I don't get it. I really don't. I heard it. I saw it. I don't get it.
What did Zambrano do to get a suspension? I heard it on the radio, and heard post game comments, so I was intrigued. I DVR'd the replay of the game last night. I watched it this morning and what I saw wasn't even close to the way I heard it described. From what it looked like, Zambrano stomped back into the dugout, yelling out loud at no one. Then, DLee looked like he shouted something and Zambrano came back and shouted back at him. At some point in there, he threw over a water cooler.
So, uhhhh, what's the problem? That's not even the worst thing he's done this (calendar) year. There's a certain Gatorade dispenser residing in a VA hospital right now that can attest to that. So, um, why the hell is he suspended? Sure he's sucked on the mound, but that's not unique to this season. Sure he was volatile and uncontrollable, but that's not new.
Now don't get me wrong, I don't agree with what he did. And, I don't know what he said to Lee. Maybe he said "C'mon you monkey funky! Get's get at it right here mammer jammer! You're daddy was a troll and your mother smelled of Elderberries!" in which case, ok, you send him home. Zambrano even came back out into the dugout and was ready to pitch the next inning. He sat not 6 feet away from Derrek Lee for several minutes. They didn't look mad at each other.
What it seems to boil down to is, Lou is sick of Z and wants him gone. Jimmy took the opportunity to suspend him to make him want to waive his no trade clause so Jimmy can pay 85% of his salary to go pitch for the Angels, or wherever. Zambrano is the new Stevie Eyre. Welcome to the Lou hates you Club. Last time Jim was forced to dump baggage of behalf of Lou, that baggage got a ring. Just sayin'.
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Good night, Sweet Lou, well it's time to go....
I'm kicking myself for not being able to find Lou's comments yesterday that money has to play. I heard it last night on the radio and can't find it in print. Gar. Moving on -
A caller to WSOX on Tuesday made the same argument to Dork and Dipsh*t that I've been making - Lou if you don't know what else to do, it's time to go away. Of course since they did not agree with the caller, Boers and Bernie proceeded to constantly ask "What do you want him to do?" "What do you want him to do that he hasn't already done?" And the caller rightly responded - "It doesn't matter what I want him to do." But he forgot to finish the thought.
Lou is the captain of a sinking ship. There's really nothing that can be done, except to inspire confidence that something will happen. We don't all want to sit around and wait for a freakin' priest to stand up and lead us to the bottom of the boat. We want you to have a plan. We want you to stand up in front of the microphone and say "We're going to be implementing new strategies to maximize....whatever."
When you go in front of millions of people and say "If we can't hit the ball, we're not going to win" then that sends a "you're not good enough" message to the team, and that is never a message you can send. Because then, you've given up and you're counting the days until tee time. My advice is to stop counting and just go f*cking play golf.
A caller to WSOX on Tuesday made the same argument to Dork and Dipsh*t that I've been making - Lou if you don't know what else to do, it's time to go away. Of course since they did not agree with the caller, Boers and Bernie proceeded to constantly ask "What do you want him to do?" "What do you want him to do that he hasn't already done?" And the caller rightly responded - "It doesn't matter what I want him to do." But he forgot to finish the thought.
Lou is the captain of a sinking ship. There's really nothing that can be done, except to inspire confidence that something will happen. We don't all want to sit around and wait for a freakin' priest to stand up and lead us to the bottom of the boat. We want you to have a plan. We want you to stand up in front of the microphone and say "We're going to be implementing new strategies to maximize....whatever."
When you go in front of millions of people and say "If we can't hit the ball, we're not going to win" then that sends a "you're not good enough" message to the team, and that is never a message you can send. Because then, you've given up and you're counting the days until tee time. My advice is to stop counting and just go f*cking play golf.
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
No, Lou. You haven't done Everything. Rated R.
Recently, Lou was quotes saying "I've done everything I can do." Here's my answer to that -
You know what Lou? You haven't done everything you can do. You want to know what else you can do? Sit down players that make butt-fuck shithead errors like Sorry I Suck just did to kill a rally. With 0 outs, Dipshit made a break for home without first making sure the fly ball hit the fucking ground. And then he had the balls to go ask for his glove.
In my world, motherfucker's sitting his ass down. Kosuke can go in and not hit. It's that simple. By not punishing stupid ass dumbfuck shit like this, you're fucking condoning it. Have your players accept some fucking responsibility. You'll still lose the fucking game, but at least you'll have the respect of the fans for doing what should be fucking done.
Soriano had NO BUSINESS going back out on the field after that mother of all fuck ups.
You know what Lou? You haven't done everything you can do. You want to know what else you can do? Sit down players that make butt-fuck shithead errors like Sorry I Suck just did to kill a rally. With 0 outs, Dipshit made a break for home without first making sure the fly ball hit the fucking ground. And then he had the balls to go ask for his glove.
In my world, motherfucker's sitting his ass down. Kosuke can go in and not hit. It's that simple. By not punishing stupid ass dumbfuck shit like this, you're fucking condoning it. Have your players accept some fucking responsibility. You'll still lose the fucking game, but at least you'll have the respect of the fans for doing what should be fucking done.
Soriano had NO BUSINESS going back out on the field after that mother of all fuck ups.
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Here we go again...
Carrie Muskat and Paul Sullivan are both reporting Lou's quote: "We've done everything that I can humanly do to get this thing turned around. That's all I can do."
That's it folks. One of my biggest gripes last year was when Lou, at the beginning of May, started saying "I don't know what to do" "What else can I do?" yadda yadda. You are admitting your own uselessness. IF you're useless, get out of the way. Did wonders for the Rockies. Now, I'm not saying that firing Lou Piniella is the cure for this team. I'm not saying it's his fault. I'm not saying Jesus Sandburg has it in him to win win win. What I am saying is, even on a sinking ship, the masses need a leader to tell us which way to run before we die. There has to be hope. There has to be a solution and you better not rest until you freakin' find it! Or step aside and let the priest lead us to safety. I think I just took that Poseidon Adventure metaphor too far.
Maybe Jim Hendry just doesn't want to be the guy who fired Lou Piniella before he retires. All the more reason he should follow Lou out the door.
That's it folks. One of my biggest gripes last year was when Lou, at the beginning of May, started saying "I don't know what to do" "What else can I do?" yadda yadda. You are admitting your own uselessness. IF you're useless, get out of the way. Did wonders for the Rockies. Now, I'm not saying that firing Lou Piniella is the cure for this team. I'm not saying it's his fault. I'm not saying Jesus Sandburg has it in him to win win win. What I am saying is, even on a sinking ship, the masses need a leader to tell us which way to run before we die. There has to be hope. There has to be a solution and you better not rest until you freakin' find it! Or step aside and let the priest lead us to safety. I think I just took that Poseidon Adventure metaphor too far.
Maybe Jim Hendry just doesn't want to be the guy who fired Lou Piniella before he retires. All the more reason he should follow Lou out the door.
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Reflections on Oakland
Things we know:
- Baseball is a funny game that often makes you want to cry.
- If you commit 2 errors in the same inning - twice - nothing good is going to come from that.
Things we suspect:
- Things have gotten interesting on the North side.
- DLee may have gotten pissed off enough to start hitting.
We're going to be optimistic here, so lets pretend the first game didn't happen. These past two games had an interesting look to them. On Wednesday, the Cubs won in convincing fashion, overcoming an early deficit and tacking on runs throughout the game. On Thursday, the Cubs got a home run in the first, lost the lead, and tied it late, with a walkoff hit in the 9th. The interesting look they had to them was that of 2008, when the Cubs won late, and the Cubs won decisively. Could the Cubs have finally turned a corner this season? Ohh time will tell, and it's far too early to start planning parades. If the Cubs can build off of these two games, the Central Division just got a bit more interesting.
Or maybe the A's are just a sh*tty road team.
- Baseball is a funny game that often makes you want to cry.
- If you commit 2 errors in the same inning - twice - nothing good is going to come from that.
Things we suspect:
- Things have gotten interesting on the North side.
- DLee may have gotten pissed off enough to start hitting.
We're going to be optimistic here, so lets pretend the first game didn't happen. These past two games had an interesting look to them. On Wednesday, the Cubs won in convincing fashion, overcoming an early deficit and tacking on runs throughout the game. On Thursday, the Cubs got a home run in the first, lost the lead, and tied it late, with a walkoff hit in the 9th. The interesting look they had to them was that of 2008, when the Cubs won late, and the Cubs won decisively. Could the Cubs have finally turned a corner this season? Ohh time will tell, and it's far too early to start planning parades. If the Cubs can build off of these two games, the Central Division just got a bit more interesting.
Or maybe the A's are just a sh*tty road team.
Monday, June 14, 2010
Reflections on Chicago, no the other team
Things we know
- Ted Lilly is one BAMF
- It's not ok to bunt for a base hit in the midst of a no hitter regardless of the score. Earn it bitch.
- Joe Morgan continues to defy logic by getting even more stupid every time we see him.
- There's only one cup that matters in this city - It lives on Madison
Things we suspect
- Steve Stone will not be joining Lou for drinks any time soon.
- The only thing that can make a 2010 Cubs/Sox game interesting is dueling no-hitters
- Whoever wins the BP cup will undoubtedly do nasty things to it, but for an entirely different reason that the other Cup.
- The dueling no-no's had more to do with bad offenses than good pitching.
Ok, let's get things out of the way now - Lou, Tyler Colvin needs to play more and everyone seems to know it except you. Deal.
Joe Morgan - who is your player of the game? The guy who took a no hitter into the 9th inning or the closer who walked two guys, loaded the bases, and still manged to get a save despite thimself? Really idiot? And they pay you for that?
The Sox won the series - whoopdeefreakindoo. So have a lot of other teams. If pretending this series means something means you can sleep better at night, undoubtedly with a blood relative, then go ahead Sox fans, gloat. You'll still have a really bad baseball team, and so will we, but we won't be f*cking our cousins.
- Ted Lilly is one BAMF
- It's not ok to bunt for a base hit in the midst of a no hitter regardless of the score. Earn it bitch.
- Joe Morgan continues to defy logic by getting even more stupid every time we see him.
- There's only one cup that matters in this city - It lives on Madison
Things we suspect
- Steve Stone will not be joining Lou for drinks any time soon.
- The only thing that can make a 2010 Cubs/Sox game interesting is dueling no-hitters
- Whoever wins the BP cup will undoubtedly do nasty things to it, but for an entirely different reason that the other Cup.
- The dueling no-no's had more to do with bad offenses than good pitching.
Ok, let's get things out of the way now - Lou, Tyler Colvin needs to play more and everyone seems to know it except you. Deal.
Joe Morgan - who is your player of the game? The guy who took a no hitter into the 9th inning or the closer who walked two guys, loaded the bases, and still manged to get a save despite thimself? Really idiot? And they pay you for that?
The Sox won the series - whoopdeefreakindoo. So have a lot of other teams. If pretending this series means something means you can sleep better at night, undoubtedly with a blood relative, then go ahead Sox fans, gloat. You'll still have a really bad baseball team, and so will we, but we won't be f*cking our cousins.
Friday, June 11, 2010
Reflections On Championships....
A sad, sad fact occurred to me yesterday. I've seen every major sporting franchise in this city win a championship in my memorable lifetime. I remember every team winning. It's not like I was born in 1982 and was physically breathing with no real memory of the event. I was aware and still have memories of every franchise winning a championship except 1....
in 1985, I was 9 years old. I remember mostly the Superbowl shuffle. Yeah. I remember my brother and I actually made a parody video called the cuddle bear shuffle. "I'm the cuddle QB, knows as the huddle. When I'm picked up I love to cuddle." Hey. We were 9 and 12 and used teddy bears...
In the 90's, I was in my late teens. My clearest memory of the championships is driving home from Minnesota one night, we were listening to the finals on the radio and my friend who was driving said "Man, if we didn't have cruise control, we'd be going about 120 right now." The Bulls won that game. He was far more into basketball than I was, but it was still quite a dynasty.
In 2005, I was in my late 20's. I watched every World Series game and heard them win it all on the radio on my way home from watching most of the game at a birthday party in a bar. I remember telling my wife "Half the Sox stuff in here smells like moth balls and the other half still has the tag hanging off of it." At the time, I was supportive of the Sox - even bought a hat that I've never worn. But that was before I remembered what colossal douchebags Sox fans were. Now, I still don't give a rat's ass what the Sox do, except so much as I hope they fail so Sox fans will just shut the f*ck up.
In 2010, I sit, 33 years old. Father of 1.667. The Hawks have won Lord Stanley's Cup. I was a bandwagon jumper, but I'll probably stick around. I'm pretty stoked about all that's happening today - before 1:20 that is. So go Hawks!
Some day, I'll be significantly older than I am right now - or dead - and the Cubs will finally, finally win. They will cease to be the laughingstocks of professional sports and literally make history. How I will feel that day I can only guess at. But however I feel or whatever I do, it will probably not involve teddy bears.
in 1985, I was 9 years old. I remember mostly the Superbowl shuffle. Yeah. I remember my brother and I actually made a parody video called the cuddle bear shuffle. "I'm the cuddle QB, knows as the huddle. When I'm picked up I love to cuddle." Hey. We were 9 and 12 and used teddy bears...
In the 90's, I was in my late teens. My clearest memory of the championships is driving home from Minnesota one night, we were listening to the finals on the radio and my friend who was driving said "Man, if we didn't have cruise control, we'd be going about 120 right now." The Bulls won that game. He was far more into basketball than I was, but it was still quite a dynasty.
In 2005, I was in my late 20's. I watched every World Series game and heard them win it all on the radio on my way home from watching most of the game at a birthday party in a bar. I remember telling my wife "Half the Sox stuff in here smells like moth balls and the other half still has the tag hanging off of it." At the time, I was supportive of the Sox - even bought a hat that I've never worn. But that was before I remembered what colossal douchebags Sox fans were. Now, I still don't give a rat's ass what the Sox do, except so much as I hope they fail so Sox fans will just shut the f*ck up.
In 2010, I sit, 33 years old. Father of 1.667. The Hawks have won Lord Stanley's Cup. I was a bandwagon jumper, but I'll probably stick around. I'm pretty stoked about all that's happening today - before 1:20 that is. So go Hawks!
Some day, I'll be significantly older than I am right now - or dead - and the Cubs will finally, finally win. They will cease to be the laughingstocks of professional sports and literally make history. How I will feel that day I can only guess at. But however I feel or whatever I do, it will probably not involve teddy bears.
Thursday, June 10, 2010
It's Santo's time...
...to retire. Sorry Ronny. Face it. It's time. Rather like your brief stint with the White Sox, when you should've just walked away. You've been ill on each of the last 2 or 3 road trips, necessitating a last-minute replacement, be it the passable Dave Otto, or the utterly miserable Judd.
Ron, you've never belonged in a radio booth. Ever. You've been consistently whiny and prone to over reaction. You've been the monkey to Pat Hughes' accordion. You're old. And you kinda suck. Having said all that, I wish you no ill. I don't want you to be sick and I don't want you to die. I want you to take a dignified step back, and enjoy the games on TV. Heck - stop by every once in a while and remind the world you're still an idiot. But just back off and enjoy a few years of retirement. Kick back. And last, but not least - get the hell off the air waves.
My work and drive time will be better for it. and what that will provide for Sport-sync radio sales, I cannot even imagine.
Ron, you've never belonged in a radio booth. Ever. You've been consistently whiny and prone to over reaction. You've been the monkey to Pat Hughes' accordion. You're old. And you kinda suck. Having said all that, I wish you no ill. I don't want you to be sick and I don't want you to die. I want you to take a dignified step back, and enjoy the games on TV. Heck - stop by every once in a while and remind the world you're still an idiot. But just back off and enjoy a few years of retirement. Kick back. And last, but not least - get the hell off the air waves.
My work and drive time will be better for it. and what that will provide for Sport-sync radio sales, I cannot even imagine.
Thank you Blackhawks!
So, this is a Cubs blog right? Yep. But I think it's no secret that I jumped on the Blackhawks bandwagon last year during their playoff run. Those were some exciting games and I didn't even know what icing was! Then this year, I decided to see if regular season games were as exciting. They were! And I still didn't know what icing was! Now, I'm happy to say, I know what icing is, and I can even follow a game on the radio - without even seeing the puck. Oh my.
I watched many games this year - not all of them. To be honest, if it was overly inconvenient for me to watch a Hawks reg season game, I didn't. I didn't go to the lengths I will typically go to to watch a Cubs game, but I watched/listened to many of them. It was a good time. And now they're the champions. So once again, why am I writing about them in a Cubs blog? Quite simply because the Blackhawks have been the only thing that made this Cubs season anything more than miserable. And now they've won. They're done.
Shit.
Friday, June 4, 2010
Dear Milt, Shut up.
Bawl four: Pappas knows how Tiger feels
Ok, you think you got screwed. We get it. Shut up already. Even two years ago when Zambrano threw his no-hitter and you were asked about it, all you could do was talk and Bruce Freakin' Froemming. Who knew one blog could get so sick of two Cubs named Milt?
But you don't know how he feels. Because in his case, he actually got screwed. In your case, you threw a borderline pitch that could've gone either way. Galarraga had the guy out by 3 feet. You screamed like a 3 year old girl. He smiled. You had to be restrained the next day. He handed the lineup card to the same guy who blew it less than 15 hours before.
You have a lot to learn Milt.
Ok, you think you got screwed. We get it. Shut up already. Even two years ago when Zambrano threw his no-hitter and you were asked about it, all you could do was talk and Bruce Freakin' Froemming. Who knew one blog could get so sick of two Cubs named Milt?
But you don't know how he feels. Because in his case, he actually got screwed. In your case, you threw a borderline pitch that could've gone either way. Galarraga had the guy out by 3 feet. You screamed like a 3 year old girl. He smiled. You had to be restrained the next day. He handed the lineup card to the same guy who blew it less than 15 hours before.
You have a lot to learn Milt.
Thursday, June 3, 2010
A game of inches, or is it yards...
