Brian...GREAT ramblings as always. I was hoping you would figure out a way to work in Up All Night....I am still laughing about that one.

Baseball is in the air....

Is some of the "Lilly can't duplicate 2007" coming from the general angst of last spring when we signed him and folks were upset that we ended up getting him instead of Schmidt? (and I'd say that's worked out pretty well so far).

I'm personally expecting he'll be around the same level. He's 32, so he's not on the downslope yet where his skills diminish... He won 15 the year before last in the NL East so obviously 15 wins isn't unreachable again... and his performance improved after starting to pitch to pitchers one out of every nine batters rather than DH's like Big Poppi and Giambi. Plus he reduced the number of walks he gave up considerably from the previous year even though he pitched more innings.

There really aren't any reasons he can't duplicate 2007. it's just perception out there that he's not that good.... but he actually is.

Re. Zell, Baseball on the field is great, often unpredictable, always an experience and usually exciting for one team or the other. The business side of major league sports, including baseball, sucks; but Sam isn't an ogre. And he is far from dumb.

The Wrigley Co. may decide to pay for naming rights, and they may or may not be out-bid. Such is life in the big city.

Zell's business sense says, "If one buyer will pay X for the ball park and another will pay Y for the ball team, and Z is the highest price an acceptable buyer (acceptable to the MLB) will pay for both the ball park and the ball team, I need to see if the total of X and Y is greater than Z.

It's probable that a buyer lowers the price the buyer will pay for the team--if the buyer doesn't own the ball park too. But that doesn't change the math above. It's also possible that the taxpayer funded sports authority could be flim flammed into a position of offering the team owner bargain rents--and the team owner becomes willing to pay more for the team than he would if rents/expenses were fairly priced.

The scarry part of changing ownership is the negative effect on team performance of the new owner(s) paying a huge sum for the team and/or park. Two thirds or more of the purchase price is likely to be borrowed. The cost of repaying that debt will reduce the money available to pay player salaries, minor league development, etc. A second negagive is that ticket and concession prices will surely go up. Some of us will cut back on our trips to the park.

Aaron, so you are a Busch Light man to huh, lol.

I agree with on the Zell thing. MLB should step in and say, "look if you don't want the team and are just selling them off, then don't make any of the decisions that will affect there future well being" but knowing MLB and Selig, they will just set back, smoke a cigar and do nothing.

Aaron you do bring up a very good point on Marquis. I guess I look at what Marquis was able to do the first half of last year and the year before that and just think and question, if he could just finish a season like he starts it. But, that is easier said than done.

If Sam Zell does that, he will face a negative backlash so severe the likes of which have never been seen in Chicago. In the big picture, you're looking to maximize profit, but if he's not even keeping the team, why the HELL is this A@#hole, trying to make decisions for the future of the franchise. MLB cannot let this duschbag destroy the franchise, the historical significance of Wrigley, and the hearts of the fans. IF anything, Zell's involvement would appear to diminish the value of the franchise.

According to some article I read recently...I think on foxsports or something----if Zell sells Wrigley separate from the team, then it severely diminishes the value of the package as a whole. It'd be like selling a multi-million dollar home, then trying to sell the land separately (which they actually do in some places)...nobody in their right mind would do that deal, because they don't own the package outright. Zell is the biggest idiot in the world, and we better ALL hope that he unloads this team fast before making ANY further decisions about a franchise he doesn't even want to own in the first place.

Nick,

I like all of what you say, except for Marquis. That argument holds no weight whatsoever....Consider this....every pitcher in the world has a great record and ERA if he goes more than 6 as a starter....or consider this more outrageous one-----Dempster had a .097 ERA when he faced only 2 batters as closer last year. If he could only get that 3rd batter, then he'd be worth something....LOL, obviously I totally made that up, but hopefully you get my point.

The reason Marquis is no good, is because when he doesn't go 6, he gives up 6,7,8 runs in the prior 5 innings. That doesn't exactly mean a player can't eventually put it all together, but it DOES mean that he probably will continue to disappoint you.

