Last night at around six o’clock, the normally very reliable server on which Desipio Media Ventures sits blew up. It’s out in California some place, and I have a feeling that one of those pesky wild fires got it. Or something.
Anyway, our hosting company managed to get us up and running within a couple of hours, but they had to go back to their last back-up version of Desipio, and that was from Sunday. So everything that was posted and written yesterday is gone.
Fortunately (or unfortunately) I had back up copies of “Another Sunday on the couch” and our Eastern Conference scouting reports. So they’re back. But yesterday’s hilarious, would-have-been-award-winning Daily Dose is in the ether. Sigh.
On the bright side, if you weren’t happy with your pithy comments that you posted yesterday on either article, you just got a Mulligan.
I’m not sure what it says about me but the thing I was most impressed by in last night’s hastily moved Monday Night Football game was that the Sun Devil Stadium grounds crew managed to paint the Chargers logo in the end zones. Just Sunday afternoon the Cardinals logos had been there, and on Saturday, when ASU hosts Cal for homecoming, I’m sure the end zones will be awash with gold and red again. How do they do that? See, I’m nothing if not simple.
I’ve been amusing myself lately by checking out message boards where hopeful Cubs fans are posting their lineups for next season. One site I saw had this lineup for the 2003 Cubs.
2b Luis Castillo
c Jason Kendall
rf Vladimir Guerrero
1b Richie Sexson
ss Miguel Tejada
lf Moises Alou
3b E-ramis Ramirez
cf Corey Patterson
Put down the crack pipe! Come on, use a little common sense. Do we really think the Cubs will go out and sign or trade for any of these new guys? The only one who’s a real possibility is Castillo and that’s a long shot. Get a grip.
Your lineup next year is going to probably look like this one:
2b Mark Grudzielanek
ss Alex Gonzalez
rf Sammy Sosa
lf Moises Alou
cf Corey Patterson
3b E-ramis Ramirez
1b Hee Seop Choi/Eric Karros
c Damian Miller/Paul Bako
I hate the be the voice of reality, but there it is. Karros isn’t sure if he’ll be back. In fact, he took out a full page ad in the Tribune on Sunday to thank the Cubs fans for a great season. But I have a hunch he will be back. I also have a hunch that Jim Hendry will trade Randall Simon so that Dusty has to use Hee Seop. Dusty likes our big Korean pal, but you know how he is if he’s got a veteran on hand. So Hendry will have to jettison the sausage king.
Where the Cubs will try and spend some cash is in the bullpen. I wouldn’t be stunned to see Flash Gordon move eight miles north again. I think Latroy Hawkins in on the radar, too. Deep down where he keeps his common sense, Jim Hendry knows that the reason Dusty didn’t have anybody warming up in the eighth inning of game six was because he was afraid to use his bullpen.
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As for the White Sox, they are now faced with what should have been obvious to them from the start. Bart Colon is leaving town and he’s not even stopping to wipe his feet. His full page ad in the Tribune is going to feature the tail-lights of his Escalade as he drives off to Boston. Hey, sometimes a guy just needs to change his Sox.
It will be interesting to see what, if anything, Kenny Williams does to address the big holes in his team. They’re too right handed…still. They have no closer. They now are back to having only two good starters, and one of them is Stevie Loiaza and he’s more likely to go 8-20 than 20-8 next year.
But hey, it’ll be nice to get back to normalcy next summer. You know, with a couple of mediocre baseball teams.
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One of the guests this morning on Cold Pizza was Joe Piscopo. Wow, it’s only been seven episodes and this show is already hanging on by its fingernails.
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The Bulls season starts tomorrow and they’re still trying to pry the great Othella Harrington from New York. Wait, don’t we already have Lonny Baxter starring at “undersized power forward?”
The Knicks waived former Bulls number one draft pick Travis Knight yesterday. In 126 games over two seasons in New York, Knight averaged less than two more points and two more rebounds than I did. Yikes. Let’s hope John Paxson doesn’t have Travis’ agent on speed dial.
Come on, you remember Travis. He signed with the Lakers when the Bulls had no use for him, and he was Mark Madsen without the dancing.
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And oh, by the way, because you need me to remind you of this stuff, BBC America is now showing season two of The Office. You’re welcome.
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David Huh says Bears fans want to see Rex Grossman. Wow, so this is why they pay Dave the big bucks. How perceptive!
Bobby Gray (not Bobby Wade of course) might be back on the bench when Mike Green comes back. Uh…why? Did Greg Blache miss watching Green chase wide receivers into the end zone?
David Huh thinks the Bears are worth watching again. Hey, the win over Detroit was nice, but let’s not get carried away. This team is still extremely s@#$$y.
Robbie Alomar wants Ozzie Guillen to be the new Sox manager. Well, it’s settled then.
Paul Sullivan is blaming the Cubs and Red Sox woes on having small clubhouses. What’s the White Sox (1917) excuse then?
