I love to be wrong in situations like this, as Casey Coleman led the Cubs to a 2-game sweep of the Marlins in Miami with a convincing 5-1 win.

Coleman picked up his 2nd win of the season, throwing 109 pitches in 5 2/3 scoreless innings.  Manager Mike Quade brought in the recently called up Scott Maine to get Coleman out of trouble in the bottom of the 6th inning after Coleman walked 2 batters with 2 outs in the inning.  Maine made it a little scary but Byrd cuaght Wes Helms’ deep drive to center field to end the inning.

And how about John Grabow — he has given up just 1 ER in his last 10 appearances and he notched his 4th hold of the season with a scoreless 7th inning.  If Grabow can regain the form that made him such an effective reliever before he signed a 3-year free agent deal with the Cubs, the Cubs bullpen will be that much deeper as the season progresses.

Kerry Wood gave up the Marlins only run on a homer to Mike Stanton.  Wood is trending in the exact opposite direction as Grabow — in his last 5 trips to the mound, Wood has 2 blown saves and 2 losses, and has given up 7 runs (3 earned) on 10 hits and 3 walks.  Not good.

Carlos Marmol worked a scoreless 9th inning in a non-save situation.

At the plate, Reed Johnson got the Cubs out to an early lead with an RBI double in the 2nd inning.  Marlon Byrd continues to swing a hot bat.  He had 2 more hits including a 2-run home run in the 4th inning that increased the Cubs lead to 3-0.  And Starlin Castro had 2 hits including a 2-run double in the top of the 9th inning that gave the Cubs some breathing room heading into the bottom of the inning with a 4-run lead.

After an atrocious start to the tough road trip with 2 frustrating losses to the 1st place Reds, it was nice to see the Cubs bounce back against the Marlins.  The Cubs now trail the Cards by 5.5 games in the NL Central and need a 3-game sweep over the Red Sox in Boston this weekend in order to get back within 1 game of the .500 mark…

The Cubs rallied for a much-needed 7-5 win over the Marlins on Wednesday night in Miami.  After falling behind 5-3 at the end of the 5th inning, the Cubs tied it up in the top of the 6th inning on pinch-hitter Reed Johnson’s 2-run bomb.  The Cubs then took the lead for good in the 8th on Marlon Byrd’s solo shot to left field.  The Cubs tacked on an insurance run on Jeff Baker’s fielder’s choice play later that inning.

Koyie Hill had a nice game at the plate – 3 for 3 with 3 runs scored.  Kosuke Fukudome, Starlin Castro and Aramis Ramirez each had 2 hits on the night.

Ryan Dempster struggled through 5 innings – 5 ER on 8 hits and 2 walks.  Jeff Samardzija earned his 3rd win of the season by pitching 2 scoreless innings.  Sean Marshall notched his 9th hold of the 2011 campaign, and Carlos Marmol picked up his 9th save by pitching an inning and a third of scoreless ball.

Casey Coleman looks to help the Cubs sweep the quick 2-game series over the Marlins tonight in Miami.  Then it’s off to Boston for a 3-game set against the Red Sox at historic Fenway Park.

The Cubs defeated the Giants 11-4 in the opener of the weekend series against the defending world champions at Wrigley Field.

Ryan Dempster picked up his 2nd win of the season with 6 effective innings of 2-run ball.  He struck out 11 and because of the high pitch count – 115 pitches – Manager Mike Quade removed him at the end of 6.

Starlin Castro, Reed johnson and Dawrin Barney each had 3 hits apiece in an explosive 14-hit, 11-run attack.

More to come tomorrow on the big Friday win at Wrigley…

After Reed Johnson’s dramatic walk-off home run to left field propelled the Cubs to a 2-1 win of the opener, there was hope that the Cubs would be able to pull off the sweep.  But it wasn’t meant to be as the Padres exploded for 3 home runs against James Russell in the game’s first 5 innings to rush out to a 4-0 lead.  The Cubs cut the lead to 4-2 on an RBI double from Reed Johnson and an RBI single by Darwin Barney in the bottom of the 5th inning and then again to 5-4 on Alfonso Soriano’s 2-run home run to deep left center field in the bottom of the 8th inning, but they didn’t have another rally left in the tank in the 9th.

