Knuckle Curve » chicago_cubs

McHale Dies at 86

Geoff Young — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 05:10:47 +0000

Reader Brian K. informs us that John McHale has died at age 86. McHale played 64 games for the Detroit Tigers from 1943 to 1948, plus three more in the 1945 World Series, which Detroit won over the Chicago Cubs.

After his playing career, McHale continued to work in baseball. He became president of the expansion Montreal Expos in 1969 before serving as their general manager from 1978 to 1984.

My thoughts go out to the family and friends of Mr. McHale.

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The Story of Steve Goodman

Geoff Young — Sun, 06 Jan 2008 16:13:23 +0000

Al at Bleed Cubbie Blue reviews Steve Goodman: Facing the Music, which sounds like a must-read for any fan of the Chicago Cubs. I’d been vaguely aware of Goodman, mostly through his song, “A Dying Cub Fan’s Last Request,” but apparently there was much more to the man. Among other things, Goodman penned “City of New Orleans,” made famous by Arlo Guthrie.

Goodman battled leukemia for most of his adult life before succumbing in 1984. By all accounts, he was a fascinating character who, at age 36, left us much too soon.

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Cubs Sign Fukudome

Geoff Young — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 05:47:23 +0000

The Chicago Cubs have signed Japanese outfielder Kosuke Fukudome to a 4-year deal worth a reported $50-56 million. ArmchairGM has an impressive collection of information regarding Fukudome, for those inclined to learn more about Chicago’s latest import.

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Cubs Ship Jacque Jones to Detroit

Geoff Young — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 19:29:11 +0000

The Chicago Cubs have traded outfielder Jacque Jones to the Detroit Tigers for infielder Omar Infante. Jones began his career in the AL Central, with the Minnesota Twins in 1999. For his career, he’s a .280/.329/.455 hitter. Last year, Jones hit just .285/.335/.400 with a career-low five home runs.

Jones, who will turn 33 a few weeks after the 2008 season begins, has played mostly right field over the past few season, although he did get into 84 games at center field last year. Presumably with Curtis Granderson patrolling center, the Tigers will move Jones back to a corner spot and hope that his power magically returns.

On the other side, Infante hit .264/.317/.449 in 2004 as Detroit’s starting second baseman at age 22. Since then, his offensive game has deteriorated and his role has diminished accordingly. I really liked this kid when he and Ramon Santiago were coming up through the ranks, but it looks like Infante is destined to be nothing more than a utility player.

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Pass the Trachsel

Geoff Young — Sat, 01 Sep 2007 14:44:16 +0000

The Chicago Cubs have acquired right-hander Steve Trachsel from the Baltimore Orioles for minor-league third baseman Scott Moore and minor-league right-hander Rocky Cherry. Trachsel, who began his career with the Cubs in 1993, made 25 starts for the O’s this year, going 6-8, with a 4.43 ERA. Perhaps more interestingly, since 1960, only two pitchers in baseball have posted worse K/BB ratios (in 140+ IP) than what Trachsel is doing right now:

Jerry Walker, 1961, 168 IP, 96 BB, 56 SO
Tim Leary, 1992: 141 IP, 87 BB, 46, SO
Trachsel, 2007: 140.2 IP, 69 BB, 45 SO

Pretty exclusive company…

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Glavine Wins #300

Geoff Young — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 04:38:14 +0000

Another milestone? Really. It’s becoming almost cliche.

First Alex Rodriguez hits his 500th homer, then Barry Bonds hits his 755th, now Tom Glavine wins his 300th game. The veteran left-hander beat the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on Sunday evening to reach his milestone.

As impressive as Glavine’s accomplishment is (and it certainly is), what blows my mind is that if he’d managed to pick up one more victory in 2003, he now would have 19 consecutive seasons of 10 or more wins. That is insanely consistent. Glavine also is the first 300-game winner since Warren Spahn (1942-1965) never to crack the 200-strikeout mark in a single season.

Congratulations to Glavine on a job well done!

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A’s Dump Kendall on Cubs

Geoff Young — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 04:25:55 +0000

The Oakland A’s have traded veteran catcher Jason Kendall to the Chicago Cubs for left-hander Jerry Blevins and catcher Rob Bowen. The linked article’s headline reads “Cubs strengthen catcher position,” but I don’t see how.

Kendall is batting .226/.261/.281 this season, and he’s 33 years old. Since the start of the 2005 season, his line is a surreal .271/.337/.321. Kendall’s slugging percentage is the lowest in the big leagues during that stretch:

Lowest Slugging Percentages, 2005 – 2007
Player	BA	OBP	SLG	ISO
Stats are through games of July 15, 2007, and are courtesy of David Pinto’s Day by Day Database. Minimum 1500 plate appearances.
Jason Kendall	.271	.337	.321	.050
Willy Taveras	.292	.337	.350	.058
Omar Vizquel	.275	.339	.355	.080
Juan Pierre	.284	.325	.364	.080
Jack Wilson	.263	.309	.364	.101

Kendall’s ISO is half of Wilson’s; that is just wretched. Kendall has been the worst regular offensive player in baseball over the past 2 1/2 years, and now he’s a Cubbie…

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Murton Robs Hamilton

Geoff Young — Mon, 02 Apr 2007 20:43:36 +0000

Cincinnati Reds outfielder Josh Hamilton received a standing ovation as he stepped to the plate in his first big-league at-bat. The former first pick overall came up against Cubs left-hander Will Ohman with one out in the bottom of the eighth and drove a ball to left-center. Left fielder Matt Murton charged hard and made a diving catch for the out. Hamilton received another standing ovation as he returned to the dugout. Hamilton is a Rule V pick. I expect most Rule V draftees don’t get that kind of reception in their first at-bat. Post from: Knuckle Curve

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Prior to Iowa

Geoff Young — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 15:09:55 +0000

Completing his descent from once-great heights, Chicago Cubs right-hander Mark Prior will begin the season at Triple-A Iowa. We knew he was struggling earlier in spring training, but this is unimaginable. Prior should be a perennial Cy Young Award candidate by now; instead, he’s being demoted in favor of perennial disabled list candidate Wade Miller.

Prior is still just 26 years old, so it’s not like time is running out for him. Still, he’s seriously moving in the wrong direction.

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Prior’s Struggles

Geoff Young — Sun, 11 Mar 2007 17:31:17 +0000

Remember when Mark Prior was the ace of the Chicago Cubs and figured to remain so for the next dozen years? Heck, remember when the Twins were chided for taking hometown catcher Joe Mauer in front of Prior with the #1 pick overall in the 2001 draft?

Seems like a lifetime ago. Now the latest word is that Prior may not start the season in the Cubs’ rotation. We earlier noted that left-hander Neal Cotts had become a surprise candidate for the #5 spot. Now, apparently right-handers Wade Miller and Angel Guzman have passed Prior on the depth chart.

Manager Lou Piniella had this to say about his right-hander’s performance Saturday against the Kansas City Royals:

He couldn’t get his breaking ball over at all, and he’s pitching with one pitch [an 87-88-mph fastball], and he’s not locating that pitch. So it’s not really a recipe for success right now.

Talk about understatement. Find me a big-league pitcher who gets guys out with only a high-80s fastball and poor command.

Prior pointed to mechanics as the problem, although the Royals apparently couldn’t detect a difference in his delivery. (Or if they could, they weren’t saying so publicly.)

Sure, it’s only spring training. In a sense, these games mean nothing. On the other hand, the regular season is now just three weeks away. If these reports are accurate, Prior doesn’t sound like a guy on his way to a spot in a big-league rotation. That to me is just shocking.

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