December 30, 2011 – Northwest League (NWL) Boise Hawks
CHICAGO, Ill. – The Chicago Cubs have rounded out their minor league coaching staffs, announcing this afternoon that Bill Buckner will serve as hitting coach for the Boise Hawks.

Buckner, a resident of Eagle, returned to coaching last season as the manager of the Brockton Rox, leading the team to a 51-42 record in the independent CanAm League, earning the squad a postseason berth. He will replace Desi Wilson, who will serve as Class-A Daytona’s hitting coach.

“We are extremely excited in the Cubs decision to have Bill Buckner as our hitting coach,” said Todd Rahr, Boise Hawks president/general manager. “To have someone local on the staff, who had such a great career, will be beneficial to our organization. Bill had a Hall of Fame caliber career and we look forward to working with him year round. It will definitely be a treat.”

Buckner rejoins the Cubs system for the first time since playing for the big league team from 1977-84 – winning the 1980 National League batting crown and earning a spot in the 1981 All Star Game. The 22-year veteran served as the Chicago White Sox hitting coach in 1996 and 1997, while also serving as a hitting coach in the Toronto Blue Jays minor league system.

Buckner played in 2199 major league games with the Dodgers, Cubs, Red Sox, Angels, and Royals, hitting .289 with 174 career home runs and 1,208 RBI. He played in a pair of World Series’ – in 1974 with the Dodgers and 1986 with the Red Sox.

Three others return to the Hawks for the 2012 season – manager Mark Johnson, pitching coach David Rosario, and trainer Bob Grimes. Johnson skippered last season’s squad to a 36-40 record, including Boise’s first postseason berth since the 2006 season.

The Hawks, in their 12th season as an affiliate of the Chicago Cubs, open up the 2012 Northwest League season on June 15 at Salem-Keizer, with their Memorial Stadium opener on June 20 against Eugene. Season, mini-pack, bonus books, and group nights for Hawks’ games are available at 322-5000 or online at www.boisehawks.com.

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• Bill Buckner Named Boise Hawks Hitting Coach – Boise Hawks

The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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You might be wondering why Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer would pursue a 29-year-old middle reliever who hasn’t pitched in MLB since 2010 and who has been mostly irrelevant since 2007.

The Chicago Cubs have agreed to a one-year contract with reliever Manuel Corpas. Corpas has a career ERA of 3.93. He was also a critical part of the Colorado Rockies’ National League pennant during the 2007 season. Corpas finished that season with 19 saves and a 2.08 ERA. He also had five saves and a 0.87 ERA during the postseason.

Since then, Corpas hasn’t finished any season with an ERA lower than 4.52. He hasn’t pitched in MLB since having Tommy John surgery after appearing in 56 games in 2010. The Texas Rangers signed Corpas to a minor-league contract in 2011. He never appeared in an organized game with them. Corpas also played winter ball in Panama.

The Cubs recently traded Sean Marshall to the Cincinnati Reds. Marshall had progressed into one of MLB’s best left-handed relievers and setup specialists over the past couple of seasons. The Cubs traded Marshall because he was one of the few players who were currently on the roster who could net some decent prospects. The Cubs also have Kerry Wood or Jeff Samardzija as potential replacements for his setup role.

I’m not sure that this is supposed to be an answer to that departure. Corpas is just trying to make his way back into MLB following that surgery. He’d be a fantastic addition to the bullpen if he could rediscover what made him so good during his first two seasons. Of course, we’re talking about 2006 and 2007. It’s very unlikely that he’ll ever play like he did during that pennant run.

Who knows? Maybe Corpas will enjoy a resurgence and become an important component in the Cubs’ bullpen. Jose Lima had a couple decent years that almost nobody expected. There’s no risk in this signing and he has been good in the past. The worst scenario that could happen is that he never makes the 25-man roster and he’s released in 2013. He could also give the Cubs another reliable reliever at a cheap rate.

