My Thoughts on The Cubs

Yes, I am back for now posting about sports again. The layoff has been long and baseball's postseason picture has become clearer by the day. As we all know, the Chicago Cubs have had an awful season under manager Mike Quade. Carlos Zambrano had another meltdown, and hopefully never pitches for the Cubs again. The guy is a super talented pitcher, but his anger problems have been well documented on this team since he became the Ace of the staff in 2007. The Cubs made the first step torward respectability again by firing General Manager Jim Hendry. Hendry had been at the helm of the Cubs GM slot since 2002. Under Hendry, the Cubs won the NL Central in 2003, 2007, and 2008, but suffered unexpected postseason exits every time. Now that Hendry is gone, I will tell you what I would want to see with the Cubs come 2012.
 1. I Want A GM Who has put together a title winning team.
 I think this is imperative that the Cubs hire a guy who has put together a title winning team?. Why? Because the Cubs have the longest title drought in Sports history! I would like to see the Cubs go after a guy like Brian Cashman or Theo Epstein, two guys who have experience in putting together championship teams. Epstein built that 2004 Red Sox team that shocked the world in 2004. Facing elimination down three games to none in the American League Championship Series to the New York Yankees, The Red Sox became the first team in baseball history to win four straight games to go on to the World Series! The Red Sox then made quick work out of the St Louis Cardinals, pulling off a four game sweep to win the World Series! Epstein was also on board when the Red Sox retooled with Florida Marlins castoffs Josh Beckett and Mike Lowell, went back to the World Series in 2007, sweeping the Colorado Rockies to win it all again. Cashman led the Yankees to finally win the World Series again in 2009.
 2. NO Big Free Agent Signing!
 Albert Pujols is a big Power hitting first baseman. While most Cubs fans have dreamed about him signing with us this offseason, I have been dead set against the Cubs signing him. The Cubs already have signed guys to contracts for too many years and too much money (I'm looking at you Alfonso Soriano.) And with Pujols, I think his inevitable decline has started as a hitter. You can usually always count on him for a .300 season with 40 homers and 100 RBIS, he as of right now is right at .300 with a 37 homer mark with 97 RBIS. Pujols is 31. I don't want to sign a guy to a seven, eight year contract. This team needs to focus on starting pitching. I know that big C.C. Sabathia of the Yankees has an opt out clause after this season, but I don't think he's going anywhere.
New Manager, Pitching Coach as well.
As hard a pill as it was to swallow that Ryne Sandberg would not be returning in Cubbie Pinstripes to manage the team after spending three years managing Cubs minor league teams (each year finishing with a winning record and playoff appearance,) I decided to embrace Mike Quade as Cubs manager. However, it seems like the only players that respect him are the players. The umpires don't respect him (He is tied for the Cubs record for manager ejections) and the fans seemed mad that Ryno is now managing the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs of Philly's Triple A system. He hates taking out pitchers and would rather watch a guy implode than take him out when it looks like he doesn't have his best stuff. Check out closer Carlos Marmol's ten blown saves, the most in baseball by Three! Larry Rothschild was the Cubs pitching coach for many seasons. He then left the team for greener pastures, as he is now the pitching coach for the New York Yankees. The Cubs replaced him with bullpen coach Mark Riggins. Riggins seems to have done more harm than good as a pitching coach to me. The starters are in the games too long, to the point where they're worn down stamina wise, and the relievers don't have the ability to shut guys down, especially in the late innings, that is required to get wins and save ballgames! In a dream world, Greg Maddux would be my choice for Cubs pitching coach,but he will probably stay in the Cubs front office. He is currently an apprentice to assistant Cubs GM Randy Bush.

Cubs To Do The Right Thing, Retire #31

The Chicago Cubs are getting ready to honor two great legendary pitchers.

The Cubs will retire #31, worn by both Ferguson Jenkins and Greg Maddux.

Ferguson Jenkins is considered one of the greatest baseball players to come from Canada.Jenkins is in the Hall of Fame. Greg Maddux is one of Baseball's greatest pitchers. Maddux racked up both his 300th win and 3,000th strikeout as a member of the Chicago Cubs.

The ceremony takes place May 3rd. The Cubs will host the Florida Marlins.

The Cubs are finally doing the right thing and retiring #31. I hope to see #21 become the next number retired by the Chicago Cubs.

