Who's on First
Cubs Kicking the Tires on Peña, Berkman

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

The big question at Wrigley Field this year — other than "Will they finally start serving garlic fries?" — is, "Who's going to play first base?" The answer might be Carlos Peña, according to some rumors. Yes, he only hit .196 with Tampa Bay last year. But he also hit 28 homers and won a Gold Glove in 2008. The Cubs are also showing some interest in portly Lance Berkman, who will be 35 and wasn't exactly awesome last year (14 homers and 58 RBIs between the Astros and the Yankees).

MLB Buzz: Carlos Peña could fit on North Side
Chicago Cubs Online: The Cubs call Berkman... and other rumors
Bleacher Nation: Chicago Cubs talking to Lance Berkman

Caught in the Webb?
Cubs Might Be Eying Former Cy Young Winner
So the Cubs' starting rotation is Carlos Zambrano, Ryan Dempster, then... who? Randy Wells? Tom Gorzelanny? Your mom? The team clearly needs a starting pitcher, and the rumor mill says they're looking at Brandon Webb, who was 22-7 two years ago. Other possibilities include Colorado's Jeff Francis and Mariners' perpetually injured lefty Erik Bedard. (They're also checking out outfielder Brad Hawpe.) So there's a pattern: The Cubs are looking at players who were strong but hit a rough patch due to injuries, and are hoping for a comeback.

Cubbies Crib: More damaged goods for the Cubs
Chicago Cubs Online: Cubs interested in Brandon Webb...

A Word for the Defense
Professor: Wrigley Finance Plan a Good One
People were pretty pissed when the Cubs announced they wanted financial help from the state to redo Wrigley Field. "How could the team ask for this money when the state is so poor?" went the standard lament. But a sports economics professor at Loyola University Maryland makes a strong case and says the typical thinking doesn't apply here because the Cubs' moves would help the local economy. "Wrigley is simply unique," Stephen J.K. Walters writes in the Tribune. "The costs of upgrading Wrigley... fall entirely on the Cubs, but the benefits largely flow elsewhere." Interesting.

Crain's: Sports econ professor supports Cubs' case for Wrigley finances
Chicago Tribune: This time it's different

Please, Mr. Postman
Is Kerry Coming Back to Chicago?
Bruce Levine. Chat. Kick out the jams. The longtime baseball reporter said the Cubs have the money to spend, but instead are putting that money into the farm system (which we are totally down with). He also says Soriano at first base simply isn't going to happen, and that Kerry Wood could still come back to the North Side because he and Cubs' GM Jim Hendry have a serious bromance "mutual admiration."

ESPN Chicago: Chat with Bruce Levine

The Boys of Bummer
13 Moments of Cubs Infamy
So you had a nice Thanksgiving, you're rested and ready to start the week... everything is going pretty well. Time to bring yourself back to reality with Agony & Ivy's 13 brutal moments of Cub history. It's definitely for the masochistic Cubs fan — the well-written list includes the Chad Kreuter stolen-hat incident (#13), Lee Elia's tirade (#6), and the collapse of 1969 (#3). We think you can probably guess #1. Go ahead and give it a read, but keep in mind that you probably won't feel like walking on sunshine afterwards.

Agony & Ivy: 13 moments to forget

Looking Back on Larry
Will the Cubs Miss Rothschild? Some Say Yes
Recently departed pitching coach Larry Rothschild had many detractors, but Another Cubs Blog crunches the numbers and finds he was pretty darned good at his job. (Warning: The technical analysis is quite, ummm, technical.) The bottom line is, Rothschild produced strong improvement in many of his pitchers, from Carlos Zambrano and Ted Lilly to Ryan Dempster and Matt Clement. "The Cubs are going to miss Rothschild and we shouldn't expect his replacement to be anywhere near as good," the blog concludes. Yeeesh.

Another Cubs Blog: Larry Rothschild's impact

Bruce Miles says Cubs' minor-league pitching coordinator Mark Riggins is the favorite to replace departing pitching coaching Larry Rothschild... Four minor leaguers, including future Cy Young winner Chris Archer, were added to the 40-man roster... Maybe Felix Pie couldn't live up to his phenom status, but the dude definitely throws an All-Star caliber tantrum... The Dempster Family Foundation will hold an all-you-can-eat (and drink) pizza party fundraiser Dec. 10 from 6-10 p.m. at Chicago's D'Agostino's, 1351 W. Addison. Tickets are $100 for adults, $50 for kids 12 and younger... Actor Leslie Nielsen passed away Sunday, but we'll always have his classic turn as an ump in "The Naked Gun."

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