Hey Mom!!!! The Cubs are fighting again!!!!

As you all probably already know, the Cubs had an "incident" in the dugout yesterday after Carlos Silva gave up 6 runs in the bottom of the first inning and the defense committed 3 errors in said inning.

Carlos Silva was supposedly upset by the fact that, unsurprisingly, this team is bad at defense.  Aramis, who committed one of those three errors, took exception to Silva's whining and the two had some very public words.

Silva was carted away without talking to the media.  Ramirez said it was no big deal after the game.

To me, I think this is good.  Here is why...

The previous two dugout spats between Cubs teammates were in 2007 and in 2010.

In 2007, Carlos Zambrano beat the crap out of the well deserved Michael Barrett.  The Cubs were really shitty up to that point of the season.  After that fight in June, the Cubs traded Michael Barrett and then turned it around and won the division.

I was a very happy boy when this happened.

In 2010, Carlos Zambrano tried to beat the crap out of Derrek Lee.  The Cubs were really shitty up to that point of the season.  The Cubs continued to struggle for a little while, but they eventually traded Derrek Lee and then they were able to turn things around and played pretty good baseball for the rest of the season.

Derrek is mad.

Z is mad.

If that trend continues, the Cubs should trade away either Aramis Ramirez or Carlos Silva and then win 115 games this season.

So it really comes down to who do the Cubs trade?

Well, quite frankly, the Cubs need Ramirez as much as they need Zambrano.  Both of these guys have been the key point for determining whether this team is good or bad.  So that means Carlos Silva had better start packing his bags.  The Cubs don't need him.  The remaining $5.5 million that the Cubs owe him this year should mean very little.

Time to swim to another ocean, my friend.

So those of you who think the Cubs are falling apart, relax.  This is a sign that things are going to get much better very soon.

Or maybe not.

Quiet leadership?

The Tribune’s web site had a story posted on it from the Baltimore Sun written by Jeff Zrebiec. It was about the turnaround of Felix Pie in Baltimore.

The story was as much about Felix Pie as it was about his teammate Luke Scott. Scott is being credited to helping Pie change his attitude and work ethic.

Basically, in the middle of last season, Luke Scott confronted Pie…

He chastised his work ethic, assailed his character, questioned his discipline and labeled him a bad teammate. And before he was done berating Pie, Scott asked one final question.

"I said to him: 'Do you really even want to be here? Because if you don't, then leave and stop taking somebody else's spot who is willing to work hard,' " Scott recalled. "I told him, 'There are people here that really want to see you succeed, but you have to work, you have to make the effort.'

Pie’s failure in Chicago came as no surprise to me. I really hoped that things would go better for him than they did, but I just didn’t see the possibility of a kid of his type succeeding in Chicago with the manager and players that we have here.

After reading this story, I began to think, “My goodness, the Cubs suck, they have no superstar players, and they have absolutely no leaders.” Part of the problem while Pie was in Chicago was that there was no one that would stand up to him and talk to him as Luke Scott did in Baltimore. In fact, the Cubs might have just the opposite with Alfonso Soriano (who was rumored to have been teaching Pie some of his “bad habits” off the field). Baltimore is an even worse team than the Cubs are, with a much smaller payroll) but it at least has a player like Luke Scott to confront a slacking player.

Some people continue to wonder why I had been so vocal about trying to trade Derrek Lee. Lee was the leader of this team for the last 6 years, since Sosa left. While Lee had the tired title of “class act” during his time here, he appears to have very rarely approached a player who was out of line. People said that he showed “quiet leadership.” Well, quiet leadership doesn’t work when you have loud leadership from an inappropriate source like Soriano. Quiet leadership doesn’t work when you have a veteran basket case like Milton Bradley. Quiet leadership doesn’t work when you have a loud, out of touch, impatient manager.

I wasn’t happy when the Cubs brought Kevin Millar into camp this year, but now that I think about it, maybe it was a mistake for the Cubs to cut him. Millar was the type of player that the Cubs hadn’t had in quite a while. Maybe they needed him. At the same time, he would have been a bench player, and would hardly be called a leader of the team. But the Cubs could really use a player to stand up to someone else and say, “Hey Theriot, you have the speed of a turtle, so stop trying to steal bases!” or, “Fonzi, do us all a favor and run out a ground ball every once in a while.”

