The Chicago Cubs Should Trade For Ichiro

The Chicago Cubs are clearly in a rebuild state right now. The Cubs lost 96 games last season, and Starlin Castro appeared to regress last  season. Despite that, the Cubs still were 12th overall in attendance at just under 3,000,000 fans. They need a name that will fill the seats again, and they CAN do this without some  big time mega contract that could wreck their  rebuild plans.

How?

Make a trade for Ichiro Suzuki with the New York Yankees.

In 2008, the Cubs had a Japanese Outfielder, a 30 year old MLB rookie named Kosuke Fukudome. He homered on Opening Day 2008 in a losing effort for the Cubs. He stayed with the Cubs until being traded to the Cleveland Indians in 2011. Fukudome was not as fast or as powerful as Ichiro was in his trendsetting MLB debut in 2001 with the Seattle Mariners.

The New York Yankees have two new outfielders in former Red Sox  Outfielder Jacoby Ellsburry  and Carlos Beltran. Curtis Granderson is now a New York Met. The Yankees could put Brett Gardner or Alfonso Soriano in the Outfield spot that is not filled.

A trade with the Cubs for Ichiro would also have to come with a new jersey number for him, as the number 31 is retired. However, the name would fill seats  and give Ichiro a full  time outfield job he has not had since his days with the Seattle Mariners.

The only drawback is the Cubs already have left handed Outfielders in Nate Schierholtz and Ryan Sweeney, and just traded lefty Brian Bogusevic for righty Justin Ruggiano.

The only question left is: Who would the Cubs trade for Ichiro?

How about Class A  pitcher Corey Black, who  the Cubs recieved from New York in the trade for Alfonso Soriano?

Get  it done, Cubs Front Office.

Your 2009 MLB All Star Game Rosters

Here Are Your rosters for the 2009 MLB All Star Game, being played on July 12th.
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Starters
Pos Player B/T

C Joe Mauer, MIN L/R

1B Mark Teixeira, NYY S/R

2B Dustin Pedroia, BOS R/R

SS Derek Jeter, NYY R/R

3B Evan Longoria, TB R/R

OF Jason Bay, BOS R/R

OF Ichiro Suzuki, SEA L/R

OF Josh Hamilton, TEX L/L

Pitchers
Pos Player B/T

P Andrew Bailey, OAK R/R

P Josh Beckett, BOS R/R

P Mark Buehrle, CWS L/L

P Brian Fuentes, LAA L/L

P Zack Greinke, KC R/R

P Roy Halladay, TOR R/R

P Felix Hernandez, SEA R/R

P Edwin Jackson, DET R/R

P Joe Nathan, MIN R/R

P Jonathan Papelbon, BOS R/R

P Mariano Rivera, NYY R/R

P Justin Verlander, DET R/R

P Tim Wakefield, BOS R/R

Reserves
Pos Player B/T

C Victor Martinez, CLE S/R

1B Justin Morneau, MIN L/R

1B Kevin Youkilis, BOS R/R

2B Aaron Hill, TOR R/R

SS Jason Bartlett, TB R/R

3B Michael Young, TEX R/R

OF Carl Crawford, TB L/L

OF Curtis Granderson, DET L/R

OF Torii Hunter, LAA R/R

OF Adam Jones, BAL R/R

OF Ben Zobrist, TB S/R
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Starters
Pos Player B/T

C Yadier Molina, STL R/R

1B Albert Pujols, STL R/R

2B Chase Utley, PHI L/R

SS Hanley Ramirez, FLA R/R

3B David Wright, NYM R/R

OF Carlos Beltran, NYM S/R

OF Ryan Braun, MIL R/R

OF Raul Ibanez, PHI L/R

Pitchers
Pos Player B/T

P Heath Bell, SD R/R

P Chad Billingsley, LAD R/R

P Jonathan Broxton, LAD R/R

P Matt Cain, SF R/R

P Francisco Cordero, CIN R/R

P Ryan Franklin, STL R/R

P Dan Haren, ARI R/R

P Josh Johnson, FLA L/R

P Ted Lilly, CHC L/L

P Tim Lincecum, SF L/R

P Jason Marquis, COL L/R

P Francisco Rodriguez, NYM R/R

P Johan Santana, NYM L/L

Reserves
Pos Player B/T

C Brian McCann, ATL L/R

1B Prince Fielder, MIL L/R

1B Adrian Gonzalez, SD L/L

1B Ryan Howard, PHI L/L

2B Orlando Hudson, LAD S/R

2B Freddy Sanchez, PIT R/R

SS Miguel Tejada, HOU R/R

3B Ryan Zimmerman, WSH R/R

OF Brad Hawpe, COL L/L

OF Hunter Pence, HOU R/R

OF Justin Upton, ARI R/R

WBC Final: China Vs Korea 3-24-09

Here Are Your Highlights from Last Night's thrilling WBC Final between Japan and Korea!


Jim Caple analyzes the WBC Final.


Jon Miller, Joe Morgan, and Steve Phillips talk about the WBC Final.

Last Night's WBC Final was thrilling and awesome! If you missed it, you missed out on some fantastic baseball!

I cannot wait until the next one in 2013!

Congratulations to Japan on winning the 2006 and 2009 World Baseball Classic!

