karma for employing Dusty Baker

Can we leave the poor guy alone now?

and rightfully kill SS Alex Gonzalez who booted the ball? or Mark Prior for sucking? or Dusty "I can't believe people keep paying me to manage" Baker for leaving Prior out there too long?
I mean...someone should have to die for it. But I'm...umm..completely over it now.


Bartman exonerated by Alou admission
Then-Cubs left fielder says he wouldn't have caught NLCS ball
By Carrie Muskat / MLB.com

CHICAGO -- Steve Bartman can come out now. Moises Alou says he couldn't have caught the popup with which Bartman, a Cubs fan attending Game 6 of the 2003 National League Championship Series, was criticized for interfering.
First baseman Derrek Lee, who was playing for the Florida Marlins at the time, didn't think Alou could catch it either.

In case you forgot, here are the details: On Oct. 14, 2003, the Cubs and Marlins were playing in the NLCS at Wrigley Field. The Cubs led the series, 3-2, and had a 3-0 lead after seven innings. They were five outs away from getting to the World Series for the first time since 1945.

With one out in the eighth, Florida's Luis Castillo popped up toward the left-field stands. Alou, then the Cubs' left fielder, followed the ball, which floated toward the seats and was deflected by fans. At the time, Alou slammed his glove to the ground and insisted it was interference.

Fans pointed at Bartman, and he had to be escorted out of Wrigley Field for his own protection.

In an interview with The Associated Press this week, Alou said he's constantly reminded of the play.

"Everywhere I play, even now, people still yell, 'Bartman, Bartman,'" Alou said. "I feel really bad.

"You know what the funny thing is? I wouldn't have caught it anyway."

Nearly everyone at the game thought the same thing.

"I thought it was very questionable [that Alou could've caught it]," said Cubs TV broadcaster Len Kasper, who was on the Marlins broadcast team at the time.

"I don't think he would've caught it," Lee said. "I don't see how you could ever blame Bartman. He didn't lean over the fence over the field. To me, it wasn't even an issue. To me, he would've had to jump high into the stands."

The Marlins scored eight runs that inning and won the game, 8-3, and the series en route to their second World Series win.

Carrie Muskat is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

simply outstanding!

Sweet Lou has nothing on this guy!!

no longer a Cubs Prior-ity

shocking...simply shocking
(note: words should be dripping with bitter sarcasm)
well...see ya next spring training, Mark. Just in time to see you go back on the DL for all of next season.
Guess I'll go ahead and put away my Prior jersey shirt for another baseball season. In the drawer right next to my Kerry Wood and Greg Maddux shirts. Sure got a lot of use out of the three of those.




CHICAGO -- Mark Prior will not pitch this season after undergoing successful right shoulder arthroscopic surgery on Tuesday, and he could be back on the mound next spring, Cubs general manager Jim Hendry said.
Dr. James Andrews performed the procedure on the Cubs pitcher in Birmingham, Ala. During the arthroscopy, Andrews did a debridement of Prior's right rotator cuff, as well as repair the labral and capsular injuries in his right shoulder.

"It's not career-ending," Hendry said Wednesday. "[Andrews] felt optimistic that he would be able to pitch next year. A couple hours after surgery, [Andrews] wasn't going to give you a time frame. He didn't think there was anything significant to stop Mark from pursuing his career, and at his age, should not have a problem responding and coming back after probably a strenuous rehab."

The Cubs announced in a statement that Prior will not pitch this year, and will continue his rehab program this offseason. He got started on Wednesday in Birmingham, and the program will be overseen by Andrews and the Cubs' medical staff.

"Obviously, he had some things wrong physically and he's getting them corrected," Cubs manager Lou Piniella said. "This is a step in the right direction."

Prior, 26, has been on the disabled list at least once every year since he was called up in May 2002, but had never had surgery on his shoulder until now.

The right-hander pitched 10 1/3 innings this spring with the Cubs, and looked sharp at times, but his control and velocity was off, and he rarely hit 87 mph. He never reported any pain or problems with his shoulder in Spring Training, which was encouraging, and said he felt ready to pitch this season.

