KenCub

Is Sammy actually trying to hit the ball to the right side of the field for once? His swing must be pretty slow right now, because Sammy is a dead pull hitter. For once? It's a shame you missed 1998-2002. You and vance beat me to it. From 1998 right up until the head beaning in 2003, Sammy was great at using the opposite field. The beaning went a LONG way towards Sammy's decline. He backed off the plate after that and the pitches he'd have dropped the bat head on for a single to right became unhittable for him. Will that still be the case? Time will tell - you know pitchers are going to bust him inside and then go low and away. He has to realize that, too. What he does with that knowledge, we'll wait and see.

I can't wait! "Ticket Day" yesterday just amped me up that much more!

Does the news that Cotts is going to get a few spring starts matter to anyone? Do you think (as I kind of do) that Cotts getting starts is a sort of insurance policy in case Hill looks awful or gets hurt? Lou has mentioned wanting a R/L/R/L/R rotation, and with Marshall's arm problems right now, the "L" portion of this is a bit thin. I think Cotts isn't really a good option in the rotation. He will help the Cubs most in long relief and as a situational backup for Eyre.

I just think the phrase "throw strikes" boils down to challenging hitters more and not trying to be too precise with pitches. If you can get the opposing hitters to expect pitches in the strike zone, as opposed to trying to catch corners and "hit the black", the hitters will be more likely to bite on a slider or commit too soon to a rising fastball. I agree with the post about Z benefiting from this. His stuff is good enough to where he doesn't need to nibble at corners.

The annual first-day ticket frenzy is really a testament to the loyalty of Cubs fans.....and maybe says something about our mental health as well....haha...

To be fair, this is probably the earliest he arrived at camp in a decade or more. I don't doubt his desire to get those 12 homers and then some. I think the whole key to his return is whether or not he's lost any bat speed, and whether or not he can ever lay off the pitch down and away. I don't know if someone can be gone for a year after a very down season and regain former abilities. It'll be interesting.

I finally got through...........on the phone, of all things! Got my tickets, finally. Whew.

I've had absolutely no luck thus far. 5 windows right now, doing nothing. Ack.

Only if the reporters are asking him questions so important that if he misunderstands something and answers incorrectly he goes to jail. So no. So his lawyer read Sammy's written statement because, if Sammy misread his own written statement, he'd have gone to jail?

Prior's gonna havta beat DLee for CPOY. Can you think of a race you'd enjoy more?

Yeah, I want you to get off your computer so others can get in if YOU'RE NOT BUYING ANYMORE!!!!! :wink: :D

Will he have his interpreter at the press conference? :lol:

3 windows open, so far no good. I never seem to get in until later on at night. Blah.

^ Absolutely. I am, however, currently in a state of "pre-optimism" about Mark for this year. I really believe he'll have a Comeback Player of the Year type of season, but like many other fans, I need to see him stay healthy. I think he will, but we've been stung before.

What adds to this is that a lot of the fans bust their butt in the workplace to make a pittance of what professional ballplayers make and have no patience for a player who doesn't give 100% effort to play a game. I'm not making a judgment on Ramirez one way or another here, but am just trying to give some perspective as to the reasons some fans have the viewpoints that they do. And yet a lot of the complainers don't really bust their own butts 100% of the time, but they get all sanctimonious when complaining about ballplayers because it makes themselves feel better. Totally agree. The "I bust my butt in the workplace" defense is a joke. No one is balls to the wall 100% of the time at work. NO ONE. But whenever this sort of topic is brought up, everyone is a dynamo. Just a "devil's advocate" idea here - personally, I'll take Ramirez's offensive production at the cost of an occasional jog down the line - but what percentage of the time does a ballplayer actually "bust his butt"? Basically only when running the bases or when a defensive play involves him. (Add slightly more butt-busting for a first baseman and considerably more for a catcher) If someone gets offended that a player (in this case Ramirez) can't or won't run hard for the 6 seconds or so it takes to get down the first base line (he IS slow, mind you :D ), is that really so wrong? Even if you challenge the work ethic of those who challenge Ramirez's, it can be assumed that the average fan busts his butt at his job for at least 6 seconds, 3 or 4 times per workday, can't it? I don't know if the "bust your butt crew" goes that deeply into the thought process, but that's the only justification I can think of for it, other than simple economic jealousy.

I can appreciate people's love of Wrigley, but I honestly wouldn't care where the Cubs played their home games if/when they won the World Series. The ring's the thing, after all. It would be a nice bonus if they won it at Wrigley, but to me it's all about erasing that (almost) 100 years' drought. They've never won a World Series at Wrigley, so could the park itself be The Curse???? (that's just a joke - I don't believe in curses whatsoever)

If Freddy Garcia is pitching or Mike Piazza is catching, you almost have to try to steal third. In other situations it's a dicey move, but sometimes you give it a shot.

I would take it to mean they're very close to a 1-yr deal for the purposes of avoiding the arbitration hearing, which will allow them to work on the long-term deal during spring training. I think it just means they need to add 15% more money. :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: Nice!! :lol: I thought it meant that he's already signed "Carlos Zambr" and the other 15% of his signature (the "ano") still needs to be signed. :)

Some people will tell you it's a new manager that will do that. Others will tell you it's just your imagination. However, I think it's a combo of a new manager, and the players realizing all of the talent they have on this team this year. Basically. . . It is THE YEAR OF THE CUUUUUUBS. . Great....now I have "Year Of The Cat" stuck in my head. Gee, thanks a LOT. :wink: :D

I think Stone is great, and I'm glad to have him on Chicago radio, even if it is The Score, which I'm not a huge fan of. It's a shame how things broke down between the Cubs and Stone. It was always fun to hear Stone predict a pitch and then watch the pitch go right where he predicted. Not every time, of course, but more often than not.

I thought that was actually the least phony thing Pete's said or done since he got banned. :)

They need to get rid of the red and white stripe on the side. Agreed. And the White Cubs "C" on the hat should be red. I don't mind the white C trimmed in red, but that little splotch of color by the ears bugs me. I don't like the ST jerseys at all. I'm not that big a fan of the Walking Cub anyway.....although I'd like to see more of them during ballgames. :D

Amen. Cowherd is the WORST in radio. He makes Rome tolerable. woah, woah, woah. Let's not go overboard here buddy. cowherd at least makes observations about sports, and although completely wrong 95% of the time--it still qualifies him as being better than rome, who rarely makes comments about anything on-field, only philosophical issues. *dead air* *dead air* "Wicked" *dead air* *dead air* A-Rod, time to nut up and stop whimpering in the corner like a baby that lost his rattle everytime there's a man on base with 2 outs. RACK EM epic. phenomenal.

Call me a blind optimist, but I think it's a really good sign how serious everyone seems about coming into camp in the best shape possible. I know it's their job and everything, but there just seems to be a positive vibe in everything I've seen early in camp. One of these years, things HAVE to go right for the Cubs....don't they? Please???? :D