So a lot of you folks heard what happened yesterday-
http://detroit.tigers.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100602&content_id=10727590&vkey=recap&fext=.jsp&c_id=det
But let me tell you something, backaroo. You didn't miss perfection. You saw it. You saw it right here.
This is seconds after destiny told him to "piss off" and slammed the door in his face. Afterward, a FOX reporter told him he was robbed and the call was blown, and this guy just smiled and said, "I hope we keep going like that...I feel really good" Maybe it's denial. Maybe it hadn't set in. I don't know and I won't pretend to know. But it was perfection. It just doesn't go in a record book.
http://detroit.tigers.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100602&content_id=10727590&vkey=recap&fext=.jsp&c_id=det
But let me tell you something, backaroo. You didn't miss perfection. You saw it. You saw it right here.
This is seconds after destiny told him to "piss off" and slammed the door in his face. Afterward, a FOX reporter told him he was robbed and the call was blown, and this guy just smiled and said, "I hope we keep going like that...I feel really good" Maybe it's denial. Maybe it hadn't set in. I don't know and I won't pretend to know. But it was perfection. It just doesn't go in a record book.
Reflections on F$^$%^$ Pittsburgh
Things we know -
- Lou doesn't
- If not for the Pirates, the Cubs would be above .500
- If not for the PIRATES, the Cubs would be above .500
- If not for the fact that the Cubs are playing like lost seahorses, they Cubs would be above .500
Things we suspect -
- Aramis is hurt
- Aramis is F%$^$%^$ HURT!
- Lou doesn't know
- The Pirates are going to make sweet ass love to us when the season is over.
Things Lou doesn't know -
- Apparently anything.
The Pirates continued their feeding frenzy on the Cubs rotting corpse over the last two days. Fortunately, dessert was called on account of rain. The Cubs will undoubtedly allow the Buc-heads to finish the sweep when they play their makeup game on Monday. Or they won't because at this point, it matter less and less. My personal expectations for this team have managed to drop even lower. I now expect nothing from this team, except 3 hours of frustration on a daily basis for the next 4 months. Anything more is a bonus, and anything less is not possible.
- Lou doesn't
- If not for the Pirates, the Cubs would be above .500
- If not for the PIRATES, the Cubs would be above .500
- If not for the fact that the Cubs are playing like lost seahorses, they Cubs would be above .500
Things we suspect -
- Aramis is hurt
- Aramis is F%$^$%^$ HURT!
- Lou doesn't know
- The Pirates are going to make sweet ass love to us when the season is over.
Things Lou doesn't know -
- Apparently anything.
The Pirates continued their feeding frenzy on the Cubs rotting corpse over the last two days. Fortunately, dessert was called on account of rain. The Cubs will undoubtedly allow the Buc-heads to finish the sweep when they play their makeup game on Monday. Or they won't because at this point, it matter less and less. My personal expectations for this team have managed to drop even lower. I now expect nothing from this team, except 3 hours of frustration on a daily basis for the next 4 months. Anything more is a bonus, and anything less is not possible.
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
I don't....I just don't know...
Ok fine Lou, you don't know. You can't seem to figure out what everyone else has been telling you for the past month. Put Ramirez on the DL so he can get his thumb and his head on straight. Moving Lee and Ramirez to 4 and 5 is not a shakeup. Moving them to 7 and 8 is a shakeup. So basically, what you've been showing us of late is - you don't know.
Can you at least try to pretend you know? Can you give it some f*cking effort to give us the illusion that you in fact have all the opposing teams right where you want them? Can you not bring in MArmol in the 8th when you're down a run?
Benching Theriot, Lee, Ramirez and Soto was the right move. Why you played Fuk over Byrd - that's up for some debate. Byrd - a-f*cking-mazingly has been your most consistent hitter this season. Lee I firmly believe will start hitting within the next 2 weeks. The rest could all use a day off, except Ramirez. He needs 2 weeks off. Give it to him. Don't tell us you don't f*cking know.
P.S. This post will serve as a Reflections on St. Louis post too, so yeah.
Can you at least try to pretend you know? Can you give it some f*cking effort to give us the illusion that you in fact have all the opposing teams right where you want them? Can you not bring in MArmol in the 8th when you're down a run?
Benching Theriot, Lee, Ramirez and Soto was the right move. Why you played Fuk over Byrd - that's up for some debate. Byrd - a-f*cking-mazingly has been your most consistent hitter this season. Lee I firmly believe will start hitting within the next 2 weeks. The rest could all use a day off, except Ramirez. He needs 2 weeks off. Give it to him. Don't tell us you don't f*cking know.
P.S. This post will serve as a Reflections on St. Louis post too, so yeah.
Friday, May 28, 2010
How far is too far outside the box?
So Gorzelanny pooped his pants on his last bid to stay in the rotation with the second coming of Z. So the decision has to be easy on who to kick out right?
Dempster has been the best starter the Cubs have the last 3 years.
Lilly has been the most consistent start the Cubs have in the last 3 years
Wells is a kid who is on a freakin' roll and you don't want to upset that apple cart
Silva - Yes, that would be Carlos freaking Silva - is 6-0 and you have to be a colossal idiot to screw that up.
The bullpen has been one of the Cubs' greatest weaknesses. So, this is a job for....Dum dum dum....Zambranalanny!
Think about it. Our 5th starter could be Zambranalanny. Zambrano and Gorzy start each 5th game, one pitching the first 5 innings - to get the win, and the other to pitch the last 4 - to get the save. Day off for the bullpen! And they could switch - the first time Z pitches 5, then Gorzy closes, then Gorzy starts. You get the idea. It'd be so much fun to say Zambranalanny every 5th day. Or Gorzambrano depending on which day it is... Good times.
Dempster has been the best starter the Cubs have the last 3 years.
Lilly has been the most consistent start the Cubs have in the last 3 years
Wells is a kid who is on a freakin' roll and you don't want to upset that apple cart
Silva - Yes, that would be Carlos freaking Silva - is 6-0 and you have to be a colossal idiot to screw that up.
The bullpen has been one of the Cubs' greatest weaknesses. So, this is a job for....Dum dum dum....Zambranalanny!
Think about it. Our 5th starter could be Zambranalanny. Zambrano and Gorzy start each 5th game, one pitching the first 5 innings - to get the win, and the other to pitch the last 4 - to get the save. Day off for the bullpen! And they could switch - the first time Z pitches 5, then Gorzy closes, then Gorzy starts. You get the idea. It'd be so much fun to say Zambranalanny every 5th day. Or Gorzambrano depending on which day it is... Good times.
Reflections on Firsties
Things we know
- OUR Xavier can play right unlike some other teams
- The Rangers didn't win that first game so much as the Cubs lost it
- It's far more exciting to strike out a cheating head-inflater than it is to win a ballgame
Thing we suspect
- Losing 8-5 isn't so bad since a month ago they would've lost 8-1
- Maybe this 1-run game thing isn't such a problem after all
- Reed Johnson is no better on another team
- Tylermania! needs more playing time.
The Cubs hit the "tough" part of their schedule with a sledgehammer. The story has predominantly been the pitching, with one notable exception. The Cubs have scored 44 runs over their last 11 games, so they ain't exactly hitting the cover off the ball, but they are also 8-3 during that same stretch. D-Lee is starting to pick it up - a bit - while A-Ram is steadfastly refusing to go on the DL where we all know he belongs. The Cubs made the same mistake with Soriano last year - just give him so time to get better so he can be the ARam we all know and love again.
Next up, the Cardinals. Albert Puljos has been in a bit of slump of late, and by "of late" I mean "May". Should be interesting.
- OUR Xavier can play right unlike some other teams
- The Rangers didn't win that first game so much as the Cubs lost it
- It's far more exciting to strike out a cheating head-inflater than it is to win a ballgame
Thing we suspect
- Losing 8-5 isn't so bad since a month ago they would've lost 8-1
- Maybe this 1-run game thing isn't such a problem after all
- Reed Johnson is no better on another team
- Tylermania! needs more playing time.
The Cubs hit the "tough" part of their schedule with a sledgehammer. The story has predominantly been the pitching, with one notable exception. The Cubs have scored 44 runs over their last 11 games, so they ain't exactly hitting the cover off the ball, but they are also 8-3 during that same stretch. D-Lee is starting to pick it up - a bit - while A-Ram is steadfastly refusing to go on the DL where we all know he belongs. The Cubs made the same mistake with Soriano last year - just give him so time to get better so he can be the ARam we all know and love again.
Next up, the Cardinals. Albert Puljos has been in a bit of slump of late, and by "of late" I mean "May". Should be interesting.
Friday, May 21, 2010
Reflections on Shorties.
2 series. 2 games each. one update.
Things we know
- 2 games is not a sweep
- Technically it is, but don't write home about it
- Zambrano is not long for the bullpen
Things we suspect
- The Cubs might just be starting to get it. Just a bit.
- Bob Howry won't help
- He won't hurt either
With a series sweep vs. the Rockies and a split again the Phillies, we can all begin to see that maybe this team is starting to figure things out a bit. This will certainly not be the dramatic turn around from 2007. But it could be the beginning of a gradual rise. OR it could just be that we missed Urbina and Halladay. Even the loss to the Phillies, down by 1 with runner at first and third with no outs in the 9th vs AARP Contreras and failing to score didn't bring me down because a month ago, they would've lost 5-1, not 5-4.
Things we know
- 2 games is not a sweep
- Technically it is, but don't write home about it
- Zambrano is not long for the bullpen
Things we suspect
- The Cubs might just be starting to get it. Just a bit.
- Bob Howry won't help
- He won't hurt either
With a series sweep vs. the Rockies and a split again the Phillies, we can all begin to see that maybe this team is starting to figure things out a bit. This will certainly not be the dramatic turn around from 2007. But it could be the beginning of a gradual rise. OR it could just be that we missed Urbina and Halladay. Even the loss to the Phillies, down by 1 with runner at first and third with no outs in the 9th vs AARP Contreras and failing to score didn't bring me down because a month ago, they would've lost 5-1, not 5-4.
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Reflections on Pittsburgh
Things we know
- We are the Pirates' prison bitches
Things we suspect
- This Zambrano to the bullpen thing just isn't going to work out.
Normally I have more of these "things" but to be honest, when the Cubs are this bad, you can really only say the same thing so many times before everyone realizes you're saying the same thing - the Cubs suck. Well, they managed to salvage one game, so that's something and hopefully a sign of good things to come.
- We are the Pirates' prison bitches
Things we suspect
- This Zambrano to the bullpen thing just isn't going to work out.
Normally I have more of these "things" but to be honest, when the Cubs are this bad, you can really only say the same thing so many times before everyone realizes you're saying the same thing - the Cubs suck. Well, they managed to salvage one game, so that's something and hopefully a sign of good things to come.
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Reflections on Florida
Things we know -
- It's never ever ok to boo anyone under any circumstances ever.
- Well, ok, it's ok sometimes, as long as they're making more money than a small village will ever see in their lifetime.
- Or unless they're from Louisiana
- Ok, Anyone except Castro because he's so cute and cuddly wuddly and if he doesn't work out we'll be stuck with Theriot.
Things we suspect -
- WTFE
- Carlos Silva may turn out to be a bigger coup than Hundley for Karros
- Carlos Silva is so far the only thing keeping Hendry in Chicago
- If Carlos Silva ever ate his weight in baked beans and Chili we'd need FEMA to get Fontenot's uniform out of his locker
Hey OMC, what's with all the Castro and Silva stuff? Well, you see after another pathetic outpouring of runs from our anemic offense, that's all there really was to talk about. Yesterday, only 2 of 8 starting players had a BA below .300 - Derrek Lee and Jeff Baker. And yet, the Cubs were only able to scratch out 4 runs, one on a wild pitch. And that pretty much sums it up there folks. Castro got booed on Monday much to the chagrin of local bloggers and Carlos Silva went 4-0 much to the chagrin of those same bloggers who were calling the trade a "disaster".
Maybe the booing won't turn out so bad either.
- It's never ever ok to boo anyone under any circumstances ever.
- Well, ok, it's ok sometimes, as long as they're making more money than a small village will ever see in their lifetime.
- Or unless they're from Louisiana
- Ok, Anyone except Castro because he's so cute and cuddly wuddly and if he doesn't work out we'll be stuck with Theriot.
Things we suspect -
- WTFE
- Carlos Silva may turn out to be a bigger coup than Hundley for Karros
- Carlos Silva is so far the only thing keeping Hendry in Chicago
- If Carlos Silva ever ate his weight in baked beans and Chili we'd need FEMA to get Fontenot's uniform out of his locker
Hey OMC, what's with all the Castro and Silva stuff? Well, you see after another pathetic outpouring of runs from our anemic offense, that's all there really was to talk about. Yesterday, only 2 of 8 starting players had a BA below .300 - Derrek Lee and Jeff Baker. And yet, the Cubs were only able to scratch out 4 runs, one on a wild pitch. And that pretty much sums it up there folks. Castro got booed on Monday much to the chagrin of local bloggers and Carlos Silva went 4-0 much to the chagrin of those same bloggers who were calling the trade a "disaster".
Maybe the booing won't turn out so bad either.
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Wanted: Babysitters
So there's been a little hooplah on the interwebs this morning about the Wrigley faithful last night booing our new young stud, Starlin. Most of the concern seems to revolve around his age or inexperience.
I wasn't aware that Cubs fans needed to coddle the new guys. When exactly does the grace period end? When can we boo? I only ask because most of the folks chiding us - and yes I mean I'd probably have been a booer had I been at the game last night - would be at the head of the charge against Soriano if he did something similar. Or Aramis (E-Ramis as one gent calls him so often). So when's it ok kids?
When he's 21? How about 22? How about a nice, round 30?
Bad play is bad play. Cadillacing it is cadillacing it. If you can't play hard in the majors, Felix Pie, go back to the PCL where you'll shine and be a perrenial MiLB All Star. If you want to stay, work for it. Don't expect us to cuddle you up in a blankey and kiss your boo-boos. The honeymoon is over. Now Play Ball.
I wasn't aware that Cubs fans needed to coddle the new guys. When exactly does the grace period end? When can we boo? I only ask because most of the folks chiding us - and yes I mean I'd probably have been a booer had I been at the game last night - would be at the head of the charge against Soriano if he did something similar. Or Aramis (E-Ramis as one gent calls him so often). So when's it ok kids?
When he's 21? How about 22? How about a nice, round 30?
Bad play is bad play. Cadillacing it is cadillacing it. If you can't play hard in the majors, Felix Pie, go back to the PCL where you'll shine and be a perrenial MiLB All Star. If you want to stay, work for it. Don't expect us to cuddle you up in a blankey and kiss your boo-boos. The honeymoon is over. Now Play Ball.
Monday, May 10, 2010
Reflections on Cincinatti
Things we know
- Our offense is capable of scoring less than 3 or more than 11 runs, and nothing in between.
- Starlin Castro can hit bad pitching - just like the rest of the offense
- We once had a rookie strike out 20 players in the beginning of his career. Where's he now?
- I stole that last one from @AdamBuckled.
Things we suspect
- Starlin Castro will not solve our problem
- Castro was a panic move nothing more.
- Bullsh*t taste bad Jim, stop feeding it to us
- This is going to be a long, long summer of bad.
Starlin Castro burst onto the scene with a 6 RBI first game, including a 3 run HR in his first ML At bat - Suck it, Jason Heywood. The much ballyhooed propsect came in, and the Cubs scored 14 runs. Then they lost 5-3 again. How about that? Castro will continue to be ballyhooed until it becomes clear that he is not the saviorof this team in a season that was over before it began. Then he'll be a highlight. Maybe.
- Our offense is capable of scoring less than 3 or more than 11 runs, and nothing in between.
- Starlin Castro can hit bad pitching - just like the rest of the offense
- We once had a rookie strike out 20 players in the beginning of his career. Where's he now?
- I stole that last one from @AdamBuckled.
Things we suspect
- Starlin Castro will not solve our problem
- Castro was a panic move nothing more.
- Bullsh*t taste bad Jim, stop feeding it to us
- This is going to be a long, long summer of bad.
Starlin Castro burst onto the scene with a 6 RBI first game, including a 3 run HR in his first ML At bat - Suck it, Jason Heywood. The much ballyhooed propsect came in, and the Cubs scored 14 runs. Then they lost 5-3 again. How about that? Castro will continue to be ballyhooed until it becomes clear that he is not the saviorof this team in a season that was over before it began. Then he'll be a highlight. Maybe.
Friday, May 7, 2010
Starlin-struck
According to numerous reports today, Starlin Castro will make his Major League Debut. IN a corresponding move, Kevin Millar, oh wait, Chad Tracy, oh wait, who-the-hell ever was sent down to the minors, presumed never to return. I'm sure this has nothing to do with getting swept by the Pirates.
The kid sure did turn heads this spring in the Cactus league, but then so did a number of other prospects cough, cough, Pie, cough, Patterson, cough. This move is predominantly a PR move which may gain the Cubs a useless few wins for when they end up in third in the NL Central at the end of the year. This is another Zambrano-to-the-bullpen move. Nothing more. it's unfortunate,or fortunate depending on how things pan out. If he is the real deal, it unfortunate because it will get him to Free Agency (read: Yankees uniform) sooner. If he's a flash in the jock strap, we get to dump him in free agency one year sooner. My money's on the Yankees.
This is the very definition of a panic move and we can only hope T-Rix realizes how much this is going to cost him long term when looking over Jimmy and Lou's contracts this fall.
The kid sure did turn heads this spring in the Cactus league, but then so did a number of other prospects cough, cough, Pie, cough, Patterson, cough. This move is predominantly a PR move which may gain the Cubs a useless few wins for when they end up in third in the NL Central at the end of the year. This is another Zambrano-to-the-bullpen move. Nothing more. it's unfortunate,or fortunate depending on how things pan out. If he is the real deal, it unfortunate because it will get him to Free Agency (read: Yankees uniform) sooner. If he's a flash in the jock strap, we get to dump him in free agency one year sooner. My money's on the Yankees.
This is the very definition of a panic move and we can only hope T-Rix realizes how much this is going to cost him long term when looking over Jimmy and Lou's contracts this fall.
