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Analysis, News & Rumors
Archives
January 2006 Headlines
How can I get Cubs Tickets? - 1/30/06 5:25pm
Walker vs Perez vs Hairston - 1/28/06 11:30am
Insurance Policies for 2006 - 1/24/06 6:01pm
Cubs Add Another Pitcher - 1/23/06 9:32pm
What to do with the Extra Cash - 1/17/06 8:40pm
Baker and Hendry at the Convention - 1/15/06 6:15pm
Zito Still a Target - 1/14/06 7:06am
Cubs Trade Patterson - 1/09/06 8:30pm
Cubs Shift Gears to Soriano? - 1/08/06 10:06pm
Plans for Future Prospects - 1/06/06 5:15pm
Cubs 'Close In' on Patterson Trade - 1/06/06 4:55pm
Spring Training Tickets on Sale Today - 1/06/06 8:41am
Cubs Close to Dealing Patterson? - 1/04/06 10:53pm
Cubs Not Done Dealing - 1/02/06 6:45pm
1/30/06 5:25pm - How can I get Cubs Tickets?
At CBB, we have been receiving quite a few emails lately on how to get Cubs tickets. Fans want to know the secrets and tricks used to get the best seats at the best games.
In the past, there were loopholes with purchasing Cubs tickets online. Technically savvy fans found ways to open multiple internet browsers to increase their chances of purchasing tickets. Some fans had many different computers running with hundreds of internet browsers opened. After word spread, everyone was trying to cut corners. Many were just trying to make a buck.
The latest rumor floating around the internet is that the process of opening multiple browsers will not work for 2006. What will Cubs fans do? Now that we are all on even ground, all we can do is prepare.
The best preparation fans can do will be to have all their games picked and ready when tickets go on sale. Tickets will go on sale on Friday, February 24th. If you have access to multiple computers and laptops, it would benefit you to have each one ready on cubs.com at least a half hour before the tickets go on sale. Once the virtual waiting room appears fans may wait hours without any success. Patience is important as it will be at least 4 hours before most of the bleachers and good seats are sold.
It may be difficult to get tickets for the series against the SOX, but if you are persistent, you should have
no problem getting tickets to many of the other games.
If waiting in a virtual waiting room isn't your thing and you would rather go to the box office in person, you
may want to consider picking up a 'ticket purchasing' bracelet. Usually, the Cubs will release bracelets to
fans a few days before tickets go on sale. The night before tickets go on sale, a bracelet number is announced
on Chicago's local news. The line would then start with that bracelet number the next day when tickets go
on sale. Usually, if you are within 1000 of the number announced, you will have a better chance to get the
tickets you want by showing up in person to Wrigley Field box office.
Your final option would be to call 773-404-CUBS. You will likely experience busy signals when tickets go on
sale, but it may not be a bad idea to call the ticket office and attempt to buy tickets online at the
same time.
If you are still unable to get tickets, be sure to check back with us at CBB. On occasion, we have available
tickets that we will sell through our tickets section.
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1/28/06 11:30am - Walker vs Perez vs Hairston
The Cubs made the right decision to pick up Todd Walker's $2.5 million option for 2006. Attempting to trade him for the right player was also the
right move as Walker's value is not low. Now that a trade seems more and more unlikely, would it be the right decision not to start Walker at
second base?
Though Dusty Baker projected Walker to be the starter at second base, it seems that the Cubs management would prefer to have better defense
at second base. Assuming defense is the key, the Cubs may prefer Perez or Hairston over Walker.
Would Neifi Perez really be the answer for the Cubs? Perez has a slight defensive advantage over Walker, but Walker has an offensive advantage over Perez.
Neifi has already proven to be a valuable asset as a utility player. He could fill in at second base, shortstop, and third base. In 2004, he batted .371 in
62 at-bats as a utility player. Why wouldn't the Cubs leverage this? Walker has a career average of .290, mostly as a starter. During his two years with
the Cubs, he had a .352 and .355 on base percentage.