"There were no complaints in Spring Training at all about discomfort or sharp pain," Hendry said. "He wouldn't have been pitching the last couple times out if he had [problems]."

Wade Miller won the fifth-starter spot for the Cubs and the team optioned Prior to Triple-A Iowa. However, Prior never reported to the Minor League team and was placed on the disabled list with right shoulder fatigue.

Prior rehabbed at the Cubs' extended Spring Training camp in Mesa, Ariz., and his only outing there was two innings on April 12, but that was cut short because of discomfort in his shoulder. Since then, he was examined by orthopedic specialists Lewis Yocum and Andrews.

"I think we all felt it was time to have Dr. Andrews go in and scope and look around and fix up some things," Hendry said. "When you pitch in the Major Leagues, any time you go in and scope somebody's shoulder, you can find some things to touch up."

Prior was limited to nine starts in 2006 because of his shoulder. He hasn't been the same since a stellar 2003 season when he won 18 games and was named to the All-Star team.

"Obviously, when you have discomfort on and off in a continued fashion over a long period of time, you have to assume something is causing the discomfort," Hendry said. "There's no reason to ever think he didn't want to pitch. He was certainly disappointed when he didn't make the ballclub this year."

Hendry had not talked to Prior since the procedure, but talked to Cubs athletic trainer Mark O'Neal and Prior's agent, John Boggs. They were encouraged that Prior did not require anything more than arthroscopic surgery.

"He's 26 years old and obviously has a lot of years to get it right," Hendry said.

someone buy me a drink, the Cubs are in extras!

Well here it is in late April and you say one thing about the Chicago Cubs...they at least do their fans the favor of letting them know early in the year not to worry about buying playoff tickets.

To a sane person, writing off a team in April (especially in the craptastic National League Central) might seem extreme. But Cubs fans are anything but sane. And after seeing this team just drop to 0-3 in extra innings and 0-8 in one run ballgames (which I have seemingly seen all of), I'm ready for next year already. Maybe a new record in recognizing the trainwreck that is the season of Chicago Cubs baseball.

As I told my dad the other day, it is never too early in the year to to eliminate the Chicago Cubs from playoff contention. And I'm calling the Cubs season D.O.A. on April 24...months before I have to drink my body weight in Old Style as a I sit through a 10-2 drubbing at Wrigley from San Diego or Arizona.

I have yet to see the Cubs win this season...a dubious distinction that doesn't seem like it will be going away anytime soon. I believe I am at least 0-10 in parts or all of Cubs games. Their record is 7-11, so I've apparently got to stop watching all together.
Or buy a fucking Cardinals hat and join the dark side already...

tonight's game:
Cubs lead 4-0 at one point behind their "ace" Carlos Zambrano. managed to blow that lead by the top of the 8th, but only after stranding runners on second and third with no outs in the 7th.
then blew another couple golden chances in the 9th and it every inning after but failing to do anything against a mediocre Brewers bullpen.
then of course the Cubs with their utmost precision, crafted from 99 years of sucking, brought in some scrub from Triple-A named....not kidding here...Rocky Cherry who gave up a cheap homerun in the 12th to Cecil "I may not be as good as my dad, but I AM AS FAT" Fielder.

typical Cubs baseball...well I was going to say of the last few years but really the last couple of centuries.
build a meaningless lead, blow it late in the game with bullpen pitchers who by all rights should be forgetting to put BBQ sauce in the bag for my McNuggets, then squander the game away by going 0-for my parents' lifetimes with runners in scoring position.

meanwhile I flipped between Amy's Indians (who blew a 3-0 lead to the Twins but still managed to pull out a win in the 12th) and J's Tigers (who are beating the living hell out of the LAAAAAAAAAAAA Angels).
wow...must be a weird feeling for fans of teams that can win those games.

Is it too late to start the season over and...oh who am I kidding? the Cubs would still do their utmost to provide the kind of quality baseball that has been filling the ranks of Alcoholics Anonymous since 1909.