Reflections on Pittsburgh - The Ok Seriously Edition
A message for Cubs fans -
Actually it's just a small part of something big and awesome, but for now:
Things we know
- The Pirates can't possibly lose every game they play
- They sure as hell didn't these past 3 days
- The Cubs are better than this
- Not MUCH better, but better.
Things we suspect
- Aramis needs to start hitting
- When he does, a lot of this will go away
- By then it may be too late
- This will not be the last loss to the Pirates this season, but hopefully it will be the most embarrassing.
My previous "Reflections" post pretty much summed up this series. No hitting leads directly to no wining. Do not pass Go. However, what might be more frightening is that this might start getting into the rotation's heads a bit. There is such a thing as trying to be too perfect and when giving up one or two runs means a loss, that's when guys stop just pitching their game and trying to do too much. And that's when bad things start happening, you know like waling the first two batters on 8 pitches.
Actually it's just a small part of something big and awesome, but for now:
Things we know
- The Pirates can't possibly lose every game they play
- They sure as hell didn't these past 3 days
- The Cubs are better than this
- Not MUCH better, but better.
Things we suspect
- Aramis needs to start hitting
- When he does, a lot of this will go away
- By then it may be too late
- This will not be the last loss to the Pirates this season, but hopefully it will be the most embarrassing.
My previous "Reflections" post pretty much summed up this series. No hitting leads directly to no wining. Do not pass Go. However, what might be more frightening is that this might start getting into the rotation's heads a bit. There is such a thing as trying to be too perfect and when giving up one or two runs means a loss, that's when guys stop just pitching their game and trying to do too much. And that's when bad things start happening, you know like waling the first two batters on 8 pitches.
Monday, May 3, 2010
Reflections on Arizona
This will be a tough one to write. I slept through Saturday and only heard parts of Sunday.
Things we know
- Soriano was f*cked up last year
- When you're already down by 6, another 7 runs really doesn't matter.
- The Cubs can hit the sh*t out of bad pitching.
- No one should be this happy to be at .500
Things we suspect
- The Diamondbacks may actually have a bullpen worse than ours.
- It's ok to stare at a long ball, as long as it lands in the bleachers.
I didn't really get much of a chance to see this series - at all. I was working Thursday and Friday, I hadn't slept on Saturday and I was out with the family on Sunday. Hey. We all gotta take a break some time. So this series' "Reflections" entry will suck (Just this one? - Shut up). I'll catch ya after Pittsburgh.
Things we know
- Soriano was f*cked up last year
- When you're already down by 6, another 7 runs really doesn't matter.
- The Cubs can hit the sh*t out of bad pitching.
- No one should be this happy to be at .500
Things we suspect
- The Diamondbacks may actually have a bullpen worse than ours.
- It's ok to stare at a long ball, as long as it lands in the bleachers.
I didn't really get much of a chance to see this series - at all. I was working Thursday and Friday, I hadn't slept on Saturday and I was out with the family on Sunday. Hey. We all gotta take a break some time. So this series' "Reflections" entry will suck (Just this one? - Shut up). I'll catch ya after Pittsburgh.
Friday, April 30, 2010
I Am Guilty Derrek, And I'll Never Do It Again
Derrek Lee is hitting like crap. Amazingly, he's not as bad as Aramis Ramirez, but he's still pretty bad. However, History has shown, time and time again, that DLee will bounce back. The exceptions to this rule are 2005 when he was just ridiculous all year long, and 2008. In 2008, Lee's biggest problem was that he never met a double play he didn't like.
Every other year, consistently, April has sucked. Last year and admittedly the year before, I was on the Micah Hoffpauir (who's that guy???) bandwagon. This year, I'm on the Derrek bandwagon all the way. I'll ride out this bad storm with him because I know he'll produce down the road.
Aramis however - you're on your own pookie. You're just lucky Chad Tracy is so much worse.
Every other year, consistently, April has sucked. Last year and admittedly the year before, I was on the Micah Hoffpauir (who's that guy???) bandwagon. This year, I'm on the Derrek bandwagon all the way. I'll ride out this bad storm with him because I know he'll produce down the road.
Aramis however - you're on your own pookie. You're just lucky Chad Tracy is so much worse.
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Reflections on Washington
Things we know
- Adam Dunn is a big dumb animal and we'll regret not signing him while we had the chance.
- Your starting rotation having a 2.60 ERA is great, unless your offense averages 2.5 runs per game.
- We should've pulled out all the stops to sign Matt Capps.
- The Cubs didn't win on Monday night so much as the Nationals lost.
- I really need to proof read my blog better.
Things we suspect
- Kevin Millar could've easily done Chad Tracy's job
- Aramis Ramirez REALLY needs to shave. It's like a reverse Samson thing
- Livan Hernandez has a secret "beat the Cubs" Kool-aid formula
- The Cubs couldn't get runs in Mexico drinking the water.
Despite our 5-2 records vs. the Gnats last year, I seem to remember they beat us in stupid ways that really infuriate me. This weekend it was simple lack of offense. I was giddy after the first game, but mostly because the Blackhawks were leading too. So that was , perhaps magnified. Now it's just a shocking lack of offense after we b-slapped the Boo-Hoo Crew so decisively. But hey. At least we have a f*cking cup now...
- Adam Dunn is a big dumb animal and we'll regret not signing him while we had the chance.
- Your starting rotation having a 2.60 ERA is great, unless your offense averages 2.5 runs per game.
- We should've pulled out all the stops to sign Matt Capps.
- The Cubs didn't win on Monday night so much as the Nationals lost.
- I really need to proof read my blog better.
Things we suspect
- Kevin Millar could've easily done Chad Tracy's job
- Aramis Ramirez REALLY needs to shave. It's like a reverse Samson thing
- Livan Hernandez has a secret "beat the Cubs" Kool-aid formula
- The Cubs couldn't get runs in Mexico drinking the water.
Despite our 5-2 records vs. the Gnats last year, I seem to remember they beat us in stupid ways that really infuriate me. This weekend it was simple lack of offense. I was giddy after the first game, but mostly because the Blackhawks were leading too. So that was , perhaps magnified. Now it's just a shocking lack of offense after we b-slapped the Boo-Hoo Crew so decisively. But hey. At least we have a f*cking cup now...
Two Teams, One Cup
Confession time. I've never seen the infamous "Two Girls, One Cup" video (Stop right there! I have no desire to either). I cannot imagine though, that my reaction to watching it could be any stronger than my reaciton when I first heard the news about this Crosstown trophy bull$h17.
First, there was utter disbelief aqbout what I was seing. Followed by a strong feeling of nausea, and finally, I just had to turn my head away before I gave into everything and I saw something that would make me question my faith in everything good and decent in the world.
Here's a challenge to anyone who backs this idea and thinks it's good for the rivalry - When the crosstown series rolls around, ask every player on the roster at the time if they're excited to be playing for "the Cup". I guarantee you, at least 10 members on each team will respond with "What cup?" Because, you see, this series is meaningless. It's just 1/27th of a long, long schedule.
In he end, only marketing people and fools (and believe me, those are NOT necessarily two separate groups) think this is a good idea. Baseball people know it's a waste of time, a waste of effort, and it's not worth the gold plated, petrified dog crap it's made of.
First, there was utter disbelief aqbout what I was seing. Followed by a strong feeling of nausea, and finally, I just had to turn my head away before I gave into everything and I saw something that would make me question my faith in everything good and decent in the world.
Here's a challenge to anyone who backs this idea and thinks it's good for the rivalry - When the crosstown series rolls around, ask every player on the roster at the time if they're excited to be playing for "the Cup". I guarantee you, at least 10 members on each team will respond with "What cup?" Because, you see, this series is meaningless. It's just 1/27th of a long, long schedule.
In he end, only marketing people and fools (and believe me, those are NOT necessarily two separate groups) think this is a good idea. Baseball people know it's a waste of time, a waste of effort, and it's not worth the gold plated, petrified dog crap it's made of.
Monday, April 26, 2010
Oh For The Love Of F*ck
According to The Chicago Tribune, multiple sources are reporting that the Cubs and White Sox will announce today a trophy and "public bragging rights" for the winner of the Crosstown Rivalry.
A trophy.
A fucking trophy
A fucking god damned trophy
A fucking god damned piece of shit what the fuck are we fucking doing trophy?
So, let's recap what the T-Rix as brought to our team:
1. Raised ticket prices being sold for 20% higher than the already raised rates
2. A frozen payroll causing Carlos Zambrano to do his best Rick Vaughn impression
3. A sign in left field for a company that can't make a working car
4. A trophy for a meaningless series
Fuck
A trophy.
A fucking trophy
A fucking god damned trophy
A fucking god damned piece of shit what the fuck are we fucking doing trophy?
So, let's recap what the T-Rix as brought to our team:
1. Raised ticket prices being sold for 20% higher than the already raised rates
2. A frozen payroll causing Carlos Zambrano to do his best Rick Vaughn impression
3. A sign in left field for a company that can't make a working car
4. A trophy for a meaningless series
Fuck
Sunday, April 25, 2010
BREAKING NEWS!!!
MLB revises rules of hits vs. Errors.
In an attempt to more accurately reflect batting statistics and not penalize hitters for knowning the opposition's defensive capabilities, MLB has revised the standards by which official scorers will determine a hit vs. an error.
From now on, hitting toward a sucky player is now considered a skill, therefore a hit. No longer will playing against bad baseball teams affect statistics when it comes to base hits and extra base hits. This has been a concern in the past regarding contract situations and hits vs. plate appearances. Naturally the player's union applauds the move.
In a related story, Alfonso Soriano and Rickie Weeks now lead the NL in fielding percentage, tied at 1.000%.
Boy that was a lot of build up for a pretty mediocre joke.
In an attempt to more accurately reflect batting statistics and not penalize hitters for knowning the opposition's defensive capabilities, MLB has revised the standards by which official scorers will determine a hit vs. an error.
From now on, hitting toward a sucky player is now considered a skill, therefore a hit. No longer will playing against bad baseball teams affect statistics when it comes to base hits and extra base hits. This has been a concern in the past regarding contract situations and hits vs. plate appearances. Naturally the player's union applauds the move.
In a related story, Alfonso Soriano and Rickie Weeks now lead the NL in fielding percentage, tied at 1.000%.
Boy that was a lot of build up for a pretty mediocre joke.
Reflections on Milwaukee
Things we know:
- Theodore Roosevelt Lilly is one BAMF
- When the vacuum that sucked the hair of that woman's head was being developed by Kirby, it was code-named the "Rickie"
- Milwaukee really should explore the trade opportunities for Kosuke Fukudome since that is the only place he hits.
- Rickie Weeks' suckocity has it's own zip code.
Things we suspect:
- Doug Davis, while he's been tough against us in the past, can kiss our collective booties.
- Vegetable burgers are not good for one's swing.
- The Cubs can hit crappy pitching
- The Milwaukee Brewers are our prison bitches.
Gotta love a weekend series in Milwaukee. Lilly came back and made Prince his princess with 3 strikeouts, the first of which left Fatty McWhopper standing at home wondering where the hell the nearest steak was. Zambrano made his first appearance of the bullpen and did not attack anything. He did however run out of his own shoes. And on Sunday, the Pirates cheered as the Cubs turned the tide on the Boo-Hoo Crew beating them 12-2.
All in all. A good weekend.
- Theodore Roosevelt Lilly is one BAMF
- When the vacuum that sucked the hair of that woman's head was being developed by Kirby, it was code-named the "Rickie"
- Milwaukee really should explore the trade opportunities for Kosuke Fukudome since that is the only place he hits.
- Rickie Weeks' suckocity has it's own zip code.
Things we suspect:
- Doug Davis, while he's been tough against us in the past, can kiss our collective booties.
- Vegetable burgers are not good for one's swing.
- The Cubs can hit crappy pitching
- The Milwaukee Brewers are our prison bitches.
Gotta love a weekend series in Milwaukee. Lilly came back and made Prince his princess with 3 strikeouts, the first of which left Fatty McWhopper standing at home wondering where the hell the nearest steak was. Zambrano made his first appearance of the bullpen and did not attack anything. He did however run out of his own shoes. And on Sunday, the Pirates cheered as the Cubs turned the tide on the Boo-Hoo Crew beating them 12-2.
All in all. A good weekend.
Friday, April 23, 2010
Reflections on New York
What we know:
- Fuck New York - normally this is a child friendly blog, but just Fuck 'em
- Fuck 'em again - in the ass - with a red hot poker.
- Our bullpen is not our only problem
- Zambrano won't help there either.
What we suspect:
- The Cubs can make any crappy team look good for 3-4 games at a stretch
- Bob Brenly needs to go off on Soriano more often.
- The odd of getting a hit increase significantly if you take the bat off your shoulder.
- It was too close to F*ckin' Take!
Besides one game where Soriano made a solid argument that he is not in fact a black hole where low-outside breaking balls go to die, the Cubs pretty much slept trough the New York series. A few encouraging things I did see last night were good solid AB's from several players including [holycrap]Soriano[/holycrap] in which they worked a full count and fouled off some tough pitches. Often the AB ended in an out, but for the most part, I can lvie with those. In my world, any AB in which you see 7 pitches is fruit punch, regardless of outcome. It's more pitches you see, better odds of maknig something happen, and frustrating as spit to a pitcher.
Overall, it was a tournament of blah, led by Aramis. Having him not hit is worse than having him out of the lineup because right now, he's basically another pitcher in the lineup. Not good mojo.
- Fuck New York - normally this is a child friendly blog, but just Fuck 'em
- Fuck 'em again - in the ass - with a red hot poker.
- Our bullpen is not our only problem
- Zambrano won't help there either.
What we suspect:
- The Cubs can make any crappy team look good for 3-4 games at a stretch
- Bob Brenly needs to go off on Soriano more often.
- The odd of getting a hit increase significantly if you take the bat off your shoulder.
- It was too close to F*ckin' Take!
Besides one game where Soriano made a solid argument that he is not in fact a black hole where low-outside breaking balls go to die, the Cubs pretty much slept trough the New York series. A few encouraging things I did see last night were good solid AB's from several players including [holycrap]Soriano[/holycrap] in which they worked a full count and fouled off some tough pitches. Often the AB ended in an out, but for the most part, I can lvie with those. In my world, any AB in which you see 7 pitches is fruit punch, regardless of outcome. It's more pitches you see, better odds of maknig something happen, and frustrating as spit to a pitcher.
Overall, it was a tournament of blah, led by Aramis. Having him not hit is worse than having him out of the lineup because right now, he's basically another pitcher in the lineup. Not good mojo.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Z to the Pen - Why I hate it.
Are you kidding me? We're sending Zambrano to the pen? You can't be serious! Oh Jesus. Here's why we're screwed.
1. Can you say white flag? White flag on the bullpen. White flag on Zambrano. He know our bullpen sucks and isn't getting any better. We know our Ace isn't an Ace, and isn't getting any better. Let's see what happens...
2. It could seriously screw with his head. Anyone remember when they moved Sammy Sosa to the #5 slot and "Sammy called Dusty to ask him for the move". This smells a lot like that. "Yeah Zambrano's totally cool with it, blah blah blah." Sammy was never anything ever again.
3. Zambrano has a tendency to give up runs early and dominate later. In the bullpen, there is no later.
4. Pitching more often than every 5 days could screw with his arm. You can't get him to drink Gatorade once a week. What makes you think three to four days a week will go any better?
5. It signals - or it least it SHOULD signal - the end of Jim Hendry's tenure in Chicago. Jim was so inept at putting together a bullpen for the last two years we now have a 17 million dollar setup man. How can that go unpunished? Hey TomRick - that's your money out there on the mound in the 8th.
1. Can you say white flag? White flag on the bullpen. White flag on Zambrano. He know our bullpen sucks and isn't getting any better. We know our Ace isn't an Ace, and isn't getting any better. Let's see what happens...
2. It could seriously screw with his head. Anyone remember when they moved Sammy Sosa to the #5 slot and "Sammy called Dusty to ask him for the move". This smells a lot like that. "Yeah Zambrano's totally cool with it, blah blah blah." Sammy was never anything ever again.
3. Zambrano has a tendency to give up runs early and dominate later. In the bullpen, there is no later.
4. Pitching more often than every 5 days could screw with his arm. You can't get him to drink Gatorade once a week. What makes you think three to four days a week will go any better?
5. It signals - or it least it SHOULD signal - the end of Jim Hendry's tenure in Chicago. Jim was so inept at putting together a bullpen for the last two years we now have a 17 million dollar setup man. How can that go unpunished? Hey TomRick - that's your money out there on the mound in the 8th.
Z to the Pen - Why I Love It
Ok, so lots of lots of lots of talk going on today about the big move - Zambrano to the bullpen. Oh my Cockadoodledoo. What is going on here? Here's a few reasons why I absolutely love this move:
1. The bullpen cannot get any worse. It really can't. All Zambrano can do if f*ck it up which is pretty much what everyone else is already doing anyway.
2. He can go more than 1 inning. I doubt he ever will, but hey - if necessary, Zambrano can bring it for 2 innings and he can hit for himself and Lou would not look like an idiot.
3. Pitching only 1 or 2 innings at a time, Z can ramp it up a notch. You think he's close to unhittable at 93 MPH? How about 97?
4. It may help get Z's head right. Hey Z - you're not irreplacable. Get down there and stabilize this thing and then we'll let you back in the club you like belonging to.
5. He might just do a good job and, you know, not give up runs - which is something this bullpen needs.
1. The bullpen cannot get any worse. It really can't. All Zambrano can do if f*ck it up which is pretty much what everyone else is already doing anyway.
2. He can go more than 1 inning. I doubt he ever will, but hey - if necessary, Zambrano can bring it for 2 innings and he can hit for himself and Lou would not look like an idiot.
3. Pitching only 1 or 2 innings at a time, Z can ramp it up a notch. You think he's close to unhittable at 93 MPH? How about 97?
4. It may help get Z's head right. Hey Z - you're not irreplacable. Get down there and stabilize this thing and then we'll let you back in the club you like belonging to.
5. He might just do a good job and, you know, not give up runs - which is something this bullpen needs.
Monday, April 19, 2010
What are you talking about??
