J. Meric - Getty Images
Evan Longoria of the Tampa Bay Rays rounds the bases after his game-winning walk off home run in the twelfth inning against the New York Yankees during the game at Tropicana Field on September 28, 2011 in St. Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by J. Meric/Getty Images)
The Cubs lost to the Padres 9-2 Wednesday night, ending their season at 71-91.
Truth be told, I didn't watch much of that game after Will Venable's grand slam (and you probably don't want or need to hear much more than that), because four other baseball games were far more compelling.
I have seen a lot of baseball; much of it bad, some of it good, a little of it great. Wednesday night was the most incredible night of baseball I have ever seen -- and I don't think any other single day is even close. Seriously. It's one of those scenarios where you say, "If you submitted this as a Hollywood script, they'd laugh you out of their office." And even that doesn't come close to the improbability of so many of the events of Wednesday night:
I could go on and on and on; there's far, far more that happened last night than I can possibly put in a single post. There were multiple heroes for the winners Wednesday night and enough excitement for us to talk about for years to come. I've had people ask me, both here and elsewhere, what I do when there's no baseball. You all know the old Rogers Hornsby quote:
People ask me what I do in winter when there's no baseball. I'll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring.
It's not quite that simple, of course. Sure, there are other sports to watch while I wait for spring training to begin with the promise of better times ahead. But to me, absolutely nothing is as compelling as the drama that baseball can give. Wednesday night, the sport was in its glory. The Cubs stuck around the visiting clubhouse in San Diego to watch. It nearly brought down SB Nation servers, as you might have noticed at times Wednesday night; it kept me up far later than I thought I'd stay up, watching the aftermath of the Rays' incredible win. Listening to Evan Longoria describe how he was feeling after he hit the walkoff homer, you could hear the disbelief in his voice. Even the man who did it couldn't quite process what had happened.
I love this game. Wednesday night was a reminder of why. The game in Tampa didn't win the pennant or World Series, but I couldn't help thinking as I watched the Rays' celebration: "Someday, I want that to be us."
We came to within a pitch, an out, a hit of having two tiebreaker games today; instead, it's a day to catch our breath before the postseason begins on Friday. In a way, that's fitting; I don't believe that any tiebreaker games could have given us any better, more exciting, or more dramatic baseball than we saw Wednesday night. So take that deep breath, and await what we hope is a postseason half as compelling.
In the meantime, BCB will be here all winter; I'll open threads each day to discuss the postseason games, so you can always come here to share thoughts about the playoffs all through October. And soon, very soon, we all hope, there will be a new Cubs general manager (and, presumably, manager) in place and then the new administration can get to the business of building the World Series winner we all dream of.
I'll also have other features here through the winter. Stick around; it'll be fun. In connection with that, if anyone has access to computer software that can run game simulations, please email me. I've got an offseason idea I want to talk to you about.
As I always do, I'll conclude this final recap of the 2011 season with this quote from the late commissioner Bart Giamatti. For me, it reflects the sadness of the ending of one baseball season, with hope filling us up for the next.
It breaks your heart. It is designed to break your heart. The game begins in the spring, when everything else begins again, and it blossoms in the summer, filling the afternoons and evenings, and then as soon as the chill rains come, it stops and leaves you to face the fall alone. You count on it, rely on it to buffer the passage of time, to keep the memory of sunshine and high skies alive, and then just when the days are all twilight, when you need it most, it stops.
This year, I have one thing to add to Giamatti's beautiful words. Before regular season baseball stopped Wednesday night, it showed us the beauty of the sport with memories that, even for those of us who aren't fans of the teams involved, will last forever.
1 recs | 667 comments
What a beautiful, beautiful game.
I’ll be here in the offseason with all of you. Rough season for our Cubs, but I wanted to thank all of you, especially you, Al, for another season of baseball on BCB.
Here’s to 2012.
mikegncb34 - September 29, 2011
Yes,
Absolutely amazing.
Archie - September 29, 2011
Yup.
I’m glad I got to spend the last day of this wretched season watching some interesting baseball. Thanks Al and all of BCB.
p.s. can we get a pitchers and catchers report countdown?
Andrew Carl - September 29, 2011
i was disgusted last night with the Cards post-game
Al Hrabosky asked Ryan Theriot "Do you now see the difference between St. Louis and Chicago" during the post-game celebration.
posted it last night but figured not everyone read it
Rey Sanchez - September 29, 2011
Ugh.
Go Phillies.
Al Yellon - September 29, 2011
Theriot is correct....
TJ11 - September 29, 2011
What did he say?
CubFan81 - September 29, 2011
Theriot just
laughed and said “well i made two of them in Chicago, but i see why this is a special place”
Rey Sanchez - September 29, 2011
He's a one-tool player
And that tool is his mouth
vonde6 - September 29, 2011
Theriot is correct....
TJ11 - September 29, 2011
It's still a dumb question.
Theriot went through two clinching celebrations with the Cubs. So how exactly is that “different”?
Al Yellon - September 29, 2011
His original statement about the atmosphere between the two teams is correct.
The Cardinals expect to win. The Cubs hope to compete.
TJ11 - September 29, 2011
Cards fan here
I wish this was true. Yeah we played well down the stretch and looked nigh invincible last night (I for one wasn’t worried about a one game playoff), but it’s not like there’s some “culture of winning” in St. Louis that goes beyond the talent of the players on the field. We have a good team this year but if you had looked at us a month ago nobody would say we expected to win. In fact we looked pretty crappy for most of the season. Our run was as much about luck and good timing as it was about anything else.
And I didn’t watch the post game celebration but that’s a really stupid question to ask. Al Hrabosky is a moron. I don’t know any Cardinals fans who like him.
jibbers - September 29, 2011
Don't sell your team short – the Cards have a legacy second only to the Yankees.
Although Hrabosky may be jerk for taking a shot at the Cubs with his question, the fact remains that the Cards have almost always been competitive for 85 years, while the Cubs have been mired in mediocrity for the past 70.
These legacies endure, and have as much to do with the success of the 2006 Cards as they do with the failure of the 2003 Cubs. Branch Rickey was the architect of your great tradition, just as the Wrigleys locked the Cubs into perpetual mediocrity.
ernaga - September 29, 2011
Thank you for the compliments
I guess what I was really trying to communicate is that the entitled, “we’re better than everyone because we’re the Cardinals” attitude communicated by stupid people like Hrabosky isn’t indicative of most of our fanbase. I’m proud of the Cardinals’ history, but I think they’ve been successful because they’ve been fortunate enough to have some great talent over the years, not because there’s a specific St. Louis mentality that infects every Tom, Dick and Theriot who comes to town, making them better than they otherwise would be.
jibbers - September 29, 2011
It was a dumb question that lacked fact
TJ11, you can say what you want about atmosphere but comparing a Cardinals team that took care of business TO GET INTO THE PLAYOFFS to the Cubs would be a welcome comparison. Playing well when it matters TO GET INTO THE PLAYOFFS has not been our problem. The Cubs have been pretty dang clutch down the stretch in the years when it mattered. 2007, 2003, 1998 all involved needing to play well in Aug/Sept to get into the playoffs. Now, I’m not ignoring 2004, that was a terrible epic collapse. But you get my point
BeltwayCubsFan - September 29, 2011
The guy who asked it is literally the dumbest broadcaster I have ever listened to.
Please do not judge us by Al Hrabosky. He makes Joe Morgan sound like Vin Scully.
Alxfritz - September 29, 2011
Wow, that's scary.
Al Yellon - September 29, 2011
::shudders::
fsuapollo - September 29, 2011
Seconded.
spants - September 29, 2011
You mean he's like Tim McCarver?
Vermont Cubs Fan - September 29, 2011
I can tolerate McCarver most of the time.
Hrabosky makes my skin crawl on a daily basis.
MaytheForschbewithyou - September 29, 2011
Morgan has a radio show that I can hear out here in LA
almost drove into the wall trying to switch it off quickly
Hammer - September 29, 2011
:: ducks and covers ::
eths - September 29, 2011 via mobile
It's not different, Hrabosky is an ass
He was an ass as a player, he’s even more of an ass as a “broadcaster”.
blackhawk24 - September 29, 2011
i was disgusted lat night with the Cards post-game
when that screwdriver jammed itself into my ear. stupid screwdriver.
The world overflows with idiot sportscasters of every stripe. You want to subject yourself to the Cards postgame show, no sympathy from me. Nor shock that a moran would ask a moranic question.
Gibbon Jockey - September 29, 2011
trust me
We are disgusted by Al, ourselves. The guy is a waste of a good broadcaster spot.
MaytheForschbewithyou - September 29, 2011
out of context-that statement is awesome.
epsilon - September 29, 2011
or mean.
epsilon - September 29, 2011
thanks. I'll take the awesome.
But the ‘mean’ comes from having to put up with him and/or Rick Horton for 150+games. Danny Mc would be fine by himself and jut allowed to call the game without all the stupid sidebar comments by the Wonder Twins. We at the VEB, make as much fun of those two as anybody from other teams could.
MaytheForschbewithyou - September 29, 2011
sorry, it had nothing to do with "your" Al
and out of context was referring to “our” Al….i guess if you have to explain the joke it wasnt funny…
epsilon - September 29, 2011
ah. I gotcha.
guess I should thought it out before I said “Al”. Wouldn’t dream of coming in here and bashing one of your guys. I’m a little disappointed that I didn’t catch what you meant.lol
MaytheForschbewithyou - September 29, 2011
Ha nice
Hammer - September 29, 2011
So fitting
ol Pete - September 29, 2011
Give credit to Theriot
He didn’t take the bait.
Hrabosky is a jerk.
Not Bruce Froemming - September 29, 2011
glad to hear that
It sounded, above, like he did, but I am skimming through here…
vonde6 - September 29, 2011
how long
till Quade is gone? I’m waiting
Rey Sanchez - September 29, 2011
C'mon.
Let the beauty of last night wash over you for a while. The Cubs don’t need a new manager today.
Al Yellon - September 29, 2011
You're right
However, has there been any reports on what exactly Ricketts was "addressing’ the team about?
Nunyabidness - September 29, 2011
I haven't heard anything.
Probably, it was along the lines of “thanks, and we’ll see you next year”, something pretty generic.
Al Yellon - September 29, 2011
Like Cub ownership is
TJ11 - September 29, 2011
wow. let it go TJ. let it go.
epsilon - September 29, 2011
Yes they have done well.....
TJ11 - September 29, 2011
I will let it go when the coaching staff is gone and we have a real GM.....
TJ11 - September 29, 2011
how about this....
you give it up until they RETAIN said coaching staff and GM…we all know your stance. pretty much all of us agree with your stance.
epsilon - September 29, 2011
I do not trust Ricketts....
TJ11 - September 29, 2011
TJ, I'm going to ask you publicly..
… and in a nice way, to let it go for now. The season is over. Right now the Cubs are 0-0 going into 2012.
Why don’t you let it go until we see what happens?
Al Yellon - September 29, 2011
I would have loved to see a recap on the game last night. Did you see Hill starting and just give up?
TJ11 - September 29, 2011
TJ, please.
The Cubs game last night was way off my radar screen. They got beat badly. I was on to more exciting things.
I’m asking you again to let it go.
Al Yellon - September 29, 2011
You too?
Me too: 1901 W. Madison St.
blackhawk24 - September 29, 2011
Um, other exciting baseball.
Of which, hopefully, there is another month’s worth.
Al Yellon - September 29, 2011
Who cares about last night's game?
Did you actually watch it so you could bore us today?
rlpete - September 29, 2011
Yes, that s what i did....KAD
TJ11 - September 29, 2011
I doubt Ricketts trust you either
RiskyBusiness - September 29, 2011
I dont care....
TJ11 - September 29, 2011
No you won't
You’ll be happy for a while. Then you’ll be mad at the next coaches, the next manager, and the next GM. It’s your nature. Don’t deny it.
RiskyBusiness - September 29, 2011
"Write if you find work"
ClarkFan - September 29, 2011
Why is everyone...
…so worried about the manager, when the club doesn’t even have a GM yet?
To me, that is a problem with how a lot of people seem to view the Cubs; fire the manager and we will be better. Hire this manager and we will be better.
Lets do it how good organizations do; hire a damn good GM and let him worry about this stuff.
MPH73 - September 29, 2011
Rec'd.
shoemile - September 29, 2011
But it isn't done today. It has to be done today.
Actually it should have been done as the final out was being recorded last night. Ricketts is awful. He is the worst owner in sports history (and I’m not exaggerating as we have seen numerous posts to this effect throughout the year).
rlpete - September 29, 2011
Look at it this way...
…if he is that bad, he shouldn’t be making baseball decisions. So, let the new GM decide this stuff.
MPH73 - September 29, 2011
Logic?
We can have logic. Quade needs to go now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Maybe if extra exclamation points are added it will happen. It has to happen!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Ricketts is the worst owner of any thing in history.
rlpete - September 29, 2011
You definitely need the sarcasm tags for that.
Al Yellon - September 29, 2011
dead . nuts . on
Like just about always. Rec’d.
blackhawk24 - September 29, 2011
That was just an amazing night of baseball....
For the past few seasons I’ve been watching the Rays a lot and wishing the Cubs had a team like that. Well… who knows… it could be happening. Amazing talent, amazing management, incredible resilience.
Congrats to the Cubs for letting your arch rival into the playoffs…. way to step up and blow the series when something actually mattered for the first time in months!
The Rays surge and Sox collapse = great news for the Cubs GM search.
SackMan - September 29, 2011
Fixed.
Al Yellon - September 29, 2011
It's not irrelevant
An epic collapse like that might stir the pot in Boston, possibly opening the door for Epstein.
SackMan - September 29, 2011
I suppose it COULD.
But I’m thinking it’s 99.9% certain that it WON’T.
Al Yellon - September 29, 2011
You have a good feeling it will not be Theo?
TJ11 - September 29, 2011
I don't think he's leaving the Red Sox
… regardless of their collapse.
Al Yellon - September 29, 2011
In a perfect world, who do you want? Or is that coming in a separate post?
TJ11 - September 29, 2011
I've already gone on record here as wanting Billy Beane.
We’ll see what happens. There are a number of good candidates.
Al Yellon - September 29, 2011
Al...
You can add me as another vote for Billy Beane…
Endrick - September 29, 2011
I would be fine with Beane as well......He is NOT in the post season...so get it done!
