Looking at the Game of Baseball from all ends of the Spectrum
How is Al Yellon from Bleed Cubbie Blue spending is off-season? Doing a daily countdown the top 100 Cub players. A daunting task if there ever was one. I’m linking to #89 Jerry Morales because I remember having that very baseball card as a kid. Git that caterpillar off your face, Jerry! I miss the … Continue reading “Counting down during the offseason”
How is Al Yellon from Bleed Cubbie Blue spending is off-season? Doing a daily countdown the top 100 Cub players. A daunting task if there ever was one.
I’m linking to #89 Jerry Morales because I remember having that very baseball card as a kid.
Git that caterpillar off your face, Jerry!
I miss the ’70’s when players could hit .290 with 11 homers and still bat in the heart of the lineup.
The Cubs have inked Alfonso Soriano to a hefty eight-year, $136 million deal and most Cub fans I know are pretty gleeful about the whole thing. The plan is to put Soriano in center and hope for the best. I’m an optimist. I like to think that with the off-season to work on it, he’ll … Continue reading “Cubs get serious about their desire to win”
The Cubs have inked Alfonso Soriano to a hefty eight-year, $136 million deal and most Cub fans I know are pretty gleeful about the whole thing.
The plan is to put Soriano in center and hope for the best. I’m an optimist. I like to think that with the off-season to work on it, he’ll do ok.
Now his bat… we won’t have to worry too much about his bat.
All the reports I’m reading are putting him in the leadoff spot. Maybe I’m off here but I just don’t think a 46-homer guy with his kind of on-base belongs up there.
To his credit, he improved his OBP to .351 in 2006. But in the years before that, it was .304, .332, .338, .324, and 2005’s .309. Yick.
Regardless, I’m thrilled as a Cub fan. With Soriano, Lee and Ramirez, this gives the Cubs three legit power threats.
In other Cub news, the Cubs acquired Neal Cotts from the Sox in a trade. They gave up David Aardsma and minor leaguer Carlos Vazquez. The media touted this as the two Chicago teams trading relievers but the rumors are Cotts is going to give the starting rotation a try. Cotts did very well during his starting pitching gig in AA ball. This trade should work out well for the Cubs.
+ + Get the above picture? Anyway, got a voice mail from a buddy of mine who’s a Cubs fan. He asked me how I felt about the Cubs signing Wood for $1.75 mil (with incentives for up to $6 mil). I heard a bittersweet tinge in his voice. I know for a fact he … Continue reading “Cubs news: Get your Wood up”
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Get the above picture? Anyway, got a voice mail from a buddy of mine who’s a Cubs fan. He asked me how I felt about the Cubs signing Wood for $1.75 mil (with incentives for up to $6 mil). I heard a bittersweet tinge in his voice. I know for a fact he has a Wood jersey that he pretty much had to store in his closet all summer. Have heart! Maybe you’ll
wear that jersey once again.
Rumor has it that the incentives are based on time on the active roster, appearances, and games finishes. Hmm… I guess that determines his role eh?
I had no doubt that Hendry was going to re-sign Wood all season. Hendry has an personal interest in Wood and doesn’t want to see him go. A low base salary with incentives is way to go. Let’s face it, what Cub fan wouldn’t be willing to loosen the purse strings should Wood put out?
Power Pitcher
In other Cub news, Carlos Zambrano has been giving the term Power Pitcher a new meaning. Last week, he won the 2006 Silver Slugger award for NL pitchers. Of his 11 hits this year, six were for homeruns. That total ties the club record. Fergie Jenkins also had six taters in 1971. He was one short of the league record by pitchers set by Don Newcombe (1955), Don Drysdale
(1958, 1965) and Mike Hampton (2001).
The MLB record of 9 was set by Wes Farrell in 1931.
Zambrano is a switch hitter and hit 3 homers from both sides of the plate. For the year, he hit .151 with a .397 slugging percentage and 11 rbis and 9 runs.
Dang. I spent a half hour this morning pushing redial trying to get a ticket to the Cubs Convention in January. By 10:30, the voice mail announced that all tickets had been sold and a similar message had been posted on their website: Weekend passes for the 2007 Cubs Convention are SOLD OUT. Maybe next … Continue reading “Wanted: Ticket to Cubs Convention”
Dang. I spent a half hour this morning pushing redial trying to get a ticket to the Cubs Convention in January. By 10:30, the voice mail announced that all tickets had been sold and a similar message had been posted on their website:
Weekend passes for the 2007 Cubs Convention
are SOLD OUT.