An Ode To "Mad Dog"

Greg Maddux has decided to hang it up.

The legendary Greg Maddux retired Monday after having one of the greatest careers in baseball history.


Maddux in the 90's joined the dominant Atlanta rotation of John Smoltz and Tom Glavine that helped lead the Atlanta Braves to win the 1995 World Series.

As a Cubs fan who watched Greg Maddux get his 300th win and his 3,000th Strikeout on WGN, let me say: Thanks for the memories, Greg.

"Mad Dog" showed that you didn't have to throw 95 MPH and strike out ten batters a game to be sucessful in the Major Leagues. You just have to be a smart pitcher, and Greg Maddux was without question, a very smart pitcher.

I Can't wait to see Greg Maddux give his Hall Of Fame acceptance speech in Cooperstown a few years from now. He deserves it.

Like a true Cowboy, Greg Maddux will now ride off into the sunset.

Congratulations to The MLB Gold Glove Winners!

Greg Maddux won a record 18th Gold Glove.

The MLB Gold Glove Award Winners were unveiled this week. If you missed it, here is a quick recap of the winners.

National League
P, Greg Maddux, LAD
C, Yadier Molina, STL
1B, Adrian Gonzalez, SD
2B, Brandon Phillips, CIN
3B, David Wright, NYM
SS, Jimmy Rollins, PHI
OF, Carlos Beltran, NYM
OF, Nate McLouth, PIT
OF, Shane Victorino, PHI

Greg Maddux won a record 18th Gold Glove, and I was not expecting Adrian Gonzalez to be on the list. However, Adrian was one of the few bright spots the Padres had this season. Ditto with Nate McLouth on the Pirates.

And In The American League:
American League
P, Mike Mussina, NYY
C, Joe Mauer, MIN
1B, Carlos Pena, TB
2B, Dustin Pedroia, BOS
3B, Adrian Beltre, SEA
SS, Michael Young, TEX
OF, Torii Hunter, LAA
OF, Grady Sizemore, CLE
OF, Ichiro Suzuki, SEA

It was good to see a Ray get on this list. All of Baseball knew about Carlos Pena's offense, but his defense is why he is one of the best first basemen in the American League. I was expecting to see Jacoby Ellsbury's name on the list.

Congratulations to all the Gold Glove Winners.

John Smoltz: 3,000 Strikeouts

Click On The Video to see John Smoltz get his 3,000th Strikeout against the Washington Nationals. Hurry! There Is Only a limited ammount of time before MLB Advanced Media will file a copyright claim to get the video removed!


Smoltz struck out 10 batters, but the braves lost 6-0 to the Washington Nstionals, but nobody will remember the score of the game 20 years from now. They will remember John Smoltz. Smoltz has been on the front and back end of the Braves rotation, as he saved 55 games in 2002 while winning 14 games for the eventual NL East Champions upon his return to the bullpen.

If you add to that the Braves are the only uniform he's ever put on in a dying art of players staying with one team their entire career, John Smoltz should abseloutely Join Tom Glavine and Greg Maddux in the Hall Of Fame in Cooperstown.

Two Weeks Into Baseball Season...

Randy Johnson will replace Doug Davis in the rotation. Davis is coming off Thyroid Cancer surgery.
Here's What I've Observed...
RANDY JOHNSON TO MAKE FIRST START OF 2008 TONIGHT AGAINST GIANTS
Diamondbacks Pitcher Randy Johnson will make his first Major League appearance since June 28 on Monday night in San Francisco.
The Big Unit suffered a reherniation of a disk in his back and underwent surgery in early August to repair it.
Johnson is being opposed by Giants Left Hander Johnathan Sanchez.

This Brings Me To...

FREE BASEBALL!!!
The D-backs are making the game available on MLB.TV free of charge without a local blackout in the Phoenix area.
Gametime is 7:15 MST/10:15 ET.

I Can't wait to see this game tonight. I hope we see the Randy Johnson of old. The Randy Johnson that threw a Perfect Game May 18, 2004 against the Braves, the Randy Johnson that beaned a bird with his 95 MPH fastball!

I don't believe we'll see anything like that ever again!