Joshua Huffman grew up in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula as a Green Bay Packers and Chicago Cubs enthusiast. He immediately gained an admiration for Cubs fans after watching numerous games on WGN during the mid-90s. His favorite Cubs moment was Kerry Wood’s(notes) 1-hitter, 20K extravaganza that was only denied of a no-hitter by Kevin Orie’s defensive blunder. As a Packers and Cubs fan, he suffered through Steve Bartman and “4th & 26″ in a span of three months.

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Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer appear like they’re making moves to finalize the 40-man roster for the 2012 MLB season. The Chicago Cubs are expected to re-sign Reed Johnson to a one-year contract. The deal was pending a physical.

Johnson would be sandwiched inside a stable of outfielders that include Alfonso Soriano, Marlon Byrd, David DeJesus, Tony Campana and possibly Brett Jackson. Johnson would probably be a reserve outfielder who could possibly be in a platoon role with DeJesus because Johnson has more success against left-handed pitching.

Johnson is a 35-year-old outfielder who doesn’t figure into the long-term rebuilding plan for the Cubs. However, he’s a solid player who plays good defense at all three outfield positions. While he lacks power, Johnson is a good hitter who enjoyed a bit of a resurgence in 2011. Johnson hit .309 with five home runs, 28 RBI and a .348 OBP in 246 at-bats.

Johnson decided to re-sign with the Cubs because he felt at home with them. He praised recently-hired manager Dale Sveum by calling him “A very smart guy.” Johnson seems like he’d like to complete his career with the Cubs. He’s spent three of the past four seasons with them. He played with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2010.

I have no problems with this re-signing. Johnson was one of my favorite players in 2011. I would’ve liked to see him play more. I thought he outplayed Byrd in the limited playing time that he did receive, especially after that facial injury that Byrd suffered. Johnson was one of the few players who I actually felt good about when the Cubs were faced with a clutch-hitting scenario. He’s the type of veteran who I’d like to have around young players like Starlin Castro.

I wouldn’t think that the Cubs would keep six outfielders on their 25-man roster. Maybe that means that Jackson will start the season in Triple-A? Maybe they don’t feel like Campana’s speed is enough of an asset for him to remain on the 25-man roster? Maybe they’ll try to trade Byrd as he’s probably one of the few players who could net some prospects?

Maybe they’ll eat Soriano’s contract? I know; fat chance.

Joshua Huffman grew up in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula as a Green Bay Packers and Chicago Cubs enthusiast. He immediately gained an admiration for Cubs fans after watching numerous games on WGN during the mid-90s. His favorite Cubs moment was Kerry Wood’s(notes) 1-hitter, 20K extravaganza that was only denied of a no-hitter by Kevin Orie’s defensive blunder. As a Packers and Cubs fan, he suffered through Steve Bartman and “4th & 26″ in a span of three months.

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Gotta run!.

Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer appear like they’re making moves to finalize the 40-man roster for the 2012 MLB season. The Chicago Cubs are expected to re-sign Reed Johnson to a one-year contract. The deal was pending a physical.

Johnson would be sandwiched inside a stable of outfielders that include Alfonso Soriano, Marlon Byrd, David DeJesus, Tony Campana and possibly Brett Jackson. Johnson would probably be a reserve outfielder who could possibly be in a platoon role with DeJesus because Johnson has more success against left-handed pitching.

Johnson is a 35-year-old outfielder who doesn’t figure into the long-term rebuilding plan for the Cubs. However, he’s a solid player who plays good defense at all three outfield positions. While he lacks power, Johnson is a good hitter who enjoyed a bit of a resurgence in 2011. Johnson hit .309 with five home runs, 28 RBI and a .348 OBP in 246 at-bats.

Johnson decided to re-sign with the Cubs because he felt at home with them. He praised recently-hired manager Dale Sveum by calling him “A very smart guy.” Johnson seems like he’d like to complete his career with the Cubs. He’s spent three of the past four seasons with them. He played with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2010.

I have no problems with this re-signing. Johnson was one of my favorite players in 2011. I would’ve liked to see him play more. I thought he outplayed Byrd in the limited playing time that he did receive, especially after that facial injury that Byrd suffered. Johnson was one of the few players who I actually felt good about when the Cubs were faced with a clutch-hitting scenario. He’s the type of veteran who I’d like to have around young players like Starlin Castro.

