jersey cubs fan

But bringing him up now reduces that flexibility. The only flexibility it provides is "storing" him in Iowa, which is where he already was.

A couple weeks ago I thought they were a 2 wins in the playoffs type team, but I hope I'm wrong. I'd like to see them win one series. I don't see them getting past the next opponent, but they can beat Calgary. I'd go with Huet. He's your goalie next year, Khabi has been nothing special in the playoffs, and really over the course of his stay in Chicago, he's only had a couple stretches of brilliance. For as well as he played at times this year, he only did it in half the team's games. He's shown absolutely no sign that he's capable of being the true #1 goalie over the course of an entire season and playoffs. Why not give Huet a shot right now. It's not like he's be at risk of "blowing the chance" in these playoffs. Khabi played better in the first 2 home games though. He did, but he wasn't brilliant by any means. He hasn't looked like a goalie that could carry a team through the playoffs, and really, that was the only reason to stick with him this year. Had he really turned it on and dominated, and the Hawks won a couple series, then I think they consider resigning him and doing what they can to trade Huet. But 4 games in and he's given up multiple soft goals and a whole bunch of goals in general. It probably doesn't matter who you start. I would lean toward giving Huet a chance to build some sort of momentum as the Hawks goalie. Otherwise you go into 2009/2010 with Huet taking the job by default and lots of people pining for the "glory" days of Khabi, even though he was never anything special for the Blackhawks.

If that is not the case, and there is a run on receivers, I hope Angelo doesn't get desperate and overdraft a guy in his spot. If you have to take the 8th or 9th best player at a position that early in the draft, you're probably reaching. They still need help in other places. If there is a run on receivers, and offensive lineman start to slip, I would still like to see them take somebody to provide further depth, and insurance against the very significant possibility that Orlando Pace doesn't last the season, let alone into next season.

Really? A reach? I thought I remember that pick being praised from the beginning. I thought he was considered something like 1st round football ability but slipped only because of a perceived lack of athleticism. Maybe that's just my memory in hindsight, but I have vague recollections of a generally upbeat response to that selection while seeing some video of him at Nebraska.

A couple weeks ago I thought they were a 2 wins in the playoffs type team, but I hope I'm wrong. I'd like to see them win one series. I don't see them getting past the next opponent, but they can beat Calgary. I'd go with Huet. He's your goalie next year, Khabi has been nothing special in the playoffs, and really over the course of his stay in Chicago, he's only had a couple stretches of brilliance. For as well as he played at times this year, he only did it in half the team's games. He's shown absolutely no sign that he's capable of being the true #1 goalie over the course of an entire season and playoffs. Why not give Huet a shot right now. It's not like he's be at risk of "blowing the chance" in these playoffs.

If they didn't want to release Vizcaino at the end of spring training -- and decided to cut Gaudin instead -- what possibly could justify changing course on that decision at this point? I'm guessing they found a trade partner willing to take a small, small portion of Vizcaino's salary. The only thing I'm questioning is that if it's a trade, why wouldn't it be announced before the ballgame? The Cubs certainly aren't going to be able to use the traded player in tonight's ballgame. I guess it would be all for the benefit of the other team who would be optioning a player to make room. I don't like this move even if it were to replace Cotts. I'd be fine with it if it were any of the other relieving options in AAA replacing Cotts, but Samardzija needed the time down there. And none of the other major league relievers needed to be traded or released yet. My guess is the big reason to make this move is to have one spot in the bullpen that can be optioned up or down, and that they are going to trade a reliever now before the interest dies down. If its' a trade, it can still be announced before the game, or during the game. Or even after, if the details are still being worked out before an announcement.

How do you hit a walk-off triple? High fly ball, runners tag up, by the time it rolls away from defender hitter is between 1st/2nd and glides into 3rd before runner makes it home.

The shark has been really good against lefties though that has been in only 13ip against. The move that makes the most sense is for shark to come up and replace Cotts. The move that makes the most sense at this point is no move at all.

the trib has it and speculates Vizcaino could be released, which makes very little sense at this point in time.

What the F? Panicky move. If Samardzija has a future as a starter, he needs to be getting innings. I guess this means they are done with Patton then.

