Snobs vs. Slobs

• Ernie’s statue looks pretty good on my non-HDTV.

• I want Kosuke Fukudome’s name in Japanese characters tattooed on my ass. Okay, not really, but he had an excellent first game.

• My boy Carlos pitched really well today, but will remain “winless” on opening day. Baseball morons everywhere will panic. I always cringe when I see him have these cramping issues, because they’re, you know, frequent. I believe he’s secretly hiding some massive torn labrum and he’s pitching through it by sheer grit and will. His arm could fall off and he’d pick up a ball with his left hand and start throwing.

• I hope Lou Piniellia realizes before not too long that Ryan Theriot is never going to be any better than he was last year (his age 27 season, which wasn’t very good), and that giving him more plate appearances than anyone else on the team is a bad idea. I think the Cubs should be starting Ronny Cedeno, because he’s 25 and has shown he can hit in triple A. Like Soto and Pie (both of whom I like, and am thrilled the Cubs are actually giving a chance to two homegrown players), it’s do-or-die time for Cedeno. He’s hit for far more power in the minors (.395 slg) than Theriot (.337), so at least there’s the possibility of the occasional home run. Theriot is, and always has been, all singles ‘n’ walks, and not enough of those to make him of any real value.

• “Fu-ku-do-me” sounds pretty good ringing off the walls of Wrigley.

• I can’t believe people (sounded like half the crowd) were booing after Wood gave up 3 in the top of the ninth. This guy has been with the Cubs since he was drafted, re-signed with them for less money this offseason. He wants to be in Chicago, in spite of the fact that this organization probably destroyed his career as a starting pitcher. I will not boo Kerry Wood, unless he punches a baby. Bush league, Cubs fans that booed.

The marathon begins again…

If you listened to the Sun-Times and Tribune for the past few months, you’d likely hear that the Sox’ offseason was a total disaster. The bad? Ken Williams signed Scott Linebrink for a ton of money and that was an incredibly stupid move. Octavio Dotel was signed for two years and a fair amount of money. That wasn’t bright either. (more…)

So this was in ESPN’s Rumor Central, right before the Cubs acquired Reed Johnson:

Two baseball men who spoke with Stark on Monday described Johnson as “the perfect fit” for the Cubs, who have looked diligently for a right-handed bat off the bench who can play center field.

If the Cubs do reel in Johnson, it could free them to trade Matt Murton in the next few days. Stark also reports that the Mets, who have scouted Johnson extensively, are not interested.

Free them? (more…)

It wouldn’t be the beginning of the baseball season without picks. I’m extremely pressed for time due to graduate school, but so tied to the tradition of making the picks that I simply must do it. Picks are a silly practice for the most part. I know Ross is far less tied to doing it than I am, and I can see why. There are so many surprises over the course of the season, and there’s absolutely no way of telling what will happen over the course of a 30 team, 162 game schedule (particularly in the commie-like parity of the National League). In fact, your best best of knowing that is probably to look at Baseball Prospectus’ Depth Charts, which feature team record projections.

But it’s still fun. And that’s why I do it. (more…)

“They’re killing me. They’re killing my family, my coaching staff, and the White Sox fans. I hope they care the way we care. I’m tired of seeing this shit every day.”
—Ozzie Guillen on his team’s spring training performance. (via BP)

Keep it Wrigley is just what it sounds like. Petition, sounding board and other crap that probably won’t ultimately make that much of a difference in the effort to keep Wrigley Field called Wrigley Field… but hey, it couldn’t hoit.