tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17330824692693188722024-03-19T06:00:32.286-05:00A Hundred Next YearsA guardedly optimistic Chicago Cubs blogCubnuthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01194732684004873445noreply@blogger.comBlogger547125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1733082469269318872.post-55227583167584099462010-04-15T23:57:00.002-05:002010-04-15T23:59:43.460-05:00Follow MeIf you've found your way here, I hope you will <a href="http://bit.ly/aNMdg9">click here</a> to read "A Hundred Next Years" at its new home.Cubnuthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01194732684004873445noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1733082469269318872.post-19352191684469721112010-02-13T22:51:00.005-06:002010-02-14T00:04:44.971-06:00Mesa Mayor Defends Stadium Funding Plan, 140 Characters at a Time<p>The honorable Scott Smith, mayor of Mesa, Arizona, the 38th largest city in the United States, had a lot to say on Thursday about <a title="Teams line up against "Cubs tax"" target="_self" href="http://www.blogger.com/Truth%20Alert%20#5:%20Stadium%20where%20White%20Sox%20train%20received%20most%20AZSTA%20funding%20at%20$60%20mil.">the so-called "Cubs Tax,"</a> a surcharge on tickets to <i>all</i> Cactus League games that would help fund a new Cubs stadium in Mesa. And he said it on Twitter.</p><p>As tweeted by <a title="Mayor Smith's Twitter page" target="_self" href="http://www.blogger.com/House%20Bill%202736">@Mayor_Smith</a>...</p><p><i>Truth Alert #1: Proposed legislation to benefit ALL Cactus League teams not just Cubs.</i></p><p><i>Truth Alert #2: Whether or not you like publicly financed stadiums, Leg, county govt AND voters all approved. It's been system for years.</i></p><p><i>Truth Alert #3: AZ Sports Auth has has used tourist taxes to fund $183 mil for stadiums in 6 cities for 9 teams other than Cubs.</i></p><p><i>Truth Alert 3 Clarification: That's $183 mil on spring training facilities only.</i></p><p><i>Truth Alert #4: Cubs fans bought 22% of Cactus League tics and resp for 1/3 of econ activity. Result: Cubs fans pay most tourist tax by far!</i></p><p><i>Truth Alert #5: Stadium where White Sox train received most AZSTA funding at $60 mil.</i></p><p>"Truth Alert" sounds more like something you'd hear from <a title="Colbert Nation!" target="_self" href="http://bit.ly/codb36">Stephen Colbert</a> than from the mayor of the 38th largest city in the United States. But the controversial plan in the Arizona legislature known as House Bill 2736A is coming under spirited attack from the White Sox and Mariners and (supposedly) all of the other Cactus League teams, and the mayor is clearly concerned that the biggest spring training draw in all of Arizona may again start flirting with those developers in Naples, Florida.</p><p><br /></p>Cubnuthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01194732684004873445noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1733082469269318872.post-72671587975775658302009-03-30T22:25:00.005-05:002009-03-30T22:31:13.626-05:00Don't Look Bak: Arcane Cubs List of the Week<p>The 11 times that a Major League club has bid Paul Bako adieu:</p><ol><li><b>November 11, 1997.</b> Traded by the Reds to the Tigers.</li><li><b>January 14, 1999.</b> Traded by the Tigers to the Astros.</li><li><b>April 11, 2000.</b> Sold by the Astros to the Marlins.</li><li><b>July 21, 2000.</b> Placed on waivers by the Marlins; claimed by the Braves.</li><li><b>March 20, 2002.</b> Traded by the Braves to the Brewers.</li><li><b>November 26, 2002.</b> Traded by the Brewers to the Cubs.</li><li><b>October 29, 2004.</b> Granted free agency; signed with Dodgers, Jan. '05.</li><li><b>October 31, 2005.</b> Granted free agency; signed with Royals, Dec. '05.</li><li><b>October 31, 2006.</b> Granted free agency; signed with Orioles, Dec. '06.</li><li><b>October 30, 2007</b>. Granted free agency; signed with Reds, Feb. '08</li><li><b>March 30, 2009.</b> <a title="Bako released by Cubs" href="http://tinyurl.com/dd3omj">Released by the Cubs</a>.</li></ol>To recap, that's Reds, Tigers, Astros, Marlins, Braves, Brewers, Cubs, Dodgers, Royals, Orioles, Reds, and Cubs. Along the way, Bako has played in 745 games and compiled a lifetime OPS+ of 62. In his previous stint with the Cubs, in '03 and '04, he appeared in 119 games and hit just .218. But who's to say this is the end of the road for the 36-year-old? Not Cubs manager Lou Piniella.<br /><blockquote><i><p>"The important thing is hopefully Paul can get a Major League job. He's a capable Major League catcher. If he can get a Major League job, I'll be happy.</p></i></blockquote><p>Besides, there are 20 Major League teams Paul has yet to play for.<br /></p><h5><p><i>Bako statistics and transaction history from <a title="Paul Bako transaction history at B-R.com" href="http://sandbox.baseball-reference.com/players/b/bakopa01.shtml">Baseball-Reference.com</a>.</i></p></h5>Cubnuthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01194732684004873445noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1733082469269318872.post-2229921124767043232009-03-29T22:28:00.006-05:002009-03-30T20:27:34.019-05:00Great Moments in Ron Santo Irony<p>On Saturday, <a href="http://tinyurl.com/d477vx">WGN Radio selected Judd Sirott</a> to replace Cory Provus as the third man in the Cubs booth along with Ron Santo and Pat Hughes. Sirott has been handling pre-game, post-game, and between-period duties on WGN's Blackhawks broadcasts this season. Previously, he was play-by-play man for the <a href="http://tinyurl.com/clkkto">Chicago Wolves of the AHL</a>.</p><p>Sirott auditioned for the job earlier this spring down in Mesa. He received this review from his new boothmate Santo:</p><blockquote style="font-style: italic;">"[Sirott] was here for two games...The two innings he did, he was a little nervous at first, but then settled in."</blockquote><p></p><p>Given what I've heard of Sirott's hockey work and the limited role he will have during the Cubs broadcasts—one inning of play-by-play plus the occasional score updates—I'm sure he will be fine.</p><p>But how awful must his audition have been for <b><i>Ron Santo</i></b> to say he sounded nervous?!