I wouldn’t think that the Cubs would keep six outfielders on their 25-man roster. Maybe that means that Jackson will start the season in Triple-A? Maybe they don’t feel like Campana’s speed is enough of an asset for him to remain on the 25-man roster? Maybe they’ll try to trade Byrd as he’s probably one of the few players who could net some prospects?

Maybe they’ll eat Soriano’s contract? I know; fat chance.

Joshua Huffman grew up in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula as a Green Bay Packers and Chicago Cubs enthusiast. He immediately gained an admiration for Cubs fans after watching numerous games on WGN during the mid-90s. His favorite Cubs moment was Kerry Wood’s(notes) 1-hitter, 20K extravaganza that was only denied of a no-hitter by Kevin Orie’s defensive blunder. As a Packers and Cubs fan, he suffered through Steve Bartman and “4th & 26″ in a span of three months.

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Paul Maholm may not be the only left-handed starting pitcher that the Chicago Cubs are pursuing this offseason.

The Cubs are reportedly discussing a trade with their National League (NL) Central rival, the Cincinnati Reds. Reports indicate that the Cubs would receive 24-year-old starting pitcher Travis Wood. The Reds would receive 29-year-old setup specialist Sean Marshall. The Cubs might also get prospects.

Assuming these reports are true, it’s beginning to look like Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer want every left-handed player in MLB other than Prince Fielder on the Cubs’ roster in 2012. Seriously though, they’re placing a strong emphasis on adding left-handed hitters into their lineup and at least one left-handed pitcher into their starting rotation.

Marshall has been one of MLB’s best left-handed setup specialists for the past two seasons. Marshall finished the 2011 season with a 2.26 ERA in 78 appearances. Marshall was praised by some fans as an All-Star candidate as he had a 0.95 ERA after 28.1 innings pitched. A midseason slump prevented him from being selected.

The Reds acquired starting pitcher Mat Latos from the San Diego Padres. They’re currently looking to bolster their bullpen with a quality left-handed reliever. Marshall would be the perfect candidate because of his familiarity with the NL Central. Wood has become expendable because of Latos.

The Reds selected Wood with a second-round pick in 2005. He had a solid MLB debut in 2010 that included a 5-4 record, 3.51 ERA and a 1.08 WHIP in 17 starts. Wood debuted against the Cubs on July 1, 2010. He earned a no-decision after he surrendered two hits and two earned runs in seven innings. Wood took a perfect game into the ninth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies in just his third start.

2011 wasn’t as kind to Wood. He finished with a 6-6 record, 4.84 ERA and 1.49 WHIP. Wood was demoted to Triple-A for approximately two months for underperformance. He was also the subject of trade talks before the July trading deadline.

Was 2010 a fluke? According to RedLegs Baseball, Wood was the No. 4 prospect in the Reds’ farm system heading into 2010. Epstein is also rumored to be intrigued in him.

Wood appears to be extremely dependent on flyballs. That always worries me with pitchers at Wrigley Field. I prefer strikeout pitchers and groundball pitchers. A flyball pitcher is always at risk when the wind is blowing out.

You might be wondering, “Why doesn’t Marshall just move back into the starting rotation?” I’d actually rather see that happen before a straight swap for these two players. I think the Cubs should just keep Marshall if they can’t get more for him.

I’m guessing that Kerry Wood would become the full-time setup specialist. Jeff Samardzija would probably be the secondary guy. The Cubs might attempt to develop Andrew Cashner into a closer if Carlos Marmol doesn’t fix his control issues.

Joshua Huffman grew up in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula as a Green Bay Packers and Chicago Cubs enthusiast. He immediately gained an admiration for Cubs fans after watching numerous games on WGN during the mid-90s. His favorite Cubs moment was Kerry Wood’s(notes) 1-hitter, 20K extravaganza that was only denied of a no-hitter by Kevin Orie’s defensive blunder. As a Packers and Cubs fan, he suffered through Steve Bartman and “4th & 26″ in a span of three months.

