Hello again, everybody. It was another rough week for the Northsiders in what is bound to turn into many, many, and many more rough weeks for this team. I have some observations and truths to share with you below. I will try to keep it lighthearted, but some things just need to be said.
With that, let’s stop wasting time, and get down to rambling. And no, I do not believe rambling is wasting time.
- The Cubs faced two pretty decent pitchers in the Bronx this week, and responded well scoring zero runs in two games. Well played, Cubbies.
- While Tanaka has looked awesome, I will remind you of Dice-K’s first season. To the national media, slow your role on this one, champs.
- Three games does not a career make. He may be the real deal, but I am still fine with not spending the money on the kid. The lion share of Japanese players has not been successful for a long period of time.
- Baseball is rough … Rusin comes in on Saturday and does a great job of saving bullpen arms, and is immediately sent to the minors the next day.
- Yes, I understand that moves are made for specific games, but buses and $19 per diems are not the same as chartered flights and Hiltons or Hyatts.
- I really do like that Yankee fans are back to their normal mental state thinking that the Cubs are a good barometer to rate a pitching staff. Ah, the east-coast attitude … never fails to make me laugh.
- I hope I did not just alienate anyone. No, you are one of the nine east-coasters of which this does not apply.
- Captain Obvious rearing his obvious head … simply put, the Cubs need better players.
- I am not going to lie, I figured Baez had broke his ankle. I really did. That is my mindset with this team. I was overjoyed and elated (I like being redundant) that it appears to be a minor injury. Friggin’ elated that it was minor. Not mad that he got hurt, happy that it was not bad.
- Other teams or fans of other teams don’t share this mindset.
- I am writing this as the Hawks are about to go into Overtime. It really has me thinking about the Cubs winning it all. Six or seven years ago you could hear a pin drop in the UC during a hockey game and now Chicago is a hockey town.
- A crazy hockey town. Tom … go talk to Rocky.
- As regular readers know, I am a huge Ricketts apologist, but he is going to keep getting killed in the media if he doesn’t spend money.
- And while I totally understand that point, I will ask you to tell me below … spend money on who? Who should he have spent money on? Give me three examples of great offseason signings the past two years. I am not saying examples do not exist, but I just want to hear them.
- I know it’s been less than three weeks, but Bonifacio has been great. Completely and totally unexpected.
- While I have been very clear that Olt should be playing every day, Valbuena’s OBP is over 150 points higher than his batting average. That is impressive.
- His .207 batting average is not. Olt, Olt, Olt. And yes, I know that Olt is batting, well, .207 as well. Olt could be the future. Valbuena is not.
- Five Cubs have two homeruns. No one else has any.
- If Junior Lake plays every day, he will have a very good chance to eclipse Jose Hernandez’s strikeout record. He has 15 in 38 at-bats. He is on pace for … a lot of strikeouts.
- The Shark is there for the taking. Will someone pony up for him? Or will he sign with the Cubs? What is going to happen? I have been very anchored in my thinking that he will remain a Cub, but I may be starting to waver. Let me know what you think.
That is all for now. And again, if I wasn’t clear above, I want more Mike Olt. More Mike Olt. To those who observe and celebrate, I hope you have a soulful, joyous and enjoyable Easter Weekend.
And until next time …
Stay Classy Cubs Fans!!