Cubby-Blue

HAPPY... HARPY... HARPER New Years, Cubs.

Sorry.
Except for the Bears, this Bryce Harper thing seems to be the Headline of the End of 2018.
I'm actually still all in on let's just update the bullpen and I'll be plenty happy with that.
There is some real anxiety and anger out there about this Hot Stove being sort of... WE'RE BEING LEFT BEHIND THE ONLY THING THAT CAN SAVE US IS HARPER. 
Sometimes I miss the days before the internet and the off season was just called "Football Season".
"Hot Stove" was something general managers talked about.
If an important trade happened, it showed up in about two column inches of black type on page 7 of the Sports Section.
If someone along the lines of Kendall Graveman signed, you wouldn't hear about it until Harry said something like, "... here comes Gruh... Grave-Man. The Cubs picked him up over the winter. He used to be on the A's and now he's here. Hey, Graveman spelled backwards is Name-Arg!"

But it's not then, it's now, and like I said there's Harper Angst all over the place.

Oh well, how 'bout them Bears?
I could not be happier for any human than I am for Kyle Long.
His first season, 2013, was Marc Trestman's first, and the 8-8 record that year would be the best on any Bear team Long played for.
Until now.
It was so painful to see him head to the DL at the start, and extra super sweet to see him come back just in time for the playoffs.
Yesterday's impressive 24-10 W to knock out the Vikings was amazing.
Yeah I was screaming at the tv when Trubisky was running with the ball at the end there.
Had he gotten hurt, I can't imagine the Collective Scream.
The injuries that did happen were to wide recievers - Anthony Miller with a shoulder (he dislocated it in September, didn't need surgery and was back after a week off), and Taylor Gabriel with a rib injury (luckily that's not painful or anyth... WAIT IT IS TOO!)
And the defense is just so damned good.
It's so great that the offense has the great line, amazing backs and an actual QP with talent, promise and brains.
But nothing makes me happier than this Bears D.
I just looked at the Pro Football Reference Bears Team Encyclopedia page.
See the top 12 players with their pics up top?
7 are from the '85 Superbowl team.
Then Butkus, Urlacher, Briggs, Forte, and Olin Kreutz.
Hard to argue with those names, but I bet there's a re-structuring of that list in the near future.
And I've got nothin' but confidence in their chances come next week.
When they play the Eagles at Soldier Field in the Wild Card game.
Playoff football.
I completely forgot your face.

Okay.
Happy New Year everyone.
And Go Bears!

The Cubs and Bryce Harper. What's a Hot Stove without a bunch of rumors?

This Hot Stove has been quiet.
Too quiet.

So Gordon Whittenmyer reported that the Cubs management spoke with Scott Boras for OVER 3 HOURS during the winter meetings. And they said hey man, before you have Harper sign with some other team, give us a call so we can create payroll space.
Wow that's crazy, isn't it?
I bet no other team said anything like it, and I also bet that if Mr. Boras called tomorrow and said Harper's going to another team, the Cubs would um.. well you know... create.. payroll space in ummm.. hey wait.
Scott, how much time can the Cubs have to do that?

But that's what this time of year is all about, wacky rumors.
The other day the Cardinals signed Andrew Miller, the formerly unhittable lefty stud Cleveland reliever.
While the Cubs signed some guy from Oakland.
When I heard about the Miller trade... just the way everyone's talking about the Cubs lately, I figured if the Cubs had signed Miller, everyone would be saying what a dumb signing.
"Miller's just another Morrow who's gonna blow out an arm next year."
But since the Cardinals signed him... OH MY GOD the Cubs have to do something!!!

I don't disagree that the Cubs have to do something.
For the bullpen.
And I promise they will.

Will they sign Bryce Harper?
No idea.
It's crazy time in the Hot Stove, and that's all I know.

Oh wait, it's also time to say Happy Holidays to you all.
And to thank you for stopping by.

Blast from the past: Daniel Descalso. The newest Cub.

