The Ricketts showed up last year at the Cubs Convention to a hero’s welcome. If the crowds could have somehow gotten ahold of some rose petals or palm fronds to throw at their feet, they surely would have. Finally! The reign of the Tribune had come to an end! Long live the Ricketts Family!!!
They talked about how they were planning on owning the Cubs for a very long time. (Cheers.) They talked about the beauty of Wrigley Field. (Cheers.) They talked about building an organization that regularly made the playoffs through developing homegrown players and smart spending. (Wild cheers.) Finally, they talked about winning a World Series for the great fans of Chicago. (Thunderous ovation.)
At the time, Cubs fans were in love with the Ricketts and so were most of the media. Right after they finally assumed control of the team in October 2009 they started talking almost immediately about how ticket prices would be going up and the payroll would be staying flat. But that didn’t matter, they weren’t the Tribune and they had a honeymoon period where pretty much everything they said was taken at face value and anything we maybe didn’t like was part of a grand plan to improve the team.
I never understood how that could be possible in a city like Chicago where lying and overt misdirection of the press is practically an Olympic sport amongst politicians. I couldn’t comprehend how that was possible from someone who was so obviously communicating in that meaningless corporate-speak that flowers up almost any dreadful pronouncement with non-sensical lingo and buzzwords that sound positive: “Mrs. Lincoln, your husband experienced a slight interruption of his cranial capacities when an unforeseen ammunition emission dynamically impacted on a neural trajectory. We are really working outside-the-box to conceptualize a holistic method to successfully optimize a return of his infrastructural synergies to his occipital area instead of all over the floor. Besides that, how was the play?”
But that was pretty much how it went. The Ricketts would say, “We are dedicated to building up the farm system!” and so it would be. They would insist that the Cubs were only a couple of transactions away from contention, and by golly, so they were! They would talk about providing plenty of cheaper seat options for families and suddenly they were really in touch with the needs of Cubs-loving families. Or at least, that is how it would usually be reported.
But things sure are changing here on Waltons mountain. The word of the Ricketts doesn’t seem to carry the weight it once did with the fans, and now the writers are starting to catch on too.
Bruce Miles wrote today that the Cubs could very well go 0 for the current roadtrip and pretty much states that he has no indication that such a disastrous occurrence for the state of the Cubs season would result in any changes from the top.
Truth be told, I’m sure Ricketts will keep his feet moving quickly when and if he sees the beat writers, whose questions he never likes to answer.
and
Ricketts has shown no sign of wanting to let Hendry go. The owner seems to be putting his faith in Tim Wilken’s drafts and Oneri Fleita’s player development and counting the days until the likes of Brett Jackson, Trey McNutt, Jae-Hoon Ha, Rob Whitenack, Matt Szczur, Ryan Flaherty and others are ready to move up.
It sounds like Bruce has some follow-up questions he’d like to ask if Tommy gives him the chance. Maybe he should put on a disguise and pretend he’s a tourist who wants an autograph.
Meanwhile, and I can’t even believe this is possible, Steve Rosenbloom actually manages to hit the nail on the head repeatedly today:
Ricketts has been a disaster since about his second day of this hobby. He apparently doesn’t realize it. He apparently doesn’t realize that he is one of the big reasons Cubs fans have death-spiraled into something once unimaginable: apathy.
Cubs fans don’t care enough to use tickets they already purchased. Other Cubs fans don’t care enough to spend as little as a buck or 50 cents for a ticket on a swap site. It has reached such embarrassing proportions that the Cubs have resorted to something else once unimaginable: discounted beer in the bleachers.
The fan who bought the franchise from the corporation has turned off the fans. Can we get some big red shoes and big red noses for the owner’s suite?
The Cubs have a roster of mismatched parts because of mismanagement. Last offseason, Ricketts told fans he would shift money from payroll to scouting and development, and then his general manager traded three of his top prospects for a pitcher who could cost this fifth-place team $15 million this year and next.
But even though some of the media members have started noticing the smoke and mirrors that the Ricketts have been using all along, they are going to keep running the same play until someone can pin them down and start asking tough follow-ups.
For instance, Ed Sherman followed up his piece where Ricketts blamed attendance woes on bad weather and whiny lower-income Cubs fans with a piece where Tom insists again that the Cubs are trying to build their team through the farm system.
“From a team perspective, it’s about reinforcing the fact that development of players matters,” Mr. Ricketts said. “You visit with the young players and tell them, ‘Hope to see you in Wrigley soon.’ You see the managers and coaches and say, ‘What you guys are doing is critical to us. Keep it up.’
