Unfortunately, it also made this past baseball season a bleak one for me as I didn’t even have the energy to watch games, however, the depression has lightened and I am very much looking forward to this next year.

  We also lost one of the best announcers in the business this past year, Ron Santo.  When I think of the Cubbies I think of him and it’s so hard to believe that we wont be seeing him around the ballpark this year.  He’ll be watching from up above, though.

  I am very excited to hear that we resigned Kerry Wood.  I can’t believe we ever let him go, but he is back, so lets hope this is the year!  I am sorry that Ryan Theriot is now a Cardinal and that Mike Fontenot is playing for the Giants.  Then there is D. Lee who is reportedly going to the Orioles…where did my team go?  Oh well, here is rooting for a great 2011!  I’ll be back to blog again soon!

  This is my frist entry for the 2010 season as I have had a very rough winter.  My amazing mother, who was a huge Carlos Zambrano fan, passed away in January and I just can’t seem to put my life together again.

  I have to admit as a diehard Cubs fan, it has even been hard for me to watch all of their games this year as that is something that my mother and I enjoyed doing together very much.  She was passionate about the Cubs and loved watching Zambrano try to throw the umpire out, though he regretted it later, it sure handed my mom a good laugh.

  With a rough start to this season, we have seen some improvement in the Cubs since their home opener.  I have watched Randy Wells pitch again and again and it amazes me how well he handles himself and I am so happy that he was given a spot in the starting rotation. 

  Though we are currently without Ted Lilly who is definitely one of our best starters, it seems that Silva and Gorzelanny have been able to pick up the slack and pitch well.  Sean Marshall still is one of my favortie pitchers in the game and quite frankly I was quite surprised when he landed in the bullpen instead of the starting rotation, I do love how he retires his inherited runners in what appears to be easy pitching, but you know it isn’t.

  Then you have Ryan Theriot as the lead of batter, this is something I thought they should have done more of last year.  The man can be what I assume is down right irritating to the other team as he takes a lot of pitches, drives a lot of singles, can’t seem to keep him off the base path’s and I imagine we will see him as the team leader in stealing bags.  He just does it all, plus, how about the game that he caught the ball at short to double off the runner on second?  I mean, this is just great baseball and to all that say he is a subpar defender, this is all I have to say…pfffft.

  Mike Fontenot is doing better so far this year and I really hope he has another break out year, because I think that he can be a great part of this team.  Though I would say that whether he is starting or coming off the bench, he is a team player.

  Marlon Byrd…what is there really to say about him, but WOW!! What a pick up for the Cubbies.  It seems we finally made a great trade, I love how Byrd goes about his business and has been in the game long enough to tell Marmol that he is tipping his pitches.  This is just an all around great player and I believe he will make a great fit for the Cubbies.

  I received my movie ‘We Believe’ today and I am very anxious to watch it!  Good luck to the Cubs as they race for the World Series in 2010.

  I don’t know much about Carlos Silva, but it seems that he has a pretty high ERA, however, I would have been fine if the Cubs drafted Mr. Potato Head just to get rid of Bradley.  Here is hoping that Carlos Silva can be reborn and find a great home with the Cubbies.

  Okay, so the best news for me this off season was the fact that they were tendering another
contract to my Mike Fontenot.  I was so worried about that after his under performance in ’09 that I literally thought I was going to have to follow two teams instead of one.  I know that Font didn’t have a great year, but I also know that he is so much better at the plate than he showed us last year.  However, he could have his own gem reel with all of the defense he flashed this past year.  Here is hoping he really shines in ’10.

 
Then you have Ryan Theriot who currently is being slotted as leadoff batter.  I think Theriot fits nicely in that slot and has shown Piniella and Hendry that he can not only thrive there, but he can do his job.  Unlike Soriano, Theriot will see pitches so that gives batters behind him a chance to get a look at what the pitcher has.  If anyone loves The Riot as much as I do, then you should go to the Cubs Official Website and check out the article on Batting Around With Ryan Theriot.  I love these articles, gives you an insight on the players and in this one I learned that Theriot likes to bake, with eggshells. LOL He really is a riot.

  Now we just need to address CF.  Let Johnson and Fuld compete for it in Spring Training,
put the other on the bench and let Fuld fill in the corners on their off days.  Could it really hurt to have TWO spark plugs in the outfield?  I know this is wishful thinking, because everyone is pretty sure that Johnson is not coming back, but I really REALLY wish they would bring him back.  He is amazing, we just didn’t get to see everything he could do because he broke his foot with the foul ball and had to go on the DL.

  Well, onward and upward to a fantastic 2010!  I am anxiously awaiting baseball season and trying to decide where I am going to travel to see my Cubs this year.  Perhaps Chicago…that is where I would really like to go.  Merry Christmas to everyone who may glance upon this blog and a Happy New Year!