Kendall Gill’s diet seems extraordinarily…boring.
Mariotti puts down the doughnut to give Steve Bartman some advice on how to be cool. This is like Randall Simon giving a “plate discipline” lecture.
The Wizard of Roz talks to Ron Santo about his upcoming bladder removal surgery. Bladder removal? Can they do that? Yikes. I don’t even want to think about it.
Rap says the Yankees are about to clean house. Ooh, goody maybe the Cubs can snatch up studs like Enrique Wilson and Felix Heredia!
TJ Simers on Kobe’s latest temper tantrum.
Michael Wilbon on the exact same thing.
Some dope in the Post wants the Yankees to trade Alfonso Soriano for Alex Rodriguez. Sounds good to me! But do they need to give up Soriano? Maybe the Rangers will take Aaron Boone instead?
Latroy Hawkins is free. Hello, Jim Hendry.
Shortstop Kaz Matsui is said to be the “Japanese Nomar Garciaparra.” He’s a shortstop of course, has a huge nose and dates a frosty soccer star. Uncanny.
Whitey Herzog says he’ll listen if the Red Sox call. But he’ll have to crank up his hearing aid. I kid. I think Whitey gets the job. Seriously.
Jessica Simpson is turning her moronicness into big money. Good for her.
Bill Gates is calling the next version of Windows, “Longhorn.” Why not just call it “199 bucks you’ll wish you never spent?”
A US “fire” map. Cool.
How ironic. The Unabomber is upset that his jailers are messing with his mail. Are they blowing him up.
Four muggers stole a deaf, mute’s wheelchair . We’re obviously looking for some tough guys. Sure.
Where’s a guy supposed to wear his “porono pants” then?
America’s finest news source with shocking news about generic candy corn. Well, at least according to the guy from Brach’s.
That has to be one of the best Cubs line ups ever! But I have a suggestion, why don’t we trade Moises Alou to the Cardinals for Albert Pujols? They’re about the same age. Why are people so convinced that the Cubs are going to trade for Sexon? He is the most popular player in Milwaukee, and to trade him to a division rival that plays 90 miles south of them would be suicide for that franchise. Then again, maybe Bud will use that as an excuse to contract his own team.
They’re trading me. Just probably not to the Cubs. The Brewers’ last two minor league players of the year Brad Nelson and Prince Fielder are both first baseman, and I make some real cash. So I’m out the door.
Unless I decide I’ll play right field, which is actually a possibility.
Actually, I have this lineup set for opening day.
cf Kenny Lofton
2b Ramon Martinez
rf Troy O’Leary
lf Tom Goodwin
1b Randall Simon
3b Lenny Harris (I hear he’s available)
ss Alex Gonzalez
c Damian Miller
But if I had to use the guys you all think I’ll have it’ll be:
2b Grudzielanek
cf Patterson
rf Sosa
lf Alou
3b Ramirez
1b Choi-Simon-Karros
ss Gonzalez
c Miller-Bako
You know, that’s actually not too bad.
Have no fear, I’ll be playing second and leading off for you next year. And you know what, you’ll learn to love me.
Bo Hart can lick my sac. I hate The Genius, too!
Oh, and I can tell you two things you need to know:
1) Albert Pujols was born in 1945.
2) The Cardinal who told LaRussa that Kerry Wood hits people on purpose was little weenie Joe Girardi.
See ya in Mesa!
I’ll be back Dolan. There’s always a team in the league that needs a tall, useless, white guy to baby sit a tempermental star, or the coach’s kids or something.
If Richie Sexon is traded within his division, it will be greatly upsetting to me.
I also doubt whether the Sexson trade will come off, particularly the one rumor where it’s Choi and Farns for Big Sexy. It would be foolish for the Cubs to try to improve the Brewers, a team within their own division. Unless they can rip tnem off like they did the Pirates, I don’t see this happening.
That being said, I see only Alou, Sosa (if he elects to return), and A. Ramirez as the sure position players in the Opening Day line-up. The Cubs would love to dump Gonzo, and I think they believe they can improve on Miller-Bako and Mark G. Patterson is 50-50 to be ready by early April. Karros had a nice ad in Sunday’s Trib, but he’s gone.
The 2004 schedule is out. Fourth of July at home against the White Sox. No games against the Cardinals after July 20, and three home games against the Braves to close the season. Only 159 days till Opening Day in Cincy!!!
http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/chc/schedule/tentative_2004_season_schedule.jsp
Does anybody know much about Todd Walker from the Red Sox? I know he’s a free agent, and he had a good year this year, but I was just wondering what he’s done in past. Would he be considered an upgrade over Grud? And were his numbers this year a product of his home stadium and being surrounded by a good lineup (ala Jeff Blauser…shudder)?
I can rake, but I play second base like I’m wearing gardening gloves.
Walker is a good player and has been for awhile. Not a star but a definate improvement from Gruddy.
