Nine weeks after it became apparent that the Wade Miller experiment was over, the Wade Miller experiment is over. The Cubs designated him for assignment on Monday. He ends up with $3M for 35 innings of work.

Ryan Dempster, who was initially supposed to be ready yesterday, and then today, was feeling his strained left oblique even when jogging, was placed on the 15-day disabled list today. To take his spot, the Cubs purchased the contract of their 2002 3rd round draft pick, Billy Petrick, 23, from double-A Tennessee. To make room for Petrick on the 40-man roster, the Cubs placed Wade Miller on the 60-day disabled list.

Last Saturday night, in the Iowa Cubs' 19-4 loss to New Orleans, player/coach Mike Mahoney got to try his hand at pitching. Not only did he prevent Jake Gautreau from getting his seventh hit of the night, but he outthrew Wade Miller, reports the Des Moines Register: "[H]is fastball was clocked at 84 mph, according to the radar gun behind home plate. Wade Miller's fastball, while rehabbing in Des Moines two weeks ago, topped out at 81."

The Cubs need to decide what to do with Wade Miller. Though he gave up just 1 run in 5 innings in his latest rehab assignment for triple-A Iowa Saturday night, his fastball topped out at 81, reports the Chicago Tribune. The Des Moines Register reports that he was mostly throwing 78mph. There's also no room on the big league staff for Miller. This experiment, unfortunately, did not work out. The Cubs owe Miller $1.5M for this season.

The Cubs have outscored their opponents 58-50 this season, but are only 5-8. That is because, after yesterday's 4-3, 14 inning loss to the San Diego Padres, the Cubs are 0-5 in games decided by 1 or 2 runs.

What really made yesterday's game exciting was a glimpse of the future, Felix Pie. Though just 1-for-6 (and though he saw just 20 pitches in those 6 at-bats), the one hit was a line drive into the left-center gap for a run scoring double. The electricity came in the top of the 10th, though, when he threw a no-hop rope to cut down Russell Branyan at the plate, keeping the game tied. I originally heard the play on the radio. Pat and Ron were resolved that the hit was going to lead to a run. Then Pat's voice level rose. Then the crowd erupted. That jolt of energy obviated any need for some additional afternoon coffee. After seeing the replay on MLB.TV later last night, it was impressive to note how quickly Pie closed on the ball before he picked it up.

Our Lord may have risen from the grave, but the Cubs couldn't rise from the four runs Wade Miller allowed in the 2nd inning today, including home runs by Gabe Gross and Geoff Jenkins. And if I had a dime for each time the Cubs have been beaten by a soft-tossing lefty....

Today was Chris Capuano's turn. Capuano is now 8-2 against the Cubs since the beginning of 2004.

The Chicago Cubs today announced that right-handed pitcher Wade Miller has re-signed with the Cubs for the 2007 season. No word on the amount yet. The AP says that Miller "is expected to compete for the fifth spot in the rotation next year." Miller has pitched only four games in relief in his career, and that was when he was a rookie in 1999. So this isn't a Glendon Rusch type signing, where he will fit in where necessary. Miller will undoubtedly be in the rotation unless his arm falls off during spring training, giving the Cubs, who also have Carlos Zambrano and Rich Hill lined up, three of its five starters. Rusch, by the way, is still on the 40-man roster and will earn $3.3M next season, though no one knows when or if he'll be able to play again.

UPDATE (11/11/2006): Miller gets $1.5M, with performance incentives that could push the total to $5.25M.

(Courtesy of The Sports Xchange) One of the duties of new Cubs bench coach Alan Trammell is to work with the infield.

The four-time Gold Glove-winning shortstop, who helped turn 1,321 double plays in his career, is looking forward to his duties with an infield that has two Gold Glove players and a pair of question marks.

First baseman Derrek Lee and shortstop Cesar Izturis are former Gold Glove winners whose 2006 seasons were shortened because of injuries.

(Courtesy of The Sports Xchange) Aramis Ramirez is not looking back. He is looking ahead.

Ramirez opened a three-game series at Philadelphia on Monday night with a two-homer, seven-RBI night, bringing his season totals to 35 homers and 110 RBIs.

Those numbers are respectable, and with an "out" clause in his four-year contract this winter, he could find some huge money on the free agent market.