In what I consider a shocker, Barry Zito has agreed to a deal with the San Fransisco Giants.  What’s not the shocking part is the money, Barry will get a reported 126 million over 7 years with an option for an 8th year giving the total deal a possible 137 million value. It’s the largest for any pitcher in the history of baseball, surpassing the previous mark set by Mike Hampton and the Colorado Rockies for 121 million over 8 years.  The seven year guarenteed deal is tied for the sixth largest in the history of baseball, tying Vernon Wells mark set just a short while ago, yet still pailing in comparision to what the Cubs guarenteed the 31 year old Alfonso Soriano, 136 million over 8 years.

So what does the signing of Zito have to do with the Cubs?  It deals with the Cubs in that Carlos Zambrano, our only stud to turn out thus far of our “three-headed pitching monster” of 2003, is a free agent at the end of the 2007 season and he’s looking to be paid.  Statistically speaking he is very comparable to Barry, and he’s three years younger.

Carlos has already commented this offseason that he’s not willing to take a hometown discount like his friend Aramis Ramirez did.  Which is rightfully so, the Cubs have went hogwild this offseason in their spending, dishing  out 40 million/4 years and 21 million/3 years to average pitchers in Lilly and Marquis while giving Soriano the fifth richest contract in MLB history.

When Carlos was coming up through the system, he was touted for his arsenal, but quickly excelled for his bulldog attitude and ability to keep the ball on the ground and in the park.  But Zambrano was NOT pegged as a starter, instead most scouts and analysts had him as a setup/closer type role due to various factors such as the depth of Cubs pitching prospects, his demeanor, and his high walk rate.

Heading into the 2003 season, there was great question over the role that Carlos would play for the organization.  During 2002, Carlos was used in the first half of the season as a reliever and the second half as a starter:

It was one of Dusty Baker’s first major decisions as Cubs’ manager, to start the 2003 season with Carlos in the rotation or the pen. After a decent spring (21 2/3 IP, giving up 20 H, 9 ER, 2 HR, 10 BB, 14 K), it was an easy choice for Dusty as he was one of Zman’s biggest proponents.  Not because of his numbers, as Juan Cruz, the Cubs deemed top pitching prospect, put up 14 1/3 IP, giving up 6 H, 3 ER,  6 BB, 17 K and Shawn Estes was destroyed going 22 IP, giving up 22 H, 7 ER, 2 HR, 7 BB, 8 K.  But because Dusty loved the fire that Zambrano had, and he was given the nod in front of fellow rookie Cruz while the “experienced” veteran Shawn Estes claimed the fifth spot in the rotation.

Since his first full-time starting gig, Carlos has been putting up outstanding numbers, given his age, durability, and projected future, he’s one of the most talented pitcher’s in baseball today next to Johan Santana.  It’s too bad for Johan’s pocketbook (but great for Minnesota and shows their foresight) that he signed a very below market contract (4yr/~40 million) to avoid his second year of arbitration and avoided his first two years of free agency.  The Cubs had their chance to lock up Zman to a similiar deal in the 04-05 offseason but bypassed committing so much money to a pitcher so early in his career.  That choice may comeback to to bite them in the ass.

Now with the money that the soon to be 29 year year old Zito is getting, it only raises Zambrano’s bar.  When comparing the two, most baseball minds would take Carlos 9 times out of 10.  About the only facet where Barry has him beat is the fact that he’s lefthanded; though as a consolation Carlos can hit lefthanded.  Additionally, Barry has experience on Zman, but he also has age (Barry 29 in May, Carlos 26 in June).  If Carlos hits the open market next year, then we could be witnessing baseball’s first 20 million pitcher who gets a guarenteed 8 year deal. Especially with the vast number of rich pitching hungry teams that came away empty handed this offseason.  For a statistical comparision, here’s what Carlos’ and Barry’s look like together.  With Carlos’ last four years as a starter (03-06), and Barry’s four year avg as a fulltime starter (01-04 & 03-06), both pitchers were essentially the same age during the first comparision.

