jersey cubs fan

I highly doubt MLB has the leverage to pull something like that off. It's going to have to be something that is advantageous to Fox. I just don't see how they couldn't get more viewers by actually allowing people to watch the game they want.

Basically 4 series each, or 12 games, not that big of a deal.

Yeah, you got screwed by Texas, Fox just C*** blocked you.

If you didn't already bet the under on wins this year, do it now before they move the line to 5.5.

Whether or not they make the playoffs does not determine whether one player hurt or helped a team's chances to make the playoffs. The fact that he is leave off the playoff roster bad is a big reason why a lot of people complain about him.

What? A jock who was a jerk in high school? Madness. Most overblown and overplayed stereotype in teen movies.

sounds like a guy who could use some innings to learn how to pitch.

I'm fairly certain it's either winning team or nobody.

I don't even know what this means. Having the clubhouse to themselves? Who are they sharing it with now that they wouldn't share it with if Cuban was around? I'm confused what you're driving at. Some would, some wouldn't. It's still be a huge story because of the amount of money involved, and the fact that the Trib has owned the team for so long...it's going to be a massive change no matter who gets the team. I know you don't like Cuban, but I think you're letting that keep you from looking at this situation with much objectivity. As you know, the clubhouse is the players "haven" so to speak as you well know. They don't like FO types hanging out down there (::ahem:: Ed Lynch) all the time. Now only based on what I have seen and heard of Cuban, he is the type who will take up residence in there. Maybe not explained so well but the best I can do because I don't want anything taken the wrong way. It's JMHO but I don't think Cuban is the best caretaker for this club long term. I try to look at it from the long term perspective. I also think based on things I have heard that many of the owners think he is good for the Cubs long term. I know they still regret having Loria as an owner. Wikipedia is not the best source but based upon what I know about the story, it's pretty accurate: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeffrey_Loria His first baseball venture came in 1989, when he purchased the minor league Oklahoma City 89ers. During the 1990s he attempted to purchase several Major League teams, notably the Baltimore Orioles. Finally, in 1999, he bought a 12 percent interest in the Expos for $24 million, replacing managing partner Claude Brochu. After executing a series of controversial "cash calls" Loria became the team's majority partner at 94%. Loria was instrumental in the firing of manager Felipe Alou, but chose to be unavailable during the news conference.[citation needed] One of Loria's first acts was to reiterate demands for a new park for the Expos to replace Olympic Stadium, of which he bluntly said, "We cannot stay here." He lost a considerable amount of goodwill with Expos fans when the team was not able to reach an agreement for television and English-speaking radio coverage during the 2000 season, as the Expos tried to increase their revenue from broadcast rights. Both the municipal and provincial governments balked at public financing for the proposed Labatt Park, in part because Olympic Stadium still hadn't been paid for 25 years after being built[3] (and wouldn't be paid for, as it turned out, until 2006). In 2002, as part of an orchestrated move with Bud Selig and John W. Henry (owner of the Florida Marlins at the time), Loria sold the Expos to "Expos Baseball, LP," a partnership of the other 29 major league clubs, for $120 million. Henry then sold the Marlins to Loria for $158.5 million, including a $38.5 million no-interest loan from MLB. The deal was approved by the other owners before Loria and Henry even signed a contract.[4] Loria moved the Expos' entire front office and on-field staff to Florida. MLB's plans to contract the Expos and Minnesota Twins failed, though, as the Twins were compelled through legal action to fulfill the terms of their lease at the Metrodome. Loria's partners in the Expos ownership consortium filed a RICO lawsuit against Loria and Major League Baseball, but it eventually went to arbitration and was settled out of court for an undisclosed sum.[5] The Expos were ultimately transferred to Washington, D.C. as the Nationals. Loria's first move as owner of the Marlins was to fire 60 employees, replacing them mostly with former Expos staff. Marlins team president David Samson, Loria's step son, mentioned during the 2005 offseason that the Marlins were exploring attempts to relocate. I don't see the Cuban/Loria connection. And I don't really see the longterm negative that Cuban brings. I don't believe he's the answer to all our worries, but I do think he's as good a bet as anybody to be a good steward of the Cubs. I don't see him running them into the ground. Perhaps he'd be a bit more likely than some to push prospects for veterans trades, but I doubt he's going to push so hard as to kill the team.

See, there it is again, defending Marquis with utter nonsense.

When I saw the video shot at the same time as this photo: http://images.chron.com/photos/2008/08/06/12367871/342xSectionMain.jpg I never would have thought this would have been the explanation.