TJ11 - September 29, 2011
No to Epstein
Personally I do not want Epstein or Cashman, or any GM who’s a “spending” GM to take over for the Cubs (that’s just my personal opinion).
timmyfan - September 29, 2011
Check Boston.com
They have a poll on Francona – 68% say “No, he just had a bad year.”
And none of the articles there appear to be calling for either guy’s head.
RiskyBusiness - September 29, 2011
And I think they're right.
This is an epic collapse — for one season. It doesn’t mean Epstein and Francona aren’t the guys the Red Sox want going forward.
Al Yellon - September 29, 2011
If anything, I think this increased the odds Epstein stays rather than becoming the Cubs GM (however small those odds were)
It would look perhaps cowardly to run out to another club after such a tough finish.
madcow256 - September 29, 2011
No, why would they?
They have a system at 4 Yawkey Way. Much better than 1060 W. Addison St.
I’d expect that percentage to be closer to 75 when its all said and done.
blackhawk24 - September 29, 2011
I don't think the Cardinals in the playoffs can fall all on the Cubs
The Cubs would’ve had to sweep them in St. Louis to keep them out. The Braves just shot themselves in the foot.
On another note, I turned on the Rays-Yankees game in the 7th and thought “Forget it!” but now I’m glad I watched it, of course I fell asleep after the 10th.
timmyfan - September 29, 2011
Ah, but don't forget...
… the two walkoff HR that Pujols hit off the Cubs in June.
If the Cubs win even one of those games, we’re looking at a tiebreaker today.
Al Yellon - September 29, 2011
bull...
yes that is technically true, but come on. if the cubs won 162 of their games they’d have the best record in all of baseball.
epsilon - September 29, 2011
That's not even close to the same thing.
Those two walkoffs in June helped the Cardinals begin to contend. Before that they were struggling. Every game is important.
Al Yellon - September 29, 2011
I agree completely.....
TJ11 - September 29, 2011
like i said Technically true.
but to go back three months and point to a game and say there, thats the reason is kinda stretching. yes a win is a win and it came down to one win.
epsilon - September 29, 2011
You could say the same about last saturdays game the Cubs blew.....
But then again 2 days before the Cards screwed up in NY really bad…
TJ11 - September 29, 2011
You could point to any game during the season
that the Cards lost, and they lost a number of games they shouldn’t have.
Not Bruce Froemming - September 29, 2011
The Braves fell apart
This it 100% on them. I am sure every team that faced the Cardinals had stupid plays that cost them the game.
Doggie Stalker - September 29, 2011
I kept thinking they had to win a game here or there and then they would lose again. I agree its on the Braves.
ol Pete - September 29, 2011
You could use that same argument almost anywhere
Look at the Rays and Red Sox, both started what 0-8? If one or the other had started 1-7 last night wouldn’t have been exciting.
The Cardinals making the playoffs was mostly about the Braves’ collapse.
timmyfan - September 29, 2011
Cards reaching the Playoffs:
On that alone, last night wasn’t the best night of baseball. And to me, Twins-Braves game 7 of the 1991 WS and Twins-Tigers game 163 in 2009 are still better.
chilango2 - September 29, 2011
I have great memories of the Twins-Tigers game!!
One of my favorite games of all time!
daily2b - September 29, 2011 via mobile
Yeah...those were great games...
…but, what happened last night was incredible. 4 games with meaning on game 162 of the season and 3 of them being won on the winners last at bat, with 2 of them going extra innings. MLB TV Network was amazing in their coverage of it ALL last night. The only way it coulda been better would be to flip the Cards/Astros final score around.
Easy Ed - September 29, 2011
i just hope
we see some roster changes. this franchise is not close to playoff contention at the moment
Rey Sanchez - September 29, 2011
I think roster changes will be pretty much guaranteed.
But you likely won’t see much for a few weeks. I hope a new GM is in place soon.
Al Yellon - September 29, 2011
new contest....pick the day a new GM is introduced
not that it is leaked out….but the actual press conference is held. NOV 8 for me.
cozmotaylor123 - September 29, 2011
Feb. 17 the Cubs announce Mike Quade as GM and Hill as manager
TJ11 - September 29, 2011
Koyie or Glen Allen
cozmotaylor123 - September 29, 2011
Both
TJ11 - September 29, 2011
Bobby
blackhawk24 - September 29, 2011
One more personal note.
I happen to be going to New York on business tomorrow. So, I have secured a ticket to Game 1 of the ALDS between the Yankees and Tigers.
A big thank you from me to Mike Napoli, whose homer for the Rangers clinched the #2 seed for them and set up the pitching matchup at Yankee Stadium that I really wanted to see, CC vs. Verlander.
I’ll post something here Saturday morning about the game.
Al Yellon - September 29, 2011
I saw a regular season CC vs Verlander in 09
At Yankee Stadium. Unbelievable 2-1 game. The intensity was unreal and it will be even more so in the playoffs. Have fun!
mikegncb34 - September 29, 2011 via mobile
Also Randy Wells needs to lay off the twitter
PWSullivan Paul Sullivan
My apologies. RT @rdwells36 Dude that’s harsh. Tried dressing up as you but I couldn’t find enough bu**lshit to carry around with me!
Rey Sanchez - September 29, 2011
Randy said that to/about paul?
AWESOME!!!!
epsilon - September 29, 2011
speaking of Awesome...
check out Randy…
http://yfrog.com/o0s3qyj
epsilon - September 29, 2011
I like Paul
he speaks the truth
Rey Sanchez - September 29, 2011
Cub players are pretty thin skinned...
TJ11 - September 29, 2011
If truth includes a whole heaping pile of nonsense, then... yes, he does.
fsuapollo - September 29, 2011
Randy Wells is my new favorite Cub.
chilango2 - September 29, 2011
Doubt that was actually Randy Wells
The Sun-Times reports that he “had his Twitter account hacked” this season. Or he was just screwing around with Sullivan at the end of the season.
RiskyBusiness - September 29, 2011
That's not the Twitter account that Wells had hacked.
That was @rwells36bsi.
This account appears to be a new one.
Al Yellon - September 29, 2011
That is awesome (assuming it's real).
Maybe I should get back on Twitter, after all.
daver - September 29, 2011
You quit Twitter?
When? Why? You were a Twitter maven!
Al Yellon - September 29, 2011
I just kind of drifted away.
I’m just not spending as much time online as I used to. (Or at least not as consistently as I used to.) Plus, it was hard to tweet about the Cubs this year without succumbing to total cynicism and negativity, which isn’t really my bag. I may restart my account at some point.
daver - September 29, 2011
Why, he's totally dead on
Sullivan is a sorry ass excuse of a baseball guy in a big market.
If we only had more Bruce Miles types…
blackhawk24 - September 29, 2011
Rec'd
chilango2 - September 29, 2011
An amazing night of baseball......Not in SD of course....
The sad part for me was knowing in the back of my head that my team was 25 games back and run like a circus.
TJ11 - September 29, 2011
You know, I forgot about that for one night.
Al Yellon - September 29, 2011
Imagine if we had one more wild card team in each league...
last night would have been just another boring night.
JG23 - September 29, 2011
Sure, THIS year.
But that would not necessarily be the case EVERY year.
Al Yellon - September 29, 2011
I would take the extra two wild card games...
Anything that helps our chances is good with me.
TJ11 - September 29, 2011
It's a good debate
I’m against the proposed addition of wild cards. My point here was that the outcry for additional wild cards got louder because there was not going to be any true playoff races in September. Instead, we got the best drama possible.
JG23 - September 29, 2011
The question is...
… how many times do you think we’ll ever have races like this? This could be unique.
Al Yellon - September 29, 2011
There seems to almost ALWAYS be a close race for the wild card spot.
Nunyabidness - September 29, 2011
Not THIS close.
Al Yellon - September 29, 2011
It was just a couple of years ago, that there was a pretty good chance that there was going to be a three way tie
in the AL Central.
Nunyabidness - September 29, 2011
Sure.
But not EVERY year. And not with a day like yesterday.
Al Yellon - September 29, 2011
I think it was more about
the amount TB and STL each came back in September capped off by what occurred last night. Especially in the AL, where you had a 9 inning game end 3 minutes before a 12 inning game with amazing changes of fate.
RiskyBusiness - September 29, 2011
I remember back on the September 4 Chicago Cubs Recap: Cubs, Pirates Must Be Getting Paid By The Hour; Cubs Win 6-3
There was a discussion on how there seems to be no close pennant races this year.
Then I left this comment:
It seemed like everybody’s response to that was: “Yeah right, like that will ever happen. A leading team would have to go into monumental collapse mode and the trailing team would have to go on a big run to catch them.”
It seemed like the very next day in baseball, all of that stuff started to gradually happen, and it all led to what happened last night in TWO separate races.
I wasn’t really being serious when I made that comment, but I was just trying to say that it could happen.
I just can’t believe that it really DID happen!
#1 iowan cubs fan - September 29, 2011
Last night was a 1 in 20 year thing, if that
For “races” that were non-existent on Labor Day, thinking to myself, well this is going to be a boring last couple weeks, sure turned out differently.
blackhawk24 - September 29, 2011
Last night was incredible
I believe my exact quote to my friends was “THIS IS ******* BASEBALL!” and at that point “the quote” hit me and I was kinda bummed that all this tremendous excitement hit NOW as opposed to sooner. My mind is still blown from the three games I got to watch at the same time (thanks ESPN 3!).
As for Cubs baseball, like I said before, I miss GOOD Cubs baseball, not 2009 Season Part 3. That season, and it’s sequels, are starting to get as bad as Police Academy and all its sequels :)
Ah well, season is over though, so what can you do? Time to hope that the new GM builds us instead of burying us, that the manager is the right man for the job, and that we can become a team that can be a part of something as exciting as last night again.
And Al, congratulations, this death march of a season is finally over!
Craig in South Bend - September 29, 2011
come on.
citizens on patrol was good.
epsilon - September 29, 2011
1 - 4 were good
5 – 7(?) not so much
timmyfan - September 29, 2011
I'll give you 1, MAYBE 2...
but 3 and 4 do not belong in the same sentence with the word “good”
Craig in South Bend - September 29, 2011
Oh come on!
You can’t argue with the line, “I used to be a real jerk, but now I’m a people guy.”
timmyfan - September 29, 2011
Thanks Al
Another season gone….thanks for all you do here Al. Enjoy reading your posts daily.
DallasCub - September 29, 2011 via mobile
I was glad to see Ortiz get to pitch last night. Dollis had already pitched once this season and must have been tired.
We needed to see what Ortiz, Baker, ARam, DeWitt, Hill, could do last night. It was a real eye opener!
Dempster looked good! Got to 200 innings…that was very important! Then he stayed in and got pounded and took one for the team as they saved the bullpen for today!
LOL @ the Cubs!!!!!
TJ11 - September 29, 2011
It's over, TJ. Let it go.
Al Yellon - September 29, 2011
You have nothing to say about last night's game?
It was everything that is wrong with the Cubs……
But fine I will save it for posts that are talking about the Cubs….
TJ11 - September 29, 2011
nobody cared about last night's game
but I would like to see Quade fired this morning by Ricketts, you don’t need a new GM to figure that out and would be a good statement that this season was totally unacceptable. However, politically I understand why it’s not happening yet.
MikeJW - September 29, 2011
I agree with you...Ricketts needs to do something to show we are moving away from this stuff
TJ11 - September 29, 2011
Oh, please.
Fire Quade less than 24 hours after the last game? Why? To satisfy your bloodlust and hatred?
Man, let it go. The changes will come soon enough.
Al Yellon - September 29, 2011
That should happen if Ricketts was showing he was serious
We will see if he is or not
TJ11 - September 29, 2011
No, that has nothing to do with "showing he was serious".
Firing Quade today would do nothing but satisfy fans with torches and pitchforks.
Al Yellon - September 29, 2011
Ricketts should have one too
TJ11 - September 29, 2011
How do you know he doesn't?
Nothing has to be wielded on September 29. It’s 189 days until the next game.
Al Yellon - September 29, 2011
He is losing the fan base quickly, you would think he would want to show the fans something...
TJ11 - September 29, 2011
TJ...
he is losing the pitchfork Fans. he is not really losing fans, and there are a ton of pink hat fans out there.
epsilon - September 29, 2011
Tell me about it
TJ11 - September 29, 2011
Sure.
But not rightfreakingnow as in TODAY.
Al Yellon - September 29, 2011
Will you feel the same if he is still the manager in a month?
TJ11 - September 29, 2011
I really don't care WHEN it happens
as long as it happens before spring training.
Because does it matter who the Cubs manager is before then?
Al Yellon - September 29, 2011
Well there ARE player moves to be made before then.......I know you are kidding.....But the sooner the better....
TJ11 - September 29, 2011
Again
… most player moves aren’t made until November.
Al Yellon - September 29, 2011
Sure you do
You want it before the GM meetings…When’s that, first 10 days of November? Winter meetings are 1st/2nd week of December. That’s already too late.
Need a GM, need a manager….soon. Get some structure established ASAP.
blackhawk24 - September 29, 2011
IF there is a new gm in place
and there isnt talk of interviews going on for new managers…TJ i will allow you to throw your pitchforks and burn your torches.
epsilon - September 29, 2011
There will be more than me doing that if that happens....Ricketts would be torching the fanbase....
TJ11 - September 29, 2011
It only matters if he's manager NEXT SEASON.
You really need to chill on this. Like, step away from the site for a few days. You’ve been shrill before, but this “MIKEQUADENEEDSTOBEFIREDRIGHTFREAKINGNOW!” kick is just plain ridiculous, immature and INCREDIBLY annoying.
I dislike Mike Quade as much as you do. But as long as he gets fired, it doesn’t matter when. If he starts next season as the manager of this club, we will BOTH be furious. In fact, I would imagine even Al will be quite annoyed. But what the hell is with the heartburn today? Almost no one gets canned the freaking DAY after the season ends.
Settle the hell down.
Nunyabidness - September 29, 2011
I wouldn't have been this harsh.
But Nunya is right. Take a deep breath and give it a little time. Brush the crumbs of this awful season off of you.
I don’t want Mike Quade managing the Cubs next year. But I don’t think firing him today accomplishes a single thing.
Al Yellon - September 29, 2011
But Quade started Koyie Hill yesterday!
TJ11 watched the game just so he could report that inconsequential fact. Quade needs to go now! Ricketts is the worst owner in recorded mankind history! Don’t you see? It has to be now.
rlpete - September 29, 2011
My guess about Hill, in case you care about him, is this...