The Cubs should use Walker, Perez, and Hairston for their strengths. Since rookie, Ronny Cedeno, is projected to start at shortstop, the Cubs are going
to need Perez to fill in for Cedeno often. His defense will be helpful late in games at either second base or shortstop. Hairston gives the team added depth at second, shortstop, and even the outfield positions.
Starting Walker will also be wise since Walker is a very good #2 hitter. He will fit in well with Pierre leading off. Derrek Lee will have many more opportunities
with Pierre and Walker in front of him.
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1/24/06 6:01pm - Insurance Policies for 2006
While the Cubs continue to test the waters with possible trades, the Cubs seem more likely to go into Spring Training with their current roster.
Numerous trade rumors have floated around for months regarding players like Barry Zito, Julio Lugo, and many others. It now seems like the Cubs will
go into Spring Training with their current roster. The difference between this year and last year is that the team has a better starting lineup and they now
have proven insurance policies in place.
Last year the Cubs didn't insure too many of their positions. They had Todd Hollandsworth and Jason Dubois platooning in left field. Neither of which had
proved they could start. The Cubs also had a combination of veterans and rookies in the bullpen, but not much of an insurance policy if any of these
players didn't play up to expectations. Patterson and Burnitz didn't really have a defined backup other than Jose Macias.
2006 looks to be a different situation for the Cubs. The team plans to start rookies in two positions, but have also positioned themselves to have veteran backup plans in place if needed. Matt Murton is the projected starter in left field, but the Cubs also made sure they picked up veteran, Marquis Grissom. Jacque Jones was signed to play right field but the club also looked to sign a reliable backup in John Mabry. There is also the possibility that we could see Felix Pie at some point.
The infield also has some valuable insurance policies. With Cedeno projected to start at short stop, the Cubs will plan to start Todd Walker at second base. Jerry Hairston is a great insurance policy for second base and Neifi Perez is a great insurance policy for the entire infield.
As for the bullpen, Jim Hendry made quite a few upgrades by getting Scott Eyre and Bob Howry. Ryan Dempster has been signed to an extension and holds the closer spot. With Kerry Wood's recovery on track, Hendry and Baker have already talked about placing Wood in the bullpen as another insurance policy.
The starting rotation has become more defined with a projected starting five of Zambrano, Prior, Maddux, Rusch, and Williams. The latest addition of Wade Miller is a great insurance policy considering the Cubs have been battling injuries in their starting rotation for a few years. If Miller and Wood return and are able to join the starting rotation, we could see Zambrano, Prior, Wood, Maddux, and Miller. Don't forget the Cubs also have Rich Hill and John Koronka who were exposed to some valuable major league starts last year.
Cubs.com has the projected lineup of Derrek Lee at first base, Todd Walker at second, Ronny Cedeno at short, Ramirez at third, and Barrett behind the plate. The outfield consists of Jones in right, Pierre in center, and Murton in left. Perez, Grissom, Hairston, Mabry, Pie, and Blanco are all valuable players to have, especially as backups.
The Cubs are definitely a stronger team in 2006 than they were in 2005. They are entering the season with a good projected starting lineup with great insurance policies in place if things don't go according to plan. If the team makes any more trades, expect the starting lineup to grow even stronger.
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1/23/06 9:32pm - Cubs Add Another Pitcher
Today, the Cubs added another pitcher to the roster by signing Wade Miller. Miller was hurt for most
of 2005 and won't be ready to pitch for the Cubs until around May.
This latest move gives Jim Hendry a good insurance policy for the starting rotation in 2006. Miller
has a career 3.98 ERA and is 62-43 in seven seasons, but was on the disabled list for most of the
2005 season. He will be coming off of shoulder surgery in May.
This is a good move for the Cubs, who will take a chance on Miller for a small price. They will pay him
approximately $1 million, which could reach $2 million with incentives. If Miller pitches well when
he returns, he could easily take a starting job away from Glendon Rusch or Jerome Williams.
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1/17/06 8:40pm - What to do with the Extra Cash
We have all heard about how much extra money the Cubs will have to spend for 2006. What should they do with the money left over?