It's definitely on the + 5:30pm Chicago Tribune Live (LIVE) 6:30pm SportsNite (LIVE) 6:31pm Cubs Pregame Live on Comcast SportsNet Plus 7:00pm Chicago Tribune Live ® 7:01pm Cincinnati @ Cubs (LIVE) on Comcast SportsNet Plus 8:00pm Blackhawks Pregame Live 9:00pm Blackhawks @ Calgary (LIVE) 10:00pm Cubs Postgame Live on Comcast SportsNet Plus 11:30pm Blackhawks Postgame Live

Just heard a Burish interview on the Afternoon Saloon on the way home. He said the bad blood isn't over and tonight is going to be a nasty one and one for the ages. This of course after Keenan came out and said the Hawks were making racial remarks which all of the players vehemently deny and Iginla will NOT confirm it as truth. I hate that lying [expletive] head. Wait. I thought Keenan specifically said that Iginla didn't have a problem with it because it was not racial.

But who expected him not to, really? If we're going to waste time booing every sucky ex-Cub who sucked, we're gonna be really hoarse. Booing underachievers in one thing, but booing all the dregs that Hendry ever brought in is just stupid. I think booing in general is stupid, but saying it's okay to boo certain guys but not okay to boo glendon Rusch seems pretty stupid to me. People get booed when they tie up a considerable portion of payroll and a roster spot and aren't good. I get upset when my expectations aren't met, personally. When someone like Rusch comes into a game, I expect him to suck. I don't feel compelled to boo when someone sucks who every reasonable person would expect to suck. If they make too much money, my beef is with Hendry. Maybe I'm crazy. That's perfectly fine. But fans aren't obligated to accept somebody sucking just because they knew they would suck. If that were true, I never would have been allowed to voice displeasure with the work of Dusty Baker. Like I said, I'm not a booer. It does nothing for me. But it's perfectly understandable to boo a player who sucked while playing for your team, regardless of the negligence that brought him there.

I don't really view fans booing after an opponents HR or other hit booing of the pitcher that gave up that hit. It's booing something negative happening toward their team. If they booed Harden after he was announced for his at bat, that would be booing him.

There is no explanation for booing Harden. He's been a fantastic Cubs pitcher. He's done exactly what people hoped he'd do.

But who expected him not to, really? If we're going to waste time booing every sucky ex-Cub who sucked, we're gonna be really hoarse. Booing underachievers in one thing, but booing all the dregs that Hendry ever brought in is just stupid. I think booing in general is stupid, but saying it's okay to boo certain guys but not okay to boo glendon Rusch seems pretty stupid to me. People get booed when they tie up a considerable portion of payroll and a roster spot and aren't good.

Glendon Rusch sucked.

Sports "news" organizations, whether it's local, national, blog form, 24-hour or even just the 4 nightly news tidbit, have a lot of time to kill and look for easy stories. This is an easy story. Boston fans heard about Buckner and Bucky Dent and the Curse of the Bambino until they finally won it, same is going to be true for the Cubs.

I've used it three times, once for Bears and twice for Cubs games, no problem whatsoever.

Last night I was really hoping to see him in the game instead of Marmol after Cotts put the 2 guys on. Using Marmol in that spot is just going to cause problems down the line. I wanted to see Cotts get out of it on his own. At that point the Cubs had a big enough lead and with the wind blowing the way it was, just let him pitch his way out of it. IMO, Marmol should not have been used. As Len and Bob pointed out, the Cubs are starting a stretch of 20 straight games. Rest Marmol when you can. The Cubs were coming off 2 straight off days, and Marmol had only thrown twice in an 8 day stretch. I don't typically like using him in a 5-run lead situation, but he threw just 7 pitches. He should be fine for tonight, if necessary. But hopefully he only throws in one of the next 2 games.

The Packers did it, didn't they? I don't know how they did it or how reproducable it is, but it seems like it would be in the realm of possibility. Their system was set-up in the 1920's. My guess is MLB would be heavily against such a stock sale.

Duke Robinson was his pick the first time, offensive line seems to be the place they could use the most help.

this is over 12 hours old, let's make a pick for him.

Most people will look at that as the manager trying to make something happen. If it works, the manager is pressing the right buttons, if it fails, the players failed to execute.

Directv has this game airing at 10 eastern on Versus. The Caps/Rangers game is set to air at 7 on Versus. If that one ends in regulation, there should be plenty of time to get this game on the air before the puck drops. Versus is going to be uavailable during the Rangers game for me, as it will air on MSG, so I hope it ends on time. Yeah, I see that has been changed on Directv. Now, hotel, please have Versus. Otherwise I'll be running around looking for a bar in Connecticut. Call hotel now and ask if they have it. They probably won't, in which case you should scout out some sports bars.