It's about that time again ... time for me to ramble ... time for me to let you know how I feel ... and shockingly ... it may be how you feel as well.
So ... here we go.
- Yes, I like ellipses, the three-period thing, sorry.
- Ryan Dempster said he thinks he worked harder than anyone else this last offseason. This makes me think a little. What if he did that every offseason? Or, if I worked harder than anyone else in my industry would that mean I got a four year, $50 million contract?
- I think I am worth $50 million.
- No seriously, ask any woman. Okay, back to reality.
- Come in off the ledge, they won a game. Baseball is a long season, lots of ups and downs and there are more than two months to play.
- Remember Alfonso Soriano ... he hasn't played in five weeks. And the Cubs are still winning the division. Okay, calm down.
- In a comment below, tell me if you want to trade Derrek Lee. I sure as heck don't.
- I am in journalism school right now getting a master's degree. One of the biggest things I have been taught is the awfulness of one-source stories. Established and respected outlets don't publish one-source stories. So, if you have a buddy who claims something about a move a certain organization made, great. If you heard someone else say it, then awesome! Let me know.
- By the way, Chris Deluca, Sun-Times baseball writer, wrote about the Harden trade two days before Sabathia was traded to the Brewers. He said Trader Jim had been working on the deal for a few weeks. He said The Hendry was motivated because it was clear he would not land Sabathia. That sounds proactive to me.
- I am picking on someone right now and I need to apologize. Sorry. You know a lot. You probably know more about baseball, the game, than I do. But everything you hear is not factual. And you are not necessarily more 'dialed-in' than anyone else. Your scout buddy could get fired for saying that. If it was true, he would not have spoken those words. That is basic corporate policy.
- Wow, I wasted everyone's time on that, sorry.
- How many homers would Mighty Mike hit if he played every day? 25, maybe? The kid has got some pop. And he is on a roll.
- Carlos can hit a baseball. Carlos is strong. Brian is handsome and awesome.
- Welcome, Mr. Harden. Matt, Sean and Eric ... the best of luck to you. And thanks for everything you did.
- Kosuke, hey buddy, um, why did you stop taking pitches and working counts? Hey, let's make a deal ... YES, just like a Japanese game show ... take pitches and we will clap louder! Why? Because the more pitches you take, the better you do. Sound good? Supashi-bo. (That is 'thank you' in Japanese; sorry my computer does not have Japanese symbols.)
- DeRo, DeRo, DeRo! ... $13 million seems like a discount at this point.
- Was anyone else praying for a tie in the All-Star game? Just to see what Selig would come up with this time? Me, too. It would have been great.
- Um, I kind of think Justin Timberlake is funny and talented. I feel wrong. But I had to say it.
- Thanks, that was cathartic.
- Ryan Theriot is good. 13 game hitting streaks is pretty impressive. As many have said, he always plays on the edge of out of control, and I absolutely love it! If he keeps it up, it's about time to look at him as our long-term shortstop.
- I never did this ... officially ... Hollywood, welcome to the North Side. We are glad to have you. Keep it up.
- Reed Johnson has the best facial hair ever. Any man willing to take a beard and make a fu-manchu on a Sunday morning is okay in my book. Oh, and he is kind of okay at baseball as well.
- Carlos ... Marmol, that is, keep it up. Trust yourself. It will be all good.
- It is going to be tough. It is going to be hard. It will be fun to watch. But who knows what IT will become. Playoffs? Wild Card? Nothing? We are Cubs fans and no matter what, negativity and all, we will root and cheer until it is over.
- However, I implore to stay positive, but remain realistic. Let's find a balance. Don't tell me, "I told you so" three days before an 11 game winning streak..
And, to close, I am implementing a new rule for the CCO ... when you are wrong; you must admit it, as soon as possible. If you come on chiding someone and it turns out good, say so. When you say, "I told you so," and you are right 18% of the time, it loses its luster.
I love you all. Arguing, commenting and debating are the crux of the greatness of this site. KEEP IT UP!
Feel free to drop me a line at brian@chicagocubsonline.com, and until next time,
Stay Classy Cubs Fans!
1) I always feel I'm right 100% of the time.
2) Did I miss something between you and aaron?
3) Bonds? Anybody? Ok. Everybody hates him. So here goes. In order to prove my theory of being right 100% of the time, here's my attempt to rationalize why we should pursue him. First of all, he provides the one bat in the lineup that scares the crap out of every living pitcher. I'm not saying play him every day. All I'm asking is to use him as a pinch hitter in late inning situations. Seriously, would you rather have a hypothetical situation of the bases loaded, bottom of the ninth, trailing by 1 run, 2 outs, and DARYL WARD or BONDS at the plate? I'd rather have Bonds. If he acts up or starts prancing around the clubhouse like he's sammy sosa reincarnate or complains about playing time, kick him off. $200K has gotta be a fraction of what we are paying Ward. I think that as great a player as Bonds has been, he needs to be humbled. The man wants to play baseball, as evidenced by his agent's plea. Give him a chance to be an exclusive pinch-hitter for the Cubbies. Take away his huge leather couch in front of his locker. For $200K, he's a steal.