  Now those Yankees, they catch all the breaks.  I can’t believe they signed Curtis Granderson!  I would have loved to see him playing for the Cubs, he has some serious speed that is really needed.  I do, however, believe that we have a couple of great players that could handle center.  Well, Reed Johnson is a free agent and may cost too much, but there is no doubting his talent on the field.  Then you have Sam Fuld, he plays just like Reed and he is already in our organization, I think we should give him a shot.  They both play with little regard to their bodies and more interest in getting to the ball.  I like that about them.

  I’ll keep this blog updated as the winter meetings continue.  Go Cubs Go!

~Milli~

  Just posted on Facebook was the news that Koyie Hill’s Make A Wish Gala raised somewhere between $180,000 and $210,000!  Koyie was hoping to make at least $100,000, so I’m sure he was pleased when he raised that and so much more!  I love these stories where the Cubs get involved and give back.  Hill has such an inspirational story and to see him give back in light of his blessings, just makes me like him even more. 

  So many wishes will come true with this amount of money.  Also, several of current and former Cubs attended and a lot of different sports players…not just MLB, but NFL and more donated signed items for the auction.  It really was a group effort that will make a lasting effect to so many lives.

  As a side note, Happy 30th Birthday Ryan Theriot!

  Here is hoping that the Winter Meetings starting today brings the Cubs what they need to have a winning 2010.

~Milli~

  I am not sad to see Aaron Heilman gone, though towards the end of the year he was one of the only pitchers who could seem to throw the ball over the plate.  I am curious as to why the Cubs have given up on Rich Harden.  I know that he is injury proned, but this last year it seemed like most of our starting lineup was, especially the starting rotation.  Randy wells was the only starter that didn’t spend time on the DL and thank God for that because that kid seemed to have some great command.  He doesn’t have over powering pitches, like Harden, but he could get the job done.  I really was looking forward to our starting rotation staying in tact…oh well, things change and hopefully it will bring us a better team in 2010.  My only guess could be payroll…

  It seems like there are quite a few teams interested in Milton Bradley, now it’s just seeing how much of his outrageous contract that Cubs are willing to pay.  This plague needs to leave our team and city, quickly.  I was on the Bradley bandwagon until he pulled those stunts that lead to his suspension, so if we do nothing else this winter, let’s get rid of him!

  I know that most everyone wants to see Mike Fontenot go, but aside from the hard year he had at the plate, he didn’t let it hurt his defense.  Plus, with Rudy Jaramillo now as the hitting coach, maybe great things will happen for ‘Little Babe Ruth’.

  AHHH!!! I just checked the Cubs site again and read that we traded Jake Fox!! Who trades Jake Fox?  I mean, I realize with Derrek Lee at first there wasn’t much place for him, but the guy was willing to play anywhere and what about his bat?  Sheesh.  Aaron Miles went with him which I am not sorry to see, but I really liked Jake Fox.
  I am so sorry, Jake Fox, you will be missed. 

  ‘FTWSIC’…Keep the faith, Jake, you’re amazing!

  So already I know of two Cubs who have welcomed children this off season.  Geovany Soto and Reed Johnson, congratulations to both of them. 

  Here is hoping they don’t change too much on the team.  We really had a great team that just underperformed. 

  I am very baseball deprived and looking forward to spring training and hopefully getting to see the Cubbies at their home park this next year.  I would really love to do it via the Cubs destination, but I’m not so sure I can afford that.  Go Cubs Go!

~Milli~

  Ryan Dempster came with his A game and pitched a five hit shut out game!  Only the second Cub to do that this year and he hasn’t pitched a complete game since 2001, so congratulations to Dempster.  It also helps that his defense was there to make the plays unlike the Pirates.  They had one inning where they were handed at least three double play balls and only managed to turn one.  They committed three errors, which should have read four when their second baseman misplayed a ball over shooting first.

  Here is looking to next year and hoping that we don’t see a lot of ridiculous changes again like we did this year.  I still stand by getting Garrett Jones from the Pirates.  He has shown that he can hit and play a couple of positions. Last time we saw him he was in right field, last night he played first.  I don’t know what it is about him, but I think he would be good.  Also, how about getting DeRosa?  He may be expensive, but well worth the money.  

  Ryan Theriot had another four walk game, they couldn’t get him out.  The only bad blip on his game were the two caught stealings.  I know that he would make a fantastic base stealer, maybe just work on it during spring training.  He really has some incredible speed. 

  I was happy to see Fontenot in even though he had a bad night offensively, I just like having him in the lineup.  Can’t be easy playing when you know your manager is looking to replace you.  I thought they were happy with Baker’s production at second, but looks like both Font and Baker are not what they need.  Trade Baker…keep Fontenot. I like both, but Fontenot is my favorite.

  Let’s win the doubleheader taking the series and then go on to beat the Diamondabacks ending this year on a very positive note.  Go Cubs Go!