So that’s what the Cubs have been doing wrong all these 102 years? The owners haven’t hauled their cookies to Iowa and Peoria and whatever backwater burghs the minor league affiliates have ever been located to give the players and managers there an “attaboy?” That’s why Corey Patterson sucked? That’s why Mike Harkey sucked? I wonder why Hayden Simpson sucks. Maybe he missed Tommy’s visit when he was off looking for his 10 mph of lost velocity.
“On the business side, it sends a good message for the whole organization.”
What message is that? “You guys here on the major league roster suck and I can’t wait to get rid of you, now if you’ll excuse me I’ve got to go give some blowies to all those hard working prospects down there so they know we care about them.”
“You’ve got to walk the walk,” Mr. Ricketts said. “When you’re trying to build an organization through the farm system, you’ve got to get down there. If you don’t develop players, you’re behind the 8-ball.”
I’m actually shocked he didn’t work the phrases, “It is what it is,” “All things being equal,” or “At the end of the day” into that somewhere. But if you cut through the mumbo-jumbo, he seems to be saying the youth shall be the answer to our long-term problems.
Meanwhile the fans, and hopefully more of the media will finally notice that Tyler Colvin was sent down to the minors, Brett Jackson isn’t anywhere on the horizon, we traded away valuable depth in the organization to acquire a pitcher heading into his most expensive years, Koyie Hill is now getting regular playing time, and the entire roster seems to have had it’s extra-base capabilities sucked away by the ravages of time. Perhaps some follow-ups may be coming soon. I won’t hold my breath, but I’m certainly more hopeful about that than I am about the Cubs ever reaching the .500 mark again this season.
Comments
You clearly don’t appreciate the view from 10,000 feet. Nice Waltons reference, by the way…
uncle daveQuote Reply
BerseliusQuote Reply
This is fantastic stuff. To give u the ( dick) highest compliment, I could see myself writing the same exact post. Last paragraph sounds like my evening prayer.
MishQuote Reply
[quote name=uncle dave]You clearly don’t appreciate the view from 10,000 feet. Nice Waltons reference, by the way…[/quote]
It was a recent show I enjoyed.
Aisle424Quote Reply
Tons of shitty baseball equals tons of quality posts in one day?
Suburban kidQuote Reply
[quote name=Berselius]
[/quote]
That may have been the best thing Steve Rosenbloom has ever written.
Aisle424Quote Reply
[quote name=Suburban kid]Tons of shitty baseball equals tons of quality posts in one day?[/quote]
Rage is our muse.
BerseliusQuote Reply
[quote name=Mish]This is fantastic stuff. To give u the ( dick) highest compliment, I could see myself writing the same exact post. Last paragraph sounds like my evening prayer.[/quote]
[quote name=Suburban kid]Tons of shitty baseball equals tons of quality posts in one day?[/quote]
Aisle424Quote Reply
Amenities on Waltons Mountain > Wrigley Field
melissaQuote Reply
I put up a Bulls game thread on Unobstructed Views for those who wish to use it. I will be out somewhere watching the game so my own comments will be sporadic at best. http://obstructedview.net/unobstructed-views/general/bench-mob-vs-some-guys-sitting-around-the-bench-talking-game-2.html
Aisle424Quote Reply
Lineups
RF Fukudome
2B Barney
SS Castro
3B Rodrigo
1B Pena
CF Byrd
LF Adolfo
C Captain Fundamentals
P Dempster
CF Coghlan
SS Hanley
LF Morrison
1B Sanchez
3B Dobbs
RF Stanton
C Buck
2B Infante
P Lee and Cain
BerseliusQuote Reply
I can’t keep up with all these new posts today. Is this the Grand Re-Opening of Obstructed View or something? Why didn’t we hype it? (dying laughing)
mb21Quote Reply
Cubs may get no-hit tonight.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
(dying laughing), somehow I missed the story about Coghlan getting injured while throwing a pie in a teammate’s face
BerseliusQuote Reply
Well fuck.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Hanley got all of that one
BerseliusQuote Reply
Lots of great stuff on here today. You can tell it’s great because I didn’t write anything.
Love this piece, Tim.
mb21Quote Reply
[quote name=Rice Cube]Cubs may get no-hit every night.[/quote]
fixed
melissaQuote Reply
BUNT
Rice CubeQuote Reply
(dying laughing), Nolasco has the Rick Vaughn haircut. Was he playing in the California Penal league in the offseason?