</p>Cubnuthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01194732684004873445noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1733082469269318872.post-32420426333118070692009-03-06T01:59:00.003-06:002009-03-06T02:23:42.310-06:00What Do $1.5 Billion Confines Look Like?I stumbled across <a href="http://tinyurl.com/bmekfg">this photographic tour of the new Yankee Stadium</a> tonight in the middle of the <a href="http://tinyurl.com/ccgb2d"><span style="font-style: italic;">Wall Street Journal's</span></a> newly expanded sports section. (Both the online and offline Journals are seeing the enhanced sports coverage.)<br /><br />After marveling at what must be the world's most imposing baseball stadium, a park in which the <a href="http://tinyurl.com/5sdrt5">Cubs and Yanks will play exhibition games</a> on April 3rd and 4th, I got to thinking about the Cubs' yet-to-be-developed <a href="http://tinyurl.com/cavxfu">Triangle Development</a>, which was going to be part of a Wrigley Field campus.<br /><br />It says a lot about the political power of the Yankees and the Steinbrenners in New York City and about the complications of doing business in Chicago, not to mention the hopelessly messy state of Cubs ownership, that Yankee Stadium is what it is and that the Cubs' Triangle Building is still non-existent.Cubnuthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01194732684004873445noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1733082469269318872.post-5300021514887643472009-02-22T15:55:00.002-06:002009-02-22T15:57:28.472-06:00A Bold PredictionThe Cubs are <a href="http://tinyurl.com/cppy5o">starting Kerry Wood tonight</a> against Houston. I have a feeling the young righthander has a big game in him tonight.<br /><br />Be sure you <a href="http://tinyurl.com/cppy5o">don't miss any of the action</a>.Cubnuthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01194732684004873445noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1733082469269318872.post-17171469112115123182009-01-29T21:12:00.006-06:002009-01-29T23:09:35.382-06:00Those Nasty, Illiterate Mets Fans: Arcane Cubs List of the WeekRandom wisdom dispensed by the New York Met faithful over the past few months at <a href="http://tinyurl.com/bcs6oj">"Aaron Heilman Sucks"</a>, a discussion forum dedicated to <a href="http://tinyurl.com/c4u3a9">the newest Chicago Cub</a>.<br /><ul style="font-style: italic;"><li>I wish nothing but bad things upon this guy. He has caused mets fan way to much pain. Heilman forced me to cut my self during games.</li></ul><ul style="font-style: italic;"><li>did you know heilman means homerun in german? LMAO</li></ul><ul style="font-style: italic;"><li>To Kerri Heilman please say to your husband Aaron when your home at night Heilman you suck please quit for the good of the team.</li></ul><ul style="font-style: italic;"><li>It is amazing how bad he is, if i was the mets GM i'd trade him to Guatamala for an old donkey and a sick monkey</li></ul><ul style="font-style: italic;"><li>Aaron can be very effective. You guys are way to harsh on him. I would be willing to bet most of you wouldn't have the sack to to say any of these things to him if you were alone in a room with him.</li></ul><ul style="font-style: italic;"><li>what a complete moron, jesus, i hate this guy</li></ul>For the record, in six years with the Mets, Heilman went 22-33, 4.24 with an ERA+ of 100, i.e., dead on the league average. Though this November, he laid a start-me-or-trade-me demand on the Mets—who traded him to the Mariners who traded him to the Cubs—the Notre Dame grad was far more effective as a relief pitcher than as a starter:<br /><br />Heilman in relief: 3.52 in 280 games (316 2/3 IP), 289 K vs. 119 BB<br />Heilman as a starter: 5-13 in 25 starts, 5.93 ERA, 106 K vs. 66 BB<br /><br />Regardless of the numbers, Heilman figures to see duty in both roles with the Cubs.Cubnuthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01194732684004873445noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1733082469269318872.post-46264033825603407952009-01-24T14:37:00.003-06:002009-01-24T14:43:45.000-06:00Gammons on the CubsThe Chicago National League Ballclub is all over Saturday's installment of the <a href="http://snurl.com/ant6q-pmjpdh">Peter Gammons blog at ESPN.com</a>.<br /><br />Regarding the decision of the Man Who Would Be Cubs Closer, Carlos Marmol, to play in this spring's World Baseball Classic:<br /><span style="font-style: italic;"></span><blockquote><span style="font-style: italic;">Wonderful. Here's a 26-year-old with dazzling talent, a kid who fanned a third of the batters he faced last year, and with </span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?playerId=3821">Kerry Wood</a><span style="font-style: italic;"> gone to Cleveland and </span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?playerId=3845">Ryan Dempster</a><span style="font-style: italic;"> an All-Star in the Cubs' rotation is supposed to be the closer for a Cubs team whose expectations are to go farther than the first round of the 2009 playoffs. Marmol is heating up in January while pitching in the Dominican League playoffs, then he's going to go to spring training and slow it down, then turn it up again in the WBC, return to spring training and slow it down, then head north and be expected to be a shutdown closer beginning on Opening Day.</span></blockquote><blockquote style="font-style: italic;">Start. Stop. Start. Stop. Start. And there is a full season ahead...</blockquote><blockquote><span style="font-style: italic;">...there are risks, and if a </span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?playerId=5019">Jake Peavy</a><span style="font-style: italic;"> or </span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?playerId=5203">John Lackey</a><span style="font-style: italic;"> or </span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?playerId=5357">Francisco Rodriguez</a><span style="font-style: italic;"> or Carlos Marmol is hurting in May or September, then there may have to be a lot more thought that goes into the next time the event is held.