I'm sure you've seen this but my opinion of Zell goes down more and more with each passing day.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

CHICAGO -- The chief executive officer of the Tribune Company said Wednesday he won't hesitate to sell the naming rights to Wrigley Field -- even if baseball purists don't like the idea.

During an interview on CNBC, Sam Zell said despite Wrigley Field being known worldwide, he didn't get a discount because he wasn't going to use the naming rights that the field represents.

Zell said he plans to sell the Cubs and Wrigley separately and in his own time frame. He also disclosed that Major League Baseball has approved "four or six" potential ownership groups and that any one of them would be fine.

The sale of the team has been delayed by Zell's plan to sell the team and the stadium separately, and to have a state agency acquire and renovate Wrigley.

Brian's Stream with doubts cast away...becomes a mighty Cubs' river.

Rich Hill was called Peace at one time--a family name from his mother's side. She was a Peace. Don't climb a Hill of imagined horrors. Give Peace a chance. Hill will win 15 games in 2008.

I'm pleased you like (my) beer--Miller Lite. On your next podcast, please play a little of Al Barcus's "You're My Cubs!"

A doubt I won't dwell on: Let's hope Murton doesn't get more relevant as a result of Soriano's limping along to a downer season. Murton, a gamer, will not be a disappointment wherever he is.

About the relevance of 1969, the only ghost that haunts because of history possibly repeating involves the number 25. That would be t.s. all over again. Does someone know the significance of the number 25?

Brian once again, love the ramblings.

I am very excited and absolutely can't wait to see the Asian Sensasion, Fukudome!!

I think Lilly will be okay again this year, maybe not the numbers like last year, but with Hill having his breakout year (that's right) and Big Z's contract behind him, they should be able to pick up his slack.

I said it before and I'll say it again, I think Dempster is going to surprise us all this year, but I'll be the first to admit I was wrong if he flops.

I really hope Theriot has a great year, love the way this guy plays the game.

MVP, gotta agree, D-Lee.

I am going with Pie in CF. He had a heck of a spring last year, but was blocked by Jones, and Floyd.

Nick really enjoyed the game when Big Z was pitching and we all talked in third person! Was that the game when Big Z turned it around?

I can drink Miller Lite on draft, but I am definately a huge Busch Light fan (except when in Chicago, then it is Old Style Light)

I am a Phil Mickelson fan, but yes Tiger Woods is very good.

I read on the Cubs website, that last year Marquis was 12-0 with a .217 ERA in 17 starts, when he pitched 6 or more innings. If he can just find IT and put IT together in the second half, that would be a huge boost for this pitching staff.

NFL..Can we get back to baseball please???

Speaking of that...Cock fighting in Latin America is not only legal but part of the folklore' or way of life. It is like square dancing or UFC. In Puerto Rico Horse races and Cock fighting are the casinos and I had never even thought it was cruel until now that it became an issue with ESPN,Pedro and Aramis. It is kind of cruel but DO NOT even try to compare that to Dog Fighting that is Ilegal...besides we all grow chicken in millions to eat them, is'nt that cruel too? I am sick of Espn trying to get a story and a buck out of everything. To be honest, ESPN is as bad as politics. OK Rambling out Brian! and good luck Mark.

Rexy and Kyle represent the best options the Bears have...at this point. Too bad they can't rush for 977 yards in 14 games like I did. Now go draft a qb or pickup one cheap. Draft Felix Jones and sign Michael Turner. Get some OL help. Oh, and Go Cubs Go. Most importantly, let's all get behind Mark DeRosa and pray for his recovery as he probably has a lot on his plate decision wise right now.

Dude... I'm from Virginia and we're mostly Redskins fans but I concur on Grossman, What the !@#$ Oh yeah, you're getting Orton back to. It reminds me of our Danny Wuerffel days. And yes, The Riot will be a beast this year!