So long Big Z, you were my boy, but the Cubs had no choice but to put you down like Old Yeller

According to reports, the Cubs have traded former star pitcher Carlos Zambrano, better known as the Big Z, to the Miami Marlins. The Cubs will absorb $15.5 million of the $18 million owed to Zambrano for the 2012 season. In return the Cubs receive 25-year-old Chris Volstad, a former first round pick who is arbitration eligible and under team control through 2014.

Yes, it would have been nice to receive a larger amount of salary relief in this deal. In fact, that seemed to be the whole point of trading Big Z. However, the Cubs made their current and future team better by receiving a major league quality starter in return who has his best years ahead of him.

Sadly, Z's best days are well in the rear view mirror. Volstad, on the other hand, has shown signs of improvement over the past three seasons despite what his bloated 4.59 career ERA may suggest. In addition to posting a career best xFIP of 3.64 in 2011, Volstad has steadily dropped his walks per nine innings after debuting with the Marlins in 2008:

• 2008 - 3.84 BB/9
• 2009 - 3.34 BB/9
• 2010 - 3.09 BB/9
• 2011 - 2.66 BB/9

Volstad's improved control is paired with a high rate of ground balls and a strikeout rate that has hovered around 6 K/9 but peaked at 6.36 k/9 in 2011. His ground ball profile fits quaint Wrigley Field nicely and Volstad's progressively improving K/BB ratio bodes well for his future.

Incredibly, Volstad is an even bigger dude than Zambrano, sporting a 6' 8" 233 lb frame. It seems a player with that kind of height may take a few years to perfect his delivery and improve his command. This is exactly what the Cubs witnessed with 6' 7" Sean Marshall who developed into the best left handed reliever in the league after struggling initially in the majors.

I loved the Big Z. I still do love Z and wish him well with Ozzie Guillen in Miami. From his incredible 2003 rookie season nearly powering the Cubs to their first World Series in decades, to the Gatorade cooler desolation and finally the epic moment when Zambrano threw the home plate umpire out of the game. There never was a dull moment with Carlos Zambrano and I will still proudly wear his jersey. However, this trade was necessary and improves the Cubs both in 2012 and moving forward.

Theo, you've done it again. I will sit back and enjoy the rest of your tenure with the Cubs. This is going to be fun.

Favorite Songs of 2011

Yeah, it is a little late for this list, and I am very interested to hear what 2012 has to offer. There were some impressively catchy songs released this year, but the offering as a whole was a little lacking in depth compared to previous years. A songs list is also just so difficult to finalize because songs are constantly being shifted. Really, a list like this should probably never be made, as music is meant to fit certain moods with one song sounding amazing in a certain setting, and out of place in another. For some reason though, year end lists seem to be built into our DNA. They're also just fun to make. So without any more rambling, here are my favorite songs of 2011.

1. Radiohead – Separator
2. Cut Copy – Need You Now
3. M83 – Steve McQueen
4. Washed Out – Amor Fati
5. Unknown Mortal Orchestra – How Can You Luv Me?
6. M83 – Midnight City
7. Panda Bear – Slow Motion
8. Cut Copy – Take Me Over
9. The War On Drugs – Come to the City
10. Yuck – Operation
11. The Antlers – No Widows
12. Hooray For Earth – Sails
13. Panda Bear – Alsatian Darn
14. Phantogram – Make a Fist
15. Radiohead – Codex
16. Gold Panda – Marriage (Star Slinger Remix)
17. 1, 2, 3 – Riding Coach
18. Cults – You Know What I Mean
19. Blood Diamonds – Grins
20. Twin Sister – Bad Street

Why I love Brandon Morrow moving forward

The former fifth overall pick of the 2006 draft, Brandon Morrow has not exactly delivered on the promise of his 2010 season thus far. His underlying statistics, however, tell a different story.

Terrible Headline of the Day

It's not easy to criticize a headline, because as soon as one does then his or her own headlines are under scrutiny. For me this really does not matter. I don't worry too much about headlines because I assume no one actually reads this blog. So whenever I see a terrible headline, I'm going to share it.

Today's headline comes from MLB.com:

''Gonzalez: Tight races could portend close finishes''

Not only is this brain dead obvious, it's insulting.

Can Brett Lawrie be the next David Wright?

It sure looks like it. Then again I thought Gordon Beckham was the next Chase Utley...

A look into the strange season of Aramis Ramirez

After a goofy, unlucky season last year, Aramis Ramirez is leaving fans scratching their heads again in 2011.

Samuel Babson: the one that got away

Only the Cubs can manage to look bad on a trade this early into the season, based on the performance of a throw-in fifth outfielder by the name of Samuel Babson Fuld. Luckily for fantasy owners, Fuld may provide some solid value.