Our Long Cubs Roster Nightmare Is Over

by Al Yellon on Jan 5, 2011 4:42 PM CST in Chicago Cubs News

At last, the Cubs' roster shows exactly 40; Brian Schlitter was claimed off waivers by the Yankees. Here, he pitches against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Wrigley Field. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

The Cubs' roster now stands at 40, per this tweet from Carrie:

#Yankees claim #Cubs RHP Brian Schlitter off waivers. Schlitter was 0-1 with a 12.38 ERA in seven ML relief appearancesless than a minute ago via webCarrie Muskat
CarrieMuskat

And so, here are my thoughts, with apologies to the late Gerald R. Ford and his Inaugural Address of August 9, 1974:

My fellow Cubs fans, our long roster nightmare is over.

Our transactions work; our great sport is a sport of deals among men. Here the general managers rule. But there is a higher Power, by whatever name we honor Him, who ordains not only righteousness but love, not only justice but mercy, except for the Cardinals and Brewers.

As we bind up the internal wounds of Roster-gate, perhaps as painful and poisonous as those of 102 years of futility, let us restore the golden rule to our waiver process, and let brotherly love purge our hearts of suspicion and of hate, except for the Cardinals and Brewers.

In the beginning, someone jumped the gun and Kerry Wood was added to the roster. Before closing, I ask again your prayers, for Brian Schlitter and for his family. May our former player, who brought a high ERA to millions, find a better roster spot for himself in New York. May God bless and comfort his teammates, whose love and loyalty will forever be a shining legacy to all who bear the lonely burdens of the pitcher's mound.

We can only guess at those burdens, although we have witnessed at close hand the tragedies that befell Dusty and Lou and the lesser trials of others.

With all the strength and all the good sense Mike Quade has gained from life, with all the confidence his family, his friends, and his dedicated staff imparts to him, and with the good will of countless Americans he has encountered in his thirty years in baseball, we now ask for his promise made last October 19: to uphold the Cubs organization, to do what is right as God gives him to see the right, and to do the very best he can for all Cubs fans.

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Comments

Rothchild

Must have seen something he liked or they wouldn’t have taken him.

We'll miss you Big Boy. #10 for Hall of Fame.

by mrcubsfan on Jan 5, 2011 4:45 PM CST reply actions

Claimed by the Yankees

Wow. Good luck on that. I might have gotten rid of Stevens before Schlitter though.
And to think it only took 2 and half weeks.

"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry
Me either

by Doggie Stalker on Jan 5, 2011 4:45 PM CST reply actions

Now can you sleep at night?

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al Yellon on Jan 5, 2011 4:46 PM CST up reply actions

I will sleep like a baby now

I was so worried it would be Gaub.

"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry
Me either

by Doggie Stalker on Jan 5, 2011 4:51 PM CST up reply actions

Sleep like a baby?

Waking up intermittently, crying and fussing?

by MN exile on Jan 5, 2011 6:54 PM CST up reply actions

Don't forget regularly pooping yourself. Yuck.

There are 108 beads in a Catholic rosary and there are 108 stitches in a baseball. Who says baseball isn't a religion?

by Zeke on Jan 6, 2011 5:15 AM CST up reply actions

while kicking and fussing

Chronologically inept since 2060
Q: Why did Chuck Norris cross the road?
A: Ditka

by Cubbie-Tim on Jan 6, 2011 7:16 AM CST up reply actions

My five-month old says +1 to all three of you

Cub Fan - Bud Man

by Orangeman94 on Jan 6, 2011 11:31 AM CST up reply actions

If it's +2, then nevermind...

There are 108 beads in a Catholic rosary and there are 108 stitches in a baseball. Who says baseball isn't a religion?

by Zeke on Jan 6, 2011 12:25 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs

Nominated for the comment of the week.

by Arbusto on Jan 6, 2011 6:55 PM CST up reply actions

No Cliff Lee

But will fit into the rotation with Sergio Mitre.

No to Otto, etc.; Yes to Moreland for the 2011 Radio Booth

by Dan Serafini on Jan 5, 2011 4:46 PM CST reply actions

FYI the Yankee fans will not have to wait 2 1/2 weeks for a roster move

They had only 38 players on their roster before claiming Schlitter.

FYI if the Yankees remove Schlitter from the 40 man roster he is just a regular waiver claim guy and the Cubs have no special priority if they wanted him back right?

"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry
Me either

by Doggie Stalker on Jan 5, 2011 4:50 PM CST reply actions

You really do invent the most creative scenarios.

He was waived and claimed. Done and done.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al Yellon on Jan 5, 2011 4:52 PM CST up reply actions

No I get that

I am just asking. I assume this is a “standard” waiver/ waiver claim and unlike a rule 5 draft player the original team has no special claim if said player is later released.

"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry
Me either

by Doggie Stalker on Jan 5, 2011 4:56 PM CST up reply actions

Correct.

Why would it be any special claim? It wouldn’t. Just regular ol’ waivers.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al Yellon on Jan 5, 2011 4:58 PM CST up reply actions

I was 99% sure but just checking.

I don’t think the Cubs would miss Schlitter. I don’t know exactly where the Yankees are on the claim list but pretty low down which means that probably 25 plus teams passed on him and but for Rothschild he would have cleared and gone to Iowa.

"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry
Me either

by Doggie Stalker on Jan 5, 2011 5:03 PM CST up reply actions

wait a minute...

I thought Santa Claus came last month?!

I didn't understand the "white-collar Cub fans", "blue-collar Sox fans" until much later in life. Harry Smith~ "For Cubs Fans Only".

by jeffstorm2 on Jan 5, 2011 5:33 PM CST reply actions

Stop the presses!!!

Hmm… do they even still have presses???

Anyway, this long Cubs Roster Nightmare isn’t over yet. Because as of 6:10pm CT, the Cubs active roster on their web site still had Brian Schlitter listed and stands at 41. And if we learned nothing else from RosterGate, it’s that we should definitely take for gospel anything that’s on a mlb.com website.

http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/team/roster_active.jsp?c_id=chc

Jessica’s lonely vigil continues…

Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."

by ballhawk on Jan 5, 2011 6:15 PM CST reply actions

Maybe the web people will take as long to take Schlitter off as Wood's been on there up to today.

But he’s not on the Yankees’ 40-man roster either.

Clearly, there is a conspiracy at work. I hope Jessica will march down to MLB’s offices first thing in the morning and demand answers.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al Yellon on Jan 5, 2011 6:56 PM CST up reply actions

what a Schitty world this has become

cannot trust anyone, not even the Great Bud Selig

Chronologically inept since 2060
Q: Why did Chuck Norris cross the road?
A: Ditka

by Cubbie-Tim on Jan 6, 2011 7:17 AM CST up reply actions

the Cubs website said that Wood was just added to the 40 man roster

so it appears Cubs were never really at 41-Wood’s deal just was not as official as we thought. Case closed!

ask not what the Cubs can do for you - ask what you can do for the Cubs.

by holy mackeral on Jan 6, 2011 2:38 PM CST up reply actions

DINGDINGDING!

Winner.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al Yellon on Jan 6, 2011 3:09 PM CST up reply actions

word is that

Tom Ricketts finally got sick of paying the food bill, especially after the Decepticons and the Coon showed up. Just let her and her Fuld go. Rather anti-climatic way to end this.

by hansman1982 on Jan 6, 2011 9:04 AM CST up reply actions

He sure looks like Demp in that photo

by Emelie on Jan 5, 2011 6:22 PM CST reply actions

yeah,

and on my netbook screen, all I could see was the headline and the picture. I thought for a brief, terrible moment, that Demp had been traded.

Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.

by drewishdrewid on Jan 5, 2011 7:28 PM CST up reply actions

That's definitely not Dempster.

Dempster isn’t that big.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al Yellon on Jan 5, 2011 8:51 PM CST up reply actions

i wanted to go to pinstripe alley to preemptively apologize for any psychological damage schlitter might do to them

but i dont feel like waiting a day

He's my Hossa
HO-HO-HO-HO-HOSSA

by jesus christos on Jan 5, 2011 6:51 PM CST reply actions

This is just another Plot to favor the Yankees

Come on now, we all know the networks, talk radio, and Saudi kings and princes want the Yankees to win the World Series each and every year. Twice a year if they could arrange it.

I think there is a conspiracy and it’s on the Yankees roster. Every trade deadline there are trade rumors and the majority of them mention the Yankees picking up a major league player. How is this possible? How could they be involved in all these trades? Because the Yankees are secretly allowed to have a 30 man active roster during the season.

I must now escape to my safe house (i.e. the kitchen, to do the dishes) before Bud Selig sends his steroid-infused assassins after me.

The truth shall set you free.

"Easy on the words, brother,'' Quade said.

by RiskyBusiness on Jan 5, 2011 7:28 PM CST reply actions

Well the Schlitter did need to change scenary

He was definitely clogging the basepaths too much. Get it, Get it?? See what I did there..

Viva la Cubs Révolution!!!

by Chanman25 on Jan 5, 2011 8:05 PM CST reply actions

One of my favorite memories from SNL in the 1970s was the Jerry Ford

re-election ‘fake’ commercial that ended with the tag line: “If he’s so dumb, how come he’s the President?”

R.I.P. Jerry.

There are 108 beads in a Catholic rosary and there are 108 stitches in a baseball. Who says baseball isn't a religion?

by Zeke on Jan 6, 2011 5:23 AM CST reply actions

Is that Billy Preston?

Live the life you love and love the life you live - Willie Dixon

by Ihatethecards on Jan 6, 2011 8:34 AM CST up reply actions

Yeah, the dude in the middle!

[...]when Giants coach Steve Owen, a certified defensive genius, was asked how he planned to stop Nagurski, he said: "With a shotgun, as he’s leaving the dressing room."

by NobodySpecial on Jan 6, 2011 11:52 AM CST up reply actions

NAh, the guy in the middle is George Harrison sporting his '70's porn 'stash.