Having a manager that could relate to the players might be able to do this. On the other hand, I think having a player on the team to do this might be much more affective. Authority figures inherently cause players to rebel…at least a little bit. When a fellow teammate calls you on behavior, it tends to have a much bigger impact as it apparently did with Pie.

If a player like Luke Scott was on the Cubs, maybe Pie would have succeeded here in Chicago. Or Corey Patterson. Or Milton Bradley. Or any number of other players who failed here over the last decade.

I suppose it is just another nit-pick on this team. I suppose that’s easy to do as they approach their 90th loss.

Is this it? Will we see anyone else traded? (and what else we now know)

There is less than 2 weeks before the true trade deadline hits. Now with Derrek Lee gone, and the dust settles once again, one begins to wonder, will anyone else be moved?

Probably not. It is possible that someone may want to snag Xavier Nady. I, personally, don't think the Cubs want to get rid of him. It appears to me that Jim Hendry is still very high on Nady, and with the possibility of a reduced payroll next year, Nady may be a cheap option at first base next season.

Aramis Ramirez is in the news as well, but as I stated yesterday, the Cubs have no one lined up to play third base if they get rid of the team’s best 3rd baseman in 35 years. Josh Vitters isn't ready, and I can't think of any available 3rd basemen that would be an improvement. Ramirez also receives a smaller salary next year than he has had this season…so there is a slight cost savings with Ramirez already.

Pitchers? Well, it sounded like a number of teams inquired about Tom Gorzelanny, but the Cubs don't seem too keen on giving him up at this point. The Cubs have control of him for one more year (at least). If the Cubs struggle next season, trading Sloth in July of 2011 before he hits free agency would seem like a better idea. You probably would have to expect some teams inquired about Sean Marshall as well, but he, like Sloth, is still under team control for some time yet.

So, I don't see any more trades to be made until the off-season.

What else do we know? Well, the Cubs have recalled Micah Hoffpauir who will split time with Xavier Nady at first base. This will likely be Hoffpauir’s swan song with the Cubs, as I believe he is now out of options and would have to be designated for assignment if the Cubs chose not to have him on the 25 man roster after this season. That is likely going to be the case as Hoffpauir has shown that he really is nothing more than a career minor leaguer. He might make a serviceable bench player from some second division team at some point, but Hufflepuff is 30 years old and his window of opportunity is just about shut.

What we also know is that the Cubs have been quickly restocking their farm system after most of the best prospects have been elevated to the big league club this season. With a better set of scouts than the Cubs have had in decades, getting a large number of mid-range prospects is a good thing. There is strength in numbers if you have good talent evaluators. The more prospects you get, the likelihood that your minor league system can produce some good players will increase.

There has been talk about Tyler Colvin playing first base. Bad move. Over the next 2 years a number of very good first basemen will be available via free agency. Colvin is pretty good in the outfield and the Cubs should keep him there. Besides, they need a right fielder...and possibly a left fielder...and moving a good outfielder to a position that should be easily filled by a free agent seems like a dumb move.

Speaking of left field, I think the Cubs will be begging teams to take Soriano off their hands after this season is over. Likely the same is true with Zambrano. Carlos Silva could also be on the trading block...assuming his heart doesn't stop working.

So, that's what we know.

One last thing, if you want to see some very good analysis of the three players the Cubs got in the D-Lee trade, go over to ACB and check out Maddog's analysis. It was a very good trade and the Cubs probably received more in that trade than they could have expected.

After 2 years, my prayers are answered. Derrek Lee is finally gone.

It's not that I dislike Derrek Lee.

I just thought that his time in Chicago was, for the team, a failure.

He was, in the opinion of many, the leader of the team over the last many seasons.  And with the exception of the second half of 2007 and most of 2008, Derrek Lee's leadership resulted in a team that failed to meet up to expectations on a fairly consistent basis.