Headline: All-Star balloting 2010 is almost here It's f*cking APRIL!!!
Every blog, story, I hear/see/read is saying "it's too early to tell" or "it's a small smaple size" and yet, voting for the All Star game the outcome of which, by the way, happens to determine quite possibly the most important home field advantage in sports, opens tomorrow. Are you F*cking kidding me? How can you possibly open voting for the all star game when Pittsburgh is second in the standings is beyond me. Can we please get a chance to, oh I don't know, see some games before we decide who the besterest players are?
If it's important, then this can't be a popularity contest. If it's a popularity contest, then it cannot be important. Commit.
Every blog, story, I hear/see/read is saying "it's too early to tell" or "it's a small smaple size" and yet, voting for the All Star game the outcome of which, by the way, happens to determine quite possibly the most important home field advantage in sports, opens tomorrow. Are you F*cking kidding me? How can you possibly open voting for the all star game when Pittsburgh is second in the standings is beyond me. Can we please get a chance to, oh I don't know, see some games before we decide who the besterest players are?
If it's important, then this can't be a popularity contest. If it's a popularity contest, then it cannot be important. Commit.
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Reflections on Houston
Things we know
- Geoff Blum is a rat bastard
- Marmol is not invincible
- The qualifications for pitching out of the bullpen are depressingly low.
- So are the qualifications for singing Take Me Out To The Ballgame
Things we suspect
- Roy Oswalt is the best pitcher from his hometown.
- The Astros are as screwed without Berkman as we were without Ramirez last year
- This will not be Marmol's last 4 out save opportunity, nor his last blown save.
- There's no better slump buster than sitting in the first base dugout for 3 days at Wrigley
What started off as a positive series against the abysmal Astros who were missing their BFF Berkman ended in a ridiculous display of batting ineptitude. Ok, I get getting shut down by Roy Oswalt. He's a great pitcher and several score games over .500 in his career. But can anyone please explain why the prospect of facing the Great and Mighty Wandy and the Fearsome Geoff send cubs batters scurrying to the bench like kicked dogs? Yeah. Neither can I. What could've been an opportunity to get above sealevel for a couple of games turned out to be cement Reeboks dragging us down like a squealer. And speaking of which, on to New York.
- Geoff Blum is a rat bastard
- Marmol is not invincible
- The qualifications for pitching out of the bullpen are depressingly low.
- So are the qualifications for singing Take Me Out To The Ballgame
Things we suspect
- Roy Oswalt is the best pitcher from his hometown.
- The Astros are as screwed without Berkman as we were without Ramirez last year
- This will not be Marmol's last 4 out save opportunity, nor his last blown save.
- There's no better slump buster than sitting in the first base dugout for 3 days at Wrigley
What started off as a positive series against the abysmal Astros who were missing their BFF Berkman ended in a ridiculous display of batting ineptitude. Ok, I get getting shut down by Roy Oswalt. He's a great pitcher and several score games over .500 in his career. But can anyone please explain why the prospect of facing the Great and Mighty Wandy and the Fearsome Geoff send cubs batters scurrying to the bench like kicked dogs? Yeah. Neither can I. What could've been an opportunity to get above sealevel for a couple of games turned out to be cement Reeboks dragging us down like a squealer. And speaking of which, on to New York.
From the LOLz filez
Dear University of Miami,
Please review your curriculum and graduation requirements.
Love,
The guys who flew this flag
Saturday, April 17, 2010
New Rules and Regs for Singing the Stretch
So, "McLovin" sang the Stretch today. I say "McLovin" because that is how Pat Hughes introduced him. Mc - Freakin' - Lovin. Really?
I'm not ashamed I had to google it. And don't get me wrong, I found a funny, if R-Rated clip below, but...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9RWVEAQeC0
Ricketts, haven't we already had this conversation? Here are the new rules that need to be implemented to the "Guest Conductors" for Take Me Out To The Ballgame. There are only two of them, so you don't even need to pay attention for very long.
1. Must have some Chicago connection. Passing through or assaulting a Walgreens employee does not qualify. You must've been born here, own real estate here, or have started a professional theatre here. This is a baseball game. Not a late-night talk show. You want to promote something, talk to Letterman.
2. If you do not root, root, root for the Cubbies, sit the f*ck down. I'm tired of the Bob Uekers, the Bernie Macs, the baseball legends who change the lyrics, pull the mic away, or otherwise don't say the name. If you're not willing to don a Cubs hat and Jersey in front of millions of TV viewers and profess your love for our team, sit the f*ck down, and yes, I'm talking to you Mr. President.
So there are your rules. If you fail to meet both, go home and make a donation to Haiti to get your mug on TV. Leave our game and our song alone.
I'm not ashamed I had to google it. And don't get me wrong, I found a funny, if R-Rated clip below, but...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9RWVEAQeC0
Ricketts, haven't we already had this conversation? Here are the new rules that need to be implemented to the "Guest Conductors" for Take Me Out To The Ballgame. There are only two of them, so you don't even need to pay attention for very long.
1. Must have some Chicago connection. Passing through or assaulting a Walgreens employee does not qualify. You must've been born here, own real estate here, or have started a professional theatre here. This is a baseball game. Not a late-night talk show. You want to promote something, talk to Letterman.
2. If you do not root, root, root for the Cubbies, sit the f*ck down. I'm tired of the Bob Uekers, the Bernie Macs, the baseball legends who change the lyrics, pull the mic away, or otherwise don't say the name. If you're not willing to don a Cubs hat and Jersey in front of millions of TV viewers and profess your love for our team, sit the f*ck down, and yes, I'm talking to you Mr. President.
So there are your rules. If you fail to meet both, go home and make a donation to Haiti to get your mug on TV. Leave our game and our song alone.
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Reflections on Milwaukee
What we know:
- LaTroy Hawkins is exactly the pitcher we expected.
- Alfonso Soriano has no business wearing a fielding glove - and batting gloves are becoming debatable.
- Nothing good ever happens when you walk a pitcher.
- Spellcheck needs to go away. Back to Iowa. If they'll have him.
What we suspect
- Lou Pinella has no idea what the score is. All he knows is, if the team is smiling, they're leading.
- The Boo-Hoo Crew will still be boo-hooing come October
- Two of the best hitters in the game are in the NL central
- Neither of them are on the Cubs - yet.
Can't complain about a series win, but you can complain about Jeff F*cking Sam(F7)a. He's proven yet again that 1 pitch just ain't gonna cut it in the majors. It barely makes it in the minors. He needs to go. As soon as Lilly comes back. Tylermania! is alive and well. Soriano has been put on notice, even though he hasn't. Sadly, we're stuck with that crap for another 4 years, 150+ games.
Next up are the b-slapped Astros who may actually be worse than the Pirates this year...
- LaTroy Hawkins is exactly the pitcher we expected.
- Alfonso Soriano has no business wearing a fielding glove - and batting gloves are becoming debatable.
- Nothing good ever happens when you walk a pitcher.
- Spellcheck needs to go away. Back to Iowa. If they'll have him.
What we suspect
- Lou Pinella has no idea what the score is. All he knows is, if the team is smiling, they're leading.
- The Boo-Hoo Crew will still be boo-hooing come October
- Two of the best hitters in the game are in the NL central
- Neither of them are on the Cubs - yet.
Can't complain about a series win, but you can complain about Jeff F*cking Sam(F7)a. He's proven yet again that 1 pitch just ain't gonna cut it in the majors. It barely makes it in the minors. He needs to go. As soon as Lilly comes back. Tylermania! is alive and well. Soriano has been put on notice, even though he hasn't. Sadly, we're stuck with that crap for another 4 years, 150+ games.
Next up are the b-slapped Astros who may actually be worse than the Pirates this year...
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Reflections on Cincy
Things we know
- The bullpen still sucks
- It will suck for a long, long time
- They can't blow it every game
- They sure can give it a shot.
Things we suspect
- Maybe the Cubs didn't get hosed on Silva
- Zambrano doesn't suck, but that doesn't mean he's great
- Sean Marshall may save this bullpen single-handed
- The 8th inning will be our Achilles heel
Coughing up the lead in two games over the weekend during the in the 8th inning is painting a pretty clear picture on how much we need Lilly to come back and move Gorzy back into the bullpen.
In the meantime, one week in, it's too small a sample size to make any sort of definitive opinion, but it ain't pretty so far. I get the sense this season is going to be very much like when we as kids used to download naughty pictures with our modems over the course of an hour or two - one line at a time. Sadly though, it will take far too long to determine whether this picture will of Christina Applegate or Margret Thatcher.
- The bullpen still sucks
- It will suck for a long, long time
- They can't blow it every game
- They sure can give it a shot.
Things we suspect
- Maybe the Cubs didn't get hosed on Silva
- Zambrano doesn't suck, but that doesn't mean he's great
- Sean Marshall may save this bullpen single-handed
- The 8th inning will be our Achilles heel
Coughing up the lead in two games over the weekend during the in the 8th inning is painting a pretty clear picture on how much we need Lilly to come back and move Gorzy back into the bullpen.
In the meantime, one week in, it's too small a sample size to make any sort of definitive opinion, but it ain't pretty so far. I get the sense this season is going to be very much like when we as kids used to download naughty pictures with our modems over the course of an hour or two - one line at a time. Sadly though, it will take far too long to determine whether this picture will of Christina Applegate or Margret Thatcher.
Friday, April 9, 2010
Reflections on Atlanta
Things we know:
- Zambrano is not, nor is he ever likely to be, our Ace
- We need Ted Lilly
- Our bullpen blows hairy donkey balls
- I am apparently, a bad Cubs fan
Things we suspect:
- Randy Wells got some cheese.
- He can pitch too
- Tylermania! is overrated, but it'll be a fun ride until it blows a tire
- Marlon Byrd can only hit home runs.
Was Atlanta bad? You betcha. Will break our season? No. Our bad bullpen will break our season. It was a bad series, magnified by the fact that it was opening weekend. Had this series happened in June, it'd still be bad, but it probably wouldn't look as bad. So really the only thing we should take away from this series is Carlos Zambrano should never pitch the opener for anything ever again.
- Zambrano is not, nor is he ever likely to be, our Ace
- We need Ted Lilly
- Our bullpen blows hairy donkey balls
- I am apparently, a bad Cubs fan
Things we suspect:
- Randy Wells got some cheese.
- He can pitch too
- Tylermania! is overrated, but it'll be a fun ride until it blows a tire
- Marlon Byrd can only hit home runs.
Was Atlanta bad? You betcha. Will break our season? No. Our bad bullpen will break our season. It was a bad series, magnified by the fact that it was opening weekend. Had this series happened in June, it'd still be bad, but it probably wouldn't look as bad. So really the only thing we should take away from this series is Carlos Zambrano should never pitch the opener for anything ever again.
Monday, April 5, 2010
I'm a fan. Not a f*cking idiot
So my fandom was called into question today because I was a bit sardonic about our Cubs' (specifically a certain "Ace") performance today. The tweets in question were:
--------------
- @oneminutecubs you're getting pretty annoying.
- @oneminutecubs are you a cubs fan, or no?
- @oneminutecubs you're acting like this game is how the rest of the season is going to go. #shutup
- @oneminutecubs how about you find a new team?
--------------
Guess what, Punky Brewster - Kiss my fuzzy ones.
Just because I don't like the performance of my team that I dedicate my mind, soul, money and heart to, doesn't mean I have to blindly find the good in it, and pretend the rest doesn't exist. It does exist, and at the moment, it was kicking me in the nuts.
I'm not so sure what I said that 349 other followers didn't care about but got your panties in a bunch. It was certainly consistent with what the rest of the twittersphere (At least the ones I follow) were saying. Mine is one of the below:
- If they're all like this / 161 more / I doubt I can take
- So...maybe Big Z is trying to get EVERY SINGLE bad play out of his system now? .......It's about time for a balk
- I'm starting to think I'll be enjoying #TheComedyOfZ this year.
- No way Z calmly walks into the dugout after this inning. So much for the new Z
So which one is mine? It must really be jumping of the page at you. Oh wait.
What it boils down to is you can be a fan, or you can be an idiot. Or in this case, both. You have a choice in this - Stop fucking following me. I will not beg, nor will I apologize. I make no secret of what I will say nor how I will say it. And 349 other people seem to get a kick out of it.
Take your lonely ass back to momma's basement and call me when you get a clue. I'll be over here at the smart kids table taking time to understand what I'm seeing, not just someone who douses their drawers when dreamy Derrek Lee hits a ball a long, long way.
--------------
- @oneminutecubs you're getting pretty annoying.
- @oneminutecubs are you a cubs fan, or no?
- @oneminutecubs you're acting like this game is how the rest of the season is going to go. #shutup
- @oneminutecubs how about you find a new team?
--------------
Guess what, Punky Brewster - Kiss my fuzzy ones.
Just because I don't like the performance of my team that I dedicate my mind, soul, money and heart to, doesn't mean I have to blindly find the good in it, and pretend the rest doesn't exist. It does exist, and at the moment, it was kicking me in the nuts.
I'm not so sure what I said that 349 other followers didn't care about but got your panties in a bunch. It was certainly consistent with what the rest of the twittersphere (At least the ones I follow) were saying. Mine is one of the below:
- If they're all like this / 161 more / I doubt I can take
- So...maybe Big Z is trying to get EVERY SINGLE bad play out of his system now? .......It's about time for a balk
- I'm starting to think I'll be enjoying #TheComedyOfZ this year.
- No way Z calmly walks into the dugout after this inning. So much for the new Z
So which one is mine? It must really be jumping of the page at you. Oh wait.
What it boils down to is you can be a fan, or you can be an idiot. Or in this case, both. You have a choice in this - Stop fucking following me. I will not beg, nor will I apologize. I make no secret of what I will say nor how I will say it. And 349 other people seem to get a kick out of it.
Take your lonely ass back to momma's basement and call me when you get a clue. I'll be over here at the smart kids table taking time to understand what I'm seeing, not just someone who douses their drawers when dreamy Derrek Lee hits a ball a long, long way.
Ring ring
You get a phone cal out of the blue and there's your old friend on the other end of the line, hoping to catch up with you. Hey! Whatcha been doing?
Well, we picked up a new centerfielder. Seems like a good guy. Great with kids and the best part is, his mom doesn't take interviews. We also brought back all the oldies-but-goodies, Zambrano, Lee, Ramirez, you know. The whole gang.
We miss Jake, but there's this new guy Tyler. He's a real spark plug. He put on 25 pounds over the winter, just like uncle Morty, but in an entirely different, and much less scary way. He's been hitting the bejezus out of the ball. We're not POSITIVE he can hit a curveball, but we'll find out soon enough.
We've got some new kids, John and Ezmiralda or something like that. They'll be just fine, but a little...oh let's say raw. They looked really good pitching against those first graders in AZ, so we're sure they'll be fine. How are you?
"Oh, me? Good. Making fudge."
Right.
Well, we picked up a new centerfielder. Seems like a good guy. Great with kids and the best part is, his mom doesn't take interviews. We also brought back all the oldies-but-goodies, Zambrano, Lee, Ramirez, you know. The whole gang.
We miss Jake, but there's this new guy Tyler. He's a real spark plug. He put on 25 pounds over the winter, just like uncle Morty, but in an entirely different, and much less scary way. He's been hitting the bejezus out of the ball. We're not POSITIVE he can hit a curveball, but we'll find out soon enough.
We've got some new kids, John and Ezmiralda or something like that. They'll be just fine, but a little...oh let's say raw. They looked really good pitching against those first graders in AZ, so we're sure they'll be fine. How are you?
"Oh, me? Good. Making fudge."
Right.
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Sleep deprived predictions and other sheep.
Baaaa...Yeah I'm freakin' tired. Couldn't sleep last night. That may skew my results and if it does, 75% of these were slated to be wrong anyway, so fahrfugnugen.
The Cubs will be an annoyingly average team this year and pound out 86 wins which will not do the job in the NL Central. The Cubs will finish 2nd in the division and 5th in the Wild Card and 12 in Miss Congeniality.
Derrek Lee will get off to his typically slow start and there will be calls for Kevin Millar to replace him except Millar will already have signed with the White Sox beacuse, well, f*ck the Cubs. Teases...
Aramis will spend approximately 36 days on the DL after his shoulder grabs a random lamp he's passing by and smacks him in the shins with it. The shoulder will receive probation and community service.
The "New" Z will spend 6 1/2 - no, not days - innings with his new persona until Soriano commits his first error of the season at around 5:00 CST in Atlanta, and then go completely Bat-Sh*t crazy for the rest of the season. He will win 26 games and come in second for Cy Young voting to Mark Grace who will pitch one perfect inning of relief during a 21 - 3 loss in a Father-Son game.
On a related note, Zambrano will also start a twitter account, @crazierthanOzzie and will pull a hamstring while tweeting about Wonder Years reruns.
Marlon Byrd will be driven out of town - by a chauffeur - whenever he flies. But that really won't make news so forget I mentioned it.
The Cubs will be an annoyingly average team this year and pound out 86 wins which will not do the job in the NL Central. The Cubs will finish 2nd in the division and 5th in the Wild Card and 12 in Miss Congeniality.
Derrek Lee will get off to his typically slow start and there will be calls for Kevin Millar to replace him except Millar will already have signed with the White Sox beacuse, well, f*ck the Cubs. Teases...
Aramis will spend approximately 36 days on the DL after his shoulder grabs a random lamp he's passing by and smacks him in the shins with it. The shoulder will receive probation and community service.
The "New" Z will spend 6 1/2 - no, not days - innings with his new persona until Soriano commits his first error of the season at around 5:00 CST in Atlanta, and then go completely Bat-Sh*t crazy for the rest of the season. He will win 26 games and come in second for Cy Young voting to Mark Grace who will pitch one perfect inning of relief during a 21 - 3 loss in a Father-Son game.
On a related note, Zambrano will also start a twitter account, @crazierthanOzzie and will pull a hamstring while tweeting about Wonder Years reruns.
Marlon Byrd will be driven out of town - by a chauffeur - whenever he flies. But that really won't make news so forget I mentioned it.