And yes, BP is on the left. Coincidentally, John, Paul and Ringo are all hiding in his hair…

There are 108 beads in a Catholic rosary and there are 108 stitches in a baseball. Who says baseball isn't a religion?

by Zeke on Jan 6, 2011 12:24 PM CST up reply actions

Hallelujah

And hare krishnah

"Baseball is almost the only orderly thing in a very unorderly world. If you get three strikes, even the best lawyer in the world can't get you off." ~ Bill Veeck

by Musicdude10 on Jan 7, 2011 12:06 AM CST up reply actions

wow...!

This post and subsequent comments truly do reveal it’s already been a long, long winter.

Angst over the 40-man in December, now this. It is a slow news cycle.

Just win the next game...!

by blackhawk24 on Jan 6, 2011 6:47 AM CST reply actions

52 days until the first spring training game.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al Yellon on Jan 6, 2011 8:18 AM CST up reply actions

The way the 'Hawks are playing ...

I can’t wait for my 1st ST trip 3/3-3/7.

Just win the next game...!

by blackhawk24 on Jan 6, 2011 9:33 AM CST up reply actions

btw Al, well done

how long have you had the speech waiting to post?

Chronologically inept since 2060
Q: Why did Chuck Norris cross the road?
A: Ditka

by Cubbie-Tim on Jan 6, 2011 7:18 AM CST reply actions

Just a couple days.

It was a sudden inspiration.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al Yellon on Jan 6, 2011 8:18 AM CST up reply actions

And now

my post will do what all old posts do, just fade into history. I was really hoping that a battle royale was going to break out but in the end, diplomacy (and the threat of nuclear annihilation) won out.

The Transformers never did return my call, bastards.

by hansman1982 on Jan 6, 2011 9:02 AM CST reply actions

Isn't

this a Schlitter

Is it April yet?

by wild bill on Jan 6, 2011 9:27 AM CST reply actions

So, in essence, we've taken Kerry Wood from the Yankees...

…and given them Brian Schlitter. And you guys say this has been a bad off-season…

Contributing Editor, SB Nation Chicago. Please follow us on Twitter!

by daver on Jan 6, 2011 9:54 AM CST reply actions 3 recs

For SIGNIFICANTLY less

Than Wood’s market value if there would have been a sign and trade

"Baseball is almost the only orderly thing in a very unorderly world. If you get three strikes, even the best lawyer in the world can't get you off." ~ Bill Veeck

by Musicdude10 on Jan 7, 2011 12:07 AM CST up reply actions

Oh, well... I lose.

I had Jan 3, and it took them until Jan 5. Someone else gets the Big Gulp.

"I've never complained about it. I'm thankful to have a jersey." Mark DeRosa, 22 Aug 2007

by DeRoMyHero on Jan 6, 2011 10:00 AM CST reply actions

eths had Jan. 5.

We’ll have to send him his prize… kind of far to come from Munich to get it.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al Yellon on Jan 6, 2011 11:43 AM CST up reply actions

he gets the trident

if we can get it back from Zuul

by hansman1982 on Jan 6, 2011 1:38 PM CST up reply actions

Nah...

It will just be a good excuse for Jessica to fly to Munich.

"I've never complained about it. I'm thankful to have a jersey." Mark DeRosa, 22 Aug 2007

by DeRoMyHero on Jan 6, 2011 2:59 PM CST up reply actions

ok, i hae to ask

since this is all based on MLB web sites, are they accurate transactions, or is there something else happening with the rosters and this is all hoopla?

Chronologically inept since 2060
Q: Why did Chuck Norris cross the road?
A: Ditka

by Cubbie-Tim on Jan 6, 2011 1:08 PM CST reply actions

Hoopla-gate Day 1?

Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."

by ballhawk on Jan 6, 2011 1:33 PM CST up reply actions

crap and I was excited to

no longer have to subject you guys to my crappy writing/proof reading skills…

by hansman1982 on Jan 6, 2011 1:38 PM CST up reply actions

use the 80/20 rule

by hansman1982 on Jan 6, 2011 1:39 PM CST up reply actions

This is the last thing I am going to say on this

You can either believe Carrie Muskat who says he was just added today or you can believe the MLB transactions site which said he was added on the 17th. I don’t get how a site that lists the most mundane and obscure of transactions (lots of outrighting of players you have never heard of) lists this info because some overeager person in the Cubs office sends them an email ( more or less Carrie’s previous explanation). If you do follow the transactions you will see that there often is a lag time between when a move is announced on say MLB trade rumors and when that move is officially listed on transactions page, so it is not like they just print info from news stories.

I don’t have any problem believing MLB cut the Cubs and some other teams some slack in the slow holiday season.

Anyway my innocuous interest in asking what the story was seems to have spawned a decent amount of entertainment and distraction for all.

"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry
Me either

by Doggie Stalker on Jan 6, 2011 3:02 PM CST up reply actions