Derrek Lee News Archives

It's understandable for consumers to be happy about and test out their new purchases: Porsche drivers would want to take a spin in a new ride, new homeowners have dinner parties, and kids with new toys play with them until their parents snap.

Will Magglio Ordonez be a Cub in 2010? Browse more photos>> With a day off before game six of the ALCS -- and this series has the chance to go down in history as one of the better league championship series, having already produced at least three "instant classics", let's spend today looking toward next year.

On Tuesday, the Ricketts family took over control of the Chicago Cubs, Wrigley Field and a 25 percent share of Comcast SportsNet Chicago for $845 million from the Tribune Co.

What makes a good major league hitting coach? A three-year, $2.42-million contract, it seems, as the Chicago Cubs showed us this week.

Rudy Jaramillo becomes the sixth Cubs hitting coach since 2002, and the third in '09. Here's how the last five fared: Jeff Pentland, 1997-2002: Brought in during disastrous '97 season after Tony Muser left to manage, he was credited for teaching Sammy Sosa patience, and lasted six years.

If there's one thing known about Cubs GM Jim Hendry after all these years, it's that he tends to focus "like a laser beam," to use an old presidential campaign phrase, on what he wants every off-season. The Hendry Laser Light Show legacy includes Lou Piniella, Dusty Baker, Milton Bradley, LaTroy Hawkins, Alfonso Soriano, Mike Remlinger and Kosuke ...

Perry Hill's work with the infielders was well received, but it didn't translate into a second season.

My Dodgers laid some stress on this guy the last two days for sure. But, they found a way to win when Charlie Manual wore out the path between the Phillies dugout and the pitchers mound in the 8th inning yesterday.

When Justin Morneau's season ended, in the second week of September, the Twins needed someone to step up.

This is beyond logic. This is unbelievable. This, my friends, is the essence of Cubdom.

Before the first pitch of the NLDS is thrown, here's one final look a Cubs position players for 2009 and include a nugget or two on their season.

Cubs first baseman Derrek Lee was named winner of the Player of the Month Award for September.

Chicago Cubs first baseman Derrek Lee was named the National League Player of the Month for September.

Chicago Cubs first baseman Derrek Lee was named the National League Player of the Month for September.

The 50th anniversary of the production of the last Edsel arrives in November, just in time for the beginning of the Milton Bradley sell-off. Bradley turned out to be the Cubs ' version of the Edsel, a concept that may have looked OK on paper but ultimately turned into a critical and commercial flop.

The Cubs will bring their entire coaching staff back for 2010 with the exception of hitting coach Von Joshua, who will be given the chance to stay with the Triple-A Iowa team.

Obviously, both can't happen, with Carlos Marmol having replaced Gregg as the Cubs ' closer in August, and it's possible neither will happen.

Last Saturday's post, titled "The Final Cubs On Fox For 2009", was incorrect -- I had forgotten, at the time I posted it, that today's game had been added to Fox's schedule.