Better question (for Pop, Chief, J, and Justin)...is it too late to buy a Cardinals, Tigers, or Dodgers cap?

iconic pinstripes and idiotic predictions, part 1

Writer's Note: Due to how friggin long this is actually taking I had to divide the AL and NL...I'll get to the NL..well sometime.

Sorry....this is a tad later than I intended. But something very odd and unforseen has been happening to me lately....I've been working a real person's schedule. And it's been annoying in the way of my blogging and general computering. Thankfully this week looks like the end of it, and then back to my normal, shiftless life.

And here we go! My rankings of every MLB team by the coolness of their uniform: first by divisions, and then my top 5 in all of the sport. And yes, I'm writing about attractiveness of uniforms...little girly I suppose, but hopefully offset by the fact that its a sport. I'll follow this hopefully (but probably not) original idea with my lame and useless MLB predictions for the season ahead. But just barebone predictions. For much better and funnier predictions (even if I'm not in complete agreement) check out here.

American League East

1. New York Yankees


My feelings (ie: seething hatred) for the Yankees aside, these uniforms are simply and undeniably classy. That iconic logo has been virtually unchanged since the days of Ruth and Gehrig. The road unis are as classic and understated as the road grays can get.
Best: The classic pinstripes...the way pinstripes should look, NO team does it better. And the colors are about the best around.
Worst: Can't think of a single thing....well except the guys wearing them.
Bonus points: Positive. No idiotic third uniform just to sell more jerseys. Just the home whites and the road grays...the way baseball should be.

2. Boston Red Sox


Another team that is pure class. Home and road unis unchanged for most of the 20th and 21st centuries. Great lettering of the "Red Sox" and "Boston" on both. No silly alternate jersey that I know of (though there may be a Red jersey at times, anyone?)
Best: The script of the letters on the jersey, especially the "Boston" on the road grays
Worst: Not very much, with the possible exception of not enough Red Sox players with the always classic high socks
Bonus points: Positive. The very classy lack of players names of the back of their jerseys. Might be more challenging for Boston "fans" but sure as hell looks better.

3. Baltimore Orioles


Not one of my favorites at all...but someone had to finish third behind the Yankees and Red Sox in this otherwise hideous looking division. Awful colors but atleast it's a look that hasn't been messed with much over the years. Interesting b/c it is one of the only teams (maybe the only) that doesn't use some form of a letter on its hats...main cap is just an oriole.
Best: Eh, I guess I'd say it hasn't changed much...and it should be slightly admired if only b/c it was the uni of Cal Ripken Jr.
Worst: Those not very attractive colors on anyone. Well...except Cal of course.
Bonus points: Negative. Misguided insistence on wearing ugly black alternate jerseys...and wearing them far too often. And...the more I think about it, the more the bird on the cap thing bothers me.

4. Toronto Blue Jays


Relatively newer jerseys...but I'll try not to hold that against them. The colors that Toronto uses are very cool and they have some good things going. Unfortunately, the overuse of that Blue Jays logo (some even a part of the logo itself) takes away from what could be promising unis.
Best: Excellent road jerseys with sweet colors and script of "Toronto".
Worst: The use of the blue jay at the front of the home jersey logo. Along with the annoying and artificial shortening of the team name that a couple other teams are guilty of.
Bonus points: Negative. Overuse of black alternate jerseys instead of just using the classic whites and grays that everyone should wear. Though the black does look better with Toronto's colors than most.

5. Tampa Bay Devil Rays


Simply GODAWFUL. Not much I can say positive about these crimes against baseball, worm by a team that no one would miss if it were to suddenly disappear tomorrow. The vest jersey should go away, and NOW. Looks idiotic, even the minors should do away with these. Here's hoping the rumored name change for Tampa Bay happens and soon...because this name and these uniforms are better left where they belong...in hell. Which might be near Tampa, Florida now that I think about it.
Best: Umm...wow...no idea. The road unis are not as awful as the home vests. And they have sleeves...that's ALL I have.
Worst: Everything. But especially the lack of sleeves, the colors, and the stupid shortening of the name for no reason.
Bonus points: Negative (of course). We'll just give this to the alterate jerseys they insist on wearing but really, who cares?