BerseliusQuote Reply
That last Mike Stanton foul ball would’ve plated six runs in cricket.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Mike Stanton is a very large manchild.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Never heard of it.
MuckerQuote Reply
Koyie breaks up the no-no (dying laughing)
Rice CubeQuote Reply
McNutt: 3 IP, 4 H, R, K
Ha: 2-5
mb21Quote Reply
McNutt went 3 IP tonight, Ha had a few more hits and thats about it for AA
dylanjQuote Reply
fucking mb21
dylanjQuote Reply
Very surprised that DeJesus avoided a chance to get a runner thrown out at home.
melissaQuote Reply
[quote name=mb21]McNutt: 3 IP, 4 H, R, K
Ha: 2-5[/quote][quote name=dylanj]McNutt went 3 IP tonight, Ha had a few more hits and thats about it for AA[/quote]
Cool stories, bros.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Cubs players with more than 80 players appearances:
Name PA wOBA
Kosuke Fukudome 120 .369
Darwin Barney 152 .356
Starlin Castro 175 .355
Alfonso Soriano 147 .355
Carlos Pena 134 .337
Marlon Byrd 169 .321
Geovany Soto 121 .320
Aramis Ramirez 155 .317
mb21Quote Reply
Dempster is afraid of Ricky Nolasco.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Lead-off walk to the pitcher…Let’s See What Happens
melissaQuote Reply
Nice K by Dempster.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
[quote name=dylanj]fucking mb21[/quote]A thread back you asked at what point do the Cubs just release Soriano. I’m thinking as soon as Brett Jackson gets healthy and gets a week of playing time. At that point we can’t say he’s one of the three best outfielders in the organization. I also agree with you that Colvin could easily do what Soriano does. I’d bet he’d be better. Soriano’s defense is so bad it’s ridiculous. Unless the Cubs want to move him to 1st base I see no reason to keep him around. The last thing I want is Soriano stealing playing time from a more deserving player and I’m afraid he’s already done that with Colvin.
mb21Quote Reply
I know the Cubs won’t do that. I doubt any organization would, but they should.
mb21Quote Reply
[quote name=mb21]I know the Cubs won’t do that. I doubt any organization would, but they should.[/quote]
If they fire everyone and a new GM comes along, and they lose out on the Pujols/Fielder sweepstakes, wouldn’t they then want to at least give it a try in ST?
Rice CubeQuote Reply
i’d rather have Carlos Pena than Colvin. But im pretty sure next year we will have a new GM, President, Albert Pujols and 50/50 Quade is gone too
dylanjQuote Reply
Ricketts wouldn’t eat Milton Bradley’s contract do you really think they’re going to release Soriano? I do not.
melissaQuote Reply
we need more Brad Fucking Snyder on this team
dylanjQuote Reply
I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised if Tony Campana is better than Soriano. He plays good defense in CF, has gotten on base a lot the last 2 seasons and is ridiculously fast. He won’t hit for any power, but Soriano doesn’t field.
mb21Quote Reply
Soriano is going to force their hand. This guy will be out of baseball in a year or two if he keeps up this decline.
dylanjQuote Reply
[quote name=melissa]Ricketts wouldn’t eat Milton Bradley’s contract do you really think they’re going to release Soriano? I do not.[/quote]
agree. and I also don’t see Ricketts ponying up for Pujols if wrigley is empty all summer. he;ll say something to the effect that if fans want them to spend money, they have to come to the games
Recalcitrant Blogger NateQuote Reply
[quote name=melissa]Ricketts wouldn’t eat Milton Bradley’s contract do you really think they’re going to release Soriano? I do not.[/quote]No, no team would just release Soriano. I’m talking about what should be done.
mb21Quote Reply
[quote name=dylanj]i’d rather have Carlos Pena than Colvin. But im pretty sure next year we will have a new GM, President, Albert Pujols and 50/50 Quade is gone too[/quote]
If the GM is gone, Quade is for sure fired. I don’t think Ricketts is going to seriously consider signing Fielder or Pujols because their financial situation is not good. Bad attendance and a stadium in serious need of rehab along with their debt service is going to result in severe payroll reduction, imo.
melissaQuote Reply
Do people really think the Cubs will sign Pujols?