Monday, March 29, 2010
Tyler (not Durden) makes the roster.
Boy, wouldn't it be just all sunshine and roses if Tyler Colvin didn't sit on the bench for a week before he got one pinch hit opportunity and then another week, etc. You would like to think that Colvin would be able to be rotated in and out of the lineup and that all 4 outfielders would play nice, but that just won't happen.
There is no way Colvin starts 2 games per week, barring an injury or trade - hey, we can dream. Now will this turn out to be ultimately bad for the kid? Who knows. I can't imagine it'll be great. Will it irrevocably damage him or launch him into stardom? Neither will probably happen but I would argue that damage is infinitely more likely.
In a perfect world, Colvin could rotate in once for each starter once per week or every other week or so. Actually, I take that back. In a perfect world, Colvin learns to play second base, but that's another conversation.
Let's hope this roster move is more Gordon Beckham than it is Corey Patterson.
There is no way Colvin starts 2 games per week, barring an injury or trade - hey, we can dream. Now will this turn out to be ultimately bad for the kid? Who knows. I can't imagine it'll be great. Will it irrevocably damage him or launch him into stardom? Neither will probably happen but I would argue that damage is infinitely more likely.
In a perfect world, Colvin could rotate in once for each starter once per week or every other week or so. Actually, I take that back. In a perfect world, Colvin learns to play second base, but that's another conversation.
Let's hope this roster move is more Gordon Beckham than it is Corey Patterson.
Friday, March 26, 2010
Hold on! Wait! I have an idea!
Seeing as how we're a two team radio station, let's get rid of sports talk! Yeah. There's an idea. Sounds idiotic right? Well that's just what WGN is doing -
WGN-AM recasts Kaplan as 'sports insider,' gives Laski 'Sports Central' slot
First, the y get rid of weekend sports central which, at times, tempted me to leave work early to listen. Now, weekday Sports Central. But don't worry. Kapper will still be there as a talking muppet during postgame. That is until he wakes up and heads over to ESPN or the Score.
Look, I wasn't a Kathy and Judy fan. In fact I sustained many injuries diving for the radio to turn it off. But this latest trend to turn WGN into controversial radio is just ridiculous. My DAD listens to FM radio now since Pig Vomit took over. My Dad. Until recently, I'm not sure my father realized the dial on the radio turned, WGN was such a mainstay in his truck - even Kathy and Judy lord only knows why.
WGN-AM recasts Kaplan as 'sports insider,' gives Laski 'Sports Central' slot
First, the y get rid of weekend sports central which, at times, tempted me to leave work early to listen. Now, weekday Sports Central. But don't worry. Kapper will still be there as a talking muppet during postgame. That is until he wakes up and heads over to ESPN or the Score.
Look, I wasn't a Kathy and Judy fan. In fact I sustained many injuries diving for the radio to turn it off. But this latest trend to turn WGN into controversial radio is just ridiculous. My DAD listens to FM radio now since Pig Vomit took over. My Dad. Until recently, I'm not sure my father realized the dial on the radio turned, WGN was such a mainstay in his truck - even Kathy and Judy lord only knows why.
Feeling the loss.
Ok. I'm a little miffed. I have stuck out my neck on a few occasions over the past few months to defend Paul Sullivan a.k.a. @PWSullivan a.k.a. What the fuck are you blocking me for??. And all that was turned on its head today by a simple little message on twitter:
"This user has blocked you from following them."
So I got curious...what could I have possibly said to add myself to the illustrious ranks of A League of Her Own, Another Cubs Blog, etc who Paul thinks don't like him?
So I went back over my Twitter feed for two months and here is my list of atrocities:
Please @PWSullivan, please stop writing about MB so every other blogger in the city can stop writing about how much they hate you. - 11:24 AM Mar 10th
Yeah we're pretty sure Lou will be managing in April too. RT @PWSullivan: Oz sez Lou will return to Cubs in 2010: http://bit.ly/bdDxHo 1:58 PM Mar 6th
@PWSullivan Tell Lou, at this point, we don't care who he hits like, just so long as he hits the damn ball. 7:46 AM Feb 27th
History is written by the winners. RT @PWSullivan: Hendry says arbitration battle vs. Theriot wasn't "adversarial." 10:40 AM Feb 20th
Bastards.. RT @PWSullivan: ESPN Classic now showing Game 6 Cubs-Marlins for Valentine's Day Heartbreakers Marathon 5:16 PM Feb 14th
@PWSullivan Do you really think it's appropriate to refer to a player on the team you cover as "The Riot"?? #tongueplantedfirmlyincheek 11:21 AM Feb 4th
@doc_blume @PWSullivan So what? Neither can Silva. 6:31 PM Feb 3rd in reply to doc_blume
# Reading/listening to @thekapman or @PWSullivan is like watching Michael Moore. As long as you go into it knowing there's an agenda... 11:02 PM Feb 1st
All due respect but WTFE RT @Aisle424: RT @anothercubsblog: Paul Sullivan is a liar http://ow.ly/1nXL19 10:38 PM Feb 1st
I'm just curious as to which on got me the hatchet? My guess is one of the two most recent -
Please @PWSullivan, please stop writing about MB so every other blogger in the city can stop writing about how much they hate you. - 11:24 AM Mar 10th
Yeah we're pretty sure Lou will be managing in April too. RT @PWSullivan: Oz sez Lou will return to Cubs in 2010: http://bit.ly/bdDxHo 1:58 PM Mar 6th
Here's the thing Chicken Little. Every time PW writes anything about Milton Bradley, a lot of bloggers that I follow go completely ApeSh*t and go off on another tangent about how PW is a horrible man and a horrible reporter, blah blah blah blah. Dude. I was just sick of reading about it.
The other reference - maybe it was a typo, but you're a reporter. You report to thousands of people. Someone's gonna call you on it. You said Lou will be managing in 2010. IT IS 2010!
I have done nothing but support PW and his right to say whatever her wants because I recognize that there's an agenda there. Most of the time his quips are funny, so I ran with it, even if it did stretch the limits of what might be considered respectable journalism in some circles. But now I'm blocked. WTF? I guess to say Paul Sullivan is thin skinned would be like saying Hitler wasn't a very nice guy.
Well guess what Paully. You jsut became my new twitter crash test dummy. I can't read ya. But I CAN reply to ya.
"This user has blocked you from following them."
So I got curious...what could I have possibly said to add myself to the illustrious ranks of A League of Her Own, Another Cubs Blog, etc who Paul thinks don't like him?
So I went back over my Twitter feed for two months and here is my list of atrocities:
Please @PWSullivan, please stop writing about MB so every other blogger in the city can stop writing about how much they hate you. - 11:24 AM Mar 10th
Yeah we're pretty sure Lou will be managing in April too. RT @PWSullivan: Oz sez Lou will return to Cubs in 2010: http://bit.ly/bdDxHo 1:58 PM Mar 6th
@PWSullivan Tell Lou, at this point, we don't care who he hits like, just so long as he hits the damn ball. 7:46 AM Feb 27th
History is written by the winners. RT @PWSullivan: Hendry says arbitration battle vs. Theriot wasn't "adversarial." 10:40 AM Feb 20th
Bastards.. RT @PWSullivan: ESPN Classic now showing Game 6 Cubs-Marlins for Valentine's Day Heartbreakers Marathon 5:16 PM Feb 14th
@PWSullivan Do you really think it's appropriate to refer to a player on the team you cover as "The Riot"?? #tongueplantedfirmlyincheek 11:21 AM Feb 4th
@doc_blume @PWSullivan So what? Neither can Silva. 6:31 PM Feb 3rd in reply to doc_blume
# Reading/listening to @thekapman or @PWSullivan is like watching Michael Moore. As long as you go into it knowing there's an agenda... 11:02 PM Feb 1st
All due respect but WTFE RT @Aisle424: RT @anothercubsblog: Paul Sullivan is a liar http://ow.ly/1nXL19 10:38 PM Feb 1st
I'm just curious as to which on got me the hatchet? My guess is one of the two most recent -
Please @PWSullivan, please stop writing about MB so every other blogger in the city can stop writing about how much they hate you. - 11:24 AM Mar 10th
Yeah we're pretty sure Lou will be managing in April too. RT @PWSullivan: Oz sez Lou will return to Cubs in 2010: http://bit.ly/bdDxHo 1:58 PM Mar 6th
Here's the thing Chicken Little. Every time PW writes anything about Milton Bradley, a lot of bloggers that I follow go completely ApeSh*t and go off on another tangent about how PW is a horrible man and a horrible reporter, blah blah blah blah. Dude. I was just sick of reading about it.
The other reference - maybe it was a typo, but you're a reporter. You report to thousands of people. Someone's gonna call you on it. You said Lou will be managing in 2010. IT IS 2010!
I have done nothing but support PW and his right to say whatever her wants because I recognize that there's an agenda there. Most of the time his quips are funny, so I ran with it, even if it did stretch the limits of what might be considered respectable journalism in some circles. But now I'm blocked. WTF? I guess to say Paul Sullivan is thin skinned would be like saying Hitler wasn't a very nice guy.
Well guess what Paully. You jsut became my new twitter crash test dummy. I can't read ya. But I CAN reply to ya.
Sunday, March 21, 2010
I Think You Are Underestimating The Amount Of Sneakiness Sir
Hey everyone guess what? Baseball's coming! It's really sneaking up on us this year. It's being Vewy vewy qwiet. Maybe it's the Blackhawks heading toward the playoffs (which I'm actually following for the first time). Maybe it's the snow on the ground. Maybe it's because there are really very few compelling stories in Spring Training this year. Whatever it is, I'm having trouble coming to grips with the fact that Baseball is 15 days away. This time last year, I was halfway through my 2009 roster breakdown. Which reminds me I should probably get going on that.
It's just one of those springs where it's just sneaking by and we're completely unaware. Or at least I am.
It could also have to do with the fact that I have no high hopes, nor low hopes for this season. I'm not really looking forward to watching a .500 team play 162 games....again. Cuz it was such a joy last year...
It's just one of those springs where it's just sneaking by and we're completely unaware. Or at least I am.
It could also have to do with the fact that I have no high hopes, nor low hopes for this season. I'm not really looking forward to watching a .500 team play 162 games....again. Cuz it was such a joy last year...
Friday, March 19, 2010
Bullpen? Who needs it?
Because I'm sure all of our starters will go deep into every game, you know like they used to.....back.....in the.......60's....
Anyway. Guzman's shoulder has finally packed its bags and headed home, dragging Angel behind it, so we're left with a more scary version of our bullpen including Marmol, Grabow, Caridid (for a couple weeks anyway), Marshall, and...and....Crap...
I hold out hope for John Grabow - maybe not 4 million dollars of hope, but hope. He did a pretty good job with the club last year after his acquisition. Caridad is making a good show of himself in camp this year, but it's Spring training in Arizona - not exactly a good guage for a set up man. Oh Jimmy why did you not get Putz or Capps. Either one of them would be a welcome addition to what we have now. Eh well. I'm sure it will contribute to what is destined to be a frustratingly boring and uninspired 84 win season.
But I still can't wait for baseball to start!
Anyway. Guzman's shoulder has finally packed its bags and headed home, dragging Angel behind it, so we're left with a more scary version of our bullpen including Marmol, Grabow, Caridid (for a couple weeks anyway), Marshall, and...and....Crap...
I hold out hope for John Grabow - maybe not 4 million dollars of hope, but hope. He did a pretty good job with the club last year after his acquisition. Caridad is making a good show of himself in camp this year, but it's Spring training in Arizona - not exactly a good guage for a set up man. Oh Jimmy why did you not get Putz or Capps. Either one of them would be a welcome addition to what we have now. Eh well. I'm sure it will contribute to what is destined to be a frustratingly boring and uninspired 84 win season.
But I still can't wait for baseball to start!
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Chicago was a perfect fit for MB
So everyone in the world has been saying that Chicago was not the best fit for Milton. I disagree. I think Chicago was the perfect place for Milton. Here's why:
Chicago has a lot of media and fans who will listen to the sh*t dribbling out of his mouth. Heck, even now that he's gone, he's still getting airwaves on Chicago's dime. The NY Post, or Times, or whatever (it's all F'ing New York), and now ESPN are giving Milton the opportunity to continue to spout his drivel, because in Seattle, no one pays attention long enough to care. What Milton didn't realize was, he blew his load too soon.
He had a full three years to spout, and could've gone on unabated if he'd just paced himself. Ya know? Year one could've been about how uncomfortable he was, then year two, he could've brought up how no one in the club house likes him. By year three, his walk year, he could've brought up the racist hype and honestly, even after he resigned somewhere else with someone who could "change" him, he would've so incensed the crowd here he could've ridden that train until 2020 - on 20/20 no less.
Too bad we missed all that...
Chicago has a lot of media and fans who will listen to the sh*t dribbling out of his mouth. Heck, even now that he's gone, he's still getting airwaves on Chicago's dime. The NY Post, or Times, or whatever (it's all F'ing New York), and now ESPN are giving Milton the opportunity to continue to spout his drivel, because in Seattle, no one pays attention long enough to care. What Milton didn't realize was, he blew his load too soon.
He had a full three years to spout, and could've gone on unabated if he'd just paced himself. Ya know? Year one could've been about how uncomfortable he was, then year two, he could've brought up how no one in the club house likes him. By year three, his walk year, he could've brought up the racist hype and honestly, even after he resigned somewhere else with someone who could "change" him, he would've so incensed the crowd here he could've ridden that train until 2020 - on 20/20 no less.
Too bad we missed all that...
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Spring training....meh
So Spring Training games are here at last. Words cannot express how happy I am that we can all watch and listen to live baseball again. Words cannot express it, because I simply do not care. These games don't mean anything, and I frankly stress myself out enough during the regular season, so when it comes to Spring training, I really, really don't care. Hang on. Let me try to care.
Nope. Not working. I care about Spring Training games just a hair more than rugby games in the outback between two aboriginal tribes. The only, small, incomprehensible way this affects my life in the slightest is that now the Cubs reporters are back to their full time jobs so there's more to read and digest. But honestly, I won't care until April. That's when I go all in. Wait. I think I feel some excitement building....nope false alarm. Burrito....
Nope. Not working. I care about Spring Training games just a hair more than rugby games in the outback between two aboriginal tribes. The only, small, incomprehensible way this affects my life in the slightest is that now the Cubs reporters are back to their full time jobs so there's more to read and digest. But honestly, I won't care until April. That's when I go all in. Wait. I think I feel some excitement building....nope false alarm. Burrito....
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Maybe they won't be so bad....
Ok, let's be clear about something. The 2010 Chicago Cubs will not suck. Not like Pirates or Royals kind of sucking anyway. Cubs fans, we loves our dramas. So while we all curse and rail that this team will be so bad, yeah well, they could be worse. Far worse.
So let's be realists here. The Cubs are looking to be a probably slightly higher than .500 team at this point. And that's probably the worst of it. Not so bad that we get to really complain about it (not with any real leg to stand on anyway), but not good enough to overtake the Cardinals or possibly the Boo-hoo Crew. Our 2010 Cubbies are probably gonna be ridiculously average. And that's the really sad part. Expectations are so high after 2003, 2007, and 2008, that the "average" that would've been welcome relief in the 80's and 90's is torture in the 2000's.
I'd write more, but I'm tired and need a nap....
So let's be realists here. The Cubs are looking to be a probably slightly higher than .500 team at this point. And that's probably the worst of it. Not so bad that we get to really complain about it (not with any real leg to stand on anyway), but not good enough to overtake the Cardinals or possibly the Boo-hoo Crew. Our 2010 Cubbies are probably gonna be ridiculously average. And that's the really sad part. Expectations are so high after 2003, 2007, and 2008, that the "average" that would've been welcome relief in the 80's and 90's is torture in the 2000's.
I'd write more, but I'm tired and need a nap....
Friday, February 19, 2010
Zambrano's fuse....
A couple of other folks have sounded off on this piece by Danny McWhackadoodle of Chicago Tribune and WSOX fame.
Ok first of all, Danny Mac does not (nor anyone else at the southside radio station) keep secret about his baseball allegiance in this town. I can only imagine the whiplash caused by the double take when McNeal handed this piece to his editor - "You're writing about what?"
While we're on the subject, Dan McNeil ranting about someone else's temper is like Hitler saying "I don't know, that's a little harsh." Maybe we shouldn't be listening to the guy that was both suspended and fired by a certain other sports radio station within a year.
You want tantrums and general stupidity Danny? I'd suggest you tune into WSOX from 9-1 every weekday.
Ok first of all, Danny Mac does not (nor anyone else at the southside radio station) keep secret about his baseball allegiance in this town. I can only imagine the whiplash caused by the double take when McNeal handed this piece to his editor - "You're writing about what?"
While we're on the subject, Dan McNeil ranting about someone else's temper is like Hitler saying "I don't know, that's a little harsh." Maybe we shouldn't be listening to the guy that was both suspended and fired by a certain other sports radio station within a year.
You want tantrums and general stupidity Danny? I'd suggest you tune into WSOX from 9-1 every weekday.
Today is the day!
All the off-season moves, the excitement, the wonder, the Wrigley renovations, it's all so mesmerizing. It's inspired my wife and I to plan our summer very carefully and map out everything we want to see from this year. It's so exciting and so motivating. I've got my two computers here. I'm pushing for a personal best 120 virtual waiting rooms. Everything is ready. Everything is planned for our....
2 games.
2 games.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Spring is in the air...So the hell what?
This is my obligatory "Pitchers and Catchers" blog posting - everyone needs one. So here's mine. Since it's officially time to look forward to the season, here's what I'm looking forward to.
A completely forgettable season. There won't be any controversy, no great events, no horrible events. The Cubs will probably finish second or third, or whatever ain't first. There will be highs and lows. A walk-off against the Cardinals. A walk off by the Cardinals. The Sox will make us grab our ankles when they show up with Peavy, Buehrle (or whoever you spell his name - how about Bueller?), Danks, Damon, Quentin, etc.
