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.