MuckerQuote Reply
They should just give him to some team and eat half the contract.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
[quote name=dylanj]Soriano is going to force their hand. This guy will be out of baseball in a year or two if he keeps up this decline.[/quote]I tend to agree with this too The guy has a sub .300 OBP, cannot field to save his life, can’t run. About the only thing Soriano can do is hit for some power. Basically, he’s a 5th oufielder who should make league minimum and come off the bench about 100 times per season against a lefty only.
mb21Quote Reply
[quote name=Muck Muckintuck]Do people really think the Cubs will sign Pujols?[/quote]
Not really, but we can dream (dying laughing)
Rice CubeQuote Reply
[quote name=Muck Muckintuck]Do people really think the Cubs will sign Pujols?[/quote]No. I think they do sign Prince Fielder, though.
mb21Quote Reply
Nice AB by Soriano.
Campana is wearing his cap like a wigger.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Pujols is a god but it doesn’t make sense to give a 32 year old the contract he most likely will be getting. I would take Fielder over Pujols at this point. I think whoever signs Pujols to his new deal is going to regret it.
MuckerQuote Reply
[quote name=dylanj]we need more Brad Fucking Snyder on this team[/quote]I’m surprised as well as he’s hit he hasn’t at least gotten called up yet.
mb21Quote Reply
i really do think they will sign one of fielder or pujols. If you are ricketts and fans are tired of paying top dollar for a shit team are you really going to try and sell them on Tyler Colvin?
If the team tanks and attendance is down they will have to make a big splash. The lemmings would fill Wrigley to the gills if they had a real star to get behind.
dylanjQuote Reply
A younger Soriano beats out that GIDP, methinks.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
BFS has entered the Jason Dubois island of AAA. Where no matter what you do the best you can hope for is a cup of coffee in September
dylanjQuote Reply
[quote name=Muck Muckintuck]Pujols is a god but it doesn’t make sense to give a 32 year old the contract he most likely will be getting. I would take Fielder over Pujols at this point. I think whoever signs Pujols to his new deal is going to regret it.[/quote]I agree. It will be awesome the first few years, but after that it’s going to be one of those contracts you wish was never signed.
I only want Fielder if it’s a more reasonable contract than he apparently wants. No way am I giving that guy $120 million. $75 million? Yeah. Maybe $85 or $90 million, but nowhere near $120 million.
mb21Quote Reply
[quote name=mb21]I agree. It will be awesome the first few years, but after that it’s going to be one of those contracts you wish was never signed.
I only want Fielder if it’s a more reasonable contract than he apparently wants. No way am I giving that guy $120 million. $75 million? Yeah. Maybe $85 or $90 million, but nowhere near $120 million.[/quote]Fielder is 5 years younger. You sign him to a 7 year deal and he’s 32. If he can keep his weight under control, he’ll be a good sign. He’s never going to be skinny but he seems to be pretty athletic for a fat ass. I’d give him a 6 year deal at $100 million.
MuckerQuote Reply
danny duffy makes his royals debut. lots of prospects coming up for them
dylanjQuote Reply
[quote name=Muck Muckintuck]Fielder is 5 years younger. You sign him to a 7 year deal and he’s 32. If he can keep his weight under control, he’ll be a good sign. He’s never going to be skinny but he seems to be pretty athletic for a fat ass. I’d give him a 6 year deal at $100 million.[/quote]
http://www.anothercubsblog.net/major-league-baseball/articles/a-look-at-prince-fielder.html
BerseliusQuote Reply
That was almost really nice.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
[quote name=Berselius]http://www.anothercubsblog.net/major-league-baseball/articles/a-look-at-prince-fielder.html[/quote]Good stuff. That’s kind of how I see him too.
MuckerQuote Reply
Man, it looks like Koyie could outrun Soriano at this point
BerseliusQuote Reply
Duffy to Napoli: 96. 94, 84 (changeup), 95, 95, 94
Impressive
mb21Quote Reply
I wish the Cubs were the Royals.
mb21Quote Reply
[quote name=Berselius]Man, it looks like Koyie could outrun Soriano at this point[/quote]Pretty sure he could. Soriano looks like a statue running at this point.
mb21Quote Reply
Morrison must have been watching tape on the Cubs.
BerseliusQuote Reply
Where is this offense coming from?
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Duffy just struckout the side
mb21Quote Reply
[quote name=Berselius]Morrison must have been watching tape on the Cubs.[/quote]
Dobbs was in the room too I guess
BerseliusQuote Reply
By DeRosa’s stubble, with the amount of room Dobbs is giving Starlin he should try to steal home
BerseliusQuote Reply
Dempster is offended by Nolasco.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
i fucking hate dempster, walking the pitcher again (dying laughing)
Recalcitrant Blogger NateQuote Reply
kurcz with 5 shut out innings.
dylanjQuote Reply
[quote name=Recalcitrant Blogger Nate]i fucking hate dempster, walking the pitcher again (dying laughing)[/quote]
That came back to hurt him.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Is Duffy up because he’s ready, or up for a spot start because of need?