… I’m guessing last night was the last game of his major league career. So they gave him a start in a meaningless game. Not a big deal, IMO.
Al Yellon - September 29, 2011
Well he has not really cared what the fans have thought up to this point anyways
TJ11 - September 29, 2011
You could not be more wrong about that statement.
Al Yellon - September 29, 2011
Enjoy the ticket prices and rain policy?
TJ11 - September 29, 2011
Let's see what changes happen in the offseason before we bitch again.
Fair enough?
Al Yellon - September 29, 2011
How long do you give him?
TJ11 - September 29, 2011
At least a couple of months.
Most big moves don’t happen until after the World Series.
Al Yellon - September 29, 2011
Changing the rainout policy is a "big move?"
Nunyabidness - September 29, 2011
For this organization?
Yes.
Craig in South Bend - September 29, 2011
The next big move after that would be winning an actual playoff game.
santoswoodenlegs - September 29, 2011
You're asking for too much.
Craig in South Bend - September 29, 2011
Somehow I don't think Bud considers the team changing a rainout policy
as stealing the headlines away from the World Series. This seems like another weak excuse offered up by Al
Nunyabidness - September 29, 2011
I was kinda being facetious
I don’t think it’s that big of a deal, but I do think that the Cubs drag their feet on a whole number of issues (cue TJ re Quade).
Craig in South Bend - September 29, 2011
Knock off the trolling, OK?
Where did I say this was a “big move”? Where did I say they’d change the policy during the World Series as a “headline”?
You’re making stuff up to try to make me look bad. Stop it.
Al Yellon - September 29, 2011
I'm trying to figure out if you're actually reading what you're responding to.
Your discussion with TJ was about (because he brought them up) the rainout policy and the ticket prices.
You said to wait and see what changes are made, he said “how long do you give him” and you said " at least a couple of months, Most big moves don’t happen until after the World Series."
I’m not trolling, I’m simply calling you out when you offer up lame excuses and then apparently don’t remember you offered them up
Nunyabidness - September 29, 2011
I was talking about player, coach and executive moves.
You are talking about something completely different, apparently in an attempt to make me look bad.
Stop, now.
Al Yellon - September 29, 2011
Then you were talking about something different from TJ
Since he was talking about rainout policies and ticket pricing.
Nunyabidness - September 29, 2011
I'm done discussing this topic.
Really, as I said below, I had kind of hoped people would let this bad season go, stop the sniping for a while, and just relax, revel in the great baseball from last night, and give all the bad stuff a little time to be fixed.
I guess my expectations are too high.
Al Yellon - September 29, 2011
It's a recap of the Cubs game, Al.
shoemile - September 29, 2011
Thats what I said....I was told not to talk about the Cubs in a Cubs recap....told to let it go.....
Dont understand that…..
TJ11 - September 29, 2011
There should have been a Cub recap and a separate post to talk about how great yesterday was for the those other teams.
TJ11 - September 29, 2011
Oh.
So I can’t write recaps the way I want?
Al Yellon - September 29, 2011
No THIS is ironic.
Nunyabidness - September 29, 2011
Of course you can Al. But its a CUB recap....why would you think we would not talk about the Cubs?
TJ11 - September 29, 2011
If you thought that people were going to join hands and sing kumbaya
when NOTHING has actually been changed….I don’t know what to tell you.
I don’t agree with TJ’s need to have Quade fired today, but there is plenty wrong with this organization.
It doesn’t help that you got on someone’s case for being totally wrong, when they weren’t… in fact, totally wrong.
Nunyabidness - September 29, 2011
"Kumbaya"?
Hardly. But man, let it go for a day.
Al Yellon - September 29, 2011
Oh so I can't comment on what I want?
Nunyabidness - September 29, 2011
Sure, feel free.
I’d just think that maybe the same sniping at Cubs management that we’ve heard over and over and over and over and over and over…
… might be let go FOR ONE DAY.
Al Yellon - September 29, 2011
We're in a horrible position right now
and many of us have discussed ways to improve and what the roadblocks are for that. I really don’t know what else you want for us to discuss other than how crap awful management is, ESPECIALLY when we, the people who pay a lot of time, attention, and money to this team, are helpless to do anything about it.
Craig in South Bend - September 29, 2011
I think we were supposed to write Haikus about how awesome last night was
Nunyabidness - September 29, 2011
Remember last night?
The Cubs sucked hard, like always.
But Tampa didn’t!
shoemile - September 29, 2011
Last night was only awesome
because it was the final nail in the coffin of the 2011 season.
Craig in South Bend - September 29, 2011
And I'm sure it will. But the day after the season? When we lost 9-2 to end the year?
Also, you have a hand on this and appear to be playing like you’re the victim. You’re getting on people and sniping right along with them.
I’ll just point out one more time, that you jumped on TJ for claiming he “couldn’t be more wrong” when he wasn’t actually wrong.
Nunyabidness - September 29, 2011
and maybe i'm out of place on this.
but not everyone is as big a
Baseballfan as you are Al. I’m not. I wont watch a baseball game if the cubs arent playing in it. so, its neat that those teams made it the way they did it. i really dont care about it. my sole/soul reason for watching baseball ended by being beat 9-2, in a season they lost 90 times.epsilon - September 29, 2011
Well, that's pretty inconsistent Al
TJ brings up some valid points and you’re telling him how wrong he is…because Ricketts MIGHT change those policies at some undefined time in the future?
This right here, is why some consider you a kneejerk defender of Tommy boy
Nunyabidness - September 29, 2011
It's exactly the same thing that you said about Quade.
Do these policies have to change TODAY?
Let me wait and see what happens with them. If they’re not changed, you can bet I’ll say something about it.
Al Yellon - September 29, 2011
No it's really not.
Because TJ basically said that Ricketts had not listened in the past to the fans about things like the rainout policy. And you claimed he was wrong because at some point, maybe, things will change.
Mike Quade getting fired is as close to a foregone conclusion as you get.
The team changing their rainout policy is not.
Nunyabidness - September 29, 2011
Well said....
TJ11 - September 29, 2011
Nevertheless
it COULD happen.
If it doesn’t, I’ll continue to hammer them on it.
Hammering them on the OBVIOUS, as you point out, firing of Mike Quade is kind of pointless.
Al Yellon - September 29, 2011
I do not think its a done deal....
I can see him staying
TJ11 - September 29, 2011
I can't.
Al Yellon - September 29, 2011
Our Cubs do stupid things all the time
TJ11 - September 29, 2011
You don't even know who the next GM is, TJ.
shoemile - September 29, 2011
Correct, BUT there is a track record of not doing the best moves
TJ11 - September 29, 2011
Yes, but it's a small track record.
I don’t think a lot of the dumb stuff Ricketts says and does is going to ruin the GM search. I do trust that Ricketts is going to let the GM do what he wants to do and get the hell out of the way.
shoemile - September 29, 2011
Yes it could happen, but that's not what TJ said and
and it’s not what you then jumped on him about.
TJ didn’t say “the rainout policy will never change” he said that Ricketts had not listened to the fans about the rainout policy. To this point….he hasn’t.
Like I said, this is why some of us think you rush to defend Ricketts, even if there isn’t actually a defense.
Nunyabidness - September 29, 2011
You're not listening to me.
The rainout policy has not changed.
BUT IT COULD BEFORE ANOTHER GAME IS PLAYED!
If it’s not, I will most certainly criticize that decision, AS I HAVE DONE IN THE PAST.
I’m not sure what else you’d expect me to do.
Al Yellon - September 29, 2011
LWDYWMTD?
Craig in South Bend - September 29, 2011
For starters, to actually respond to what was said.
for, I think, the third time now…..
TJ said that Ricketts hasn’t listened (therefore past tense) to the fans about certain policies. You then said he “could not be more wrong” when he offered up actual examples, you proceeded to claim that he was wrong because at some point, those changes might be made.
The bottom line is Al, YOU were wrong for claiming that TJ was inaccurate
Nunyabidness - September 29, 2011
So now is where I get to tell you..
… that he actually has heard me, IN PERSON, regarding the rainout policy, and I believe changes are coming.
You’re free to believe that or not, as you wish. But that is a fact.
Al Yellon - September 29, 2011
Are you being intentionally obtuse?
I’m just going to assume you are and surrender.
Nunyabidness - September 29, 2011
What?
What does the posting of a fact have to do with being obtuse?
Al Yellon - September 29, 2011
So far he has not been to fan friendly....MAYBE that changes in the future....
Maybe you like to hear what he tells you face to face…..
Next time that happens, ask him some baseball questions. I would love to hear the spin.
TJ11 - September 29, 2011
They aren't relevant to what I was saying....for one thing.
I’ve really explained this enough. You’re in one of your moods where rather than admit you may have said something inaccurate, you’re going to IGNORE anything that shows you said something inaccurate.
I surrender.
Nunyabidness - September 29, 2011
You were told there wouldn't be huge discounts on bleachers again too.
shoemile - September 29, 2011
Just because things he was told did not happen, doesn’t mean they weren’t going to happen that way at the time he was told them.
santoswoodenlegs - September 29, 2011
Indeed.
shoemile - September 29, 2011
1%
may actually care about it. granted there were a lot of no shows to games, but no shows still bought the ticket in the first place right?
epsilon - September 29, 2011
That is all that matters I guess
TJ11 - September 29, 2011
That is all that matters I guess
TJ11 - September 29, 2011
However
Many of those no-shows will turn into no-buys if there aren’t changes.
Since no tickets are on sale now, I think people will wait to see what happens.
Al Yellon - September 29, 2011
but that is more about the product on the field
than TOM RICKETTS “ownership style”. Imho.
epsilon - September 29, 2011
True.
Again, changes have to be made. BUT THEY DON’T ALL HAVE TO BE DONE TODAY!
Al Yellon - September 29, 2011
why let him twist for a month? plus it gives him the opportunity to get another job
what has to be now should be done now. Just fire him now, what’s the difference? As I said though, politically, i don’t think it’s gonna happen.
MikeJW - September 29, 2011
More than likely....
… Quade will get another job in the organization, maybe a minor league coordinator.
No one else is going to fire anyone today, either.
Al Yellon - September 29, 2011
He's a really good 3rd base coach!
srwilly - September 29, 2011
But If Ricketts fires Quade now
Isn’t he a meddling owner? Isn’t that the GMs call?
Are there rules as to what Ricketts can do as owner of the team and not do? Or are we making this up as we go along?
RiskyBusiness - September 29, 2011
Bush is the one who should fire Quade.
santoswoodenlegs - September 29, 2011
Quade, you're fired!
Did it work?
Arbusto - September 29, 2011
For guys I really want fired
I wish they’d bring in Vince McMahon because no one says YOU’RE FIRED better.
Craig in South Bend - September 29, 2011
Which Bush?
41 or 43? End political humor.
RiskyBusiness - September 29, 2011
On another note
Firing Quade now may be in Quade’s best interest. It gives him time to look for a new job, unless Ricketts thinks he might be involved in the coaching staff next year.
timmyfan - September 29, 2011
How in the world...
…could you leave Quade on this coaching staff?
I guess Ricketts could can him now to allow him time to find a new gig (which certainly will not be a managers job), but he is also under contract for next year, so he isn’t going to starve either.
I’ll bet, Ricketts waits for the new GM to come onboard.
MPH73 - September 29, 2011
He wasn't a bad third base coach
timmyfan - September 29, 2011
There's zero chance he gets fired as manager and reassigned as the third base coach.
Actually, less than zero
Nunyabidness - September 29, 2011
Correct.
MPH73 - September 29, 2011
You're missing the point of my post
What I’m saying is unless he IS being kept on the coaching staff (I’m not saying he is) that he might as well be fired now so he can start looking for a new job, whatever that job may be.
Now, with it being said he’s still under contract to the Cubs next year, maybe he can clean the toilets.
timmyfan - September 29, 2011
Quade is welcome to quit if he's so inclined.
shoemile - September 29, 2011
I get the "he needs to start looking for a job now!" argument
It’s just pretty silly. When he is fired, EVERYONE in the baseball universe will know he was fired. It’s not like they’ll forget he’s out there. In fact, I’m sure EVERYONE in the baseball universe knows he’s going to be fired. If a team is actually interested in him, they’ll contact him.
I would assume that once he starts getting contacts, he’ll let Tom know and if we don’t have a GM in place by then, Ricketts may allow him to “investigate other opportunities” at that time. The point is, there is literally no reason to fire him TODAY
Nunyabidness - September 29, 2011
But it'd be so Cub-like to do so
The press conference would be an instant classic.
blackhawk24 - September 29, 2011
No, I really don't have anything to say about last night's game.
One bad game of many. Instead I chose to write about how much I love baseball and how great last night was for the game, and instead you want to bog me down with minutiae about Koyie Hill?
Seriously, TJ. LET IT GO. This season is over for the Cubs. Better things are ahead.
Al Yellon - September 29, 2011
I hope you are correct.
TJ11 - September 29, 2011
Well... it can hardly be worse.
Right?
Al Yellon - September 29, 2011
It would be hard to do so.....Even the Astros played for the future, the Cubs wasted time.
TJ11 - September 29, 2011
The only thing I have to say about last night's game is...
…Andrew Cashner looked pretty damn good again and has in general in the tiny sample of outings we saw from him at the end of the season. That and what a brutal way for Demp to end a very difficult season.
daver - September 29, 2011
You're right on
but since that was game 162 and they were realistically out when it seemed we were at only game 62, it doesn’t matter…..unless there’s not enough changes in the organization, philosophically as well as roster.
blackhawk24 - September 29, 2011
might as well make a macro, Al
(!!!!) You know how stubbornly consistent TJ is when he’s on a mission (!!!!)
Emelie - September 29, 2011
I♥U
chilango2 - September 29, 2011
NICE POST TJ!!
made me laugh actually
Hammer - September 29, 2011
Thank you....
TJ11 - September 29, 2011
too much truth in there
that I can only laugh
Hammer - September 29, 2011
I thought this was a Cubs recap and talked about them....I must have been mistaken.
I was supposed to sing the praises of other teams today….
TJ11 - September 29, 2011
Geez... chill dude, chill
eths - September 29, 2011 via mobile
"Someday, I want that to be us."
I’m all in on that, Al.
Bad Dogs - September 29, 2011
It would be nice
TJ11 - September 29, 2011
Thank You Al
This is my first season on BCB, and I loved it. I also want to thank everyone on BCB for making me feel at home (being a Cubs fan) and I can’t wait for the spring.
About last night, I will say this: Manly T ears were shed for Tampa. Now I know who to root for this postseason (anyone that’s NOT the Yankees and Phillies)
MMA42 - September 29, 2011
I think Tampa and St Louis will be dangerous......As will the Rangers.
TJ11 - September 29, 2011
Any team that has to face the Tigers has to worry.
The Yankees dragged to the finish line and have to face Verlander potentially twice in a five-game series.
Al Yellon - September 29, 2011
Verlander is awesome....Facing him twice is daunting.....I can see the Yankees losing this series
TJ11 - September 29, 2011
I agree, although I hope St. Louis is swept
Personally I think if the Red Sox or the Braves had made the playoffs. They would’ve been bounced quickly in the first round. Texas and Milwaukee would be booking their tickets to the LCS.
timmyfan - September 29, 2011
Was that Chipper Jones' last game?
Seems like it was yesterday that I was watching him as a young stud. Now he looks old and beat up. And he’s MY age. Depressing
Barkman - September 29, 2011
Chipper has already said he's coming back next year.
Al Yellon - September 29, 2011
He ALMOST won the game last night....
TJ11 - September 29, 2011
It was Pat Burrell's last game
They made a big deal of it in SF. He’s got a degenerative foot condition that can’t be operated on. He’s going to rest it for a month and if it magically gets better he might go to ST as a NRI. But otherwise, he’s done.
Josh Timmers - September 29, 2011
Just wondering who else?
Watching the O’s game, I was wondering about Vlad Guerrero. Not sure the O’s will bring him back for that salary. I wouldn’t be surprised if D-Lee calls it quits.
Jim Thome has indicated he wants to come back.
rlpete - September 29, 2011
Guerrero's probably coming back
not in Baltimore, but someone will offer him a contract. He hit .290 this year and finished the season strong. Maybe the Twins.
Derrek Lee was pretty good for Pittsburgh. I don’t know if they can afford him, but I think they’d like him back.
Omar Vizquel has got to be done, doesn’t he? Cripes, he’s my age.
Josh Timmers - September 29, 2011
I would not be surprised if Ozzie tries to bring Vizquel to the Marlins.
The two are very close. If nothing else, Vizquel could be a player/coach type of guy, a mentor to some of the younger players.
Al Yellon - September 29, 2011
Omar Vizquel is so old
How old is he?
Omar Vizquel is so old he was a teammate of Steve Trout and “Hackman” Jeffrey Leonard.
Josh Timmers - September 29, 2011
Omar Vizquel is so old
How old is he?
Omar Vizquel is so old he got his first hit off Storm Davis.
Josh Timmers - September 29, 2011
Omar Vizquel is so old
How old is he?
He’s the last active player to have played games in the old Comiskey Park and Exhibition Stadium in Toronto.
Al Yellon - September 29, 2011
Did he play on Abner Doubleday's first team?
ClarkFan - September 29, 2011
I'm sorry but....
I just can’t do it. While I love baseball, I’m a Cubs fan and I have more than a difficult time watching other teams and fans celebrate. I find it particularly hollow on nights like last night, while electricity streams through those particular cities, the Cubs are packing their gear and riding off…again.
I know, I know, I’m fortunate to have lived through five divisions titles and a wildcard playoff appearance….things generations before couldn’t even sniff. But I’m not “spoiled” enough to ignore that there is something more. Something that makes all of this agony as a Cubs fan worth it.
So baseball fan or not, incredible night or not….I can’t do it yet. I won’t watch the playoffs….I just can’t. I could care less who wins the World Series….it won’t be the Cubs….again….so why bother? Pretending to care only picks at the scab that is still there after all these years. Oh yes, I’ll have a fleeting opinion that neither Milwaukee or St. Louis wins a playoff game…but that’s merely an attempt at partially soothing an old wound.
Usually the Giamatti phrase brings me to a small minute of sorrow. I hate when baseball season ends….I’ve hated it since I was a kid. But this time, the words rang too hollow. This season caused that….a season that was over in April and was readily apparent even before that. It was such a lost season that it seemed as though it never happened. Yes, it was that bad.
And in times like these, I don’t want to watch another pitch, post-season or otherwise, until the team that I foolishly follow has rectified its numerous problems. I fear another long period of ineptitiude is more than likely ahead and for that, I’m not looking forward.
At the end of the day, I’m a Cubs fan and damnit, this Cubs fan wants to be the one with champagne bottle in hand at the end of all of this. Since that isn’t happening any time soon, nope, I won’t be tuning in. Whether its because I care too much about the Cubs or care so much less about all of the other teams, I just don’t have the heart to see the rest unfold.
Some day…..
krummy12 - September 29, 2011
I might watch some of the playoffs but I agree with you....Its time for a drastic change with the cubs.
TJ11 - September 29, 2011
Sure. But I love baseball and I’ll watch it as long as it’s here to watch.
Al Yellon - September 29, 2011
I hear that.
Same teams every year. I guess I’ll have to root for the Brewers this fall if I keep up with the playoffs at all. Didn’t get the Cub game here (the last game of the year, thanks Mediacom!) but was perfectly content to watch the ‘Hawks beat the Wings last night instead. Thank god I’m more of a buffet-type sports fan rather than a baseball obsessive or this winter would be brutal.
jasoniniowa - September 29, 2011
I'm not questioning or criticizing but
this is the difference between a Cubs fan or baseball fan first. I’m baseball fan first. I’ll watch as much playoff baseball as possible. I’m actually jumping on the Brewers bandwagon for the NL playoffs.
Any baseball is still better than no baseball.
rlpete - September 29, 2011
I'm rooting for the Brewers too
Only because I have majority of my family in Milwaukee and they’ve been so bad for so many years they need to get while the gettin’s good.
timmyfan - September 29, 2011
I can't cheer for the Brewers
because I grew up in Wisconsin. It’s too bad, because they’ve got a pretty appealing team.
I’m going with the Tigers. They were my grandfather’s team.
Josh Timmers - September 29, 2011
Agreed, but Cubs baseball is best, even at its worst
eths - September 29, 2011 via mobile
If the Cubs aren't in the playoffs
the question isn’t “who are you for?” but rather “who don’t you want to win?”
In my case the answer is easy: Yankees & Cardinals.
JFCubFan - September 29, 2011
This is great.
Well said, krummy.
Vermont Cubs Fan - September 29, 2011
October 7th... mark your calendar, a week from tomorrow night
The last team in this town to win a title (and the next one too) begins their season in Dallas.
blackhawk24 - September 29, 2011
gross. sorry.
hockey is more boring than golf.
epsilon - September 29, 2011
Well that's a first
I’ve never seen hockey described as “boring”
Craig in South Bend - September 29, 2011
Soccer Ice Capades
santoswoodenlegs - September 29, 2011
If only there were a way to market that
Craig in South Bend - September 29, 2011
on a rare occasion i'll go to a Predators game.
and its neat. But watching it on television is pretty much what SWL said above. at least with Golf i can see how a golfer swings and maybe apply some knowledge.
epsilon - September 29, 2011
I watch golf for similar reasons
I want to learn how to improve my game, see what little things others with a similar approach to my pathetic one are doing, and see if I can then apply that to when I’m on the course. I also find it relaxing to watch.
Craig in South Bend - September 29, 2011
I cant watch hockey for more then a second
I could have cared less the Hawks won a few years ago. Aside from Cubs and Bears my wife and I love watching the tennis majors.
Hammer - September 29, 2011
I just shed a tear...
eths - September 29, 2011 via mobile
Can't agree more with Krummy
I’m sick of not being involved….EVER. I don’t give a damn about a team that has fans that only show for 1 damn game, when something might happen. I’m sick of Boston. I hate the Cardinals. The D-Backs go from worst to first. The Brewers…..bunch of Packers fans. They all can pound sand. The Yankees are there every year. The damn Cubs are a franchise that SHOULD be in that position. A nationwide fanbase, money and history.
None of this interests me. It’s over for me. Hell, outside of going to Tuesday’s game I haven’t watched the Cubs since the Mets series. I get recapped here.
I’m headed toward hockey, and the Blackhawks, who I believe will win the Cup again this season.
San Diego Smooth Jazz Man - September 29, 2011
I didn't watch any games
last night and I won’t watch any playoffs either. If the Cubs aren’t playing I’m not interested.
sue369 - September 29, 2011
Too bad we can't say
This is the last time we will ever see Ryan Dumpster in Cubs uniform, what a joke. Works out and has his best year just to secure a good contract, then slowly becomes crap. I seriously am sick of him. He needs to work out hard in every offseason to be worth the money we are paying him. He can be good, but he seems to require extra effort in order to do so, and it appears he hasn’t been putting in his all the last couple offseasons, unless he is just declining.
adam316 - September 29, 2011
Well, he probably is declining.
But he’s given this team four straight seasons of 200+ innings, and I’d also point out that his FIP and xFIP are both markedly lower than his admittedly garish ERA. I’m not going to sit here and say he was a great pitcher this year, but he still brings considerable value to the table.
daver - September 29, 2011
In the grand Karmic scale
It balanced out pretty nicely.
Call me Jim Hendry, but I’d take a Cards v. Phils matchup for the elimination of the Red Sawx and Tomahawk chop.
seems fair
Gibbon Jockey - September 29, 2011
Jim Hendry
chilango2 - September 29, 2011
Ahem
Don’t forget Fuld’s contribution to that win. He has actually had a wrist injury for over two weeks and had not batted since Sept 14, but he still had enough plate patience to get a walk to drive in a run and later scored on the Longoria HR.
For those of us paying attention to the Rays this season Maddon and Friedman are really special in creating a real TEAM in which even a line up with half the guys batting under 250 and a couple struggling to bat .200 can win.
Doggie Stalker - September 29, 2011
Agreed....THAT is how a team is supposed to be run!
Are you paying attention Ricketts?
TJ11 - September 29, 2011
Not the same thing,
But I see Campana as a guy that could help in the same sort of situation, yes he needs to improve his skills of getting on base, but speed matters more than some give credit for.
adam316 - September 29, 2011
It is really tragic he has such bad plate patience and has his entire career
Trust me short guys with no power ( and great speed) must be patient.
Maybe send him to Winter League to work on it.
Doggie Stalker - September 29, 2011
Okay Tony, you're here at Winter league to work on patience...
do not swing at anything. you are to not swing at any pitch this entire season. wait…i’m afraid what you heard was do not swing at bad pitches, what i said was do not swing at any pitch this entire winter season. not one.
epsilon - September 29, 2011
Well he has shown horrible plate patience in his entire career
and you can NOT steal first base. It is worth a try.
Doggie Stalker - September 29, 2011
Someone should tell him walking is the equivalent of stealing 1B
And bunting for a hit is really stealing the base…
ClarkFan - September 29, 2011
I agree.
Credit to Fuld, and HUGE credit to Friedman and Maddon, after all the players who left after last year, they built another playoff team.
Al Yellon - September 29, 2011
I find it amazing that Fuld was an important piece on a team going to the playoffs, but probably have played at Iowa or sat on the Cubs bench for a team that was horrible.
TJ11 - September 29, 2011
Now, see, this is constructive.
Yes, that’s correct. The former team management did not recognize Fuld’s value. Presumably, the Cubs will hire someone who does understand the value of players like that.
Al Yellon - September 29, 2011
It would be nice to have that. We have not for a long time. As such a big fan of the Cubs (his words) Ricketts should have known this and not wasted a year.
TJ11 - September 29, 2011
Fuld Value??
I gotta disagree there…Cubs have a better fuld in Tony Campana. I root for a guy like fuld, but if he’s your starter, it’s a hole in the lineup.
.240 / .313 .673 ops…yuck.
Campana is a much faster and better base stealer.
vin23 - September 29, 2011
The point is the Rays know how to use a player like that...The Cubs do not
TJ11 - September 29, 2011
i would say that the Rays HAD to use a guy like fuld because of their payroll...
but then i look at the Cubs payroll and roster and weep.
epsilon - September 29, 2011
exactly
Come on, no one wants to start Sam Fuld in the OF everyday. They won despite him. I mean, there is no statistical reasoning to say Fuld was important. I’m not going to pretend I watch every Rays game…but let’s be serious.
Solid starters (shields…WOW year, Helickson, price) and a real productive bullpen were the the main keys. Followed that by a lineup that was good enough….and a very LUCKY year by Kotchman. But Sam Fuld IS NOWHERE in the picture of why this team won the wild card.
vin23 - September 29, 2011
Nobody is saying they won because they started Fuld...But he didnt hurt them either...his fielding saved them countless runs.
i am sure the pitchers you listed enjoyed him being on the team…..So would the ones in Iowa if he was on the Cubs.
TJ11 - September 29, 2011
Ya but
if he was still on the Cubs, highlight catches or not, wouldn’t most everybody here be complaining about the kind of losers the management keeps around or something like that?
ol Pete - September 29, 2011
So, who wants to start Soriano and Fukudome in the outfield every day?
Maybe Fuld isn’t so bad, especially for the money.
ClarkFan - September 29, 2011
Which is precisely why some of these constrictive contracts have to go
It’s not just Fuld and others were not valued, it was also having to play guys who were getting paid a Kings ransom.
blackhawk24 - September 29, 2011
Actually he would likely have done neither
Odds are he would have been with the Rays. The Rays had in fact been asking for him for over a year. He was out of options so he would not have made it to Iowa and there was no place for him on the roster because to be honest no one expected Colvin to tank and he was not going to get a spot over RJ.
However the point remains that the Rays know how to use a player like Fuld and the Cubs don’t. It was almost comic that Fuld’s skill set ( Defense, plate patience, speed) were exactly what the Cubs needed but never tried to get.
Doggie Stalker - September 29, 2011
Because they do not know what they are doing for the most part.
TJ11 - September 29, 2011
Plate Patience? .313 ONB ...eh, really not that special
vin23 - September 29, 2011
Look at PA/BB.
You can’t use OBP by itself since that includes BA. The only Cubs that matched Fuld is Pena, Soto and Fukudome.
Fuld’s patience isn’t outstanding but much better than most of the Cubs hackers.
rlpete - September 29, 2011
Huh? Why remove OBP from equation? That makes no sense.
Why remove hits from the equation? So you celebrate a guy who walks a lot but has a terrible avg? I’ll use OBP over W/PA
Come on…the cubs are beyond “cute” players who have some success who don’t win ball games. Fuld is a 5th OF…and cubs have a better fuld …Campana. You can’t just pick bad parts of a good team and point to them as reasons for success.
The Garza trade was good for the cubs.
vin23 - September 29, 2011
I'm not defending Fuld at all.
I really don’t care about him and I care about Campana even less as Fuld has more value.
My point was just on plate patience. If you are looking at how patient someone is then you really need to focus on BB not overall OBP. For example, no one would say Castro has plate patience but his OBP is higher than a lot of people because BA is high.
rlpete - September 29, 2011
Yeah, the Cubs hire players who aren't cute and don't win ball games
Big whoop.
The real comment is that Fuld has useful attributes as a player – good enough that used right he helped Tampa make the playoffs. No one in Chicago management was smart enough to figure out how to use him. They have a second chance with Campana. Wonder how they will do?
ClarkFan - September 29, 2011
I am getting really sick of the "cute" and similar things re Fuld
The inference is that people who like Fuld as a player , especially me, give a rats ass what he looks like. It is possible to be a serious female baseball fan without caring what a player looks like. It has been pointed out over and over that Fuld had the exact qualities the Cubs neither had nor valued. Having followed Fuid since his time in low minors it was particularly frustrating to see the Cubs waste him till they basically had to give him a way to a team that knew how to use those qualities.
Doggie Stalker - September 30, 2011
Did the Cubs play last night??
Seriously, I didn’t watch one pitch of the Cubs game. It was all about the Wild Card chase and the incredible drama.
DKT - September 29, 2011
No they didnt....
TJ11 - September 29, 2011
Seriously, I'll say again
that was the worst lineup the cubs have trotted out there this year. To me, that was a big middle finger to the fans from Mike Quade
vin23 - September 29, 2011
That is exactly what I thought it was.....
That alone should get Ricketts to act…..But I guess Ricketts feels the same.
TJ11 - September 29, 2011
Countdown
Not sure if anyone’s mentioned this yet, but the countdown to opening day on the right sidebar shows 2011 not 2012.
srwilly - September 29, 2011
And it STILL shows 2011
DebT - September 30, 2011
Clear your browser cache.
It definitely says 2012 on mine.
Al Yellon - October 1, 2011
Baseball Magic
Al- Good story today. I agree, couldn’t have been more exciting (unless cubs were part of it) night of baseball.
The crazy thing is that the Papelbon collapse was so close in time to the Longoria homer.
That re-amped me for the postseason…after the cubs agonizing season and lack of division races whiped me the last month.
I’m not sure of the rest of you…but I get real jelous, watching a team like the Rays have that much success with that payroll and in that tough of a division. Then, I look, and the stadium wasn’t even full!!!
vin23 - September 29, 2011
I still can't wrap my brain around it
The fact that a major league manager even made the decision to send a .103 hitter to the plate to decide the fate of an entire season for two teams is improbable, hell, almost impossible — let alone the result of that at-bat. I could go on forever talking about all of the improbabilities. All four of those meaningful games last night ended in the opposite way I wanted to see them end – yet it was still the most compelling night of regular season baseball I’ve ever seen.
brianp88 - September 29, 2011
I thought the same thing
The Trop wasn’t even close to capacity. Wrigley would have been jammed along with Waveland and the other streets too.
Maybe Tom can use this as part of his pitch to Friedman. Don’t you want to experience an atmosphere even mroe electric than last night? Oh, and did I mention the payroll will be significantly higher?
MaTheMeatloaf - September 29, 2011
this post has just set the world record for most use of the phrase
“let it go”
cozmotaylor123 - September 29, 2011
I am not letting it go until the Cubs do something to correct this.....
TJ11 - September 29, 2011
I also could not watch
the parties in Tampa or St. Louis . Even the Baltimore Club house looked very festive . It brings back 2003, 2007 and 2008 and what went so wrong . I took the dog for a very long walk…..
cubs north - September 29, 2011
I gotta say...
..I’m not sure why Al gets on you for this. This is a public forum where you can post opinions and the like, right?
Post away. I hate message board cops. Almost as bad as some tool playing the ‘spelling card’ or grammar card because they can’t refute your points.
MaTheMeatloaf - September 29, 2011
even if said opinion is stated
overandoverandoverandoverandoverandoverandoverandoverandoverandoverandoverandoverandoverandover again?
Emelie - September 29, 2011
You know, he's quite smart.
Now that the early persona has died down and he posts real stuff, I’ve come to like him quite a bit.
chilango2 - September 29, 2011
Exactly.
Every single poster here knows how TJ feels. Repeating it is just annoying.
Al Yellon - September 29, 2011
Yet the Cubs rarely change....i wish they would give me reason to shut up.....But they dont...
TJ11 - September 29, 2011
So.....
don’t read it. Move along.
MaTheMeatloaf - September 29, 2011
So are the Cubs and how they run their team....
TJ11 - September 29, 2011
and the Cubs do the same crap over and over and over....
TJ11 - September 29, 2011
They sure do...
…and it’s got to stop.
Fire Quade TODAY. NOW.
Why? To satisfy my bloodlust and anger.
MaTheMeatloaf - September 29, 2011
And also because...you know...it's the right thing to do.
Of course we’re talking about the Cubs there, so doing the right thing sometimes takes a backseat to whatever the hell they think is more important at the time.
santoswoodenlegs - September 29, 2011
OK, there, Wilford Brimley.
daver - September 29, 2011
I got my diabeetus testing supplies....
Vermont Cubs Fan - September 29, 2011
Have a beer
Have several actually. Might I suggest:
http://theram.com/beer.html
blackhawk24 - September 29, 2011
This type of argument always devolves into a circle jerk, but I'm going to start it anyway.
TJ is allowed to post the same crap over and over and over. We’re also “allowed” to ask him to stop, or tell him when it bugs us.
Nunyabidness - September 29, 2011
Well sure.
Part of the issue (further above) seems to be that he wants to talk about the Cubs game in a Cubs game recap. I don’t think that’s wrong.
shoemile - September 29, 2011
I don't think that part is wrong, I think screaming for Quade's head to be lopped off TODAY has gotten tiresome though
Nunyabidness - September 29, 2011
I can agree with that.
He’s not going anywhere until the GM is in place.
shoemile - September 29, 2011
I dont think you have to wait.
TJ11 - September 29, 2011
I disagree....why Ricketts thinks there is any chance for him to be there next year is stupid.
If he is leaving it up to the GM he is showing he would be OK with it….
TJ11 - September 29, 2011
That's not really the issue.
And further more you know it’s not. You’ve just got your panties in a bunch about Quade not being fired on your time table.
The MOST likely scenario is that one of the things the new GM will have to be on the same page with Ricketts about, is that the team needs a new manager. I can’t see anyone actually reviewing the job Quade did and thinking he did even a serviceable job. Beyond Not Bruce of course, who never seems to think anything is wrong, and no one is ever to blame.
Nunyabidness - September 29, 2011
What good will it do for you
unless getting an ulcer is a goal.
We all want the same, right? But who knows what’ll happen.
blackhawk24 - September 29, 2011
I'm thrilled for they Rays.
How a team that spends so little money just grits it out 9 games back in September just proves one thing. 2 probably. Money doesn’t get you the grit that you need and passion. Those guys aren’t payed like their rivals Yankees and Red Sox. That was absolute passion and grit for the game during the final months of the season and that 7 run comeback with only 6 outs remaining. Unbelievable
braziliancubsfan - September 29, 2011
As far as I can tell
the Cubs get the sixth pick in the draft next season. The order is 1) Houston 2)Minnesota 3) Seattle 4) Baltimore 5) Kansas City 6) CUBS 7) San Diego 8) Pittsburgh 9) Florida 10) Colorado.
But don’t quote me on that. I think the tiebreak order is KC, us and then SD.
Josh Timmers - September 29, 2011
Draft
I thought the picks alternated between AL and NL? When did this change?
srwilly - September 29, 2011
05-06 or so
because we got screwed out of the first pick or something like that? I’m sure Josh’s answer will be way better than my no real information answer.
epsilon - September 29, 2011
I don't remember exactly when they changed it
but that sounds about right. It was a problem alternating when there were an uneven number of teams in each league.
Josh Timmers - September 29, 2011
I believe you are correct about the order.
Based on the records and the tiebreaker (last year’s record), that looks right.
Al Yellon - September 29, 2011
MLBTR agrees with you...
…in its reverse standings.
daver - September 29, 2011
Last night's loss
got us two places in the standings. We win, and San Diego and Pittsburgh pick ahead of us.
Josh Timmers - September 29, 2011
Fly it!!!
daver - September 29, 2011
People talke about...
…how bad the Cubs collapse was in 69? Well, what the Braves and Red Sox did, makes 69 look like childs play.
MPH73 - September 29, 2011
I just wrote this article for Baseball Nation about epic collapses. Will also fanshot it.
Al Yellon - September 29, 2011
Good article, Al!
MPH73 - September 29, 2011
Particularly the Red Sox.
The fact that a team with so much talent isn’t going to the postseason is staggering.
daver - September 29, 2011
That brings things back to the chemistry-talent debate
While chemistry isn’t (yet) quantifiable, every report suggests that this bunch of Red Sox had none, led by John Lackey. Tampa, on the other hand, seems to cultivate high-chemistry clubhouses, led by Joe Maddon.
I fully expect the next Cubs GM and Manager to be able to take both into account when rebuilding the team.
Bill Potter - September 29, 2011
I hope you're right, Trey.
Vermont Cubs Fan - September 29, 2011
Y'know, I gotta admit...
…I never got a good vibe from John Lackey. (And his last name doesn’t help.) Seriously, though, you’re right — I imagine much will be written and discussed on what went wrong up there, including the team’s chemistry.
daver - September 29, 2011
Today's Globe has been fun to read
(and I say that as someone who lived in Boston from 2001-05). Maybe my favorite sentence of the day:
Now that sounds like a place with good chemistry
Bill Potter - September 29, 2011
Who is this referring to?
Holy crap.
Vermont Cubs Fan - September 29, 2011
That would be one John Lackey.
Whom I would suspect will be a trade candidate this offseason.
Bill Potter - September 29, 2011
I couldn't read the article.
That’s why I had to ask. The link sent me to a registration page.
Vermont Cubs Fan - September 29, 2011
Zambrano and Soriano for Lackey and Drew!!!!
Nunyabidness - September 29, 2011
Lackey may not be in the best place right now
Reports are that he and his wife are getting a divorce.
RiskyBusiness - September 29, 2011
Looks like Carl Crawford was a huge bust as well.
The guy went from a 7.6 WAR player in 2010 to 0.4 this year. Wow.
daver - September 29, 2011
He also had several Soriano-esque moments in left
Including last night’s game-ending play, when the ball somehow got between his glove and the grass.
Bill Potter - September 29, 2011
His throw was worse...
…and he wasn’t that far from the infield skin.
MPH73 - September 29, 2011
He's helped put Tampa in the playoffs
3 out of the last 4 years
Barkman - September 29, 2011
Doesn't the fact that they made it, in the first year without him
sort of negate that argument?
Nunyabidness - September 29, 2011
I guess my attempt at humor went over your head
Didn’t his error “help” The Rays last night?
Barkman - September 29, 2011
BOOM
daver - September 29, 2011
John Lackey...
I remember a time a few years ago, when he was still with the Angels, and Jason Kendall was batting. Kendall took a pitch, and when the catcher threw the ball back to Lackey, Lackey started yelling at Kendall. Kendall then charged the mound, setting off a bench-clearing brawl.
I remember wondering what exactly Lackey had to yell about. Even the announcers were confused about the start of this madness … the guy said something like “Whoa, what happened here?”
Vermont Cubs Fan - September 29, 2011
But what did the writer really think about Lackey?
ClarkFan - September 29, 2011
I think Boston's problem
was more starting pitching than chemistry. No one cares what John Lackey is doing in the clubhouse if he wasn’t having one of the worst seasons ever for a starting pitcher in Boston.
The Red Sox were seriously considering trading for Bruce Chen to start a game 163 today. Bruce Chen. That’s how bad their starting pitching problem was.
Josh Timmers - September 29, 2011
Maybe they'll want Dempster for 2012 then?
Oh wait…he’s shitty too.
santoswoodenlegs - September 29, 2011
At least he isn't an ass
ClarkFan - September 29, 2011
I like what Denis Leary tweeted today
Josh Timmers - September 29, 2011
that's EXACTLY what I've been saying to all my forlorn youngster Sox fans
Emelie - September 29, 2011
God bless Denis Leary
love that guy, even if he ripped off Bill Hicks early in his career.
Craig in South Bend - September 29, 2011
Bucky fucking Dent....!
blackhawk24 - September 29, 2011
one chance in 278 million of all these events coming together in quite this way
% from fangraphs
Source: http://fivethirtyeight.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/09/29/bill-buckner-strikes-again/?hp
mph3 - September 29, 2011
great data thanks for sharing
nm
BeltwayCubsFan - September 29, 2011
i will add however
that other than that final pitch from Papelbon that was at least on the inner half i noticed that all the other key hits in the games seemed to come on fastballs grooved right down middle of plate.
BeltwayCubsFan - September 29, 2011
Thats...
…baseball
MPH73 - September 29, 2011
It's surreal
Yogi Berra was never more correct when he said it ain’t over ‘til it’s over.
brianp88 - September 29, 2011
Lovely post, Al
and you reminded me we used to have a Commissioner who was as eloquent as he was intelligent.
Emelie - September 29, 2011
The history of baseball over the last 20 years
… would have been far different if Bart Giamatti were still alive.
Al Yellon - September 29, 2011
Amen to that
Instead of having a fan with a vision leading us we .inflicted with a tool. Just as in North Dallas Forty Giamatti believed baseball was a game. Selig treats it like a business.
tharr - September 29, 2011
Sorry, I disagree...
Selig doesn’t treat it anything like a business. He treats it like a country club.
santoswoodenlegs - September 29, 2011
bingo.
Emelie - September 29, 2011
The country club is a boardroom for business
tharr - September 29, 2011
If he were running it like a business...
he’d do things to make the product available to as many people as possible. He’d try to steer things in a direction which would INCREASE the access to the product. He’s done literally as little as possible in that regard.
santoswoodenlegs - September 29, 2011
I'm not suggesting that Selig
is doing a smart job achieving his business model. My contention is he’s not. However, that is his goal….. doing the owners bidding….but his goals are to protect the investors rather than support the fans interest.
tharr - September 29, 2011
Well said...
