Archive for the ‘observations’ Category

Ricketts should keep eye on the ball

Tom Ricketts is a smart, likeable guy. He talks a good game for the most part, but most of what I hear lately has very little to do with winning baseball in 2010. 
I heard a Lou soundbite from the Cubs Convention: ‘We have a good team up here in Chicago’ he said. And Lou is [...]

January 20, 2010  Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,   Posted in: Hot Stove, Jim Hendry, Lou Piniella, Ricketts family, Team Ownership, lineup, observations, players, playoffs  No Comments

Dawson the big draw at Cubs Convention

With the 25th annual Cubs Convention next week, I am struck by who the most exciting, most anticipated player in attendance will be. No, it won’t be a big star from last season or a high profile acquisition for this coming season. No, the biggest player appearance will be from a guy who hasn’t played for [...]

January 10, 2010  Tags: , ,   Posted in: Team Ownership, awards, observations, players, roster  No Comments

Ryne Sandberg is being groomed

Cubs Hall of Fame second baseman Ryne Sandberg is certainly being groomed for the big chair. Question is, whether he will get a shot to manage in the major leagues in a Cubs uniform. At first glance timing may appear ideal with Lou Piniella in his final year as manager and Ryno now being assigned [...]

December 8, 2009  Tags: , , , , ,   Posted in: Lou Piniella, Minor League Baseball, Team Ownership, biz of baseball, game of baseball, observations  No Comments

First Signing for 2010 Cubs Must Be Owner

The 2009 Cubs were a major disappointment by nearly any measure. They didn’t hit, they didn’t field, even the Cubs vaunted pitching staff faltered. The team sustained major injuries, fought on and off the field, and was generally unlikeable. One of the main causes of this (that is controllable) is the lack of leadership at [...]

October 19, 2009  Tags: , , , ,   Posted in: Team Ownership, biz of baseball, observations  One Comment

Another thought on Milton Bradley

The struggles of Milton Bradley are well documented. However something occured to me as I listened to Talkin’ Baseball on ESPN Radio with Bruce Levine – arguably the best baseball talk show on the radio. Today Bruce’s new co-host Jonathan Hood related some comments that apparently came from Bradley’s mother. She had alluded to Milton’s young son [...]

September 26, 2009  Tags: , , , ,   Posted in: controversy, observations, players  3 Comments

Tommy Bleeds Dodger Blue

Happy 82nd birthday today to a classy guy, Tommy Lasorda.
Growing up in the 70’s, any fan of baseball had to appreciate Lasorda’s Dodgers even if they weren’t your team. I was a Cubs fan through and through, but Bill Buckner was my favorite player and he came from a top-shelf organization, the LA Dodgers. They [...]

September 22, 2009  Tags: , , , , ,   Posted in: observations, oldschool, on this date, rivalries  5 Comments

Bradley Gone Despite Budget Cuts at Newspaper

I bet Milton Bradley would have preferred Bruce Miles would have just stayed home.
Earlier this season, management at the Daily Herald decided to stop/limit their Cubs beat writer, Bruce Miles, from travelling with the team. Newspapers are under pressure to cut costs, but when coverage is affected, I think really calls into question a paper’s ability [...]

September 21, 2009  Tags: , ,   Posted in: observations, players, the media  No Comments

With Cubs Season Fading, Bears Looking Good

The St. Louis Cardinals are playing like the ‘27 Yankees. The Wild Card leading Colorado Rockies have won 9 of their last 10 games, now threatening the Dodgers for the NL West division. So now it appears the Cubs would have to basically win out to challenge the Wild Card, whether that be the Dodgers [...]

September 11, 2009  Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,   Posted in: Chicago, game day, observations, playoffs, standings  No Comments

Kevin Gregg versus Kerry Wood

In April I tried to give now former Cubs closer Kevin Gregg a chance to prove himself. But instead by June he validated all of my original concerns – the guy just isn’t a “winning” closer. He has given up 12 home runs in the closer role, for an average of a hefty 1.9 per 9 [...]

August 18, 2009  Tags: , , , , , , ,   Posted in: Lou Piniella, game strategy, lineup, observations, players, stats  No Comments

Now is the time for the Cubs

With Geovany Soto due back in the lineup tomorrow after his oblique injury, this Cubs team needs to make their move. Finally after an odd season of ups and downs, injuries and Cubs “occurances”, the 2009 Cubs need to put their head down and play baseball to the level they should. I’m a believer in numbers [...]

August 6, 2009  Tags: , , , ,   Posted in: observations, players, playoffs, rivalries, schedule, standings, stats  No Comments