People will talk and rant about how Zambrano is a nut case, he needs to be traded, Lee should be traded, Theriot should be traded, where's Castro, what the hell is Castro doing here, we miss the Hoff, blah blah. We will search for something to get excited about - good or bad - and the best we'll come up with will be something Carlos Silva's mom says.
Gonna be boring folks. Strap in and enjoy the virtually flat ride.
But in the meantime, here's some obscenity-laced Metallica for you:
A completely forgettable season. There won't be any controversy, no great events, no horrible events. The Cubs will probably finish second or third, or whatever ain't first. There will be highs and lows. A walk-off against the Cardinals. A walk off by the Cardinals. The Sox will make us grab our ankles when they show up with Peavy, Buehrle (or whoever you spell his name - how about Bueller?), Danks, Damon, Quentin, etc.
People will talk and rant about how Zambrano is a nut case, he needs to be traded, Lee should be traded, Theriot should be traded, where's Castro, what the hell is Castro doing here, we miss the Hoff, blah blah. We will search for something to get excited about - good or bad - and the best we'll come up with will be something Carlos Silva's mom says.
Gonna be boring folks. Strap in and enjoy the virtually flat ride.
But in the meantime, here's some obscenity-laced Metallica for you:
Friday, February 12, 2010
Not so much "Presale" as it is a "sale"
The Cubs announced recently that fans will have the "opportunity" to purchase individual game tickets before everyone else during their "pre-sale" starting February 15th at 10am and going through noon on Feb 18th. For the privilege of buying tickets before everyone else, you need only pay 20% above face value. Ok - a couple of things:
1. If everyone can buy tickets during the "pre-sale", it's a SALE. Just call it what it is. There's not unique opportunity here. Everyone is invited. If you want the good seats, you gotta pay the good prices.
2. There's a business model that generates profit by inflating ticket prices of good seats and selling them above face value. It's called "scalping". Once again call it what it is.
Long story short - either fans are getting screwed or fans are getting screwed. Either you pay the inflated prices for the good games. Or you pay the regular prices for the games nobody cares about. Oh wait, they already have that in the tier system. So wait. I'm confused.
Long story short, I've only heard about the Cubs doing this which means they're the only franchise with the balls to try and pull it off. It's sad that withholding my money is the only way to protest which only means I'm depriving myself of the experience while 20,000,000 other lackeys step into my place.
1. If everyone can buy tickets during the "pre-sale", it's a SALE. Just call it what it is. There's not unique opportunity here. Everyone is invited. If you want the good seats, you gotta pay the good prices.
2. There's a business model that generates profit by inflating ticket prices of good seats and selling them above face value. It's called "scalping". Once again call it what it is.
Long story short - either fans are getting screwed or fans are getting screwed. Either you pay the inflated prices for the good games. Or you pay the regular prices for the games nobody cares about. Oh wait, they already have that in the tier system. So wait. I'm confused.
Long story short, I've only heard about the Cubs doing this which means they're the only franchise with the balls to try and pull it off. It's sad that withholding my money is the only way to protest which only means I'm depriving myself of the experience while 20,000,000 other lackeys step into my place.
Saturday, February 6, 2010
I fought the law, and I won....
I apologize to all my readers, er ok, both my readers, but this is neither "one minute" nor Cubs.
Shawn Wasson, a.k.a. "The News Junkie" was broadcasting his usual show on Saturday morning. He was reporting a story in which a principal sent a student home for wearing the wrong jersey to school. According to Wasson, The principal singled the student out in class, berated the student publicly, then denied the student his education by sending him home for supporting the wrong team. He and I needed to have a chat - Email sent:
Greetings News Junkie,
I happened across your radio program on my lunch break earlier, and unfortunately, did not have time to call in - 30 minutes just isn't as long as it used to be. You were discussing the merits of a principal sending home a 17 year old student for wearing a Colts jersey on Black and Gold day. So I found the following story, and wanted to comment on your position:
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,584975,00.html?test=latestnews
First of all, while requiring student to wear uniforms is not a popular stance among the students, one could easily argue that wearing standard uniforms in an academic environment is considered a normal practice by schools across the country. The theories behind adherence to a dress code range from child safety to student focus on curriculum. Whether or not the practice of a dress code policy is right or not is not in question here. The problem comes when the school relaxes those policies for whatever reason.
According to the news article, "A Livingston Parish School Board member said Frost wasn't sent home, but was told he couldn't wear the blue jersey at school. Keith Martin, whose district includes Maurepas, said the school uniform had been relaxed only for black and gold."
Please note the two phrases - "Frost wasn't sent home" and "the school uniform had been relaxed only for black and gold". It is not uncommon for schools to allow "Dress down days" or similar practices for special events such as fundraisers, sports teams, school spirit, etc. In this case, the school relaxed their policies to support the New Orleans Saints team in the Super bowl. The school did not require any student to wear the Saints' colors. It offered them the option.
The article goes on -
"According to Martin, a friend of Brandon Frost's had asked Vampran on Thursday whether Brandon could wear a Colts jersey, and had been told "no."" - self explanatory
"During a class on Thursday, Frost said, he talked about his plans to wear his jersey rather than Saints colors. He said the teacher warned him he'd get in trouble." - Self explanatory. He's been told no twice.
"Larry Frost said he didn't know about that when Brandon asked Thursday whether he could wear the jersey. He said he told his son to come home if he was hassled too much." - Sounds like Dad is the one sending him home.
"Brandon Frost said Vampran called him out of his first class Friday and told him, "I don't recall saying you could wear a Colts jersey on Black-and-Gold Day."" - 100% accurate. The Principal did not say the student could wear "any jersey". - Please note "Called him out of his class" - he did not confront the student in front of other students as you suggested on your show.
""He started to get angry with me," Frost said. "I thought I remember him saying, 'If you like Indiana so much, why don't you go back?"'" What? You mean a principal got upset when a student - who had already been told he was wrong twice - started mouthing off to him about a jersey. I particularly like the sentence "I thought I remember him saying..." You mean as opposed to "You're going to have to change shirts"?
Then Dad, decides to call the ACLU about this affront to his son's free speech. This isn't free speech. This is a t-shirt. This is a dress code. Even the ACLU doesn't want to take that one on.
I could frankly go on and on, but at the end of the day, when you send your child to school, you are not buying "an education". You are paying for the teachers to dispense knowledge at a facility. This facility has rules and regulations for a reason. Flagrant disregard of these rules make for a hostile learning environment. Teachers have a hard enough time teaching. Telling 17 year old kids that they do not have to honor those rules that are put place to facilitate learning only leads to a breakdown in the learning process - more so than asking a kid to change his shirt or go home.
I am willing to concede that perhaps the principal did say the remark about going back to Indiana, only because as the article state, he acknowledged that he should not have done so. If so, that was wrong. But not ACLU wrong. However inappropriate, I can only guess what equally inappropriate/downright offensive things the student in questions must've said in the exchange. You'll notice those quotes were left out of the paper.
Bottom line: even if this dress code policy was not written down or set in stone, two things remain clear:
1. The student was told no, 2 1/2 times. Twice in school, and one half when the father admitted that there may be trouble. While he didn't say it wasn't allowed, granting permission to come home if there's trouble seems to be at least a tacit acknowledgement that this is not - for lack of better words - "a good idea"
2. The student clearly violated the spirit of the rule. Black and gold day was clearly meant to celebrate the home town's team and their accomplishment. Not only did the student violate that rule, he completely went in the opposite direction. I somehow think that if the students were told to wear school colors, and this student wore something not in the school colors and he were sent home, this would not be an issue.
This was a 17 year old kid flagrantly violating a rule, and being allowed to do so by his parents, the neighborhood, the newspaper, and the ACLU. Clearly THAT is the wrong message to be sending - not "my team is better than yours".
Shawn Wasson, a.k.a. "The News Junkie" was broadcasting his usual show on Saturday morning. He was reporting a story in which a principal sent a student home for wearing the wrong jersey to school. According to Wasson, The principal singled the student out in class, berated the student publicly, then denied the student his education by sending him home for supporting the wrong team. He and I needed to have a chat - Email sent:
Greetings News Junkie,
I happened across your radio program on my lunch break earlier, and unfortunately, did not have time to call in - 30 minutes just isn't as long as it used to be. You were discussing the merits of a principal sending home a 17 year old student for wearing a Colts jersey on Black and Gold day. So I found the following story, and wanted to comment on your position:
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,584975,00.html?test=latestnews
First of all, while requiring student to wear uniforms is not a popular stance among the students, one could easily argue that wearing standard uniforms in an academic environment is considered a normal practice by schools across the country. The theories behind adherence to a dress code range from child safety to student focus on curriculum. Whether or not the practice of a dress code policy is right or not is not in question here. The problem comes when the school relaxes those policies for whatever reason.
According to the news article, "A Livingston Parish School Board member said Frost wasn't sent home, but was told he couldn't wear the blue jersey at school. Keith Martin, whose district includes Maurepas, said the school uniform had been relaxed only for black and gold."
Please note the two phrases - "Frost wasn't sent home" and "the school uniform had been relaxed only for black and gold". It is not uncommon for schools to allow "Dress down days" or similar practices for special events such as fundraisers, sports teams, school spirit, etc. In this case, the school relaxed their policies to support the New Orleans Saints team in the Super bowl. The school did not require any student to wear the Saints' colors. It offered them the option.
The article goes on -
"According to Martin, a friend of Brandon Frost's had asked Vampran on Thursday whether Brandon could wear a Colts jersey, and had been told "no."" - self explanatory
"During a class on Thursday, Frost said, he talked about his plans to wear his jersey rather than Saints colors. He said the teacher warned him he'd get in trouble." - Self explanatory. He's been told no twice.
"Larry Frost said he didn't know about that when Brandon asked Thursday whether he could wear the jersey. He said he told his son to come home if he was hassled too much." - Sounds like Dad is the one sending him home.
"Brandon Frost said Vampran called him out of his first class Friday and told him, "I don't recall saying you could wear a Colts jersey on Black-and-Gold Day."" - 100% accurate. The Principal did not say the student could wear "any jersey". - Please note "Called him out of his class" - he did not confront the student in front of other students as you suggested on your show.
""He started to get angry with me," Frost said. "I thought I remember him saying, 'If you like Indiana so much, why don't you go back?"'" What? You mean a principal got upset when a student - who had already been told he was wrong twice - started mouthing off to him about a jersey. I particularly like the sentence "I thought I remember him saying..." You mean as opposed to "You're going to have to change shirts"?
Then Dad, decides to call the ACLU about this affront to his son's free speech. This isn't free speech. This is a t-shirt. This is a dress code. Even the ACLU doesn't want to take that one on.
I could frankly go on and on, but at the end of the day, when you send your child to school, you are not buying "an education". You are paying for the teachers to dispense knowledge at a facility. This facility has rules and regulations for a reason. Flagrant disregard of these rules make for a hostile learning environment. Teachers have a hard enough time teaching. Telling 17 year old kids that they do not have to honor those rules that are put place to facilitate learning only leads to a breakdown in the learning process - more so than asking a kid to change his shirt or go home.
I am willing to concede that perhaps the principal did say the remark about going back to Indiana, only because as the article state, he acknowledged that he should not have done so. If so, that was wrong. But not ACLU wrong. However inappropriate, I can only guess what equally inappropriate/downright offensive things the student in questions must've said in the exchange. You'll notice those quotes were left out of the paper.
Bottom line: even if this dress code policy was not written down or set in stone, two things remain clear:
1. The student was told no, 2 1/2 times. Twice in school, and one half when the father admitted that there may be trouble. While he didn't say it wasn't allowed, granting permission to come home if there's trouble seems to be at least a tacit acknowledgement that this is not - for lack of better words - "a good idea"
2. The student clearly violated the spirit of the rule. Black and gold day was clearly meant to celebrate the home town's team and their accomplishment. Not only did the student violate that rule, he completely went in the opposite direction. I somehow think that if the students were told to wear school colors, and this student wore something not in the school colors and he were sent home, this would not be an issue.
This was a 17 year old kid flagrantly violating a rule, and being allowed to do so by his parents, the neighborhood, the newspaper, and the ACLU. Clearly THAT is the wrong message to be sending - not "my team is better than yours".
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Hey you, Ryan, yeah you. Come here....
Don't get me wrong kid - you're kinda cute in a "I won't throw the puppy out in the cold unless he chews my mattress" kinda way. But beyond that, you're a slap hitter and an average fielder. Not exactly the gateway to Jeterdom ya know?
So lighten up kid. You're gonna lose, and lose bad. Take whatever bone the Cubs are throwin' ya and run away like a bandit, because that is probably the best steal you'll get all year without being picked off.
This is yet another example of the written word that I wish could be spoken word because it comes off in my head so much better than it looks.
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
An open letter to WGN RE: Steve Cochran
Dear WGN,
This Blackhawks season has brought to light something that concerns me. Something that I'm afraid will continue into the Cubs season. It seems whenever a sports team who broadcasts on WGN has a game following Steve's show, for whatever reason Steve Cochran is given the go-ahead to broadcast remotely from that location. It would seem that along with that permission also comes permission to drink heavily, become an ass, and generally become less funny than he is on a normal night - no easy feat.
Just why Steve is given the green-light to drink like a catholic priest just before a courtroom appearance while on the air is a mystery, but when the listener can't tell who's further under the table - the host, or Bobby Hull - that's a problem.
Since we're on the topic, if there's any other way to reduce the frequency of the daily 6:30 "Steve's not-as-funny-as-me friends" segments featuring Patti Vasquez and Mark DeCarlo or the bi-weekly Wine "Diva" visits with the same dipsh*ts calling and asking the same dipsh*t questions ("No you should not drink the red wine that's been sitting in your attic since 1692.") it'd be very much appreciated.
I'd go on, but Steve just said something that made me throw up in my mouth a little bit.
Love,
OMC
This Blackhawks season has brought to light something that concerns me. Something that I'm afraid will continue into the Cubs season. It seems whenever a sports team who broadcasts on WGN has a game following Steve's show, for whatever reason Steve Cochran is given the go-ahead to broadcast remotely from that location. It would seem that along with that permission also comes permission to drink heavily, become an ass, and generally become less funny than he is on a normal night - no easy feat.
Just why Steve is given the green-light to drink like a catholic priest just before a courtroom appearance while on the air is a mystery, but when the listener can't tell who's further under the table - the host, or Bobby Hull - that's a problem.
Since we're on the topic, if there's any other way to reduce the frequency of the daily 6:30 "Steve's not-as-funny-as-me friends" segments featuring Patti Vasquez and Mark DeCarlo or the bi-weekly Wine "Diva" visits with the same dipsh*ts calling and asking the same dipsh*t questions ("No you should not drink the red wine that's been sitting in your attic since 1692.") it'd be very much appreciated.
I'd go on, but Steve just said something that made me throw up in my mouth a little bit.
Love,
OMC
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Wild speculation and random thoughts...
Dear Jim Hendry,
I write this letter to you without any specific information, leads, or frankly knowledge, but for what it's worth...
Bakernot, aka the Baker/Fontenot combo is not a good enough second baseman for a team hoping to win a championship, which if I remember correctly, is on your to-do list. One name that is out there that remains a very viable option is switch hitting Orlando Hudson. You remember him - the second baseman for the Dodgers who went to the playoffs the last two years? Anyway, he would be a very good left handed option for a very right handed hitting team. Not that lefty/righty matters, and the fact that he is a switch hitter is not why you should sign him. The fact that he's better than FonteBake is why you should sign him.
You mentioned a desire to add a veteran reliever to the bullpen. You can still accomplish this by trading the now-unemployed Fontenot, and the un-utilized Jeff Samardawhosits, and perhaps several hundred other young pitchers waiting in the minors since inexplicably that seems to be the only position farm system employs.
Anyway, that's about all I have to say here. Seems like if you have only one signing left in you, make it a significant upgrade, not another piece of a puzzle that already has too many pieces.
Love,
OMC and just about everyone else.
I write this letter to you without any specific information, leads, or frankly knowledge, but for what it's worth...
Bakernot, aka the Baker/Fontenot combo is not a good enough second baseman for a team hoping to win a championship, which if I remember correctly, is on your to-do list. One name that is out there that remains a very viable option is switch hitting Orlando Hudson. You remember him - the second baseman for the Dodgers who went to the playoffs the last two years? Anyway, he would be a very good left handed option for a very right handed hitting team. Not that lefty/righty matters, and the fact that he is a switch hitter is not why you should sign him. The fact that he's better than FonteBake is why you should sign him.
You mentioned a desire to add a veteran reliever to the bullpen. You can still accomplish this by trading the now-unemployed Fontenot, and the un-utilized Jeff Samardawhosits, and perhaps several hundred other young pitchers waiting in the minors since inexplicably that seems to be the only position farm system employs.
Anyway, that's about all I have to say here. Seems like if you have only one signing left in you, make it a significant upgrade, not another piece of a puzzle that already has too many pieces.
Love,
OMC and just about everyone else.
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Blackhawks Game Twitter Feed
This is just a collection of twitter updates from when I went to the Blackhawks Game on Dec 27th - A dramatic last minute win over the Predators. I've been asked about it, so I thought I'd consolidate. Hey, I'm a Hawks fan too...
Going to the #Blackhawks game tonight, courtesy of my BIL - 9 rows back from the glass. Will update frequently 2nite. Stay tuned.
11:37 AM Dec 27th, 2009 from web
@aleagueofherown I'll make sure to snap off a few twit pics for you all.
11:41 AM Dec 27th, 2009 from TwitterGadget in reply to aleagueofherown
http://twitpic.com/vicgr - Ticket = awesome
5:11 PM Dec 27th, 2009 from TwitPic
http://twitpic.com/vicsy - The view from the seats.
5:13 PM Dec 27th, 2009 from TwitPic
http://twitpic.com/vid7f - Damn...that goal is small. Another view from the seat
5:15 PM Dec 27th, 2009 from TwitPic
http://twitpic.com/vif7m - It's a Madhouse....Or so they claim....It's a Madhouse.....I'm insaaaaaaaane!