…I akin Bart’s impact he would have had to baseball, to the impact Dallas Green would have had if he stayed longer with the Cubs.
MPH73 - September 29, 2011
Agreed.
Al Yellon - September 29, 2011
Being a good sport
The easy part is that I hope the Brewers win the WS. That franchise has never won one and it has been 54 years since the market has had a winner.
Not finding it too surprising that the NL wildcard ended up going to an NL Central team seeing as the bottom of the division was pretty bad. Congratulations to the Cardinals for doing as well as they did without their ace. I hope they lose in the first round because I want the Brewers to win.
I’m glad the Rays won the WC over Boston. The Rays are my second choice to win the WS. They haven’t won one either. That team has been hanging around and should eventually win a WS.
I’m glad there won’t have to be tie-breakers for the wildcard. No team should have to have their post season hopes hinge on any 1-game.
I’ve spent the week envious of how the Marlins, of all teams, seem to get good managers. Not over doing it about their getting Ozzie, but just saying they’ve had Girardi, Gonzalez and now Ozzie.
AboutTheCubs - September 29, 2011
Judging managers is hard if you ask me, but Gonzalez running the same 3 relievers out as many times as he did seemed like a predictably bad strategy and he did just have his team collapse. I love Ozzie sound bites, but devotion to Juan Pierre at least raises a flag for me.
ol Pete - September 29, 2011
Sorry, I just can't root for the Brewers.
Rays all the way. Or maybe the Tigers. I love watching Verlander pitch.
Al Yellon - September 29, 2011
THIS
Their fans don’t show up AT ALL unless they’re winning and they hate on the Cubs as much as Sox fans
Mapmaker - September 29, 2011
Speaking of fans "not showing up"...
I watched the last couple innings of the White Sox yesterday (another 9th inning meltdown by the bullpen…must be something in the water in Chicago that causes that) and Harrelson announced that the Sox broke the 2,000,000 in attendance mark by one thousand. I thought that was kinda funny how he made such a big deal over it. The so called “dump”, Wrigley Field, STILL outdrew The Cell by over 1,000,000 fans.
Easy Ed - September 29, 2011
Also, Mr. Harrelson has a new contract,
which means we get to [not] listen to him until 2015.
chilango2 - September 29, 2011
Yeah...heard that, too...
…I’m starting to believe him now when he says that “the coroner will have to carry him outta the booth”.
Easy Ed - September 29, 2011
Anybody know any good coroners on the South Side?
;-)
Vermont Cubs Fan - September 29, 2011
GATLING CHAPEL, INC
10133 S HALSTED ST
CHICAGO, IL 60628-1814
Phone (773) 881-4111
RiskyBusiness - September 29, 2011
LOLOLOL
Vermont Cubs Fan - September 29, 2011
Already did....that's a clone.
What a sorry ass excuse of a PbP for a so-called big market team.
Take a long hard look at that – if you can, I know I can’t – then thank the baseball Gods we have Len Kasper. Wow !!
blackhawk24 - September 29, 2011
I know...
…I love baseball, and to the chagrin of my "better half’, I can watch just about any 2 teams play. Harrelson really makes that difficult.
Easy Ed - September 29, 2011
Oh sweet Jesus.
Mapmaker - September 29, 2011
C'mon, contract, STRETCH!
Git on up there.
daver - September 29, 2011
I was checking to see if they'd get to 2MM
I thought they needed more per game for those last 3 games – closer to 24K. And I’m surprised they did that well for a Wednesday day game to end the season.
RiskyBusiness - September 29, 2011
Do you really want to rate different fanbases as to their dislike of Cubs’ fans?
ol Pete - September 29, 2011
1. Sox
Mapmaker - September 29, 2011
who gives a rats ass
next… :^)
blackhawk24 - September 29, 2011
Nope...
got my Yankees hat sitting right here on my desk. Only time it comes out is when the Cubs season is over…because, usually the Yankees season is still going on. Going to Yankee Stadium is one of the few things left on my “Sports Bucket List”. I’m a die-hard Cubs fan, 100%, but, dig the Yankee history/tradition a bit, too.
Easy Ed - September 29, 2011
Perfect headline and theme, Al.
I spent last night flipping back and forth between the Cubs game and MLB Network while I had one of the Cards/Red Sox/Rays games going on my iPhone. (Mostly the Rays.) It was crazy fun. And let me just state for the record that the Tampa Bay Rays are true baseball heroes. I really can’t believe what they did last night.
daver - September 29, 2011
Even the Rays themselves couldn’t quite believe it.
Al Yellon - September 29, 2011
...
santoswoodenlegs - September 29, 2011
I can't wait to see what my co-workers are going to be like this afternoon.
Many of them are Red Sox fans.
Vermont Cubs Fan - September 29, 2011
even here in the wilderness...
just got my first tearful drop-by and it’s only 8 am…
Emelie - September 29, 2011
I'm more curious to see
If they’re part of the torches-and-pitchforks mob, or if they just are too stunned to speak.
Vermont Cubs Fan - September 29, 2011
If they've been a fan of the Red Sox for more than the last decade...
they already know how to deal with this.
santoswoodenlegs - September 29, 2011
Torches and pitchforks, then....
ClarkFan - September 29, 2011
Y'know what also occurred to me last night?
It’s now conceivable that Mike Fontenot and Ryan Theriot could wind up with World Series rings. Enjoy the postseason, Cubs fans.
daver - September 29, 2011
You dirty troll...
chilango2 - September 29, 2011
eww.
more proof that life’s unfair.
Emelie - September 29, 2011
Cajun Connection DeRec
RiskyBusiness - September 29, 2011
not cool.
epsilon - September 29, 2011
Proof positive for a de-rec button on SB Nation.
Vermont Cubs Fan - September 29, 2011
All this criticism...
…and not one of you worms have the guts to SWL me. BRING IT!
daver - September 29, 2011
Too bad neither one would actually contribute
talk about passengers…
blackhawk24 - September 29, 2011
Watching STL celebrate pisses me off more than anything in baseball
It’s just sickening that they have a real manager that, no matter what the circumstance is, never let’s his team give up and is always working harder to make his team better. He’d never sit back on his ass and let the starter piss away a game like Dusty, Lou, Quade, and anyone since I’ve been watching the Cubs has. Every Cub manager acts with complacency and zero drive. Here’s what I’ve seen/heard from the past 40 years of Cub managers: I don’t have to spend time teaching these guys fundamentals, they already know them, I have faith in my veteran players, they’ve earned their place on the field, I’ve got their backs, sometimes young players can learn a lot from watching, what do you want me to do??
Itchy - September 29, 2011
first thought
I would not imagine Sandberg having this attitude if he were punching in and out every day as skipper
Cubsession - September 29, 2011
One word sums up last night's pitching, the manager, and the team;
Dumpster.
But the playoffs should be fun to watch.
Mapmaker - September 29, 2011
Just one question about the Tampa Bay Rays organization...
How can we get one?
Easy Ed - September 29, 2011
All we need are Intelligence, Determination and Leadership....mixed with a bit of Luck from the top down in the Cubs Organization....
so yeah, we’re gonna be in trouble for awhile.
santoswoodenlegs - September 29, 2011
Helps if you suck for a decade
and get all those high draft picks. We’re off to a good start in that category.
Josh Timmers - September 29, 2011
Draft picks...
…are only as good as those doing the picking and the developing.
MPH73 - September 29, 2011
This organization has sucked for numerous decades...
I don’t think we should get to use Tampa Bay’s # of high draft picks as an excuse for our shortcomings.
santoswoodenlegs - September 29, 2011
Too bad the Cubs would fuck that up too
blackhawk24 - September 29, 2011
Me want to go there.
daver - September 29, 2011
Hello, BCBers.
I’m back from my wedding/honeymoon. I haven’t watched a Cubs game since the game against the Reds on Sept. 13. I’ve occasionally followed what has happened, and other than Garza’s complete game against the Brewers, I can’t say I’m sorry I missed anything. I honestly can’t remember a season quite like this one. Maybe the 1999-2000 teams, but that was a long time ago, I was in college, and two years of really bad baseball didn’t seem to mean as much then, at least, not to me.
I’m seriously considering cutting back on the Cubs. I don’t see much reason for optimism. Isolated examples of teams that turned around after bad years that really mean nothing. I’m tired of hearing about how the Diamondbacks bounced back this year, or how the Cubs bounced back in 2007. That proves only that a turnaround isn’t impossible, which I already knew.
That said, I have my hopes that we’ll see Billy Beane in Chicago, and that while the Cubs won’t necessarily be contenders in 2012, they’ll be interesting to watch. Other GMs might do that, too — Epstein, Friedman — but Beane seems the most likely to leave where he is and the most likely to really change the course of the Cubs.
That needs to happen so freaking much. The problem with the Cubs right now isn’t just that they’re bad, but that all signs pointing to forward momentum that started in 2003 seem gone, or, at least, a few years off from Wrigley. Starlin Castro’s is a nice player, but until the rest of the improved farm system shows up in the bigs — and performs in the bigs — he’s not enough to indicate progress. Somebody will point out Ricketts’ investment in the draft, which is a very good thing.
I guess what I’m saying is that I had three weeks away from the Cubs, and based on what they are these days, I didn’t miss them at all. I might miss baseball during blizzards in January — and I don’t think I could ever totally quit on this team — but a big Billy Beane-style move needs to happen to maintain even close to my current level of interest.
elgato - September 29, 2011
welcome back...
I hope you enjoyed the
sexhonemoon!santoswoodenlegs - September 29, 2011
Thank you.
And, I did. :)
elgato - September 29, 2011
First time?
Craig in South Bend - September 29, 2011
First marriage? Yes.
That’s all I’ll say. ;)
elgato - September 29, 2011
Congratulations!
Emelie - September 29, 2011
Thanks!
elgato - September 29, 2011
I hope your honeymoon lasted longer than the Red Sox hopes after losing to Baltimore
i.e 3 minutes.
RiskyBusiness - September 29, 2011
Bow-chicka-wow
Mapmaker - September 29, 2011
Ricketts disagrees!
http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-spt-0929-cubs-padres-chicago—20110929,0,6846584.story
Also, congrats, welcome back, and all that jazz.
shoemile - September 29, 2011
Thank you.
I actually don’t blame Ricketts for that. What can he say in such a situation — with the caveat that we know he’s not George Steinbrenner. The public doesn’t have a built-in, “Oh, that’s just George!” filter. Ricketts is reserved, so he has to say something that has a hint of optimism.
I’m more annoyed when I hear fans and posters here citing the miracle turnarounds. Again, all that proves is that such turnarounds are generally possible for baseball teams. It means nothing regarding the Cubs as they currently stand.
That said, a Billy Beane-style hire would certainly change the math in a huge way. Until then …
elgato - September 29, 2011
I can't blame the guy for saying what he did.
But his actions this winter will prove if he really has any idea why those teams turned it around. Citing 2007 is dumb simply because the Cubs threw around 300 million dollars worth of contracts that winter. Is he gonna do the same? I doubt it.
The D’backs turnaround is a bit more reasonable, but still not plausible. As you stated, the momentum is gone. The vets are bad and old, and there isn’t enough coming through the farm to fix this thing. That’s not his fault, but it’s a reality. So unless he’s gonna open up his checkbook, I don’t see enough improvement to make me give a shit next year, either.
shoemile - September 29, 2011
It's laughable that Ricketts gets to say shit like this and NOT A SINGLE REPORTER has the brains, balls or desire to mention the orgasm of $ spent to do something in 2007.
santoswoodenlegs - September 29, 2011
The orgasm?
elgato - September 29, 2011
Bad honeymoon, eh.
shoemile - September 29, 2011
badaBOOM!
Emelie - September 29, 2011
LOL
elgato - September 29, 2011
Well, that's the thing.
He can keep my interest if he hires the right GM who does interesting and forward-thinking things — even if the Cubs don’t contend for another year or two.
What can’t happen is continued bad baseball in the SAME WAY.
elgato - September 29, 2011
Don't Bogart that joint, Tom, pass it over to me....
ClarkFan - September 29, 2011
I feel your frustration, el...and congrats and welcome back...
…this off season is probably the most important off season that this organization has faced in the past 50 years…if not for ever. For the first time in my 53 years of life I really wasn’t sorry to see a Cubs season end. Once Hendry got canned I actually started looking forward to the end. Now, the suspense mounts. Ricketts’ next move will speak volumes.
Easy Ed - September 29, 2011
Totally agree.
And this is an instance where we can’t say, “Well, he tried.”
I recall the Adrian Gonzalez reaction last winter. So many of us, myself included, saw that as perhaps the one move the Cubs should have made above all others. It was argued, logically, that Boston was a better match for the Padres, and that Hendry did all he could, never had a chance, etc. But Hendry needed to come up big in THAT moment, though, and he didn’t. The qualifiers don’t really matter that much.
Now, Ricketts needs to come up big, no matter what.
elgato - September 29, 2011
What's most interesting about that one move not made is...
… do you really think getting Adrian Gonzalez would have made the 2011 Cubs a playoff team?
Especially since it would have likely meant NOT getting Matt Garza.
Al Yellon - September 29, 2011
Any scenario that involved Quade
as well as the rest of staff being employed, automatically disqualified us from even sniffing the playoffs.
Craig in South Bend - September 29, 2011
The Rotation Did As Well
vin23 - September 29, 2011
this past offseason shouldn't have been about making this a playoff team for 2011
it should have been about getting better players at positions in which we could upgrade. Garza was an improvement, but realistically, Gonzalez would have made a bigger impact on this team than him. IMHO.
santoswoodenlegs - September 29, 2011
The problem with this is that
the mindset of the team since 2008 has been GO AFTER THE BIG NAME and then try and get some dudes to fill some gaps. What you said is what should have happened, which would mean that a new GM would have been needed sooner than now to actually go after players who could have actually fulfilled a useful role on the team, instead of whatever it was we got.
Craig in South Bend - September 29, 2011
Yep...
and this only pisses me off more to think of all the opportunities we’ve missed due to Ricketts leaving Hendry at the helm since he took over the team.
santoswoodenlegs - September 29, 2011
Like What?
vin23 - September 29, 2011
Dude, are you serious?
What do you think drives this team, or rather, runs this team? There is someone to put this all together. I’m astonished that you can’t see our issue with that someone.
Craig in South Bend - September 29, 2011
A GM
vin23 - September 29, 2011
I hear ya
It’s why I expect the worst this offseason. From a business or even money managing fundamentals standpoint, keeping Hendry for longer, to then fire him, BUT KEEP IT A SECRET and keep him around longer hoping this guy is nice enough to not fuck you over was insane. This is the guy we’re relying on now to hire the right GM, who will in turn hire the right manager.
Craig in South Bend - September 29, 2011
Why does that matter??
I thought the hiding thing was smart.
vin23 - September 29, 2011
Why was it smart?
Nunyabidness - September 29, 2011
No GM was being hired until offseason
So sign the draft picks. With all the no trade clauses…what could Randy Bush have done?
vin23 - September 29, 2011
He could fire Quade? If its business as usual cant he do it?
TJ11 - September 29, 2011
And...............................
While I really really really dislike Quade…what would that’ve done? I had major problems with not playing the youth…but I’m over it, looking forward to a good GM hire
vin23 - September 29, 2011
You just pointed out one very big thing it could have done
We would, at the very least, have gotten a better look at the young players. Quade turned it into some sort of stubborn BS nonsense by sticking to his guns and playing the vets.
Nunyabidness - September 29, 2011
Why fire Hendry at all then?
If they weren’t doing jack squat, why even fire him if they were going to replace him anyway? It’s another example of throwing money out the window for bullshit and that’s tiring to see. Why can’t you understand that?
Craig in South Bend - September 29, 2011
Well...........
In baseball, the offseason usually is when thing happen….especially when GM’s get hired.
vin23 - September 29, 2011
Hence me asking why fire Hendry at all
accepting that risk, when nothing was happening until the offseason? Randy Bush literally did nothing, the same thing Hendry was doing. If Hendry was going to be replaced in the offseason, why fire him midseason? What purpose did that serve?
Craig in South Bend - September 29, 2011
I thought you meant keeping him through next year
Well, probably fire him to let the baseball world the cubs are looking for a GM. As stated nationally, it is a very HIGH value position, so why not get it out there.
vin23 - September 29, 2011
for what its worth,
i think firing him after the signings, and before the season was over was, maybe not smart, but acceptable, it gives all those interested GMs to sit back and ponder the situation with months to think it over instead of weeks.
epsilon - September 29, 2011
I think he fired him for the fans.
It was my favorite day as a Cubs fan this summer, that’s for sure.
shoemile - September 29, 2011
...
santoswoodenlegs - September 29, 2011
THAT IS AWESOME
Nunyabidness - September 29, 2011
AHAHAHAHA
Best EVER. The eagle with the transparency at 60% is especially awesome.
Craig in South Bend - September 29, 2011
That is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen.
shoemile - September 29, 2011
signed the draft picks for one.
Why fire him and then keep him on? Why fire him at all if you’re going to keep him on AFTER you’ve fired him. I honeslty don’t know what the point of firing Hendry before the season ended WAS if we weren’t going to replace him until after the season
Nunyabidness - September 29, 2011
Almost certainly no.
However, Adrian Gonzalez wasn’t a 1-year rental. He would have been a marquee player to build around for several years, and he would have kept us out of the Fielder/Pujols bidding or the Pena second-tier bidding.
As I’ve said throughout this thread, I don’t like the fact that the Cubs were so bad this year, but I HATE the fact that (as yet) the direction appears to be heading straight to the floor.
elgato - September 29, 2011
Are you saying "rock-bottom" has yet to be reached, el?
If so, then that is a scary thought moving forward.
Easy Ed - September 29, 2011
Well that's a silly thing to say.
shoemile - September 29, 2011
No, however it
leaves one less question to be answered this coming off season.
blackhawk24 - September 29, 2011
Also ...
as good as Garza is, Gonzalez is better.
elgato - September 29, 2011
If getting A-Gon woulda kept us from getting Garza...
…I think we coulda lived with that.
Easy Ed - September 29, 2011
I hope you had a wonderful time!
eths - September 29, 2011 via mobile
Welcome back and
I hope you are right about Beane.
sue369 - September 29, 2011
Easy On Ricketts
You can’t judge an owner this quickly.
This GM hire is how we can start to judge him.
You can’t blame him for Z, Sori, Bradley/Silva, Grabow, Dempster …salaries. I know we all want to blame someone…but it’s not time….YET.
He gave Hendry a shot to continue and it failed…so now it’s Ricketts time.
Besides that, he’s done the right thing investing in DR, and in draft picks.
Let’s hold off judgement and not be irrational.
vin23 - September 29, 2011
I can blame him for retaining Hendry after last year.
Lord knows I do it all the time.
shoemile - September 29, 2011
See, I disagree
I think a smart owner gives a guy a chance for continuity. I think it was pretty clear the window was shutting, but why not assess Hendry and the organization. In fact, maybe get a little insight in the whole organization before you start taking heads off…then he should be able to make a better GM decision.
vin23 - September 29, 2011
Or he could have hired a president of baseball operations
and been AHEAD of the curve, instead of reacting.
Nunyabidness - September 29, 2011
Learning
I think you have to learn about the organization first hand. I think it was pretty clear that with the contracts already booked, he couldn’t do much anyway.
vin23 - September 29, 2011
Yeah, I just don't agree
There were plenty of decisions he could have made while still “learning”, including hiring a president.
It’s not like the guy made an offer one day, and owned the team the very next day. He had months to prepare before he ever took over.
Nunyabidness - September 29, 2011
I think you nailed it, Nunya.
The Cubs could have kept Hendry for another year, figuring not much could have been done given the bad contracts. But a new president could have started working on big picture things. Ricketts goofed big time.
elgato - September 29, 2011
agreed
TJ11 - September 29, 2011
Thing is though, even after two years he doesn't seem interested in hiring a president of baseball ops
shoemile - September 29, 2011
And I will disagree with that decision right up until the day Ricketts sells the team.
Nunyabidness - September 29, 2011
It's less of a big deal ...
if the new GM is a big improvement.
elgato - September 29, 2011
May Work Out Nice
Why add a prez? I really don’t get the obsession. I don’t care if there is a pres…i want a good GM.
It may work out if Andrew Friedman comes here……..since he’s a free agent.
vin23 - September 29, 2011
WHAT may work out nice?
Not going with someone above Hendry has already been shown to be a bad decision. At BEST we’re two years behind where we want to be.
Nunyabidness - September 29, 2011
The GM availability
Well, there’s no way to go back in time. Hendry was getting year 1, and really, going over FA’s with budget constraints, what could’ve put the cubs in the playoffs??? Now Quade decesion, ya, that was terrible.
vin23 - September 29, 2011
No, there is not way to go back in time,
But you claimed we couldn’t judge Ricketts. We can. For making a decision I don’t agree with right off the bat.
Nunyabidness - September 29, 2011
On what? Hendry's 2nd year??
But ok, what else could’ve even been done for them to make the playoffs in 2011??? With the contracts out there…there was no room.
vin23 - September 29, 2011
HIRE.A.PRESIDENT.
Nunyabidness - September 29, 2011
WHY?????
What does a president do????????
All I want is a great GM. I don’t need a pres. see below
vin23 - September 29, 2011
For starters
considering Ricketts from all accounts isn’t a very good baseball guy, having a president to make baseball decisions for him probably would be a good idea. Ego is a bitch, though.
Craig in South Bend - September 29, 2011
Who's Accounts?????
Eh, so he can hire a prez without any baseball knowledge, but not a GM? If Ricketts is that bad, why trust himself to hire a prez???
I just disagree. I think a skilled professional who knows his company or team can make a good decsion. I think this is fan garbage. I mean go team through team and see if the pres makes a difference.
vin23 - September 29, 2011
He brought back a failing GM
only to fire him mid-season, but allowed him to keep performing in the role anyway. If you can’t see the insane amount of risk involved with that, then no one can help you. Thank Christ Jimbo was a nice enough guy to not screw us over, because it easily could have happened.
Craig in South Bend - September 29, 2011
Where was the risk in keeping Hendry on
past the date he was told he was being let go?
RiskyBusiness - September 29, 2011
Doing nothing to improve the future of the team at the deadline.
shoemile - September 29, 2011
THIS
santoswoodenlegs - September 29, 2011
exactly...we have several players on the roster that should have been gone a long time ago....But they sat on thier hands at the deadline while the league laughed at the Cubs....
That is on Ricketts…….
TJ11 - September 29, 2011
vs. completing the draft signing process
Ricketts weighed those two and decided that Hendry’s value in the draft signing process was greater.
I think if Hendry had been approached with an unbelievable offer that he would have considered it.
Look at the roster and how they performed. Tell me who there would have been an amazing offer for.
You can’t say “these guys are bad” and then expect amazing trades for them.
RiskyBusiness - September 29, 2011
Well, no one asked for "amazing trades"
Just to dump the players that have no place on the team if offered.
shoemile - September 29, 2011
And if there's a short term loss on that
Vs. the reported good draft signings on the long term, so be it.
RiskyBusiness - September 29, 2011
I simply don't buy that only Hendry had the magic to sign all these guys.
These dudes wanted money. Period.
shoemile - September 29, 2011
Especially since a TON of them were deadline deals.
It’s not like he got the contracts inked weeks ahead of schedule or something.
Nunyabidness - September 29, 2011
OK
Ask Dillon Maples and his dad.
Some of these guys said – “Jim sold me on the Cubs.”
Maybe it’s talk, maybe it’s real. The reports are out there. read for yourself.
RiskyBusiness - September 29, 2011
I'm sure he did sell them on the Cubs.
He’s not some brilliant mind who is the only person capable of doing so.
shoemile - September 29, 2011
He's a good salesman
And he has a lot of contacts and relationships in baseball. And you can’t just replicate that with another body.
RiskyBusiness - September 29, 2011
He's such a good salesman
This is not what I think of when I think about 2009, 2010, and 2011.
Craig in South Bend - September 29, 2011
He sold Tom Ricketts on the need to retain him
That’s something
Nunyabidness - September 29, 2011
True story.
shoemile - September 29, 2011
Keeping a guy in his job AFTER you've fired him?
Gee, no one EVER does anything vindictive, do they?
Craig in South Bend - September 29, 2011
Ricketts knew his man
Hendry’s a professional and said he’s finish up the work. Please – show me any evidence that Jim Hendry has ever been mean in a professional capacity.
It’s baseball and it’s a small world. Hendry’s not going to ruin his reputation over being fired.
RiskyBusiness - September 29, 2011
Risky is right........
there is something to be said for class.
All this complaining and nitipicking about firing dates and garbage wouldn’t have changed anything. Ricketts is about to hire a GM, I would think he wants the organization to be look like it’s run by a good guy
vin23 - September 29, 2011
So why fire him before the draft signings?
Craig in South Bend - September 29, 2011
Why Not??
He was being honest. I don’t get why it even MATTERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
vin23 - September 29, 2011
You and Risky sound like the worst businessmen ever
Craig in South Bend - September 29, 2011
You sound like you read gossip magazines
I care about stuff that matters.
vin23 - September 29, 2011
Oh lord.
Nunyabidness - September 29, 2011
Ok chief.
Craig in South Bend - September 29, 2011
well don't be a dbag on here
Why attack us? You have no idea who we are. I think business like continuity..don’t you??
vin23 - September 29, 2011
Not if they continually suck.
shoemile - September 29, 2011
Not at any cost.
And he was attacking your approach to business, which you laid out. He didn’t say you smell funny
Nunyabidness - September 29, 2011
If you think that's attacking you
then you don’t understand what a personal attack is.
Calling me a dbag is really juvenile though, not to mention desperate because it’s your response when your position on a topic is challenged.
Craig in South Bend - September 29, 2011
Eh, Called as saw
You are being non-sensical. You have no idea my biz thoughts…when you are on here just talking trash to talk trash then taking a shot at me …then I’ll say what I say.
vin23 - September 29, 2011
But...we do have an idea. Because you laid them out
in your own words.
Nunyabidness - September 29, 2011
Yes, I'm the one being non-sensical
Good grief.
Craig in South Bend - September 29, 2011
Maybe didn't want him making a
bad contract of bad contract trade. The kind that lands you Alex Rios.
I doubt we’ll ever know. But the draft signings were more important than the trade deadline to Ricketts. He stuck to his stated goal.
RiskyBusiness - September 29, 2011
Not looking for trades but when people like Baker and Byrd were claimed on waivers....LET THEM GO
TJ11 - September 29, 2011
I really don't get Jim making NO moves
That will go down as an odd decision for a LONG time
Nunyabidness - September 29, 2011
whoa...
so let byrd go? what were the cubs getting back? I think they can trade him this offseason for something……..but I think you are seeing a pot of gold that wasn’t there. Ramirez was the big chip to trade, but he said no!
Or marmol in June…maybe
vin23 - September 29, 2011
So Byrd will have trade value in the offseason
but not with a contender at the trade deadline?
Nunyabidness - September 29, 2011
I could see that
But Hendry wanted to leave it to the next GM. In the long run, no big deal.
RiskyBusiness - September 29, 2011
Leave it the next GM
who will more than likely be at even more of a disadvantage to move those pieces now that the opportunity has passed? What kind of logic is that?
Craig in South Bend - September 29, 2011
Cub Logic
Nunyabidness - September 29, 2011
IT DOESN'T MATTER
details- what did you and craig in sb want done in july realistically. most important thing was done………signed the picks. Which has been nationally rated as being a very good draft…and many signings that surprised.
vin23 - September 29, 2011
What signings surprised?
Nunyabidness - September 29, 2011
serious??
Maples is the most important.
vin23 - September 29, 2011
Who did that signing actually surprise?
Nunyabidness - September 29, 2011
well..
every other team, that’s why he fell to the round he did
vin23 - September 29, 2011
Here
ESPN
RiskyBusiness - September 29, 2011
Money talks.
shoemile - September 29, 2011
then hire a robot
that’s a bs lazy answer
vin23 - September 29, 2011
you understand he's actually saying
that others could have done the job right?
Nunyabidness - September 29, 2011
Now that's a BS lazy answer.
shoemile - September 29, 2011
That's interesting. I did not know that
My next question of course will be…you’re 100% sure Hendry is the only one who could have done that?
