The New Year is only a week away, the Cubs Convention is just around the corner and before long pitchers and catchers will be reporting to Fitch Park in Mesa. The coming weeks should see Jim Hendry make a few signings, or a trade or two, to tweak out his roster. With the recent announcement out of the Bronx, the next month figures to be very active throughout the game.
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from everyone here at the CCO!!! Here is an updated twist of an old favorite....
On the first day of Christmas
Jim Hendry gave to Lou:
A Padre named Peavy
On the second day of Christmas
Jim Hendry gave to Lou:
Two Switch Hitters
and a Padre Named Peavy
On the third day of Christmas
Jim Hendry gave to Lou:
Three Central Titles
Two Switch Hitters
and a Padre Named Peavy
On the fourth day of Christmas
Jim Hendry gave to Lou:
Four Infielders Fielding
Three Central Titles
Two Switch Hitters
and a Padre Named Peavy
On the fifth day of Christmas
Jim Hendry gave to Lou:
Five Golden Starters
Four Infielders Fielding
Three Central Titles
Two Switch Hitters
and a Padre Named Peavy
On the sixth day of Christmas
Jim Hendry gave to Lou:
Six Productive Farm Teams
Five Golden Starters
Four Infielders Fielding
Three Central Titles
Two Switch Hitters
and a Padre Named Peavy
On the seventh day of Christmas
Jim Hendry gave to Lou:
Seven Reliable Relievers
Six Productive Farm Teams
Five Golden Starters
Four Infielders Fielding
Three Central Titles
Two Switch Hitters
and a Padre Named Peavy
On the eighth day of Christmas
Jim Hendry gave to Lou:
Eight Players Playing
Seven Reliable Relievers
Six Productive Farm Teams
Five Golden Starters
Four Infielders Fielding
Three Central Titles
Two Switch Hitters
and a Padre Named Peavy
On the ninth day of Christmas
Jim Hendry gave to Lou:
Nine Mark DeRosas
Eight Players Playing
Seven Reliable Relievers
Six Productive Farm Teams
Five Golden Starters
Four Infielders Fielding
Three Central Titles
Two Switch Hitters
and a Padre Named Peavy
On the tenth day of Christmas
Jim Hendry gave to Lou:
Santo Screaming and Cheering
Nine Mark DeRosas
Eight Players Playing
Seven Reliable Relievers
Six Productive Farm Teams
Five Golden Starters
Four Infielders Fielding
Three Central Titles
Two Switch Hitters
and a Padre Named Peavy
On the eleventh day of Christmas
Jim Hendry gave to Lou:
Eleven Wins in the Postseason
Santo Screaming and Cheering
Nine Mark DeRosas
Eight Players Playing
Seven Reliable Relievers
Six Productive Farm Teams
Five Golden Starters
Four Infielders Fielding
Three Central Titles
Two Switch Hitters
and a Padre Named Peavy
On the twelfth day of Christmas
Jim Hendry gave to Lou:
Twelve More Homers from Kosuke
Eleven Wins in the Postseason
Santo Screaming and Cheering
Nine Mark DeRosas
Eight Players Playing
Seven Reliable Relievers
Six Productive Farm Teams
Five Golden Starters
Four Infielders Fielding
Three Central Titles
Two Switch Hitters
and a Padre Named Peavy
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Neil:
Clasic! Merry Christmas to you and Abby.
Feliz Navidad a todos! Wishing you all the best in the year to come and championship should be included as well!lol.
You CCO/posters guys are like family. Thanks for a great year of cubbie baseball.
Hoping everybody has a fantastic holiday season! GO CUBS!
Any ideas in how we can get out of Soriano's contract? I want to hear of any ideas.
What in the world do you want to get rid of Soriano for????
Sure, he has had a few injuries in the two years here, but even with the injuries he put up pretty good numbers.
We all saw he looked healthy at the end of last year and over his leg issues. Why dont we see what he does this year if he manages a full year?
As for his defense, even as goofy as he looks in LF, ummm seems he has one hell of an arm that he uses to his advantage in LF. 3B coaches are less likely to send a runner to score because of his cannon.
Even hurt in both seasons he had stretches that he carried the team on his back.
Give the guy a break already.....
Joe S. - (insert sound of applause here)
Erik:
I've ben thinking about that same thing.
He would have to be traded for another long contract such as: Carlos Beltran, Barry Zito etc. Or, if some team was in love with him enough to accept his contract and trade away some of their players in exchange. IMO, IF he was traded (He has a no trade contract) it would be for some other teams mistake.
While he may not have performed up to the expectation of the speed power combination due to his leg injuries for the two years we've had him, he's still be a productive hitter. Maybe strikes out too much, but if we could move him down in the lineup to take advantage of the slugging percentage, then he'd be a 110 RBI guy... especially if moving him down meant there was a table setter at the top of the lineup.
