Mercurial Outfielder asked recently if I’d taken a look at next year’s payroll. Turns out I had done so about a month ago and had forgotten. In that piece I didn’t show any tables, but figured I’d go ahead do that here. MO mentioned that Gordo has been saying the Cubs payroll will be around $120 million next year so …
Jeffrey Ross Roasts Ryan Dempster
After the game yesterday, we headed down to the Vic Theatre to see Jeffrey Ross. If you have never seen Jeffrey Ross perform (and you don’t have delicate sensibilities), he is pretty damn funny. He generally can be found doing the celebrity roasts that Comedy Central has brought back from the Dean Martin days. It turns out Ryan Dempster …
42,218 Cubs Fans Out of 42,219 Thrilled By Cubs Beating Yankees
I witnessed a fascinating thing on Friday afternoon at Wrigley. Yes, the game was awesome and we’ll get to that, but the truly fascinating thing was getting a chance to see a real life Yellon interacting in its natural habitat. Most people know that Al Yellon has been a season ticket holder in the bleachers for years, always sits in …
Zambrano willing to waive no-trade clause
It’s not too surprising to hear that Cubs players are going to be more than willing to get out of Chicago, but Carlos Zambrano had been insistent in the past in his desire to stay with the Cubs. Not so anymore. “If they come to me and want to trade me, obviously it’s because they don’t want me here anymore,” …
Series Preview: New York Yankees (39-28) vs Hapless Victims (28-40)
Before I get to previewing this bloodbath, I just want to mention that it was fun to watch the Cubs take three of four from their little brothers to the north. Team Overviews Teams stats with respective league rankings in parens. Yankees Cubs wOBA .353 (1st) .318 (6th) UBR -1.9 (9th) -7.1 (16th) UZR 11.6 (3rd) -15.5 (15th) SP FIP …
Replacement for Craney Kenney: Tom Ricketts doesn’t care if it’s a baseball guy and good for him
This comment yesterday from Tom Ricketts has become big news: “I’ve never bought into the (idea) that I should have a baseball guy to watch my baseball guy and his baseball guys,” Ricketts said. “Then what do you get? A baseball guy to watch the baseball guy who’s watching your baseball guys?
Cubs compared to their projections
Back in April I compared the Cubs players to their projections and intended to do it once a month. Instead, you get once every two months. Or if we averae the 2+ months of the season you are getting it once a month. So there. Name PA wRC Proj wRC Diff Reed Johnson 69 15.3 6.3 9.0 Jeff Baker 92 …
Aramis Ramirez is Due
With the news that Darwin Barney is now headed to the DL, I thought it would be “fun” to see if the Cubs could field an entire squad of players who have been on the DL this season. SS Darwin Barney 2B Jeff Baker C Geovany Soto 1B Alfonso Soriano LF Marlon Byrd RF Reed Johnson CF Brett Jackson SP …
Derek Jeter has 3179 hits in his career
A lot of talk is being made about Derek Jeter approaching 3000 hits, but he passed that milestone a year ago. Including the postseason, Jeter has 3179 hits. I’ve never understood why postseason numbers aren’t included in career statistics. I get why they don’t include them in year to year stats, but why ignore stats that are put up against …
Sometimes You Have to Learn to Say Goodbye to Those You Love
I love Wrigley Field. I love watching games there. I love that it is nestled into the neighborhood and it has become the focal point of the local businesses in the area. I love the absence of a scoreboard that doesn’t tell me when to cheer. I love the minimal advertising that assaults my eyes when watching a game. People …