spinefixer

For the game that you are in the grandstand, you might consider grabbing a picnic table in the g.a. picninc section downt the left field line. You don't need a special ticket to sit there and you can spread out and have a really good view of the whole park. My wife, daughter and I always sit there when we go and it is so nice to be able to have leg room! Plus, t-shirts and hotdogs are always launched into the section during the between-innings festivities. I would also recommend the Hessen Haus and El Bait Shop.

And thanks (according to reports from the NY Post) for taking Piniella off the market. Report on the Post article coming from Fox radio tonight.

How must-see would Baker be as an ESPN analyst? Seriously. Hmmm... A revisit necessary? Discuss... :wink:

Unfortuantely we're still a ways away from any meaningful games yet. I'm not sure we'll see any meaningful games at all in 2006, but I'm still looking forward to it. Unfortunately, I agree.

You'd better go. You have no idea if you'll ever get the opportunity to go to a World Series game again in your lifetime.

The first quote is pretty silly. Technically, Dusty may be not too far off about the 80% figure. If we count players under age 27 as youngsters, you get Prior, Zambrano, Williams, Wuertz, Ohman, Wellemyer, and Novoa. 58% of the pitching staff can probably be labeled as young. But extending that definition to the position players leaves you with only Matt Murton and Corey Patterson. That is 9 out of 25. Regardless, you get the sense that having young players on the roster is somehow beneath Dusty's dignity. After all, you don't see Tony LaRussa have to put up with that crap. The second quote is more infuriating than anything else. It's like there is a sword of Dusticles hanging over the head of any rookie that dares make a mistake. Quite a double standard, too. If it is a rookie making a mistake, it is because of a lack of coaching. If it is a veteran (you know, like your veteran SS failing to touch second base for a crucial out in the ninth inning of a game against a division rival), well them's the breaks. If Dusty had a low threshold for sloppy play, that would be one thing; but it is clear he has two sets of standards. Also there is the "The only thing about teaching at the big-league level is you can't teach them until they make a mistake," quote which displays a disturbing laissez-faire approach when it comes to developing younger players. I suspect that is probably one of the telling differences between an organization like the Braves and the Cubs. I suspect the Braves take a pro-active approach with their younger players, understanding fully that instruction doesn't end at the minor leagues. With the Cubs, well, you get the sense that they are waiting until somebody screws up. Actually Dusty, it's the Des Moines Register and you'd be suprised by how little they point out mistakes.

:?:

http://users.pandora.be/ramones/emoticon/knocksense.gif C'mon, let's try to be positive...

The CUBS (known as the White Stockings back then) were off that day, after having beaten the New York Mutuals 16-2 in Chicago the day before. They enjoyed a couple days off at home waiting for the Philadelphia Athletics to come to town. At the time, the White Stockings were in first place in the National League, 2.5 games ahead of the Hartford Dark Blues. Ah... the good old days. If that's an actual historical fact, wow. That certainly puts things in perspective. ...and proves that he has WAY too much time on his hands. :wink:

Hasn't cut his swing down to put the ball in play, is what I meant. He's still trying to pound the ball.

I too have been to a couple of the I-Cubs games since he's been back (I'm still pissed about Dubois leaving), and I haven't heard any booing. It must have been an isolated section or two (I usually sit in the LF GA picnic section so I don't hear much anyway). I am not thrilled with the swinging early in the counts and how he still appears to be swinging for extra bases.

This sucks. I'm sure he'll do well if he gets a shot at DH 5 or more games a week.

Last night during the I-Cubs radio broadcast, I-Cubs GM Sam Bernabe said that the club will probably have a couple of simulated games over the next few days to make up for the lost playing time in NO. I wonder if CPatt and Dubois will be here for that or are they for sure going straight to Mesa? It sucks to have to have those guys back here, but I'll sure enjoy watching them! (provided they aren't traded before next Thursday)

Yeah, I forgot about that too. I'm ready now. Bring it on!