Recalcitrant Blogger NateQuote Reply
Crap.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
BerseliusQuote Reply
the Cubs is dead
Horny GoatQuote Reply
Koyie Hill has Nolasco’s number.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Gah. Reed Fucking Johnson batting against another RHP
BerseliusQuote Reply
(dying laughing), I take it back
BerseliusQuote Reply
[quote name=Berselius]Gah. Reed Fucking Johnson batting against another RHP[/quote]
(dying laughing)
(dying laughing)
Recalcitrant Blogger NateQuote Reply
(dying laughing) (dying laughing) (dying laughing)
Nice.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
[quote name=Berselius](dying laughing), I take it back[/quote]
Shut you right up.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Still doesn’t mean it was a good decision, but I bet it happens again now
Recalcitrant Blogger NateQuote Reply
2-run HR I take it.
Horny GoatQuote Reply
TOOTBLAN!
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Has reed already earned his roster spot? Question for the stat fags
Go BULLS!!
bubblesdachimpQuote Reply
Hill sure does suck at throwing runners out
Recalcitrant Blogger NateQuote Reply
97 mph? Radar is generous.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
[quote name=Rice Cube]97 mph? Radar is generous.[/quote]
this is Land Shark Stadium
Horny GoatQuote Reply
[quote name=Horny Goat]this is Land Shark Stadium[/quote]
I thought it was Sun Life Stadium.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
I thought it was Wayne Huizinga stadium
Recalcitrant Blogger NateQuote Reply
[quote name=Rice Cube]I thought it was Sun Life Stadium.[/quote]
Corporate sponsor of the week stadium
BerseliusQuote Reply
[quote name=Berselius]Corporate sponsor of the week stadium[/quote]
whatever it’s called, no more baseball will be played there after this season. a dreadful place for it.
Horny GoatQuote Reply
Byrd fucked that ball up.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
did I just see a Byrd fly?
Horny GoatQuote Reply
Marlon!
BerseliusQuote Reply
I switched to ESPN for a second and they were talking about Bartolo Colon’s “stem cell” thing. Have you guys talked about it? I don’t read every word. sorry.
anyway. Barry Larkin said even though it helped him get back to 95 MPH, it still doesn’t help location, so you can’t give credit to that (dying laughing)
Horny GoatQuote Reply
Shit. I thought that was a TOOTBLAN (dying laughing)
Rice CubeQuote Reply
the legend of Campana grows. how the hell did he get on? I missed it
Horny GoatQuote Reply
[quote name=Horny Goat]the legend of Campana grows. how the hell did he get on? I missed it[/quote]
Pinch run for Soriano.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
[quote name=Rice Cube]Shit. I thought that was a TOOTBLAN (dying laughing)[/quote]
speed don’t slump
Horny GoatQuote Reply
[quote name=Horny Goat]speed don’t slump[/quote]
And rust never sleeps
melissaQuote Reply
I was following on yahoo and they didnt mention Soriano reaching base.
Horny GoatQuote Reply
Soriano got a single. Then Campana came in to pinch run. Stole 2B, bunted over to 3B by Koyie, then came home on an FC I think.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
[quote name=Rice Cube]Soriano got a single. Then Campana came in to pinch run. Stole 2B, bunted over to 3B by Koyie, then came home on an FC I think.[/quote]
Small ball’d
BerseliusQuote Reply
Today is April 48th. Kosuke is 2-for-4 with a walk.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
[quote name=melissa]And rust never sleeps[/quote]
better to burn out, than fade away
my my, hey hey
Horny GoatQuote Reply
[quote name=Berselius]Small ball’d[/quote]
Leave it to the Cubs to start hitting for power in a pitchers’ park.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
[quote name=Rice Cube]Today is April 48th. Kosuke is 2-for-4 with a walk.[/quote]
trade him
Horny GoatQuote Reply
[quote name=Rice Cube]Leave it to the Cubs to start hitting for power in a pitchers’ park.[/quote]
it’s the weather
/Ricketts
Horny GoatQuote Reply
Wouldn’t it be smarter to move Byrd to a corner and Campana to CF? Ah well.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
grab some bench
Horny GoatQuote Reply
[quote name=Rice Cube]Wouldn’t it be smarter to move Byrd to a corner and Campana to CF? Ah well.[/quote]
might as well use Campana like they have. It’s not like he’s the second coming of Sam Fuld.
