Cubby-Blue

My Favorite TV Show

No, not "Lost".
I'm talking about Cub games, the first of which is on March 31st vs. the Brewers.
If you recall, Brewer manager Ned Yost ended last season pretty much...lost.
Getting tossed from some pretty important games for them down the stretch - he seemed sort of unstable.
Sort of hoping he'll stay on that island because the Brewers scare me.

Okay, of course on Thursday night we're not thinking about anything but "Lost".
"WE HAVE TO GO BACK, KATE!"
What in the hell?
I cannot wait.

Cardinal Pitchers and Catchers Report. Well, Maybe Just Catchers.

It's only a couple weeks away, guys - when pitchers and catchers report.
Should be getting excited, right?
Man, not in St. Louis.
I'll paraphrase Phil Rogers in the TRIB yesterday: Mark Mulder won't set a timetable on returning from shoulder surgery #2, Chris Carpenter not back til at least July, Kip Wells is pitching for the Rockies, Matt Clement will attempt a comeback from shoulder surgery, and the only guys with experience are Joel Pineiro, Anthony Reyes and...Todd Wellemeyer.
Pineiro was 7-5 last year beating the Cubs 2 outta 3 tries, Reyes was 2-14 last year (I still think he's got promise, though), and Todd Wellemeyer?
You can buy his baseball card online for a quarter.
So, not so promising down there with the pitching.
And even worse for them is this (from Jeff Gordon of the POST DISPATCH): "The biggest problem is Albert Pujols’ elbow. The man cannot straighten out his right arm. This is not good news. As Derrick Goold notes, this injury has nagged him since 2003. Pujols opted not to seek surgical repairs on the offending ligament, given the lengthy recovery period required."
I know what you're thinking, Cub Fans, but don't.
Laughing long and hard and out loud would be classless and jinxy.
Besides, even without partner Walt Jocketty, pretty sure something not good for the Cubs'll come out of Uncle Tony's Stinky Bag of Tricks...

Valentine's Day Heads Up From Lou Piniella

I can still remember this: maybe like 2nd or 3rd grade my Mom gave me this little box of chocolates called the Whitman Sampler - the one with about 4 chocolates in it? And I decided to re-gift it as my own romantic Valentine to Real Pretty Cheryl With The Blonde Hair who I sat a couple rows behind in class.
I walked to her house, put the Sampler on her doorstep, rang the doorbell and hauled ass.
I hid in some bushes at a house across the street and sure enough, Cheryl answered the door and picked up the box of chocolates, looked around and then walked back inside.
That's when I realized A) I forgot the card part B) She'd never know it was me and C) Valentine's Day is stupid.

Here's an idea.
If I was FTD (or any giant flower company), I'd totally hook up with MLB and offer flowers in team colors for baseball fans to give to each other on "Pitchers and Catchers Report Day", which might give Feb 14th a little deeper meaning...
Those little disgusting "heart" candies could have messages like "Don't Trade For Brian Roberts" or "I hope Prince Fielder hurts his foot" instead of "Be Mine".
(I may have to re-visit this subject as the date gets closer...)

This illustration is in the February VINELINE, which just came out.
Always nice to know when things are gonna get started.
The first Spring Training game is a little further off, 35 days (70 Q-tips), March 1st vs. the Los Angeles Angels.

Get Even With Winter

Sick of winter?
Try this:

Go to Jewel, buy their fattest ribeye.
Walk into your back yard or back porch or whatever, fire up your grill.
Back in the kitchen, throw Lawry's lemon pepper+garlic salt+dried rosemary all over your steak.
Press it in with the heel of your hand.
Feel the beef.
Dash on some Lea and Perrin's.
Take a martini glass and fill it with crushed ice and water.
Fill your shaker up with ice as well, and use good gin.
Shake it violently, counting 30 shakes.
Use two slices of a pairing knife to cut a little canal of lemon peel.
Throw out the ice water and pour the martini.
Rub the white of the lemon peel around the edge of the glass, twist it over the top, throw it in.
Drag that and your steak out to the grill.

