What Piniella has learned about his Cubs -- ChicagoSports.com

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Tuesday Morning Odds and Ends, Left-Handed Second Basemen Are The New Market Inefficiency
Published 6/24/2008 by Colin Wyers at GoatRiders of the Apocalypse
... Meanwhile, Patterson seems to be providing the sort of top-of-the-order presence Lou has been searching for. And I’ll just pass this on without comment: ...

Off-Day News....and a Rumor
Published 6/24/2008 by neil@chicagocubsonline.com (Chicago Cubs Online) at ChicagoCubsOnline.com
... in the next month the asking price for Harden would go down. Kaplan asked Fletcher if he were the Cubs would he " trade all of his bullets " for Harden and Fletcher responded with he did not know if he would. Fletcher added he would not give up three or four players for Harden, but maybe two. After the interview, Kaplan added " it will cost a ton " for the Cubs to add Rich Harden , but that a Cubs' rotation that includes both Carlos Zambrano and Harden could be " real nasty. " Paul Sullivan speculated that if the Cubs " make a move " for Rich Harden, Micah Hoffpauir " ...

Tuesday Morning Stuff That Doesn't Fit Anywhere Else
Published 6/24/2008 by Al at Bleed Cubbie Blue
... and when you look at third basemen, he was the best third baseman of his era," said Morgan, the Hall of Fame second baseman and ESPN broadcaster. "I thought that's the way you judged it. Every year I voted for Maury Wills and Ron Santo. Those are my first two guys. To me, they were both a no-brainer." Well, Maury Wills isn't really a Hall of Famer, but again, if Morgan can help get Santo over the top next winter and into the Hall, good for him. Lou Piniella has learned some stuff, not the least of which is that Micah Hoffpauir isn't an ...

Chicago Cubs Trade Rumors
Published 6/25/2008 by noreply@blogger.com (jumbo) at Towel Drills: A Chicago Cubs Blog
... form of Sean Gallagher or Rich Hill. Mabye a "throw in" of Murton or Hoffpauir as well. I don't think Beane would be interested in Felix Pie (he strikes out too much for his style) or any of our other young prospects (not that highly rated other than Vitters and Veal). Thoughts: Peter Gammons has called Rich Harden "the most dominant pitcher in the American League right now." Per Phil Rogers of the Trib on Monday, the Cubs have solid interest in Harden. Per Paul Sullivan of the Sun-Times, Micah Hoffpauir could be a part of a deal for Haren. Put ...