Cubby-Blue

Cubs Week in Review: Sean Marshall, MLB.com, and The Flu

So Sean Marshall wins that coveted 5th starter role.
Just imagine being part of that rotation?
Apparently, he worked his tail off in the off season so he wouldn't be left off, and it paid off.
I was wondering what his theme song would be, and I think I have a good one.
The Clash.
"I fought the law (and the law won)".
I'm actually not a theme song guy, but this one rocks, it's fun, and it makes sense.

I like "The Law" as his nickname, too.
Len can say, "You won't get a hit here, Manny Ramirez. It's The Law".
Or at the start of a broadcast Pat can say, "Tell us about Sean, Ron." and Ron replies, "Well Pat, nobody's been able to break The Law..."

The flu.
Rich Harden got scratched yesterday because of it.
Milton Bradley had to sit a spell because of it.
Seems like there have been others too.
I swear by Airborne.
You all know I'm afraid of jinxes, and with the flu it's no different so I'm knocking on wood when I say I haven't had the flu forEVER.
I travel alot, I'm in meetings alot, we have kids sleeping over alot... plop plop fizz fizz oh keeping the flu away is fun, it is.
It even says on the package it works in "sports arenas", and I'm sure that would include clubhouses of professional sports teams from Chicago.

MLB.com.
I got the subscription.
Another guy at work, Bill Cimino, he's got the same deal for the Blackhawks.
They're all hooked up in hi-def, and it's as clear as a movie on your i-pod, only bigger.
(Of course lately he's been thinking there's something wrong with the picture every time the Hawks give up another goal but...)
MLB.com is about to come out with the hi-def player, and if it's as good as the Hawk's it'll be amazing.
Actually, it already is - the picture's a little soft but I can't believe I can get every game (every team), choose the announcers I want to hear, do my own replays...now that's what I want my computer to do.
I got it yesterday, and it's all busy at work but I turned it on for a minute and right when I did Reed Johnson took a high fastball out of the park.
So of course I'm thinking this thing is good luck, too.
Get it if you've got the hundred bucks (for a yearly subscription).
That's alot of cash, but well spent I think.

Crane Kenny's March Madness

Did you see the list of stuff Crane Kenny put out there regarding Wrigley Field?
They're all in a story by Carrie Muskat.
Lets look at a couple...
Retiring good ole' #31 is a good idea - Greg Maddux and Fergie Jenkins will get their own flag on May 3rd.
Awesome, and I hope I'm lucky enough to be there for that.
Looking to the Blackhawks for ideas on how to make Wrigley a better hockey rink is a good idea, but taking their ideas and applying them to baseball maybe not.
Specifically, whatever the Hawks did with jumbotrons.
Crane is aware of the uniqueness of Wrigley - he even says so in the story.
But he kinda hints that they're maybe thinking some more "information" should be available at Wrigley.
(again from the story) "On the one side, you have a great number of fans who are fantasy players who crave statistical information," he said, "and our hand-operated scoreboard doesn't provide much, particularly about the other games that are occurring, and there's no replay capability."
So, that means if you're busy looking at statistical information and scores from other games rather than watching the Cubs play, you'll sure need that jumbotron to replay the play you just missed because you were looking at that other stuff.
Am I just being an old stick in the mud?
I don't think so - I like to go to the park and watch the game, that's all.
So while I understand the talk, I just hope it doesn't happen.
You want all the stats and other scores, get an i-phone.
Okay...concerts at Wrigley.
I know it messes up the field, but I do think this is cool.
It would be alot cooler with something maybe a little more compelling than Elton and Billy, but to be able to see a concert outdoors in a Chicago neighborhood is just a unique and potentially wonderful experience.
The indoor/outdoor bar next to the Harry statue.
This is so common sense I cannot believe they haven't done it yet.
Crane talked about this at the convention, and it should be another one of those pretty fun but  too-crowded-to-go-into bars for before/after games.
And a great place for rain delays.
Lets hope the bathrooms are better than Bernie's.
There's more stuff to talk about - mostly the sale of the team, but this post is too long already.
Overall, however, I think there are some good things going on at my favorite park.