After his heroics in the 1st game, Johnson made the most of his start in Game 2.  Johnson had 3 hits and an RBI, but was thrown out at 3rd base in the 5th inning on an overly aggressive base-running blunder that probably cost the Cubs a much-needed run.  After he was thrown out for the 2nd out in the inning, the Cubs started a 2-out rally with consecutive singles by Jeff Baker, Kosuke Fukudome and Barney.  If Johnson had been on base, who knows what would have happened with only 1 out and those 3 singles…  Fukudome hit lead-off and had 2 hits in 5 at-bats.  Barney had 2 hits as well and Starlin Castro went 1 for 4 as the team’s 3rd hitter in the lineup.  Castro had a rough day at the plate in the double-header – 1 for 9 with 5 runners left on base.

With the split, the Cubs were tied for 1st place in the NL Central with 3 other teams – the Brewers, Reds and Cards – all with 9-9 records…

With rain due to pound the Chicago area Tuesday during the day and night, the Cubs called Tuesday night’s contest and scheduled a day-night double-header for Wednesday afternoon and night at Wrigley Field.  The Padres are not scheduled to visit Wrigley again this season, and with the Padres scheduled to host the Phillies Thursday night back in San Diego, MLB decided to try to pull-off the day-night doubleheader on Wednesday.

With the 1st game now moving into the 11th inning, when the 2nd game will even start is up in the air.  Matt Garza had his 1st good start of the 2011 MLB schedule – 6 scoreless innings, 6 hits and 3 walks with 9 K’s.  Despite walking the bases loaded with 1 out in the 6th inning, Garza was able to get out of the jam by inducing an inning-ending double play by Brad Hawpe.  The Padres left the bases loaded in the top of the 7th inning without scoring a run and it looked like the Cubs would put away the Padres in another 1-0 affair with Carlos Marmol closing out the game in the 9th.  But Marmol issued a 1-out walk to Cameron Maybin who came around to score the game-tying run on Jason Bartlett’s sacrifice fly.

Garza scored the Cubs lone run in the 3rd inning.  After a Geovany Soto double, Garza attempted to bunt him over to the 3rd, but he made a poor bunt and Soto was thrown out at 3rd base.  Garza advanced to 2nd base when Bartlett dropped what should have been an inning-ending double play ball.  After another fielder’s choice by Darwin Barney, Marlon Byrd’s 2-out RBI single plated Garza from 3rd base with the unearned run.

We’re now in the bottom of the 11th inning with the scored still tied at 1.  Wait – there is an update – Reed Johnson just hit a walk-off home run into the left field bleachers to lead off the 11th inning as the Cubs win 2-1.  Despite 2 hits and 3 walks allowed in just 2 innings pitched, Jeff Samardzija stayed tough and didn’t allow any runs to pick up his first win of 2011.  Go Cubs Go!!!

The Chicago Cubs have signed Reed Johnson to a minor league contract – he will be a 2011 Spring Training Invitee.  Johnson played in 102 for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2010.  Johnson had a .262 batting average with 2 home runs.  Johnson played a pivotal role in the Cubs winning the NL Central Division in both 2007 and 2008.  It is uncertain if Johnson will be healthy and productive enough to secure an opening day roster position.  But Johnson certainly has a great attitude and is always a productive veteran to have in the clubhouse.  We’ll keep you posted with any updates on Johnson’s health and his chances of making the team at the end of March…

The Chicago Cubs still need to find their 4th outfielder for the 2010 MLB schedule – Jermaine Dye, Xavier Nady and Reed Johnson are all on the list.  Three starters are already locked in – Left Fielder Alfonso Soriano, Center Fielder Marlon Byrd & Right Fielder Kosuke Fukudome.

Dye has played for the cross-town rival White Sox the last few seasons.  In 2009, however, Dye’s average dipped down to .251 well below his career .274 batting average.  Dye had 27 HR’s, 18 doubles and 81 RBI’s during the course of the 2009 MLB schedule.

Nady played only 7 games during the 2009 MLB season.  In July, Nady had season-ending elbow ligament replacement surgery.  He is a career .280 hitter and he has played for the San Diego Padres, Pittsburgh Pirates and both New York baseball teams – the Mets and Yankees.

Reed Johnson could also find himself back on the Cubs roster in 2010.  Johnson played only 65 games for the Cubs in 2009 because of injury issues.  He fractured his foot on a foul ball in July and never fully recovered.  The Cubs told Johnson that he should at least test the free agency market to see if he could find a team that would guarantee him more playing time or a longer-term deal.  If he doesn’t find something he likes, the Cubs could always bring him back under a 1-year club-friendly deal.  Johnson was a fan favorite at the friendly Confines of Wrigley Field, so it would not be horrible to have him back – as long as the 33-year old is healthy.

