This week on the podcast, Jon and I are pleased to welcome Joe Aiello of the Big League Baseball Report and The View from the Bleachers. Joe is a die-hard Cubs fan, and he has high expectations for the 2007 season.After not seeing any blockbuster moves in the NLC outside of Chicago-land, Joe predicts 95 wins for the baby bears in 2007, 29 more than they enjoyed in 2006. He has a point about the lack of moves, but do Alfonso Soriano and Jason Marquis really equal a 44% increase in wins? I think Marquis alone is a negative percentage.

You’ll have to listen and judge for yourself. Thanks to Joe for agreeing to be on the show.

Episode 44: Cubs Preview with Joe Aiello (14.5 MB, 21:05)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

The Reds have re-signed injured pitcher Eddie Guardado. From Reds.com:

The club signed injured closer Eddie Guardado to a Minor League contract on Sunday and invited him to big-league camp at Spring Training.
…
Guardado will earn a $500,000 base salary if retained on the Major League roster. The lefty can earn a $1.4 million roster bonus if he's healthy and is the Reds' closer before the All-Star break. An additional $1.2 million bonus can be earned if he finishes 30 games in 2007.

There is also a $3 million club option for 2008 with no buyout clause included. Bonuses Guardado earns in 2007 can be added to the figure of his 2008 base salary, which could increase the total to $7 million.

Typically I'm not a fan of signing injured players (what's the status on the Majewski grievance again?), but I'm not hating bringing Guardado back aboard. He was awesome for the ten minutes the Reds had him before he got injured. I'd love for the Reds to be in a position to pay him $7 million in 2008.

C. Trent has some quotes from General Manager Wayne Krivsky:

“I’m not into the prediction business, but he’ll be ready at some point in the year,” Krivsky said. “Hopefully when he comes back, he’s healthy.”

And hopefully when he's healthy, he's good. We've got enough bad injured pitchers already, thanks.

C. Trent knows it all. Today, he shares some happy news:

Congrats to David and Hyla Ross on the birth of their daughter, Landri Brook Ross, born today. She was 6 pounds, 10 ounces.

Landri Brook, huh? Woulda gone with “Diana” myself.

C. Trent knows it all. Today, he shares some happy news:

Congrats to David and Hyla Ross on the birth of their daughter, Landri Brook Ross, born today. She was 6 pounds, 10 ounces.

Landri Brook, huh? Woulda gone with “Diana” myself.

C. Trent knows it all. Today, he shares some happy news about David Ross:

Congrats to David and Hyla Ross on the birth of their daughter, Landri Brook Ross, born today. She was 6 pounds, 10 ounces.

Landri Brook, huh? Woulda gone with “Diana” myself.