Final Score: Cubs 6 Pirates 0

~Milli~

  I have to admit that I was a little nervous in this first game against the Giants.  We just weren’t putting up enough runs, it was extremely foggy causing the ball to do some weird things and the Giants were putting more runs on the board.  In the ninth, Jeff Baker came through with the winning two-run homerun that gave the Cubs the win.  It just seems like as a team the Cubs are jiving better now.  I’m hoping that after a little rest and then hitting the winter workouts and spring training, this Cubs team can get back to the well oiled cogs that we saw in 2007 and 2008.  Mark DeRosa becomes a free agent this year, let’s go get the glue for the clubhouse back.  We have a ton of veteran players, which can be a great thing when you have Derrek Lee who is swinging the hottest bat in the major leagues right now and then you follow him up with Aramis Ramirez, which outside of his shoulder injury is still hitting well.  This lineup has the talent to get it done, there isn’t one of our current players that I feel doesn’t deserve to be here.  I know that Lou is looking for another hot bat to put in the heart with those two guys, but if Soto comes back next year in better shape and swinging more like his rookie year, then there is the other bat.  Let’s condition him and get him back to the shape that had him smacking the ball around the field and out.  Jeff Baker has proven to be a great addition which is hard for me to take because I love Mike Fontenot and would have liked to see him get more playing time.  However, I am not opposed to platooning positions and maybe next year Font can have a better year and we can see him play a little more often.  He does have a strong left bat and great defense.  I am on the Baker bandwagon now though and I’m glad that we have him. No, it was not the homerun alone that put me there, but the fact that he shows he can go out and help the team and he plays third, second, first and outfield so the versatility will help us down the road. 

  Alright, how about Big Z on Friday?  Holy Cow!  I am so happy that they left him in and let him complete the game with a two-hit shut out!  Not only was his pitching dead on, but his offense was amazing, too!  This was a fun one to watch.  I’m hoping today we can go in and win again, taking the series.  It’s funny that the Cubs know we have no shot at the post season barring the Cardinals falling completely apart, but we go out and fight and the Cards have to wait still another game to clench our division.  I think it’s funny.

Final Score Thursday: Cubs 3 Giants 2

Final Score Friday: Cubs 3 Giants 0

~Milli~ 

  Derrek Lee and Aramis Ramirez continue to be hot, with D. Lee the hottest hitter right now.  He is seeing every pitch, they just have trouble getting him out.  He is going to have some killer stats by the end of the year.

  How about Tyler Colvin?  He’s just sitting there eating at the Cracker Barrel and gets a call to join the big league, from double A.  You could see his nerves in his first game, but he walked a way with a sac fly, walk and first hit.  I think this kid is going to be great for the ball club.

  In a year that most of the Cubs and fans I’m sure would like to forget, we do have some players that had career years.  D. Lee with his homeruns and RBI’s.  Ryan Theriot also has a career high in both of those catergories.  Like they say, individual stats mean nothing when you aren’t winning ball games. 

  The year is almost over and unless the Cards bomb in the next few games…yeah right…we are out of the running.  So here is looking to next year and hoping that terrible trades aren’t made again.

  Let’s sweep the Brewers tonight! Go Cubs Go!

Final Score Monday: Cubs 10 Brewers 2

Final Score Tuesday: Cubs 7 Brewers 2

~Milli~

  Jake Fox has a lot of power in his swing and I love seeing him out there.  He doesn’t have a select position to play because the two that he can play are tied up with D. Lee at first and Geovany Soto catching, we really have nowhere to keep him.  This is a guy who just wants to play and doesn’t really care where.  Just like Bobby Scales who is having to learn right field on the job and yes, he has made some mistakes, but he goes out there and gives it his all.  He made a nice catch in yesterday’s game, saving some runs and he plays with his heart.  Just like Jake
Fox.

  Mike Fontenot got another rare start yesterday and I hope Piniella saw something he liked, because he really played hard.  He went two for three before he was pulled to put Ryan Theriot in.  He also scored our first run, sliding in around Molina and stole second base!  Maybe next year if we let him run more we might see a different player.  He definitely has the speed for stealing some bags.  I just like having the hard players in there.  The little guys that go out and make themselves look like they are seven feet tall.  Fontenot has that ability to him.  He’s not very tall, but he’ll give it everything he has and then some.

  Side note, it was great to see Mark DeRosa again.  That’s the only real reason I like playing the Cardinals.

  We got a lucky break with Holliday running outside of the base path to take out Theriot and after that Fox hit his homerun and with an errant throw we made the game six to three to keep from the sweep.  Hopefully we can do some damage at Miller Park!  Go Cubs Go!

Final Score: Cubs 6 Cardinals 3

~Milli~

*Final thoughts: How do you all feel about Jim Hendry suspending Milton Bradley for the rest of the season?  I would like to hear any thoughts on this.  I say good riddance and it’s finally time they got his negativity out of the clubhouse.  I can’t believe they let it go on this long.  What do you think will happen next year?  Pretty much either way the Cubs get to pay his salary, but do you think they will trade him or keep him?  Also, I just read that they reactivated Reed Johnson!  This is fantastic news.  I haven’t watched all of yesterday’s game so I will be on later to blog about it.