Thread: 2012 Chicago Cubs Thread

Is it fitting that the 2012 cubs thread is as dead as the team?

http://espn.go.com/blog/chicago/cubs...-around-marmol

Cubs' bullpen settling down around Marmol

CHICAGO – Carlos Marmol is showing how one man’s fastball can have a ripple effect on his own team.
The Cubs’ coaching staff had implored Marmol to use his fastball more and stop relying solely on his slider. Seemingly afraid to get hit hard, Marmol was going predominantly to his slider and teams were laying off it, waiting for walks.
With runners on base, Marmol was left to throw pitches over the heart of the plate and he was getting beat.
Now that he is throwing the fastball more regularly Marmol has been much improved. He still doesn’t instill ultimate confidence, but he has saves in each of his last three outings and five out of the last six times he has taken the mound.
Marmol’s fastball is now making his slider more effective and even when it is in the dirt he is getting batters to swing and miss again.
“There's no question (the fastball has helped),” manager Dale Sveum said. “He's throwing his fastball in the strike zone. If he doesn't, it's just missing and he's able to come back and do some things. He's still going to throw his slider, but his fastball is still going to be very important to be able to throw, especially the velocity. Hitters see 94, 95 (mph) and it speeds them up.”
With Marmol back in the fold as closer, the rest of the bullpen can settle into roles. Relievers have always been known as creatures of habit.
That settled bullpen was able to deliver 3 2/3 scoreless innings from five relievers Saturday to hold off the Houston Astros for a victory.
“It gets the bullpen a little more stable with Marmol going back in the closer role and (James) Russell and (Shawn) Camp being able to mix and match in the seventh or eighth innings,” Sveum said. “(Manuel) Corpas has done a nice job against right-handed hitters, so you're able to mix and match from the sixth through the ninth inning.”

This should actually have its own thread and be stickied, until the Cubs make it to the WS, lol

http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/82...-ryan-dempster

Rangers get Ryan Dempster

ARLINGTON, Texas -- The Texas Rangers acquired veteran starter Ryan Dempster from the Chicago Cubs for two minor leaguers -- a position player and a pitcher -- just minutes before the trade deadline expired on Tuesday.
The 35-year-old gives the Rangers a solid starter to incorporate into a rotation that has dealt with injury and inconsistency of late.
Dempster is 5-5 with a 2.25 ERA in 104 innings over 16 starts this season. He has 83 strikeouts and 27 walks and opponents are hitting .210 against him. He's making $14 million this season before he becomes a free agent. Dempster had to approve the deal because he has veto power thanks to his 10-5 rights.
Texas will send third baseman Christian Villanueva and right-handed pitcher Kyle Hendricks, both from high-Class A Myrtle Beach, to the Cubs.
"Thanks to @Cubs, the city of Chicago and the fans. Looking forward to @Rangers tomorrow," Dempster wrote Tuesday on Twitter.

Dempster gives the club some much-needed depth in the starting rotation, especially after the Rangers announced that Neftali Feliz needs Tommy John surgery and will miss the rest of the season.
Roy Oswalt, who has a 6.49 ERA in six starts and has allowed at least 11 hits in three of those outings, will move to the bullpen, the team announced.
Colby Lewis is already out for the season after surgery last week to repair a torn flexor tendon in his throwing elbow. Derek Holland has pitched better since coming off the disabled list and has an important and successful playoff start under his belt. Matt Harrison has been the club's most consistent pitcher in 2012, but only has pitched in one postseason (2011). Yu Darvish is getting ready to go through his first stretch run in the big leagues.
In his career, Dempster is 117-121 with a 4.31 ERA. He does have 87 saves as the Cubs' closer from 2005 to 2007.
Dempster actually was drafted by the Rangers in the third round in 1995 and then dealt to the Marlins with Rick Helling for John Burkett in August 1996.

The Los Angeles Dodgers pulled out of Dempster talks when the Cubs refused to budge on the inclusion of Allen Webster in the deal, a source confirmed to ESPNLosAngeles.com's Ramona Shelburne. The Dodgers remained adamant they would not trade their second best pitching prospect for a two-month rental.
The Dodgers were Dempster's top choice, but Dempster told ESPNChicago.com's Bruce Levine shortly before the deadline that he would approve a trade to the Rangers or New York Yankees.

I have absolutely no clue about the guys the Cubs got. Anyone? Any good/potential?

Originally Posted by little bear

http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/82...-ryan-dempster



I have absolutely no clue about the guys the Cubs got. Anyone? Any good/potential?

One's considered a "fringe" arm , one's considered crafty ( think Jamie Moyer ), ones considered a potential #3 type starter if he can overcome arm surg ...... and the 3rd baseman also has big potential . So ..... IF two actually 'make it' ( if they 'arrive' at the same time as the other good prospects and the Cubs are actually good again in 3yrs) then they will be considered good trades.

As true then as it is now, and ever will be....

http://espn.go.com/chicago/mlb/story...l-add-56-seats

Cubs' plan to add seats approved

CHICAGO -- The Chicago Cubs have received permission to add seats at Wrigley Field.
Just days after the Cubs completed one of the worst seasons in club history, the Commission on Chicago Landmarks gave the team permission Thursday to add more seats.
The commission said Cubs officials can move a brick wall at Wrigley Field three feet closer to home plate so 56 more seats can be installed.
By shrinking foul territory by three feet, fans will have a better chance of catching foul balls behind the plate.
The approval means the team will move the wall behind the plate at the 98-year-old ballpark for the second time in recent years. Seven years ago three rows of seats were installed, a move that trimmed foul territory by 10 feet.