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Comment Below!.

Read More: Jeff Baker (3B – CHC), Matt Garza (P – CHC), Koyie Hill (C – CHC), Geovany Soto (C – CHC), Ian Stewart (3B – CHC), Randy Wells (P – CHC), Blake DeWitt (2B – CHC), Steve Clevenger (C – CHC), Chicago Cubs

The Chicago Cubs had to decided whether to tender contracts to their arbitration eligible players — Koyie, Hill, Jeff Baker, Blake DeWitt, Matt Garza, Geovany Soto, Ian Stewart, and Randy Wells — prior to 11 p.m. Monday night, and decided to extend offers to all eligible players except catcher Koyie Hill. 

The 32-year old Hill served as a backup to 2008 National League Rookie of the Year Geovany Soto, and only hit .194/.268./.276 over 46 games for the Cubs in 2011. SB Nation’s Chicago Cubs blog, Bleed Cubbie Blue, wasn’t exactly broken up about the decision to non-tender Hill:

So the Cubs will have a new backup catcher in 2012. Steve Clevenger seems the likely choice if the Cubs stay in-house; he hits well, and is also lefthanded, something MLB moguls seem to like in a backup catcher if the main guy hits righthanded.

Koyie Hill, for his part, seems like a good guy, and someone who, like a lot of catchers who can’t hit much in the major leagues, might make a good coach or manager someday. He’ll be 33 in March; if Koyie wants to stay in baseball, I hope Theo & Jed can find a place for him in the organization to begin a coaching career. 

The rest of the listed players were expected to receive tender offers from the team.

For more updates on Chicago sports, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more in-depth coverage of the Cubs, head over to Bleed Cubbie Blue. Also, check out MLB Daily Dish for Cubs rumors and transactions.

Gotta run!.

That’s all for today guys, i’ll be back to blog you tomorrow.

Qualifiers: players will be classified under one position even if they played at more than one. They must also have at least two seasons as the team’s primary starter at the position. Ernie Banks spent significant time at multiple positions and will appear at shortstop where he played his best years.

Cap Anson:

One of Major League Baseball’s early greats, Hall of Famer Cap Anson played more than two decades with the Chicago Cubs dating back to their inaugural National League season as the Chicago White Stockings. Anson ranked among the top ten batting leaders 16 times in 22 seasons including two batting title wins. His lifetime .334 average carried him to 3,435 hits, the sixth most in baseball history. He was the first professional ball player to reach the 3,000 hit milestone and he reached base more than 4,400 times in his career. His 89.1 WAR (wins above replacement) is the highest by any player in Cubs history. Oh, and he happened to spend 19 years as player/manager en route to five pennants, which were the top championships in those pre-World Series days.

Frank Chance:

Hall of Famer Frank Chance served as player/manager for the Chicago Cubs’ two World Series Championship winners in the 1910s. Chance was one of the best base-stealers and toughest outs during the first decade of World Series play. His Cubs won 66.4 percent of their games under his watch while he batted .297 with a 136 OPS+ (league average is 100) at the plate. Chance remains the Cubs’ all-time leader with 402 steals and he twice led the NL in the category. He maintained a .394 OBP and totaled 49.4 WAR in 1,275 games as a Cub.

Mark Grace:

All-Star and Gold Glove first baseman Mark Grace spent 13 of his 16 Major League seasons in Chicago from 1988 to 2000. Grace batted higher than .300 nine times for an overall .308 average, .386 OBP and .832 OPS over 1,910 games as a Cub. He never had much home run power, but he was a great doubles hitter, totaling 511; he ranks second in Cubs history and 46th all-time in the category. Consistently one of the best contact hitters in the league, Grace struck out just 642 times and worked 1,075 walks in 2,245 career games.