Hey...it's actually nice out here, isn't it?
Really cold gin is really good in really cold weather.
Throw on your steak and...
Now is the time.
Right when you can smell the sizzling beef.
Look up to the sky and...flip...it...off.

It's still only January, so I'd recommend repeating as necessary.
This little Winter Ritual never fails, and it's even more satisfying if there's actual snow coming down.
Then, you've got a functional reason to sport the Cubs hat.

ps: have you gone to this "Lost" website? Figured out these new characters and (I'm certain) vital clues?
Give it a minute to load.
I haven't done the whole thing yet, but after watching oh, maybe 4 minutes of American Idol last night the computer is waay better than tv.

Cubs Convention Vid

CubConv2008.mov

(First, I messed with every kind of video export, and this file is pretty huge but I couldn't bring myself to make it any worse-looking.
If this makes the page load WAY too slow pls leave me a message in comments and I'll put in one about half the size.)

So, the Convention.
I'm pretty old.
Nothin' like walking around a roomful of Cubs to put me right back at the kid's table.
We didn't mess with autographs, just ran around from place to place and looked and listened.
Saturday, the big day, Wyatt and I got all the way to the front door before I realized I forgot the neck-i.d. things you're supposed to wear.
"I'm so DUMB!"
Wyatt says, "Not dumb, dad - forgetful."
Okay, so we were late.
We went to this drawing-game with "legends" vs. "current" players.
One of the legends was Bill Buckner - I was totally amazed at the cojones since, well I can only imagine what some people might say to the guy.
Totally admire him for showing up.
Sunday, Em and I went to this q&a thing with young studs Tyler Colvin, Rocky Roquet, Jeff Samardzija, Director of Scouting Tim Wilkin, EVP of Player Personnel Oneri Fleita, and hosted by Dave Otto.
Of course Samardzija got the most questions, and one a little kid asked - do you still play football with your friends - got a pretty big laugh.
I couldn't think of any questions for Oneri or Tim, who both seem like no-nonsense, smart guys.
Anyway, the Cubs Convention is really fun, and you should go if you can.

Now, Pack vs. Giants.
It was warmer here in Chicago, and all I had to do was take out the garbage.
Got half way through our yard and just...dropped the bag.
Ran back inside.
That kind of cold is from a monster movie.
And Old Man Favre - he just looked like the monster ate him right up.
Now it's Brady vs. The Wrong Manning.
Damn.

From the Floor of the Cubs Convention. Literally.

The AWESOME folks at VINE LINE got me a couple passes to the Cubs Convention...
But I had a meeting, knew I was gonna be late, gave my digital to Sutter to take some shots.
I should have explained a little more about the camera.
There's this REALLY long, annoying delay between when you push the button and the actual picture is taken.
So, this might be Mark DeRosa's foot, or else it's probably, you know, Larry from Des Moines.
I got there about 6:20 or so, pretty much missed everything.
Saw Andre signing autographs.
Awesome.
We saw Tim Stoddard having a cold one at Kitty O'Shea's in the lobby (what is up with the no fine tasting Anheuser Busch products, Kitty?)
And on the way out I walked right past TRIBUNE Cubs writer Paul Sullivan.
You know, me being a member of the press and all (with the VINE LINE connection), I was gonna introduce myself.
"Hi Paul! Love your work, dude. Hey, you've probably seen my Cubby Blue illustrations right? Yeah ha haaa. Hey brother, can I buy you a beer..."
But instead I walked right by, then turned around and stared at him.
He pretended not to notice, but that's what you do when you think a stalker is staring at you, right?
Pretty sure my mouth was open too.
What an idiot.
Oh well, I'm about to round up Wyatt and get back down there.
A hundred cool things are happening today.
I'm bringing my video cam, so if I get some cool shots I'll post a little movie some time next week.
Oh, I almost forgot.
I go, "Sutter, what was the coolest thing tonight?"
He says, "When they introduced all the players, who you think got the biggest - by a mile - applause?"
"Derek Lee? Fonzie? Lou?"
"No" he says "Mark DeRosa."
I look around at all these weird people.
"You think these people are savvy to the Roberts thing, or was it just a bunch of women going ga ga?"
He says, "Oh they know...that was the message from the fans: Screw Brian Roberts. We've got DeRosa."
Yep, we do.
And of the whole team last year, I thought DeRosa was our mvp.
So, good for him, and good for this crowd at the convention.

ps: the carpet at the Hilton (or Hyatt or wherever this convention is) is actually that hideous...