"The Nod" from Lou Piniella

There's still tons of time this spring.
If I counted right, and that's not in my basic skill set, there are 19 days left til the Cubs open in Houston on April 6th.
19 days for Lou to make nods.
Lately there's been a big flap about Derrek Lee's bat, how he's not hitting this spring and had a bad 2nd half last year.
But trust me, Micah Hoffpauir is not going to get the nod as the starting first baseman.
That nod will stick with D, while Micah can realistically hope for the nod to make the bench because Lou has pretty much given the nod to Micahs' bat.
Big Z gets the nod to be the opening day starter.
It sounds like Sean Marshall will get the nod as the 5th starter, while Jeff Samardzija won't.
And now Jeff has got to work to get the nod to make the bullpen, or maybe he gets the nod to go start in Iowa.
It's up in the air about who gets the nod as closer - either Carlos Marmol or Kevin Gregg.
Mike Fontenot, we're all pretty sure, gets the nod at 2nd.
Aaron Miles probably gets the nod as the all around infield backup, and perhaps spelling Ryan Theriot (the guy who got the nod real early 2 years ago) a little more so Theriot doesn't fade at the end.
Then there's this guy Corey Koskie who used to be a starting 3rd baseman mostly for the Twins and a guy who could probably have more power backing up Aramis Ramirez.
But he's also coming back from a wicked case of post concussion syndrome.
So he gets the nod as this year's Chad Fox, who was the guy (and still is, I think) trying to come back from all those Tommy John surgeries.
Tommy John Surgery, of course, got the nod as the go-to surgery for pitchers with elbow problems after Tommy had that surgery way back.
The nod to start behind the plate goes to all-star Geo Soto, while backups Koyie Hill and Paul Bako battle for the backup nod.
Reed Johnson wants really badly to get the nod as the everyday center fielder, but he bats righty.
Mostly, Lou gives the nod to those who bat lefty, like Kosuke Fukudome.
It sounds like a rare case of the double nod here.
Alfonso Soriano gets the nod as the leadoff guy, Aramis of course got the nod at third long ago.
And this year we have a triple nod winner: Milton Bradley gets the nod as this year's crazy pot-stirrer, most scrutinized injury watch, and yes, biggest new hope.
And as you all know, about 101 years ago hope got the nod as the Cubs official mascot.
So there you go.
Lots of nodding for Lou to do.

Always After Me Lou-cky Charms

Ahhhh, what?
You expect me to be serious on St. Patrick's Day?
Lucky Charms were never one of my favorites, but I so remember thinking that leprechauns were real.
I'd be out back, looking in the garden, thinking maybe I'd catch one.
You Tube's got the first commercial in black and white.
Just listen to that accent.

I have no idea what the Cubs have done the last couple days - working.
Maybe somebody could catch me up?
In any case, here's hoping Lou has all the luck he needs this year, and you all have a Happy St. Pats.

(and by the way, as I was doing this it occurred to me that Lou does kinda have the pointy ears going for him...he does kinda look leprechaun-ish, if only in a totally overgrown way)

Lets Take A Sunday Drive To Wrigley Field

 It was such a nice morning and I had to go to work, so I put the top down and took a little detour to Wrigley just because I hadn't been by in awhile. And I figure some of you probably don't live in Chicago...
Started out pretty far west on Irving heading east, hung a right on Ashland, left on Grace, right on Southport, left on Waveland and then a lap around the park. I was gonna get out and explore, but somebody started honking while I was deliberating so I just hauled on into the office.

But right now at the beginning of this Chicago Spring, where we're still enduring the hellish remains of winter, there are few things here that can just flat out change your perspective than a glance at the prettiest (well, give it a month or so) park in the country.

And a place that we all hope will host a little history later this year.