'Tis the season for blinking lights, spiked egg nog and most importantly, presents. I have received many wonderful gifts during the course of my life, whether at the holidays or other times of year. Some of my favorite Christmas gifts include a locomotive, a piece of Notre Dame Memorabilia and my first ever season ticket to Wrigley Field. Gifts can bring a certain level of joy unparalleled by most other events. I am sure many of you have home videos of yourself opening presents during the holidays. And I know at least one of these presents elicited the type of response of which I speak. As humans grow older receiving gifts loses its luster and the holidays become more about family and togetherness. With this being the case, I find it more challenging to verbalize what I want for the holidays every year. However, this year it is much clearer and easier for me to decipher. I know what I want this year, maybe more so than ever. So without further ado, here are my ten Holiday wishes as a Cubs fan, some realistic, some, well, maybe not so much....
1. Roger Clemens retires or plays in the AL- Even though Houston has acquired Jason Jennings and Carlos Lee, the loss of Pettitte is painful, but the loss of Clemens could be debilitating. Even with Pettitte and Clemens the Astros staff struggled at times last year and no matter the level of caliber, Minute Maid Park is a hard place to pitch. The presence of Roger Clemens adds a certain element to a team and his departure would be much more than a loss of pitching.
2. Cardinals continue to be non-players in the Free Agent market - Let me get this straight, bye bye Jeff Suppan and Jeff Weaver and hello....Kip Wells? Granted Jason Marquis may be no better, but the rest of the Cubs rotation looks far better than the Cardinals at this time. I may not be a baseball expert, but I do consider myself rather knowledgeable when it comes to these games, and Kip Wells is, well, Kip Wells. On top of that, Jim Edmonds and Scott Rolen are one year older, and though they won the World Series, they were only 5 games above .500.
3. Jim Hendry trades Jacque Jones - I want to be clear, I was one of the stronger supporters of JJ last year, but he requested a trade and that is that. With the exemption of Manny Ramirez, very few players step up and play well when they are discontent. Look at Alan Iverson or Vince Carter, different game I know, but the same premise. Pro athletes like everyone else, look out for number 1 and do what it takes to put themselves in the best situation. The Cubs have other outfield options in Pagan or Pie, or they could go out and sign Steve Finley as insurance. If a player does not want to be part of a team, then as a fan I do not want him on the team either.
4. Mark Prior becomes Mark Prior - After the '03 campaign I thought he was the real deal, like most others, including the experts. Injuries, setbacks, mental issues, whatever the problem, have kept this man from living up to his talent. Many players have something to prove this year, but no one more than Prior. Mark Prior is an ace, the number 1 pitcher in a rotation, and if he regains his form, the Cubs would have arguably two of the best four or five pitchers in the league. Combine this with a solid performance from Rich Hill and an average one from Ted Lilly and the Cubs are looking tough. Anything from Wade Miller or Jason Marquis would be gravy.
5. Kerry Wood becomes the Closer Kerry Wood - See: Prior, Mark.
6. Matt Murton continues to develop - The Big Murt has been a hot topic of conversation on this site and many others and for good reasons. He led the team in average, but provided very little power. Some want to ship him off, some want to keep him. For those that read this site, you know that I have a man crush on this kid and support him more than most. If he develops the power stroke many of us think he can, then look out because the Cubs may have found a new superstar. If he develops a Grace-like personality, the city of Chicago better look out because it's found its new sports idol. He has everything you need as well as the ability to sweep through this city the same way Grace did in the early 90's.
7. A-Ram and Lou have dinner regularly - Admit it, you are as scared as I am to witness A-Ram shuffle down the line on a fly ball and get reamed by Lou for the first time. Dusty may have accepted this type of effort but I doubt Sweet Lou will. There is no 'dogging it' allowed anymore. However, with a new contract and more security, A-Ram may feel comfortable pushing the limits. In order to avoid some serious dugout scrapping, a friendship needs to be formed and formed quickly. This would alleviate many issues that are bound to happen based on past behavior.
8. Jason Marquis finds some form - I am not asking for a miracle, the man has had success and is capable of winning double digit games with a respectable ERA. He has done it before and maybe this is the man that Rothschild can actually fix. Imagine that, not only did we pick him up off the scrap heap, but the Cardinals scrap heap at that. And not that all positive things for the Cubs are not negative things for the Cardinals, but this one would be a real kick in the....
