NOLA

Ronnie Cedeno-Pirates Angel Pagan-Giants Henry Blanco-D'Backs And recently retired but amazingly closer to making this list than I'd of thought: Augie Ojeda

Wow. Probably very true.

My bad then. I thought I had read all of the last gazillion pages, but my head was aching and I stopped. As you were.

Here are exerpts of a radio interview with Braves GM Frank Wren. Nothing too new, other than backing up what a lot of us thought unfolded. http://blogs.suntimes.com/cubs/2012/07/braves_wren_chicago_cubs_dempster_nixe.html

Seriously? Are people really feeling this way? This might be more than just a baseball decision. He has a kid with DeGeorge syndrome. Sure, it sounds like things are positive, but c'mon now. That's a couple months away from his daugther. As much as we talk about things being "just a flight away" these days, it's still painful, for many parents with disabled/sick children, to be so far away from their child on a daily basis. I think Dempster is enough of a pro to understand the business aspects and eventually approve a trade. I have high doubts that he's trying to force his way to the Dodgers, but that's just my guess based on how open he has been about the destination he's going to. For all we know, it's quite possible that he's just sorting out issues and arrangements. Naw bro! RDemp is being a straight up bitch! This is 2012, yo! #-o

Actually, we know what the "hold up" is. I hear that down south they don't serve nacho cheese with breadsticks. Usually it's melted garlic butter. Win for the South.

http://www.weei.com/sports/boston/this-just-in/21214346/source-sox-not-actively-pursuing-dempster FWIW, Jason Stark said on the radio this morning that if he had to say where Dempster would go he would say the Red Sox, added that it would be a perfect fit for them.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-3017957919029122909 I had almost forgotten how terrible Chip was. Almost. If only he had called that shot a "laser" it would have been Chiptastic.

http://cdn.lastangryfan.com/wp-content/uploads/slider.jpg http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_P5gUSo8gLjQ/RrVW2n4BuDI/AAAAAAAAADk/XUbE6oDuWRc/s320/Wahoo2.jpg I guess when your logo looks like this you have to make up that ugly [expletive].

I'm sorry, but what is that yelowish thing on the back row next to Bernie Brewer and Fredbird?

Indians? And what is that thing behind the Blue Jay, and behind the Pittsburgh parrot?

Strange, but I for one am a little bit more excited this week because it's taking place in KC at Kaufman. I really don't care much at all about the Royals, but it's kind of nice seeing a great stadium and fans that are a bit forgotten get showcased. I am a lifelong Southerner, but after the Yankees/Red Sox getting crammed down our throats, a great Midwest baseball town is a welcome change...that's not St. Louis.

In 1984 I was 12. I remember wanting a title that year just to rub it in the faces of all my friends wearing Ozzie Smith and Willie McGhee jerseys. That was the first big sports heartbreak I can remember. The 2003 team was different. I joined this site that season, with "2004" in my handle because I thought the Cubs were still a year away. After Atlanta, I was sold that it could happen then. I was having drinks with a girl I was crazy about in Parasols, a tiny hole in the wall bar in the Irish Channel of New Orleans. There were 3 transplant Chicago guys in there and by the the middle innings the whole place was with us cheering the Cubs. LOTS of Jameson consumed that night. After that awful inning the whole place turned bitter and ugly. I don't think any of us Cubs fans hardly said a word to each other afterwards. I barely remember my date even being there after that. Thankfully she's an old school Red Sox fan so she got it somewhat. I didn't even watch the World Series or any show that might have highlights. Not trying to go too far with it, but I definitely had trouble getting overly optimistic about anything with the Cubs again until Theo, and now again with Rizzo.

Why is it a stupid move? The Lakers window is closing fast but it's still open a couple of years. Nash, while slowing is still a dramamtic upgrade at a PG. Too often last year it was either feed it to Bynum or let Kobe create something at the end of the shot clock. Now there actually is someone who can get everyone involved, plus I doubt you'll see Kobe having to bring the ball into the frontcourt anymore. Sure a Westbrook can drive past Nash, but you have two 7 footers behind him in the lane. It's a great match for both.

