Cubs off the Mark again: DeRosa trade to Cardinals pretty much summed up by Ryan Theriot: 'It sucks'

CUBS | DeRosa trade to Cards pretty much summed up by Theriot: 'It sucks'

June 29, 2009

As if Cubs teammates and fans weren't still mourning last winter's trade of Mark DeRosa to Cleveland, now they'll have to beat the popular run producer if they want to win the National League Central again -- this after passing on a chance to reacquire him earlier this month.

And in their first game after seeing their ex-teammate get traded to the archrival St. Louis Cardinals late Saturday night, the Cubs managed only four hits in a shutout loss that poked at the sore spots of those who say he would have made a difference in the sagging offense (never mind the fact that a half-dozen Cubs hitters have underachieved).

''I think it sucks, of course,'' shortstop Ryan Theriot said of DeRosa being traded for right-handed reliever Chris Perez. ''I mean, he's going to the Cardinals. What do you want me to say? That it's good? That I'm glad, I'm happy for him, he's going to our division contender?

''I know the type of player he is and what he brings to the ballclub. So, yeah, obviously, I don't want him in our division, much less a team like the Cardinals.''

If DeRosa -- whose 50 RBI are 11 more than any Cub -- reaches the playoffs with the Cardinals at the Cubs' expense, the sting figures to cut deeper with the knowledge the Indians contacted the Cubs a few weeks ago to gauge the Cubs' interest in reacquiring him.

''I got shocked when they traded him in the offseason because he's a great player and he fit good on this team,'' Cubs leadoff man Alfonso Soriano said, ''and I don't know why they traded him. But I wish him the best -- but against us, nothing.''

According to one source, Cleveland expressed interest in lefty Sean Marshall, who has been a major -- if unsung -- part of the Cubs' staff the last two seasons as a swingman. Whether DeRosa could have been had for another pitcher or package of players, the Cubs clearly weren't ready to be as aggressive as the Cardinals.

''I wonder how our fans feel about that one?'' Marshall said of DeRosa landing with the Redbirds. ''As long as he plays the way he did against us last weekend [1-for-7 in a Cubs' sweep], we're good -- just kidding.''

Marshall was one of several players who said they would like to have seen DeRosa return to finish the season in Chicago.

''He's a great guy, a great teammate, a great player,'' Marshall said. ''We liked him a lot around here. There was a good clubhouse atmosphere with him here. We have that this year, too. It's just, he was a lot of fun.

''I guess you can't always get what you want.''

Manager Lou Piniella acknowledged the lift the Cardinals might get from a player like DeRosa but stopped short of saying DeRosa -- or anyone else -- has been on his wish list for a midseason acquisition.

''We need to get [Aramis] Ramirez back in the lineup,'' he said. ''That would be almost like a trade for us, for a bat. We get him in the lineup, and a few of our guys start swinging it a little better, we go.''

Until then, the Cubs watch the loss of DeRosa last winter get compounded by his return to the wrong team in what might have been the right division.

But at least one Cub looks at a regained opportunity -- however tongue in cheek.

''Revenge,'' said pitcher Ted Lilly, a close friend of DeRosa's, who missed a chance at facing his ex-teammate at Wrigley because of a bruise caused by a Cubs bullpen phone that kept DeRosa out of the lineup that day.

Assuming Lilly gets a start in the Cards' four-game series at Wrigley just before the All-Star break, he'll get his long awaited shot at atonement for DeRosa's home-run-derby day against Lilly late in spring training.

''Definitely looking forward to that,'' Lilly said.

As for watching DeRosa go to St. Louis instead of returning to the Cubs, Lilly added, ''There's no doubt in my mind that he's a player that makes your team better on and off the field. And I can't see how he would do anything but help the club that he's on now.''

Said pitcher Ryan Dempster: ''The Cardinals are lucky to have him. I'm sure he'll have a good time over there and be appreciated over there. That's for sure. ...

''Maybe I'll dart him up with a fastball right in the ribs -- or in the leg where the phone got him.''