Continuing to re-work their roster ahead of the start of Spring Training in two weeks, the Cubs traded away two once promising pitchers in separate deals on Monday. The team announced that they traded the once promising lefty Rich Hill to Baltimore in return for a player to be named later. And to think it was only two years ago, the Cubs considered Hill to be one of their few untouchable pieces after he went 11-8 with a 3.92 ERA in '07. But then he lost his ability to throw strikes, which is apparently important when one's a pitcher, and spent the bulk of 2008 in the minors. more ›

Well, that didn't take long, did it? The Arizona Diamondbacks finished off the Cubs 5-1 on Saturday, sweeping the NLDS ... and delaying a Cubs World Series at least another year. Those of us familiar with the Cubs knew what to expect from Game Three as a soon as Rich Hill's very first pitch to Chris Young ended up in the left-field bleachers. Hill was lucky to escape the inning down only 2-0, and he... more ›

Between Jeanne Zelasko, Kevin Kennedy, Tim McCarver, the miked bases and all the other bells and whistles, we try to forget Fox broadcasts Major League Basebell. But when we're tipped to a clip like this, we need to share it. Via Best Week Ever, here is Cubs pitcher Rich Hill announcing the starting lineup for Saturday's game against the Astros. Not content to just run through the lineup, Hill gets his natural clown on... more ›

We don't know about you, but we just cannot get that excited for this weekend's Cubs-White Sox series that begins this afternoon at the Cell. The Sox have lost 20 of their last 28 games since the two last met, while the Cubs haven't played much better. The "lovable losers" haven't been so lovable of late, with their manager being suspended for bumbing an ump during an on-field tirade, the now exiles Michael Barrett getting... more ›

In a trade that was surprising in its swiftness, the Cubs traded embattled catcher and "good guy" Michael Barrett (or "number 8" for those of you who don't visit Wrigley Field for the baseball) and cash to the San Diego Padres for backup catcher Rob Bowen and minor league prospect Kyler Burke. The trade closes the book on Barrett's three-plus years as a Cub, a time marked by emotional outbursts, an uncontrollable temper, suspect defensive... more ›

The folks over at Rivalfish should think about making a t-shirt showing the entire National League eating the Cubs alive as they continue to struggle on the road. Last night the Cubs lost their seventh game in a row. more ›

Man, we hate it when, on rare occasions, we actually agree with Jay Mariotti. But he's right about the Cubs -- they're in big trouble this year. With the season starting in just a few days and their two supposed studs on the DL (what's this, the third straight year?) the Cubs don't look like legitimate playoff contenders. All spring, Cubs management continued to claim that there was nothing wrong with Kerry Wood and Mark... more ›