Jake Fox recalled, Sammy Sosa

The Cubs called up Jake Fox, you may know that a player who is sent down has to wait 10 days before being called up, BUT the Cubs placed Jason Waddell on the DL.

Also the New York Times in reporting that Sammy Sosa failed a drug test in 2003, this will almost certainly deny Sosa into the Hall if this report comes out to be true.

UPDATE: Bruce Levine is reporting that it is at least three to four weeks before Aramis Ramirez returns.

I will keep you posted.
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Gerald Perry Fired

UPDATE: 12:02 Gerald Perry Fired - Von Joshua Promoted to Cubs Hitting Coach. Gerald was pulled off the field during Cubs batting practice by GM Jim Hendry and fired.

Von Joshua, hitting coach for the Iowa Cubs, will be promoted from Triple-A on Monday and will be in uniform for the opener of the White Sox series on Tuesday.


Ryan Freel will begin a rehab assignment on Monday with the I-Cubs and is expected to rejoin the Cubs soon.

This story was approved by Chicago Cubs Blog-Phil Wilson

Pedro Martinez in Cubbie Blue

According to Nick Cafardo; Sources close to Pedro Martinez indicated that the Chicago Cubs have watched Martinez throw, as well as the Rays. Both teams are also beginning to at least explore how much money it would take to add Martinez to their rosters.

There also saying Martinez's fastball has tipped off at 94 MPH. WOW, that's really encouraging if we could add him to the pen.

This story was approved by Chicago Cubs Blog-Phil Wilson

Cubs 6/11 notes, Draft

Tonight's lineup:

Soriano - LF
Theriot - SS
Bradley - RF
Lee - 1B
Johnson - CF
Soto - C
Scales - 3B
Miles - 2B
Zambrano - P

31		Jackson, Brett	UC Berkeley	CF	L/R	6'02"	210	1988-08-02	JR
Comments: It's not a great Draft class for college bats, particularly in the outfield, so one with the athleticism Jackson has is bound to be noticed. He runs well on both sides of the ball, has a decent approach at the plate and plays a good center field right now. Some may see him as a tweener who isn't a leadoff hitter or a No. 3 type. If he gets bigger he will have to move to a corner, where how much power he actually has becomes a bigger question. He's got more value if he can stay in center, and the team that takes him may be hoping he can stay put. 79 LeMahieu, David Louisiana St U IF R/R 6'04" 196 1988-07-13 Comments: As a shortstop from a major college program, LeMahieu is going to get plenty of looks. Like most LSU products, he plays the game the right way and makes the most of his average tools. He's got a solid approach at the plate, but doesn't have a ton of raw power. That wouldn't matter, except for the fact he might have to move to third as he matures. Still, as a real "baseball player" who's excelled in a major program, he's bound to be drafted well. 109 Kirk, Austin Owasso HS (OK) LHP L/L 6'01" 1990-05-22 HS 140 Rusin, Christopher U Kentucky LHP L/L 6'02" 190 1986-10-22 SR 170 Darvill, Wesley Brookswood SS SS L/R 6'02" 1991-09-10 HS 200 Raley, Brooks Texas A&M U LHP L/L 6'03" 180 1988-06-29 SO 230 Springfield, Blair MacArthur HS (IL) IF R/R 5'11" 1991-02-18 HS 260 Whitenack, Robert SUNY Old Westbury RHP R/R 6'05" 185 1988-11-20 JR 290 Jones, Richard The Citadel C L/R 6'00" 210 1988-01-31 JR 320 Thomas, Joseph Edward Waters Col 3B R/R 6'04" 225 1988-07-02 JR 350 Mincone, John Suffolk CC West LHP L/L 6'01" 215 1989-07-23 J2 380 Davis, Burundi Howard Col OF R/R 6'00" 185 1989-01-02 J2 410 Taylor, Chad Jefferson HS (FL) SS R/R 6'01" 175 1990-08-29 HS 440 Keefe, Daniel U Tampa RHP R/R 6'04" 185 1987-08-15 SR 470 Shields, Bryan Auburn U Montgomery CF R/R 6'04" 190 1987-08-03 SR 500 Walker, Keenyn Judge Memorial Catholic HS (UT) CF S/R 6'02" 1990-08-12 HS 530 Dail, Barrett Mt Olive Col RHP R/R 6'02" 205 1987-09-30 JR 560 Williams, Matthew Duke U C R/R 5'11" 220 1987-02-23 SR 590 Burruel, Sergio Trevor G Browne HS (AZ) C L/R 5'11" 1991-07-22 HS 620 Erickson, Eric U Miami LHP R/L 6'00" 174 1988-02-17 JR 650 Rohan, Greg Kent St U 1B R/R 6'00" 205 1986-05-11 5S 680 Fitzgerald, Derrick Dyersburg State CC 2B R/R 5'11" 195 1988-12-20 J1 710 Pruitt, Jeffrey Cal St Northridge CF R/R 6'05" 220 1988-01-21 JR 740 Esquivel, Gerardo De La Salle Institute (IL) RHP R/R 6'01" 170 1991-04-28 HS 770 Bour, Justin George Mason U 1B L/R 6'04" 250 1988-05-28 JR 800 Grife, Steven Mercyhurst Col RHP R/R 6'00" 177 1986-11-04 SR 830 Martin, Corey Western Carolina U RHP R/R 6'03" 195 1987-05-01 SR 860 Petraitis, Jordan Miami U 3B R/R 6'03" 225 1986-08-30 SR 890 Clubb, Timothy Missouri St U RHP R/R 6'02" 195 1986-09-04 SR 920 Sheppard, Daniel Downers Grove North HS (IL) C R/R 6'00" 180 1991-02-25 HS

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Aaron Miles activated....Jake Fox?