</span></blockquote><span style="font-style: italic;"></span>Regarding the new Colorado Rockie, Jason Marquis:<br /><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?playerId=3640"></a><blockquote><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?playerId=3640">Derek Lowe</a><span style="font-style: italic;">'s deal with the Braves re-emphasizes the value teams place on reliability. Which makes one wonder if the Cubs won't miss </span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?playerId=4409">Jason Marquis</a><span style="font-style: italic;">, who pitched a combined 358 2/3 innings in the past two seasons, more than they realize right now.</span></blockquote>And finally, regarding Rich Harden, who decided not to pitch for Canada in the WBC:<br /><blockquote><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?playerId=5588">Rich Harden</a><span style="font-style: italic;"> had two choices at the end of last season because of the shoulder issues he's fought through: Either have surgery or try to rehab. Harden chose the rehab. He has worked really hard all winter, and if the Cubs can get 15-20 starts from him in 2009, they will be happy. And with new ownership in place, we know the possibility of trading for Jake Peavy will be re-addressed. </span></blockquote>Cubnuthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01194732684004873445noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1733082469269318872.post-79935476917937583062009-01-22T22:20:00.004-06:002009-01-24T14:45:08.130-06:00Ricketts Wins Right to Pay $900 Million for Cubs<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_jKaI8fnvG0o/SXlF-FubzSI/AAAAAAAAAf4/PdNZ-Pd6F_Q/s1600-h/1caa_2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 149px; height: 200px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_jKaI8fnvG0o/SXlF-FubzSI/AAAAAAAAAf4/PdNZ-Pd6F_Q/s320/1caa_2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5294339769941871906" border="0" /></a>Forty-three-year-old Wilmette billionaire <a href="http://snurl.com/akrfh-pmjpdh">Thomas S. Ricketts</a> and his family are <a href="http://snurl.com/akrhe-pmjpdh">Tribune Company's "preferred bidder"</a> for the Cubs.<br /><br />Tom Ricketts is the son of J. Joe Ricketts, founder of Omaha, Nebraska-based <a href="http://snurl.com/akrwo-pmjpdh">TD Ameritrade</a>, and is of no relation whatsoever to former Cardinal <a href="http://snurl.com/akrk9-pmjpdh">Dave Ricketts</a>, whose image on this 1968 Topps card has haunted me since I was a baseball card-collecting kid back in 1968.<br /><br />More about the new owner-in-waiting, who currently sits on the board of the company his father founded, though he was never employed by it:<br /><span style="font-style: italic;"></span><blockquote><span style="font-style: italic;">Thomas S. Ricketts is the chairman and chief executive officer of Incapital LLC, a company he co-founded in 1999. Incapital is a technologically oriented investment bank focused exclusively on the underwriting and distribution of fixed-income products to individual investors. Incapital underwrites for several major U.S. corporations through its InterNotes product platform. From 1996 to 1999, Ricketts was a vice president and an investment banker for the brokerage division of ABN AMRO. From 1995 to 1996, he was a vice president at Mesirow Financial. From 1988 to 1994, Ricketts was a market maker on the Chicago Board Options Exchange. He holds a bachelor's degree and an MBA from the University of Chicago.</span></blockquote>Cubnuthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01194732684004873445noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1733082469269318872.post-89008148368734142392009-01-15T20:41:00.008-06:002009-01-15T21:47:08.566-06:00Pads Have Sweet Spot for Ex-Cubs: I-Cubs Get to Fly CharterThe Padres have signed former Cub pitching prospect and <a href="http://snurl.com/a59ep-pmjpdh">convicted osprey killer</a> Jae Kuk Ryu. Here is what ex-Dodgers GM and current Padres exec Paul DePodesta has to say about the pickup on his blog:<br /><blockquote><span style="font-style: italic;">Jae Kuk Ryu is a 25-year old right-handed pitcher from Seoul, South Korea. Originally signed for $1.6 million by the Cubs in 2001, Ryu has spent parts of the past three seasons in the Majors with Chicago and Tampa Bay. His 2008 season ended prematurely, however, as he was shut down in May and had relatively minor elbow surgery in June.<br /><br />Ryu's fastball sits around 90 mph while reaching as high as 92, and he complements it with both a curveball and a changeup. According to our scouts, all of his pitches grade out as at least Major League average, and he can throw all three for strikes. Given his repertoire and success as a starter in the minor leagues, we believe Ryu can compete for a spot in our rotation or our pen. He has one minor league option remaining.</span></blockquote>The Ryu pickup comes a couple days after the Padres re-signed Mark Prior, <a href="http://snurl.com/a59j1-pmjpdh">about whom DePodesta wrote on Tuesday</a>:<br /><blockquote><span style="font-style: italic;">A San Diego native, we signed Mark last year to a Major League contract after the Cubs declined to tender him a contract. After progressing well early in the spring, Mark had a setback that required another surgery and cost him the rest of the season.<br /><br />Mark has now lost the entirety of the last two seasons to injury, but when he pitches he can be dominant. In his first four seasons in Chicago (2002-2005) Mark used the power fastball/curveball combo to pitch 613 innings with a 3.24 ERA.<br /><br />Mark has been working out all winter here in Petco, and we're encouraged by his progress. If we can get him back and healthy for us in 2009 we believe he could make a significant difference.</span></blockquote>"...when he pitches he can be dominant."<br /><br />Indeed, Paul, indeed.<br /><br />(By the way, I'm completely distraught that <a href="http://snurl.com/a5a5p-pmjpdh">Ivy Leaguer DePodesta</a> would start the Prior passage with a dangling modifier. Harvard should demand that he return his diploma.)<br /><br /><hr /><br />A year after the Cubs' Class-A Peoria affiliate drew 26,000 fans to a regular season Midwest League game at Wrigley Field, the <a href="http://snurl.com/a5ak3-pmjpdh">Triple-A Iowa Cubs will follow suit</a>, meeting Las Vegas in a Pacific Coast League contest in The Friendly Confines on August 9th.