Capitol Hill on Steroids:

I didn't watch, but read Jason Stark's blog as it was going on.
Read it if you have a minute - Stark's good.
Anyway, these professional government people, you do not want them pointing fingers at you.
You do not want them asking you questions.
This guy Lynch (appropriate name, right?), his legal take (paraphrased by Stark) on people taking steroids is pretty...legal sounding: using steroids to gain a monetary advantage!
Doesn't that mean like, stealing?
If I'm Roger Clemens, I'm worried about my legacy...being called a cheater...a liar.
Lynch's thinking means Roger ought to be worried about being a thief.
Gulp.
But it sounds like the Congressional guys are going to let the Baseball guys attempt to clean this up, unless you lied to them already...(pretend like I made a cough noise that sounded like "TEJADA!")
Yesterday, I opened the little fridge in my office for the first time since the Holiday break.
There were 2 guys in my office, and I thought somebody'd silently and deadly-ey cut the cheese.
It was awful.
But no - there was an old salad in the fridge, and man it was rank.
Reminded me of this steroid thing.
Selig and Fehr, they gotta get rid of this stink.
Okay, Cub Convention coming up, I can think about nicer things.
Like baseball.

If Only Tony Romo had OnStar Emergency Service

Say all you want about Jessica Simpson.
But that Giant D line absolutely overpowered, manhandled, and whupped the Cowboy offensive line.
And that's the reason Tony Romo didn't play so well.
Nothin' to do with Mexico or double d's or any article by US WEEKLY.
Oucheewaawaa, did they get beat.
I just heard Terrell Owens on ESPN radio, he said something like..."you guys can talk about his (Romo's) vacation, but that's not...WA...that's not...WAAAA...not FAIR...WAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"
Not often I laugh that hard when I'm stuck in morning traffic.

So, the Packers.
And their...fans?
I am so gonna hear it.
But if this plays out logically and it's Favre vs. Brady in the Bowl?
That'll be some good television.
Yes I'm a Bears fan and yes it's in my genes to dislike the Pack, but Brett Favre has earned some kind of elite status that no Packer in my lifetime has achieved.
And if you're a Bears fan and you can't acknowledge that, then well...you can't, I guess.
I just admire the guy.
So, totally looking ahead, but if it comes to a Pack/Pats Superbowl I'm pulling for the Old Man.

Carlos Zambrano: The Nicest Man In Town (In The Off Season)

That's right.
Saving poor little curious kittens...carrying groceries for old ladies...mowing Mrs. Gower's lawn when she's away taking care of her sick cousin.
These are the kinds of things our Carlos does in the off-season, to balance out the days when he's throwing 98 mph fastballs in the chin area of various Cardinals and Brewers.
The days when he scares the BEJESUS out of other men playing professional baseball.

Ahh, just kiddin'.
Thought I'd make up something nice instead of another mean painting about Roger Clemens.

By the way, if you're using the Amazing Do It Yourself Spring Training Counter Downer, you should have 96 Q-Tips in your holder thingy.

Roger Clemens and Brian McNamee Play Golf

Pretty cheap joke, but I couldn't resist.
Their taped phone call was uh, revolting.

Not alot going on today, except for the big trade maybe about to happen with the Orioles.
Supposedly Cubs get lefty leadoff 2nd baseman Brian Roberts for Sean Marshall, Sean Gallagher, and Ronny Cedeno, which right now looks like one Sean too many.
But lets see what happens for real and I'll talk to you then.

In the meantime, a word from the grave...

"Did you walk outside the last couple days?
Felt that Spring-like temperature?
The last time Chicago had that much of a freak warm spell in January was one hundred years ago.
The same year the Cubs last won the World Series."

(Acutually, I'd never have known except for an email from Annie Maim, who heard it on the radio.)
Once again, I think that's a good sign.