Orioles add another ex-Cub flub

Baltimore has officially become the official dumping ground for the Chicago Cubs' failures.

Add Rich Hill to the list after being traded to Andy MacFailure's Orioles for a player to be named later.

Hill went from fantasy phenom in 2007 as won 11 games and racked up 183 strikeouts to all out flop in 2008 when he struggled with his control as he channeled his inner Rick Ankiel. Hill was so bad in his five starts in Chicago last season, Jason Marquis looked like a viable fifth starter.

But more about Baltimore, now officially known as Chicago-East.

What is Fibber MacFail's obsession with former Cubs? He did all he could do to handcuff the North Siders in his era of sweatervests and large profits. He lied to the fans about making money, crying poor, then telling the suits at Tribune Tower for a lower payroll because he felt the Cubs could compete without spending in the free agent market.

Would you have rather had over-the-hill Todd Hundley and Kevin Tapani or the in their-prime-versions of Mike Piazza and Randy Johnson?

Just wondering.

He promised that payroll wouldn't keep the Cubs from competing. And to a point, he was correct. But it was the lack of payroll that kept the Cubs from winning.

And now he's doing the same in Baltimore. Cheap, cheaper and cheapest as he stockpiles outcasted Cubs with "potential." It started with Sammy Sosa and then Corey Patterson and Felix Pie followed.

Now Rich Hill is Baltimore's problem.

As for Jim Hendry, because he's not in the clear yet, you've got some explaining to do.

Want to know the buried lead in this story?

The proposed package for lead-off man/second baseman Brian Roberts: Hill, Pie, Ronny Cedeno and Jose Ceda has brought Aaron Heilman, Kevin Gregg and PTNBL.

Well done, Jim. Well done.

0 comments: