Wednesday, June 30, 2004  
Sometimes you just know

Coming into this game I was feeling good. Every now and then you just have a gut feeling that your team is going to win. I thought my feeling was wrong when the Cubs went down 3 after a horrible job in LF by Alou. The Cubs just kept clawing away at a less than effective Andy Pettite. Then, thanks to a gift from Biggio, my gut proved correct. Cubs win.

For some reason, the Cubs have had the Astros number to this point. I am going on record right now with yet another Beltran prediction. Here goes!! Carlos Beltran will be traded yet again before the July 31st deadline. The reason for this is because Houston is falling farther and farther out of the race. They won't be able to sign Beltran next year without difficulty, so you may see him going to another team and in return, the Astros getting some prospects and pen help.

tomorrows game is another matchup of Clemens and Clement. This reminds me of a post Dave did the last time these two hooked up this year. I feel like it would one of his best. If you do not know which I am referring to, check it out here. It's a must read.

Final Round of World Series of Blogs

Due to a computer problem of late, I was unable to get the final round of the World Series up and running. It is now time to see which blog is going to be the 2004 champion. Voting has begun. Vote early and vote often for the blog you feel should win it all. Polls close on July 14th. The winner will be announced, and an interview with the winning writer will be posted within a few weeks if all goes well. Good luck to both blogs, and thanks to everyone who has campaigned, linked, and voted. It has been a great success. Hopefully it has served the purpose of making people aware of some really good non Cubs blogs out there.

Written by Joseph E. Aiello @ 1:01 AM


Monday, June 28, 2004  
The All Low Payroll Team

With the All-Star game quickly approaching, I look at the voting and see potential lineups that if assembled on a real team would feature a payroll higher than even the Yankees. That got me thinking about who would be on an all star team of players making next to nothing. I decided to do some research and came up with an All-Star team of players whose salaries do not exceed 1 Million for this season. My team features a starting lineup with players who play those positions and a bench featuring three OF, two IF, and a back up C. The pitching staff is made up of five SP, and a bullpen of six. So, without further delay, I present the ALL-Low Salary team. All stats are current as of games played on 6/27/2004.

Catcher (2)

Name: Victor Martinez
Team: Cleveland Indians
2004 Salary: $304,500
Avg: .306
HR: 10
RBI: 54
Runs: 43

Name: Rod Barajas
Team: Texas Rangers
2004 Salary: $500,000
Avg: .285
HR: 12
RBI: 30
Runs: 27

First Base (2)

Name: Lyle Overbay
Team: Milwaukee Brewers
2004 Salary: $326,000
Avg: .336
HR: 9
RBI: 55
Runs: 35

Name: Ken Harvey
Team: Kansas City Royals
2004 Salary: $317,500
Avg: .335
HR: 8
RBI: 32
Runs: 26

Second Base (1)

Name: Orlando Hudson
Team: Toronto Blue Jays
2004 Salary: $322,000
Avg: .284
HR: 7
RBI: 31
Runs: 32

Shortstop (2)

Name: Michael Young
Team: Texas Rangers
2004 Salary: $450,000
Avg: .327
HR: 10
RBI: 45
Runs: 51

Name: Bobby Crosby
Team: Oakland A's
2004 Salary: $300,000
Avg: .276
HR: 10
RBI: 33
Runs: 30

Third Base (1)

Name: Hank Blalock
Team: Texas Rangers
2004 Salary: $550,000
Avg: .310
HR: 18
RBI: 52
Runs: 48

Left Field (1)

Name: Adam Dunn
Team: Cincinnati Reds
2004 Salary: $445,000
Avg: .264
HR: 22
RBI: 48
Runs: 49

Center Field (4)

Name: Scott Podsednik
Team: Milwaukee Brewers
2004 Salary: $400,000
Avg: .259
HR: 9
RBI: 26
Runs: 49 / SB: 31

Name: Vernon Wells
Team: Toronto Blue Jays
2004 Salary: $870,000
Avg: .300
HR: 9
RBI: 30
Runs: 41 / SB: 6

Name: Rocco Baldelli
Team: Tampa Bay Devil Rays
2004 Salary: $320,000
Avg: .291
HR: 6
RBI: 34
Runs: 43 / SB: 6

Name: Corey Patterson
Team: Chicago Cubs
2004 Salary: $480,000
Avg: .281
HR: 9
RBI: 31
Runs: 40 / SB: 9

Right Field (1)

Name: Miguel Cabrera
Team: Florida Marlins
2004 Salary: $320,000
Avg: .289
HR: 17
RBI: 50
Runs: 50

Starting Pitcher (5)

Name: Carlos Zambrano
Team: Chicago Cubs
2004 Salary: $450,000
Record: 8-3
IP: 102.0
ERA: 2.56
K's: 95

Name: Dontrell Willis
Team: Florida Marlins
2004 Salary: $353,500
Record: 6-5
IP: 87.0
ERA: 4.03
K's: 61

Name: Brandon Webb
Team: Arizona Diamondbacks
2004 Salary: $335,000
Record: 3-8
IP: 95.0
ERA: 3.88
K's: 69

Name: Horacio Ramirez
Team: Atlanta Braves
2004 Salary: $330,000
Record: 2-4
IP: 59.1
ERA: 2.28
K's: 31

Name: Cliff Lee
Team: Cleveland Indians
2004 Salary: $303,200
Record: 7-1
IP: 88.2
ERA: 3.86
K's: 72

Bullpen (6)

Name: Brad Lidge
Team: Houston Astros
2004 Salary: $360,000
Record: 1-3 / Saves: 4
IP: 43.1
ERA: 2.49
K's: 67

Name: Joe Nathan
Team: Minnesota
2004 Salary: $440,000
Record: 1-0 / Saves: 22
IP: 35.2
ERA: 1.26
K's: 42

Name: Francisco Rodriquez
Team: Anaheim Angels
2004 Salary: $375,000
Record: 1-1 / Saves: 7
IP: 40.2
ERA: 1.11
K's: 63

Name: Shingo Takatsu
Team: Chicago White Sox
2004 Salary: $750,000
Record: 4-0 / Saves: 3
IP: 28.1
ERA: 0.95
K's: 19

Name: Akinori Otsuka
Team: San Diego Padres
2004 Salary: $700,000
Record: 5-2 / Saves: 2
IP: 36.2
ERA: 1.47
K's: 42

Name: Juan Rincon
Team: Minnesota Twins
2004 Salary: $330,000
Record: 8-3 / Saves: 1
IP: 38.2
ERA: 2.09
K's: 47


Ladies and Gentlemen, your 2004 Payroll friendly All-Star Team. Looking at this list, there is a lot of good young talent on it. In case you're wondering about the payroll, let me save you the trouble of getting out the calculator to add it up. The total payroll for the ballclub is 10,186,500. Even teams like Milwaukee and Montreal could afford to field this team. I would love to see what this team could do in a season. Maybe one day when I am bored I will try to assemble it on Out of the Park Baseball and see what they can do. All I know is I would take them anyday.

Written by Joseph E. Aiello @ 11:34 PM


Saturday, June 26, 2004  
Why It Stinks To Have a Great Pitching Staff

As I was at work today, unable to watch game 2 of the Cubs/Sox series, I turned on ESPN 2 to get a score update. I was reduced to scanning the bottom line scores scrolling by to see how the team was doing. I fully expected the Cubs to win this game. We had Zambrano on the mound, and the Sox were featuring a kid who had just been called up from the minors. I felt pretty confident it would be a low scoring game for the Sox and that the Cubs would get the job done. However, when I first caught the score, it was 3-0 in the third inning. I was very confused. How could the Cubs be down 3-0 with Big Z on the mound? Eventually I saw that the final was 6-3 in favor of the Sox. I was very disappointed, and it got me to thinking about why it stinks to have a great starting 5. Here are a few reasons that I came up with.

1) When the Starters give up more than 3 runs, I get angry - I actually expect every starter we march out there to be spotless every game. Our staff is that good, that it is entirely possible for any one of them to pitch a shutout on any given day. As a result, when the staff gives up a bunch of homers as Zambrano did today, or walks a bunch as Prior did yesterday, I get frustrated to the point that it is painful to even watch when they are winning. I expect so much from these guys that when they fail just a little, it hurts. I am really going to need to just not expect as much from these guys. After all, is it possible that one year we could have four 20 game winners? Its definitely a possibility, but I don't want to get my hopes up.

2) With a great pitching staff, the offense seems to be too relaxed at times - To me, it seems that our offense over-relys on a great pitching performance at times. They come out sluggish and fail to play good, fundamental, run scoring baseball. They get leadoff hitters on, but don't seem to score. They have bases loaded and no outs or one out, and somehow only come away with 1. I think that if our team knew that the only way we were going to win was out slugging the other team, we'd be putting up a lot more runs. Our offense needs to play with a little more urgency. Last year, down the stretch, it seemed like we were jumping in front every game. We were always putting a run or two on the board in the first inning or two. This is something that gave our pitchers some breathing room and comfort. If we can start doing that a little more, the second half of the year will be very enjoyable.

3) People seem of overestimate our guys - We have such a great staff, that they are noticed in the league. People talk about them day in and day out. As a result, they are so hyped up that they can't possibly live up to ALL of it. As a result, people get disappointed with above average years.

In closing, don't get me wrong. I LOVE our staff, but I just wanted to show you a different perspective.

Written by Joseph E. Aiello @ 11:39 PM

 
Video Game Reccomendation

I don't know if I have ever mentioned it on here or not, but I really enjoy video games. Usually I play a certain game for an ungodly amount of time for about a month or two. Then, the game gets boring and I move on to another game. One of my favorite types of games are baseball games. I enjoy them for a different reason than most people do. I enjoy baseball games in which I can wear a lot of different hats. I can manage, be an owner, and be a GM. I don't generally go for all the fancy graphics and things of that sort. As long as it is a hard core statistical game with great managing and GM modes, I'm hooked.

Some of the games I have enjoyed in the past are Tony Larussa Baseball II, Front Page Sports Baseball '98, Sammy Sosa High Heat Baseball, and Baseball Mogul. Those games had me hooked for hours.

Those games, while good in there day, pale in comparison to my new baseball game love. This game is so in depth and deep that I am hooked. The game I am referring to is Out of the Park Baseball 6. This game has so many cool features. Don't believe me? Read about them here. Some of the features include a rule 5 draft, amateur draft, and manager personal life feature in which you date, get married, have kids and may some day see one get drafted.

While this game does not focus on high quality graphics, it more than makes up for it with a small learning curve, while keeping the challenging factor. It will test your ability to draft, trade, and manage your way to the top. I highly recommend this game if you are a fan of managing the Cubs or any other team.

Note - This game when purchased does not come with real players. However, if you would like information on how to get them, drop me a line and I will assist. If you have this game already, please let me know what you like and dislike about it. Also, if you have any other good baseball recommendations that are not the cliche MVP Baseball, or All Star Baseball 2004, please let me know.

Written by Joseph E. Aiello @ 12:17 AM


Friday, June 25, 2004  
I believe I had that one

Crystal BallEvery now and then, you make a prediction using your crystal ball that people ridicule and laugh at, and something strange happens. It actually happens. Well, I hate to tell you naysayers "I told ya so", but I did. I Predicted that not only would the Cubs not get Beltran, but that the Astros would to replace Biggio in CF. So far that is the first of what looks to be all my predictions that come true.

I am not too disappointed about this trade for one reason. The fact of the matter is, one player does not all of a sudden make a team win the World Series. If that was the case, we may as well hand the title to the Yankees now, because they have an All-Star team in NY. This is why we play the games. Anyone can get hot or hurt at anytime. Houston has a lot of work to do to catch up to the Cards. Beltran will help, but they still have to get hits. It is going to be a great race down the stretch.

~Prediction~

Over on Brian Hipp's Site I predicted that over this next stretch, the Cubs would do the following.

1-2 vs. St. Louis
5-1 vs Chicago White Sox
2-1 vs Houston

Watch and see my psychic powers!!!!!

Written by Joseph E. Aiello @ 1:03 PM

 
Friday Five: Potato Chips

I like to pretend to myself that I am a man of few vices. I drink alcohol, though seldom excessively. I do no other drugs. I am in control of my temper. I do not womanize, I do not gamble, I am punctual, and I do not spend excessively. I have a healthy diet for the most part, primarily because I love vegetables and don't like cheese, salad dressing, condiments, or dessert.
However, there are two things which I can definitely say are vices:
1) Dr. Pepper
2) Potato Chips
Now, ranking the top five Dr. Peppers I've ever enjoyed would be impossible, as each one surpasses the previous one. But there are many varieties of potato chips, and I eat so many that I estimate I've cost my heart about three years of lifespan. Unless artificial heart technology is ready by the year 2028 or potato chip manufacturing becomes a lost, arcane art in the next couple of years, potato chips will be the death of me.
With that in mind, here are the top five potato chips I've ever tasted:
5: Lays Classic Potato Chips: Readily available, greasy, salty, over forty percent of the chip's weight has to be grease.
4: Cape Cod Potato Chips: Also available at most grocery stores, this is the last of the readily available potato chips on my list. Cape Cod makes a variety of potato chips, each with fancy names, but their plain chips are the best. Flavoring on a potato chip always falls flat; the goodness of barbecue sauce or sour cream and onion, much less "sea salt and vinegar" simply cannot be conveyed with a cheap powder.
3: Ole Salty's Potato Slices: As a surly teenager in rural Illinois, Ole Salty was one of the few pleasures I enjoyed. Please do not infer sexual innuendo into that statement; it refers only to the simple joy of eating a nice, thick, salty potato chip.
2: The chips at the Bitter End, Austin, Texas.
Crunchy, hearty flavor. Heavily salted in an effort to get you to buy beer. Dark, robust color. Magnifico!
1: The Bar at Harry Caray's Restaurant in Chicago.
I've only been there once, in late April of 1992. It was a surprise visit to Chicago, and I was lucky enough to convince my mom to go with me to a Cubs game. Afterwards we took a taxi to Harry Caray's, but we were dressed like slobs so we couldn't get in to the actual restaurant. However, a memorable treat awaited me at the bar -- the free potato chips they served! I loved them so much I took a bag back to Texas with me; by the time I got home the whole bag was soaked with grease. The chips were magnificent.
UPDATE: The View From the Bleachers may fall short on journalistic quality in other ways, but we always correct our mistakes when informed about them. I was there twice.

On a day when a division rival acquires Carlos Beltran and the Cubs lose 4-0 to the division-leading Cardinals, comfort can only be found in vegetable oil, salt, and potatoes.

Written by David M. Beyer @ 12:22 AM


Tuesday, June 22, 2004  
How do you fix something that isn't REALLY broken?

As I look at the calendar, I am constantly reminded just how quickly July 31st is approaching. As all baseball fans know, that is the beginning of the stretch run. Teams have reloaded with the ammunition for the chance of winning the World Series. Last year, Jim Hendry retooled the Cubs lineup by adding Randall Simon, Aramis Ramirez, and Kenny Loften. These moves helped plug some glaring holes in the Cubs lineup: a leadoff hitter/CF, a third baseman, and a left handed bat off the bench. Hendry recognized weaknesses and sought to fix them. However, this year is a little different. For the first time in as long as I have been seriously following this team, they are actually favored to go deep into the playoffs, if not win the whole darn thing. That means this team is already built to accomplish that feat. As a result, there are not as many glaring holes as last year.

To this point, this team has yet to play a single game in the regular season with the 25 man roster that was "favored" to win the World Series by ESPN's Peter Gammons. So how do we know what this team is actually capable of? To this point, we really don't. So, as the trade deadline quickly draws near, Hendry faces a question of how exactly do I fix a team that I am not sure is broken. I would like to give my opinions on each position as well as make my prediction for what will happen as the trade deadline draws near for the Cubs.

Catcher
No move necessary here obviously. Michael Barrett has been 100% better than Miller was last year. His .305 batting average is 3rd behind only Derrek Lee and Aramis Ramirez. His defense, which in the beginning of the season was in question, has improved incredibly. As a whole, he has been a major strength for this team.

First Base
No move necessary here. Derrek Lee is here to stay. His recent hot streak, which include a current 11-14 run, has ignited a Cubs team. He is now beginning to show Chicago just why we acquired him in the first place. Not only can he hit the baseball, but his defense has been one of the major reasons guys like Ramirez and Walker have been having the fielding years they have. By saving error after error, it allows those guys a chance to feel confident with their fielding and throws.

Second Base
This is a position that Hendry may decided to deal with. While an upgrade is not needed here, there is a slight log jam at the position. With Mark Grudzielanek coming off the DL and Todd Walker hitting a hot streak, the Cubs are faced with a situation where they must choose between 2 above average second basemen. One starts, the other is left struggling to find his niche off the bench and in an occasional start.

I don't like platoons, never have and never will. I feel like it's best to stick with a guy and see what happens. I'm not sure if Dusty is considering a platoon or sticking with one guy, but the fact of the matter is and will be that the Cubs NEED to move one of these guys. While I would love to have both of their bats in our lineup, as pointed out yesterday, it's just not possible.

Prediction - My prediction for this situation is that the Yankee's will come a calling and Hendry will be listening. Grudzielanek would be a perfect fit for the Yanks. He is a FA after this year and is not a major salary burden. It would give Steinbrenner the quality bat he needs at second, and essentially complete the team that will probably be representing the AL in October. The question is what the Cubs get in return. Odds are it would be a veteran for prospect deal.

Shortstop
Going into the season, all the rave was that the Cubs needed to upgrade here. With a non-hitting, 5 million dollar burden at short, the Cubs will not be dealing to upgrade this position. The fact of the matter is, Gonzalez will get another chance when he comes back to try to earn some of the money we're paying him and then shown the door in the off-season. No one wants to trade for him when they can get him next year for a lot less.

Third Base
"Now batting, third baseman, Ron Santo......(cough, cough).....correction, Aramis Ramirez." This kid is legit and here to stay. He is our Ron Santo reincarnated. He hits for power, drives in runs, and this year has played a decent third base. This kid will be a major reason we are alive down the stretch. He has been money with driving in runs and could end up leading the team in RBI's. God bless you Mr. Ramirez. Thanks for not being a bust.

Left Field
With Alou as hot as he is, I think we need to just cross our fingers and enjoy the ride. Hopefully this is a bust out career year for him. Don't look for him to be going anywhere. He will be our starting Left Fielder come October.

Center Field
All you ever hear on this site is how much I hate Corey Patterson. That being said, what you are about to read may surprise you. I am actually leaning toward KEEPING Corey Patterson. Yes, you heard me correctly. Don't adjust your screen! The fact is, I really want to believe the hype that goes along with Corey. He is a kid with a huge upside. He has speed, power, fielding skills, base stealing ability, bunting ability. The list goes on and on. The one thing not on that list, however, is consistency. If he can add that to the list, he would be a huge player. I am willing to take my chances. Sure, I would love to see Carlos Beltran in the Cubs line up, but if we were to go get a player like that, he would be nothing more than a rent a player for 3 months. That's not what I want for this team. I want players that are going to re-sign and help us in the future, like A-Ram. Beltran however is represented by Dr. Evil, who will command from the Cubs the sum of ONE TRILLION DOLLARS!!!! I know, I know. The Tribune owns the Cubs, they can afford it. However, what many aren't looking at is the other players that are on this 25 man roster that are currently making next to nothing. These guys are going to need to get theirs and if Beltran has all the money, what are we going to give to Prior, Zambrano, etc.?

Prediction - Cubs will make no moves concerning this position. Sorry to burst your bubble. Beltran will go to, plug your ears, THE HOUSTON ASTROS. Their signing of Roger Clemens and Andy Pettite must provide at least a winning series in the playoffs if not a World Series. The team they have right now is not going to get them that. By moving Beltran into CF, it allows them to take Biggio and move him around the field. He can play 2b, 1b, or LF.

Right Field
Lets face it, Sammy is the heart and soul of this team and city. He isn't going anywhere. It would be a huge PR nightmare if he were moved. End of story. I look for him to really put up some good numbers down the stretch. He knows the potential that this team has. He knows this might be his chance to win the World Series and will do everything he can to ensure that it happens.

Starting Pitcher
Matt Clement is the one name that you could see in trade talks. With the quality pitching put in by Glendon Rusch, Clement becomes expendable, especially because of his contract demands next year. Prior, Wood, Zambrano, and Maddux are locks to be here. With Guzman on the way, Rusch could serve as an acceptable stop gap until Guzman arrives next year.

Prediction - As much as it pains me to say it, I look for Matt Clement to be pitching somewhere else down the stretch. I think it would be a huge mistake but the Cubs to rely entirely on Rusch, but you have to get something for Clement before you lose him. With the Phillies and Yankees struggling with injuries to their rotation, both could be suitors for the young right hander down the stretch. I wouldn't be surprised to see Clement go to the Yankees with Mark Grudzielanek in a package deal. It would be a great investment for the Yanks and not cost them in the long run.

Bullpen
This is an area that has given the Cubs some trouble of late, but how can you really fix it? When we go out and spend tons of money on our pen like we did a few years ago, what happened? Our pen sucked!!! When we don't spend money, some players like Borowski pitch great (last year). The fact is, bullpens are like a crap shoot. You never know what you'll get. Get a few guys that you know will be reliable and run with it. The Cubs have that in place. With Hawkins, Farnsworth, Remlinger, and Merker, the pen should be fine.

Prediction - Cubs get a pen addition in the Grudzielanek/Clement trade to finish off the pen. With a trade with the Yanks, perhaps a player like Paul Quantrill or Tom Gordon could be pitching in the pen for us.

So that's it. Now you see how this year could be more difficult for Mr. Hendry. How do you fix a team that really isn't broken. You have now seen my predictions. Please let me know where you agree or grossly disagree. Just remember, come August 1st, I will be posting a big fat "I told ya so!!!!"

Written by Joseph E. Aiello @ 12:56 AM


Monday, June 21, 2004  
Community of Cub Fans

One of the major things that I like about putting my opinions on the internet is that I get to see other people's responses and opinions on a lot of topics. So, I would like to know how many of my readers or other writers have AOL instant messenger or AOL. I would love to start to build a network of people. So, if you could, E-mail me your screenname or leave it in the comment section. If anyone is curious, my screenname is jaiello78. IM me anytime.

Written by Joseph E. Aiello @ 6:39 PM


Sunday, June 20, 2004  
Round two coming to an end

So far the World Series of Blogs has been a great success. Round two will be ending this Friday and the two blogs leading their poll will move on to the final round. The World Series. Good luck to those blogs.

Also, as you will notice in our last post, we passed the 10,000 hit mark over the weekend. That is just because of people like yourself that read this blog consistently. Thank you so much for getting us to the point we are. I think I speak on behalf of Dave when I say that we are both having a blast with this site and with this season. We welcome any suggestions you have for topics, site improvements, criticism, Friday Five topics, etc. We love to hear from everyone. Thanks again for 10,000. Next up, 100,000!!!

Can we put Grudzielanek at SS?

I wrote about this idea a while back. With Alex Gonzalez out, we are stuck with a platoon of Ramon Martinez and Rey Ordonez at SS. This leaves us with just an average SS in terms of batting. Why not put Mark Grudzielanek at SS and then use him as our leadoff hitter? He did an alright job last year as our leadoff hitter, so why not. Coming into this year, a big question mark for this team was going to be our defense. However, to this point our defense has been one of the best in the league. So, even though Grudzielanek doesn't play the best SS in the world, he brings a better bat to the table than Martinez and Ordonez. He would be a potential .300 hitter and a leadoff man. In return, our defense might take a slight hit. At this point though, offense is what this team is lacking. Our Starting pitching has been great this year. Their ERA as a group has been in the neighborhood of 3.50 and that's with the disaster that was Sergio Mitre starting the number of games he did. If he didn't have to be activated, it would be lower. Our pitchers deserve some runs. Grudzielanek and Walker would be a nice 1-2 punch at the top of the order. Our lineup could look like this.

1) Grudzielanek
2) Walker
3) Sosa
4) Alou
5) Ramirez
6) Lee
7) Patterson
8) Barrett
9) Pitcher

That's a line up that should be able to put some runs on the scoreboard. I think we ought to give it a try.

Written by Joseph E. Aiello @ 11:23 PM

 
10,000 Hits - Thank You Everyone

Written by Joseph E. Aiello @ 6:44 AM


Saturday, June 19, 2004  
Sometimes I just don't understand

Today, Mark Grudzielanek was activated from the disabled list. That's a good thing. However, I just don't understand why we sent Jimmy Anderson down. Anderson was pitching decently and throws left-handed, which is always a plus. On top of all that, Dusty himself said that these next few days we would have very few days off so we would need to keep out pen strong. But getting rid of one of its members does nothing but mean that the others are going to need to get the call more.

If that was not enough evidence, let me enlighten you on who I feel should have been sent down. His name is Rey Ordonez. His current batting average coming into today's game is lower than 4 of our pitchers. He is also the 7th infielder on the active roster.

This is what I would have done. When you bring Grudzielanek up, you send Ordonez down. When you bring Wood up, you send Anderson down and put Rusch in long relief. It would add a 3rd left handed arm in the bullpen. It would also keep Anderson up long enough to keep our pen rested. I guess that is why they run the team and we just watch and criticize.

I hate our announcers

Normally I am a big fan of Steve Stone, but I swear, the more he works with "Chippy", the stupider he gets. It's like Carey's lack of intelligence about baseball seems to be seeping into Stone brain and sapping him of all his brilliant baseball knowledge. The other day, he said that the majority of the homeruns that Maddux had given up this year were because of poor location. Well obviously!!! If it was a perfect location, it would mean that the batter didn't hit it. All homeruns are due to poor location.

Then, yesterday, Stone tried to make a simple observation about the weather and "Chippy" decided that he would try to make Stone feel and look stupid. The conversation went like this.

Stone ~ "The skies are starting to get dark around Wrigley Field"
Chippy ~ "That's because it's almost night time"

I hate Chip Carey!!!!!! Quit messing up Steve Stone and ruining his chances of ever winning the Ford Frick award.

Written by Joseph E. Aiello @ 1:10 PM


Friday, June 18, 2004  
Friday Five: Lesser-Known Baseball Books

This week's Friday Five covers one of my favorite topics: baseball books. I'd like to say that the frantic pace of my life is the reason that I haven't been able to read as many of them as I'd like recently, but that's no excuse; there are ways one could make time. At any rate, I do manage to get some reading time in -- mostly when I'm taking a dump. But it counts.

I promise you that none of the books I have listed here were read when I was on the toilet, so don't let that stand in the way of your enjoyment (by the way, on that topic, see "Everyone Poops" by Taro Gomi). I'd love to hear if anyone else has some winners, too. Click each picture for information on purchasing these books on Amazon.

#5: The Bill James Guide to Baseball Managers (Bill James, Scribner):
Lots of attempts to attach numbers and rankings to the stuff managers do. Includes summaries about the changes in the way managers have their jobs over the years. My favorite article is about why NEW managers seem to do a much better job than the managers they replaced were doing. It's number five because it's better known than the others on the list.

#4: Essential Cubs (Doug Myers, Contemporary Books)
The statistical lists are non-sabermetric and therefore a little oversimplified, and it has wonderful stories about a lot of Cubs, well-known and obscure. It goes into great detail about some of the greatest games in Cubs history (Like Wood's 20 K game), ranks good/bad trades, discusses GMs, and makes a hall of fame case for Ron Santo, among others. It's written by a die-hard Cubs fan and it shows, so if you're not a fan of this blog's reason for being, don't waste your time. The book quotes Dick Ellsworth as saying, "We played for the fans, not for management. They were the ones who gauged our abilities and degree of success."

#3: The Hustler's Handbook (Bill Veeck/Ed Linn, Fireside):
This "sequel" to Veeck as in Wreck has lots more great stuff from Bill's life in baseball. It's written in a very campy, informal style that presents Veeck as the teacher and the reader as student and hustler-to-be. Nonetheless, a very entertaining read.



#2: Green Cathedrals (Philip J. Lowry, Addison Wesley):
Now quite dated, as the newest stadium in the book is Oriole Park at Camden Yards, but it has some GREAT facts about all of the parks used up until then (by the major and negro leagues). My favorite entry is about Clark Field in Austin, Texas (hosted a few Negro League games in '49-50); it reads:
"This is perhaps the only two-tiered field ever. With a 12-foot-high cliff separating the upper outfield in left around to right center from the infield and lower outfield, there were two levels of play, the upper tier and the lower tier."

#1: Sadaharu Oh (Oh and David Falkner, Times Books):
The story of the Japanese home run hitter who applied zen and martial arts training to his baseball approach. Lots of great stories of Japanese baseball and insights on what he's seen of American players. The coolest part is that there are about 20 pages in the middle of the book which you can flip and see Oh's swing.

Written by David M. Beyer @ 2:06 AM


Thursday, June 17, 2004  
I have a horrible disease

Recently I have acquired a horrible disease of the brain. It's one that many deal with each day. It causes you great anguish and emotional pain. It can at times cause frustration and lack of desire to move forward. While it is not usually fatal, it at times can be. Hopefully my case does not turn out to be. I will find out in the next few days. I disease I have is none other than......Writer's block.

Sorry, didn't mean to worry anyone, but when you do have writer's block, God knows you will throw anything out there that comes to mind in an effort to simply beat "the block". This seems like the least opportune time for a case of "the block", but you take like as it comes.

In other news, the Cubs now have a 5 game winning steak, with 3 wins over the Astros. It has been very nice seeing the Cubs step up to the plate and get the job done against two teams with the potential to meet up in October. As the Cubs go for the sweep tonight with Rusch on the mound, I actually feel pretty confident. I think the Cubs will come out swinging, wanting to keep the streak going with Sosa back on Friday. My prediction: Cubs - 7 vs Houston - 3

Houston Deals Hidalgo
This move surprises me a little. The Astros deal Hidalgo, obviously in a cost cutting move, to the Mets. However, what they get back is a reliever in the last year of his contract. Houston's pen is usually consistently tough so why not add someone a little better than this? Oh well, that's one less good hitter they have off the bench.

Written by Joseph E. Aiello @ 2:44 PM


Sunday, June 13, 2004  
Q & A with Chicago Tribune Writer, Rick Morrissey

One of my favorite reads each day is the column written by Rick Morrissey. I generally agree with his opinions on the Cubs. Recently, we had the privilege of asking Rick some questions. It's always a great privilege to pick someone's brain, especially when they are getting paid to do what we all love to do. We asked Rick ten questions. His responses were very well thought out and enjoyable to read. Enjoy!!!

Q - Your May 26th story on W.P. Kinsella's new book made your respect for his
work clear. Among sports columnists (yourself not included, of course) which
writer's work do you respect the most and why?

A - That would be a long list because there is so much good writing going on out there, and some of it people might not have heard of. Many of these columnists aren't on TV and radio all the time -- just off the top of my head, Art Thiel of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Gary Shelton of the Tampa Tribune, Harvey Araton and Ira Berkow of the New York Times, Bill Lyon of the Philadelphia Inquirer, Bill Plaschke of the LA Times. I like Mike Downey at my paper and Rick Telander at the Sun-Times. Pound for pound, Bernie Lincicome is still one of the best writers in the country. There are a lot of people I'm leaving out.
The common thread is that these guys can mix it up with good points of view, good writing, humor and a hammer, when necessary and not simply to get a reaction.

Q - Is the continued reign of Bud Selig as Commissioner good or bad for baseball and why?

A - I have mixed emotions about this. I think Bud has a terrible time making decisions, to baseball's detriment. He never should have considered the idea of Spider-Man ads on bases, but he approved it, then did away with it under pressure. He ended the All-Star Game a few years ago when it was tied in extra innings --the message being the game doesn't matter much -- then comes up with a plan to use the All-Star Game to determine home-field advantage in the World Series. Doesn't make a lot of sense. But I think he was able to introduce a dose of economic sanity to baseball when he was able to stop the union's run of victories. He should be remembered for that. I'm not sure he will be.

Q - Who do you see as the one individual in the Cubs' organization who could make or break this season? From Hendry to Dusty to the players to the equipment manager, who can propel them to the top or drag them to the bottom?

A - The burden is going to be on Jim Hendry. For all the good he has done, the injuries have been pulling the Cubs down, to the point where Hendry is going to have to make some deals eventually. I still think everything is going to be all right in the long run this season if everybody comes back healthy, but the more this drags on, the more that "if" gets bigger.

Q - Which baseball team did you grow up rooting for?

A - I grew up a Cub fan in Oak Park, but that was a long time ago. One of the unfortunate aspects of my job is that it knocks the ability to be a fan right out of you. I appreciate good stories and great games, but I don't root for a team. A 10-game losing streak could be a very compelling story, as heretical as that might sound.

I have three kids, 11, 12 and 14, and it's fun watching them go through the ups and downs of being a baseball fan in this town. But all I think about at each game is, "OK, what do I want to say about this game or this person or this play?"

Q - There is no online biography of you (or the other writers) on the Tribune's site or on Chicagosports.com. Can you fill us in on your path to the Tribune, and tell about your best writing job of all time?

A - I went to Fenwick High School and had an idea then that I'd like to be a writer. I was lucky enough to win a Chick Evans caddy scholarship to Northwestern and studied journalism there. My first job was at Star Publications in the south suburbs. I was hired as a news reporter but decided to try sportswriting when there was an opening after about six months there.

I went from there to Fort Wayne, Ind., to Charlotte to Denver, where I covered the Broncos for eight seasons. I came to the Tribune in 1997. I had been trying to get a job at the Trib or Sun-Times for years but had no luck. I must have had a lot of luck built up because after about three years, I was writing the "In the Wake of the News" column.

This is the best job I've ever had and I have no reservations saying this is one of the best newspaper jobs in the country. I get to write about whatever I want.

Q - Of any active player in any sport, whom do you enjoy talking with the most and why?

A - Kerry Wood. He's accessible, cooperative and willing to talk. A writer can't ask for more than that.

Q - Of all the articles you have written for the Trib, which one is your favorite and why? (Please include a link if possible)

A - I don't mean to be dark here, but I think the best column I wrote for the Trib came in the few days after 9/11. Athletic events had been postponed because of the attacks, and like everyone else, I was feeling very down about what had happened. I went to Northwestern, where there was supposed to be a football game, and to Wrigley, where there was supposed to be a baseball game. I wished for simpler times. I think we were all grasping for something to hold on to, and I'd like to think the column reflected it. (Joe, I don't have a link. I'll try to find the column and e-mail it to you.)

~Update~ Rick has e-mailed me a copy of the article he refers to and I will forward it to anyone who requests a copy. I can't post it here due to copyright laws. Just e-mail me and I will pass it on.

Q - Your May 31st story on football player-turned-Army Ranger Pat Tillman's death outlined why you think he was a hero. How do you define a hero and what can a professional athlete do ON THE FIELD that would make him a hero?
Was Jordan a hero? Sosa in '98? Or does it take a Rick Monday flag-grab to be a hero?

A - In light of what's going on in the world, I can't call any athlete a hero for what he or she does during competition. It's not heroic to hit a home run or hit a winning shot or run back a punt. It's breathtaking for sure. It might even take guts to attempt the winning shot. But heroic? No. Let's reserve that for people who give up some of themselves for something they believe in. If somebody gives up a job to work for the Peace Corps, then that person is a hero. That's why I thought so highly of what Tillman did (and I'm not a supporter of this war).

Q - What do you feel is the biggest problem (excluding injuries) the Cubs have this year and how would you like them to fix it?

A - I think they lack speed on the bases, and this ties in directly with Corey Patterson's problems. He refuses to shorten his swing. He continues to swing at high fastballs. In other words, he's not trying hard enough to get on base. He's taking runs from the Cubs. Drives me crazy.

Q - How often, if ever to you read Cubs Blogs (i.e. The View From The Bleachers) and what is your overall impression of them?

A - I don't read them much at all, and that's a reflection on me and not the people who do it. I don't have a whole lot of time to be online, what with my job and my family. But I will say this about blogs: There is room for a lot of voices. It would be a boring (and twisted) world if everybody agreed with what I write.

TVFTB - Thanks again for being kind enough to do this Rick. It means a lot to us and hopefully our readers will enjoy it.

RM - Good Luck.

Well, that's it. Ten questions with our favorite writer over at the Chicago Tribune. I hope you guys enjoyed the Q & A session. It was nice to see that he is just as frustrated with Mr. Patterson as we are here at TVFTB. Please let us know your responses to the Q & A session. Leave comments on what you agree and disagree with. Also, if you would like a copy of that article, e-mail me and let me know.

Written by Joseph E. Aiello @ 11:00 PM


Saturday, June 12, 2004  
Radio Show

Tonight, I will be a guest on a radio show called "Life's a pitch". It's on sports talk Cleveland. There is an internet feed if anyone would like to listen. I will be on tonight from 9:05pm est - 9:30pm est. If you would like to listen, click here. If that link doesn't work, go to Sports Talk Cleveland website and click listen now.

Written by Joseph E. Aiello @ 11:19 AM


Friday, June 11, 2004  
Sandberg and Patterson: An exercise in free-form writing

Part I: Ryne Sandberg
Ed Sherman wrote an interesting story in the Trib today about Ryne Sandberg. I've mentioned before that Ryno was my childhood hero, and he has managed (unlike some other pro athletes) to keep his personal flaws hidden from the world his whole life. Apart from his first Larry Himes-related retirement, his divorce right around that time, and that moustache he wore for a while, he's led a charmed life. That ability to keep us from peeking in his closet -- regardless of whether there's a skeleton in there -- has allowed me to continue to see him as someone to look up to.
radio has Ryno as a "regular contributor," in the words of Ed Sherman, which makes him a member of the media. I haven't heard him yet (WMVP doesn't reach Allentown, PA), but I'm glad to see him back in the Cubs' universe.
Ed Sherman's column is about the media, which makes him a writer about writers. Which, in turn, makes me a writer about writers about writers. The guy's a decent writer, but the stuff he covers usually doesn't interest me. I have a lot of varied interests, but how NBC covers the Skins Game isn't one of them. Ryne Sandberg, however, is; Sherman has finally managed to capture the attention of the vital "David M. Beyer" market.
Part II: Corey Patterson
Mr. Sherman quoted Ryno as saying that Corey Patterson needs to be more selective at the plate and go the opposite way more often. You've heard us harp on Corey A LOT on this blog, but it's because we both feel like the guy isn't using his talents, and as a speedy left-handed hitter in a lineup full of slow righties, he could make such a huge difference. But the quote got me thinking about another hitter back in '97 who needed to go with the pitch more often and be more selective. This guy was a better hitter than Corey is now -- more power and a longer history as a quality major leaguer -- but still was frustrating because he could be so much more.
In '98 he turned a corner, seeing a huge jump in walks and OBP, and elevating his game by being more selective and going with the pitch. The guy's name was Sammy Sosa.
I'm not suggesting Corey Patterson will turn into Sosa if he watches a few pitches, but maybe he'd become the positive asset we're all hoping he'll be instead of the out machine he currently is.
Baseball's time is measured in outs, and if you get on base more often, therefore making fewer outs, you suspend time for your team's offense. The longer you can suspend time, the better your chance of scoring runs. Outs are inevitable; what happens in between is what determines how good your team is.
Currently, Patterson is Devon White without the defense; he has the quick-strike capacity to put a run up on the board, but he mostly accelerates time for his team by failing to get on base.
Now that Ryno has said what Corey needs to do, it's official: everyone but Joe Morgan and Harold Reynolds have recognized what he can do to improve. All we need now is for Corey to recognize it. He looked awfully good yesterday, so maybe there's hope.

Written by David M. Beyer @ 2:48 PM

 
Friday Five: Best Active Baseball Managers

I've left several very successful and popular managers off this list, and no, I didn't forget about them. The impact of a manager on his team varies depending on how much you believe in "intangibles," but regardless these five are the ones I'd want as field general.

5: Buck Showalter
How can a guy who's never been to a World Series be the fifth best manager in the game? Because, that's why. He's never had a lot to work with and has still done a fine job. The Rangers didn't win with Alex Rodriguez, but it's because they had about ten legitimate major leaguers on the roster. Now that they have a better team, it's showing in the win-loss record.
Though not universally popular with players, Showalter is a meticulous student of the game who seeks every advantage. He gets his team prepared like no one else in the game.

4: Jimy Williams
Never popular with fans and often not popular with players, Williams is nonetheless a winning manager whose in-game strategy, roster-building, and pitching management skills put him at the top.
Better than Bobby Cox? Better than "the Genius?" Yes and yes. His teams have finished, in order, 4th (with an 86-76 record), 2nd, 3rd (87-75), (12-24 in 1989 before getting canned), 4th (78-84, his only full losing season), 2nd, 2nd, 2nd, 2nd, 2nd, 2nd, and 2nd, and got everything he could out of those teams. Despite all the roster turnover and injuries in Houston (besides the Killer B's), he's kept the Astros in the hunt the last couple of years.
The man has worked hard and deserves another "m" in his first name.

3: Jack McKeon
A mediocre run in KC from '73 to '75, a bad run in Oakland with a wretched team in the late '70s, good win-loss records in San Diego before getting a midseason firing, and a fair amount of wins in Cincinnati in the late '90s. One manager of the year award and a lifetime of achieving with unimpressive rosters notwithstanding, if it weren't for last year's historic Marlins run he wouldn't be on my list. He was absolutely brilliant last year and has been excellent this year, and he rightfully got his second Manager of the Year award, his first World Series crown, and lots of respect from David M. Beyer (which is secretly every manager's goal) as he outmaneuvered the next guy on the list in the '03 NL Championship Series, then did the same to manager #1 on the list in the World Series.

2: Dusty Baker
Dusty's magic is certainly not his ham-fisted handling of pitchers or in getting the right guys to fill his bench. His magic is getting his players to believe his B.S.--that they CAN win, that the scrubs CAN contribute, and that everything WILL be okay. Dusty's a man that players would follow into combat without hesitation.
Calling Dusty one of the best managers in the game isn't going to stop me from complaining about him, though...after all, there's still room to move up...

1: Joe Torre
It pains me to say so, but Torre is the best manager in the game. He always has his players believing in themselves. He never has problems with players thinking they are bigger than the team, surrounds himself with the right people, and lets those people make the decisions for which they're most qualified. His success with the Yanks was a long time coming; his tenure in St. Louis, Atlanta, and New York were not as successful, but neither were his teams anywhere near as talented. Always gets his teams to fulfill or exceed their expectations.

Written by David M. Beyer @ 12:20 AM


Thursday, June 10, 2004  
Interview with Chicago Tribune's Rick Morrissey

As you will notice on the bottom right of our site, we have a section called "Writers we love and hate." Among the names is Tribune Columnist Rick Morrissey. He is personally one of my favorites. He always tells it like it is. I look forward to reading his stuff each day because more often than not, I feel the same way he does. Recently, The View From The Bleachers caught up with Morrissey and asked him 10 interesting questions. He was nice enough to give us some great responses to the questions. I am just going to wet your appetite with the 10 questions we asked. His answers will be posted on Monday.

1) Your May 26th story on W.P. Kinsella's new book made your respect for his work clear. Among sports columnists (yourself not included, of course) which writer's work do you respect the most and why?

2) Is the continued reign of Bud Selig as Commissioner good or bad for baseball and why?

3) Who do you see as the one individual in the Cubs' organization who could make or break this season? From Hendry to Dusty to the players to the equipment manager, who can propel them to the top or drag them to the bottom?

4) Which baseball team did you grow up rooting for?

5) There is no online biography of you (or the other writers) on the Tribune's site or on Chicagosports.com. Can you fill us in on your path to the Trib and tell about your best writing job of all time?

6) Of any active player in any sport, whom do you enjoy talking with the most and why?

7) Of all the articles you have written for the Trib, which one is your favorite and why? (Please include a link if possible)

8) Your May 31st story on football player-turned-Army Ranger Pat Tillman's death outlined why you think he was a hero. How do you define a hero and what can a professional athlete do ON THE FIELD that would make him a hero? Was Jordan a hero? Sosa in '98? Or does it take a Rick Monday flag-grab to be a hero?

9) What do you feel is the biggest problem (excluding injuries) the Cubs have this year and how would you like them to fix it?

10) How often, if ever to you read Cubs Blogs (i.e. The View From The Bleachers) and what is your overall impression of them?

Wanna know how he responded? Tune in on Monday to see the response. I am sure you'll enjoy it. Until then, make sure you go to the bottom right and read his stuff. It will be well worth your time.

Polls close on Friday
The first round of the World Series of Blogs is going to be coming to a close. The votes will be tallied and the winners from each division along with a wild card winner from each league will be moving on. Get your votes in to ensure your favorite moves on. Voting for the second round will begin on Monday, June 14th. Good luck to everyone in the final days of the first round voting.

Written by Joseph E. Aiello @ 12:36 AM


Wednesday, June 09, 2004  
I don't owe you anything: Are players accountable to the fans?

The city of Chicago has had its share of drama in the closer role this season. Both teams, stricken with a question mark in the role, have suffered setbacks because of the problem. The Cubs have since replaced their "problem." The White Sox are about ready to follow suit. All of the ineffectiveness, coupled with the recent comments by both players in response to media questions about the job they do got me to thinking about accountability.

After a horrible pitching performance recently, Koch had this to say:

"That's a pathetic showing....I apologize to everyone out there. It's not fair [for fans] to have to bite your nails down to a bloody stump watching me pitch."
After switching roles from setup man supreme to closer, Latroy Hawkins faced a number of questions from the media his first day on the job. His response was like Koch's, right? Wrong!!! He had this to say:
"Getting three outs is not easy at any point in the ballgame, but people put the spotlight on the ninth,...It doesn't matter what happens in the ninth, as long as you don't give up the lead. I don't care who's sitting on the edge of your seats. I'm not going to sit here and apologize for putting you on the edge of your seats like (Billy) Koch did (Sunday). I'm not going to apologize for that. Because I can do what you guys can do. You guys can't do what I do....I don't care if you guys bite your fingernails, or bite your hands and knuckles until they bleed, that's not my problem."
Koch immediately fired back at Hawkins' claim that we can't do what he can do by saying:
"What, I can't set up and fail in the closers role? . . . He did it miserably a few years ago (in Minnesota)."
Pretty strong words out of both men, but which one is right? Are baseball players--or any sports figures, for that matter--accountable to the fans and the media? The answer is yes. While we don't own the teams or players themselves, baseball and sports in general are, quite simply put, products that we purchase. We pay for the right to read about them, watch them live, watch them on TV, etc. Sure the owners actually own the team and thus the players are definitely accountable to them, but how many owners could afford to put their product out there without it selling? None, except for maybe Steinbrenner for a year. The result is one crazy and confusing circle of blame. The fans need the product the owners provide. The owners need the players to play well to make that product sellable. The players need the fans to like them so the owners will want to continue to employ them. It's all really quite tangled.

The fact of the matter is, players ARE accountable to fans, but to what extent? When baseball went through the last strike, one that cancelled the World Series, all I heard from people is that they are done going to baseball games because they hate the players. They feel that they are not friendly enough and that they don't take the time to make baseball fans feel special. Why should players have to go out of their way to make me feel special? I paid $30 to see them? Is that a good reason? No, it's unrealistic. We didn't pay for a meet and greet session, we paid to come see the players play. That's what you paid for, nothing more. Anything the players do at the game that might have to do with direct contact with a fan, such as throw a baseball into the stands or sign an autograph is extra. It doesn't come with the package. When you go see a movie, you don't get to shake hands with the actor or expect them to be there for an autograph. It's understood that you paid close to $10 to simply watch them do their job. The same should be said for baseball. We pay to watch, that's it!!!

Paying to watch does, however, come with some accountability privileges. For instance, fans have every right to boo a poor performance. They are the audience. They paid for the right to do that. They also have the right to be upset if they did not get a performance worthy of what they paid for. Billy Koch responded to that fact:
"These people pay their hard-earned money--whatever the cost of a ticket is--to come out here and watch a game. We have the lead, and I blow it and screw it up for the team, screw it up for the city--then, yeah, I think I do have an [obligation] to apologize. I ruined it for them. Maybe I ruined their kid's first baseball game who was a diehard Chicago White Sox fan."
In the end, baseball players ARE accountable to the fans, but there is a fine line that is crossed all too often by both the fans and the players. Latroy Hawkins, Frank Thomas, Barry Bonds, etc. have all crossed it by boycotting the media, but fans have also crossed it by expecting too much from players and Major League Baseball. In the words of the great philosopher Rodney King, "Why can't we all just get along?"

Written by Joseph E. Aiello @ 12:03 PM


Tuesday, June 08, 2004  
Strange Visions

Last night, with the fog settling over the corn fields of Pennsylvania, I lay my head down to sleep. The struggles of my beloved Chicago Cubs were, as usual, on my mind, but I was gripped with a greater fear -- the looming job interview in the coming morn. Perhaps my concern over the Cubs grew jealous on that night, for when I closed my eyes and my consciousness released my mind to unfettered wanderings, it brought me this vision:
Deep into the seventh inning, the Cubs were losing by a score of Four to Nil. Aramis Ramirez was up to bat and he, like all of his teammates, were hitless on the day. The determined expression his face wore in previous at-bats was gone, replaced by a look of resignation. He was beaten before his back foot even dug into the growing pit near the back of the batter's box.
The Cardinal pitcher was unrecognizable as a man; my mind's eye saw him--it--as a fire-eyed demon, its long, heavily muscled right arm covered in barbs and slick with some sort of hellish oily secretion. It delivered the first pitch, which sped directly toward the overmatched batter's skull. He hit the deck like a war veteran upon hearing a car's backfire, but though his head was out of harm's way, his bat was suspended in mid-air. The ball, oval-shaped as though struggling to retain its shape against such velocity, struck the bat at an odd angle and it hurtled into the stands.
A man dressed all in white, sitting alone in the fourth row down the third base side, reached out a bony hand and caught the sizzling projectile. The wide brim of his white hat obscured his face, but the demon in a Cardinals uniform standing on the pitcher's mound recoiled when he saw who caught the ball. Though the pale-handed spectator's face remained hidden, the Cubs could sense a smile as his wrist snapped and the ball was thrown back on to the field.
The crowd was silent.
The home plate umpire's hippopotamic mass lumbered over to the ball and picked it up. Curiously, after a brief inspection, he tossed it back to the pitcher, who seethed and bared its fangs at the umpire.
"Play Ball!" shouted the umpire, and his voice cut through the silence of the crowd, breaking the spell. They began to cheer, unsteadily at first, then louder.
Ramirez looked up into the stands before digging in. The man in white was gone. He shook his head and dug in, but the look of desperation was washed away by the noise of the crowd. The demon on the mound appeared smaller, more frail suddenly.
The next pitch sailed over everyone's heads and against the net, then rolled back toward the umpire's feet. The crowd roared. With a grunt, the umpire picked it up, inspected it, then threw it back to the pitcher.
The demonic Cardinal threw another pitch. The ball seemed to glow as it slowed before Ramirez's eyes. He swung his bat and felt a surge of energy; the ball sailed over the fence and settled into the crowd, where a pale-handed man in a wide hat caught it and threw it back. It rolled to the umpire's feet just as Ramirez crossed the plate.
The crowd was in hysterics; they sensed the change. Derrek Lee was next, and he too homered; the demonic Cardinal players shrank a little bit more. In the right field bleachers, a bony, pale hand caught the ball and threw it back. The umpire put the ball in play again. The Demon LaRussa was paralyzed; he could make no move despite the pitcher's pleading looks toward the dugout. Barrett, then Ramon Martinez, followed; each homered, and each time the man in white caught the ball and threw it back.
And so it went all the way through the lineup, with even weak-hitting pitcher Matt Clement swatting the enchanted ball into the stands. The score stood at 7 to 4 in favor of the Cubs when Moises Alou stepped in. Once more the enfeebled pitcher delivered the ball, and once more the ball sailed high into the sky. This time it left the park and went halfway down the street.
The ballhawks ran after the coveted ball, but from an alley a man in a white hat and suit reached out his pale, bony hand and caught the ball on the third bounce.
The umpire threw in a new ball and the rest of the game passed uneventfully. The Cubs emerged victorious by an eight to four score, and the man in white was never seen again.
I awoke feeling refreshed and peaceful. The job interview went very smoothly, and though I have been awake and fully aware all day, there is a part of my mind that has not left the dream.

Written by David M. Beyer @ 3:56 PM

 
Things that make you go "HUH?!?!?!"

Well, the draft has begun. The Cubs are now the proud owners of not 1, but 2 Pattersons. Can my day get any worse? What I noticed though was from the article on the Cubs Site. When referring to the younger of the two evils, the article read as follows:

"Eric Patterson is a solid second base prospect and a contact hitter like his older brother."

HUH?!?!?!?!?



Last time I checked, Corey Patterson doesn't make too much contact. If that's the kind of hitter Eric is, can we send him back?

Written by Joseph E. Aiello @ 12:34 AM


Monday, June 07, 2004  
Cubs/Cards Game 1 Recap: Inning by Inning Commentary

Top 1st
No Pujols!!!! Thank God!!! Todd Walker made a great play to start the ballgame. Who said he can't field his position very well. He's done a great job as far as I'm concerned. I love how fast Glendon Rusch works. I remember when I used to watch the Cubs game and Steve "Human Rain Delay" Traschel was pitching. It went something like this when he got someone on base. Look in, throw to first. Look in, throw to first. Look in, throw to first. Look in, throw to first. Pitch. Sometimes worse.

Glendon Rusch starts out well. 3 cards up, 3 cards down. Lets try and come out swinging today. It's a big series so lets make them pay.

Bottom 1st
Michael Barret hitting 2nd in the lineup? I like it!!! He's been hitting well, so maybe it will work out well. The Cubs go down in order. Alou is up there hackin. What else is new?

~Side Note~ For some reason, I always want to poke Tony Gwynn in the belly to see if he does the doughboy giggle.

Top 2nd
No problems for Rusch. Why didn't we bring him up instead of Mitre when Prior was hurt? I have been nothing but impressed with this guy, and he's a lefty, which we need in the starting rotation. The Cubs really need to start getting there starters some run support before they go insane. I think Lee is gonna continue his hot hitting tonight. Maybe it will start in the 2nd.

Bottom 2nd
6 up, 6 down. It is really getting crazy. Why is this team not able to get any hits? I can understand not getting runs consistently, but we're not even getting baserunners. It's nuts!!!

Top 3rd
I finally figured out who Rusch reminds me of, Barry Zito. The way he throws his curveball, it looks just like Zito's. Both have that big sweeping curveball that goes 12-6. I think those are so cool, because they just freeze the hitter.

Bottom 3rd
Why isn't this man smiling? After all, he worked the count, hit a homerun, and actually had the crowd cheer for him. Poor Corey Patterson. Maybe he's depressed. Nonetheless, the Cubs jump on top for once. Now Rusch just needs to pitch perfect for the rest of the game. He can't expect too much more help from the offense.

Top 4th
Uh oh!!! Is it possible that we can get 4 runs? I certainly hope so, or else this one is in the books. Sutcliff said that "you would expect both offenses to be able to get more than this on this kind of night, with the wind blowing out." Yes Rick, you would expect that, but have you been watching our offense lately. I expect 4 hits and 1 run.

Bottom 4th
2 outs, runners on second and third, and down 2. Corey Patterson has a shot to tie it up. Oh wait, I just said Corey Patterson. My grandma might has well have been up. Way to come through in the clutch Corey. I'm proud you're a Cub. At least Derrek Lee managed to get one of the runs in for us.

Top 5th
Good to see Rusch settle down in the 5th inning. I did notice one thing that worries me about him though. His fastball is topping out in the high 80's - low 90's, but isn't moving at all. It's like its moving through a tube it's so straight. I could be wrong, but a fastball that isn't fast and doesn't move doesn't make for a low ERA. I haven't seen him pitch much this year, so hopefully it's just tonight that his fastball isn't looking very good.

~Side Note~ TV announcers just said that Pujols will be out for this whole series. What great news for us. Maybe Cincinatti's whole lineup will get hurt too.

Bottom 5th
Glendon Rusch hits a Homerun? That's it, hit him in the cleanup spot for us. We need his offense. I wish I was at this game so I could have seen if Jose Macias took off on his own on Jim Edmonds or if wavin Wendell sent him. Either way, that was by far the worst decision I have ever seen. Edmonds is a great CF and he had all his momentum coming in. Macias was literally half way to home when the catcher caught the ball. Ridiculous!!!!!

Top 6th
I'm proud of Rusch. If I were on the mound and gave up 4 runs on back to back HR's with the way my offense had been of late, I think I would have packed it in. Rusch has battled back and has a chance to win this game if the Cubs keep chipping away. Another run or two in the bottom of the inning and we're in good shape.

~Side Note~ Rick Sutcliff made me say "What!?!?!?!?!?!" just now. He said that he thinks that deep down, if the Cubs don't win, most Cubs fans want the Cardinals to win it all, and vice versa. Rick didn't you pitch in Chicago? When did you become clueless about a great rivalry?

Bottom 6th
Cubs go down in order. You got another good inning in you Glendon? Otherwise you aren't getting a win tonight.

Top 7th
Jose Macias made a great catch in this inning. Maybe it will be a Web Gem on baseball tonight. Rusch does what he needs to do and gets another scoreless inning. Come on now offense. Get the kid 2 runs and let him win this. The 7th and 8th innings have been good to us these past two days so hopefully it continues.

Bottom 7th
I am so glad we signed Todd Hollandsworth. This guy has been a great pinch hitter, great baserunner, and a great all around surprise for us. Unfortunately his good baserunning to stretch a single to a double goes for nothing. Sorry Glendon, no win for you.

Top 8th
For some reason, Mike Remlinger makes me nervous. I'm not really sure why, because he always seems to have good year after good year. Maybe it's because in all the video games I have ever had, he has always gotten shelled each year. Video games can really mess with your impressions of players. Does this happen for anyone else? In one of my games, I had Rich Amaral on my team. He did great, and I have always liked him since. I think I have issues. Either that or I play too many games. I can't help it. It's fun playing GM. I always seem to go trade crazy. Oh, by the way. The Cubs get out of the inning 3 up 3 down. On to the bottom half.

Bottom 8th
Well, we have got one last chance now. Hawkins will probably pitch the ninth and then it's hit or get em tomorrow.

Top 9th
Good Farnsworth inning. Now it's time to step out and win this.

Bottom 9th
I hate COREY PATTERSON!!!!!!!!!!!!! The ball bounces in the dirt and Corey swings. What is going on in his stupid head when he is seeing these pitches? Game over. Cubs Lose!!!

Written by Joseph E. Aiello @ 7:58 PM


Sunday, June 06, 2004  
Inning by Inning Recap

Top 1st
The wind is blowing out. That could mean an early exit if Maddux isn't careful. He looked good in the first inning, getting the Pirates 1,2,3. Hopefully we see the Maddux we paid for and not the one we have gotten in about 40% of the starts this year.

Bottom 1st
Why is Rey Ordonez hitting 2nd? His first At Bat is evidence as to why this shouldn't be. He swung at the first pitch he saw and grounded out. I really wish we still had Kenny Lofton to lead off so that we could have Todd Walker hitting second. If only Corey Patterson could hit leadoff. Who knows, maybe someday he'll come around, when he's in Kansas City playing centerfield. It was nice to see Alou take a 2 out walk. He normally swings at the first pitch he sees. However, we're facing Vogelsong and he has been getting hammered. We need to see a few pitches so we can hammer him too. Ramirez promptly flies out to center and the inning ends.

Top 2nd
Man oh Man, Brian Runge is calling strikes if it is anywhere near the plate. It simply needs to be in the ballpark and not bounce for him to motion called strike. Maddux benefited from that benevolence by striking out the first batter he saw in the 2nd. Perfect through 2 inning. Good start so far for Mad Dog. Now we need to get some runs and knock Vogelsong around a little.

Bottom 2nd
Derrek Lee starts off the game with the Cubs first hit. After hitting a long homerun yesterday, maybe he is finally starting to see the ball a little better. Now we just need to get Corey to see some pitches and start getting that average to where it was last year. It's time this offense starts putting us the numbers that it is capable of putting up.

Top 3rd
Well, the Pirates strike first. Seems like that has been the trend lately. Kendall comes through in the clutch with a 2 out hit. The Pirates played fundamental baseball and it yielded them a run. The Cubs are going to need to start playing smallball if they can't start pounding out runs. It works for the Pirates.

Bottom 3rd
What happened to Maddux being a good hitting pitcher. 1 for 25 is not that impressive to me. That is a rocking .040 batting average. Yes Greg, Chicks do dig the longball, but fans would dig a few singles. 3 innings in the books and the Cubs have 1 hit on a day where the wind is blowing out.

Top 4th
The professor gets em easy in the 4th. This offense NEEDS to get their act in gear. Our starting staff deserves better than this. I'm sick and tired of great starts going to waste. For crying out loud. Just get them 3 or 4 for a change so they don't have to pitch so carefully.

Bottom 4th
Hollandsworth gets a 2 out single and steals 2nd base. Do the Cubs get him in? Heck no, they never do. We are completely retarded when it comes to driving in runners in scoring position for the last few weeks. Come on guys, get the job done.

Top 5th
Maddux makes a play showing his awesome/sometimes lucky fielding ability. It saved him a run. That was a huge play to keep the Cubs in this game. How can I say "Keep them in the game.", when we're only down 1 run? Well, because we're down 1 run, which is like 10 the way this offense has been doing.

~ Side Note~ Something I have been noticing lately that has been annoying me about Steve Stone. Is anyone else worried about the fact that he has begun to refer to Chip Carey as "Chippy"? Please stop Steve. It's making us all sick.

Bottom 5th
Something crazy happened in this inning. Corey Patterson struck out on a pitch at his eyes. Oh wait, that's business as usual. Also, the Cubs failed to score a run. Oh wait, that is ALSO business as usual. God it's frustrating.

Top 6th
Steve Stone said at the beginning of this half inning that it could prove to be a huge inning for Maddux. He had to hold the Pirates at bay with the top of their lineup coming to the plate. Did he come through? Of course he did. Will the Cubs go down in order in the bottom half of the inning? Of course they will.

~ Side Note ~ I am not really sure why people hate Paul Bako so much. He is our BACKUP catcher, plays great defense, and gets an occasional hit. He's not our everyday guy, so don't worry so much about him.

Bottom 6th
There was a fan in the bleachers holding a sign that said "Alou, hit it here" Kid, at this point, this offense just needs to hit it anywhere. The Cubs go down in order again and have managed 2 hits through 6. Down 1-0. I'm starting to wonder if I am watching the game I taped yesterday on TiVo and not the real game. It's eerily similar. Hopefully it has the same result that begins to unravel in the 7th.

Top 7th
3 up, 3 down. Great day today Greg. Hopefully we can get you some runs for you to win this game.

~ Side Note ~ My boys, the Fighting Illini Mens basketball team sang the seventh inning stretch. I can't wait for basketball season to start again. I miss it already.

Bottom 7th
See that, what did I tell you? Aramis Ramirez gets a weird homerun that falls through the bottom of the basket and almost goes the Pirates way. Luckily the umps get it right. All of a sudden, the bats come out again. Todd Hollandsworth singles, Derrek Lee gets hit by a pitch, and Vogelsong is out, leaving two runs on base and no outs. Does Corey Patterson keep it going? Nope. Did I even need to ask that question? Dusty made a good move with runners on 1st and 3rd by pulling Bako for Barrett. Barrett has been very good with the bat this year and Bako hasn't. The move works as Barrett gets a sac fly RBI to give the Cubs a 2-1 lead. Bring on the 8th inning. Farnsworth, and The Hawk and it's game over.

~ Side Note ~ Albert Pujols pulled a hamstring in the Cards game today. This could be huge news for us. Maybe will be fortunate enough to not have to see him at all in this next series.

Top 8th
Ok, so we had a quick look at Remlinger before we saw Farnsworth. I'm not really sure why Dusty went with that, but as long as it worked, I won't complain. I really don't have any preference when anyone pitches, as long as they do the job. Borowski closing? Fine, if it gets it done. Farnsworth closing? Fine if he gets it done. Steve Stone closing? Fine if he gets the job done.

Bottom 8th
It's amazing how similar this game is to yesterday's. I am just glad it has turned out the same. BRING ON LATROY!!!!

Top 9th
Well, bullpen/closer by committee day 1 is in the books. Grade for the day: B+. Remlinger got his man, Farnsworth got his men, and Latroy pitches a scoreless, somewhat nervous 9th inning to save the game for Greg Maddux. 6 more wins till 300 for the Professor.

Now that we've seen Hawkins save one, but allow some baserunners, what do you think? Are you still ok with him closing? I still would like to see Farnsworth in that role, but like I said, I am fine with whoever is gonna get the job done. What do you think? Leave a comment and let me know who you want to close.

Written by Joseph E. Aiello @ 2:29 PM


Saturday, June 05, 2004  
New Closer?: Dusty May Have Just Tipped His Hand.

The Cubs get a much needed win today, courtesy of an inept Pittsburgh defense. For the second straight day, the Cubs offense decided that they need to make their starting pitcher nervous due to a lack of run support. Yesterday it cost Mark Prior a win. Today it could have cost Carlos Zambrano a win. He gave the Cubs seven strong, and was all but out of the game down 1-0, until Pittsburgh makes a costly error that opened the floodgates to a three run 7th inning. Until that inning, the Cubs offense could only manage a pathetic 2 hits. I'm sorry, but this is the Pirates pitching staff, not an all-star staff. We should be able to consistently manage at least 4-5 runs against this staff.

June is the toughest month in terms of schedule that the Cubs will face all year. Scoring a minimal amount of runs in that stretch could kill us. To compound that potential problem, the Cubs are also facing the current problem of what will happen in close, late game situations. There have been many fans and writers who have been calling for Joe Borowski's head on a platter. Dusty, however, has been patient, seeing his closer's ERA balloon to over 8. It seems though that the hammer, delivering Borowski's sentence may finally be dropping. In today's Chicago Tribune, Paul Sullivan talks about the fact that Baker may be considering a change in the closer's role.

"Baker declined to give Borowski his usual vote of confidence after the game. 'I'll think about it and make a decision,' Baker said."
In today's game, fresh off that interview, with the Cubs up 3-1, going into the bottom of the 8th, a peak into the bullpen revealed not Average Joe, but Latroy Hawkins. Thankfully, no closer was necessarily, as the Cubs put up 3 additional runs to seal the victory. In the end, Francis Beltran, who has been a very nice addition to the pen this year, closed the game out in the ninth.

The hand Dusty holds may have been tipped, however. He may have showed the fans, and the team who is new closer is going to be. Borrowski's blown save yesterday to lose a game for Prior may have sealed his fate.
"Nobody ever said baseball is an easy game. Whatever [Baker] decides is whatever he decides. I'm not going to worry about what might happen or what can happen or anything like that. I can't worry about things I can't control. Whatever is best for this team at this time is fine. Dusty is the manager, and he has the right to do whatever he wants. I'll respect what he does. Hopefully he'll have that belief in me and stick me out there next time."
Borowski never moved from his seat in the bullpen today, not even to stretch out his arm in the event that he may have been used today. Was Dusty simply resting Average Joe, or is he finally at the end of his patience? One thing is certain, the Cubs season is going to depend on what they do this month. Dusty knows that. Hopefully he also knows when enough is enough. We'll just have to wait, see, and hope.

Written by Joseph E. Aiello @ 11:30 PM

 
Pain in the Rector

The time has come. I am now declaring Charles Rector, TEMPORARY writer for The Reds Roundup, Public Enemy # 1 to The View From The Bleachers & The Cubbies Corner. In case you're not familiar with some of his work, please, be sure to check them out. Since taking over at the Reds Roundup, all he has done is bash the Cubs. I can understand where he is coming from. Really, I can. Myself, Dave, and every other member of the Cubs Blog Army have also been bashing them all year. We bash Corey, Sosa, Borowski, and every other person on this team that is under performing. However, there is one subtle, actually glaring difference between our writing and ole' Charlie boy's. We actually have some clue what we're talking about.

Recently, I had the good fortune of being enlightened by the latest Rector words. I have to say, they were as clueless as ever. I like his consistency with making me say to myself "What an idiot!!!" Now, before you go and write me e-mails to tell me that it's not nice to put people down, let me explain to you my reasoning.

First of all, he presents the news about Mark Prior's incident with an autograph session gone mad from one side. He does not link to his source, giving the reader the chance to see the nice things people said about Prior. As a service to you, here is the Article in the Daily Herald. Sorry your author wasn't man enough to present both sides. To defend Prior, he was lied to. He was told that there were to be 300 autographs and was never told anything about pictures. Because of that, he counted pictures as part of the autograph agreement and fulfilled the 300 he promised.

This is not really what bothered me most about his post though. It was the closing paragraph or so that made me just shake my head and wonder where he comes up with this stuff. His words must have a block quote. They are just too priceless and should be encased in the "Huh?" hall of fame.

"And in today's game, Prior revealed even more of his true lack of character when he opted to maximize the number of strikeouts he could get instead of trying to keep his pitch count low. This lead to the bullpen taking over and as we all know, the Cubs bullpen is the Cubs bullpen. And so, the Cubs lost 2-1 to the Pittsburgh Pirates."

Ok, where to begin? First, how can you say that Prior was not trying to keep his pitch count low? He went 6 full innings and only was given 85 pitches. How many pitches per inning do you want him to throw? 3? I'm sorry, but averaging a little over 14 pitches per inning, is very effective pitching for a first start back from an injury. It's effective for any start for that matter. Maybe he just doesn't understand what a quality performance is.

Also, what does it mean to maximize the number of strikeouts? So because he struck out 8 batters, that's a bad thing? It just doesn't make any sense. What other way is there to keep the pitch count low, other than to throw strikes? Is it Prior's fault that people can't hit the strikes he throws? The fact of the matter is, Charles Rector is a White Sox fan that can't stand the Cubs. The Reds are his opportunity to bash the Cubs. I hope he enjoys it while it lasts, because having a blog about a team and writing about that team maybe 25% of the time, while using the rest of the time to bash the Cubs simply shows a lack of knowledge about the team you're covering as well as what good writing involves. Period!!!!