JOE GIRARDI NATIONAL LEAGUE STYLE OF MANAGING SUPRISING, BUT WON'T WORK IN AMERICAN LEAGUE
Joe Girardi had a suprising approach to the Red Sox-Yankees Game. He was managing like he was back in Miami managing the 2006 Florida Marlins. He was calling for sacrafice bunts and for hit and runs, and Red Sox Manager Terry Francona probably hasn't seen this approach since he managed against Clint Hurdle in the 2007 World Series.

The style was suprising, but in the Home Run Power World of the American League, it won't work.

The Yankees only hope to make the postseason this year is if they win the American League Wild Card.

JOE TORRE HAS MANAGED TO KEEP DODGERS AFLOAT DESPITE INJURIES TO THIRD BASEMAN NOMAR GARCIAPARRA AND ANDY LA ROCHE.
How? Three Words. Pitching and defense. Hiroki Kuroda has appeared to be another great Japanese pitcher through one start, and the Dodgers Double Play Combo of Rafael Furcal and James Loney have kept the Dodgers in ballgames so far this season. I didn't expect Joe Torre to be able to stay afloat in the NL West with Colorado and Arizona breathing down his neck. I may be wrong. It's still too early to tell.



CUBS LEFT HANDERS TED LILLY AND RICH HILL HAVING COMMAND ISSUES
Both Lilly and Hill have had two mediocre starts in the young Baseball Season. What are the Cubs doing about It? With Lilly, they are saying he will work himself out. For Hill, he has been temporarily assigned to the Bullpen. The Cubs believe Hill will fix whatever is wrong in the bullpen.

JIM LEYLAND HAD EVERY RIGHT TO LET HIS FRUSTERATIONS OUT ON HID TEAM AFTER 11-0 DESTROYING BOUGHT THEM TO 2-9 ON THE SEASON
Kenny Rogers tied Nolan Ryan for the Career Lead In Grand Slams given up, with 10. Both Paul Konerko and Joe Crede hit Grand Slams as the White Sox Bamboozled the Tigers 11-0.
Leyland was not happy after this game, letting the team know how badly they have stunk. Detroit had better right the ship soon, or they will be watching the World Series on FOX instead of Playing in it.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GREG MADDUX!
Greg Maddux, "Mad Dog" turns 42 today. Maddux is still going strong. He has never been a Strikeout pitcher, yet he has 3,000 atrikeouts. Maddux has always pitched to weak contact. Maddux will be going into the Hall Of Fame as the Greatest Non-Power Pitcher in the history of Baseball.

MLB Preview: Postseason

Which Team will win the 2008 World Series?

These are my picks for the 2008 MLB Season.
THIS SEASON
DIVISON WINNERS
NL EAST: NEW YORK METS
NL WEST: SAN DIEGO PADRES
NL CENTRAL: CHICAGO CUBS
AL EAST: BOSTON RED SOX
AL WEST: LOS ANGELES ANGELS OF ANAHEIM
AL CENTRAL: DETROIT TIGERS
AL WILDCARD: NEW YORK YANKEES
NL WILDCARD: COLORADO ROCKIES

NL DIVISION SERIES
CHICAGO CUBS OVER SAN DIEGO PADRES
NEW YORK METS OVER COLORADO ROCKIES

AL DIVISION SERIES
DETROIT TIGERS OVER NEW YORK YANKEES
BOSTON RED SOX OVER LOS ANGELES ANGELS OF ANAHEIM

NATIONAL LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES
CHICAGO CUBS OVER NEW YORK METS

AMERICAN LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES
DETROIT TIGERS OVER BOSTON RED SOX

2008 WORLD SERIES
CHICAGO CUBS OVER DETROIT TIGERS

MLB AWARDS
AL CY YOUNG: JOSH BECKETT
NL CY YOUNG: JOHAN SANTANA
NL MVP: CARLOS BELTRAN
AL MVP: MIGUEL CABRERA
NL ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: KOSUKE FUKUDOME
AL ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: CLAY BUCHOLZ
NL GOLD GLOVE: JOSE REYES
NL GOLD GLOVE: GREG MADDUX
NL GOLD GLOVE: ARAMIS RAMIREZ
AL GOLD GLOVE: DEREK JETER
AL GOLD GLOVE: CURTIS GRANDERSON
AL GOLD GLOVE: TORII HUNTER
AL ROLAIDS RELIEF MAN: JOHNATHAN PAPELBON
NL ROLAIDS RELIEF MAN: CARLOS MARMOL
AL MANAGER OF THE YEAR: JIM LEYLAND
NL MANAGER OF THE YEAR: LOU PINIELLA

MLB Preview: NL West

Can Matt Holliday and Troy Tulwitski lead Colorado to the NL West Pennant?

