http://www.yardbarker.com/rss/player/369 Recent articles about Derrek Lee en-us More photos » by Matt Slocum - AP Philadelphia Phillies' Chase Utley shields himself from Ryan Howard's monstrous right palm after Utley hit a three-run home run during the first inning of Game 5 of the Major League Baseball World Series against the New York Yankees Monday, Nov. 2, 2009, in Philadelphia. Howard raised his hand in a slapping motion, quietly warning Utley that those were HIS runs to be driven in! (AP Photo/Matt Sl... Wed, 25 Nov 2009 16:00:02 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/NL_MVP_Retrospective_or_Why_Chase_Utley_Will_Never_Win_Anything_in_His_Lifetime/1632025 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/NL_MVP_Retrospective_or_Why_Chase_Utley_Will_Never_Win_Anything_in_His_Lifetime/1632025 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/NL_MVP_Retrospective_or_Why_Chase_Utley_Will_Never_Win_Anything_in_His_Lifetime/1632025 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/7/a/7acebd16a301345d80c5996ced75aeca61a96236/small/New_York_Yankees_741f.jpg More photos » by Luis Alvarez - AP Browse more photos » Yesterday, I posted an idea regarding a potential free agent signing for a Cubs bench position in 2010. Admittedly, this wasn't the most important possible addition to the roster for next year -- however, the Cubs had a very poor bench in 2009 and I still think Chad Tracy (at the right price) would be a good addition. Today, I'm going to analyze two play... Wed, 25 Nov 2009 09:49:09 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Discussion_Marlon_Byrd_vs_Mike_Cameron/1629737 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Discussion_Marlon_Byrd_vs_Mike_Cameron/1629737 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Discussion_Marlon_Byrd_vs_Mike_Cameron/1629737 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/e/3/e3f12bbed209cdf3aee3f4376af07ac6b8f05155/small/Mike_Cameron_24_312e.jpg 83-78, 2nd Place 7 ½ GBPositional MVP – Derrek Lee - .306/.393/.579 – The underrated Cubs star turned in his usual strong season for a lineup that fell below expectations. At 33 years old Lee just keeps going strong.Cy Young – Ted Lilly – 12-9, 3.10 – This was a tough call as the Cubs featured a strong rotation in 2009. Lilly has really turned himself into a very good pitcher as he’s aged. The primary difference has been a drop of nearly a walk per nine innings since the age of 30. His except... Wed, 25 Nov 2009 05:00:00 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Two_a_Days_Chicago_Cubs/1629002 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Two_a_Days_Chicago_Cubs/1629002 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Two_a_Days_Chicago_Cubs/1629002 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/8/9/8915f23bbf420c8dc4ea3532dd7e691eb2f4478c/small/bf.jpg One of the upsides of downtime during the off-season is the freedom allows for one to stumble upon tidbits and performances they missed throughout the season. Such as this one: Derrek Lee had a .412 wOBA last season. I’m ashamed to admit I missed out on it. Oh, I saw his name on the [...] Tue, 24 Nov 2009 20:52:08 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Honoring_Derrek_Lee/1627339 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Honoring_Derrek_Lee/1627339 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Honoring_Derrek_Lee/1627339 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/8/9/8915f23bbf420c8dc4ea3532dd7e691eb2f4478c/small/bf.jpg Albert Pujols Named NL MVP It was, as it should have been, unanimous. Derrek Lee finished ninth (and got one second-place vote). Tue, 24 Nov 2009 14:47:29 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Albert_Pujols_Named_NL_MVP/1625530 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Albert_Pujols_Named_NL_MVP/1625530 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Albert_Pujols_Named_NL_MVP/1625530 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/1/8/1860285163d6d55ede261eefc1505d1f546bc995/small/Albert_Pujols_Celebrity_4940.jpg More photos » by Chris Carlson - AP Derrek Lee signs autographs in Mesa last spring. Browse more photos » The Cubs announced their spring training schedule today; it includes 15 games at Mesa and 20 on the road -- the road games include the two previously announced games vs. the White Sox in Las Vegas and the two games announced yesterday vs. the Diamondbacks at Chase Field that will end the spring season ... Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:25:26 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/2010_Cubs_Spring_Training_Schedule/1589848 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/2010_Cubs_Spring_Training_Schedule/1589848 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/2010_Cubs_Spring_Training_Schedule/1589848 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/3/c/3c3bf57b0eef185f214a971add2504f6b0dc9088/small/PiratesCubs_b15b.jpg Baseball America has released their Cubs top 10 prospects and Jim Callis will have a chat about it at 1 pm if you’re interested. The Top 10 are: 1. Starlin Castro, ss 2. Brett Jackson, of 3. Josh Vitters, 3b 4. Andrew Cashner, rhp 5. Jay Jackson, rhp 6. Hak-Ju Lee, ss 7. Logan Watkins, 2b 8. Chris Carpenter, rhp 9. Ryan Flaherty, ss/2b/3b 10. D.J. LeMahieu, ss/2b I’m still unsure how Vitters is that high. I’m especially confused to find him higher than Andre... Mon, 16 Nov 2009 11:59:03 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Baseball_America_8217s_Top_10_Cubs_Prospects/1574501 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Baseball_America_8217s_Top_10_Cubs_Prospects/1574501 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Baseball_America_8217s_Top_10_Cubs_Prospects/1574501 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/7/c/7ca7c6a4d8650a332be93c1a7d3371cf819892bd/small/d5.jpg I was thinking recently of who the Braves will trade one of their starting pitchers to since they will be trading one of them this offseason, or so they say. It's obvious that Derek Lowe will be hard to deal due to his contract (although all the experts thought he was a good value last offseason), and the Braves would be crazy to trade either Jair Jurrgens or Tommy Hanson. So Javier Vazquez is the obvious choice. But to who? I say they deal him to the Cubs for Derrek Lee. Both Lee an... Thu, 12 Nov 2009 10:00:52 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/MLB_Trade_Rumors_Derrek_Lee_to_Braves_for_Javier_Vazquez/1550482 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/MLB_Trade_Rumors_Derrek_Lee_to_Braves_for_Javier_Vazquez/1550482 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/MLB_Trade_Rumors_Derrek_Lee_to_Braves_for_Javier_Vazquez/1550482 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/3/c/3c3bf57b0eef185f214a971add2504f6b0dc9088/small/PiratesCubs_b15b.jpg More photos » by Chris Carlson - AP Derrek Lee signs autographs at Ho Ho Kam Park in Mesa. By 2012, the Cubs could be training at a new facility in Mesa. Browse more photos » The good folks at Spring Training Online have broken this story -- I haven't seen it anywhere else -- that Mesa officials returned from a meeting with Cubs management in Chicago with the message that the Cubs do want to stay in Me... Sat, 17 Oct 2009 16:15:26 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Cubs_To_Seek_New_Spring_Training_Complex_In_Mesa/1386975 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Cubs_To_Seek_New_Spring_Training_Complex_In_Mesa/1386975 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Cubs_To_Seek_New_Spring_Training_Complex_In_Mesa/1386975 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/9/3/93779d544372548fa80af378d1ff41f89283a303/small/31.jpg More photos » by Darren Hauck - AP Derrek Lee homers again -- his ninth this month. Browse more photos » Didn't we see this game on Monday? The Cubs started off Tuesday's game in very similar fashion to Monday's, scoring three runs in the first inning on their way to a 7-2 win over the Brewers, their third win in a row. After then matching the three-spot with another one in the second inning... Wed, 23 Sep 2009 08:00:35 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Derrek_Lee_Again_Leads_Cubs_Over_Brewers_7_2/1229045 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Derrek_Lee_Again_Leads_Cubs_Over_Brewers_7_2/1229045 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Derrek_Lee_Again_Leads_Cubs_Over_Brewers_7_2/1229045 