Written by Joseph E. Aiello @ 1:31 AM


Friday, June 04, 2004  
The tide is turning

As much as I hate to say it, I think I am finally coming over to the dark side when it comes to Joe Borowski's fan club. In an earlier post, I said that we needed to stick with Joe because he hadn't blown a save all year. Well since then, he has looked beyond horrible. I don't know that I am officially giving up as Borowski as our closer forever, but I am offering this solution for now.

My opinion is that we need to tell Kyle Farnsworth that this is his shot at the closer's job. This is his chance. Take it or forget it. Time to rise to the occasion, because your team needs you. If he excels at the job, AWESOME, if not, then explain to Borowski that he can have a 2nd chance if he gets his ERA down and starts to show some consistency out of the middle relief role. It used to be his role, so he shouldn't have a problem going back to it. He's a fighter, and I think he would rise to the occasion. Farnsworth might also rise to the occasion seeing it as his only shot. In the end, good all around.




Take a good look at that baseball Joe, because the way you're going, soon you may not be seeing it come the 9th inning anymore!!!

Written by Joseph E. Aiello @ 11:47 PM

 
Friday Five: Dave's Top Five Childhood Heroes

Joe mentioned on our other blog that his childhood hero was Rey Sanchez:
"Let me give you some examples of the players that I loved when I was growing up. Rey Sanchez, Steve Buchelle, Joe Girardi, Mark Clark, Mitch Williams, etc...What the heck is wrong with me? Why would I like these guys? I’m actually kind of embarrassed to admit that I did. I even remember trying to be a 'great SS' like Rey Sanchez."

In order to put him at ease, this is my list of childhood heroes, in order of embarrassment it causes me:


5) Ryne Sandberg
This one actually causes me no embarassment at all, but gives me a starting point. I still sign my emails with a "#23" at the bottom. As a known Chicago sports fan, everyone assumes it's because of Michael Jordan. Those in the know, however, understood that it is in Ryno's honor.
Ryno's still my favorite player of all time.




4) Mr. T
He was BA Baracus on the A-Team and Clubber Lang in Rocky III (still the best Rocky bad guy, and not just because he killed Burgess Meredith, something Batman was never able to do). He wore all kinds of jewelry but somehow, in the way that German metal bands get away with having a silly keyboardist in the group, that never stopped him from epitomizing toughness.




3) Freddie Mercury
I LOVED Queen's music, and still do, and thought Freddie Mercury was the coolest guy on the planet. When I was about ten or eleven somebody told me that he was gay. Only when I was fourteen or fifteen did I start to believe it, and not until I was in my twenties did I realize how openly, brazenly, and demonstratively show-tuney gay he was. It wasn't embarassing to me that he was gay, just that it was obvious to everyone in the world but me. When he died of AIDS in 1991, the rock industry lost one of its finest vocalists and greatest live performers.




2) Lord British
The Ultima guy. I always imagined what I would say to this guy when I was a kid. After all, I played Ultima IV for at least 500 hours of playtime, the games were so deep and interesting, and he got away with wearing a crown in his pictures! When I got a job at Origin and met him I found out he was kind of a twerp.
Then I started calling him Dick British. All in all, he wasn't a bad guy, but when you get an unrealistic image of a person in your mind, the person can only fall short in real life, so ol' Captain English was a victim of my expectations.




1) Joey DeMaio (the lead singer for Manowar)
Manowar is a musically talentless metal band that sings about Dungeons and Dragons, riding on motorcycles, and having the capability to play music at high decibel levels. They always had paintings of themselves in leather, standing on a battlefield with vanquished foes and beautiful women dressed like they were on a Vallejo print. Joey DeMaio was always front and center, looking very heroic and muscular, like Conan the Barbarian with a guitar. I found them incredibly talented and their lyrics were deep and meaningful -- until I turned thirteen.



Written by David M. Beyer @ 2:44 PM


Thursday, June 03, 2004  
File this one under: Please God, you're kidding right?

I'm not really sure how many people saw this mini article in the Chicago Sun Times on May 29th, but it caught my eye, and I would like to pick it apart a little and give you my thoughts (worries).

"Rey Ordonez refused to acknowledge so early in his Cubs career that he could be a long-term solution to the dearth of shortstops in this organization."

You're kidding right? You don't think the Cubs are really actually considering keeping Rey Ordonez as the permanent "Solution" as shortstop do you? What a waste of money that would be. Granted, Ordonez doesn't make diddly squat, but he also isn't worth diddly squat.
"Cubs manager Dusty Baker is expecting the best from Ordonez, who was 0-for-4 in the first game of the doubleheader."

Excellent way to try to convince us. Tell us that we're expecting the best from him and he goes 0-4 in his debut. Way to get us excited Mr. Reilly.
"There is plenty of Rey Ordonez left," Baker said. "He's young, and I hear he was playing real good [at Iowa]. He was playing good last year in Tampa Bay [before a season-ending injury]."

Ok, plenty to think about there. First, plenty of Rey Ordonez left? How much was there to begin with if there is still plenty left? The fact that Baker feels this way makes me a little nervous about his ability to accurately assess talent in a ballplayer. Rey Ordonez is nothing more than a glorified Rey Sanchez (My Hero as a kid) with a couple gold gloves. Rey Sanchez was always looked at as a liability, and I don't see Ordonez as any different. Secondly, 33 years old is not young in sports terms. Yeah, sure this is the year of the old Farts, with Clemens pitching great, Big Unit pitching a perfect game, and Barry Bonds hitting like a man possessed, but this does not apply to pip squeak Cuban shortstops. So no Dusty, Ordonez is not young. Third, Ordonez was hitting alright last year. I'll give Dusty that, but it was in 117 at bats. That's nothing. The fact is, here are his career highs for important categories in a full season. 
Stat        High        Year

Average     .258        1999

Hr's         3          2001

OBP         .319        1999

Slg         .336        2001

Fld %       .994        1999
I'm not really sure what to think. Either Dusty was caught with the questions and didn't want to hurt Rey's feelings, or he really believes this. I'm not sure which it is, but if Ordonez is the answer, I know I don't want to know what the question was.

Written by Joseph E. Aiello @ 6:47 PM


Wednesday, June 02, 2004  
Robot Pitching Machine Report: Clemen Industries Models S & T

Memo from Cy Borg, Pitching Machine Project Leader
CLEMEN Industries Robotics
6/2/04

Status:
Models A-R disabled. Clemen S and Clemen T in active duty.

ClemenS Update:
Still our most successful model, The ClemenS pitching robot was in retirement due to worn parts over the offseason. However, lead field researcher Pettitte was able to get ClemenS up and running in tme for the season's start. He has won all seven of his decisions and has no-decisions in three starts. ClemenS has given up 2.38 runs per nine innings this year, walking 26 and striking out 76 in 64.1 innings of service. Researcher Pettitte devoted himself full-time to ClemenS maintenance for a portion of the season, curtailing his own career. Now that Pettitte is dividing his time between pitching and maintaining ClemenS, our team is concerned that the robot will break down. However, early returns on the season are extremely promising; remarkable given that the expected life span of this robot has long been exceeded and its inning meter has recently passed 4300.

ClemenT update: Intended to be an upgrade over the Clemen model S, ClemenT has shown certain design flaws that have made its performance wildly unpredictable. Despite top-of-the-line pitch algorithms, ClemenT has had trouble with release point, target identification, and target accuracy. The addition of the Chin Patch has helped significantly, but ClemenT unit still suffered occasional breakdowns. Due to recalibration of key targeting systems, this robot has been very effective this season, rivaling the performance of the ClemenS this season. It has won six decisions against three losses in ten starts, with 24 walks and 65 strikeouts. The robot's season inning meter is currently at 65.0 and shows no signs of needing tune-up.

Project goals for 2004:
ClemenS can show significant drop in performance this season and the project will still label its performance a success.
ClemenT, despite improvement, needs to maintain its current output over a full season to renew Clemen Industries' service contract for this unit with the Chicago Cubs. They are very pleased with ClemenT's performance thus far and have ordered production of a ClemenU, ClemenV, and ClemenW. Our project is staffing up to meet the Cubs' Needs.

Report Update:
ClemenS and ClemenT will be in the same place simultaneously for a Houston-Chicago game. Let us hope, for the sake of our project, that the Clemen Industries "Houston Electromagnetic Pulse Grid" project does not go on-line today.

Written by David M. Beyer @ 3:00 PM


Tuesday, June 01, 2004  
Mike Royko

Joe's comments about Mariotti and Rogers are in line with mine. I have to admit that I liked Mariotti on Around the Horn, but he's on the wrong side of the suck line in print. Phil Rogers is jaw-droppingly bad; the day espn.com started printing some of his stuff was the day I realized I need to stop visiting the site.

My dad always talks about Mike Royko, but I was too young to get to read his stuff. Does anybody have thoughts about Royko, or any other sportswriters for the Chicago newspapers, past or present? I'm having a hard time thinking of anybody who I enjoy reading more than half the time.

Written by David M. Beyer @ 6:06 PM

 
I hate Phil Rogers

There is a good article on ESPN about Mark Prior today written by Phil Rogers. He continues to blame Baker for the Cubs injuries to the pitching staff. I really wish people weren't so fickle about this team. When things are going great, Dusty is a hero, and has brought the franchise from the dead. When things are going a little less than ideal, then the bash the manager stuff starts. I may not be in the majority, but I don't mind how Dusty handles the pitching staff. He has a great reputation with his team and with everyone else as being a manager everyone wants to play for. You don't get that reputation by abusing your players.

Mark Prior, Kerry Wood, Greg Maddux, etc all have something in common. They are grown men. That means that they know their bodies and they know what they can do. They are not going to risk their careers and health because Dusty says so. He's a good guy, but he's not God. The fact is, Dusty communicates with his players and they have input. I don't ever remember hearing any of his current or former players going on record and saying that Dusty didn't know what he was doing.

Also read "I Hate Jay Mariotti" over at Cubbies Corner (Our other site)

Written by Joseph E. Aiello @ 5:03 PM
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