9. Ted Lilly and Barry Zito mysteriously swap ability - I have not quite figured out how to make this happen, but if they were in the same place at the same time and some cosmic forces were present and lightning struck and Doc Brown was at the clock tower while Marty McFly was going 88 mph in the DeLorean, maybe, just maybe this could happen, right? Hey, I said some were realistic.
10. Sweet Lou Piniella brings it home - Well, this is what it is all about, 99 years and counting. All the hype, all the talk and all the hope settle surround one thing, the ultimate goal. The excitement of A-Ram resigning, the mass hysteria with Soriano, the cautious approach to Ted Lilly and the somewhat perturbed reaction to Jason Marquis. As fans, we may have an idea or thought about each one individually, but the sum of these individuals is all we really care about in the end. Bring it home Sweet Lou, just bring it home.
And this reminds me, Lou needs a nickname, a good, solid nickname. Maybe it is Sweet Lou, maybe it is not. Please let me know your ideas below.
As a child, one learns rather fast that he or she will not always get what he or she wants, but it never hurts to ask. So as this Holiday season comes and goes, these are my top ten wishes as a Cubs fan. Don't get me wrong, a toy locomotive was the coolest thing I have ever seen on Christmas morning, but a Cy Young for Mark Prior would be a true Holiday Miracle.
Thanks for reading, feel free to drop me a line a brian@chicagocubsonline.com, and until next time....
Stay Classy Cubs Fans
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Brian;
I realy enjoy CCO especially the frequency of the posts and the good-natured feel to the site. Selfishly I hope you get all of your wishes!
I read on MLB.com that Jones did not request a trade.
Brian,
Didn't know you were a Notre Dame fan/alumni. I went to Purdue, but I guess our mutual love for the Cubs can keep us civil. Seriouly, great site. Living in Cincinnati its hard to find any Cubs fans and the people here seem to have a negative attitude about us since the only time their ballpark is filled its with Cubby blue. Nice to find somewhere on the net where I can connect with other Cubs fans. Keep up the good work!
Nathan,
Though Carrie Muskat reported that Jones did not request a trade, many other outlets provided contradictory information. While the MLB.com report may in fact be correct, there are many more reports on the other side. Obviously, I have no idea what is true, but the amount of people reporting the trade request swayed my judgement, but I do appreciate you pointing that out.
Ryan, glad to here from another Ohio guy, we live about an hour and forty five minutes North of Cincy just a little south of Lima, we try to hit most of the games when the Cubs are there. I agree with you on the fans being ticked, usually when we go it is with one our friends who is a Reds fan, the first thing they say is "Are we in Chicago or what?" Gotta love the Cubbie Nation.
I didn't realize it until I had to move to Cincinnati after college for work. Last year I got suite level seats from a VP at work. I got heckled by Mr. Red. He even sank so low as to shoot me in the back with a supersoaker. Nice. Only great thing about living in Cincy is that the Cubs are here 3 times a year and you can always get seats on the day of the game.
Yea, you never have to worry about getting tickets unless it is opening day, or like in 03 when the Cubs were in the playoff chase.
Hey Brian; I too like Murton and while I usually don't like men he can come live at my house in Exchange for some tickets…Ja! I truly appreciate what this kid brings to the table every day and to further raise the bar of the Orange hair dude expectations, check this out:
I just read on Yahoo that Jeff Bagwell is retiring this year. I for one, considered Jeff a heck of a ball player. Anyway his Rookie stats were posted on the article and really caught up my attention. He batted .294avg./ 15hr and 82 Ribis… Our pony Murton carreer stats [add up to 195 games] is .303avg./ 20hr and 76rbi. Sure that is some 33 games more than a regular season but he only had 595 at-bats in that period of 195 games. Juan Pierre had 699 at-bats in 06' …alone so you do the Math. Murton carrer stats resume into one regular year.
Theoretically Murton had a better "rookie" year than Bagwell, and what strikes me the most are two things; 1- He won the rookie of the year 91'
2-His HR power increased every year, won the MVP in 94', he hit 47 in 2000' and owns Houston franchise record of 449 Home Runs.
I say Murton gets 25-30 HR for the next ten seasons and will have a career similar to Jeff Bagwell….oh well glad to see you out of the central Bagohwell!
Murton may very well be a solid player for 10 years (and I think he will be), but he'll never be in the class of Bagwell. Murton, if successful, projects more like a right handed Mark Grace ... 300 avg. with 15-20 HRs and 85-95 RBI's.
Did anyone else read the interview of Hendry on si.com? It was worth the read.
Also, if we're going with Christmas wishes, I'd like to wish that whatever we do with Pie this year develops him as a player, rather than stunting his development.