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/7/c/7ca7c6a4d8650a332be93c1a7d3371cf819892bd/small/d5.jpg Game One Hundred Forty-Nine - Cubs 10 Brewers 2 WP - Tom Gorzelanny (6-2) LP - Braden Looper (13-7) Save - None According to several reports, the Cubs were very relaxed for one of the few times this season and came out swinging against Braden Looper. The Cubs scored four runs in the first inning highlighted by a two-run single by Derrek Lee and a sacrifice fly RBI in the first big league at bat by Tyler Colvin. The Cubs scored at least one run in five of the nine innings and put the g... Mon, 21 Sep 2009 22:55:41 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Lee_and_Ramirez_Drive_In_a_Win_Cubs_10_Brewers_2/1221250 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Lee_and_Ramirez_Drive_In_a_Win_Cubs_10_Brewers_2/1221250 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Lee_and_Ramirez_Drive_In_a_Win_Cubs_10_Brewers_2/1221250 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/8/9/8915f23bbf420c8dc4ea3532dd7e691eb2f4478c/small/bf.jpg Derrek Lee took a couple of days off to experience the birth of his second child, then returned to the line-up refreshed and blasted two homers in a 5-3 win over the Mets. All such efforts are too little, too late at this point, but it was still cool to see Lee, the Cubs 2009 MVP [...] Sun, 06 Sep 2009 07:24:21 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/D_Lee_Injection/1122881 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/D_Lee_Injection/1122881 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/D_Lee_Injection/1122881 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/3/c/3c3bf57b0eef185f214a971add2504f6b0dc9088/small/PiratesCubs_b15b.jpg by Frank Franklin II - AP Two homers for your new son. Nice game, D-Lee! View full size photo uploaded September 5, 2009 NEW YORK -- Bet you didn't realize exactly how much the Cubs missed Derrek Lee the last two days while he was away for the birth of his second child, and first son, named Dylan. The Cubs welcomed him back and D-Lee sent two homers into the upper reaches of Citi Field -- two of the longer homers h... Sat, 05 Sep 2009 17:00:21 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Welcome_To_The_World_Dylan_Lee_Thanks_For_Sending_Your_Dad_Back_Derrek_Lee_Homers_Twice_In_5_3_Cubs_Win/1120355 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Welcome_To_The_World_Dylan_Lee_Thanks_For_Sending_Your_Dad_Back_Derrek_Lee_Homers_Twice_In_5_3_Cubs_Win/1120355 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Welcome_To_The_World_Dylan_Lee_Thanks_For_Sending_Your_Dad_Back_Derrek_Lee_Homers_Twice_In_5_3_Cubs_Win/1120355 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/7/c/7ca7c6a4d8650a332be93c1a7d3371cf819892bd/small/d5.jpg Derrek Lee is out of the Cubs‘ line-up for Thursday’s make-up game against the White Sox, but it’s okay, he has a good excuse: His wife just gave birth to their second child. Derrek has to do the family thing right now, and I’m cool with that.  I just hope that, in future, any more Lee children [...] Thu, 03 Sep 2009 12:55:25 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Nice_Timing_Kid/1105534 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Nice_Timing_Kid/1105534 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Nice_Timing_Kid/1105534 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/7/c/7ca7c6a4d8650a332be93c1a7d3371cf819892bd/small/d5.jpg Derrek Lee has often seemed like the only Cub who still knows what to do with a bat.  On Thursday, Lee kicked his sometimes one-man-gang-like season up yet another notch by blasting a pair of homers off the Brewers - a 3-run shot and a grand slam - leading the Cubs to a 9-5 rout [...] Fri, 03 Jul 2009 06:50:39 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Derrek_Lee_Pounds_Brewers_into_Submission/767141 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Derrek_Lee_Pounds_Brewers_into_Submission/767141 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Derrek_Lee_Pounds_Brewers_into_Submission/767141 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/8/9/8915f23bbf420c8dc4ea3532dd7e691eb2f4478c/small/bf.jpg