This post is from May 11, 2011.
The Cubs lost to the Cardinals 4 to 6 (box), Daniel Descalso was playing third, and played a big part in the Cardinal win.
I even call him a son of a b!tch.
It was Zambrano vs Carpenter, I was there with a camera.
Awesome times.
Anyway, to whatever the opposite of fanfare is, the Cubs signed Daniel Descalso (although supposedly the Cards were after him too, so THERE!)
They're also looking at Troy Tulowitzki along with 10 other teams.
Well... SOMEbody's gotta play 2nd until Addison Russell returns, or keep playing there if he doesn't.
Or something.
Lately, all the rumors for all the sexy trades don't have our favorite team attached.
And some rumors have teams like the one on the South Side talking with a "generational player" (you know who I mean) and... you don't want to even think about that.
So, I won't.
This hot stove seems like a hot mess right now, right?
But as a reminder of what it was like before Theo, read on...

If we have to watch Koyie Hill start behind the plate for the entire time it takes Geovanny Soto to recover from his strained groin, well...I'll do a really mean drawing!
How's about that, Cubs management?

During this, our season of meager expectations, I've been relatively content because I just like most of these guys. 
But Koyie Hill is that guy who... if you look really close at his baseball card there is fine print at the bottom that reads:
*Do not expect this man to do anything right. 

It was the first gorgeous Wrigley night of 2011, and I arrived just as the Cubs took the lead in the bottom of the 1st.
And while that was fantastic, it was also an inning where the Cubs left the maximum.
Chris Carpenter had given up 4 singles and 2 walks - he's one of those guys you want to get to early before he settles down - and he was clearly on the ropes.
And the bases are loaded as Koyie Hill walks up to the plate.
Of course, he swings at the first pitch.
The sound his bat made upon contact was a "doink", and the ball politely went about 95 feet into the waiting glove of a 3rd baseman named Daniel Descalso (Daniel would become a little more well known before the game ends).
 

Bring me Welington Castillo. 

In the 7th, Koyie would prove equally inept when he couldn't handle a fabulous Fukudome throw that woulda cut down...well here he is, on his knees looking for the ball he just dropped while Nick Punto scores.

Bring me Welington Castillo.
Before the game starts tonight.

Anyway, you probably watched.
The Cubs tie it late and bring in Kerry Wood. Kerry's not on at all, Pujols singles, Holliday walks, Berkman flies out which moves the runners, Quade decides to load 'em and intentionally walks Molina, Punto makes out#2, and then that guy playing third I'd never heard of steps up to the plate.
And it felt really good because everybody was on their feet and it got loud and electric and it was Kerry and the defining moment of the game and that son of a bitch Daniel Descalso hit a single and ruined everything.
I mean, that place popped like a balloon, and in the 9th even though Carlos Pena was on base with Starlin Castro up and 2 outs, you knew nothin' was gonna happen.

Welington Castillo.

Here are more shots...

Darwin Barney, just another man left on base.

The guys in the scoreboard were watching the Bulls kick some Hawk bootay.

Alfonso Soriano made some of the best plays I'd ever seen him make. Unfortunately, he balanced them out with a couple bad ones and man, do people like to boo him.

Boo.

Matt Holliday strikes out.

Poor Zambrano had some pretty awful D behind him.

Starlin Castro's bloopy and fabulous single to right that scored the tying run.

And as I watch aging Alfonso Soriano, this is a sign I could not agree more with.

Okay, tonight it's 2-2 Jake Westbrook vs. 1-4 Matt Garza, and... BRING ME WELINGTON CASTILLO!

Last thing, worthy opponent Tony LaRussa has some kind of shingles thing or something. Get well, Tony. You're one of my favorite guys to hiss at.

 

 

 

Finally. Lee Smith is a Hall of Famer.