<br /><br />Apart from the major market exposure and a cut of the gate, the I-Cubs, or at least the I-Cub players, will realize another benefit from the game:<br /><blockquote style="font-style: italic;">(Iowa G.M. Sam) Bernabe said he will transport both teams to Chicago on a chartered airplane.<br /><br />“I can’t expect them to bus six hours to Chicago after a Saturday night game, and then bus back another six hours Sunday and for a Monday game. The exposure – that’s what makes the trip worth it.”</blockquote>Cubnuthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01194732684004873445noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1733082469269318872.post-35743715416717567572009-01-13T12:27:00.003-06:002009-01-13T12:34:59.525-06:00Cubs Sale Process Extends a Few Days Closer to InfinityThe long-running comedy hit, "Zelling the Cubs," has been extended. Tribune Company is giving the remaining bidders for the Cubs <a href="http://snurl.com/9ykip-pmjpdh">a few more days</a> to consider their final bids.<br /><br />Speaking of which, The Heckler offers <a href="http://snurl.com/9ykd5-pmjpdh">a profile of the prospective owners</a> that is too good not to share.Cubnuthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01194732684004873445noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1733082469269318872.post-69971322108093348922009-01-07T22:18:00.003-06:002009-01-07T23:27:26.994-06:00illWay Utay etGay ubsCay?-- <a href="http://snurl.com/9m9bi-pmjpdh">Blogging for <span style="font-style: italic;">Crain's Chicago Business</span></a> on Wednesday, Ed Sherman reveals that he was a classmate of Mark Utay, the New York private equity investor whose surname sounds like Pig Latin but isn't and who also happens to be one of three finalists in the bidding for the Cubs.<br /><blockquote style="font-style: italic;">The stories make it seem like Mr. Utay is some sort of outsider. Why we would want a New Yorker to own the Cubs? I know better. Mr. Utay and I went to high school together, graduating in New Trier West's Class of 1977.<br /><br />Rahm Emanuel also was part of that class. Emanuel, Utay, Sherman. Well, two out of three ain't bad.<br /><br />I can't say Mr. Utay and I were fast friends. We were acquaintances who knew a lot of the same people. That's what happens when you're part of a class of 700 students. I looked up Mr. Utay in our yearbook. He was pictured with the debate team and was an associate editor of the high school newspaper. I talked to a mutual friend who remembered Mr. Utay as being bright and opinionated. He didn't recall him being a great baseball fan, but obviously he has plenty of interest now.</blockquote>The "not being a great baseball fan" part bothers me. I would like to nominate another New Trier West alum to become the next owner of the Cubs—<a href="http://snurl.com/9mbvf-pmjpdh%20-%20New%20Trier%20coach%20Rick%20Malnati%20steps%20down%20%7C%20Inside%20Scoop%20%20%20%5Bblogs_chicagosports_chicagotribune_com%5D">Rick Malnati</a>, former Bradley University basketball player and later the school's basketball coach. Malnati is also the son of the late <a href="http://snurl.com/9mbrp-pmjpdh%20-%20Lou%20Malnati%27s%20Pizzerias%20.::.%20Chicago-Style%20Deep%20Dish%20Pizza%21%20%20%20%5Bwww_loumalnatis_com%5D">Chicago pizza magnate, Lou Malnati</a>.<br /><br />Unlike Utay, Malnati is a true sports guy. And I'm thinking the quality of the food at Wrigley Field would increase greatly.<br /><br />-- John Dewan's <a href="http://snurl.com/9mai9-pmjpdh">Stat of the Week column this week</a> lists the "Top ten reasons to feel good about what the Cubs are doing this winter." Three of the ten reasons have to do with recently signed Milton Bradley and three have to do with Mike Fontenot.<br /><blockquote style="font-style: italic;">#3—Since Mike Fontenot (age 29) will replace DeRosa (age 34) the Cubs will be younger by five years.<br /><br />#2—Mike Fontenot’s plus/minus at second base last year was +11, DeRosa’s was -8. The Cubs defense at 2B will improve.<br /><br />#1—Fontenot’s projected OPS next year is .809. DeRosa’s projected OPS is.783. Fontenot is actually the better hitter!</blockquote>-- Finally, speaking of Bradley, Jon Weisman of <a href="http://snurl.com/9mb6v-pmjpdh%20-%20Baseball%20Toaster:%20Dodger%20Thoughts%20%20%20%5Bdodgerthoughts_baseballtoaster_com%5D">Dodger Thoughts</a>, who got an up-close view of the outfielder during Bradley's time in L.A., offered the following in discussing the deal that Pat Burrell signed with Tampa, not as rich a package as the one Bradley got from the Cubs.<br /><blockquote style="font-style: italic;">Bradley is a fine hitter but one who comes with his own set of <a href="http://www.suntimes.com/sports/baseball/cubs/1363300,CST-SPT-cub06.article">problems</a>, some of which the media is only too happy to overemphasize. "Bradley's history of temper flare-ups could be cause for as much concern as the injury history," writes Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times, even though his paper <a href="http://www.suntimes.com/sports/baseball/cubs/1363065,milton-bradley-incidents-010509.article">reports</a> that Bradley has missed only nine games in his career because of suspension. <p>Ever since he got caught up in <a href="http://dodgerthoughts.baseballtoaster.com/archives/240997.html">domestic abuse allegations</a> in 2005, I have abstained from weighing in on Bradley's character. Nevertheless, I find that many of those who make a moral case against Bradley are much more forgiving of serious personal flaws in other ballplayers. As far as on-field performance goes, I'd be more worried about Bradley's physical condition than his mental condition.</p></blockquote>Cubnuthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01194732684004873445noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1733082469269318872.post-39714400852868930162009-01-06T22:11:00.005-06:002009-01-07T07:55:11.500-06:00Taking the Measure of Jason Marquis<blockquote style="font-style: italic;">"If he can win 15 ballgames and pitch 200 innings, he's a good guy for us."