Aramis Ramirez is Due

At least Barney’s knee died a hero.

(dying laughing), when people see the title of this post, they’re going to think it’s about something verrrrrrrrrrryyyyyy different. (dying laughing)

[quote name=Mercurial Outfielder](dying laughing), when people see the title of this post, they’re going to think it’s about something verrrrrrrrrrryyyyyy different. (dying laughing)[/quote]
I was very confused. I was thinking “Didn’t he have a good game last night?”

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/tx/7608733.html

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/blog/big_league_stew/post/Cubs-minor-league-team-mocks-LeBron-with-ring-gi?urn=mlb-wp9511

It sure takes a lot of guts to schedule a giveaway mocking LeBron’s lack of rings when you’re feeding a big league baseball franchise that hasn’t won one since 1908. Especially when the Cubs are currently a heck of a lot farther away from winning a championship than James and the Heat.

Dunno if this has been posted here:

http://www.sporcle.com/games/DJC83/mlbbats9s

[quote name=Mish]Dunno if this has been posted here:

http://www.sporcle.com/games/DJC83/mlbbats9s/quote
Where’s “Can you name the MLB players with the most career R+RBI by position?”?

[quote name=Rice Cube]Feel free to draft an angry letter to the blogger.[/quote]
Dear blogger,

Fuck you, faget.

Sincerely,

Jame Gumb.

p.s. What are you, about a size 13?

[quote name=Jame Gumb]Where’s “Can you name the MLB players with the most career R+RBI by position?”?[/quote]I’m working on it.

[quote name=Jame Gumb][/quote]
Flaming.

Snap.

http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/06/15/the-cubs-are-having-a-street-fair-outside-wrigley-field-sort-of/

“They’re trying to entertain their fans and have an exciting event around the ballpark, even if the team doesn’t win. I don’t think they want to be doing this. The Cubs are not in the street fair business. But, this is what they have to do to stay relevant.”

[quote name=Rice Cube]Can this happen to the Cubs?

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/blog/big_league_stew/post/David-Einhorn-could-buy-a-majority-of-the-Mets-f?urn=mlb-wp9587/quote
I didn’t read it, but if whatever is in that link is bad, then yes. yes it can.

[quote name=Rice Cube]Basically said that if the Wilpons crap out, that Finkle/Einhorn guy can control the Mets for just a dollar.[/quote]

If I’m doing a gif of Bob Stoops, what poster should be up on his wall?

[quote name=Jame Gumb]

If you like pina coladas…[/quote]
Oddly enough, we listened to the NPR “Wait Wait Don’t Tell me Podcasts” on the drive to Chicago and in one of them I actually discovered this was the meaning of the Pina Colada song.

[quote name=Mish]Oddly enough, we listened to the NPR “Wait Wait Don’t Tell me Podcasts” on the drive to Chicago and in one of them I actually discovered this was the meaning of the Pina Colada song.[/quote]
Are you telling me Rupert Holmes was a nazi pederast?

[quote name=Jame Gumb]Are you telling me Rupert Holmes was a nazi pederast?[/quote]
I’m not not telling you this.

For those of you who were curious…

What’s a pederast, Walter JG?

[quote name=Jame Gumb]Were you implying that? Because I was inferring that.[/quote]
Imply? Or implode?

[quote name=Jame Gumb]Shut the fuck up, GBTS![/quote]
Or you’ll go on the most pederast rant this board has ever seen?

[quote name=Mish]So does that make you dispartial or unpartial?[/quote]
I used “disinterested” not just because it’s a correct definition, but it seems to define me — someone completely detached from this conversation.

[quote name=Jame Gumb]Were you listening to my story?[/quote]No, was it a cool story, bro?

Meh, I’m iminterested.

Man, someone is +1ing the shit out of this thread.

Prediction: One person will -1 this post.

[quote name=Jame Gumb]+1[/quote]
-1

http://mlb.sbnation.com/2011/6/15/2224992/detroit-tigers-news-justin-verlander-al-central-race?login=1308157894#69706029

FLAGGED

[quote name=Jame Gumb]http://mlb.sbnation.com/2011/6/15/2224992/detroit-tigers-news-justin-verlander-al-central-race?login=1308157894#69706029

FLAGGED[/quote](dying laughing)

[quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]False.[/quote]
Correct. I was dumb enough to bike into work when the high is 103 today (dying laughing).

[quote name=Berselius]Correct. I was dumb enough to bike into work when the high is 103 today (dying laughing).[/quote]Ye gods. 65 here, with a nice breeze.

GW and B:

http://www.bonappetit.com/magazine/slideshows/2011/07/aaron-franklin-barbecue-best-restaurant-in-america#intro

I didn’t realize interleague play started up again:

**Kansas City Royals pitching prospect Mike Montgomery allowed one earned run in five innings last night for Triple-A Omaha, fanning eight Iowa Cubs and allowing just two hits, but walking five. On the season, he is now 2-3, 5.00 in 14 starts with a 64/46 K/BB in 76 innings, 66 hits allowed. The Royals hoped he would be ready to contribute in the majors sometime this year, and while we may still see him at some point, he isn’t as advanced as they hoped he would be entering the campaign.