Maybe you were expecting this.
I wasn't.
I'm actually not a fan of the Hall of Fame ever since they let Ron Santo dangle for 31 years before electing him.
It's politics and bullshit as much as talent.
And they've blown by Lee Smith so many times I gave up.
So I was A) caught by surprise and B) absolutely thrilled to hear the news that he'd been elected.
Maybe the Hall is changing how they pick or done something new I've chosen not to follow for the reasons above.
Anyway, it's huge and deserved and a good thing.
Finally.
Last February I did this painting and stuck it out on social, and a friend in advertising, Joy (I hope she doesn't mind this little story and photo), reached out and said she actually knows Smith, was going on a trip out to Sloan Park and would I want this painting signed?
ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!!!


Our deal is this: she'd get the painting signed and I also gave her another piece of paper to have Mr. Smith sign, and in return I'd do her a Smith painting on that piece of paper.
You guys know how often I tell you how busy I am?
Well, she and I STILL haven't gotten together, and I STILL haven't done her painting.
And I STILL haven't gotten the painting framed.

Luckily the holidays are coming and I'll get a break from work and be able to fix this situation.
Joy if you read this... sorry I'm such a boob and we'll HAVE to meet for joe or something within the next couple weeks.
Once we do and I get the other painting painted, I'll post.

Okay, what other surprises?
Management is doing everything in their power to lower our collective expectations on who they may sign this winter.
Jed Hoyer actually just did a little story with ESPN saying the Cubs are interested in an old guy with playoff experience who can help with club leadership like David Ross.
You and I weren't totally privy to Ross's leadership in the clubhouse, but we heard some of the stories and yeah there's no doubting he had a huge impact that way.
But he also hit really important homers and was really good behind the plate including making Jon Lester's lack of throwing-to-first-base ability sort of moot. Because Ross would throw guys out.
Anyway, the fact that looking for an old guy is a story on ESPN shows A) how desperate we are for news of anything about Cub trading and B) they're managing expectations.
All that said, last winter I was happily VERY surprised by the signing of Yu Darvish (and still think you're nuts if you believe that he's already a bust without seeing what happens this next season).
And all that said again, we still might be surprised by Theo and more importantly Mr. Ricketts.
I'm choosing, however, to follow Theo's lead and not expect players like Harper.
I lost my mind 10 years ago screaming that the Cubs needed to sign Jake Peavy.
I'm wiser now.
If the Cubs sign somebody huge then great.
Otherwise, take care of the pen.

Brandon Morrow had minor elbow surgery a month ago.

Back on November 1st, Brandon Morrow had "minor" elbow surgery.
Cleaned up some cartilage.
Interesting what "minor" means for a Cub who throws baseballs a hundred miles an hour.
They say he'll probably miss the early part of 2019.
Does that mean April? May?
May is a nightmare month with the Brewers, Cards, Phils, Nats, Reds and (I can't wait for this)... the Astros.
I expect that "early" next year is when there's going to be pressure up the wazoo for the Cubs, given the end of last year.
Nobody's gonna be allowed to say, "Chill man, it's only April."
They'll get called on the carpet, and it won't be pretty.
So Brandon... please heal as fast as you can.
We all learned what a loss in April can mean in October.
And to me, the bullpen is the headline this winter.
I am weary of people talking about Bryce Harper.
Yeah, that would be great, but it would be way greater to get some arms.
The Brewers pen... those guys go on the offensive rather than the defensive when they bring in their pen.
Pedro Strop is truly awesome, but really the only guy I feel "on the offensive" with is Carl Edwards Jr, and that's only been about 15% of the time with him.
Last year, I got to the point where if his first pitch was a ball I'd be screaming to get him out of there.
But I've also seen him be unhittable.
So... HEAL Morrow.
This is not "minor" at all, dude.

You heard about Luis Valbuena and Jose Castillo.
Horrible.
"...bandits place or throw objects on highways to force vehicles to stop or crash so they can rob the occupants."
I can't lose the pictures in my head of these guys digging through a car wreck to rob the dying.
Disgusting.
Awful.
And I'm so sorry for them, and I guess all the other people it's happened and will happen to.

