Chicago Cubs

The Chicago Cubs' 25-man roster is complete.  After careful consideration, the Cubs have decided to go with Rule V draft pick David Patton and Angel Guzman. 

The odd men out are Jeff Samardzija and Chad Gaudin.  Samardzija had an outstanding rookie season working out of the Cubs' pen.  The 24-year-old Samardzija was 1-0 with a 2.28 ERA in 2008 with one save.  The Cubs believe Samardzija will eventually be a starter once he masters another pitch. 

Posing the question about the greatest sports month of the year is right up my alley. It's such an easy question to answer for me, so I'm going to make you sweat it out a bit before I tell you.

The Pro Football season starts in September, but I live in Chicago and I'm a Bear fan, so why would that be my favorite month? Watching an offense for most of my life that would make paint drying seem exciting doesn't get my blood boiling for the start of Fall.

So much has been made about Alfonso Soriano batting leadoff, but not nearly enough has been made about Derrek Lee holding onto his spot as the Cubs number three hitter. 

In 2004, former Cubs manager Dusty Baker took a lot of heat for not moving former Cubs right fielder Sammy Sosa down in the order.  The former Cubs slugger batted third for the first 60 games before being moved down in the order.  Sosa finished the year with 35-home runs and was rightfully traded at the end of the 2004 season. 

Two weeks before the 1907 World Series, the Chicago Cubs decided to go on a barnstorming tour, in which they stopped in Quincy, Illinois. The semi-professional team there, the Quincy Buds were part of the Illinois-Iowa League and finished their season with a win percentage of .500.

So, how was your cool, damp Friday night?

Good?

Mine was better.

After six stifling hours of class, subsisting on cheap sushi and stuff you get out of the vending machine, my friend Brent and I headed to the New Yankee Stadium to catch the exhibition Cubs-Yankees game.

It's the final stretch, the fourth quarter! It's time to find out how the Cubs will perform in 2009, or at least according to my projections.

Baseball begins this weekend, and I am in a fantasy league.

Played fantasy baseball for the first time last year, and think I finished last..or pretty darn near it.

I expect to keep that going this year.

MY fantasy team :

SP: Brandon Webb - Dude has been solid...one of my top players probably.
SP: Clayton Kershaw - Kid is a stud. Future ace...hoping he's ready now.
SP: Hiroki Kuroda - I have no idea what to expect from him.

On Tuesday, Chicago Cubs' Manager Lou Piniella stated what most fans already knew: there were a couple veteran pitcher in jeopardy of losing their bullpen jobs to talented youngsters.

Chad Gaudin and Luis Vizcaino, both acquired in trades in the last 12 months, are on the bubble right now.

Gaudin, who came with Rich Harden in a trade deadline deal with Oakland last year, has struggled all spring. Vizcaino, who was acquired in what was widely regarded as a salary dump of starter Jason Marquis, has been less than impressive as well.

Thanks for checking out the third installment of "The Long Road of October". In case you haven't read them, check out Part One and Part Two to see how the Cubbies have progressed throughout the 2009 season thus far.

Through 82 games, I have the Cubs record at 47-35. How will the Cubs close out the first half? Will the team suffer throughout the dog days of summer? Lets find out!