Trading him for a "mistake" contract like Beltran, Zito, Schmidt, etc.... we're better off keeping him :-)
Plus... if the leg injuries are finally behind him.....
Nice song, but the only thing of those that will happen is Santo screaming and cheering and thats about it... Well of course the 11 wins in the postseason!
Merry Christmas to all the fans here at CCO.
Neil....you do an awesome job with the site. It's always fun to come here and read news and banter back and forth with everyone. Having different views is always fun. And thanks to Abby for allowing you to spend so much time at the computer running the site!!
On a personal note, many of you saw the notes that Neil posted about helping me in regards to custody of my daughter (www.bringabbyhome.com) and I want to thank those who were able to help and those who sent their very kind words.
Thanks, in part to the classiness of the members of the CCO family, I am in a much better position to make this trip tomorrow to see my daughter than I was just two weeks ago. Still a little nervous, but not as much as I was.
I sincerely appreciate the thoughts and concerns....and I will be visiting the CCO site in the evenings when I don't have my daughter with me.
I'm flying to Kansas tomorrow...through Chicago...so I will wave while I am at Ohare....hopefully the weather delays are done!! Anyone want to bring White Castles to Ohare for me?? ;-)
Thanks Again Everyone....I hope everyone is having a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS and a safe and Happy 2009!!
(reprinted with adjustments from WGN SPORTS BLOG 2006)
'Twas The Night....
Twas the night before Christmas
And at Wrigley Field,
Not a creature was stirring
The gates were all sealed.
The outfield was empty,
The park quiet and alone,
There wasn't even a signal
On Jim Hendry's cell phone.
But then off in the distance
I saw in the left field bleachers,
A burly man with reindeer
And several kinds of North Pole features.
He was dressed in red and white
Spilling peanut shells on his lap,
But perched upon his head
Was a royal blue Cubs cap.
Hello! he rumbled warmly
As he waved me to his seat,
Don't mind me if I don't get up,
I'm really kind of beat.
And then I noticed his horned companions
Eating popcorn for their grazing,
And slurping down ice cold Bud
Which I truly found amazing.
He saw me glance at Rudolph and friends,
Then laughed and said "come near",
They're just like me, this is the place
We choose to rest each year.
They wouldn't let a goat in this park
From all the tales I hear,
But I don't think they'll mind playing host
To my eight bleacher bum reindeer.
We've getting ready for months now
And tonight is our big night.
But we always stop at Wrigley
To sit quietly in the moon's light.
As I look to the very near future
I see some really big things,
I hope next year comes to a close
with the Cubs winning shiny big rings.
From my view as I watch the games
On the way up North North Side,
I can tell we're very near something good
This season will be a wild ride.
You see I'm a Cub fan just like you
Every season I curse and cheer,
But as I rest at Wrigley tonight
Let me tell you - THIS is our year.
Father Lou has come to guide us
With his stern and fair hand.
Lou, throw some bases, have some fun
And take us to the promised land.
I see Carlos Zambrano our gunslinger
Throwing nothing but unhittable fire,
Shutting them down 1-2-3
As he dominates wire to wire.
I see Rich Harden on the mound
Taking the ball every fifth day.
Breaking hitter's bats inside
And blowing them away.
Soriano keep the hops coming
Because you are our true ace,
Let's keep those legs healthy
Then lead us to first place.
For the stretch Ozzy Ozbourne won't be back
So don't feel the need to worry,
We'll be glad to see Bonnie Hunt, Vince Vaughn
and maybe even Bill Murray.
Now Len & Bob they have their fans
From Maine to Oklahoma.
I just hope they never again have to say
Inter-scrotal-hema-toma.
Carlos Marmol please take the 9th
It's the role we know you crave,
We'll be on our feet screaming
As you pick up each day's save.
Aramis you're back at third
hitting homers like only you can,
I hope you have your biggest year yet
When you truly become the man.
Finally - Ron Santo number ten
Our beloved golden boy,
I want to watch you hold that trophy
And share your ultimate joy.
With that Saint Nick paused a bit
And wiped away a tear,
And then he smiled and said once more
I'm telling you - THIS is our year.
Then he stood up, smiled and said,
I can't wait for 2009.
I think we'll have to sneak back down here
For a slice of ivy-covered pie.
I turned away and then they were gone
But I heard his voice ring through,
He said "Merry Christmas Cub fans,
May all our dreams come true."
HAPPY HOLIDAYS EVERYONE!
Gary agree with you but the guy doesn't want to move down we singed him to be a speed/power guy that we havent seen yet he might have the arm but to throw the ball first you have to catch it,we all know he has an arm but tell me when the ball is hit to him where he has to go back or forward and he makes that little skip you dont grimmes.when you get paid that kind of money you have to be solid all around or do was best for the team ; now if he's ok hitting in the middle of the line up where i think he's better suited i'll take everything back except his deffense.