The Cubs need to lock up Carlos before the end of the 2007 season, as he’s price is only going to go up.  Especially if he’s able to throw up the Cy Young year that he’s shown he’s very capable of, and with a stronger offense and bullpen, he definately looks to benefit.  Many Cubs fans are sporting high optimism of retaining Zman’s services, as the club opened up it’s checkbook for the first time ever.  But personally, I’m not as sure that Zambrano will be a Cub in 2008, especially if they aren’t able to bring him in during the exclusive window, thus letting him take offers from opposing clubs.  It could be the biggest mistake since letting Greg Maddux depart in the 92-93 offseason.

About this time last year I was just another Cubs blogger. I wrote about the rumors, the news, and all things Cubs. Luckily, A.J. saved me from the sea of obscurity and took a chance on the little-blogger-that-could. Since then I’ve been lucky enough to meet a couple different Cubs players, go to a Kerry Wood rehab start, several Cubs games, a few Cubs minor league games and a million other experiences I’ll never forget.

This was a horrible year for Cubs baseball and you (the reader) still checked us out at an amazing clip, going over 110,000 views on the year. I joined the site early in the year and I’ve been more than happy to be a member of “The Hub”. I’ve had the chance to cover Kerry Wood’s rehab start, interview Clay Rapada, Jamie Moyer and Len Kasper. I’ve gone to several Cubs games and had the soap box to view my opinions, and for all of this I am thankful. Its all because of you, the reader. Thank you.

Writing for this site has given me the chance to express my views and reach a decent audiene, and the site has grown more than I could have imagined. We’ve grown to the point that around 35% of our views for the year came in the last three months and its quite possible that we could double our viewers for the next year. Wow.

I joined the staff with A.J., Bob, Saber and Troy and we were lucky enough to add Kyle during the year. I cant wait to see what we are able to do in 2007.

This last season was rough, and you guys stuck through it. Most other fans for most other teams would have given up on their team, but we (as Cubs fans) kept up a solid front the entire season and were rewarded with the signings of DeRosa, Soriano, Ramirez, Lilly and Marquis. Kind of makes you giddy about next year, right?

Anyway, I just wanted to say that you (the readers as well as Cubs fans across the world) have been amazing this year and I cant wait for 2007. Good night, god bless, and happy festivus! Seriously though, I hope you enoy the holidays and be patient if we’re slow with updates if there isnt much news, as we’ll be with our families and we encourage you to be with yours. Dont be surprised, however, if Bob, Kyle, A.J. or I update during the holidays, because I feel confident that we just might. We’re that awesome.

Happy Holidays from everyone here at CubsHub.com!

Its slow. We’re talking about Cliff Floyd maybe joining the Cubs and what it’d mean. Thats definatelly slow for news. So… just thought I’d drop my top 10 on the IPod Shuffle…

Whole Wide World - Wreckless Eric (from the Stranger Than Fiction soundtrack)
Shakin’ - Eddie Money (I rented “The Groomsmen” and there’s a great cover of it in there)
In the Air Tonight - NonPoint (A cover of the Phil Collins song… I saw them live last night and they were AMAZING)
Rock and Roll - Led Zeppelin
Everlong - Foo Fighters
Come as You Are - Nirvana (The best version is from MTV Unplugged)
Here it Goes Again - Ok Go
Dani California - Red Hot Chili Peppers
Simple Man - Shinedown (great accoustic cover)
Woman - Wolfmother

… and discuss… Seriously, feel free to drop me comments with whats on your playlist right now, because its probably more entertaining than hearing about Cliff Floyd’s career stats at Wrigley or how well he’s hit against the Red Birds in the last three seasons on the road…

Bigfoot. Yeti. Abominable Snowman. Loch Ness Monster. A healthy Mark Prior. Supposedly all exist, but proof is hard to come by. Usually you’ll see blurry pictures or second hand stories of that one time your great uncle saw Big Foot wander through his backyard or saw Mark Prior shut down the Marlins for 7 innings before the Cubs blew the game.

Ah, what am I saying? Nessy exists right?

Seriously though, have you ever noticed how eerie the similarities are between Mark Prior and the Story of Icarus? Its crazy, but even crazier is that Mark Prior might be able to tweak his legacy as a Cub and go from Icarus to Lazarus.

Have you ever noticed how the mythical story of Mark Prior sounds very similar to the story of The Fall of Icarus? For those of you that have no idea who Icarus is, here’s a quick recap.