American League Central

1. Detroit Tigers


Simple. Timeless. Classic. These three words mark a truly great uniform and the Tigers have them in abundance. The awesome Old English "D" is pure baseball. No ugly orange alternative jersey of some kind. Simple "Detroit" script on the road unis that is one of the better looking in the game. Not much more to say other than one of my favorite uniform in sports.
Best: The Old English "D" logo. Perhaps the best logo in all of professional sports. In the MLB it is a close race between the Yankees "NY" and the "D".
Worst: Well technically there is orange in the Tigers' colors...never a good thing. But the unis do a great job limiting the orange damage.
Bonus points: Positive. The timelessness of the jersey earns extra respect, to know that Marcus Thames (yes, a former Mud Hen!) is basically wearing the same home jersey as Tai Cobb...though Cobb wouldn't have been happy about it I guess.

2. Minnesota Twins


Perhaps a distant 2nd to the Tigers but a very good showing in a very strong uniform division. Simple and tasteful home jerseys with "Twins" written on it, good use of the pinstripes. Excellent road unis also with good use of the pinstripes. The regular hat logo is a pretty cool "M" logo but that have an awesome secondary logo which I'll get to here in a second. Overall good jerseys which will look even better when this team gets their new outdoor stadium and the light of day shines on them again.
Best: The pinstriped gray road unis are very cool. Good use of the "Minnesota" script on the front. Gray pinstripes are very tricky to pull off...there have been some ugly ones, including my beloved Mud Hens. But Minnesota makes these look good.
Worst: Anotrher team that makes WAY too much use of their annoying alternate jersey, this one a navy colored job that they will wear at home and on the road. Everytime I see the Twins lately they seem to be wearing these instead of the whites and grays. For shame....you goofy speaking Minnesotians (Justin: don't tell Jane I said that!)
Bonus points: Positive. Offsetting the stupid navy jersey (well almost) is the sweet alternate logo of the Twins, an interlocking "TC" representing the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul. So cool in fact that I bought a hat with the logo when I was at the Mall of America.


3. Kansas City Royals


The Kansas City Royals are finally not going to finish a distant third in the AL Central...well not in my uniform rankings anyway. You likely have forgotten what this team looks like unless you live in KC (and maybe even then) but at least losing ugly on the field doesn't have to look ugly thanks to some excellent home and road unis. Great colors, good scripts on both jerseys, a very cool logo...and (gasp!) even a alternate jersey that I don't despise.
Best: The road unis for KC are surprisingly cool with a nice script for "Kansas City" that matches the home "Royals". Of course I'm a bit biased towards blue, but the gray and blue look damn good together.
Worst: Not a whole lot except for the fact that I never get to see them b/c who would put a team as bad as the Royals on tv if they could avoid it. I could watch Royals broadcasts on my computer if I wanted...but I don't like the unis enough for all that.
Bonus points: Bonus. For the very cool crown logo on the sleeves of their uniforms which I believe is inspired by the crown on top of the Royals' scoreboard. Also for one of the VERY FEW alternate jerseys that I don't automatically hate. I was thinking it was just b/c its blue, but the Cubs's is blue and I HATE that one.