Probably not, since their past is filled with so many better players and teams than the Cubs could even dream of. sure, of course. I meant only that I think it gets a little tiresome to always hear (in the Yankees case) how no player you have now or ever will have will be as good as these guys from the past. It's a lot to live up to, which is probably why they've attached themselves to Jeter. The problem is thinking they are just one group. There isn't a 60-year old Yankees fan alive who thinks anybody will ever be better than Mickey Mantle. A significant portion of the more recent generation probably ranks Bernie Williams around the same as Jeter.

again, you can't have odd numbered teams in each league without an interleague series being played all the time And there's no good reason why you couldn't do that. i haven't done the math, so I don't know if that would mean more interleague series or not. I certainly have no problem spreading it out rather than having this weird chunk of the schedule that's suddenly all interleague (minus the one NL series). If each team played 4 interleague series per year, you could.

Marshall could do the same or better for around the league minimum. I think that's where most people's problem with Jason Marquis really comes from. You have to love the implication that there are only three types of pitchers, aces, good enough guys, and completely useless ones. Complaining about Marquis does not mean people want nothing but aces. I also enjoyed Dave Van Dyk's absurd game story where he referred to Marquis as the pitching hero (because he got the win) and then claiming he's pitched better than his record even though he'd just got an undeserved win thanks solely to an absurd offensive explosion.

Are people opposed to calling up Castillo because it will start his clock or something? I guess I can understand that, he could probably use another year in the minors anyway. How old is Welington? Welington Castillo turned 21 in April. His baseball cube stats go back to 2006, with 2007 and 2008 being his only two full seasons. I'm guessing he does not need to be added to the 40-man this offseason for rule 5 purposes, although I may be wrong. If they called him up they would have to add him to the 40-man, that would mean optioning him next season. He's still a few years away, most likely, which means if you can, there's no reason to start the option clock next year unless you have to for rule 5 purposes.

again, you can't have odd numbered teams in each league without an interleague series being played all the time And there's no good reason why you couldn't do that.

Astros radio said that Backe was still in the game because the team does not have an off day until late in the month (similar to the long span the Cubs just finished). Cooper didn't want to get into the bullpen earlier than was necessary. It looked like Backe almost had a Patrick Roy moment, complaining to the manager for keeping him in so long.

Miss the first half of 2006? Nope. So you thought he did poorly the first half of 2006? No, but then I watched him be mediocre at best since then. I'd say the risk outweighs the reward with him This is counter to what you said before. His risk may outweigh the reward, it probably does actually, but that doesn't mean there isn't any chance of high reward.

If Soriano justifies his salary for hte rest of his contract, he'll be a shoe in. But that's not going to happen. He might if inflation keeps boosting contract costs in the market over the next 6 years at the rate it has been the last couple of years. Not really. Inflation isnt' going to make an $18m salary acceptable for anything less than superstar performance. Giambi is in the last year of what was a mega contract signed in 2001, time hasn't made his $21m salary this year look any less than it looked back then.

It's a matter of taste, and that's why it makes perfect sense to me why the Bears are taking their time deciding which one is their guy.

Yes. This. If we had a good O-Line, a solid proven RB, and at least one dependable WR, it makes sense to try the high risk guy. If you're the Bears, and you have none of these things but a good defense and presumably a good special teams, it makes a lot of sense to use the low risk guy. Actually, if you have a good line and solid running game then a safer QB is probably good enough to take you a long way. A team that is all defense and special teams, then if you have any hope of going far, you are going to need a QB who can make some plays.

If Soriano justifies his salary for hte rest of his contract, he'll be a shoe in. But that's not going to happen.

That's really odd since I wouldn't ever associate the two. Oh BR Ramirez never used to walk before this year, so its not that surprising to me. He's also about as fast as I was on one leg and didn't strike out, either. But speed and striking out aren't the big picture. Powerful hitters without much patience. I've always associated Soriano with Ramirez, with the big difference being that Ramirez makes more contact. And no, Soriano isn't going to the HOF.

reeaaally? how so? maybe in public opinion, but Orton can be just as volitable as Grossman, and they have virtually the same contract. He wasn't talking about contract. He was saying that Kyle's highs aren't as high as Rex's, and his lows aren't as low as Rex's. Yeah, I don't understand why people compare Kyle's worst moments as a rookie with Grossman's worst days as a veteran. Sure, they've both laid big eggs. But Orton as a veteran QB with some skill and experience isn't going to be the same guy he was as a rookie, and he's not going to be anything like Rex Grossman in 2006, neither the early MVP candidate or the guy who looked like an abomination. He's not going to have ratings of 140+ followed by 10's and 20's. Orton is probably going to be a guy who occasionally has a game with a 100 rating, but is usually in the 70's, with his stinkers being in the 40-50 range. Yes, as a rookie he had a few games worse than that, but he was a rookie, and that was expected. I don't see why people have a problem thinking of Rex as more high risk high reward, with Orton being safer. I'd rather have the high reward guy if I was comfortable that he could limit the risk, but I can see why the Bears would go with either of the two.

I don't get how a thread like this gets written today. I mean, this isn't a new phenomenon. Unless you've been overseas all decade, you already knew there were less game on WGN.