Nunyabidness - September 29, 2011
No, but Ricketts was
And he’s closer to the Cubs business than you and I are. It’s a odd move in baseball and it sounds like it paid off. If you disagree with the reports, that’s your choice.
RiskyBusiness - September 29, 2011
What did we want done in July realistically?
Oh, I don’t know, cut weight with players that were claimed on waivers?
Craig in South Bend - September 29, 2011
Who???
Pena? 1 year contract (now I would’ve)…but does it matter??
No one was picking up z, sori or your guy john grabow
vin23 - September 29, 2011
OK, you can't be serious at this point
Nunyabidness - September 29, 2011
We all know Grabow is your cousin.
shoemile - September 29, 2011
How's the neighbor girl?
I heard I’m gonna be a grandpa!
Nunyabidness - September 29, 2011
Yeah, that's not happening anymore.
shoemile - September 29, 2011
And why is John Grabow my guy?
I’m the one speaking nonsense? Really? Whatever. Guess I know what to expect from you in the future.
Craig in South Bend - September 29, 2011
You're not going to be happy
You got it in your head that Hendry is bad and could not have done anything right. Stay bitter.
RiskyBusiness - September 29, 2011
We can judge him.
But … I don’t think we can totally write him off. He did dump Hendry, even if it was later than many had hoped.
elgato - September 29, 2011
There's a long term future to think about that goes beyond making the playoffs in one year.
shoemile - September 29, 2011
Why Pine for a PREZ?
I really don’t care. Does Ted Phillips make the bears better??
Ricketts is an active owner and will hire a GM to handle baseball personnel. I don’t get how layers help the team
vin23 - September 29, 2011
Totally agree, vin.
Except that’s what the first year was for.
shoemile - September 29, 2011
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAMen
Nunyabidness - September 29, 2011
I will never stop.
shoemile - September 29, 2011
That was actually supposed to be..........
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAMen!
but the men part got chopped off.
I agree with you on this.
Nunyabidness - September 29, 2011
..
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!
santoswoodenlegs - September 29, 2011
I've been waiting for you to comment like that
the minute I wrote that. I can’t believe it stayed out there untouched this long!
Nunyabidness - September 29, 2011
...
that’s what elgato said on his honeymoon.
santoswoodenlegs - September 29, 2011
He'll be saying it again a 3 months from now
OOOOOOOOHHHH!
Craig in South Bend - September 29, 2011
...
santoswoodenlegs - September 29, 2011
You guys suck.
elgato - September 29, 2011
Ouch... :: squeezes legs together, protecting manly bits::
eths - September 29, 2011 via mobile
I saw the score of last night's loss and said:
“Thank God this season is over.”
Woke up this morning and it actually dawned upon me, the Cubs season is over. As awful as they were and as unpleasant of a season as it was… I’m going to miss every bit of Cubs baseball. A Cubs win in any season, no matter how good or bad, always brightens my day.
Here’s to 2012 coming with high expectations. Please?
PacificCub - September 29, 2011
Thank you.
I’d have thought people would have taken a deep breath and let the bad season go after it was over, but apparently, people are more interested in continuing the sniping.
Kind of sad, really.
Al Yellon - September 29, 2011
Discussion is sniping?
You do realize what your comment invites, right?
Craig in South Bend - September 29, 2011
Today was a day to cut loose.....the circus season run by Ricketts is finally over....
You have to expect venting……
You should expect everyone to feel that way until the Cubs DO SOMETHING to change.
They did just about everything wrong this year top to bottom….Including your friend Ricketts.
Why should we have to bow to baseball instead of talking about the circus that is the Cubs.
TJ11 - September 29, 2011
Honestly.............
After this bad of a cub season and overall baseball season (besides last night), as a Cub fan, it will be finally positive to talk about offseason moves!
vin23 - September 29, 2011
I agree, I am eager to see those moves......But as of now....we are told to wait again....
Its hard to get excited about moves made by Ricketts.
TJ11 - September 29, 2011
As I said.................easy on him
We will find out now what he is. GM…Budget…Wrigley Field. There could be a case in 2 years to absolutely detest him…………..or celebrate him
vin23 - September 29, 2011
It hasn't even been 24 hours bud.
Nunyabidness - September 29, 2011
I know that, I expected nothing today......Ricketts could have made a stand but he didnt....not surprised.
But I do see a chance that the circus continues next year.
If they do not get a strong GM, which is possible, we could be heading for yet another, “Lets see what we have” time period.
TJ11 - September 29, 2011
If they don't get a "strong" GM
then I need to be done with the Cubs.
I don’t think telling Quade not to come back to Chicago is “taking a stand”
Nunyabidness - September 29, 2011
A good start
TJ11 - September 29, 2011
...
Emelie - September 29, 2011
TEE JAY! TEE JAY! TEE JAY!
shoemile - September 29, 2011
It's not clear why we can't discuss how bad the Cubs were
AND celebrate yesterday as well. I loved the games last night. I was still disgusted by the 9-2 score of OUR game.
Nunyabidness - September 29, 2011
They should have been separate posts.....
TJ11 - September 29, 2011
All year has been venting here.
The Cub game was a footnote in baseball yesterday. You can’t let that disgust go for one day?
Al Yellon - September 29, 2011
No, its time to talk about the season that just ended......not brush it away
TJ11 - September 29, 2011
IT'S A CUBS BLOG
Could you inform me where I SHOULD go to discuss the Cubs?
Nunyabidness - September 29, 2011
cubs.com
idiot.
epsilon - September 29, 2011
NO THANK YOU
That site is nothing but SenorGatos
Nunyabidness - September 29, 2011
Cut Loose??
What, you’ve been holding back before today? You’ve been venting since spring.
RiskyBusiness - September 29, 2011
Come on Al ...
Work with me on this. Come on over to United Centre.
Come see a real team, set up by a real organization (your old pal Johnny McD is there too!) Yeah, I know its not baseball. You have all winter to stare out the window and wait for spring.
As per your comment, I did take deep breath. But to be totally honest, I took that breath at United Centre last night …. We have all winter to pray for a Cubbie turn-around.
blackhawk24 - September 29, 2011
haha
it’s funny someone says that about the blackhawks! Wow, 4-5 years ago, the opposite would’ve been true. Plus, hockey vs baseball…………………………………………………..no comparison.
vin23 - September 29, 2011
Hockey's OK.
But it’s not baseball. It’s different. It just doesn’t have the same emotional attachment for me.
Al Yellon - September 29, 2011
I'll admit it.
I watched the end of the Cubs game last night and, when Campana made the last out, I was a little sad it was over. Of course I wanted this awful season to end, so the organization can move on and, we hope, bring us better days ahead. But the end of every Cubs season still makes me a bit melancholy. And, as far as I’m concerned, the 2011 Cubs were a fairly likable bunch once one accepted the fact that were awful and doomed to abject failure.
daver - September 29, 2011
Ugh.
Dead on, but a little sickening.
elgato - September 29, 2011
Seriously.
A month or two ago, my wife asked me which Cubs players I hated — and I couldn’t think of a single one.
(And, hey, welcome back, e.g.)
daver - September 29, 2011
WAIT A MINUTE....WE LOST LAST NIGHT? DAMMIT!!!!
santoswoodenlegs - September 29, 2011
We'll get 'em tomorrow.
daver - September 29, 2011
Let it go
Nunyabidness - September 29, 2011
Optimism
Now that 2011 is over, the cubs are closer to being contenders again. Minor leagues and the draft looks very promising. New GM coming………..new manager…long contracts ending. While the window shut in 2009….there is a new window opening…so maybe we can all be a little more positive and hopeful.
vin23 - September 29, 2011
Hopeful, yes.
I’ll be positive when things begin changing.
shoemile - September 29, 2011
Exactly
TJ11 - September 29, 2011
Interesting thread.
To those who are annoyed that Al wants to put the 2011 Cubs in the rear view, remember that Al had to endure more of the badness (watching games, referring fights on BCB, etc.) than any of us. We could take a break for a couple games. We could switch to CSI when Rodrigo Lopez pitched or when Ramon Ortiz was warming up. We could read a book or take a walk when SenorGato went all SenorGato. Al couldn’t.
However, Al, I think you should ease off on those of us who do want to discuss Cubs issues. Just as we need to realize that you had to endure more, you should realize that we had to endure less — and that we might not be ready to forget about 2011. I know it’s in your nature to be the optimist and only really dissect the negative when you think it’s productive. But not all of us are wired that way.
Last point: Can we all agree that it’s a little goofy to be mad that Ricketts hasn’t done something big — fire Quade, hire a GM, announce the deportation of Koyie Hill and Blake DeWitt — less than 24 hours after the final out? He did fire the team’s longtime GM like six weeks ago.
elgato - September 29, 2011
*refereeing fights
elgato - September 29, 2011
Thank you, el.
A voice of reason.
I understand people want to discuss the issues facing the Cubs. So do I.
But the shrill calls for changes to happen RIGHTFREAKINGNOW, less than 24 hours after the season has ended? Not so much.
Al Yellon - September 29, 2011
Only one person was clammoring for that, though
Craig in South Bend - September 29, 2011
TJ?
i always read him as one of those programs that try and hack captchas….QUADE!!!! RICKETTS!!!!!
epsilon - September 29, 2011
I stand by my opinion!!!!!!
But I did not see why we should not talk about the cubs….
TJ11 - September 29, 2011
That was really only one person, though.
Even the people like Nunya — who was more ready to discuss the Cubs than other teams — chided TJ for being too critical too soon.
elgato - September 29, 2011
I'm not sure who's more over the top here...
TJ with his drumbeat of FIRE QUADE YESTERDAY, or Al with his OMG EVERYONE STOP FREAKING OUT.
santoswoodenlegs - September 29, 2011
I can only hope they hire a real GM and manager soon.....
TJ11 - September 29, 2011
You're never going to get me to feel sorry that Al "had" to go to Wrigley 81 times this season
And for the record, those of us who are annoyed with Al aren’t annoyed because he wants to put the season in the rear view. We’re annoyed because he’s getting all bent out of shape because some of us want to discuss the Cubs, in a game recap thread, less than 24 hours after the season.
Nunyabidness - September 29, 2011
Dude.
You really need to dial back the combativeness. I wasn’t trying to get you to “feel bad” for Al. And, to your second point, I did say this:
In other words, I FREAKING AGREE WITH YOU.
elgato - September 29, 2011
Wasn't trying to be combative, simply trying to clarify the reason I and I think others were annoyed with Al
It wasn’t that he wanted to move on, it was that he was getting pissy that others didnt
Nunyabidness - September 29, 2011
Oh, baloney, Nunya.
When you start out a post saying “You’re never going to get me to feel sorry for Al,” you’re not being combative?
elgato - September 29, 2011
Well El, you started out the post with basically, "Al sure has a tough life, having to go the ballpark and blog for a living"
So no, you’ll never get me to feel sorry for him. I’d thoroughly enjoy that life.
For the record, I think Al does 99 percent of the time as well
Nunyabidness - September 29, 2011
Just to chime in.
Yes, I like my job and doing what I do. Sometimes, yes, it’s tough to see all these losses and write about them. I could go negative, sure. But that’s not my nature.
And all I wanted was a day where people could revel in other baseball, since the Cubs ended the 2011 season with a thud.
Not wanting to stifle discussion, only too much negativity AND the idea that changes have to come RIGHTFREAKINGNOW.
GIve it a little time. I think positive changes are on the way.
Al Yellon - September 30, 2011
Again, baloney.
I started out my post by explaining, in my judgment, why Al might be more sick of dissecting the 2011 Cubs than some others here. The rest of the original post, which you apparently ignored, was to explain why others — like you and me — might feel exactly the opposite.
Maybe you weren’t trying to be combative. I guess it just happens naturally.
elgato - September 30, 2011
i wont miss this season one bit
jesus christos - September 29, 2011
I'm not "turning the page" on this season...
I’m ripping it out of the freaking book and using it to wipe after having 3 bowls of chili for dinner.
santoswoodenlegs - September 29, 2011
Ouch
hope those pages are soft.
Craig in South Bend - September 29, 2011
Thank you Al
I don’t post a lot on this site, but I do come back every single day to read what you wrote and read the discussions going on for that day. Thank you for being so dedicated and a skilled writer. I truly look forward every day to seeing your opinions. Have a fantastic winter!
MBlum876 - September 29, 2011
"Amazing Night of Glory"?
This headline reads like it was translated from another language.
vonde6 - September 29, 2011
Epstein and Beane said they'll probably stay where they're at. And Yankees Pres. said Cashman must stay.
That means the search for a Cubs’ GM will bring someone fresh, as it should be. But for all those who wanted one of those names, bear in mind the following. Lots of cash, more than most franchises have, the signing of a star LF, the signing of stellar starters and all those fail with an epic collapse, especially in pitching. Hendry and the Cubs? No. Epstein and the Red Sox in 2011. Meaning? There are no magic answers.
Amazing games last night. Atlanta and Boston are out. Now all that is left for me to be happy is to see the Cardinals go the same route.
Fraggin Judge - September 29, 2011
Same here
Hoping to get some tix for some playoff baseball out here in teh desert. Have to tip the cap to Kirk Gibson and what he’s done out here. Worst to first. I guess it can be done!
BigJohnAZ - September 30, 2011
With all the big names staying where they are at I am worried we will get another Hendry type.
Someone who will need more time to see what he has in Quade. More time will be wasted.
Will this happen? Maybe, maybe not….But its possible.
That iswhy I would like Ricketts to take it out of the realm of possibility.
TJ11 - September 29, 2011
Disagree with all of
With all the big names staying where they are at I am worried we will get another Hendry type. Someone who will need more time to see what he has in Quade. More time will be wasted.
No connection at all.
Hammer - September 29, 2011
bad reply to TJ
Hammer - September 29, 2011
Then we disagree.....which is fine....
TJ11 - September 29, 2011
Kinda OT
I don’t think it qualifies for a collapse, unless you count the head to head losses with the division leader late in the season, but the White Sux were picked by a fair amount of people to win the AL Central and only won ~1 more game per month than the Cubs.
I know, small consolation for a total shit season on the North Side, but I have something to fling back at the South Siders when they ask me how many years it’s been since the Cubs have won a WS. I also reply that, yes, in the last 93 years, they have won one more than the Cubs, whoopty-doo! lol
BigJohnAZ - September 30, 2011
This comment is being added...
… for the sole purpose of not having this post finish with 666 comments.
Al Yellon - October 1, 2011
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