The thing is, as long as Derrek Lee remained on this team, he would be considered a leader of the team, and, unfortunately, he's not a very good leader.  So it is best that the Cubs and Lee part ways.


I've wanted him gone for almost 2 years.  Now he is gone.

Atlanta gets a good first baseman, who will probably help them win the World Series this year...just like he helped the Marlins win the title in 2003.  Notice, I didn't say he would lead them to a title...he will help them under the leadership of others on the Braves.

Ok, enough of that...

Who did the Cubs get in return?  Three minor league pitchers.  They are all young and have some potential.

First, Robinson Lopez, who is probably the best prospect in the group.  He a right hander and is 19 years old.  He spent this season in single A ball.  Lopez is from the Dominican Republic, so he might actually be 34 years old.  You never know with players from that country. 

Second, Jeffery Lorick...a left handed reliever who has put up good numbers in single A ball this season.  Also young, he is only 22 years old. 

And Tyrelle Harris, who is a right handed reliever that seems to be a potential high strikeout pitcher.  He has got a 10.9 K/9ip this season in A and AA.  He is 23 years old. 

********************

So Derrek Lee actually did wave his trade clause.  I'm glad because I think this is not only good for the Cubs, but it is good for Lee.  His roll on this team didn't suit him, and it hasn't suited him for years.  Now he can go somewhere where he has the potential to win another ring.  The Cubs get some prospects but they didn't get as much as they probably would have gotten if they tried to pursue a trade when I said they should have.  That being said, this is much better than the compensation pick they probably would have gotten if Lee left via free agency.

I know just about every Cubs fan, including me, wishes Derrek Lee good luck in Atlanta.  He's a good guy on top of being a very good ballplayer, and the Braves are getting a big time class act.

Things that make you go "HUH"...Lee to the Braves?

Derrek Lee.

The Atlanta Braves.

HUH?

Yesterday there was some chatter around baseball about the Atlanta Braves looking to add a third baseman to replace the broken down Chipper Jones.  I've thought that the Braves had enough depth to compensate for Jones injury so I haven't really taken any rumor about this very seriously, including the report that the Braves were trying get talk to the Cubs about Aramis Ramirez.

We all know that Ramirez is going to exercise his option for next year...and as painful as that sounds (a $14 million+ salary), the truth is, the Cubs don't have any other good options at third base to turn to this offseason. Ramirez is probably still their best bet for 2011.  (And, no, Josh Vitters is not going to be ready next year...he has stuggled in AA this season).  A-Ram not going anywhere.

Ok, so Derrek Lee?  Supposedly, the Braves are now inquiring about Derrek Lee.  Why?  I have no idea.  This doesn't seem to be a good fit.  The Braves currently have Troy Glaus as their 1st baseman.  Glaus's season has been about as good as Lee's...they are both right handed hitters.  I don't see this happening, but stranger things...blah blah blah.  The only thing that would make sense would be for Glaus to move to 3rd base if Lee was acquired.  That could push Martin Prado or Omar Infante out, though, both of whom are having a very good seasons. 

Anyway, according to Dave Kaplan, Lee would waive his no trade clause to go to Atlanta.  This is a bit of a head scratcher too.  Lee turned down a trade to the Angels last month...and most of Lee's family lives in California.  The reasons for turning down the trade were supposedly family related.

Now Lee would accept a trade to Atlanta?  Family doesn't seem to be a reason this time.  The Braves likely would not resign Lee after this season (the Angels very well could have) and Lee would be on the move again.  

So why change his mind?  Well, the only reason would be the likelihood of winning the World Series.  The Braves are in first place and looking damn good.  The Angels were 7 or 8 games behind the Rangers when the trade last month came up.  On top of that, the Angels didn't look as if they were going to really be able to make a serious run on the Rangers without a lot of help. 

How likely is this to happen...I don't know, but Ken Rosenthal has also mentioned that this rumor "has legs"...so stay tuned!

It's official...Derrek Lee is a loser

Well...I'm taking a break from being homeless (the house buying thing has hit some snags...ugh) to comment about a report from ESPN that Derrek Lee has been approached about 2 different possible trades to the Rangers and the Angels.

