welleyer (1-1 4.50).

Go Cubs Go!

Big Z Struggles

but Soriano saves the day and brings the series with the always tough Red Birds even. Carlos Zambrano did go seven innings allowing seven runs on nine hits and three walks while striking out seven. This was rough day on all pitchers except for the Cubs bullpen. Aaron Heilman picked up the win pitching a strong eighth inning allowing only a double to Rick Ankiel on a 2-2 slider. Marmol picked up his second save but made it very interesting by walking Colby Rasmus on four pitches and then hitting Albert Pujols with his fifth pitch on the inning. He then struck out Ryan Ludwick and followed that by getting the Cards powerful hitting shortstop Khalil Greene to ground into a game ending double play.

The Cubs were lead offensively by Aramis Ramirez with three and three rbi's. Micah Hoofpauir and Derek Lee each had two hits and Alfonso Soriano had the game winner, a two run shot to left-center. His fifth of the young season.

The Cubs and Cards battle again today at Wrigley. Game time is 2:40 CT with Right-hander Ryan Dempster (1-0 4.50 era) will face the Cards right-hander Kyle Lohse (2-0 1.13 era).

Johnson Robs Fielder of Grand Slam

Sunday April 12, 2009
Miller Park, Milwaukee WI.
Cubs 8     Brewers 5

Ryan Dempster faced off against Jeff Suppan and neither pitched very well. Dempster went six innings allowing four runs on six hits, walking three and striking out six. His velocity was down, his fastball consistantly hitting 91, but his command was better than in his first start. Suppan last only three and two-thirds innings given up five runs on only two hits. He walked six and struck out one.

Kosuke Fukudome and Ryan Theroit's bats continue to be hot. Each of them hit a double but the big hit came on Suppan's first pitch of the game. Alfonso Soriano hit it deep over the centerfield wall for his 51st career lead-off homer. Rickie Weeks lead the Brewer attack with three, one a long homerun to left in the ninth off Kevin Gregg.

The play of last night's game was in the fifth inning. Reed Johnson, who replaced Milton Bradley in the fourth with an apparent leg injury, climbed the right field wall robbing Prince Fielder of a grand slam. Prince, out of a sign of sportmanship, tip his helmet to Johnson. That was nice to see and is an indication that he is become a respectable leader for the sport.

The Cubs opening game at Wrigley is today @ 2:20pm. Ted Lilly (1-0 9.00 era) will face Colorado Rockies and their hard throwing righthander Ubaldo Jimenez (1-0 0.00 era). Go Cubs Go!

NICK ADENHART

I have been jotting down my thoughts in regard to this tragedy to submit a post. However, after read the post on the Redbirds Rap I want to encourage you to go read that post. I don't think it can be said any better.

Thank you Chuck and Rest in Peace Nick.