2009 WBC Video Recaps

China Vs Japan (Debut Game)3/5/09


Korea Vs Chinese Taipei 3/6/09


China Vs Chinese Taipei (Elimination Game) 3/6/09


Japan Vs Korea 3/7/09


Netherlands vs Dominican Republic 3/7/09


United States Vs Canada 3/7/09


Puerto Rico Vs Panama 3/7/09

Congratulations to The MLB Gold Glove Winners!

Greg Maddux won a record 18th Gold Glove.

The MLB Gold Glove Award Winners were unveiled this week. If you missed it, here is a quick recap of the winners.

National League
P, Greg Maddux, LAD
C, Yadier Molina, STL
1B, Adrian Gonzalez, SD
2B, Brandon Phillips, CIN
3B, David Wright, NYM
SS, Jimmy Rollins, PHI
OF, Carlos Beltran, NYM
OF, Nate McLouth, PIT
OF, Shane Victorino, PHI

Greg Maddux won a record 18th Gold Glove, and I was not expecting Adrian Gonzalez to be on the list. However, Adrian was one of the few bright spots the Padres had this season. Ditto with Nate McLouth on the Pirates.

And In The American League:
American League
P, Mike Mussina, NYY
C, Joe Mauer, MIN
1B, Carlos Pena, TB
2B, Dustin Pedroia, BOS
3B, Adrian Beltre, SEA
SS, Michael Young, TEX
OF, Torii Hunter, LAA
OF, Grady Sizemore, CLE
OF, Ichiro Suzuki, SEA

It was good to see a Ray get on this list. All of Baseball knew about Carlos Pena's offense, but his defense is why he is one of the best first basemen in the American League. I was expecting to see Jacoby Ellsbury's name on the list.

Congratulations to all the Gold Glove Winners.

MLB Preview: AL West

Can Jarrod Saltalamacchia help Texas win the AL West?

The Los Angeles Angels Of Anaheim have the longest team name in The History Of Baseball. Jarrod Saltalamacchia has the longest player name in The History Of Baseball. The Mariners have a Young Ace in Felix Hernandez, and Oakland, in a rebuilding state, has lots of Young Players.

LOS ANGELES ANGELS OF ANAHEIM
The Angels have a Track Record of Success. They won The 2002 World Series against Dusty Baker's San Francisco Giants from the NL West. These Angels had Troy Glaus (2002 World Series MVP Now With The St. Louis Cardinals) and David Eckstein (2006 World Series MVP with The Cardinals, Now With The Toronto Blue Jays) and won the World Series. The 2008 Angels have Garret Anderson, Vladamir Guererro, who will torch the NL West. Add to that the newest Angel In The Outfield,Torii Hunter. The Angels Rotation is also set. They May Not Have Bartolo Colon anymore, but they do have John Lackey, Jared Weaver, and Jon Garland. Garland,acquired from the White Sox for Shortstop Orlando Cabrera, should have more wins and a lower ERA, considering he is no longer in the competitive AL Central.

SEATTLE MARINERS
The Seattle Mariners have a great one, two punch in the rotation in "King Felix" Felix Hernandez and Erik Bedard. Bedard, acquired from the Baltimore Orioles for Outfielder Adam Jones. Offensively, Ichiro Suzuki will carry Seattle from the Lead Off Spot. Richie Sexon, if healthy, will hit a lot of homeruns and provide stability at First Base. If Sexon isn't healthy, expect Brad Wilkerson, Former Expo and Ranger, to see time at First Base. The Loss of Jose Vidro and Adam Jones leaves a hole in the outfield that may be replaced by Wilkerson.

TEXAS RANGERS
You've Heard of a Quarterback Controversy, but have you ever heard of a Catcher Controversy? Both Gerald Laird and Jarrod Saltalamacchia are vying for the starting Catcher position. Texas has never had a catcher like Jarrod Saltalamacchia. Jarrod is a Switch Hitting Catcher Who's Capable Of Hitting 25-30 Homeruns, which is unheard of for a catcher! If The Season Started Today, Jarrod would win the starting job, meaning Gerald Laird would have to play another position (Like First Base, where the Rangers have little depth), he would be traded.

Pitching Wise, Kevin Milwood and Vicente Padilla form an adequate 1-2 punch in the rotation. Brandon McCarthy, the former White Sox Ace of the Future, forms a solid number three. Kason Gabbard, acquired from Boston for Eric Gagne, forms a good number four in his first full season in the rotation. Kameron Loe will vie for the final rotation spot.

Offensively, Texas is hoping Josh Hamilton keeps up with the sucess he had in Cincinatti. Texas was hoping for more offense in Right Field, which is why Sammy Sosa was not re-signed. Hamilton could reach the thirty homer plateau this season.

OAKLAND ATHLETICS
The Athletics are young, trading away Ace Dan Haren to the Diamondbacks in the hope that Rich Harden can be an Ace. Rob Bowen will mature behind the plate, and Ryan Sweeney will play hard out in right field.

Oakland will through growing pains, but General Manager Billy Beane is getting ready for the future.

MY PROJECTED ORDER:
LOS ANGELES
SEATTLE
TEXAS
OAKLAND

That Concludes this MLB Preview. In Our Next MLB Preview, we will head back to the National League, analyzing the National League West. Can Joe Torre bring Chavez Ravine the Same Sucess he had in The Bronx? Can Matt Holliday and Troy Tulowitski carry Colorado to the NL Pennant Again? Will San Francisco Lose 100 Games without Barry Bonds? Find Out in the next MLB Preview.