Making the Grade
Evaluating this Season's Cubs from A-F

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

What grade would you give this year's Cubs? (Come on, we know "F" was the first letter out of your mouth — and not necessarily as a grade.) But Bleed Cubbie Blue tries to be a little more objective and rates everyone in the organization, from Jim Hendry (C-) to Lou Piniella (D-) to Ryan Dempster (B+) to Casey Coleman (B-). The blog seems to be done with Jeff Samardzija, who gets D- and the comment "enough already." But what grade did the team get overall?

Bleed Cubbie Blue: How did they do? 2010 Cubs report card

Waiting for Joe
Cubs Hold Out for Chance to Interview Girardi
There's still one wild card in the Cubs' managerial search: former Cub Joe Girardi. Assuming the job isn't Mike Quade's for the asking, would Girardi leave the Yankees for the North Side? Probably not, according to the Tribune. Phil Rogers asked a dozen people with the Yankees, and not one said there was a 50 percent chance Girardi would leave New York. One source said St. Louis was more likely, and noted Girardi probably wanted a "Godfather" — i.e., someone in the front office to watch out for him. He might not have one here.

Chicago Tribune: Girardi a long shot, but Cubs seem ready to wait

Quotes, Quibbles, and Questions
What the Cubs Said and the Job Ahead
All sorts of questions face the Cubs this offseason, and the Sun-Times runs down some of them. For starters, will Joe Girardi make himself available for the Cubs' job? If not, is it a given that Mike Quade gets the gig? And how much money will Jim Hendry have to work with? The paper also runs several quotes from throughout the season, including "We're going to the playoffs" (Marlon Byrd, May 17), and "We try to hide the crazy" (Alfonso Soriano). The paper also gives out awards, and team MVP goes to... Sean Marshall? Really?

Chicago Sun-Times: Highlights, questions, and Quade

Chat Room
Bruce Levine Dishes on This, That, and the Other
We've been wishin' and hopin' the Cubs could hire Ryne Sandberg as manager, and keep Quade as bench coach. ESPN's Bruce Levine says that ain't gonna happen. "If Quade is manager, Sandberg is not on the coaching staff — no way, no how — and vice-versa," he says in yesterday's chat. Damn. Also, he suggests trading Carlos Marmol to the Yankees for Joba Chamberlain, Jesus Montero, and Brett Gardner. But Montero is a catcher, so what about Geovany Soto? He also says stars don't want to play for here because of the day/night game scheduling.

ESPN Chicago: Chat with Bruce Levine

Same As It Ever Was
Contracts Mean 2011 Cubs Will Be Largely Unchanged
If money weren't a consideration, you'd probably see Carl Crawford roaming centerfield and Cliff Lee taking the hill next season. Alas, several Cubs have big-time contracts, so change will have to come from the big-money players who will definitely be here, starting with Aramis Ramirez and Carlos Zambrano. Both had brutal first halves and strong second halves, so the Cubs can only hope they'll put it all together. "It's wonderful to have a bunch of young guys," Mike Quade said. "But nine times out of 10 you better have some stalwarts."

CSN Chicago: Your 2011 Cubs begin with Ramirez, Zambrano

Keep on Truckin'
No Rest for Cubs Fan Report
The season's almost over, but we're not calling it a day. Cubs Fan Report will keep sending updates this offseason — expect one or two emails per week of Cub-related goodness. We'll definitely publish when there are big events — the announcement of the new manager, Cubs Convention, Carlos Zambrano winning Humanitarian of the Year. So stick around and cross your fingers for some big offseason moves. Go Cubs!

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It's official: Ex-Cub Matt Murton broke Ichiro Suzuki's Japanese League hit record... Looks like bench coach Alan Trammell could be headed to Arizona... Feel like getting in an internet battle with some White Sox fans? ... Want to get in on the Fan Report action? We're looking to fill a few positions.

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