</blockquote>So said Cubs GM Jim Hendry <a href="http://snurl.com/9kgmc-pmjpdh%20-%20Cubs%20finalize%20contract%20with%20Marquis%20%7C%20cubs.com:%20News%20%20%20%5Bchicago_cubs_mlb_com%5D">on December 19, 2006</a>, the day that Jason Marquis agreed to a 3-year/$21 million free agent deal that brought the pitcher to Chicago from St. Louis.<br /><br />On Tuesday, the <a href="http://snurl.com/9kflf-pmjpdh%20-%20Rockies%20complete%20deal%20for%20Marquis%20%7C%20ColoradoRockies.com:%20News%20%20%20%5Bcolorado_rockies_mlb_com%5D">Cubs and Rockies completed the deal</a> that sends Marquis to Colorado in exchange for reliever Luis Vizcaino. While Marquis failed to reach the 15-win or 200-IP thresholds in either of his seasons with the Cubs, he did a respectable job—maybe a more than respectable job—for a #5 starter type of guy.<br /><br />Marquis's two-season Cub totals:<br /><br />23 wins, 18 losses, 358 2/3 IP in 63 starts (about 5 2/3 IP per start), 200 K, 146 BB<br /><br />More impressive: Marquis's Cub ERA was 4.57, which was dead even with the National League average ERA for 2007-08--again, not too bad for a #5 guy.<br /><br />Finally, to put Marquis's performance in context, here is a list of NL pitchers who, over the past two years, posted a cumulative ERA+ of 95-105 while throwing at least 350 innings. (ERA+ of 100 = league average; higher ERA+ is better.) The pitcher's two-year salary is listed last.<br /><ol><li>Jeff Francis (COL) 104 $3.75MM<br /></li><li>Jamie Moyer (PHI) 104 $12.5MM<br /></li><li>Bronson Arroyo (CIN) 102 $8.7MM<br /></li><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">Jason Marquis (CUBS) 100 $11.125MM</span><br /></li><li>Paul Maholm (PITT) 99 $827,500<br /></li><li>Greg Maddux (SD) 96 $20MM<br /></li><li>Braden Looper (STL) 95 $10MM<br /></li><li>Ian Snell (PITT) 95 $843,000</li></ol><h6><b><i>Stats and salary info from <a href="http://snurl.com/9kj6t-pmjpdh%20-%20Baseball-Reference.com%20-%20Major%20League%20Baseball%20Statistics%20and%20History%20%20%20%5Bwww_baseball-reference_com%5D">Baseball-Reference.com</a>.</i></b></h6>Cubnuthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01194732684004873445noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1733082469269318872.post-20732415039369873292009-01-05T22:48:00.002-06:002009-01-05T23:43:56.106-06:00Cubs Spend $30 Million on a Time Bomb<p><br />I set out to create a timeline of Milton Bradley's <a title="Milton Bradley's "incidents"" href="http://snurl.com/9irkc-pmjpdh%20-%20Milton%20Bradley%20incidents%20by%20the%20numbers%20::%20CHICAGO%20SUN-TIMES%20::%20Cubs%20%20%20%5Bwww_suntimes_com%5D%20">reckless and erratic behavior</a> before realizing that the <i>Sun-Times</i> Web site had already <a title="Milton Bradley's "incidents"" href="http://snurl.com/9irkc-pmjpdh%20-%20Milton%20Bradley%20incidents%20by%20the%20numbers%20::%20CHICAGO%20SUN-TIMES%20::%20Cubs%20%20%20%5Bwww_suntimes_com%5D%20">done it for me</a>.<br /></p>One item left off the S-T list was Bradley's <a title="Milton Bradley's jail sentence" href="http://snurl.com/9irty-pmjpdh%20-%20Bradley%20Goes%20to%20Jail%20for%203%20Days%20-%20Los%20Angeles%20Times%20%20%20%5Barticles_latimes_com%5D%20">three-day visit to the Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio jail</a> in December, 2004. That stemmed from an altercation with a policewoman at a traffic stop. Bradley also pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor disorderly conduct charge--he had been arrested for yelling at another police officer--for which he received a $175 fine and suspended jail sentence.<br /><br />Tonight on David Kaplan's Sports Central show on WGN Radio, a caller said he was thrilled with the Bradley signing because it would bring a much needed "attitude" to the Cub clubhouse.<br /><br />Regardless of the man's physical gifts and <a title="Milton Bradley stats at Baseball-Reference" href="http://snurl.com/9irsg-pmjpdh%20-%20Milton%20Bradley%20Statistics%20-%20Baseball-Reference.com%20%20%20%5Bwww_baseball-reference_com%5D%20">good-looking stats</a>, I can't imagine the clubhouse that would actually be better because of what Bradley would bring to it.<br /><br />If Bradley struggles and by some miracle the Wrigley Field bleacher creatures don't get on him, the Chicago press will surely push the button that <a title="Bradley calls L.A. Times reporter an "Uncle Tom"" href="http://snurl.com/9is69-pmjpdh%20-%20Dodgers%27%20Bradley%20calls%20reporter%20%27Uncle%20Tom%27%20-%20Baseball-%20nbcsports.msnbc.com%20%20%20%5Bnbcsports_msnbc_com%5D%20">sets him off.</a><br /><p>I give it until mid-May before most of us are regretting the deal the Cubs signed on Monday.<br /></p>Cubnuthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01194732684004873445noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1733082469269318872.post-12530149561891056352009-01-03T00:03:00.002-06:002009-01-03T00:06:15.973-06:00DeRosa's Bat is Miles Better Than His Replacement'sAll things considered, I was more enthusiastic about the <a href="http://snurl.com/9eb21-pmjpdh%20-%20Cubs%20deal%20Mark%20DeRosa,%20sign%20his%20replacement%20Aaron%20Miles%20--%20chicagotribune.com%20%20%20%5Bwww_chicagotribune_com%5D%20">Cubs' signing of Aaron Miles</a> when I thought he would be replacing Ronny Cedeno as a spare infielder than when I think of him as <a title="Indians trade for Mark DeRosa" href="http://snurl.com/9eb3o-pmjpdh%20-%20SportingNews.com%20-%20Your%20expert%20source%20for%20MLB%20Baseball%20stats,%20scores,%20standings,%20blogs%20and%20fantasy%20news%20from%20MLB%20Baseball%20columnists%20%20%20%5Bwww_sportingnews_com%5D%20">a replacement for Mark DeRosa</a>.<br /><br />Aaron Miles (643 Major League games)<br />.329 OBP / .364 SLG / 693 OPS / 77 <a title="OPS+ defined at Wikipedia" href="http://snurl.com/9eb7b-pmjpdh%20-%20On-base%20plus%20slugging%20-%20Wikipedia,%20the%20free%20encyclopedia%20%20%20%5Ben_wikipedia_org%5D%20">OPS+</a> / 4.1 Runs Created per Game<br /><br />Ronny Cedeno (329 games)<br />.289 OBP / .350 SLG / 639 OPS / 62 OPS+ / 3.2 Runs Created per Game<br /><br />Mark DeRosa (893 games)<br />.348 OBP / .422 SLG / 780 OPS / 97 OPS+ / 5.2 Runs Created per Game<br /><br />It has been pointed out that last year DeRosa set career highs for HR (21 vs. previous high of 13), RBI (87 vs. previous high of 74), OBP (.376 vs. previous high of 371), and OPS (857 vs. previous high of 813). It is also true that as DeRo closes in on his 34th birthday, it's likely he will see some regression from those best-ever numbers. But '08 also saw Miles set career highs in several categories, including the ever important on-base percentage, where Miles's .355 mark was well above his previous career best of .329.