There's so much news today I don't know where to start. I guess we'll go with "Silver Sluggers" for $400, Alex:
Dave Van Dyck then goes on to remind us that all Zambrano does is hurt himself when trying to hit and take batting practice.
In other really exciting news, the Ed Lynch era is officially over.Cubs pitcher Carlos Zambrano, who has volunteered eagerly for designated-hitter and pinch-hitting duties in the past despite swinging-related stints on the disabled list, has been awarded his third Silver Slugger award for pitchers.
The switch-hitting Zambrano is tied for the third-most awards for pitchers behind Mike Hampton (five) and Tom Glavine (four) after leading pitchers with four home runs and nine extra-base hits while batting .217.
Dave Van Dyck then goes on to remind us that all Zambrano does is hurt himself when trying to hit and take batting practice.
We've also learned former Cubs general manager Ed Lynch has left the organization to pursue a job with Major League Baseball. Lynch was a scout in Arizona for the Cubs. He was fired as general manager in 2002.
Controversy alert! Bruce Miles says he was GM until 2000. Who do we believe?
As you can see, I'm already scraping the bottom of the barrel, so we'll jump to the Detroit News, whose columnist seems to think the Cubs might really be in on Edwin Jackson and/or Curtis Granderson. OK, I guess he says probably.
As anticipated, the Tigers have plenty of clubs interested in Granderson and Jackson. And it's hardly a surprise the Yankees and Cubs probably lead the list.
At least we won't have to worry about getting Barry Zito or Aaron Rowand:
Giants GM Brian Sabean told the Chicago Tribune he wouldn't pursue Bradley in a mega-deal-for-a-mega-deal. Barry Zito will make $83 million through 2013, Aaron Rowand $36 million through 2012.
"A deal like that? For a player like that?" Sabean said. "No. Is that succinct enough? I don't know that addition by subtraction would work. Smarter people than us have tried that."
Though I would argue that Bradley's 2 years at $21 million don't count as a mega-deal.
And finally, congratulations to two former Cubs employees for obtaining gainful employment. Jim Riggleman is now officially the Nationals manager (better him than me) and Mitch Webster is now a scouting supervisor with the Royals.