The National League West was home to team and individual records last season. The Colorado Rockies went on a tear, going undefeated for almost the entire final month of the season, enabling them to beat their NL West rival San Diego Padres in Game 163, The Tiebreaker Game. The San Francisco Giants watched one Barry (Zito) fail to live up to his then record contract, while another Barry (Bonds) on a night in August, broke Hank Aaron's then Major League Record of 755 homeruns.

Things have changed, and yet things are so much the same.

For Barry Bonds, the least of his problems rigt now is not playing baseball. Joe Torre left his Yankee Pinstripes to bleed Dodger Blue. Arizona and Colorado, two suprise teams from the West, will be expected to replicate their success. Mark Prior, the former Chicago Cubs Ace who's career was wrecked by injuries, is now in the ultimate Pitcher's Park, Petco Park in San Diego.

ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS
The Diamondbacks, if it wasn't for the Colorado Rockies, would have been the biggest underdog story in Baseball last season. This "No-Name Offense" led by Chris Young, Connor Jackson, Justin Upton, and Mark Reynolds, helped lead Arizona to 90 wins. The team had great pitching. Brandon Webb, the 2006 National League Winner, had opponents scoreless for 42 1/3 scoreless innings including three straight complete game shutouts. The team had Randy Johnson for a while, but when his back gave out on him, Arizona turned to Micah Owings, who hit two home runs in his first Major League Start! Juan Cruz and Doug Davis did a solid job in the bullpen.

Arizona's Rotation was bolstered this season with the trade for Dan Haren from Oakland.

Arizona's Offense has been improved by veteran Trot Nixon, who was on the Red Sox in 2004 and was with Cleveland last season.


COLORADO ROCKIES
The Greatest Underdog Story this season, the Colorado Rockies suprised everyone by going to the World Series by sweeping Philladelphia in the NLDS and Sweeping Arizona in the NLCS, before getting swept in the World Series by the best team in Baseball all season, the Boston Red Sox.

The Rockies were led on offense by National League MVP Runner Up Matt Holliday, and were led defensively by Rookie of The Year Troy Tulowitski.

Pitching Wise, Jeff Francis developed into an ace before our very eyes, and the whole rotation, even when they gave up a run, they were confident their offense, led by Holliday, would give them that run back.

Offensively, If Willy Taveras is injured for an extended period of time, expect Scott Podsednik, the catalyst of the 2005 World Series Champion Chicago White Sox, to take over at leadoff and in center field. The Rockies will once again be driven by "The H factor" Todd Helton and Matt Holliday. These two will once again knock a bunch of homeruns at Coors Field, and that will enable Colorado to battle for the NL West Crown.

LOS ANGELES DODGERS
Joe Torre grew up a Brooklyn Dodgers Fan, managed the New York Yankees to four World Series Titles, before taking over in Chavez Ravine. Once Again, Joe Torre cost Grady Little his job. The first time was in 2003, when Aaron Boone hit the game winning homerun in Game Seven of the 2003 ALCS to send New York to their first World Series since 2001. Grady Little was fired by The Red Sox for his apparent Mismanagement of that game. Torre got Little fired again, this time because Torre just turned down an incentive-laced one year contract offer from the Yankees to take a three year deal to manage the Los Angeles Dodgers.

What did the Dodgers do after the luring of Torre to LA? They Signed Japanese Pitcher Hiroki Kuroda to a three year contact. Kuroda will compete with the rehabbing former San Francisco Giants Ace Jason Schmidt for the final rotation spot. Offensively they went out and signed Andruw Jones to replace Juan Pierre in Center. Andy LaRoche will compete with Nomar Garciaparra for the starting Third Baseman's job. Russell Marting will continue to mature behind the plate. This may be Jeff Kent's final Season, as he may retire at the end of this season. He holds the record for most homeruns by a second baseman, passing Hall Of Famer Ryne Sandberg.

SAN DIEGO PADRES
The Padres were one half inning away last season from killing Colorado's Dreams of a postseason appearance. They had an 8-6 run lead entering the bottom of the 13th inning, and they had Trevor Hoffman, the only closer in history with 500 saves, on the mound.