Philliabuck Cavarretta:

Former National League MVP Philliabuck Cavarretta helped the Cubs win three National League pennants. Cavarretta played 1,953 games over 20 seasons with the Cubs from 1934 to 1953, totaling 1,977 hits, 347 doubles and 99 triples. His 1945 MVP season included a batting title with a .355 average and a league-leading .449 OBP. During his prime years in the 1940s, he batted .301 with a 130 OPS+ and went to three All-Star Games.

Derrek Lee:

Two-time All-Star and three-time Gold Glover Derrek Lee anchored the Cubs’ lineup in the mid 2000s. Lee became the last Cub to win a batting title in 2005 when he hit .335 and also led the league with 50 doubles, a .662 slugging percentage and 174 OPS+. He maintained a .903 OPS and posted three 30-homer years with the Cubs, topping out at 46. Through 15 MLB seasons, he is up to 1,959 hits and 331 home runs in 1,942 games.

Honorable mentions: Leon Durham, Bill Buckner, Charlie Grimm, Ray Grimes and Vic Saier.

Sources:

Chicago Cubs Team History & Encyclopedia, Baseball-Reference.com

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Chicago Cubs top five catchers

Cincinnati Reds top five catchers

Chicago White Sox top five catchers

Boston Red Sox top five first basemen

Atlanta Braves top five catchers

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That’s all for today.

(Reuters) – Milwaukee Brewers hitting coach Dale Sveum was named on Friday as the new Chicago Cubs’ manager.

Sveum, who has 20 years Major League experience as a player and coach, agreed to a three-year contract with an option for 2015, the Cubs said at a news conference.

“He’s the ideal guy to lead the organization as it continues to grow,” Cubs president Theo Epstein said.

Sveum, 47, served briefly as the Brewers’ interim manager, posting a 7-5 record, but this will be his first permanent job as a Major League manager.

The former infielder inherited a team that finished fifth in the National League Central Division last season with a 71-91 record.

The Cubs are one of baseball’s most famous teams but have not won the World Series since 1908.

“This organization has got to change as far as how the game is played on an everyday basis,” Sveum said.

“It’s got to go in another direction to play this game like it’s the seventh game of the World Series everyday.”

Epstein, who was brought in this year to reshape the Cubs, served as general manager of the Boston Red Sox when Sveum was the third base coach there in 2004-05.

“He has intensity, he’s fearless and he’s extremely comfortable in his own skin,” said Epstein. “He’s been a strong coach and he’ll be a strong manager.”

Sveum played 12 seasons in the majors with the Brewers, Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago White Sox, Oakland Athletics, Seattle Mariners, Pittsburgh Pirates and New York Yankees before retiring in 1999.

He replaces Mike Quade who was fired after last season’s losing record.

(Reporting by Gene Cherry in Salvo, North Carolina; Editing by Julian Linden)

What do you guys think about this.

Read More: Matt Garza (P – CHC), Carlos Zambrano (P – CHC), Ryan Dempster (P – CHC), Mark Buehrle (P – CWS), Randy Wells (P – CHC), Chicago White Sox, Chicago Cubs

It’s unclear exactly how the Chicago Cubs are going to approach this offseason yet under the new front office led by Theo Epstein, but they’ve already had multiple discussions with the agent for former White Sox pitcher Mark Buehrle. According to Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports, the team has spoken with Jeff Berry, Buehrle’s agent, multiple times recently.

If the money is right, Buehrle would certainly be a fit for the Cubs given their need for pitching. It’s unclear how much Carlos Zambrano will be able to contribute next season, if at all, so they really only have three established starters right now in Ryan Dempster, Matt Garza and Randy Wells.

Buehrle would give them a dependable lefty and a steady veteran presence, although the team should be worried about how his contact-oriented approach would work against a defense that was pretty bad last season. There’s a chance that the move from the more difficult American League to the National League would alleviate some of those concerns, though, especially for someone with such a long track record.

For more updates on the hot stove, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more on the White Sox, check out Bleed Cubbie Blue, SB Nation’s Chicago Cubs blog. And for news from around major league baseball, visit Baseball Nation.

That’s all for today.