(dying laughing)

More from Sickels:

**Chicago Cubs prospect Brooks Raley had a nice start on June 9th for Double-A Tennessee, going 6.2 innings, allowing two earned runs on seven hits and one walk, fanning four and picking up the victory. His performance this year has been spotty, and his overall numbers aren’t very good: 4.84 ERA in 12 starts, 35/28 K/BB in 61 innings, 79 hits.

A sixth-round pick in 2009 out of Texas A&M, Raley was a two-way player in college and is a terrific athlete. The Cubs hoped that moving him to the mound full-time would boost the quality of his stuff, but the results have just been so-so. He works at 88-92, and while his curveball and changeup are decent, none of his pitches are spectacular and his K/IP rate is low. He rates as a Grade C type at this point, but given his background there may be some upside yet to tap.

http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/06/15/angels-voted-the-best-franchise-in-major-league-baseball/

[quote name=Jame Gumb]GW and B:

http://www.bonappetit.com/magazine/slideshows/2011/07/aaron-franklin-barbecue-best-restaurant-in-america#intro/quote
Fuck you Ryno, now I’m starving for BBQ and it’s too late to go there (dying laughing)

I also found it hilarious that he mentions Ric Flair upon moving to Charlotte…Ric Flair did his “woo” thing for the Carolina Hurricanes whenever they scored a goal. That was loads of fun.

[quote name=Rice Cube]I agree with this. I just like Jason Kidd because he’s very good at distributing the basketball, not because he’s a wifebeater.[/quote]Definitely. People have to separate the athlete from the person. I couldn’t care less what kind of a person Barry Bonds is. All I care about is how fucking awesome he was at sports. None of that shit matters to me.

[quote name=Berselius](dying laughing). At least we have another out of town guest coming soon so I’ll have another excuse to drive to Salt Lick[/quote]
You need to take them to Franklin’s first. Then I need a report telling me if it’s worth a 200-mile drive.

[quote name=Jame Gumb]You need to take them to Franklin’s first. Then I need a report telling me if it’s worth a 200-mile drive.[/quote]
I’m probably not the best judge. Like the guy who wrote that Franklin’s article I’m generally prejudiced against brisket.

[quote name=Berselius]What about playing salsa music too loud?

Never Forget.[/quote]
I actually don’t remember the salsa music as the sound of the ball exploding off Sosa’s bat must have drowned it out.

[quote name=ZappBrannigan]Everyone always thought Grace was such a hero for smashing it. Sounds like a passive aggresive little bitch to me.[/quote]
I’ve heard it wasn’t Grace or Wood. Someone from the Cubs once told me it wasn’t anybody who you would think it was.

Maybe they didn’t think I would think it was Mark Grace, or they were totally lying, but I’ve always assumed it was someone like Alou.

[quote name=Aisle424]Maybe they didn’t think I would think it was Mark Grace, or they were totally lying, but I’ve always assumed it was someone like Alou.[/quote]
That would make sense. The Latin players always form clubhouse barriers between themselves and other ethnicities.

[quote name=Corms]Grace was gone from the Cubs by time the boom box got smashed.[/quote]
Hmmm.. I guess I always heard for some reason it was him. I guess it would make sense if it wasn’t. He was pretty well hated in the clubhouse so it could’ve been any number of people.

[quote name=Aisle424]Maybe they didn’t think I would think it was Mark Grace, or they were totally lying, but I’ve always assumed it was someone like Alou.[/quote]Wasn’t Grace gone by then?

Shit that’s a Sullivan article

We know it wasn’t Carlos Zambrano. He would have upset Cubs fans by breaking the thing over his knee.

[quote name=Berselius]http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/06/15/fay-vincent-wouldnt-want-any-mark-cubans-if-he-were-commissioner/[/quote]
I like winning.

[quote name=Berselius]Fuck you Ryno, now I’m starving for BBQ and it’s too late to go there (dying laughing)[/quote]
i just got some rudy’s as a consolation

Thomas Diamond ——> Released

mb disagrees: http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/the-next-market-inefficiencies-east-asian-talent/

[quote name=Rice Cube]I know he’s part Iranian or something, but what about Yu Darvish?

/Darvish-fag[/quote]
I do get what Brad is saying though.

Castro SS
Johnson CF
Baker 1B
Ramirez 3B
Soto C
Montañez RF
DeWitt LF
LeMahieu 2B
Zambrano P

[quote name=Aisle424]Quade really has a nice balance of scrap and lazy Latino going in this lineup.[/quote]
One of the lazy Latinos has jet lag, so DeWitt gets to play LF again.

Two hours of weeding the garden = reward of smoked brisket sandwich, couscous salad and two ice-cold IPAs. Life is good.

[quote name=Mish]mb disagrees: http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/the-next-market-inefficiencies-east-asian-talent//quoteIt's not that I disagree, it’s that the talent level disagrees. Go ahead and spend a shitload of money over there. I hope 29 teams do so. I just hope that the one that does not is the Cubs.