It was predicted that the Cubs may have up to $30 million extra to spend in 2006. The Cubs are paying newly signed Bob Howry and Scott Eyre a combined $7.7 million and could jump another $800,000 in performance bonuses. They also signed Jacque Jones to a three year deal worth approximately $5 million in 2006.
The trade for Juan Pierre will cost the Cubs about $5 million in 2006. Since the Cubs traded away Corey Patterson, they will save around $2.8 million.
This leaves approximately $14 million left over for the Cubs to play with. To be safe, lets call it $12 million. If the Cubs decide to trade Todd Walker, they would also free up cash. What could the Cubs do with this extra money?
The smart thing would be to invest this back into contracts that will be up after 2006 or to extend the contracts of several players who are eligible for salary arbitration.
Mark Prior has already voided his contract for 2005 as he is eligible for salary arbitration. He will probably make $5 million in 2006. Carlos Zambrano and Juan Pierre are also eligible for arbitration. Zambrano is estimated to make approximately $6 to $7 million and Pierre could make around $5 million.
Since Carlos Zambrano just fired his agent, Scott Boras, the Cubs may be wise to sign him to a long term deal now. Boras is known for demanding top dollar for his clients.
The Cubs may want to wait on any long term deal for Mark Prior. 2006 could be the season that defines his future with the Cubs. With all the trade talk involving Prior, the Cubs may be willing to see him depart after 2006 if he doesn't perform up to expectations.
Expect the Cubs to invest in a long term deal for Juan Pierre. It is unlikely they traded away good pitching talent to get Juan Pierre for one year. Pierre is one of the top lead-off hitters in the league and the Cubs have been looking for a player like Pierre for several years.
Looking forward to 2007, the Cubs will have to deal with the fact that Derrek Lee will become a free agent. Aramis Ramirez will have a player option for 2007 and Kerry Wood will have a club option for $13 million with a $3 million buyout option.
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1/15/06 6:15pm - Baker and Hendry at the Convention
Jim Hendry and Dusty Baker must have been dreading the annual Cubs Convention this weekend. They had to know
that fans were going to ask them tough questions during Q&A; sessions.
Both Hendry and Baker did very well standing up to the fans who showed their frustration over the 2005 season.
Though there are many questions still to be answered, some tentative answers have been given.
Recent rumors across the internet are saying that the Cubs plan to start Neifi Perez at second base this year.
Many fans have questioned why this would be the case. The Cubs appear to be more focused on defense rather than
offense, but many argue that Walker's defense isn't that bad. After numerous questions about second base, it
seems that Todd Walker is currently projected as the starter at second. That is, of course, if he is traded.
Kerry Wood's future was also a hot topic. Baker suggested that Wood may join the bullpen when he returns. Later,
he clarified that it all depends on how Wood feels. He is projected to join the starting rotation, but has
also proved that he can be very effective in the bullpen.
Based on the answers given by Jim Hendry, he feels that the Cubs management has done a decent job addressing
the problems from 2005. They solidified the bullpen and found their lead-off hitter in Pierre. Neither Hendry
nor Baker talked about possible contract extensions. It looks like that will depend on how 2006 turns out.
One of the more impressive points of the Q&A; session was when Jim Hendry called it "absurd" to pay Rafael
Furcal $13 million a year. Hendry seems happy with either Perez or Cedeno at shortstop, but there is a good
possibility of a potential trade.
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1/14/06 7:06am - Zito Still a Target
Believe it or not, the Cubs are just a starter and a shortstop away from contention, but pitching
is the key for the Cubs.
Trying to make a trade for Barry Zito would be a monster of a deal for the Cubs. To get a guy like
Zito you better be willing to give up some future talent. Future talent is just what Oakland is looking
for. The Cubs have some prospect talent and even have some current talent they could throw in any potential
deal with the A's.
Would a trade of Rich Hill and Felix Pie make the deal happen? Pie seems to be the #1 prospect in the
Cubs organization, so it may not be likely they would see him go.
