Rockies 6, Cubs 4: Not Much Of A Tune-Up

didnt end today because jim hendry is still here

I’ve been moving into a condo since Friday. What did I miss? :)

Ramirez and Pena, two guys with recent injury histories, to play 150+ games? Colvin I’m sure will come along at 1B and supposedly the three headed 2B monster can all fill in at 3B but it seems that keeping all of these 2B and not finding a competent corner IF guy this winter could end up as a problem. Baker had 7 errors in 23 games started last year at 3B, Dewitt played only one game at 3B last year (he made 2 errors in that game). I mean this really is a potential recipe for problems to a defense that is already weak defensively.

Alberto Gonzalez is apparently available from the Nationals. The guy is another uber utility guy but he is more competent at 3B and can also play 3B. Might be a good add for the Cubs.

Anyone play fantasy baseball? Well if you read espn they got Colvin hitting 40 homers this year possibly! They talk him up huge and say "hopefully the Cubs get smart and start this kid daily. Then we have Soriano: did anyone else hope he was hurt when he “dove” for that ball and looked like a fish out of water? Finally we have Fukedome:great obp so I guess his ba is forgiven? In conclusion, I just hope Colvin gets a regular spot and dominates like he can!

so forgive me if this point has been made. But the decision to cut ties with Silva really makes me think more highly of Quade. Even if we keep Koyie Hill.

Here’s why: Quade, by his own admission, got Hendry to dump a pitcher who is making close to $10 million (there seems to be some dispute over just how much, but whatever). There’s just no way our GM isn’t on the hot seat, and our new owners are cutting payroll and are clearly budget-minded. Releasing Silva makes Hendry look terrible — reopens the MB would, etc. — and Quade apparently got Hendry to make the move.

I continue to be amazed at the bullish comments about Silva — who made all of three starts after last year’s ASB and who got absolutely shelled in all but one ST start. Did I see somebody yesterday (Jessica?) say he would sign with the Cardinals and win a bunch of games? The guy wasn’t that good to begin with, he came to camp out of shape and he clearly could have become a clubhouse nuisance. Sure, he behaved himself in 2010, but he was a problem this spring and with Seattle. Plus, if we had kept him, he would have blocked a young pitcher with upside. I thought we were all for developing from within … ?

As for Hill, I want him off the roster, too. But the Cubs clearly value his play-calling skills. If the Cubs can find a way to keep Ramirez and get Castillo his starts in Iowa … Hill’s horrible bat might be negated by his intangibles.

Yeah, I doubt it, too. But we’re rid of Silva. That took some guts and some balls. At this point, I’ll give Quade the benefit of the doubt on Hill … for a little while, anyway.

I want to say, thanks to Al for the coverage from AZ and to all the comments from Cubs fan that have helped me make it through another long winter.

Can’t wait until Friday!

here’s the link to the story

http://sports.espn.go.com/chicago/mlb/news/story?id=6263903

what I liked were his comments when asked about silva

“People need to know, whether he was upset with Riggs or whatever, everyone needs to know that this was my call,” Quade said. "It wasn’t Jim Hendry’s. If [Silva wants] to be irritated with somebody, this is on me, OK. It was my decision, complete and totally.

“I was really disappointed when I heard [Silva’s comments]. First of all, he’s dead f—-ing wrong, OK, about my pitching coach. And I have no f—-ing time for that.”

Quade continued to admonish the former Cubs pitcher.

“Respect is a two-way street,” he said. “I don’t want to hear anything about respect. If you ain’t giving it, you ain’t getting it.”

Win or Lose, you have to respect the man because he’s willing to make a decision and stick to it and take responsibility for his actions. I just gained a lot of respect for him