I can't leave you with that.
Oh, so Paul Goldschmidt.
I'd do anything I could to get out of those gross Diamondback uniforms too.
Even if it meant going to the Cards.
He's supposed to be a fabulous guy and the former face of the Dbacks, this Mr. Goldschmidt.

I can't wait to hiss at him.

The Day the Cubs' Derrek Lee broke his wrist.

It seems like everywhere I read, there are unhappy Cub Fans.
The Cubs aren't doing enough, where's the big trade?
WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN?
Sometimes I think maybe they're just new to Cub Fandom, or maybe they just forgot what it used to be like.
Anyway, since I'm in NY shooting 12 hour days and don't have time to do something new, I'll post some oldies that make me laugh but are... from the Days when the Cubs Sucked.
This is a story from 2006.
Be warned, it's quite profane.

The day I found out Derrek Lee had hurt his wrist I had a dentist appointment.
The Lee story was in the paper, but they weren't saying how bad it was yet - there was "nothing conclusive".
So...not in the best mood as I walked in.
My dentist is truly a great guy and friend since I moved to Chicago, he knows I'm a giant sissy in the Chair, and I demand as much novocain as insurance will pay for.
So after a little drilling or whatever, I always leave there with my entire head completely numb.
I was parked facing south on Lincoln just a couple blocks north of Fullerton.
When I parked there was no traffic.
When I came out it was a nightmare - some construction going on towards Fullerton.
But it was nice out so I put the top down, which I would regret later.
I'm now attempting to join this southbound crawl.
Traffic would go 1 mph, then the light would turn red waaay down the street and the crawling would stop.
Goes on for a serious 6 minutes and nobody's letting me in.
Finally, this woman appears to stop, but in reality she just hasn't seen me, so she hauls ass to move 3 feet to block me in.
Now I figure maybe my blinker's not enough, and I angrily lurch the car out a foot to state my intention.
Well, who knew there was a bike path there?
The second I moved, a 10-speed guy all decked out like Lance Armstrong comes FLYING from behind me, just missing the sticking-out front left corner of my car. 

We were both lucky he wasn't killed.
He slams on his breaks and turns around, rightfully pissed.
He yells, "You STUPID ASSHOLE MOTHERFUCKER!"
Wow, I really was stupid, and my top is down and everyone in the southbound crawl is staring.
Finally a guy actually stops to let me in, and I quickly decide to do a U-turn instead of getting in the southbound crawl.
But in the middle of my u-eey... HOOOOOONNNNKKKK!
A guy coming the other way slams on his breaks while I do the same.
"MOTHerFUCKing ASSHOLE!" the guy flips me off as he goes around me.
Man, I am having a bad day.
I complete my U-turn and start heading north.
I get about 4 cars up the road and a guy stopped in the southbound crawl yells as I go by.
He has no reason at all to be mad, except he's stuck in the southbound crawl and I'm not.
"PRICK MOTHERFUCKER," he screams, "THERES' NO U-TURN HERE!"

I finally lose it.

I stop even with his window, look him in the eye, and at the top of my lungs this comes out of my mouth: "FAAA EEWW MOW AH AH!"
I'd completely forgotten about the novocain.
Red faced with the top down, I drove home.
That, my friend, is a bad day.
And it only got worse...

Because on the long drive home came the news on the radio: Derrek Lee is going on the DL for a real long time with a broken wrist. The season is in shambles, the summer ruined.

Now my mood can't possibly get worse, and I had to stop at the Jewel to pick up some groceries.
When I was checking out, this old bagger guy puts blackberries into my bag, then crushes them with some oranges.
Then, novocain worn off, I took out my frustration on the guy.
This drawing captures the moment. 

Yeah.
I really did call him that.
I still see that guy once in awhile, but I won't apologize. 

Because he reminds me of that day, and he's still a boob.