What happens when you combine the stupidity of Steve...

[David]

...Rosenbloom, Phillips, and Stone?

 

This...

 

But here’s the thing: The idea of trading Zambrano is not just about getting out from under a bad contract and away from an unrealiable player. It’s about the clubhouse and it’s about the real reason the Cubs signed Carlos Pena, at least according to Steve Stone.

 

To back up a bit, former Mets general manager and current Fanhouse commentator Steve Phillips was on the horn during the radio show I do with Mark Grote on Saturday mornings on WSCR-AM 670. We were talking about the Pena deal, and Phillips joined me in wondering about paying $10 million to a guy who hit .196 in a contract year.

 

Then we got an unexpected call from Stone, the White Sox analyst and smartest baseball man on my television and now my radio. Stone said I was missing the point of the Pena signing, and it was this:

 

The Cubs signed Pena to provide a strong Latin presence in a clubhouse screaming for something more adult than Zambrano’s screaming. But it’s more than Zambrano. There’s Alfonso Soriano, who supposedly ruined Felix Pie by teaching him every bad party habit. There’s Aramis Ramirez, who refuses to dive for balls, and isn’t that a great example? There’s a history here that goes back to kicking out Mark Grace and turning over the clubhouse to Sammy Sosa, the ultimate team play -- no, wait, never mind.

 

So, in Stone’s view, Pena comes to Wrigley with a left-handed power bat and a great glove, but also the right example for Starlin Castro and Geovany Soto and any other kid who suddenly becomes important as the Cubs struggle to stay ahead of the Pirates in the standings while spending $100 million more.

 

So, for those of you scoring at home, Hendry had to tell Ricketts he needed to pay a guy $10 million to set a better example than the guys Hendry previously agreed to pay almost $300 million.

 

http://blogs.chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/rosenblog/2010/12/zambrano-wants-to-stay-a-cub-which-is-one-reason-pena-had-to-become-a-cub.html

[bhogg]

not diving for balls. .. . . what an asshat.

 

I seem to remember ARam shredding a shoulder while. . . .while. .. . while. . . . DIVING FOR A BALL.

[Sammy Sofa]

Holy [expletive]. The stupidity in that article is just incredible. So now Soriano is a bad clubhouse guy because he taught Pie "every bad party habit?" Weird with how that conflicts both with Soriano's general positive reputation in the clubhouse and Pie's repeated incidents of douchebaggery.

[CUBZ99]

Problem was -- and is -- Zambrano won’t waive his full no-trade rights. It’s the kind of contract perk that general manager Jim Hendry gave everybody who stopped by the Cubs money buffet, a clause that reeks of stupidity and weakness on the part of both the player and the team, and here’s why:

 

I thought Big Z had 10-5 rights anyways? Either way, what a ridiculous article.

[USSoccer]

Stone is the blurst.

[SouthSideRyan]

I hope Steve Stone gets hit by a car

[MWV]

Then we got an unexpected call from Stone, the White Sox analyst and smartest baseball man on my television

 

Rosenbloom apparently watches only TLC and Sox games.

[CUBZ99]

Then we got an unexpected call from Stone, the White Sox analyst and smartest baseball man on my television

 

Rosenbloom apparently watches only TLC and Sox games.

 

=D>

[XZero771679666304]

Yeah, I read that earlier. It's a massive confluence of ignorance and idiocy.

[NCCubFan]

Problem was -- and is -- Zambrano won’t waive his full no-trade rights. It’s the kind of contract perk that general manager Jim Hendry gave everybody who stopped by the Cubs money buffet, a clause that reeks of stupidity and weakness on the part of both the player and the team, and here’s why:

 

I thought Big Z had 10-5 rights anyways? Either way, what a ridiculous article.

I don't think he has those rights for another year. He did pitch at the major league level a little in 2001, but probably not enough for him to get credit (I'm not sure what the rule is for partial years).

[jersey cubs fan]

I can't help but read into it a strongly racist vibe. He tries to hide it, but it's all about latinos being lazy stupid immature and in need of babysitters.

 

If Aramis Ramirez was the exact same player but white he would be lauded as a guy who plays hurt with regularity as a quiet leader and consistent performer who is poised for a bounce back year after his post surgery season.

 

It is disgusting how the old white guy population continuously jumps on this guy. Rozner, Stone, Rosenbloom, Kaplan, just a bunch of blatant bigots.

[Guest]

That article is awesome. It should be up for the Pulitzer in lunacy.

[daske17]

You know what this team needs? More white guys.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

That sounds like something my racist grandmother would spew out after 7-8 drinks.

[David]

That sounds like something my racist grandmother would spew out after 7-8 drinks.

 

 

It would take her 7-8 drinks?

 

Damn.

[jersey cubs fan]

That is a morbid thought.

[BigbadB1679666149]

I'm embarrassed to say that at one point in my life I valued anything Steve Stone had to say.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

That sounds like something my racist grandmother would spew out after 7-8 drinks.

 

 

It would take her 7-8 drinks?

 

Damn.

Now that I think about it, they're probably unrelated.

[ConstableRabbit]

I'm embarrassed to say that at one point in my life I valued anything Steve Stone had to say.

Was it "I think a breaking ball low and away will do him in right here."?

[David]

I'm embarrassed to say that at one point in my life I valued anything Steve Stone had to say.

Was it "I think a breaking ball low and away will do him in right here."?

 

 

I impress girls with that line all the time.

 

By impress I mean I say it to them AIM and then they sign off.

[davell]

I'm embarrassed to say that at one point in my life I valued anything Steve Stone had to say.

 

Yeah, same here.

 

 

As far as this article goes, it's pretty much wrong in every single facet. So, it's got that going for it anyway.

[champaignchris]

After joining the Cardinals, didn't Theriot say something to the effect of the Cubs' clubhouse being bad because the guys didn't hang out together? So with regard to Soriano, which is it? Or is it that they're hanging out together in a bad way? Is that what "bad party habits" means? Are there good party habits Soriano is failing to pass on to our younger players? Stuff like, "Tip your server, use a designated driver," and that sort of thing?

 

I'm glad to see that I'm not the only one who thinks the biggest difference between Aramis Ramirez and Scott Rolen is where they were born. (Baseball reference, most similar player to Ram through age 32: Scott Rolen (926).)

 

If I were demoted to the bullpen after one bad start and a 9-year career ERA+ of 127, I'd probably need anger management, too.

[jersey cubs fan]

After joining the Cardinals, didn't Theriot say something to the effect of the Cubs' clubhouse being bad because the guys didn't hang out together? So with regard to Soriano, which is it? Or is it that they're hanging out together in a bad way? Is that what "bad party habits" means? Are there good party habits Soriano is failing to pass on to our younger players? Stuff like, "Tip your server, use a designated driver," and that sort of thing?

 

I'm glad to see that I'm not the only one who thinks the biggest difference between Aramis Ramirez and Scott Rolen is where they were born. (Baseball reference, most similar player to Ram through age 32: Scott Rolen (926).)

 

If I were demoted to the bullpen after one bad start and a 9-year career ERA+ of 127, I'd probably need anger management, too.

 

These guys love Mark Grace who never met a bartender he didn't put through college.

[SouthSideRyan]

Yeah, but these guys wear batting gloves

[hardcorecubfan]

Phillips-He just can't figure out why he is an ex-GM