<br /><br />Ironically, .329 is also the <em>lifetime</em> on-base percentage of the guy Miles may replace as Cubs leadoff man—Alfonso Soriano.Cubnuthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01194732684004873445noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1733082469269318872.post-1086580664511728982008-12-30T21:51:00.006-06:002008-12-30T22:02:43.270-06:00Obituaries for Former Cubs and a Winning StreakI was on the death watch earlier today with <a href="http://snurl.com/9aeg9-pmjpdh%20-%20Gone%20to%20the%20Eternal%20Confines:%202008%20Cub%20Obits%20%7C%20The%20Cub%20Reporter%20%28TCR%29%20%7C%20A%20Chicago%20Cubs%20Blog%20%20%20%5Bwww_thecubreporter_com%5D">a post at The Cub Reporter</a> bidding adieu to former Cubs who passed in 2008.<br /><br />On a lighter note, <a href="http://tinyurl.com/9mb2b9">here is a link</a> to the latest information on the NHL's Winter Classic scheduled for New Year's Day at Wrigley. The article includes a much niftier video than the dreary local news footage I linked to, week before last.<br /><br />It turns out the Blackhawks won't be in a position to tie the Red Wings for first place in the NHL Central when the clubs play on Thursday, since the Hawks got whitewashed and saw their team record, nine-game winning streak end <a href="http://snurl.com/9aeev-pmjpdh%20-%20NHL.com%20-%20Recap:%20Chicago%20@%20Detroit%20-%2012/30/2008%20%20%20%5Bwww_nhl_com%5D">tonight in Detroit</a>.Cubnuthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01194732684004873445noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1733082469269318872.post-78635670479385038532008-12-26T22:43:00.003-06:002008-12-26T23:05:33.384-06:00Tall Tales: Arcane Cubs List Of The WeekOn Friday night, 6-foot-10 free agent pitcher Randy Johnson <a href="http://snurl.com/95f91-pmjpdh%20-%20Giants%20sign%20Big%20Unit%20to%20one-year%20deal%20%7C%20SFGiants.com:%20News%20%20%20%5Bsanfrancisco_giants_mlb_com%5D">signed a one-year deal with the Giants</a> for a reported $8 million plus bonuses.<br /><br />At various points this off-season, the 45-year-old Johnson, who went 11-10, 3.91 for the D-Backs in '08, was said to be a possible target for the Cubs. But Johnson was born in northern California and according to the <a href="http://snurl.com/95f91-pmjpdh%20-%20Giants%20sign%20Big%20Unit%20to%20one-year%20deal%20%7C%20SFGiants.com:%20News%20%20%20%5Bsanfrancisco_giants_mlb_com%5D">Giants official Web sit</a><a href="http://snurl.com/95f91-pmjpdh%20-%20Giants%20sign%20Big%20Unit%20to%20one-year%20deal%20%7C%20SFGiants.com:%20News%20%20%20%5Bsanfrancisco_giants_mlb_com%5D">e,</a> "was interested in San Francisco from the outset of free agency..."<br /><br />Apart from missing out on a possible upgrade over current #5 starter, Jason Marquis, who the Cubs are said to be shopping, by not signing Johnson, the Cubs also missed out on acquiring the man who would have been the tallest player in Cubs history.<br /><br />In other words, don't worry, <a href="http://snurl.com/95gum-pmjpdh%20-%20Bob%20Scanlan%20Statistics%20-%20Baseball-Reference.com%20%20%20%5Bwww_baseball-reference_com%5D">Bob Scanlan</a>--your niche is safe.<br /><br />The 10 tallest players in Cubs history, <a href="http://snurl.com/95gtu-pmjpdh%20-%20Playing%20for%20the%20CHC,%20For%20single%20seasons,%20From%201901%20to%202008,%20%28requiring%20height%3E=78%29,%20sorted%20by%20greatest%20height%20%20%20%5Bwww_baseball-reference_com%5D">according to Baseball-Reference.com</a>:<br /><br />Bob Scanlan, 6'8"<br />Sean Marshall 6'7"<br />Jerry Spradlin 6'7"<br />Dave Otto 6'7"<br />Dennis Rasumussen 6'7"<br />Rick Sutcliffe 6'7"<br />Jay Baller 6'7"<br />Tim Stoddard 6'7"<br />Rich Bordi 6'7"<br />Steve Hamilton 6'7"<br /><br />Six Cubs stood 6-foot-6, including <a href="http://snurl.com/95gzg-pmjpdh%20-%20Lee%20Smith%20Statistics%20-%20Baseball-Reference.com%20%20%20%5Bwww_baseball-reference_com%5D">Lee Smith</a> and also <a href="http://snurl.com/95h2l-pmjpdh%20-%20Dave%20Kingman%20Statistics%20-%20Baseball-Reference.com%20%20%20%5Bwww_baseball-reference_com%5D">Dave Kingman</a>, who, in terms of <a href="http://snurl.com/95h3h-pmjpdh%20-%20Where%20Did%20Kong%20Go%20Wrong?%20--%20The%20Hardball%20Times%20%20%20%5Bwww_hardballtimes_com%5D">anti-social personality</a>, may stand above <span style="font-style: italic;">all</span> other players in Cubs history.Cubnuthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01194732684004873445noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1733082469269318872.post-36701569209274342382008-12-26T10:08:00.002-06:002008-12-26T10:12:53.561-06:00Note to MLB Owners: You've Really Let Sammy Down<blockquote style="font-style: italic;">"<a href="http://snurl.com/94v5b-pmjpdh%20-%20ESPN%20-%20Sammy%20Sosa%20ready,%20waiting%20to%20return%20to%20majors%20%20%20%5Bsports_espn_go_com%5D">I still don't have an offer</a>, and I shouldn't be looking for offers out there. Any team who wants to sign me should have the initiative and make an offer." </blockquote><div style="text-align: right;">--Former boombox owner and alleged steroid abuser <a href="http://snurl.com/94v5b-pmjpdh%20-%20ESPN%20-%20Sammy%20Sosa%20ready,%20waiting%20to%20return%20to%20majors%20%20%20%5Bsports_espn_go_com%5D">Sammy Sosa</a><br /></div>Cubnuthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01194732684004873445noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1733082469269318872.post-57855641617771488182008-12-19T12:50:00.005-06:002008-12-19T21:07:28.327-06:00Here Come the Hawks! (New Field to Follow?)The considerable excitement surrounding the Blackhawks' New Year's Day game at Wrigley Field against the Red Wings is quite at odds with this lackluster video of the construction of the rink, but it's the only rink-under-construction-on-Major-League-Baseball-field video I have come across lately, so perhaps it will hold your interest. (Last night's snow couldn't have made the process any easier.)