RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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See the full story · 1 sourcesCHICAGO, IL - OCTOBER 15: Former Major League Baseball player Rick Sutcliffe throws out the first pitch prior to game one of the National League Championship Series between the Chicago Cubs and the Los Angeles Dodgers at Wrigley Field on October 15, 2016 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It’s Wednesday here at BCB After Dark: the coolest spot for night owls, early risers, new parents and Cubs fans abroad. Come on in out of the heat. It’s nice and cool in here. We’re all in a good mood. We’re glad for you to join the merriment. There’s no cover charge. Bring your own beverage.
BCB After Dark is the place for you to talk baseball, music, movies, or anything else you need to get off your chest, as long as it is within the rules of the site. The late-nighters are encouraged to get the party started, but everyone else is invited to join in as you wake up the next morning and into the afternoon.
Last night I asked you if you thought that Ryan Zeferjahn would get the most saves for the Cubs through the end of the season. Fully 69 percent of you were impressed enough with the Cubs’ new reliever with the atomic sweeper to say yes.
On Wednesday nights, I usually play some music and talk about movies for a while. But in case you haven’t noticed, I’ve been writing a lot of articles for the site over the past week. I’m also battling some mild stomach discomfort and 108 degree temperatures. (Outside. Not body temperature.) So I think I’m going to beg off the movie stuff tonight. You’re free to talk about any movies or TV shows you want in the comments. If you want to talk about the new Zendaya/Tom Holland/Jon Bernthal blockbuster and make sure we don’t know which film you’re talking about, you can. If you want to talk about whether Zendaya and Tom Holland are the Lunts of our time, you can. But I’m not going to prompt you.
But I think I can find some music for you in the meantime.
Tonight we have bassist and vocalist Esperanza Spalding playing “I Can’t Help It” at the North Sea Jazz Festival in 2011. Joining Spalding are Leala Cyr (backing vocals); Sara Caswell (violin); Olivia de Prato (viola); Jody Redhage (cello); Leonardo Genovese (piano); Richie Barshay (drums).
Welcome back to everyone who skips the music.
Tonight I’m going to ask you what was the best Trade Deadline acquisition in Cubs’ history? Certainly time will tell on the players the Cubs got on Monday, but here are some of the most historic Trade Deadline pickups in Cubs history.
Here are some possibilities.
1945—Pitcher Hank Bowory
I wasn’t going to include Bowory because I’d be surprised if any of you remember him, but the Cubs got Bowory from the Yankees on July 27, 1945 for cash. Bowory went 11-2 with a 2.13 ERA as the Cubs won their last pennant until 2016. If manager Charlie Grimm hadn’t tried to pitch him three times in three games over four days in the World Series, the Cubs’ might have beaten the Tigers.
1984—Pitcher Rick Sutcliffe, catcher Ron Hassey and pitcher George Frazier for outfielders Mell Hall, Joe Carter and pitcher Don Schulte.
This is the one that many of you remember. Sutcliffe went 16-1 with a 2.69 ERA the rest of the way as the Cubs made the postseason for the first time since 1945. Sutcliffe won the Cy Young Award. Hassey hit .333/.405/.515 as Jody Davis’ backup. Frazier became a punching bag for Cubs fans in ‘85 and ‘86, but he was a decent but unspectacular middle reliever in 1984.
2003—Third baseman Aramis Ramírez and outfielder Kenny Lofton for José Hernandez and Bobby Hill.
This one is big because Ramírez wasn’t just a rental, although Lofton was. Ramírez became a fan favorite for the Cubs for nine seasons and hit .259/.314/.491 with 15 home runs the rest of the way in 2003. Lofton, who should be in the Hall of Fame, hit .327/.381/.471 the rest of the way and filled in center field for the injured Corey Patterson. I don’t need to tell you how this season ended, but the Cubs came extremely close to winning the pennant in 2003.
2008—Pitcher Rich Harden and pitcher Chad Gaudin for Sean Gallagher, Matt Murton, Eric Patterson and Josh Donaldson.
I almost didn’t include this one because the Cubs gave up Donaldson, who honestly was the third piece in this deal at the time and nobody thought much about him. But Harden was excellent in ‘08 as the Cubs went to the postseason in back-to-back years for the first time since 1906 to 1908. Harden went 5-1 with a 1.77 ERA in 12 starts. Gaudin kind of laid an egg with the Cubs and the entire team sputtered out when they got swept by the Dodgers in the NL Division Series. Harden started and lost game three.
2016—Pitcher Aroldis Chapman for infielder Gleyber Torres , outfielder Billy McKinney and pitcher Adam Warren .
You can argue this is the move that put the Cubs over the top in 2016 and won their first title in 108 years. Chapman went 1-1 with 16 saves and a 1.01 ERA the rest of the way. He also pitched his heart out in the playoffs as manager Joe Maddon ran him out to the mound like a rented mule. He did give up that home run to Rajai Davis in Game 7, but man, he gutted through the ninth inning despite obviously being gassed. He kept the score tied until the rains came and the Cubs could win it all in the 10th.
So what was the greatest deadline trade in Cubs’ history?
Thank you for stopping by tonight. We’re sorry we opened so late, but we had an issue in the kitchen. Please get home safely. Recycle any cans and bottles. Tip your waitstaff. And join us again tomorrow night for more BCB After Dark.
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