The only negative on a Zito trade is that he's a free agent after this season. We are also looking at
the possibility of Zambrano and Prior also being free agents.
The Cubs entered this season with a ton of money. It would be a good deal if they could get a player
like Zito, but only if they were able to sign him to a longer deal. It would also be wise to lock up
Prior and Zambrano.
Another pitcher who should be on the Cubs' radar is Jeff Weaver. The only reason this guy is still on the market
is because of his asking price. This guy will go out and give you innings and he's durable.
If the Cubs could get Zito or Weaver, it would be a huge lift for a team with numerous pitching problems
for the past few years.
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1/09/06 8:30pm - Cubs Trade Patterson
It was bound to happen sooner or later. As most anticipated, Corey Patterson has been traded.
Patterson was dealt today to the Orioles for two minor leaguers. Probably traded at the worse possible time,
the Cubs didn't really have any other option. Patterson would have never fit in at Wrigley Field after a
disastrous 2005 season.
For Patterson, the Cubs get shortstop, Nate Spears, and pitcher, Carlos Perez. Spears had a decent year
playing A-ball, batting .294 with 6 homers and 43 RBI's in 112 games. Perez also played in A-ball, going 11-8
with a 4.28 ERA.
Both Spears and Perez look to have potential, but not as much potential as Corey Patterson once showed. Patterson
has been unable to return the pinnacle of his career where in 2003 where he batted .298 with 13 homers
and 55 RBI's in 83 games. The season ended early for him after he tore his ACL.
Patterson was well liked by the Cubs management and his teammates alike, but everyone knew that he would
be sent to a different team. It was the right direction for the Cubs and good for Patterson who can start clean.
This doesn't change much in the planning for 2006. The Cubs still have a chance to make a big trade. Other
teams had been interested in Patterson, but were not willing to give up more than minor league talent.
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1/08/06 10:06pm - Cubs Shift Gears to Soriano?
Its been a busy off-season for the Cubs rumor mill. Its also been a busy off-season for Jim Hendry
even though he hasn't made any deals lately.
Now that Miguel Tejada is out of the picture, the Cubs may be setting their sights on Alfonso Soriano.
Soriano has already said he would not move to the outfield, which may prompt the Nationals to move him.
The Cubs would be a top contender.
The Cubs may be able to get Soriano for Patterson and a pitcher. Jerome Williams and Patterson could be
a tempting offer for the Nationals. If this deal went though, the Cubs would almost certainly trade Todd
Walker, who seems to have lost his popularity with the Cubs management. Currently, the Cubs have Neifi
Perez projected as the starting Second baseman.
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1/06/06 4:55pm - Plans for Future Prospects
While some of the Cubs future prospects will appear to get their chance in 2006, some may be left wondering
what their future holds with the Cubs.
Currently, the Cubs are projected to start two of their prospects. Both Ronny Cedeno and Matt Murton
would have starting jobs if the season was to start today.
Other prospects like Felix Pie and Rich Hill are close to the Major League level, but still need some time to develop.
Where would a player like Felix Pie fit in? First, he needs the chance to prove he can play at the Major
League level. Then he needs to prove he can earn a starting spot. A starting outfield of Murton, Pierre,
and Jones would not give Pie an opportunity to prove himself unless they played poorly or someone
was injured.
The Cubs may be planning several different scenarios. They could be planning to package a player like Pie
in a deal for an impact player like Miguel Tejada or Barry Zito or they could be planning to trade some
of their other projected starters to free up some space for Pie.
The Cubs also may be planning to only keep Juan Pierre around for one year, which could open the door
for Felix Pie in 2007. This, however, is unlikely, due to the talent the Cubs gave up to trade
for Pierre. Based on the fact that the Cubs signed Jacque Jones to a three-year deal, you have to
assume the Cubs planned to have him start for the next three years. This only leaves one position available and
that is only assuming that Matt Murton doesn't play well.
A potential idea of platooning several players at one position may also be an option but after the debacle
of Jason Dubois and Todd Hollandsworth, the Cubs management may be thinking twice about that.
Each of these four prospects have been mentioned lately in trade rumors. The Cubs could be willing to package
Ronny Cedeno in a trade if they knew they could get a player like Miguel Tejada to fill Shortstop. They also
could be willing to trade Rich Hill if they knew they could get a solid starter for 2006.
These prospects have either proven themselves already or show great potential to be future stars for the
Cubs. The question the Cubs have to ask themselves is are they worth trading now or will they fit into
a future scenario for the Cubs?
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1/06/06 4:55pm - Cubs 'Close In' on Patterson Trade
The Cubs appear to be close to finalizing a deal that would send Corey Patterson to the Baltimore Orioles for a
minor leaguer.
Before fans get too excited, the deal would not have anything to do with a possible trade to acquire Miguel
Tejada. Patterson would be traded for a minor leaguer, but not any of the top 5 prospects in the Orioles
farm system.
Knowing how Corey Patterson played last year and how the fans got on him each time he got to the plate, there
is no way he will remain with the team. Patterson and the Cubs know that the fans will eat him alive. The
Cubs may be using this potential trade to land a decent prospect who could be used a trade bait.
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1/05/06 8:41am - Spring Training Tickets on Sale Today
Spring Training tickets for the Chicago Cubs go on sale today at 10am CST.
The 2006 Spring season will begin on March 2nd at HoHoKam Park in Mesa, Arizona and will end with a two game series in Las Vegas, Nevada on March 31st and April 1st.
Tickets at HoHoKam Park range from $5 to $20.
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1/02/06 6:45pm - Cubs Close to Dealing Patterson?
If there is any truth to the latest rumors at MLBTradeRumors.com, the Cubs may be on the verge of a multiple team deal that would
see the departure of Corey Patterson and the potential arrival of Raul Ibanez.
Ibanez would be a great addition to the Cubs roster, but would adjust the current situation a bit. It could
be possible that the Cubs would platoon Jacque Jones and Matt Murton in left field and place Ibanez in right
field. The Cubs could also be laying the ground work for another trade, which could involve Jones or Murton.
Ibanez is a good hitter batting between .280 and .304 in the last five years. He also has good power, the ability
to drive runners in, and a moderate strikeout ratio.
In this deal, the Cubs may also say goodbye to Will Ohman, but could also get Tony Graffanino in the deal. With all the
stockpiling of outfielders, the Cubs seem destined to make one more big splash this year. It would be hard to
keep a roster of outfielders like Pierre, Jones, Ibanez, Murton, Hairston Jr., Mabry, and newly acquired
Marquis Grissom.
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1/02/06 6:45pm - Cubs Not Done Dealing
Not much has happened lately in Cubdom, but you can be sure Jim Hendry and the Cubs management have more
up their sleeve for 2006.
Rumors of trades to get Miguel Tejada, Barry Zito, or Alfonso Soriano have been going around for a few
weeks, but are they really probably or even possible? The answer is YES.
The Cubs have many bargaining chips, which includes an arsenal of minor league pitching arms and several
major league players who are available like Corey Patterson and Todd Walker. Hendry seems like he has
been more willing to trade some of the younger talent as the off-season has progressed. Fans have
mixed emotions about that, but if the Cubs want to win now, then it may be the best decision.
A possible deal for Tejada has been rumored for several weeks, but to land Tejada, the Cubs will have to
give up one of their top pitchers. A trade with Oakland for Barry Zito seems more realistic. The Athletics
would not ask for a top pitcher in return. Instead, they would want some minor league talent such as Rich
Hill and a few other prospects. New rumors are floating around about the possibility of Alfonso Soriano
being available. The Cubs would have to be one of the top teams in any potential deals for Soriano.
With the available money that the Cubs have, it is safe to say they would be willing and able to take one
or more of these all-star caliber players.
They should even have enough money to lock up some of their future free-agents as well. Players like Prior,
Zambrano, and Pierre will all be free-agents very soon. Keeping some money around to take care of them would
be wise.
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