4. Cleveland Indians (vests)


Ok, could get into some serious trouble for this one if the girlfriend stumbles across it but here goes. Decent home and road unis that have good and matching scripts for the home "Indians" and road "Cleveland" (you'd be surprised at how often they don't seem to match). But the misguided (trying to be nice so I'm not cut-off forever) Indians also employ the worst logo in baseball (well there goes that) and a sleeveless number.
Best: The home whites are the best thing going for the Tribe (well, uniform wise...they have pretty nice digs) with a very nice "Indians" script. Excellent navy and red colors. They were featured in the brilliant Major League. And the Indians have been using a cool "I" alterative logo lately which I like a great deal (sense the groveling?)
Worst: And this is wear I get dumped...the worst thing about the Indians jerseys and hats is the ridiculously bad and really very offensive Chief Wahoo logo. The gf might like it, but I think it's long past time for the Indians to rid themselves of the red-faced, cartoonishly bad image of a Native American. Replace it with the "I" logo...or anything else for that matter.
Bonus points: Negative. The Indians have BOTH an alternate road (navy) and home (white and sleeveless with just the Chief Wahoo logo) jersey. NO excuse for that. They used to have a cool alternate home uni with the "I" logo on it instead of drunken smiling Indian but they must have thought it too PC.
wow...anyone got any single friends I could be set up with?

5. Chicago White Sox


I am clearly letting my bias as a Cubs fan show through, and the fact that I HATE the White Sox, but I never get excited about these unis. If they were in another uniform division they might be higher, but maybe not. I hate black. And on a baseball jersey, and especially as a baseball jersey, it looks ugly as hell. I suppose the White Sox do a fairly decent job minimizing the damage done by the black (well except for the hideous black alternate jerseys). The home jerseys are ok, though black pinstripes don't work as well as you might think. The have a pretty decent road jersey. And in fairness I should probably have them ranked higher than Cleveland and perhaps even higher than Kansas City....but did I mention that I really hate the White Sox.
Best: The road grays are not too bad (can you tell by now that I seem to be partial to road jerseys...which might explain my disgust with alterate road jerseys that way too many teams have) with a good "Chicago" script. Yeah...I think that's it.
Worst: Besides the douchebags that wear them? Not a huge fan of the black pinstripes but the obvious worst is the horrendous black alterate jerseys that the Sux....I mean Sox wear way too often.
Bonus points: Positive (I guess). Not really crazy about the interlocking "Sox" logo, but atleast it's been around for a long time (even since the Black Sox scandal!!..sorry, couldn't resist). And the white sock alternate logo doesn't suck that much.
God! Can I be done writing about the fucking White Sox now? Though I resisted taking the shot that White Sox fans can't even spell their team's nickname...oh look at that, guess I didn't!

American League West

1. Seattle Mariners


Well somebody had to finish first in the worst dressed division in baseball (followed closely by the NL East) and I guess that somebody is the Seattle Mariners. Yet another team where the road uni looks better than the home one. I actually like the Mariners' grays alot...maybe one of the better road uniforms. The home whites are ok though not at all interesting and kind of drab (not unlike the city of Seattle I'm guessing). Interesting nautical-inspired logo worn on the caps, one of the few that isn't a letter...just not sure that's a good thing.
Best: The road grays with a very nice "Seattle" script on the front. Cool use of the nautical logo on the "S" of the Seattle.
Worst: Once again a stunningly bad navy colored alternate jersey that the Mariners insist on using far, far too much. (WHEN IS THIS ALTERNATE JERSEY MADNESS GOING TO STOP!!! THERE SHOULD ONLY BE HOME WHITES AND ROAD GRAYS!!!!! GODDAMNIT!) sorry...had been holding that in for awhile.
Bonus points: Positive (but short term). Even though it's only for this season, bonus points for the cool anniversary patches featuring the Space Needle that the team has on all their jerseys.

2. Texas Rangers


My disgust for the entire state of Texas aside, these uniforms are decent enough, though about as distinctive and creative as a minor league team. Yet another one where the road uni looks cooler than the home whites but neither is bad, though nothing special either.
Best: The script on the home "Rangers" and road "Texas" is well done. And the "T" logo worn on the caps is a nice logo.
Worst: The Rangers are yet another team with TWO alternate jerseys...simply inexcusable!! The blue alternate jersey is not terrible (once again just cause I like blue) but they also have a horrible home sleeveless jersey. Only two things come from Texas...and the steers are not the ones wearing these awful things.
Bonus points: Negative. For the annoying Texas flag patch on the sleeves of these jerseys. No other team I can think of wears their state flag, so why should the Rangers, especially since they're not even the only team in Texas. Like I've said many times before, we should give Texas back to Mexico...just don't drink the water, Corey.

3. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim


Decent home and road jerseys, though nothing at all spectacular...not unlike the Anaheim organization. I was thinking of giving negative bonus points for the IDIOTIC name change of a few years back (you can't really be in two cities at once!! and your stadium is in Anaheim...so you are as well!! And as my elder brother would point out, there is only ONE team in LA, and they were blue), but since the uniform doesn't reflect a place name I couldn't.
Best: The Angel "A" logo topped with a halo which is on the hats and appears at the beginning of the "Angels" script is very cool and classic. Good for LAAAAAAA for keeping that logo in the face of stupid name changes...sorry. The logo is really the only distinctive thing about the home and road unis.
Worst: The lack of a city name of the road jersey...as far as I know the ONLY team in MLB without a city/state name of the grays. A slap in the face to the history and tradition of the game!...but, in their defense "Los Angeles of Anaheim" would look pretty damn stupid printed on the front of a jersey.
Bonus points: Positive. Very rare bonus for an alternate uni that I really like actually. Don't get me wrong, the Angels have another hideous white sleeveless job, but this red jersey is kind of retro and actually looks pretty damn good....proof that I can be openminded...well unless you're the Devil Rays.


4. Oakland Athletics


Another horrible case of the uniforms speaking for themselves...and they have absolutely nothing good to say for themselves. In Oakland's defense, nothing good can come of green and yellow as main colors (that's right, Packer fans...I said it!). But they also do NOTHING to help their cause. Fairly unoriginal and unattractive home whites and road grays. Normally I would give credit for the script on the front...but something about the "Oakland" and "Athletics" bothers me a great deal. So I have almost nothing good to say...
Best: I had to dig pretty deep for this one, but the alternate logo of an elephant balancing circus-like on a baseball is pretty awesome. No idea how an elephant got associated with the Athletics but its very old-school. There Oakland fans (if there are actually any)..something nice.
Worst: One the the worst uniforms worn by any team in professional sports and the single worst alterate jersey in baseball (and that's saying something!) is the godawful green and yellow alterate jersey worn by the A's constantly. Simply ugly and offensive...I'll move on b/c I could rage about these for hours.
Bonus points: Negative. Well I thought I was moving on, but I hate these green jerseys SO much that they get all the negative bonus points I can muster. God, Oakland! Take these damn things away and put them where they belong...in a beer softball league!!


Well there it is...the best (congrats Tigers and Yankees!) and worst (just leave baseball altogether Oakland and Tampa and take your godforsaken crimes against baseball with you!!) dressed teams in the American League. Stay tuned in the next few days for my review of the National League...you know, the league that actually still plays baseball. Sorry, couldn't resist...

Now for my lame and worthless predictions...just b/c I said I would.

AL East:
1. Boston Red Sox *division winner
2. NY Yankees (if they can actually find a starting pitcher)
3. Toronto Blue Jays
4. Baltimore Orioles
5. Tampa Bay Devil Rays (serves you friggin right!)

AL Central:
1. Detroit Tigers (with Perrysburg's Own Jim Leyland..like I could pick against them) *division winner
2. Cleveland Indians *AL wild card winner
3. Minnesota Twins
4. Chicago White Sox (which hopefully ends the managerial career of Ozzie Guillen)
5. Kansas City Royals (tough I know but at least you have those cool blue duds)

AL West:
1. Anaheim Angels *division winner (just b/c those green jerseys)
2. Oakland A's
3. Texas Rangers
4. Seattle Mariners

Playoffs:
ALDS:
Detroit defeats Anaheim, 3 games to 0
Boston defeats Cleveland, 3 games to 2
ALCS:
Detroit defeats Boston, 4 games to 2


bonus baseball funny:

this from a Jayson Stark ESPN.com writing about the recent Indians "home" series at Miller Park in Milwaukee:

Oh, and don't read anything into this. But more people showed up for the Indians' first game in Milwaukee (19,031) than attended six Brewers games in Milwaukee last April. Maybe they were hoping Willie Mays Hayes would show up.