5:28 PM Dec 27th, 2009 from TwitPic
http://twitpic.com/vifzl - Hawks take the field...er...ice...Still getting used to this whole hockey thing
5:33 PM Dec 27th, 2009 from TwitPic
http://twitpic.com/vih1q - #NIN at a #Blackhawks game....sweet.
5:39 PM Dec 27th, 2009 from TwitPic
http://twitpic.com/vijjj - Asked my BIL if he wanted to trade seats with me. Not surprisingly he said yes...
5:55 PM Dec 27th, 2009 from TwitPic
For those of you on a quest to find seats narrower than the ones at Wrigley - found 'em
5:57 PM Dec 27th, 2009 from txt
Games on. It's.....quiet.
6:10 PM Dec 27th, 2009 from txt
http://twitpic.com/vim4s - Hell of a show so far. Game hasn't evwn started yet. Niemi in goal.
6:11 PM Dec 27th, 2009 from TwitPic
http://twitpic.com/vimkm - Vince Vaughn drops the first puck.
6:14 PM Dec 27th, 2009 from TwitPic
I guess 20,000 people don't make that much noise anymore...
6:20 PM Dec 27th, 2009 from txt
For as loud as this place is during the national anthem - and I'm all for tradition don't get me wrong- I'm sitting in a freakin library now
6:32 PM Dec 27th, 2009 from txt
1-1 going into the first intermission. Good times
6:40 PM Dec 27th, 2009 from txt
http://twitpic.com/viwfi - Parking is a b*tch down at the U C
7:15 PM Dec 27th, 2009 from TwitPic
Neither team is controlling the puck very well. Preds up 2-1
7:16 PM Dec 27th, 2009 from txt
http://twitpic.com/viyd5 - There's my excuse to be tweeting all this - Ryno's here!
7:28 PM Dec 27th, 2009 from TwitPic
2nd intermission. Still down 2-1. I suspect this will only be temporary.
7:35 PM Dec 27th, 2009 from txt
It just occurred to me that my 3 year old son will be driving by the time Duncan Keith's contract is up
7:41 PM Dec 27th, 2009 from txt
http://twitpic.com/vj2c8 - Faceoff before the #Blackhawks start the powerplay
7:55 PM Dec 27th, 2009 from TwitPic
Maddon ties it in a breakaway goal! 2-2
7:56 PM Dec 27th, 2009 from txt
#Blackhawks on the power play. 10 min remaining
8:01 PM Dec 27th, 2009 from txt
http://twitpic.com/vj3wa - Another action shot of the #Blackhawks whiffing on the Power Play
8:05 PM Dec 27th, 2009 from TwitPic
Hat's in hand just waiting for Maddon's third. #Blackhawks up 3-2
8:07 PM Dec 27th, 2009 from txt
Damn Power Play only lasted 15 seconds. #Blackhawks up 4-2
8:09 PM Dec 27th, 2009 from txt
Predators blow goats, but still manage to score. #Blackhawks up 4-3
8:13 PM Dec 27th, 2009 from txt
Argh. 4-4
8:13 PM Dec 27th, 2009 from txt
Patrick Kane's 2nd goal is the game winner. 45 seconds not enough for Preds to come back
8:23 PM Dec 27th, 2009 from txt
The hunters become the hunted #Blackhawks win 5 - 4
8:27 PM Dec 27th, 2009 from txt
http://twitpic.com/vj7o4 - Patrick Kane is the #Blackhawks number 1 star of the game
8:29 PM Dec 27th, 2009 from TwitPic
http://twitpic.com/vj7uk - Crowd goes apesh*t and gets a craving for Amstel on Maddon's second goal. #Blackhawks up 3-2
8:30 PM Dec 27th, 2009 from TwitPic
Leaving the #Blackhawks game. Phew. Great game.
8:38 PM Dec 27th, 2009 from txt
Seeing the #Blackhawks win so dramatically tonight allowed me to forget how freakin' miserable I'll be come April...
10:23 PM Dec 27th, 2009 from TwitterGadget
Great game.....
Going to the #Blackhawks game tonight, courtesy of my BIL - 9 rows back from the glass. Will update frequently 2nite. Stay tuned.
11:37 AM Dec 27th, 2009 from web
@aleagueofherown I'll make sure to snap off a few twit pics for you all.
11:41 AM Dec 27th, 2009 from TwitterGadget in reply to aleagueofherown
http://twitpic.com/vicgr - Ticket = awesome
5:11 PM Dec 27th, 2009 from TwitPic
http://twitpic.com/vicsy - The view from the seats.
5:13 PM Dec 27th, 2009 from TwitPic
http://twitpic.com/vid7f - Damn...that goal is small. Another view from the seat
5:15 PM Dec 27th, 2009 from TwitPic
http://twitpic.com/vif7m - It's a Madhouse....Or so they claim....It's a Madhouse.....I'm insaaaaaaaane!
5:28 PM Dec 27th, 2009 from TwitPic
http://twitpic.com/vifzl - Hawks take the field...er...ice...Still getting used to this whole hockey thing
5:33 PM Dec 27th, 2009 from TwitPic
http://twitpic.com/vih1q - #NIN at a #Blackhawks game....sweet.
5:39 PM Dec 27th, 2009 from TwitPic
http://twitpic.com/vijjj - Asked my BIL if he wanted to trade seats with me. Not surprisingly he said yes...
5:55 PM Dec 27th, 2009 from TwitPic
For those of you on a quest to find seats narrower than the ones at Wrigley - found 'em
5:57 PM Dec 27th, 2009 from txt
Games on. It's.....quiet.
6:10 PM Dec 27th, 2009 from txt
http://twitpic.com/vim4s - Hell of a show so far. Game hasn't evwn started yet. Niemi in goal.
6:11 PM Dec 27th, 2009 from TwitPic
http://twitpic.com/vimkm - Vince Vaughn drops the first puck.
6:14 PM Dec 27th, 2009 from TwitPic
I guess 20,000 people don't make that much noise anymore...
6:20 PM Dec 27th, 2009 from txt
For as loud as this place is during the national anthem - and I'm all for tradition don't get me wrong- I'm sitting in a freakin library now
6:32 PM Dec 27th, 2009 from txt
1-1 going into the first intermission. Good times
6:40 PM Dec 27th, 2009 from txt
http://twitpic.com/viwfi - Parking is a b*tch down at the U C
7:15 PM Dec 27th, 2009 from TwitPic
Neither team is controlling the puck very well. Preds up 2-1
7:16 PM Dec 27th, 2009 from txt
http://twitpic.com/viyd5 - There's my excuse to be tweeting all this - Ryno's here!
7:28 PM Dec 27th, 2009 from TwitPic
2nd intermission. Still down 2-1. I suspect this will only be temporary.
7:35 PM Dec 27th, 2009 from txt
It just occurred to me that my 3 year old son will be driving by the time Duncan Keith's contract is up
7:41 PM Dec 27th, 2009 from txt
http://twitpic.com/vj2c8 - Faceoff before the #Blackhawks start the powerplay
7:55 PM Dec 27th, 2009 from TwitPic
Maddon ties it in a breakaway goal! 2-2
7:56 PM Dec 27th, 2009 from txt
#Blackhawks on the power play. 10 min remaining
8:01 PM Dec 27th, 2009 from txt
http://twitpic.com/vj3wa - Another action shot of the #Blackhawks whiffing on the Power Play
8:05 PM Dec 27th, 2009 from TwitPic
Hat's in hand just waiting for Maddon's third. #Blackhawks up 3-2
8:07 PM Dec 27th, 2009 from txt
Damn Power Play only lasted 15 seconds. #Blackhawks up 4-2
8:09 PM Dec 27th, 2009 from txt
Predators blow goats, but still manage to score. #Blackhawks up 4-3
8:13 PM Dec 27th, 2009 from txt
Argh. 4-4
8:13 PM Dec 27th, 2009 from txt
Patrick Kane's 2nd goal is the game winner. 45 seconds not enough for Preds to come back
8:23 PM Dec 27th, 2009 from txt
The hunters become the hunted #Blackhawks win 5 - 4
8:27 PM Dec 27th, 2009 from txt
http://twitpic.com/vj7o4 - Patrick Kane is the #Blackhawks number 1 star of the game
8:29 PM Dec 27th, 2009 from TwitPic
http://twitpic.com/vj7uk - Crowd goes apesh*t and gets a craving for Amstel on Maddon's second goal. #Blackhawks up 3-2
8:30 PM Dec 27th, 2009 from TwitPic
Leaving the #Blackhawks game. Phew. Great game.
8:38 PM Dec 27th, 2009 from txt
Seeing the #Blackhawks win so dramatically tonight allowed me to forget how freakin' miserable I'll be come April...
10:23 PM Dec 27th, 2009 from TwitterGadget
Great game.....
Friday, January 15, 2010
The Cubs conventions is here.
Yay. Now we get to sit in on panels and lsiten to players and management explain why Marlon Byrd and Carlos Silva are the biggest moves that will happen. Yay. Of course, I won't be there. I gotta work. But heck someone will be there and someone will be listening. Most will probably be happy, brimming with optimism because the Mistake is finally gone. Don't get me wrong, I have no problem with the circumstances of his departure. But gall-dern this season is going to suck big donkey balloons.
I'll be meeting up with some of my tweeps tonight at Kitty O'Shea's restaurant in the Hilton. So that part won't suck......
....probably.
I'll be meeting up with some of my tweeps tonight at Kitty O'Shea's restaurant in the Hilton. So that part won't suck......
....probably.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Say it ain't so, Mark. We'd know you were lying, but still
Mark McGuire came out yesterday and told everyone in the world that the sky is blue. No wait. He confessed the shocking revelation the cigarettes are bad for you. Actually, come to think of it, he said he used steriods - You can understand how it'd get all these common-knowledge type facts confused. But here's the worst part about the tearful confession of Mark's last night.
We listened.
Why did anyone waste the resources to put a camera in front of this head-inflated buffoon and give him yet another 15 minutes? Are we that desparate for another Jose Canseco interview? Has this offseason been so ridiculously boring with the Curtis Granderson deal being the top story that we need another 12 weeks of steroids talk? C'mon MLB network. When Marty McGuire called you and said, "I want to confess about using steroids", why was your answer anything but "Get back to us when you have something newsworthy"?
Just one final thought - Hey Albert. Don't let this guy touch you.
We listened.
Why did anyone waste the resources to put a camera in front of this head-inflated buffoon and give him yet another 15 minutes? Are we that desparate for another Jose Canseco interview? Has this offseason been so ridiculously boring with the Curtis Granderson deal being the top story that we need another 12 weeks of steroids talk? C'mon MLB network. When Marty McGuire called you and said, "I want to confess about using steroids", why was your answer anything but "Get back to us when you have something newsworthy"?
Just one final thought - Hey Albert. Don't let this guy touch you.
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Hawk in the Hall and other alliterations...
Andre Dawson was annouced today as the only inductee in today's vote for the Baseball Hall of Fame. Some notable exclusions include Roberto Alomar and Burt Blylevin. This is by the way, the only commentary you'll hear today about the HoF induction. Andre Dawson actually making it in is the afterthought. But of course, he played for the Cubs and will probably be wearing the hat of a team that no longer exists, or the pariah of the national sports media scene.
The exclamation point to this absurdidty came from the Boers and Bernstein show (hereafter referred to as "dipshit and dork") on WSOX. One caller called in with the audactiy to question the lofty D&D's derision of Dawson's induction, and was promptly screamed at, in typical D&D fashion and hung up on. Finally, Bernstein made the comment that the Hall of Fame "no longer has any meaning" to him and how "they'll let anybody in". Excuse me, but Mark McGuire and Manny Ramirez tend to disagree.
Now I apologize that no White Sox players worthy of induction retired up to 20 years ago, let alone 5, but still, please just acknowledge a great player and go on with your pointless Bears ramblings about a new offensive coordinator and the same ineffective line.
The exclamation point to this absurdidty came from the Boers and Bernstein show (hereafter referred to as "dipshit and dork") on WSOX. One caller called in with the audactiy to question the lofty D&D's derision of Dawson's induction, and was promptly screamed at, in typical D&D fashion and hung up on. Finally, Bernstein made the comment that the Hall of Fame "no longer has any meaning" to him and how "they'll let anybody in". Excuse me, but Mark McGuire and Manny Ramirez tend to disagree.
Now I apologize that no White Sox players worthy of induction retired up to 20 years ago, let alone 5, but still, please just acknowledge a great player and go on with your pointless Bears ramblings about a new offensive coordinator and the same ineffective line.
Saturday, January 2, 2010
All we are saying....Is give Byrd a chance....
Ok folks. We know Marlon isn't Johnny Damon, or Jason Bay, or Mike Cameron. We get that. Marlon should never have been at the top of the off-season wish list. Even when he was signed, he was not the best FA on the market that could help this team. Having said all that however, he is now a Cub. So let's give him a chance.
As good as he won't be, he also, hopefully, won't be too bad. He's going to put up average numbers, and probably, just a touch below average defense. Come to terms with that now. Jim Hendry is a fool if he does not realize.....oh wait...skip that. We already know he's a fool.
So please. No booing. No ripping on the guy because he didn't run down that gapper or because he only hit 12 home runs in 2010. That is what you're going to get. Under normal circumstances, we could celebrate getting a decent player for decent salary. Unfortunately, the decent salary is all we had left, so there's no room for other, cough cough, Tejada, cough improvements. Buckle in Marlon - it's going to be a long summer.
As good as he won't be, he also, hopefully, won't be too bad. He's going to put up average numbers, and probably, just a touch below average defense. Come to terms with that now. Jim Hendry is a fool if he does not realize.....oh wait...skip that. We already know he's a fool.
So please. No booing. No ripping on the guy because he didn't run down that gapper or because he only hit 12 home runs in 2010. That is what you're going to get. Under normal circumstances, we could celebrate getting a decent player for decent salary. Unfortunately, the decent salary is all we had left, so there's no room for other, cough cough, Tejada, cough improvements. Buckle in Marlon - it's going to be a long summer.
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Jim Hendry flips the Byrd to Chicago
I'm really just posting this because I didn't want to be scooped on the headline. MAybe in a bit, I'll have something substantive to write. For now, while I believe Marlon Byrd will be an upgrade over the "Fuld/Colvin/Johnson" alternative, I still beleive that money is getting used up where it should be put toward Hudson or Tejada, each of which would be more of an upgrade over Baker/Fontenot/Theriot.
In the meantime though, I have an awesome headline, so I'll be content with that.
In the meantime though, I have an awesome headline, so I'll be content with that.
Monday, December 21, 2009
I just don't get it
So I was thinking to myself - why are people so up in arms about this Bradley thing that they're upset that we traded him for Silva? So I tried to put an argument together. See boths sides. I could see people rightly thinking that, unlike Silva, Bradley has a much better chance of producing, the Cubs are a statistically weaker team now, and over the past two years, Bradley at his worst far surpassed Silva at his best. Good arguments. But there's one thing that fans don't seem to get but 29 other GM's knew for a fact.
Bradley would never ever do anythi ng productive while wearing a Cubs uniform. Ever. Done. Dead man walking. The ship has sailed. There are too many burned bridges. Actually they weren't burned. They were nuclear testing grounds. Only vapor is left.
Let's say the entire city of Chicago got a mega dose of prozac and was suddenly totally cool with him. Hendry, the Ricketts, the fans, the other Cubs players all said "Hey man, it's cool." What exactly - be specific and cite your sources - about Bradley's personalityt makes you think he's the forgive and forget type? Give me one shred of evidence. I dare you. HE was just as done with us, as we were with him. And nothing Jimmy did would ever convince anyone - fans, team, other GM's included - that this was not the case. No bluffing, no signing big deals, no throwing fatted calfs over the castle walls. Nothing.
You cannot complain that he's still here, then complain when he's gone. You only get to complain about one or the other. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go get Marlon Byrd's welcome reception ready...
P.S. Jim - don't make me put up the "Hudson Watch" in 2010.
Bradley would never ever do anythi ng productive while wearing a Cubs uniform. Ever. Done. Dead man walking. The ship has sailed. There are too many burned bridges. Actually they weren't burned. They were nuclear testing grounds. Only vapor is left.
Let's say the entire city of Chicago got a mega dose of prozac and was suddenly totally cool with him. Hendry, the Ricketts, the fans, the other Cubs players all said "Hey man, it's cool." What exactly - be specific and cite your sources - about Bradley's personalityt makes you think he's the forgive and forget type? Give me one shred of evidence. I dare you. HE was just as done with us, as we were with him. And nothing Jimmy did would ever convince anyone - fans, team, other GM's included - that this was not the case. No bluffing, no signing big deals, no throwing fatted calfs over the castle walls. Nothing.
You cannot complain that he's still here, then complain when he's gone. You only get to complain about one or the other. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go get Marlon Byrd's welcome reception ready...
P.S. Jim - don't make me put up the "Hudson Watch" in 2010.
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Dumb A$$ Things People Have Said About the Cubs 2010 Season
Like our predecessor, constantly updated:
Quote: Hendry on Bradley: "No one could have really predicted how it turned out." Except of course, you know, everybody...
Headline: "Wild 2009 left Cubs looking to recharge" - Yeah, ok. We'll say 'Wild'
1/1 - Headline: "Ten questions facing the Cubs in 2010" Only ten?
1/10 - Headline: "Cubs sign LaHair" - Who gives LaCrap?
1/11 - Headline: Maddux joins Cubs as assistant to GM - Boy won't that be awkward when he wears a Braves hat to the Hall while working for the Cubs
1/21 - Headline: "Ex-Cub Edmonds confirms desire to play again" cough cough Brett-Favre cough
2/13 - Headline: "Hendry: Bad start doomed Bradley" No, birth doomed him.
2/28 - Headline: "Cubs' farm system starting to bear fruit" What's the big deal? It's been producing a bunch of lemons for years!
4/10 - Zambrano on yesterday's game "Basically, it was my first start..." Except, you know, it wasn't. (via @PWSullivan)
4/14 - Headline: "4/14 Soriano: "I like to play nine innings" - Well, we like to win games so you're sh*t outta luck. (via @CarrieMuskat)
4/24 - Headline: "More Milton Bradley: 'I'm as non-violent, non-threatening as they come'" - If by 'non-violent' you mean 'dickhead' then I agree.
