Tom Gorzelanny News

When it comes down to numbers, right-handed pitchers have an easier go of it in Major League Baseball.

For Cubs fans, the Verducci effect is an old and familiar foe, even if they have never heard of it.

"It was a no-brainer," Grabow said. "I pretty much let everyone know I wanted to come back.

Give Jim Hendry credit. He doesn't get them all right, but he doesn't get them all wrong, either.

According to Phil Rogers of the Tribune , GM Jim Hendry says he is "absolutely" interested in offering a prospect laden package to the Tigers for Centerfielder Curtis Granderson.A Rogers' sources say that the Cubs plan an "aggressive push" for Granderson.

John Grabow filed for free agency on Monday, but the Cubs have had talks with his agent in an effort to bring the left-handed reliever back.

I'm guessing yes : A Cubs offer could be built around 19-year-old shortstop Starlin Castro, who is emerging as one of the top prospects in the minors.

When Ted Lilly opted for left shoulder surgery on Nov. 3, he may have put his Chicago Cubs in the market for a free agent starter.

Chicago Cubs infielder Mike Fontenot earned the last arbitration spot for players with between two and three years of major league service, beating out Baltimore centre-fielder Adam Jones and Cincinnati pitcher Micah Owings on a tiebreaker.

In 2009, behind the reliable arm of Ted Lilly was a group of left handed would-be starters of modest ability and some history of success.

The Cubs say that Ted Lilly's surgery last week doesn't change their minds about allowing Rich Harden to become a free agent without making an offer.

A whisper leaked out of Arizona on Wednesday that Chicago Cubs' left-hander Ted Lilly underwent arthroscopic shoulder surgery on Tuesday and isn't expected to return until April.

It was one pitch, one out of 27 that Neal Cotts threw on June 24 in a relief outing for Triple-A Iowa.

Written by Alan Robinson Thursday, 08 October 2009 10:06 PITTSBURGH - They said the losing had to stop, and it didn't. They said the familiar pattern of a player getting good and then getting gone would stop, and it didn't. Instead, the losing didn't slow down for the Pittsburgh Pirates, it increased.

Overview Well ita s finally here. The end of the season. As tough as this season as been on some of us, Ia m personally not looking forward to the winter.

It's been a little weird this week for Rich Harden and John Grabow. They are two of the Cubs' four free agents-to-be, and one has already begun talks about returning, while the other is taking a wait-and-see approach.

The last hours of the 2009 season really are about next season, but the Cubs are having trouble forging the groundwork for future optimism.

"Oh, brother," says Gorz, "I should have asked to start last night." Browse more photos>> All paid tickets for the Oct.

The Arizona Diamondbacks are getting one last shot at a left-handed starter when they open the final series of the season against the Chicago Cubs.

The D-backs scored seven runs in the first three innings and cruised to a 12-3 win over the Cubs on a chilly and wet Friday afternoon in front of 33,786 at Wrigley Field.