Mike Quade, during a game in August.
(Gene J. Puskar / AP)

Theo Epstein put a first emphatic stamp on the Chicago Cubs, announcing today that Mike Quade will not return as manager of the team.

“[General Manager] Jed Hoyer and I had an all-day meeting with Mike last Thursday at Wrigley Field, and Mike and I continued our dialogue with a lengthy phone conversation yesterday after the press conference [at which Hoyer was introduced]. Today, I flew to Florida to inform Mike in person that the Cubs have decided not to bring him back as our manager for the 2012 season,” Esptein, the team’s president, said in a statement released by the Cubs.

Quade was named interim manager when Lou Piniella retired in 2010. He kept the job in 2011 and went 71-91 (95-104 overall). The Cubs finished 25 games behind the Milwaukee Brewers in the National League Central Division.

“When I joined the Cubs last week, I knew that Mike had a reputation as an outstanding baseball guy, as a tireless worker, and as a first-rate human being,” Epstein’s statement continued. “After spending some time with him this past week, it became apparent to me that Mike’s reputation is well deserved. His passion, knowledge of the game, commitment, and integrity stood out immediately. While Mike is clearly an asset to any organization and any major league staff, Jed and I believe that the Cubs would benefit long-term from bringing in a manager for 2012 who can come in with a clean slate and offer new direction.”

Quade, who beat out Ryne Sandberg for the job, has a year left on his contract.

That’s all for today.

Qualifier: players will be classified under one position even if they played at more than one.

Gabby Hartnett:

Hall of Famer Gabby Hartnett was the greatest catcher to ever play for the Chicago Cubs. Hartnett debuted with the Cubs in 1922 and spent the next 19 years with the team. He earned invites to the first six All-Star Games ever played from 1933 to 1938. In 1930, he set a then record for catchers with 37 home runs, adding career bests of 122 RBI, a .339 average and 1.034 OPS. He won the 1935 National League MVP award and finished in the top ten in voting on three other occasions. Over 1,926 games as a Cub, Hartnett registered 1,867 hits with a .297 average, .370 on-base percentage, 231 home runs and 1,153 RBI.

Johnny Kling:

Old-time top defensive backstop Johnny Kling spent more than 1,000 games behind the plate for Chicago in the early 20th century. Kling was the starting catcher for the Cubs’ last two World Series winners in 1907 and 1908. He maintained a .272 batting average and 103 OPS+ (league average is 100) over 11 seasons in Chicago. His career totals include 1,154 hits, 515 RBI and 124 stolen bases.

Bob O’Farrell:

Former NL MVP Bob O’Farrell played his first 11 years with the Cubs from 1915 to 1925. After joining the Cubs for cups of coffee from 1915 to 1917, O’Farrell became a backup in 1918 and the starting catcher in 1920. As the starter, he batted .287 with a .379 OBP and 111 OPS+ over 520 games. He played the best year of his career in 1923 when he posted a .319 average with career-highs of 213 total bases and 84 RBI. He later won the MVP and a World Series with the St. Louis Cardinals 1926. O’Farrell ranks 36th all-time in caught stealing rate, gunning down 47.6 percent of base-stealers.

Jody Davis:

Two-time All-Star catcher Jody Davis played behind the plate for the Cubs for most of the 1980s. The Cubs acquired Davis as a Rule 5 pick and after transitioning to the big leagues, he developed into a very good player on both sides of the game. In six seasons as the full-time starter, he batted .253, slugged .426 and averaged 19 home runs per year. He won a Gold Glove in 1986 when he threw out 89 base-stealers at a 48 percent clip. In 990 games with the Cubs, he racked up 834 hits, 122 home runs and a .729 OPS.

Randy Hundley:

Former All-Star and Gold Glove winner Randy Hundley was a workhorse defensive catcher for the Cubs from 1966 to 1973. During a remarkable iron man stretch from 1966 to 1969, Hundley averaged 153 games, 14 home runs and 63 RBI per season. His 160 games in 1968 remain an all-time record for a catcher.