After the Cubs win Tuesday night the Cubs activated Aaron Miles and optioned Jake Fox back to Triple A Iowa. Fox who was 5-12, might of been the wrong choice, with infielders Scales and Blanco who could of either been sent down to keep Fox up. But on the other hand Fox's trade value was going down back as soon as he goes to AAA it should jump up again.

This story was approved by Chicago Cubs Blog-Phil Wilson

June 7th Line-up and Notes

Today's lineup:

Soriano - LF
Theriot - SS
Fukudome - RF
Lee - 1B
Fontenot - 3B
Johnson - CF
Hill - C
Blanco - 2B
Wells - P

It looks like Soriano will get a much needed day off, against a pitcher that he has owned.

Carlos Zambrano has this to say about his future endeavors:

"After this contract, I'm done," said Zambrano, who is signed through 2012 with a vesting option for 2013. "I'm serious. I don't want to play. I want to help this team, I want to do everything possible to win with this team, but after five years or four years, or whatever I have left on my contract, I just don't want to play.

"I want to stay home and see my daughters grow up and hang out with my family more," he said. "Do you know how many Mother's Days I spend with my mother? Do you know how many things I've lost in my life?

"It's good to be here, it's good to play baseball -- don't get me wrong," Zambrano said. "But five years, four years, whatever I have left in my contract, I will retire. That's it."

We'll see what happens down the line, im sure his mind will change within the next 4 to 5 years.

IF you an author for an American League blog for any website, could you please comment or Email me!
This story was approved by Chicago Cubs Blog-Phil Wilson

Aramis Ramirez....Notes

According to the Chicago Tribune Aramis Ramirez will resume baseball activities this weekend in Cincinnati, which is about a week earlier the previously reported. The Cubs need him back desperately, but they need to be careful with him, since he's the best third basemen in the league apart from David Wright who is actually having an OK season with only 3 homeruns, but a .326BA.

NOTES:

• The Cubs and Braves had to postpone the rubber game, but it's been rescheduled for June 22.
• Rich Harden threw a bullpen session on Thursday, and felt no pain in his back, and is slated to pitch for the Iowa Cubs on Sunday in a rehab start. The Cubs are expecting to have Harden back in time to start the opener against the Minnesota Twins at Wrigley on Friday, June 12.
• Expect Big Z to start Friday in Cincinnati, while going for a milestone 100 wins.
• Milton Bradley will not need a stint on the DL, after feeling much better on Thursday.
  
• Lou gave Geo a "mental break" in Atlanta.
  

I think the Cubs need to get a power arm in the bullpen, IF we don't see the Cubs trade for one this summer, expect Shark Boy to be back in the bullpen. Which he could stay for awhile.

IF you an author for an American League blog for any website, could you please comment or Email me!
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June 2nd pitching match-up...Notes

Randy Wells RHP (0-2, 1.80) will battle against Kenshin Kawakami, RHP (3-6, 4.73)

Cubs: This was supposed to be Carlos Zambrano's start, but he's serving a six-game suspension for his antics in last Wednesday's game against the Pirates. Instead, Wells will try for his first win. The rookie right-hander has thrown three straight quality starts, but has yet to get a "W." In his last outing Thursday against the Dodgers, he gave up two runs on eight hits over seven innings and struck out seven. He threw 111 pitches, 70 for strikes. That's a good ratio.

Braves: Looking to improve his control, Kawakami has recently focused on attacking the strike zone early in the count. This approach worked on May 22, when he threw first-pitch strikes to 22 of the 27 batters he faced and held the Blue Jays scoreless over eight innings. But with an average fastball that is occasionally flat, this approach could also prove costly against an aggressive lineup. The 33-year-old right-hander struggled with his control on Wednesday, when he issued four walks and allowed nine hits in 5 2/3 innings against the Giants.

Courtesy of Cubs.com

Notes:

• Third baseman Chipper Jones continues to play with a sore big right toe that is hampering his movement. Jones said he aggravated some old bunions.
• Tom Glavine could return on this home stand, but will probably miss the Cubs series.
  
• Braves first baseman Casey Kotchman could miss a few games with a contusion of his right shin, the result of being hit by a pitch from D-backs right-hander Max Scherzer.

This story was approved by Chicago Cubs Blog-Phil Wilson