Baseball's back...and so is my sports blog!!

Hey all. This posting will be a return to (and rededication of) my sports blog. This blog originally was designed as an online rant about all things Cubs (and other sporting thoughts when I'm too drunk/angry to write about the Cubs), but it morphed into just a normal blog and then fell out of use for the most part. But now this will again be a blog for sports (thanks to my pal J for showing me the proper use of a sports blog...hope this can be as good or as funny as his). Anyone interested (or bored) enough to read about other, less important, real life things can check out my blogs on my myspace.
Now onto the blogging!


HAPPY OPENING DAY to all!!!!

some random baseball thoughts to begin:

-news today has it that the Chicago Tribune corporation is being bought out by some real estate mogul and will see off many properties, including my Chicago Cubs at the end of 2007. 5-10 years ago this would have been universally celebrated by Cubs fans b/c the suits at the top of Tribune Tower (which is sweet by the way!) would be content to sell tickets and Old Style at Beautiful Wrigley Field (tradmarked) and not worry about the baseball horrors being commited on the field. But lately the Trib has been throwing (and sometimes wasting) money on this club. So some natural questions arise:
(1) Will the Cubs be bought be some crazy millionaire who will spend whatever it takes to win a World Series (think Mark Cuban)? Or will they be sold to some old, cranky asshole who just wants to fill seats and not lose too much $$$ (think Carl Pohlad)?
(2) Will whoever buys the Cubs be insane enough to want to leave the only reason to support the Cubs for more than 50 years, Wrigley Field? You would think not considering what a cathedral Wrigley is and how much of the Cubs identity is wrapped up into those ivy-covered walls. But the Yankees are leaving the "House the Ruth Built" and the Tigers left Tigers Stadium, and even Fenway Park was in danger at points...so who knows. But I hope to be long dead if/when it happens.
(3) Will the new owner cut ties with Tribune-owned WGN in favor of more gamea on the craptastic Comcast Chicago? No longer a huge deal with MLB.TV on my computer but it would still suck to lose all those games on WGN that I can get anywhere! It would suck almost as much as the movies and everything but Scrubs shown on WGN normally.
(4) Anyone wanna go in together with me to buy the Cubs? Wrigley, day baseball, hot girls in the bleachers...and think of all that free Old Style we could drink! All you would need is $500-750 million and we can be partners!

-Hey Joe Morgan....pleae just die already. I didn't think you could possibly get any worse...but I've gotta hand it to you, you found a way. Oh by the way, I forget, who did you play for? Did you win a World Series? Are you a Hall of Famer? Seriously...you could be a drinking game...drink anytime he says something stupid or talks about his overrated career. Of course you would be as dead as Joe Morgan should be.

-I'm not questioning anything or anyone that I actually know...but there do seem to be an awful lot of new looking Tigers hats around lately.

-The New York Yankees (aka: the Evil Empire) have long been by least favorite team in sports and an object of my hatred...but the Boston Red Sox are coming up quickly on the outside. As J has pointed out, Yankee fans can talk b/c they have all those rings to back them up. But one World Series in 80 years doesn't allow to be a raging asshole. Here's hoping the Toronto Blue Jays win the AL East and the Yanks and Sox are both outside looking in.

-Bought a sweet new baseball game, MLB 2K7, which looks as close to real life as any game I've ever seen. Very cool, though tough game. But it was almost ruined when they chose that annoying Fox studio chick...and then John Miller and Joe Morgan as the voices!! I can't get away from this no talent ass clown!

Well that's all I have for now. Another Zambrano melt down (this time against Corey's stupid, steriod-riddled Reds...have you seen Adam Dunn lately?) has taken the heart out of this blog.
Coming up: my own, worthless season preview (I know, the season started already but whatever) along with a Tharpe special ranking teams by their uniforms! (let the Adam is gay comments begin)