Honorable mentions: Jimmy Archer, Clyde McCullough, Geovany Soto(notes) and Rick Wilkins

Sources:

Chicago Cubs Team History & Encyclopedia, Baseball-Reference.com

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Boston Red Sox top five catchers

Baltimore Orioles top five catchers

Atlanta Braves top five catchers

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That’s all the news for today.

First and foremost, I’d like to congratulate the St. Louis Cardinals for their second World Series championship since 2006. Don’t forget to send a ring and about 40 “Road to the Show” training points to Carlos Marmol(notes). He’ll put them towards his control rating.

There’s no denying that I’m a Chicago Cubs fan who doesn’t like the Cardinals. With that said, I appreciate the successes that they’ve had. They have a fine team with a quality farm system that continually reproduces new talent. While the Cubs were crying about an injury to Randy Wells(notes), the Cardinals wouldn’t allow injuries to Adam Wainwright(notes), Albert Pujols(notes), Matt Holliday(notes) or any player to end their season. The Cardinals just kept battling and persevering.

How could 103 years of ineptitude get any worse for Cubs fans? The Chicago White Sox and Cardinals have combined for three World Series championships in the past seven seasons (2005, 2006 and 2011). The Cubs must be feeling lonely since the Boston Red Sox won their first World Series in 86 years in 2004.

My advice to Cubs fans is that we shouldn’t get too upset with the recent fortunes of our rivals. The Cardinals’ championships could help the Cubs in the near future.

The White Sox and Cardinals had won back-to-back World Series from 2005-2006. I felt like it had a positive impact on how the Cubs would respond for the next two seasons. This forced Jim Hendry to restructure the roster and managerial staff. Some of the Cubs’ moves included the signing of Alfonso Soriano(notes) and the hiring of Lou Piniella to replace Dusty Baker as the manager.

The fans demanded an improved team after both of their arch rivals had won World Series in the prior seasons. That forced management’s hand. The Cubs would enjoy postseason appearances from 2007-2008. Unfortunately, they were three-and-out in both National League Divisional Series (NLDS) meetings.

Now that doesn’t mean that I want Theo Epstein to go on a shopping spree during free agency; I just feel like even more pressure will be added unto management to put a winner on the field. Seeing the Cardinals win another World Series should add more motivation in wanting to see the Cubs win their own Commissioner’s Trophy.

And hey: it’s good to see that the Milwaukee Brewers and Cardinals were the representatives in the National League Championship Series (NLCS). At least the Cubs had a miserable season in a strong division. Maybe the Cubs aren’t quite as bad as perceived and were partially impacted by the strength of the division?

Joshua Huffman grew up in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula as a Green Bay Packers and Chicago Cubs enthusiast. He immediately gained an admiration for Cubs fans after watching numerous games on WGN during the mid 1990s. His favorite Cubs moment was Kerry Wood’s(notes) 1-hitter, 20K extravaganza that was only denied of a no-hitter by Kevin Orie’s defensive blunder. As a Packers and Cubs fan, he suffered through Steve Bartman and “4th & 26″ in a span of three months.

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Running low on time today, i’ll be back tomorrow hopefully with some more news.

The Chicago Cubs have answered one of the many questions that surrounds their starting rotation this offseason. Ryan Dempster(notes) will return to the Cubs after he elected to exercise a $14-million player option for the 2012 MLB season. Dempster had reportedly informed the franchise of his decision on October 29, 2011.

Dempster didn’t perform well in 2011. While he reached 200 innings pitched for the fourth consecutive season, Dempster’s 4.80 ERA was lower than the average ERA for a quality start (4.50). He finished the season with a 10-14 record and is 62-61 in his career with the Cubs.

Dempster was inconsistent throughout the season. He started the season with an April that featured a 9.48 ERA. Here were his ERA’s in the months that followed: 3.08, 3.13, 4.82, 3.90 and 4.97. His ERA in September was skewed because Mike Quade was overusing him in an effort for him to reach that milestone of 200 innings pitched.