<br /><br /><object id="1746" classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=8,0,0,0" height="394" width="448"><param value="always" name="allowscriptaccess"><param name="movie" value="http://www.nbcchicago.com/syndication?id=36348449&path=%2Fsports%2Fhockey"><embed src="http://www.nbcchicago.com/syndication?id=36348449&path=%2Fsports%2Fhockey" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" wmode="transparent" allowfullscreen="true" height="394" width="448"></embed></object><br /><br />There's anther aspect of this story which I hadn't heard about until reading a story <a href="http://snurl.com/8w2pl-pmjpdh%20-%20A%20Hull%20of%20a%20game%20::%20CHICAGO%20SUN-TIMES%20::%20Blackhawks%20%5Bwww_suntimes_com%5D">earlier this week in the <span style="font-style: italic;">Sun-Times</span></a>. It's captured in this quote from Crane Kenney of the Cubs:<br /><blockquote><span style="font-style: italic;">''It's in our budget to replace the entire playing field after this game,'' Kenney said.</span></blockquote>I wonder <a href="http://snurl.com/8w320-pmjpdh%20-%20Wrigley%27s%20field%20tested%20on%20Opening%20Day%20%7C%20cubs.com:%20News%20%20%20%5Bmlb_mlb_com%5D">what Roger Bossard is doing</a> this spring.Cubnuthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01194732684004873445noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1733082469269318872.post-55088856750344197872008-12-17T20:41:00.006-06:002008-12-17T22:43:16.506-06:00The Passing of Dave Smith, the Ascension of Ryne Sandberg• <a href="http://snurl.com/8qp3i-pmjpdh%20-%20Dave%20Smith%20Statistics%20-%20Baseball-Reference.com%20%20%20%5Bwww_baseball-reference_com%5D">Reliever Dave Smith</a>, who was an Astro for 11 years and saved 199 games in a Houston uniform before <a href="http://snurl.com/8qvz3-pmjpdh%20-%20SPORTS%20PEOPLE:%20BASEBALL;%20Cubs%20Sign%20Dave%20Smith%20To%20Two-Year%20Contract%20-%20New%20York%20Times%20%20%20%5Bquery_nytimes_com%5D">signing with the Cubs</a> as a free agent before the 1991 season, died Wednesday of a heart attack at age 53.<br /><br />Smith, second on the Astros' all-time saves list behind Billy Wagner, was a two-time All Star for Houston, but he was mostly awful for the Cubs. He went 0-6, 4.95 in 46 games in 1991 and '92. Smith pitched his final game for the Cubs and his final game as a big leaguer on <a href="http://snurl.com/8r0gr-pmjpdh%20-%20June%208,%201992%20Chicago%20Cubs%20at%20St.%20Louis%20Cardinals%20Play%20by%20Play%20and%20Box%20Score%20-%20Baseball-Reference.com%20%20%20%5Bwww_baseball-reference_com%5D">June 8, 1992</a>.<br /><br />• <a href="http://snurl.com/8r13q-pmjpdh%20-%20ESPN:%20Is%20Peavy%20a%20product%20of%20Petco%20Park?%20-%20SportsNation%20%20%20%5Bproxy_espn_go_com%5D">Rob Neyer turns his attention</a> to the almost Cub, Jake Peavy, asking to what extent Peavy's outstanding numbers are the result of his pitching in the hitters' graveyard known as Petco Field.<br /><blockquote style="font-style: italic;">Is Peavy going to post the same ERAs with some other team as he has with the Padres? No, he's not. Not consistently, anyway. But unless his employers are expecting that, they shouldn't be at all disappointed. If you adjust Peavy's ERA over the past five seasons to account for his home ballpark -- granted, in something of a crude fashion -- he still winds up seventh best in the majors, right between Roy Oswalt and Carlos Zambrano. Is there any team that wouldn't be thrilled with any of those three?<br /></blockquote>• <a href="http://snurl.com/8r3z2-pmjpdh%20-%20Sandberg%20to%20manage%20in%20Double-A%20%7C%20cubs.com:%20News%20%20%20%5Bchicago_cubs_mlb_com%5D">Ryne Sandberg will manage</a> the Cubs' Double-A team at Tennessee in 2009, a promotion from Class-A Peoria, where Sandberg over the last two seasons, Sandberg led the Chiefs to a 131-146-1 record.<br /><br />•<a href="http://snurl.com/8r472-pmjpdh%20-%20Wilpon2019s%20Son%20Says%20Mets%20Are%20Unaffected%20by%20Madoff%20-%20NYTimes.com%20%20%20%5Bwww_nytimes_com%5D"> Finally, an item about a billionaire</a> MLB owner who finds himself in a non-baseball financial mess so awful, it seems inevitable it will affect the operation of the billionaire's team, and—here's the good news—the team <span style="font-style: italic;">isn't</span> the Chicago Cubs.Cubnuthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01194732684004873445noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1733082469269318872.post-90289999826740012862008-12-12T13:11:00.007-06:002008-12-13T13:13:58.515-06:00Tough Times for Giant Inflatable ChickensIn the <a href="http://snurl.com/7uzaf-pmjpdh%20-%20Minor%20Leagues%20Scale%20Back%20on%20Jobs%20and%20Fun%20-%20NYTimes.com%20%20%20%5Bwww_nytimes_com%5D"><span style="font-style: italic;">New York Times</span></a>, Michael Schmidt writes that "a short cab ride from the lavish suites of the Bellagio hotel (in Las Vegas), where major league baseball executives and agents discussed multimillion-dollar contracts for players...this week," minor league baseball officials were running a big job fair and trade show.<br /><br />Given the dismal economy, team officials in attendance shared the common goal of looking for ways to save money, with a number of clubs opting to do things like re-use old uniforms or press team logos onto jerseys instead of having them individually stitched. (Said to cut uni costs by 1/3 to 1/2!). Also mentioned: cutbacks on inflatable mascots and other forms of in-game entertainment.<br /><span style="font-style: italic;"></span><blockquote><span style="font-style: italic;">Teams are looking beyond uniforms for savings. The Round Rock Express, the </span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/sports/baseball/majorleague/houstonastros/index.html?inline=nyt-org" title="Recent news and scores about the Houston Astros.">Houston Astros</a><span style="font-style: italic;">’ Class AAA affiliate, has often bought new in-game entertainment features for fans from one season to the next. Next season, however, the team plans to run the same video entertainment on the outfield screen between innings.