Horny GoatQuote Reply
[quote name=Horny Goat]might as well use Campana like they have. It’s not like he’s the second coming of Sam Fuld.[/quote]
I just hope whenever they bring up BJax, they either move Byrd to RF or trade him so BJax is the CF.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
ah jeez!
Horny GoatQuote Reply
[quote name=Rice Cube]I just hope whenever they bring up BJax, they either move Byrd to RF or trade him so BJax is the CF.[/quote]
we’re trying to lose games here.
Horny GoatQuote Reply
The Ari Kaplan rule and actual platoon wisdom dictates Marmol is in now.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Rivera blew a save against BAL. 1-1 in the 11th.
Marmol in for a long save attempt. Good times.
Horny GoatQuote Reply
[quote name=Rice Cube]The Ari Kaplan rule and actual platoon wisdom dictates Marmol is in now.[/quote]
I missed the part where you guys call him Ari
Horny GoatQuote Reply
(dying laughing) at that whiff
Horny GoatQuote Reply
where was that? (dying laughing)
Horny GoatQuote Reply
[quote name=Horny Goat]I missed the part where you guys call him Ari[/quote]
The stat guy (dying laughing)
Hanley flies out on strike four.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Clown shoes —> HanRam
BerseliusQuote Reply
I still can’t get over the last 2 losses at CIN. Just craptastically bad baseball
Horny GoatQuote Reply
[quote name=Rice Cube]The stat guy (dying laughing)
Hanley flies out on strike four.[/quote]
I had to look that up
Horny GoatQuote Reply
Whoops.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
I thought Pena was a defensive wizard.
Horny GoatQuote Reply
cubs don’t lose
Horny GoatQuote Reply
Damn, and I has putting together an all-facepalm postgame after that 5th inning (dying laughing)
BerseliusQuote Reply
[quote name=Berselius]Damn, and I has putting together an all-facepalm postgame after that 5th inning (dying laughing)[/quote]
Save it for tomorrow.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Fukudome saw 31 pitches in 5 PA.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Espn.com lists Koyie Hill as one of today’s “Top Performers.”
ACTQuote Reply
[quote name=ACT]Espn.com lists Koyie Hill as one of today’s “Top Performers.”[/quote]Yes. In the subcategory of “People That Have Gone One Full Day Without Maiming Themselves”
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
tony campana is now the fastest player in baseball according to yellon.
dylanjQuote Reply
Alvin can look forward to speedy Campana delivering his Jimmy Johns at some point.
Horny GoatQuote Reply
[quote name=dylanj]tony campana is now the fastest player in baseball according to yellon.[/quote]
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
Felix Pie almost hit a walk off HR in the bottom 14th vs NYY. So close
Horny GoatQuote Reply
[quote name=Horny Goat]Felix Pie almost hit a walk off HR in the bottom 14th vs NYY. So close[/quote]Too bad he’s slower than Tony Campana.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
everyone is slower than Tony Campana
Horny GoatQuote Reply
[quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]Too bad he’s slower than Tony Campana.[/quote]
This is true of all humans
melissaQuote Reply
Photoshop oppo:
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
I love this new story.. might even buy the book
http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_upshot/20110518/od_yblog_upshot/new-book-says-ussr-behind-roswell-ufo
Horny GoatQuote Reply
[quote name=Horny Goat]everyone is slower than Tony Campana[/quote]Spinal Taps amps go to 11; their speedometers go to “Tony Campana”
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
There are no known photos of Tony Campana, no camera has a shutter speed fast enough to capture him.
melissaQuote Reply
Nobody know this, but I beat that time in high school. I’m just very humble.
Horny GoatQuote Reply
From this moment on, “track and field” will officially be known as “tony campana and field”
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
Tony Campana makes light look slow.
melissaQuote Reply
Sound moves at the speed of Tony Campana.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
Campana factor one Mr Sulu..
Horny GoatQuote Reply
Black holes are really just the puncture marks from the time Tony Campana ran through Space.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
[quote name=Horny Goat]Campana factor one Mr Sulu..
HA.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Tony Campana can come to the plate in the 7th and beat out a grounder he hit in the 5th.
AndCountingQuote Reply
To- oops, he’s gone!
UrkQuote Reply
Tony Campana could run faster if he didn’t have to wait for his own electrons to catch up with him.
AndCountingQuote Reply
Dr. Aneus TaintQuote Reply
Dr. Aneus TaintQuote Reply
Dr. Aneus TaintQuote Reply
^^^^ (dying laughing) at all 3.