If that's the case then then I'm going to start wondering if Theo is doing what he feels is best for the organization or if he just wants to do a video game rebuild and is going to whether it's the smart thing to do or not. At least with Pujols you had the concerns over being an albatross later on because he's old, but with Headley there's no valid excuse other than we don't want to try to win for a long time. He's really good, he's right in the middle of his prime, he's relatively cheap (for his production), we have a gaping hole at third, and he has multiple years of team control even after this year. He plays really good defense, has a very good approach - he's Theo's type of player in a nutshell. If they ask for something we can't give, I fully understand that (or something system-crippling). But to pass on him because we don't plan to compete until he's a FA is a self-fulfilling prophecy - we won't contend for an extended period of time because we won't add great players when they're available. That's the thing though. If Headley is really good, in the middle of his prime, and relatively cheap....then why do the Padres want to trade him? The likely answer would be the same as the reason the Cubs would trade Garza. It's because they only have 1 major asset to a contending team and would prefer it if they could get 2 or 3 good players (eventually) for 1 good player. As good as Headley is, the Cubs are in the same boat as the Padres. They need as many long-term solutions as possible. Sure that sucks in the short term, but it also doesn't make much sense to trade them 2-3 long-term solutions for 1 solution in Headley. The Cubs are not Headley away from competing. Completely agree with the 2nd point. The next 6 or 7 months will tell the tale about the FO timetable. This is their first trade deadline running a horrific Cubs ballclub. What are acceptable increments of improvement in the next 3 years for the team/organization, for the FO and for the fans? Not that a Headley trade decides this, but this and the near future will tell us a ton. As for the bolded quote I agree to an extent, but the difference is that the Cubs are a big market franchise and that has to be part of the reason this is more attractive a job to Hoyer, more opportunity. The draft is not the only means at their disposal.

So who catches if Castillo gets a hammy?

Lance Dickson's MLB debut vs the Cards. I remember Jerome Walton hit a HR. My mom bought me one of those stupid Top 10 Lies Told at Wrigley T-shirts, sort of a spin off off Letterman. I loved Dunston, and I think number 1 was "Dunston just needs a few years to develop."

BP had rubbed a few too many bosses and big money alums the wrong way. In the end he didn't have many allies I'm hearing. Also heard Arkansas will go after Garrick McGhee, who will be a star somewhere. Just please do not let it be Malzhan or one of the Bowden boys. As the world's only Razorback and Saints fan, I can say it's been a long, long offseason.

AL East: Rays AL Central: Tigers AL West: Angels AL WC: Rangers, Red Sox NL East: Phillies NL Central: Brewers NL West: Giants NL WC: Diamonbacks, Marlins ALCS: Tigers over Rays NLCS: Phillies over Giants WS: Tigers over Phillies AL CY: David Price AL MVP: Pujols NL CY: Cole Hamels NL MVP: Hanley Ramirez Train Wreck of the Year: NY Yankees Historically Bad Record: Astros

...and racist merchandise sales around Wrigley will skyrocket.

-Soriano will lower his K's and lead the team in doubles through May. Baseball Tonight mentions him as Comeback Player of the Year. -LaHair puts up a pretty decent 1st half, Rizzo tears apart AAA and gets called up, knucklehead Cubs fans get pissed. -The newest player to catch the wrath of drunk Cubs fan is Marlon Byrd, who really struggles as the drum beat grows for Brett Jackson. -Castro hits 3rd and finishes with 20 home runs. -The defense is atrociously bad. -Smallball and ducktape keep the team competitive through May, the Cubs fall 10 games back by the end of June.

But it's impossible to have a good Super Bowl outside of Florida! Um, excuse me? Wait for next year's game. Here you actually can walk from the bars and hotels to the game. In Miami you have to catch a shuttle and ride 45 minutes to the stadium.

Wow! The history of the NFL is littered with college coaches who failed miserably. I don't see it. Jimmy Johnson was successful. Who else? Don't say Barry Switzer. Bobby Ross? Yeah, I don't see Kelly doing well in the NFL since most of his college success has come from the type of offense he runs which won't work in the NFL. It's early but I think Harbaugh will end up very successful. Oh yeah, Harbaugh. I think that guy will turn out to be a great coach. Tressell or Kelly on the other hand...

Wow! The history of the NFL is littered with college coaches who failed miserably. I don't see it. Jimmy Johnson was successful. Who else? Don't say Barry Switzer. Bobby Ross?