Well, I guess one of those lines apply to me. I incorrectly stated that the Cubs would take 2 out of 3 against the Stros and I was wrong. I do still predict the sweep of the DBacks and a split with the Marlins though. We'll see!
Though Johnson's record against the Cubs is insane!
One thing that I'm happy that I have been wrong about so far is that Dempter is showing no signs of slowing down.
Keep up the good work.
Oh, and two years ago I said Derrek's Lee injury would not hurt the Cubs. So, sorry about that one.
Nothing between me and Aaron, I have just been very busy and not able to respond. And I was trying to be respectful about it. He knows a lot about baseball, but things we say here are ususally opinions, not facts. I wanted to clarify that.
Bonds, interesting, good points made, still, no. Just for the principle of it.
Did I miss a story re. Bonds? Unless, his agent and his attorney are trying to make a case that Bonds is being shunned with the $200,000 suggestion, I'm guessing Bonds wouldn't join anyone for less than a couple million bucks. There's reason to suspect the remaining skill level of Bonds--especially if he is off the "stuff"--whatever it is. Hank Aaron was right. After age 35
or so, usefull body mass diminishes and motor skills decline. IMO we don't need all that Bonds would bring to our clubhouse.
I have heard it stated on Mike & Mike on espn radio that Bonds is willing to play for the pro-rated league minimum.
However when I listened to Boras, Bonds agent, I believe they are just trying get a couple offers in that they can work against each other.
Essentially Boras said while he and Bonds don't consider the league minimum a legitimate offer, at least it would be an offer and they would have to look at it.
I agree with Elliot that I would rather have Bonds up in pinch hitting roles than Ward. However I also agree with Brian. No, just for the principle of it.
I have to believe that if Bonds was truly willing to play for the league minimum, there would be a few teams interested in him.
Somebody will pick him up before its over with.
Like a Tampa Bay or Yankees.
But it will be an american league team.
He wont sign to be a bench hitter. and he cant play the field anymore.
I want to publicly apologize for the two losses to Houston to begin the second half. See, I personally caused them: Thursday I went out and paid 40 bucks for one of the "W" flags. Going home, I had a great idea: When the Cubs win, the W flag flies; when they lose, the American flag goes out. I couldnt wait for their first victory to put out my gorgeous new white and blue W banner.
I cursed my team. It took all that time til Sunday to replace "old glory".
Im sorry.
Now, please boys, let me fly my new toy alot this second half..........
FIrst, as for the principle thing, Josh Hamilton is really changing my opinion of prior drug abusers. Giambi already hit 2 walk-off homeruns. And pettite is again a stud. Bonds would have to be an idiot not to be completely clean. And I also disagree that bonds wouldn't sign to be a bench hitter. Especially for a team that has a legitimate shot at post-season play and beyond. I don't think Bonds has ever won a world series. For a chance to contribute and get to baseball's biggest stage, might be bait enough to sign a guy for the league minimum and be an exclusive pinch hitter.
RE Randy Johson's perfect record against us....This week has been a week of firsts: Dempster got his first home loss and first road win, all in the same week. So, maybe today will be the first time we hand Johson a defeat. Go Cubbies! And ARAM...umm, we kinda need your bat!
Brian may decide his "honest confessions" rule is subject to too much interpretation to be useful. It surely doesn't mean a casual, offhand statement like mine that we'll get no worse than a split on our next visit to Milwaukee is subject to a confession if that doesn't turn out to be the case. My statements that Eyre is done and that he will be of little help in the second half does need correction if Eyre pitches well.
It's the statements like "Lee just repeatedly hits into double plays and he should be traded" and the oft repeated, early season, "Theriot is a little leaguer" kind of statements that should be corrected if performance suggests the speakers' were quite wrong. In Theriot's case the critics have indicated they were wrong.
I think Brian is saying that the condemning and/or dire evaluations and predictions should be subject to review by the predictors--whether it's "I predicted what happened" or "I got the matter wrong". Bryan may also be saying getting 1 in 5 predcitions right is being less than a guru. It's more like the hypochondriac's tombstone which reads, "I told you I was sick."
I would normally agree with you Elliot about Bonds might be willing to be a bench player for a championship team if it wasn't Bonds.
I think his ego won't let him. Even if he did he probably would start complaining a week into it about playing time. I got a 50-50 chance on this one. Because he will be signed, by somebody.
Hey I have a couple to make sure I own up to, Demps has by far exceeded my expectations and on the subject of Theriot, he just hasn't fallen off like I anticipated. I've always liked Cedeno and didn't see Theriot really keeping up his production. I have to hand it to him though, he really has been doing a remarkable job.
Here's hoping all of our fears are wrong, and we ALL will be celebrating a title this fall!!!
Go Cubs!
JimK,
Thank you. You said that soooo much better than I could have. That is exactly what I was saying!
Go Cubbies!