I’d like to see them make a run at Castillo as he fills 2 needs. Has been beaten to death here so I will flog no further.
Vina is another option but is an old 33.
Little Matt Suhey would be a welcome addition as well. Stellar numbers in Japan. Sammy could convince him to come to Chicago. Sammy is huge over there. Move A-Gon to 2B.
Pudge is another guy they have to go after. If he wants antything more than 3 years you turn to Javy Lopez, again, only for 3 years. Even if Javy goes back to his old self it is a tremendous improvement over the pathetic output that we endured this year. If that fails you can try to fleece Pit again for Kendall. No power but runs well for a C. Again, all you’re looking for here is more production than last year.
Vlad and Tejada are only happening if Sosa bolts.
I wouldn’t mind seeing a lineup that looks something like this.
Castillo
Kendall
Patterson
Sosa
Alou
A-Ram
Choi/Karros
A-Gon
Forgot to mention…I really would like them to bring back Karros. That move in the Sunday Trib was pure class. Baseball needs more class acts. Not more cokeheads or steroid freaks.
If I wanted Jason Kendall, I would’ve got him in July. The Pirates were trying to pawn him off with the rest of their regulars.
TW, I’d like to have Pudge next year, but I’m sure he’s going to get obscene money from somebody. Lopez had a good contract year, but I have the feeling he’s not staying in the NL, as he expressed interest in playing catcher/1B/DH next year. Also, as much as we’d like to improve the offense, I’ve got a feeling that most of the Cubs money is going into rebuilding the bullpen (again). I think that’s where we’ll see the most radical changes made. It’d be nice if the Cubs could steal a closer from a small market team looking to retool, but unfortunately, the only guy available for the taking is Billy Wagner and that’s not happening.
If Karros wants to come back and play for a million or two, I’d say OK. Otherwise, his range is declining and his bat is slow. I did not like Karros as a player this year, mainly because he got in the way of Big Choi’s development (which is primarily Dusty’s fault). I have no problem with him as a person, plus it’s nice to have that money freed up for 2004.
The money is there for the free agents. I would like to think that they’ll target Pudge or Lopez, sign LaTroy Hawkins, and maybe see what Foulke wants. There are too many good arms in the minors to overspend (and gamble) on the bullpen.
That’s what I was thinking too. The pen was shite for long stretches of the year and we still made the LCS. Instead of spending a bunch of FA pitchers, call up a bunch of the young guys to get their feet wet. Let’s find out what they can do. Can’t possibly be worse than Pulpo or Veres. Then you throw the money at 2 or 3 FA hitters and re-sign Woody.
I agree w/TW. Who had consistent success in the ‘pen this year? Two people–Borowski, and Mr. Crap-His-Pants-In-The-Playoffs, Farnsworth who, outside of his rectal explosion in the NLCS, was the only consistent reliever besides Regular Joe. So that’s one journeyman and one home-grown ballplayer. The rest of that ‘pen was purchased for–what–15 million?
Why spend money on the ‘pen when spending money on Remlinger, Veres, Guthrie and Alfonseca didn’t work. Because of the Veres’ signing, for example, we had to let Rod Beck go.
I would like to see them give a shot to Meat Tray, Dirty Sanchez, Todd Joeymeyer, and Frankie Beltran. They’re cheap and they can’t do any worse than the bums listed above. Relievers are a crapshoot. Outside of a few exceptions, it’s difficult to predict what you’ll get from year to year. That’s why they’re relievers, ’cause they generally suck worse than starters.
Going in to next year, you’ve got Regular Joe, Farnsy and Remlinger who, on balance, did all right although not worth what he was paid. After that, I;d like to see the Cubs give the kids the rest of the spots, and spend the money on the holes at second base and catcher.
Remember, too, how much Hendry appears to like trading. If he could pry Pierzynski from Minny, that’d be good, too.
The Warriors’new dance team http://www.sfgate.com/
test
Man I hate that Test. I think I’ll break his foot and bury his career.
Sometimes the best relievers are the ones you damn near give away in the middle of the season.
I still think the signing another pitcher for the rotation would be one of the best moves the Cubs can make. I think that man is either Millwood or Pettitte. I think the Yankees are really wanting Pettitte back however, so it looks like it may have to be Millwood. That’d move Angel Guzman into the bullpen, and I think that will help him more than move into the instant pressure-cooker of having to compete with four great pitchers and produce to a similiar level.
Here is how I think the bullpen looks next season:
Borowski
Farnsworth
Remlinger (All of these guys in some order)
Guthrie (Yes, he sucks, but we do need another lefty although he didn’t get a single lefty batter out after July ended…)
Guzman
Wellemeyer
In terms of position players, I think Grudzielanek will be back for cheaper, and the only position player that will go will probably be one of the catchers and Simon. If we can get Castillo either trade Gruddy or trade Gonzo and move Gruddy to short.
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