5/6 - Headline: Ramirez back hitting fifth in lineup - Well, "hitting" is debatable...
5/16 - Headline: D-Lee: 'We don't come out here everyday to lose' - Damn, that's the one thing I thought you were good at.
6/1 - Headline: Piniella on Cubs' shakeup: 'Too much patience is stupidity' - God you're stupid
6/2 - Headline: Santo in good spirits after going to hospital - Funny, we were in good spirits that he went to the hospital (and was off the air)
6/29 - Headline: "Cubs look to Lilly to deliver win against Pirates" Maybe you should look to Theriot/Lee/Byrd/Soriano/Colvin/Ramirez/Soto/Castro ?
7/12 - Headline: "Cubs, Silva close first half with thud in LA" - I'd say more like a wet squishy splat like a bag full of poop, but ok.
7/16 - Headline: "Cubs send message in rout of Phillies" - Yeah like 'We can hit the crap out of senior citizens'
Quote: Hendry on Bradley: "No one could have really predicted how it turned out." Except of course, you know, everybody...
Headline: "Wild 2009 left Cubs looking to recharge" - Yeah, ok. We'll say 'Wild'
1/1 - Headline: "Ten questions facing the Cubs in 2010" Only ten?
1/10 - Headline: "Cubs sign LaHair" - Who gives LaCrap?
1/11 - Headline: Maddux joins Cubs as assistant to GM - Boy won't that be awkward when he wears a Braves hat to the Hall while working for the Cubs
1/21 - Headline: "Ex-Cub Edmonds confirms desire to play again" cough cough Brett-Favre cough
2/13 - Headline: "Hendry: Bad start doomed Bradley" No, birth doomed him.
2/28 - Headline: "Cubs' farm system starting to bear fruit" What's the big deal? It's been producing a bunch of lemons for years!
4/10 - Zambrano on yesterday's game "Basically, it was my first start..." Except, you know, it wasn't. (via @PWSullivan)
4/14 - Headline: "4/14 Soriano: "I like to play nine innings" - Well, we like to win games so you're sh*t outta luck. (via @CarrieMuskat)
4/24 - Headline: "More Milton Bradley: 'I'm as non-violent, non-threatening as they come'" - If by 'non-violent' you mean 'dickhead' then I agree.
5/6 - Headline: Ramirez back hitting fifth in lineup - Well, "hitting" is debatable...
5/16 - Headline: D-Lee: 'We don't come out here everyday to lose' - Damn, that's the one thing I thought you were good at.
6/1 - Headline: Piniella on Cubs' shakeup: 'Too much patience is stupidity' - God you're stupid
6/2 - Headline: Santo in good spirits after going to hospital - Funny, we were in good spirits that he went to the hospital (and was off the air)
6/29 - Headline: "Cubs look to Lilly to deliver win against Pirates" Maybe you should look to Theriot/Lee/Byrd/Soriano/Colvin/Ramirez/Soto/Castro ?
7/12 - Headline: "Cubs, Silva close first half with thud in LA" - I'd say more like a wet squishy splat like a bag full of poop, but ok.
7/16 - Headline: "Cubs send message in rout of Phillies" - Yeah like 'We can hit the crap out of senior citizens'
Friday, December 18, 2009
Buh bye Milt Buh bye
So there's dancing in the streets of Chicago because the Mistake is gone. Yes we're getting Carlos "look at the pretty ball fly away" Silva. But we're also getting $9 million from the M's. Really? That's a $6 million profit. Yes this will likely turn out bad. But really, anyone who thought this Milt saga would end with anyone in Chicago smiling was a foolish fool who never fooled a fool. Like even more foolish that Jim Hendry.
Trading Milt for anything without eating his entire contract was a plus. We actually made $6 million on the deal. As far as I'm concerned that's brilliant! Not exactly Eric Karros for Todd Hundley, but pretty damn close.
Jim, you have not even come close to redeeming yourself in anyone's eyes. But you managed to turn a ridiculously huge clusterf*ck and turn it into a really stupidly big mistake. That is an upgrade for those keeping score.
Now go get a centerfielder, middle infielder and a bullpen arm.
Trading Milt for anything without eating his entire contract was a plus. We actually made $6 million on the deal. As far as I'm concerned that's brilliant! Not exactly Eric Karros for Todd Hundley, but pretty damn close.
Jim, you have not even come close to redeeming yourself in anyone's eyes. But you managed to turn a ridiculously huge clusterf*ck and turn it into a really stupidly big mistake. That is an upgrade for those keeping score.
Now go get a centerfielder, middle infielder and a bullpen arm.
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Here's what I'd do
For what it's worth - The Cubs need to bolster shortstop/second base, center field, and get an arm in the bull pen. Marlon Byrd is the best option for center field. So really, there are no options for center field. A quick look at the 2010 FA roster, Capps is the best option. So really, there are no options for the bullpen.
Which leaves us second base. There is one guy left on my wish list for second base, and that would be Orlando Hudson. As mentioned earlier, Orlando Hudson is basically a switch hitting Freddie Sanchez. at 283/.357/.417/.774, he's an upgrade over Fontenot and Baker, and he adds balance to the lineup.
One other thought - Miguel Tejada. After a slow start last year, he really picked it up after the first couple of months. He's a decent power bat, and he allows a move by Theriot over to second base - a more natural position for him.
One last thing: Signing the aging Tejada to a short deal - 1-2 years - would allow him to keep the spot warm for dreamy Starlin Castro who will undoubtedly revolutionize the way shortstops play. Tejada can also move over to thrid base when, er I mean if, Ramirez goes does, or worse, opts out of his contract at the end of this season.
Just a thought....
Which leaves us second base. There is one guy left on my wish list for second base, and that would be Orlando Hudson. As mentioned earlier, Orlando Hudson is basically a switch hitting Freddie Sanchez. at 283/.357/.417/.774, he's an upgrade over Fontenot and Baker, and he adds balance to the lineup.
One other thought - Miguel Tejada. After a slow start last year, he really picked it up after the first couple of months. He's a decent power bat, and he allows a move by Theriot over to second base - a more natural position for him.
One last thing: Signing the aging Tejada to a short deal - 1-2 years - would allow him to keep the spot warm for dreamy Starlin Castro who will undoubtedly revolutionize the way shortstops play. Tejada can also move over to thrid base when, er I mean if, Ramirez goes does, or worse, opts out of his contract at the end of this season.
Just a thought....
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Salary Capp?
Gotta love these contradictory back-to-back posts. No more pitchers followed by, hey, let's sign a pitcher!. Matt Capps was not offered a contract by the Pirates. Capps was the Pirates "closer" (in quotes, because c'mon a closer of the Pirates??) and he could be a good plan B after Marmol. In the meantime, he'd be a serviceable addition to the late innings incase Guzman surgically detaches his arm again.
Then again, having Grabow, Capps, and Gorzalanny all on the same pitching staff didn't work out so well for them. I'd view this as a similar situation to Putz. Make an offer in the neighborhood of 1.5-2 mil with an incentive or two, and Viola, there's your non-threatening-to-Marmol-backup-closer. Or in other words, Kevin Gregg II.
Toodles!
Then again, having Grabow, Capps, and Gorzalanny all on the same pitching staff didn't work out so well for them. I'd view this as a similar situation to Putz. Make an offer in the neighborhood of 1.5-2 mil with an incentive or two, and Viola, there's your non-threatening-to-Marmol-backup-closer. Or in other words, Kevin Gregg II.
Toodles!
Friday, December 11, 2009
Not Another one...
Headline: "Cubs trade for minor-league pitcher" Thank God. We don't have NEARLY enough of those.
Seriously. How many minor league pitchers do we need? It seems like, if a starting 8 player goes down, there's panic - who's going to play 1st if Lee goes down? Well, we could move Baker to third, put Aramis at short, have Soriano stand on his head.... but if a pitcher goes down, it's more like - no big deal, we'll just decide between these 16 kids all ready to come up. I know the old saying is, 'You can never have too much pitching' but c'mon guys. We paid 10 million dollars for a minor league pitcher with less innings pitched than Mark Grace.
Enough is enough. Now I know why everyone is so excited about Starlin Castro - he doesn't stand on a mound...
Seriously. How many minor league pitchers do we need? It seems like, if a starting 8 player goes down, there's panic - who's going to play 1st if Lee goes down? Well, we could move Baker to third, put Aramis at short, have Soriano stand on his head.... but if a pitcher goes down, it's more like - no big deal, we'll just decide between these 16 kids all ready to come up. I know the old saying is, 'You can never have too much pitching' but c'mon guys. We paid 10 million dollars for a minor league pitcher with less innings pitched than Mark Grace.
Enough is enough. Now I know why everyone is so excited about Starlin Castro - he doesn't stand on a mound...
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Winter meeting wrapup.
According to Musky the Cub: @CarrieMuskat: #cubs leave Winter Meetings with Milton still on roster. Hendry did talk to agents about FA CFs such as Byrd, Ankiel, Podsednik,
So whoopie. The Yankees get Granderson. Rich Harden said Ta-ta for less money than arbitration would've given him. And the Cubbies puleld off the biggest coup by doing absolutely dick. Methinks we are starting to see what Jimmy the Troll is capable of when his precious checkbook is taken away. And that adds up to a big fat nothing.
Seriously Jim. You had ONE job to do while you were there. Stop quibbling and just take Pat Burrell. Send Tampa all the money they want. Or, use my idea.
Didn't think I was serious about that did ya?
So whoopie. The Yankees get Granderson. Rich Harden said Ta-ta for less money than arbitration would've given him. And the Cubbies puleld off the biggest coup by doing absolutely dick. Methinks we are starting to see what Jimmy the Troll is capable of when his precious checkbook is taken away. And that adds up to a big fat nothing.
Seriously Jim. You had ONE job to do while you were there. Stop quibbling and just take Pat Burrell. Send Tampa all the money they want. Or, use my idea.
Didn't think I was serious about that did ya?
Friday, December 4, 2009
Did you hear that cry?
It was right around dinner time when our beloved Jake Fox packed his bags for Oakland. Unbeknownst to Oakland, inside Jake's handbag, was Aaron Miles. Jake was of course the only reason Oakland agreed to take on Miles. Well, that and their only other viable option at Shortstop is Bobby Crosby - that's a tough call.
Fox burst on the scene back in July-ish and was known for a solid bat, and less-than-solid-more-of-a-mucus-consistency glove. Unfortunately, like the All-State guy back in the 80's, couldn't hit a breaking ball to save his soul. So, overall no big loss. We got a bullpen arm back in the deal - Jeff Gray, who supposedly has a Guzman-like arm - only this one stays attached.
End of the day, we gave up a DH and a bad second baseman. I can live with that. Now all we have to do is unload the Mistake.
Fox burst on the scene back in July-ish and was known for a solid bat, and less-than-solid-more-of-a-mucus-consistency glove. Unfortunately, like the All-State guy back in the 80's, couldn't hit a breaking ball to save his soul. So, overall no big loss. We got a bullpen arm back in the deal - Jeff Gray, who supposedly has a Guzman-like arm - only this one stays attached.
End of the day, we gave up a DH and a bad second baseman. I can live with that. Now all we have to do is unload the Mistake.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Cubs say "No Thanks" to another dominant pitcher.
So the Cubs passed on Arb for the following players -
Kevin Gregg - Heck, he's lucky we didn't shoot him, let alone take a pass on him.
Reed Johnson - On the fence for this one, but honestly Sam Fuld will do a passable job of 4th OF. So no big deal
Rich Harden - I don't get this one at all. Granted he's an injury risk, but I will remind you once more, Richy didn't even think of the DL until the last two weeks of the season. Frankly, I think that was more a ploy to scare off other teams. There was no reason to not offer him Arb this year, just as there was no reason to not offer Wood arb last year. Worst case - he accepts and you pay 8 mil - below market value - for a solid #1/#2 rotation guy.
Damn. That would suck.
Kevin Gregg - Heck, he's lucky we didn't shoot him, let alone take a pass on him.
Reed Johnson - On the fence for this one, but honestly Sam Fuld will do a passable job of 4th OF. So no big deal
Rich Harden - I don't get this one at all. Granted he's an injury risk, but I will remind you once more, Richy didn't even think of the DL until the last two weeks of the season. Frankly, I think that was more a ploy to scare off other teams. There was no reason to not offer him Arb this year, just as there was no reason to not offer Wood arb last year. Worst case - he accepts and you pay 8 mil - below market value - for a solid #1/#2 rotation guy.
Damn. That would suck.
Sunday, November 22, 2009
We promise - they're NOT windscreens!
Headline: Cubs install sign boards in Wrigley Field bleachers as part of dispute with local casino
In the Windscreens, take 2 saga, the Cubs have erected advertising boards in the left field bleachers. This is in accordeance with Tom Rickett's promise to emulate Boston in generating revenue with signboards. Ok cool. But these signboards happen to fall driectly in the line of sight from every camera to the Budweiser, er I mean horseshoe casino building across the way. And guess what - Good. Screw the rooftops.
I remember seeing pictures of a time when watching a game at Wrigley "from the rooftop" meant a bar-b-que and a deck chair. Now, they have reinfocred roofs, gates, ushers, security, and a freakin' petting zoo. I'm frankly sick of these money grubbers stealing the Cubs product. At least now there's revenue sharing between the rooftops and the Cubs. So, horseshoe - you're screwed. Guy who bought the Horseshoe building - you're screwed. The Cubs have sent a definitive message. We will not allow an immoral act to be advertised during our games. And we mean gambling, not drinking. Drinking's still ok.
In the Windscreens, take 2 saga, the Cubs have erected advertising boards in the left field bleachers. This is in accordeance with Tom Rickett's promise to emulate Boston in generating revenue with signboards. Ok cool. But these signboards happen to fall driectly in the line of sight from every camera to the Budweiser, er I mean horseshoe casino building across the way. And guess what - Good. Screw the rooftops.
I remember seeing pictures of a time when watching a game at Wrigley "from the rooftop" meant a bar-b-que and a deck chair. Now, they have reinfocred roofs, gates, ushers, security, and a freakin' petting zoo. I'm frankly sick of these money grubbers stealing the Cubs product. At least now there's revenue sharing between the rooftops and the Cubs. So, horseshoe - you're screwed. Guy who bought the Horseshoe building - you're screwed. The Cubs have sent a definitive message. We will not allow an immoral act to be advertised during our games. And we mean gambling, not drinking. Drinking's still ok.
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Tasteless in Cincy...
Headline: Baker and Piniella to headline Redsfest
Really Reds? Really? You're going to invite the current manager of your Central Division rival (man I almost got that out with a straight face - Reds as a "Rival"...snicker...anyway) to come to your "fest" and speak to the dozens of attendees you're expecting? And you can't say it's to celebrate 20 years since the World Series, because that's NEXT year. Oh...and by the way Piniella's contact is up NEXT YEAR. Couldn't you have waited a year until the time that these two things actually made sense?
Don't get me wrong, I'm not really upset about this per se, but still guys. C'mon!
Here's hoping a bunch of Cub fans show up...
Really Reds? Really? You're going to invite the current manager of your Central Division rival (man I almost got that out with a straight face - Reds as a "Rival"...snicker...anyway) to come to your "fest" and speak to the dozens of attendees you're expecting? And you can't say it's to celebrate 20 years since the World Series, because that's NEXT year. Oh...and by the way Piniella's contact is up NEXT YEAR. Couldn't you have waited a year until the time that these two things actually made sense?
Don't get me wrong, I'm not really upset about this per se, but still guys. C'mon!
Here's hoping a bunch of Cub fans show up...
Friday, November 20, 2009
What Pitching?
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2009/11/blue-jays-contacted-cubs-about-halladay.html
So this comes across the rumor wire. Interesting. Some geniuses are saying "The Cubs HAVE pitching...." Oh really? Zambrano? Yeah? Which one is showing up today? Dempster? Really. He's a #3 that has occasional flashes of brilliance. Lilly? Had shoulder surgery which the Cubs say will delay his first start by a few weeks, which in Cubs time means July.
If there's any reason why this trade won't happen - and by the way, it won't - it will be because of two things -
1. No payroll room - Although if you're Ricketts, this guy'll bring in 15 mil in jerseys alone.
2. Nothing to trade for him. Oh yeah - Castro and Vitters and uh....uh.....yeah.
So let's not delude ourselves with this "we have enough pitching" - bullsh*t.
So this comes across the rumor wire. Interesting. Some geniuses are saying "The Cubs HAVE pitching...." Oh really? Zambrano? Yeah? Which one is showing up today? Dempster? Really. He's a #3 that has occasional flashes of brilliance. Lilly? Had shoulder surgery which the Cubs say will delay his first start by a few weeks, which in Cubs time means July.
If there's any reason why this trade won't happen - and by the way, it won't - it will be because of two things -
1. No payroll room - Although if you're Ricketts, this guy'll bring in 15 mil in jerseys alone.
2. Nothing to trade for him. Oh yeah - Castro and Vitters and uh....uh.....yeah.
So let's not delude ourselves with this "we have enough pitching" - bullsh*t.
Friday, November 6, 2009
The offseason begins...
As I heard on WSOX last night, and I tend to agree - while the White Sox were busy making improvements to their team by trading for Tehan (as yet unconfirmed) and signing Mark Kotsay, the Cubbies were on a field trip to scenic Mesa driving to random locations in the desert saying "we could build a stadium here" knowing full well they'll be back in the Ho Ho come Feb. Gotta love posturing.
Lilly turns out to be not-so durable. Had surgery on his shoulder which according to the Cubs means he'll miss the first couple of months, ahem! I mean weeks, or the season, which mean Rich Harden just got one more bidder.
Offer
Him
Arbitration
Duh.
More to come in the following minutes...
Lilly turns out to be not-so durable. Had surgery on his shoulder which according to the Cubs means he'll miss the first couple of months, ahem! I mean weeks, or the season, which mean Rich Harden just got one more bidder.
Offer
Him
Arbitration
Duh.
More to come in the following minutes...
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