The report on Cubs.com on Pie makes me think he very well may be brought up this year. I think the key to not stunting his growth is the exact lineup the Cubs have right now. Not a lot of pressure on him, plenty of bats to pick him up when he's struggling.
But then again I'm not a pro in player development. I don't want to ruin this young guy so I just hope they make the right call on this one.
Nathanael,
Great call on Pie's development, that should be right up there on the list. He could be a huge key to the next 10 years for this team....COULD BE.
I just read that the Cubs are close to signing Cliff Floyd. I would love this deal. Say what you want but Floyd would be a great player coming of the bench or starting every few games. I think that not starting every day would help him stay healthy. The one thing that has held back his career. What do you guys think?
Brian, my fav was an Atari 2600, guess I just dated myself. Great article and you made me laugh...Back to the Future...gotta love it. 88 MPH!!!!
David....if Murton does play as he is projected that is a very productive left fielder.
Ryan, I am sorry for the multiple posts, it is not your fault. I am working on a redesign of the site as well as changing servers that will stop those horrible System 500 errors. To you and everyone here all I can ask for is your patience. Everything is scheduled to be complete before the Cubs Convention in mid-January.
On Floyd, I like the idea of having him and Ward coming off of the bench with the projected starting lineup being so right handed.
Where did you see the info about Floyd?
No problem about the server. I read the thing about Floyd at mlbtraderumors.com.
Great column, Brian!
I wish for all the players to simply perform to 90% of their best year. That would put Prior at about 16 wins (but really about 18 wins, when adjusted for the Giles/2003 injury keeping him out a few weeks).
No career years needed. Derrick Lee can hit 40 HRs, and hit just .300. Aramis can hit .290 with 35 HRs, etc... As long as all the guys are healthy, and they all just have the types of years they are capable of having and have already had in the past, we will have a great year.
Neil,
I could play Missile Command for at least 4 hours...man...I was good!
Great about Floyd, but that leaves us with 6 outfielders then: Murton, Jones, Soriano, possibly Pie, Ward, and Floyd, 7 with Pagan....so that means 1 other spot, which goes to Blanco...now, granted Jones will in all likelihood be traded, but the problem is this, it still leaves us with Blanco, Ward (1B, possibly corner OF spot), Floyd (LF), Pagan, and Theriot. Ideally you want another middle infielder in the mix, given all we'd have would be Izzy (who you can't count on to be healthy), a versatile DeRosa, and Theriot (who can only play 2B, and OF...I don't think SS). That leaves someone as the odd man out, and unfortunately, I think that means Pagan is out, which given Floyd's injury history would be a very foolish thing to do.
Does anyone still have there "Believe" braclets on. I still do. Not taking it off till they win. How old are these braclets? 2, 3 years old? Noticed that D-Lee still wears his.
Aaron, I have seen Theriot in Triple-A play shortstop....solid at short but much better at 2nd. Last year at Spring Training they also had him at 3rd and 1st but I do not remember for sure if he played any short last year at Spring Training or not, I want to say yes but I am not 100% sure.
Jim on the Believe bracelets....everyday for almost 2 years, I am right there with you. They were introduced at the Cubs Convention in 2005 if that helps.
My guesses for the roster:
OF: (5) Soriano, Murton, Pie or JJ, Floyd, and Pagan.
IF: (6) Lee, ARam, IzT, DeRosa, Theriot, and Ward.
C: (2) Barrett and Blanco.
This is if the Cubs go with a 12 man pitching staff. If they go with 11, they could add another player...probably an infielder.
Aaron,
Theriot came up as a SS. Don't know if he can play it at this level but he has played it before.
I think everyone has to give Pagan a fair chance at Center before we call up Pie. He looked really good last year and is definitely one of the (if not THE) most atheltic player on the team next to Sori or Murt. I say let Pagan check out center field before we pull a Patterson again.
Mike that is what I have been saying since Lofton signed. I think Pagan would do just as good a job as anyone that has been talked about. His defense would be on par with the rest and his offense has the best potential for 07. Yeah Pie is the next coming of christ but let's see if he can hit in the .280-.290 neighborhood in AAA before we give him the Job.
Jim,
I agree with you, we really have nothing to lose by playing Pagan in CF. He will be better than anyone left we could sign, it keeps Pie in the minors at least until the all-star break, and depending on what we do with Jones, it will still be a formidable outfield.
If Pagan actually does well, with his speed, maybe he could hit #2 if Izturis is not hitting well. I think it's the best option other than a trade for somebody better.
Jim,
I still have my bracelet on as well.