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">"It will be the same cap shuffle video instead of changing the whole thing, like we’ve done in years past,” said Clint Musslewhite, the team’s director for ballpark entertainment. “We are not going to have them redo it. We’re going to strategically change our entertainment; the number of inflatable things we’ll rent will decrease.”</span></blockquote>All I know is, if the <a href="http://snurl.com/7v02z-pmjpdh%20-%20Kane%20County%20Cougars%20-%20Class%20A%20Midwest%20League%20%20%20%5Bwww_kccougars_com%5D">Kane County Cougars</a> cut ties with <a href="http://tinyurl.com/6hx5ns">Myron Noodleman</a>, they're going to hear about it from me.Cubnuthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01194732684004873445noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1733082469269318872.post-47129512603287894432008-12-10T23:16:00.003-06:002008-12-10T23:26:30.282-06:00Boras Likes the Way Cubs Do BusinessWhile they continue to dance around possible deals for players ranging from Jake Peavy and Milton Bradley to backup catcher Paul Bako, the Cubs have yet to make a player move this week in Las Vegas. One thing they have accomplished, however, is securing <a href="http://snurl.com/7rlab-pmjpdh%20-%20Cubs%27%20budget%20has%20room%20for%20Peavy%20trade%20and%20left-handed%20hitter%20--%20chicagotribune.com%20%20%20%5Bwww_chicagotribune_com%5D%20">the admiration of superagent Scott Boras</a>.<br /><span style="font-style: italic;"></span><blockquote><span style="font-style: italic;">According to (Boras), the Cubs have proved they are recession-proof in the way they have gone about their business despite significant roadblocks.</span><br /> <br /><span style="font-style: italic;"> "You have a club where the parent has filed for bankruptcy, and the baseball team is operating very well and they're out there offering multi-million-dollar contracts to players and signing them," ...Boras said. "We're our own industry, and the Cubs are the best example. You see something in bankruptcy and you see a subsidiary that's very successful and kind of operates independent of its parent."</span></blockquote>Cubnuthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01194732684004873445noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1733082469269318872.post-41380889492024297432008-12-10T21:51:00.008-06:002008-12-10T22:16:31.066-06:00It's a Fact: We're All Awash in Cubs Trade RumorsInspired by one of the Web's hardest-working bloggers and <a href="http://snurl.com/7ri71-pmjpdh%20-%20MLB%20Rumors%20-%20MLBTradeRumors.com%20%20%20%5Bwww_mlbtraderumors_com%5D">one of its most popular sports blogs</a>, as well as the <a href="http://snurl.com/7riid-pmjpdh%20-%20Winter%20Meetings%202008%20%7C%20MLB.com:%20News%20%20%20%5Bmlb_mlb_com%5D">non-events of the past few days</a>, I'm thinking about baling on this blog and creating a new one. I'm going to call it Rumors of MLB Trade Rumors (RMLBTR).<br /><br />Here's a sample post:<br /><span style="font-style: italic;"></span><blockquote><span style="font-style: italic;">An RMLBTR source indicates that MLB Trade Rumors is about to post a rumor of the Cubs' interest in acquiring San Diego's Jake Peavy. MLB Trade Rumors would neither confirm nor deny the rumor of the rumor posting, saying simply that it's not the site's habit to respond to a rumor about a possible rumor until it's an actual rumor, in which case the plausibility of the rumor will speak for itself.</span></blockquote>You get the idea.<br /><br /><script src="http://digg.com/tools/diggthis.js" type="text/javascript"></script>Cubnuthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01194732684004873445noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1733082469269318872.post-28518692562801168892008-12-09T19:38:00.003-06:002008-12-09T19:53:52.241-06:00Cubs Winter Meetings Report: Not on TuesdayAs I sit down to write this, <a href="http://tinyurl.com/5k4u5f">Jake Peavy</a>, Randy Johnson, Milton Bradley, Bobby Abreu and <a href="http://tinyurl.com/6yzt4l">Raul Ibanez</a> are not Chicago Cubs.<br /><br />Mark DeRosa is not <a href="http://tinyurl.com/6r3sb4">a Philadelphia Phillie</a>.<br /><br />Felix Pie is not a <a href="http://tinyurl.com/5guaf3">Baltimore Oriole</a>.<br /><br />Ronny Cedeno, Jason Marquis, Kevin Hart, Michael Wuertz, Angel Guzman and Sean Marshall are not <a href="http://tinyurl.com/5k4u5f">San Diego Padres</a>.<br /><br />Kerry Wood is not a <a href="http://tinyurl.com/662ef4">Cleveland Indian</a>.<br /><br />And though it falls outside the normal purview of this blog, I am proud to point out that I did not vote to keep the State of Illinois' <a href="http://tinyurl.com/6ybkre">Chief Narcissist and Sociopath</a> in office the last time he ran.Cubnuthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01194732684004873445noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1733082469269318872.post-50260204359654948332008-12-08T23:27:00.008-06:002008-12-08T23:47:57.797-06:00Direct from Sin City: Let the Heightened, Cub Fan Expectations BeginSomething coming out of the Winter Meetings in Las Vegas which you can ponder while you wait for the <a href="http://www3.signonsandiego.com/stories/2008/dec/08/padres-towers-deadline-peavy-trade/?padres">Cubs to land Jake Peavy</a>:<div>As reported by the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">New York Times</span>, Vegas oddsmakers currently have the <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/09/sports/baseball/09odds.html?_r=1">Cubs and Red Sox as co-favorites</a> to reach the 2009 World Series at 5-to-1 odds.<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><blockquote>The lovable Cubs, who have not won a World Series since 1908, have the most bets...placed on them by MGM Mirage Properties, which could partly explain why they are tied with the Red Sox for the best odds. (MGM Mirage's Jay) Rood said the Cubs were routinely wagered on more than any other baseball team, followed by the Red Sox and the Yankees.</blockquote></span></div></div>Cubnuthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01194732684004873445noreply@blogger.com