The Cubs have split the first two games versus Milwaukee and will go for the series victory this afternoon at Wrigley. Randy Wells will go up against Dave Bush (4-7).
The Cubs are 7-3 in their last 10 games and 4-2 during this homestand. They’ve gained in the Wildcard standings and are now 6.5 behind Colorado, but just 5.0 games back in the loss column with 19 games left to play. It’s a longshot, but still possible.
Here’s how the Wildcard teams did yesterday;
- Colorado beat San Francisco 4-3
- San Francisco lost to Colorado 4-3
- Florida beat St. Louis 5-2
- Atlants beat the Mets 6-5
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The hot “rumor” over the past few days is that the Cubs will be shopping Carlos Zambrano this off-season. Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune first reported the rumor, but it was quickly shot down by the Cubs front office. Zambrano has a full no-trade clause, so any potential deal would have to get his approval.
According to Sullivan’s story, Z has grown weary of the scrutiny he is under in Chicago and is willing to waive his no-trade clause to go to the right team. For Z, the right team would probably be a NL team so he can continue to hit, but it seems to me that the best fit would likely be in the AL.
Zambrano is signed through 2012 with a vesting players option in 2013. He is owed almost $54 million through 2012 and another $19.25 million in 2013.
I’m not opposed to trading Zambrano as long as the Cubs get a good return for him. He has tremendous talent, but he’s never emerged as the ace he was supposed to be. Although he’s the highest paid player on the Cubs, he is probably just the third (or fourth) best pitcher on the team.
Zambrano is a victim of his own emotions, and perhaps his own immaturity. His entire career, he has had a difficult time controlling himself on the mound. He seemed to be better over the past two seasons (2007-08), but he has regressed once again. This lack of control has kept him from realizing his full potential and earning the massive contract he signed in 2007.
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After seemingly coming to life after the All-Star Game, Milton Bradley is having an awful September. The Cubs needed his offense when Aramis Ramirez was out early in the year, but instead his bat went into hiding. When it looked like the Cubs were out of playoff contention, MB suddenly came to life. Although his offense helped the Cubs get back into contention,he fell off a cliff when the team needed him most.
I know there has been some support coming out of the woodwork recently for Bradley, but those people are wrong. Bradley is an unnecessary distraction, he is not a good teammate, he does not improve the team, and the Cubs would be better off without him in 2010.