“Icarus was imprisoned, with his father, in a tower on Crete, by the king Minos. Daedalus contrived to make his escape from the prison he was in, but could not leave the island by sea, as the king kept strict watch on all the vessels, and permitted none to sail without being carefully searched. “Minos may control the land and sea,” said Daedalus, “but not the regions of the air. I will try that way.” So he set to work to fabricate wings for himself and his young son Icarus. He wrought feathers together beginning with the smallest and adding larger, so as to form an increasing surface. The larger ones he secured with thread and the smaller with wax, and gave the whole a gentle curvature like the wings of a bird. Icarus, the boy, stood and looked on, sometimes running to gather up the feathers which the wind had blown away, and then handling the wax and working it over with his fingers, by his play impeding his father in his labors.

By then at last the work was done, the artist, waving his wings, found himself buoyed upward and hung suspended, poising himself on the beaten air. He next equipped his son in the same manner, and taught him how to fly, as a bird tempts her young ones from the lofty nest into the air. When all was prepared for flight, he said, “Icarus, my son, I charge you to keep at a moderate height, for if you fly too low the damp will clog your wings, and if too high the heat will melt them. Keep near me and you will be safe.” While he gave him these instructions and fitted the wings to his shoulders, the face of the father was wet with tears, and his hands trembled. He kissed the boy, not knowing that it was for the last time. Then rising on his wings he flew off, encouraging him to follow, and looked back from his own flight to see how his son managed his wings. As they flew the ploughman stopped his work to gaze, and the shepherd leaned on his staff and watched them, astonished at the sight, and thinking they were gods who could thus cleave the air.

They passed Samos and Delos on the left and Lebynthos on the right, then the boy, exulting in his career, began to leave the guidance of his companion and soar upward as if to reach heaven. The nearness of the blazing sun softened the wax which held the feathers together, and they came off. He fluttered with his arms, but no feathers remained to hold the air. While his mouth uttered cries to his father, it was submerged in the blue waters of the sea, which thenceforth was called by his name. His father cried, “Icarus, Icarus, where are you?” At last he saw the feathers floating on the water, and bitterly lamenting his own arts, he buried the body and called the land Icaria in memory of his child.”

The parallells are pretty easy to see, in my opinion. Mark Prior (Icarus) was stuck on the North Side with the cursed Cubs. All Mark had to do was to be a good pitcher for a bad team and he’d probably have pitched 200 innings a year since his debut (See: Zambrano). Instead, he tried to end the curse and as a result he fell back to reality faster than you can say “Tommy John” and hasnt been seen in the same way since.

Scary, isnt it?

2007 is Prior’s chance to go from Icarus to Lazarus (See: Miracle of Lazarus). He should be healthy. He should have a fresh arm. He should have more run support than ever before and he should have less expectations placed on him. Perhaps now he can fly under the radar, or at a medium height, and get past the curse that has kept him grounded since 2003?

We’ll see…

According to Paul Sullivan (here) the Cubs are close to finishing a deal that would bring Cliff Floyd to Chicago as a platoon partner for Matt Murton in left.

Reaction to this possible signing can be found at Rotoworld, MLBTradeRumors.com, and GoatRiders (among others).

Personally, I think its a good signing if its cheap with incentives. If its a base of 2M with inentives that can bring it up to a total of 5-6M total, then I’m all for it. Floyd has provided a decent option for the Mets in the last few years, even as he declines, and would be a fine platoon partner for someone.

Here’s a look at a few stats to consider when Floyd is offiially signed (if at all)… Over the past three years he has  hit 30 points higher before the All-Star break, which would be great for the Cubs because I feel that they need to get off to a hot start to keep any hopes of the playoffs alive. Against right handed pitching he’s hit .277/.369/.498 over the past three years, a fairly good line. He’s also hit for more power against right handed pitching, going for a homer once every twenty at-bats or so.

Not too shabby for a lefty bat off the bench and possible platoon-mate for someone. I realize it might eat into the playing time of Matt Murton, but dont you think that Lou Piniella will play the better player, rather than the older player? Dont you think he’ll go with the best lineup that will give the Cubs the best chance to win? Think about it, if Murton is worth starting over Floyd I think he’ll get his chance.