All the muck that's fit to rake on this last day of February…
Good News!
Bleacher Nation's creator and all-around Good Dude Brett welcomes Clark Taylor into the world. I think I speak for all of us when I say congratulations, and also have him start throwing lefty because we definitely need some pitching prospects. Brett was nothing but kind to me when I reached out to him for advice starting Windy City Sports Wonk, which ultimately led me over here, so I'm thankful for that. Plus, my own first kid is due in 6 weeks, so it's neat to think that maybe one of our kids will see a World Series championship. I'm not holding my breath.
Bad News!
Starlin Castro has suffered a hamstring injury. It doesn't appear to be serious, but since he's a Cub, it will ultimately ruin his career, probably. He joins Ian Stewart and Matt Garza in the "injured in Spring Training of all places" group, and is ultimately day-to-day.
Regular News!
There are 30 contests left for the MLB Fan Cave, and one of them is a Cubs fan. Based on the quality of her movie, I really, really hope that she loses. I was hoping for a little more production value, honestly.
7th Inning Stretch
Apparently, this isn't what the Cubs to have happen. As much as you might want "peanut butter and crack," the Cubs are going to try to just have former Cubs and "Chicago celebrities" sing the 7th inning stretch from now on. It has been ridiculous how stupid and banal the stretch has been the last few years, so I welcome the change. If you want to keep the tradition, I don't see why you can't just have a recording of Haray Caray do it on the days you don't have awesome guests, so we don't have to listen to the cast of Jersey Shore or whatever. If it has to be former Cubs, I vote for Leo Gomez and Glenallen Hill.
J'Marcus Webb arrested
Well, I guess there's another thing that J'Marcus Webb can't stop. Webb isn't terrible in run protection (12th in runs through him last year), but is awful in pass protection (after all, he's a member of the Bears OLine). It remains to be seen whether or not anything comes of this.
Minutiae
Angel Pagan had more triples last year (15) than the New York Yankees did (13). (Castro led the Cubs, with 12, second most in the majors).
Tony Campana led the league in SB by a player without a 3B last year.
A drawing of the Cubs' new ST digs is pretty dreamy.
Comments
I don’t think Campana has a major league triple yet. No gap or down the line power.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
@ Mish:
We all have to contribute somehow. That’s all I have anymore.
RynoQuote Reply
New Aside
MylesQuote Reply
Rice Cube wrote:
Correct, and only 11 minor league triples.
MylesQuote Reply
If Yonder Alonso had been somewhat incompetent as opposed to completely inept, Tony could’ve had one.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
RynoQuote Reply
@ Ryno:
Haha. I wonder if Schefter follows @WFANTrades
BerseliusQuote Reply
@ Ryno:
??? Was he serious?
MuckerQuote Reply
So Brett has a piece mentioning that the Cubs may change their logo. I hope OV got the Cubbie Facepalm in the right hands. That would look perfect on the Cubs hat.
WaLiQuote Reply
Off topic: Scott Feldman, “from across the hall” is making his Cubs debut today.
WaLiQuote Reply
@ Mucker:
The talk show guy was definitely doing a bit, and I think Schefter thought he was serious.
RynoQuote Reply
@ WaLi:
We told the Cubs that our price for the rights to the logo was $10 million dollars, but then we realized that was an insult to our best customers.
By the way, WaLi, we’re still waiting on your $20m check for the OV onesies for covering your spawn.
BerseliusQuote Reply
@ Berselius:
I bought the onesies through http://www.CAFEPRES5.com/OBSTRUCTEDVlEW . I thought $20M was a bit high for a onesies, but then i remember hearing kids are expensive so it must be right. It should be coming through soon.
WaLiQuote Reply
Angel Pagan turned out to be a decent player (well, most of the time). What did the Cubs get for him way back when?
joshQuote Reply
@ josh:
Didn’t he just become like a minor league free agent and they let him go?
Suburban kidQuote Reply
Suburban kidQuote Reply
@ Suburban kid:
Looks like a trade that didn’t quite work out. Oh well.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Rice Cube wrote:
Meyers is only 27, he’s just hitting his prime (as a real estate agent in Arizona)
MylesQuote Reply
@ Myles:
I’m glad he was able to realize his potential.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Rice Cube wrote:
I’m confused by the lack of Hendry bashing over the last few years.
Suburban kidQuote Reply
Need a new fantasy baseball team name. GBTS gave me one once: Busty Poser. That was awesome. Last year I was just Maximum Snark. I need something with more zazzle this year…
Suburban kidQuote Reply
Jolly good fun here.
Suburban kidQuote Reply
Just realized that the math conference I’m attending is literally next door to the Sloan Sports Analytics Conference…
BerseliusQuote Reply
@ Suburban kid:
Charmin Asstro
JonKneeVQuote Reply
Berselius wrote:
WaLiQuote Reply
@ Suburban kid:
Coming up with a fantasy team name is like coming up with a band name, it’s very difficult. Here’s some Cubs inspired names:
Garza Strip
Soler Powered
Vogelbach to the Future
B Jax Meoff
MuckerQuote Reply
Castrointestinal Disorder
Fuh Kyuji Fujikawa
Don’t Shoot the Clevenger
Baker’s Dozen (trips to the DL)
Sister Christian Villaneuva
MylesQuote Reply
@ Myles:
+1 for getting a Night Ranger reference in.
mikeakaleroyQuote Reply
@ Myles:
Man, yours are a lot better than mine.
MuckerQuote Reply
@ Mucker:
Are we still talking about fantasy team names?
mikeakaleroyQuote Reply
mikeakaleroy wrote:
And by the way, they’re real- and they’re spectacular.
MylesQuote Reply
Samardzija’s Fellardzija’s
The Rotting Corpse of Alfonso Soriano
The Ricketts are Chirping
Jackson’s Gotta Brand New Swing
Please Make It Stop (Registered Trademark of Chicago Cubs Baseball)
joshQuote Reply
I liked Mucker’s and Myles’s suggestions. In fact, there’s too many good ones to decide. I’m leaning toward Soler Powered or Castrointestinal Disorder but I also like Don’t Shoot the Clevenger and Vogelbach to the Future.
Suburban kidQuote Reply
josh wrote:
(dying laughing)
Suburban kidQuote Reply
@ josh:
You win Josh. I was trying for about 20 minutes to find something that rhymed with Samardzija. I almost spit coke out my nose reading that one.
MuckerQuote Reply
My fantasy name last season was Koyie Hill’s Fingers. I finished second to last (dying laughing)
WenningtonsGorillaCockQuote Reply
New Shit
MylesQuote Reply