The only other Cubs outfielder on the roster is Sam Fuld.  Fuld is a scrappy player who excels at defense.  He can play all 3 outfield positions.  In 65 major league games for the Cubs in 2009, Fuld batted .299.  Fuld also hit .284 at Triple-A Iowa during the season (84 games).

I like either Dye or Johnson.  Dye is a good veteran presence and a good teammate in the locker room.  Not having to play everyday could also prolong his strength during the long MLB season (he will be 36 when the season starts).  Johnson seems like a good fit too.  Nady seems like more of a long-shot given the surgery – not sure he’ll even be ready by Spring Training…

Come on Jim (Hendry) let’s get something done here…

The Chicago Cubs want to move Kosuke Fukudome back to right field in 2010.  That is his natural position and they feel like he will be a better hitter not having to worry about manning the center field position at Wrigley.  So, the Cubs must find a center fielder.

The Boston Red Sox signed Mike Cameron.  Juan Pierre signed with the Chicago White Sox.

Reed Johnson is still out there, but injuries have been a concern over the last couple of years with Johnson and they don’t want to get into a similar situation again by depending on Johnson.

The same could be said for Scott Podsednik who did a great job for the White Sox in 2009 but who is always an injury away from missing significant time.

Tops on the list right now is Marlon Byrd, but he has several suitors and the Cubs might not have what it takes to land Byrd.  Plus, with the late signings before the 2009 for minimal dollar amounts (see Bobby Abreu, Adam Dunn, etc.) maybe GM Jim Hendry is counting on the fact that he might be able to wait it out and sign someone at the end of January/early February for minimal money and years.  A player who could hold the position for a year or 2 until Tyler Colvin is ready to play at the major league level each and every day.  We’ll keep you posted as soon as we hear anything on the transaction front.

The Chicago Cubs decided not to offer arbitration to Rich Harden, Kevin Gregg, Reed Johnson & Chad Fox before today’s deadline.  The move is not surprising for Harden, Gregg and Fox, but I thought that the Cubs might offer arbitration to Johnson.  Looks like the Cubs are really going to try to land a center fielder this off-season so that they can move Kosuke Fukudome back to his regular (and more comfortable) right field position.

While Rich Harden made 26 starts for the Cubs in 2009, his history of arm trouble and his high pitch counts made the starter expendable.  The Cubs already have Carlos Zambrano, Ryan Dempster, Ted Lilly and Randy Wells penciled in as 2010 starters and they will pick a 5th starter from within – either Tom Gorzelanny, Jeff Samardzija, Sean Marshall or others.

Kevin Gregg lost his closer’s role to Carlos Marmol in the middle of August and the Cubs do not have confidence that Gregg can even be an effective middle reliever, especially given the salary that he would command in arbitration.

The Cubs still have to work out new deals with other arbitration-eligible players – Marmol, Ryan Theriot, Marshall, Jeff Baker and Mike Fontenot.  So it is a good move to shed some salary – roughly $15 million or more that would have gone to these 4 players.  Tom Ricketts – the new Cubs Chairman – has indicated that the $134 payroll in 2009 will go up slightly for the 2010 MLB season…

Unlikely, but Sam Fuld should get a decent look at the Cubs 2010 center fielder.  Fuld is a scrappy player who gives 110% each and every day.  After not appearing on the Cubs major league roster during the 2008 MLB schedule, Fuld played in 65 games in 2009.  He only got 97 at-bats in a reserve role, but he batted .299 with a .409 on-base percentage.  Fuld is a patient hitter (17 walks) who doesn’t strike out a lot (10 K’s).  He doesn’t have a lot of pop in his bat or RBI production capabilities (1 HR, 2 RBI’s) which is something that Manager Lou Pinella desires, but he will get on base and isn’t a liability in the field at Wrigley Field.

The Cubs are also trying to work our a deal with Reed Johnson who is a free agent.  To have Johnson as the starting center fielder with Fuld as the 4th outfielder would be an ideal situation for Pinella and the Cubs.  It’s unclear if GM Jim Hendry will be able to work out a suitable deal with Johnson who is looking for a longer-term commitment.

There have been calls for minor league prospect Tyler Colvin to get a shot at the center field job in 2010, but he still has some minor league development that will take precedence in 2010.

So while I don’t think that Fuld will earn the starting center field job in Spring Training 2010, look for Fuld to get a lot of playing time in 2010.