Like one of the commenter says in that thread, you can build an awesome academy or a dozen of them and the players won’t be any good unless they have someone good to play against. Nobody has mentioned this before, but if you want to improve the talent level in those countries create a professional league there and send MLB caliber players there to play. Actually, fuck the whole academy thing. Start a professional league in China, but to start you’re going to have to fill the rosters with former MLB players. Maybe at some point the talent level comes up and they begin to replace them.

The pipeline of Chinese players coming to MLB is similar to the one coming from Russia.

I don’t watch soccer and couldn’t care less about it, but we’ve been playing soccer in this country for a long time. From what I can find, only 10 Americans played in the EPL this season. Just what kind of investment is an MLB team willing to accept to develop talent in China or Taiwan? It’s going to be considerable and there is no possible way on earth that it qualifies as a market inefficiency when all is said and done. By the time you get that league average player, the team will have spent well over $100 million.

If all the teams except the Cubs started spending their money in that way instead of here, the Cubs would actually win a World Series so I hope it happens.

[quote name=Berselius]Barney ——-> Grade 3 PCL strain, not a Grade 1 as originally reported. Do the Cubs underestimate every injury their players get?[/quote]I think teams always do that. I assume with a grade 3 he’s out for the season and perhaps some of next year.

[quote name=Berselius]Barney ——-> Grade 3 PCL strain, not a Grade 1 as originally reported. Do the Cubs underestimate every injury their players get?[/quote]Bears fans think Barney is a quitter and should gut it out.

[quote name=ACT]Is Pena just not going to play against southpaws now?[/quote]Seems like Quade’s recent MO is to go strictly with platoon advantages. Let’s See What Happens.

[quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]Bears fans think Barney is a quitter and should gut it out.[/quote]I hope the Cubs called Maurice Jones-Drew to make sure this was a significant enough knee injury to put Barney on the DL.

[quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]I hope the Cubs called Maurice Jones-Drew to make sure this was a significant enough knee injury to put Barney on the DL.[/quote]
Derrick Brooks agrees

I’d rather have Baker at second, personally, but I guess you have to find playing time for DJ.

Do they teach stretching in Des Moines? How about sliding?

One early report I read said at least 3 weeks. I think that’s ridiculous. That’s as absurd a timeline as the 4 weeks for Wells and Cashner. Based on similar injuries and down time in the past we could guess that it would be at least 7 weeks and maybe a bit longer. Wells returned right at the 8th week and Cashner wasn’t far behind until his setback.

Just checking out Wikipedia so you know how accurate that is (it’s NEVER wrong), it says that most PCL tears (complete ones like Barney has) do require surgery. He’s going to be out for a long time.

Berselius said it was and then roto times or something like that has an update. Let me look for a link.

A sprain is a strain is a tear. A grade 1 sprain is a grade 1 strain is a grade 1 tear. Teams always use sprain because we think it’s less of an injury. Sometimes they’ll use strain because it doesn’t sound like tear. Rarely do they say someone is going to the DL with a grade 3 tear, which is really what it is.

[quote name=Josh]It would depend on the injury, because a sprain is much worse than a strain, right? I’m not a doctor or anything. I think “strain” is usually reserved for muscles and tendons, not ligaments.[/quote]Technically yes, which is the best kind of correct. Still, a grade 3 sprain means the ligament was ripped in half.

Levine is still calling it a Grade 1 sprain.

For me:

The colors look pretty good, Mish.

http://blogs.dailyherald.com/node/5868

(dying laughing), Hendry just got a vote of confidence. He’s cooked.

[quote name=mb21]The colors look pretty good, Mish.[/quote]Racist

[quote name=Berselius]http://blogs.dailyherald.com/node/5868

(dying laughing), Hendry just got a vote of confidence. He’s cooked.[/quote]Ricketts would be the only guy to get the dreaded vote on confidence wrong, too. (dying laughing)

[quote name=Berselius]http://blogs.dailyherald.com/node/5868

(dying laughing), Hendry just got a vote of confidence. He’s cooked.[/quote]
I really wonder how much of a “non-story” the debt thing is. Their pockets aren’t exactly bottomless.

I think the fact that they’re calling it 2-3 weeks with a Grade 3 hopefully just means they’re wrong about the severity.

By the way, I don’t really care if Hendry is fired or not. It’s not going to make a damn bit of difference with this organization. This team’s problems run a lot deeper than its general manager.

Q says Barn should only need 15 days. Somehow that makes me worry more.

Exactly. Why does the owner of a franchise in a tailspin care about fucking t-shirts!?!?!

I quoted Bruce Miles for what it’s worth. What I said in response could be said for what Ricketts said too.

[quote name=ACT]Q says Barn should only need 15 days. Somehow that makes me worry more.[/quote]Yeah, something about this doesn’t pass the smell test.

Wow the Indians really crashed.

Theriot was caught stealing today.