Don’t expect Dempster to remain with the Cubs past 2012. He’ll turn 35 in May of 2012. The Cubs are hoping that Trey McNutt, Andrew Cashner(notes) and Jeff Samardzija(notes) will have become reliable starting pitchers behind Matt Garza(notes) by that time.

Dempster is an example of what Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer must avoid when they target free agents. I don’t believe Dempster is worth half of the $14 million that he’ll receive in 2012. While he’ll probably be the No. 2 starter behind Garza, I don’t project him as anything beyond a middle-of-the-road No. 3 starter on a legitimate National League (NL) pennant contender.

There’s also the possibility that he’s gone before next season’s July trading deadline. Maybe Dempster would accept an early exit from Chicago if he could play for a pennant contender.There’s a good chance that the Cubs won’t be competitive so it’s a plausible scenario.

The Cubs must also decide on whether Carlos Zambrano(notes) will return to the rotation after he served a 30-day suspension after another emotional outburst. It seems much less likely that he’d return. However, he does have another season on his contract. Epstein could react conservatively and get a first-hand view of what he has in Zambrano.

Joshua Huffman grew up in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula as a Green Bay Packers and Chicago Cubs enthusiast. He immediately gained an admiration for Cubs fans after watching numerous games on WGN during the mid 1990s. His favorite Cubs moment was Kerry Wood’s(notes) 1-hitter, 20K extravaganza that was only denied of a no-hitter by Kevin Orie’s defensive blunder. As a Packers and Cubs fan, he suffered through Steve Bartman and “4th & 26″ in a span of three months.

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Theo Epstein’s plan to end the
Chicago Cubs’ 103-year run without a World Series title may
include Steve Bartman, the ostracized fan who some blame for
extending the championship drought in 2003.

Epstein was introduced yesterday as the Cubs’ president of
baseball operations, taking control of an organization that last
won Major League Baseball’s World Series in 1908 and last
appeared in the championship round in 1945.

At the end of a subsequent interview on ESPN, Epstein was
asked about Bartman, who earned a spot in Cubs’ lore during Game
6 of the 2003 National League Championship Series.

“I haven’t talked to anyone here at the Cubs about that,
but from afar, it seems like it would be an important step,
maybe a cathartic moment that would allow people to move forward
together,” Epstein told the sports television network.

The Cubs led the Florida Marlins 3-0 and were five outs
away from advancing to the World Series when Bartman reached for
a foul ball along the left-field line as outfielder Moises Alou
tried to make a catch. The Marlins rallied for an 8-3 win and
then beat the Cubs in Game 7.

Bartman, who didn’t end up with the ball, had to be
escorted out of Chicago’s Wrigley Field as other fans cursed and
threatened him. He was labeled a “doofus” and “idiot fan” in
Chicago newspaper headlines. Bartman has kept a low profile
since, declining interviews and autograph signings.

Bartman’s treatment was similar to that of Bill Buckner,
who was vilified by Boston Red Sox fans after allowing a ground
ball to get through his legs in the 1986 World Series. Buckner’s
error allowed the winning run to score and forced a Game 7,
which the Red Sox lost.

Boston finally ended its 86-year World Series drought in
2004, which was Epstein’s third season as the team’s general
manager. The Red Sox won a second title in 2007 and Buckner was
invited to Fenway Park the following season to throw out the
ceremonial first pitch in the team’s home opener. Buckner was
given a standing ovation by the Boston fans.

“I’m all about having an open mind, an open heart and
forgiveness, and I think those are good characteristics for an
organization to have as well,” said Epstein, who spent nine
seasons in Boston.

Epstein cited the Cubs’ tradition, history and passionate
fan base as reasons he came to Chicago.

“Look, he’s a Cubs fan and that’s the most important
thing,” Epstein told ESPN of Bartman. “We need to come
together as an organization, the fans, the ownership, the front
office, the players, everybody, if we’re going to get this thing
done. So I’m sure that’s something that will come up at the
right time.”

To contact the reporter on this story:
Erik Matuszewski in New York at
matuszewski@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story:
Michael Sillup at
msillup@bloomberg.net.

There is the quick update of the day.