MishQuote Reply
Number 3 is best. What the fuck is the guy doing in number 2?
Suburban kidQuote Reply
[quote name=Suburban kid]Number 1 is best. What the fuck is the guy doing in number 2?[/quote]
Diet Coke + mentos.
Dr. Aneus TaintQuote Reply
.
Suburban kidQuote Reply
[quote name=Jame Gumb]Diet Coke + mentos.[/quote]I thought it might be that, but your gifs are so grainy and furtive it was hard to tell.
Suburban kidQuote Reply
Ask Tom Tango a question on BP:
http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=13960#commentMessage
MishQuote Reply
[quote name=Suburban kid]I thought it might be that, but your gifs are so grainy and furtive it was hard to tell.[/quote]
Mine aren’t. Sometimes the ones other people make are, but I post them anyway.
Dr. Aneus TaintQuote Reply
[quote name=Mish]Ask Tom Tango a question on BP:
http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=13960#commentMessage%5B/quote%5D
I’d say, “How many people did it take to make your name?”
Dr. Aneus TaintQuote Reply
(dying laughing)
Dr. Aneus TaintQuote Reply
[quote name=Jame Gumb](dying laughing)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLvB_ybcKt0%5B/quote%5DI agree with with this Youtube commenter:
.
Suburban kidQuote Reply
[quote name=vafadude]No offence, but I’m clearly British.[/quote].
Dr. Aneus TaintQuote Reply
http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/05/19/the-pittsburgh-pirates-lack-a-sense-of-humor-oppose-cheap-beer/
MishQuote Reply
Jose Bautista could be average the rest of the season and he’s still going to win the MVP. The start to his season is ridiculous: .372/.522/.843. His .567 wOBA is 98 points higher than Lance Berkman who has the second highest wOBA in baseball. His .843 slugging is 140 points higher than Berkman’s (ranks 2nd). Votto ranks 2nd in OBP at .465.
Jose Bautista = Barry Bonds
Enjoy
mb21Quote Reply
(dying laughing)
Dr. Aneus TaintQuote Reply
[quote name=mb21]Jose Bautista could be average the rest of the season and he’s still going to win the MVP. The start to his season is ridiculous: .372/.522/.843. His .567 wOBA is 98 points higher than Lance Berkman who has the second highest wOBA in baseball. His .843 slugging is 140 points higher than Berkman’s (ranks 2nd). Votto ranks 2nd in OBP at .465.
Jose Bautista = Barry Bonds
Enjoy[/quote]
The Blue Jays just got a steal for his contract if this actually keeps up.
I wonder what the ‘roid buzz is for Bautista. I personally don’t care but I’m sure it’ll come up at some point.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
[quote name=Rice Cube]The Blue Jays just got a steal for his contract if this actually keeps up.
I wonder what the ‘roid buzz is for Bautista. I personally don’t care but I’m sure it’ll come up at some point.[/quote]
Someone implicated something last year and I remember the main controversy is why the guy accusing Bautista didn’t receive the same scorn as the writer who accused Ibanez the year before.
MishQuote Reply
[quote name=Rice Cube]I wonder what the ‘roid buzz is for Bautista. I personally don’t care but I’m sure it’ll come up at some point.[/quote]
Well, yeah! People don’t just…get better at…stuff.
Dr. Aneus TaintQuote Reply
http://www.whatstheroidbuzzforJoseBautista.com
jtsunamiQuote Reply
[quote name=Jame Gumb]Well, yeah! People don’t just…get better at…stuff.[/quote]
What do your fagety spreadsheets say about that?
Rice CubeQuote Reply
[quote name=Rice Cube]What do your fagety spreadsheets say about that?[/quote]########
Are my formulas wrong?
jtsunamiQuote Reply
[quote name=jtsunami]########
Are my formulas wrong?[/quote]
So you’re saying Bautista is “pounding” the ball…
/bad pun
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Mariano Rivera sucks now. How dare he blow saves.
http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/05/18/mariano-rivera-blows-save-after-bartolo-colon-goes-eight-scoreless/
Rice CubeQuote Reply
D’oh…
Rice CubeQuote Reply
[quote name=Rice Cube]
D’oh…[/quote]Insults that backfire for $200, Alex.