Rockies Fans know what happened next.

Hoffman gave up extra-base hits to the first three batters. Colorado second baseman Kazuo Matsui began the inning with a double. Shortstop Troy Tulowitzki followed with a double of his own, scoring Matsui. Holliday then hit a triple, scoring Tulowitzki. The score was now tied 8-8 with no outs. The Padres then intentionally walked the next batter, first baseman Todd Helton. Jamey Carroll came up to bat, having replaced 3rd Baseman Garrett Atkins earlier in the game. His sacrifice fly to shallow right field allowed Holliday to break from third. Holliday slid into home head-first and to the outside of Padres' backup catcher Michael Barrett, whose left leg extended across the plate. Barrett could not hold on to the throw from right fielder Brian Giles, and the ball dribbled toward the backstop. During the slide, Holliday's right hand wedged under Barrett’s foot, his face hit the dirt hard, and he lay stunned on the ground.

It is that point in the play where some viewers questioned whether Holliday actually touched home plate. If he had not, then arguably Barrett could have retrieved the ball and tagged him out. The Rockies would then have had two outs with Helton still safe on base, and right fielder Brad Hawpe coming to bat.

As Barrett tried to gain control of the ball, home plate umpire Tim McClelland called Holliday safe. That call officially ended the game, and the final score was Rockies 9, Padres 8. Hoffman was credited with his 5th loss of the season.

The Padres will come back focused and ready to play in 2008. The 2008 Padres have an incredibly deep rotation, starting with Jake Peavy. Peavy won the pitching Triple Crown in 2007, leading the National League with 19 wins, 240 strikeouts, and a 2.54 ERA. On October 23, Peavy won the Players Choice Award for Outstanding NL Pitcher. He added the NL Cy Young -- a unanimous choice -- on November 15, becoming just the 10th National League player in history to win the Cy Young Award in a unanimous vote.


Let's Not forget about Greg Maddux. "Mad Dog" who has both 3,000 strikeouts and 300 wins. Maddux has an incredibly deep repetoire of pitches, making it a nightmare to be an opposing hitter. I remember when he was with The Cubs. watching Maddux get his 3,000th strikeout against Omar Vizquel of the San Francisco Giants. Maddux may join his brother Mike and be a Major League Pitching Coach after he retires.

Chris Young is another great pitcher. Young ended the 2007 season as the Major League leader in opponent batting average, and hits per nine innings. Young battled injuries late in the season and surrendered the ERA leadership to Jake Peavy in his August 30 start.

Randy Wolf will be in number four hole, and expect the number five spot in the rotation to go to Mark Prior. Prior, who was on the mound when Chicago self destructed during Game Six of the 2003 NLCS, appears to be on the fast track to recovery. Prior will no longer have to deal with that bandbox of a ballpark in Wrigley Field, and will get to regroup with former Cubs Greg Maddux, Michael Barrett, and Todd Walker.

Offensively, expect a lot of small ball from San Diego. There won't be a whole lot of Fence Swinging, as Petco Park is the closest thing to a Pitcher's Paradise in Baseball. Expect the defense of San Diego to improve, as Jim Edmonds will play Center Field for perhaps the final time this season.

SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS
These are Tough Times now for McCovey Cove Baseball Fans. Barry Bonds, the guy that helped put people inside both Candlestick and AT&T Park, is not with the team and is battling the government on perjury charges. The Giants tried to Barry in Left Field by signing Aaron Rowand to a five year, $60 Million Contract. Rowand, who was another member of the 2005 White Sox, will have pressure on him to help San Francisco be competetive without Barry Bonds. Good Luck. Barry Zito Lost 13 Games in The National League After Coming Over From The American League! It can't get any worse than that for a pitcher like him. Expect him to do somewhat better this time around.

San Francisco won't lose 100 games, but they're too old to be competetive. They should be for high draft picks to replace this aging team.
MY PROJECTED ORDER:
COLORADO
SAN DIEGO
ARIZONA
LOS ANGELES
SAN FRANCISCO

That Concludes this MLB Preview. In Our Next MLB Preview, We Will Preview The American League Central. Will Detroit recover from their underacheiving season last year? Can Cleveland suprise Once Again? Will Chicago's improved bullpen help win more games? Can Kansas City stay out of last place? Find Out All This and more in our next MLB Preview.