(Disclaimer: My comments about D-Lee are going to piss a lot of you off...so beware.)

As we suspected he would do months ago, he threw his no-trade clause right in the face of Jim Hendry and told him that he's not going anywhere.

I have been an advocate for trading Derrek Lee for 2 years now. And on top of that, I thought it an important step for the Cubs to start working over Derrek Lee to try to get him to waive his no trade clause.

Well...now we are stuck with Derrek Lee for the rest of the season, and the Cubs are likely to get little or no compensation for him when the let him walk after the season due to his pathetic performance on the field this year.

*rant mode on*

So...the rest of this post is directed to Derrek Lee:

Hey Derrek, SCREW YOU!

Look, we don't want you any more. You aren't very good any more. Yes, you had a great last 4 months of the season last year, but you've been rather average for rest of the previous 3 years.

For 6 1/2 seasons you have been the leader of this club...and in only 1 1/2 of those seasons (second half of 2007 and all of 2008) has this team ever met or exceeded expectations. The rest of the time, this team that you "lead" has been a disappointment. Your leadership has been a colossal failure. You have led the Cubs to a total of 0 playoff wins in a total of 2 playoff appearances on a team that has spent more money on payroll than any other team in the National League over that time span. (Ok...maybe the Mets spent more...)

Derrek Lee, YOU ARE A LOSER!

Be a man and go somewhere else. Or are you too afraid that you might choke again in the middle of a pennant race...or the playoffs?

*rant mode off*

Ok...back to trying to get my house bought. Later!

I see how this works...D-Lee

So early in the season I said that the Cubs should bench Geovany Soto at least for 1/2 the games and let Koyie Hill start more often.  Then Soto went on a terror at the plate.

I also said that Starlin Castro should be sent to Iowa to work on his defense.  And he's been quite good since.

Then yesterday I said that Tyler Colvin should be sent to Iowa so he can get some at-bats.  Then in his second straight start he gets 3 hits.

Ok...here we go...the Cubs should DFA Derrek Lee.  Why am I saying that?  Because as soon as I say that, he'll start playing better.

 Time to hang it up, Derrek!

(AP photo)

Ok, but in order for that to work, I have to give some logical reason why they should release him and give a reasonable alternative to Lee on the team.

This isn't going to be easy....

Ok, so Lee appears to be completely clueless right now at the plate  It is obvious that at age 35, he has nothing left.  He has failed that the "leader" of this team.  He's in the last year of his contract and probably want to retire at the end of the season.

If the Cubs really think they have a shot at this division title, then they must try to replace the weekest link right now in their batting order, and that is Lee.

Oh, but you ask, what about all the good Lee has done for this team over the last 6 season?

My response to that is, what good?  Four disappointing seasons and 2 sweeps in the playoffs?  Blah!  He's been the leader of this team for most of those 6 years and he has led the team to NOTHING!

It's time for some new leadership.  It's time for a new captain.  It's time to let Micah Hoffpauir take his rightful place in the Cubs lineup as the cleanup hitter in the line up.

 Hufflepuff!  Our hero!

Yes...Micah Hoffpauir has waited patiently at Iowa for the Cubs to make the right move and let him play everyday at first base on the big league club.  Hufflepuff is a left handed hitter, which the Cubs need badly, and a left handed fielder, which is a big advantage in the field over a clumsy right handed goof who is afraid of every wall he sees when going after a pop-up in foul territory. 

Ok...what about Lee's contract?  He's in the last year of his deal...so really, we are talking about only eating about 2/3 of the $13 million he is owed this year.  That isn't that big of a deal.  In fact, I think the Cubs were willing to eat more of the Milton Bradley contract until Seattle came around and acted like complete morons ("here is a good pitcher who we told can't see his mommy...we'll take Bradley...we can change him...you'll see...he's really a great guy...oh...and here is $9 million on top of that.").

So there you have it...

Now Derrek Lee can start to hit the cover off the ball and be everything we know he can be.