Maybe next year. Typical rant of a Cub fan.
Someone at ESPN thinks they found the reason for Bill Buckner’s 1986 WS miscue. Hint: it has to do with the Cubs.
Someone at ESPN thinks they found the reason for Bill Buckner’s 1986 WS miscue.
Hint: it has to do with the Cubs.
Buried in the all the hoopla surrounding the hiring of Piniella is the story that Ryne Sandberg interviewed for the Cubs’ manager job. It was a “courtesy interview” as Hendry had already decided on Piniella. Hendry told Ryno that he preferred Piniella’s experience. Currently, Sandberg serves as a guest coach for the Cubs … Continue reading “Ryno turns in a resume”
Buried in the all the hoopla surrounding the hiring of Piniella is the story that Ryne Sandberg interviewed for the Cubs’ manager job.
It was a “courtesy interview” as Hendry had already decided on Piniella. Hendry told Ryno that he preferred Piniella’s experience.
Currently, Sandberg serves as a guest coach for the Cubs during spring training.
Will Lou bring his fiery style to the Northside?
“We’re going to win. That’s the end of the story.”
Once again, they’re saying the right things. But I like what they’re choosing to say.
As a Cubs fan, I actually like the choice of Lou Piniella for manager of the team. From what I’ve noticed, Cubs fans seem to favor local favorite Joe Girardi while media pundits around the country seem to like the Piniella choice. A wide generalization, I know but I think it’s true to a point.
A talking point that’s making its way around the baseball media is “What conditions does Piniella place on his hiring?” I have already heard rumors of making offers for A-Rod. Piniella tactfully denied the rumor in his press conference.
Piniella has already hired back pitching coach Larry Rothschild. Piniella gave Rothschild his first coaching job back with the Reds in the early ’90s.
Again, I think Pinella was the right choice. While Girardi would have been the sentimental choice, the Cubs need more than that. I think the Piniella choice shows that the Cubs are serious about winning some games especially if some moves are going to be made to support this choice.
Besides, anything to get Lou out of the broadcast booth, is a plus.
The folks at Cubscast.com conducted an interview with Cubs broadcaster Len Kasper. If you’re a Cubs fan, it’s definitely worth a listen. Kasper comes across as intelligent, baseball-smart and quite likable. You can download the interview from Cubcast.com’s website.
The folks at Cubscast.com conducted an interview with Cubs broadcaster Len Kasper. If you’re a Cubs fan, it’s definitely worth a listen. Kasper comes across as intelligent, baseball-smart and quite likable.
A few tidbits re Chicago Cubs: GM Jim Hendry has essentially fired the coaching staff by saying the new manager will be hiring his own staff. Last year’s coaches were hitting coach Gene Clines, first-base coach Gary Matthews, bench coach Dick Pole, pitching coach Larry Rothschild, third-base coach Chris Speier, bullpen coach Juan Lopez and … Continue reading “Cubs’ News… yes, they still matter”
A few tidbits re Chicago Cubs:
GM Jim Hendry has essentially fired the coaching staff by saying the new manager will be hiring his own staff. Last year’s coaches were hitting coach Gene Clines, first-base coach Gary Matthews, bench coach Dick Pole, pitching coach Larry Rothschild, third-base coach Chris Speier, bullpen coach Juan Lopez and special assistant Sonny Jackson.
I assume that doesn’t preclude the new skipper from re-hiring the coaches but I doubt that would be the case.
The 22nd annual Chicago Cubs Convention has been scheduled for January 19-21 and will be held at the Hilton Chicago Hotel. Weekend passes will cost $50 and will go on sale November 6.
I’m planning on attending if Teddy Ballgame will put me up. The Hilton is a little rich for my blood.
And finally, Al Yellon from Bleed Cubbie Blue, has come out and endorsed Girardi for manager for the Cubs. He has a thoughtful, researched posting on the subject.
Update: This one almost slipped under my radar. The Cubs interviewed Girardi for a job today.
It’s official. Fredi Gonzalez has been hired to take on the managerial role for the Marlins.
Fredi G had a rather humorous quote regarding Loria:
“If he wants to yell, he can yell,” he said. “He paid for the team. He has the most expensive seat in the stadium.”
Hmm, careful what you wish for, Fredi.
Gonzalez was the early favorite for the replacement for Dusty Baker. Now that he is gone, Girardi may be the new favorite.
What’s Baker up to now? He’ll be working in ESPN’s broadcasting booth. Rumors are he is in line for the Nats position.
It’s a game of Musical Managers and the music just stopped.