Ryan Dempster

Good ol' Canadian James Richard Harden showed us why the Cubs got him when he pitched 2 innings in Tuesday's Cactus League game against Seattle.

The cubs have been all tip-toe with Rich, limiting his throws since he's been taking trips to the DL for the past 3 seasons, and was on the stint when he was traded.

Continue reading "Rich Harden Debuts, Finally"

of that if the Cubs' play does not pick up.  NOW.

The pitching has been brutal so far.  Ryan Dempster got a bad case of the "it's-the-playoffs-OMGZ" in Game 1.  No hitting, save Mark DeRosa.  Carlos Zambrano, despite taking a tough loss, was a victim of unspeakably bad defense by every infielder.  That fateful 2nd inning, Zambrano essentially pitched 7 outs.  Ryan Theriot should have gloved the ball after the lead off single, DeRosa should have had an easy double play, and Derrek Lee, most surprisingly of all the infielders, booted a can of corn grounder.  Normally, he picks that like a badly congested nose.  Counting the double play as two outs, that's 4 potential outs passed up, and Zambrano had to work for the next 3.  7 outs.  SEVEN!  Unbelievable and unallowable.

Continue reading "Suspending judgment until.... later...."

The pitching is better than expected this year with the surprising success of Ryan Dempster, the mid-season addition of Rich Harden and Chad Gaudin, and the presence of the long-time Cub, Kerry

Continue reading "Team Effort"

rd

3B Aramis Ramirez

CF Jim Edmonds

C Geovany Soto

RF Kosuke Fukudome

SS Ronny Cedeno

P Ryan Dempster 

Bottom 1st Inning ---- Moehler just used his hand to write something in the dirt on the mound before his first pitch. I didn't know the game was at the beach.... Kaz Matsui also thinks it is playtime..... he just slipped and went to his knees on the dirt chasing a groundball... basehit for Fontenot. Boring inning for the Cubs... Fontenot is stranded on first.

Continue reading "LIVE game talk Cubs-Astros 8/4"

CT

(TV:  ESPN/WCIU) 

WRIGLEY FIELD, Chicago, IL 

Pitching Match-Up

Ryan Dempster vs. Brian Moehler

12-4 6-4 

2.90 ERA 4.23 ERA

145.2 IP 93.2 IP

126 K's 50 K's

Continue reading "CUBS vs. ASTROS Game Preview -- (Mon. ..."

g around the diamond once or twice to hit all the positions.  First up: ex-closer, neo-starter Ryan Dempster.

Is anyone more valuable to the Chicago Cubs right now than Ryan Dempster

Continue reading "A well-deserved day off"

It has been a while since my last post, which was bitter to say the least. A month and a half later I can hardly find much to complain about when it comes to the Cubs. They look like the best baseball team in the National League right now (obviously their record doesn't disagree), and after a 7-0 homestand this week, my baseball excitement is at its peak. I can't miss a Cubs game anymore. I make a point to try to watch or listen to every game, and I went to two games during the undefeated homestand. They have just been so entertaining to watch. Their play has been solid all around, and their offense has just been hilarious. Geovany Soto has been incredible, and he looks like he is going to be a legitimate NL all star catcher for years to come in the shadow of Mike Piazza.

Continue reading "Cubs Tearing Up the National League"

e sooner then later, but the cubs continue their winning ways at Wrigley Field so far in 2008. Ryan Dempster has looked like a new man this season, other then a few innings where he's comp

Continue reading "Home Sweet Home"

After another game where stranding base-runners has become a common theme, what Lou Piniella had the right words to sum up the Cubs recent slide, "Like I told my guys after the ballgame, make the other team beat you, don't just give it to them," Cubs manager Lou Piniella said. "You play like that and you're going to lose quite a few of them, or most of them. Anyway, it's over with. Done."

Continue reading "Cubs lose 5-3 after having bases-loaded with 1 out"

What a great pick up he turned out to be.

 And props to Ryan Dempster. I would be the first to say that I was pretty pessimistic about him being the number 3 starter, but he's been solid as a rock in his first 3 starts (the 3rd was sketchy, but the wind was blowing straight out). 

Continue reading "Soriano Injures Himself Hopping"

laying baseball in October. 

     While Lou Piniella flirted with moving Ryan Dempster back to the bullpen in the closer role, he will remain between Ted Lilly and Rich Hill in the rotation.

Continue reading "The Scene is Set"

aches sixty degrees in the Windy City.

     The wildcard on the staff is Ryan Dempster who is slated to start the season in the rotation. Now, the Cubs have what appears to be a deap rotation with at least seven starters and that could lead to Dempster returning to the bullpen. The much maligned closer pitched well last year despite having an ERA of 4.73. Dempster saved 28 games out of 31 chances.

Continue reading "It's Closing Time"

this game is going on.  These will also be the stories throughout spring training.

 (1) Ryan Dempster's First Spring Training Start

   It is a role Dempster has not seen in a while. 

Continue reading "What to Watch For"

l live up to the hype by batting .320, hitting 23 homer runs, and driving in 90. 

(4)  Ryan Dempster or Jason Marquis will be traded

  One of them has to go.  Who will it be?  That is hard to say.  After Marquis had a brilliant first half last season, he stumbled in the second half and he is now fighting for his job to stay in the rotation.  After Dempster had an inconsistent year as the Cubs closer, he was bumped from his old job and his now trying to win a spot in the rotation also.  There are two opening spots open, but it will not go to both of them.  The Cubs signed Jon Lieber to a one year deal and it was not just for him to work out in spring training.  Jon Lieber will be in the rotation no matter what.  He does not need to worry about Marquis or Dempster.  Whoever does not get the final spot in the rotation, will be traded.  They will not go to the bullpen because they are not needed there.  I see Dempster winning the spot because Lou would not have forced Dempster to switch if he was not guaranteed a spot in the rotation.

Continue reading "Carlos Zambrano Injured!!!"

Not about bold predictions, as given by Ryan Dempster, who is not sure if he's even going to gain one of the starting positions in the rotation.

It is also not the time to bring in the Tribster's Crane Kenney to talk to the team about the potential sale on the horizon. Regardless of who owns the team this season, the players are going to give it their all, and push to end the drought. They are being payed to play, and that is what they are going to do for any owner. 

Continue reading "Too Many Distractions"

urth place.  It is a season where the impossible turns into the possible.  Just listen to Ryan Dempster of the Chicago Cubs make a bold prediction, “I think we are going to win the World Series. I really do.”  Great, just what a Cubs fans need to hear, another prediction. 

Continue reading "Is this the year of Dreams? Think ..."