Suburban kidQuote Reply
John Sickels, Milton Bradley, and Pink Floyd all in one post!
http://www.minorleagueball.com/2011/5/19/2176279/in-the-flesh
MishQuote Reply
[quote name=Rice Cube]So you’re saying Bautista is “pounding” the ball…
/bad pun[/quote]
-faget point
Dr. Aneus TaintQuote Reply
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=6564134
BerseliusQuote Reply
Poor DeRosa…
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/blog/big_league_stew/post/Mark-DeRosa-8217-s-wrist-strikes-again-with-wei?urn=mlb-wp6960
Sucks that he might be done now, but that DeRosa—>Archer—>Garza trade looks extra good.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
That’s pretty interesting, b. I kind of hope it happens, but I really don’t care that much. Mostly I’m just impressed with how progressive the Big Ten has been over the past few decades. Between their TV network, their instant replay system, and now this, they’re really distinguishing themselves as the leader among conferences in actually improving the way collegiate sports are handled.
AndCountingQuote Reply
[quote name=AndCounting]That’s pretty interesting, b. I kind of hope it happens, but I really don’t care that much. Mostly I’m just impressed with how progressive the Big Ten has been over the past few decades. Between their TV network, their instant replay system, and now this, they’re really distinguishing themselves as the leader among conferences in actually improving the way collegiate sports are handled.[/quote]
I hope it happens too, but that article is pretty clear that it’s probably not going to happen anytime soon. I’m just glad that someone within the system brought it up.
BerseliusQuote Reply
[quote name=Jame Gumb]-faget point[/quote]You are indefagetable!
Suburban kidQuote Reply
[quote name=Suburban kid]You are indefagetable![/quote]
Dr. Aneus TaintQuote Reply
[quote name=AndCounting]That’s pretty interesting, b. I kind of hope it happens, but I really don’t care that much. Mostly I’m just impressed with how progressive the Big Ten has been over the past few decades. Between their TV network, their instant replay system, and now this, they’re really distinguishing themselves as the leader among conferences in actually improving the way collegiate sports are handled.[/quote]I agree the Big Ten has been more innovative than any other conference, but this I think is pretty dumb. The NCAA needs to guarantee athletic scholarships before they even consider this. At that point can you even justify giving them the additional money? They’re already getting a free ride. Not including transportation and personal expenses, which aren’t covered by these scholarships, the student is already getting about $18,000 per year from the University of Iowa if he’s a resident or about $35,000 per year if he’s a non-resident.
I don’t care how much college football is exploiting them. That’s a shitload of money and it’s not like the money the athletic departments make is going to waste. It allows them to have volleyball, track and field, baseball, hockey and many other sports that lose money. It allows them to offer more scholarships to other students.
Award these guys more money and other athletic programs will be cut. All due respect to the females around here, but enough male sports programs have already been cut across the country, I don’t think we need to see additional ones cut just so some football player can get a little extra cash. College baseball would become extinct if the schools pay the football players.
If you want to pay these guys, take away their athletic scholarship and pay them in a similar manner to how professional athletes are paid.
mb21Quote Reply
Child abuse.
GBTSQuote Reply
There are 120 players on a college football roster. Let’s say they paid them halfway between $2K and $5K ($3500). That’s $420,000 per season. The reason the Big Ten is suggesting this is because it creates a larger gap between them (the SEC, P10, etc) and the smaller conferences. Many of the schools in those non-BCS conferences aren’t going to be able to pay their football team half a million dollars on top of the scholarships they’re already giving out.
Take Iowa and Iowa State for example. Iowa could easily afford to pay that kind of money. Their athletic department is in good shape and one can argue it’s only because of their football program. Iowa State’s athletic department isn’t in good shape. There’s no way they could come up with that kind of money. They’d cut scholarships on the football team to save their wrestling team. They’d eliminate a few other male sports. Maybe baseball. It has 11.5 scholarships so that’s gone. The football roster is down to 105, at least two other sports are gone, ISU is even more of a joke than they already are.
There’s a very good reason this has zero chance of happening. Iowa State is a successful university and there’s no way they could afford it. Iowa couldn’t in the sense that it would at least cost them their baseball team. At the very least!
mb21Quote Reply
new stuff: http://obstructedview.net/chicago-cubs/articles/its-never-too-early-to-look-ahead-to-next-year.html
mb21Quote Reply
I haven’t really thought this through, but I think I would rather have the athletes be paid at the expense of their current glut of scholarship offerings. I mean, cut the number of scholarships allotted to any one sport and pay some of the living expenses instead. Lower-tier athletes can get student loans just like anybody else. Would athletic programs be all that less attractive to students if a handful of scholarships were cut to finance every participant being paid in cash?
AndCountingQuote Reply
@ Horny Goat:
Yep, they dead.
The Cubs Is Dead
Harry BanksQuote Reply
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