daske17

How is this galling? Because every time Selig talks what great health the sport is in, he doesn't mention that it costs an average of $200 for a family of four to go a game. Sure, we in Chicago see sellouts every year because of the way Wrigley is marketed. Gate receipts are up because parks continue to charge more. Not necessarily because more people are coming to the game. I've been to five different parks this summer: St. Louis, Wrigley, US Cellular, AT&T and Safeco. The only parks that were packed were St. Louis and Wrigley. Again, where is the galling part? Attendance is up, revenue is up. Parks don't have to be packed to be healthy. Percentage of seats filled is up. Going off ESPN's attendance info, 7 million more people went to games in 2007 compared to 2001, and parks went from 64.7% to 72.4% of capacity. Can it be expensive? Sure. But I still don't see the galling part. The definition of galling is irritating. If you're not irritated by the fact that Selig calls this a golden era of baseball because revenue is up, okay, we have a difference of opinion. Either way, I don't like hearing that because I like going to baseball games, I constantly have to pay more. At a certain point, there will come a time where the common fan is completely blocked out of going to more than one game a year because it's cost-prohibitive. That's galling.

How is this galling? Because every time Selig talks what great health the sport is in, he doesn't mention that it costs an average of $200 for a family of four to go a game. Sure, we in Chicago see sellouts every year because of the way Wrigley is marketed. Gate receipts are up because parks continue to charge more. Not necessarily because more people are coming to the game. I've been to five different parks this summer: St. Louis, Wrigley, US Cellular, AT&T and Safeco. The only parks that were packed were St. Louis and Wrigley.

As a fan, I find it galling that Selig can there and say how this is a great time for baseball fans with all the revenue the sport is generating, while at the same time teams raise ticket prices every year. The main reason the sport is making so much money is because of high ticket prices, advertising everywhere and that DirecTV deal certainly didn't hurt any. Whatever. I'll still go to games that I can find cheap tickets for.

However, considering that Zambrano and Oswalt took hometown discounts to stay with the team, this may be as goodwill an effort as you can get with a team notoriously tight on the pursestrings. If I was a Twins fan though, I would be pissed. A pitcher like Santana comes along infrequently, and with the new revenue that the new park supposedly will bring in, along with ownership being flush with subsidy money, it is kinda insulting to everyone.

All right, I'm going to delude myself for a moment and I hope you'll all indulge me. There is no published report beyond what the Denver Post had. None of the Chicago papers had anything on this travesty of a signing today. Could it be that Kap saw the Denver Post post and that was it? Maybe there's nothing to this beyond that one report. Please, oh please let that be the only thing out there connecting Matsui and the Cubs.

Unless he can play RF, I don't see the need. His HR totals could certainly increase getting away from Pro Player, but his OBP is nothing too illustrious.

So does this mean that Mark Cuban is going to rape the Cubs if he buys them? [-X

I don't think that was ever revealed. It was the fact that Florida wanted the Cubs to pick up an inordinate amount of the contract that caused the talks to fall apart.

Who? Chicago Sports.com

While this is certainly a terrible deal for the Cubs, I can't help but wonder whether or not Jacque quietly demanded a trade out of town. He's never seemed happy here, and may have pushed the issue behind closed doors. Of course, this probably means that Pie and Murton will start next year in CF and RF (unless God forbid that Rotoworld prediction of Luis Gonzalez comes to fruition.) You can rest assured that Hendry will dig up some past his prime veteran to take time away from those guys. Don't worry, Luis Gonzalez is on his way. Just wait until Scott Podsednik gets non-tendered. We'll all be praying for Luis Gonzalez. #-o

I agree to an extent. But as a baseball player you're main drive should be to win a ring. I'm not advocating all the best players make league minimum to be on the same team in the hopes of winning. I think the past few huge free-agent signings have proven that just because you're the best paid player in the game doesn't give you a better chance of winning the World Series. If I were ARod, I'd listen to teams' offers in the context of an overall plan for winning. If the choice (hypothetically) is $35 million a year for 10 years to play for the Marlins vs. $23 million for 8 years to play for the Red Sox, I'd take the Red Sox if a heartbeat.

While this is certainly a terrible deal for the Cubs, I can't help but wonder whether or not Jacque quietly demanded a trade out of town. He's never seemed happy here, and may have pushed the issue behind closed doors. Of course, this probably means that Pie and Murton will start next year in CF and RF (unless God forbid that Rotoworld prediction of Luis Gonzalez comes to fruition.)

I believe that is the sun, casting its "rays". I mean really, there are some pretty sweet animals in Florida, the grandest of all being the Alligator. The best they could come up with was the Rays? Hell, I would have preferred "The Geriatrics" to the "Rays". Wow, sun rays? What's next the Miami Bumblebees? New York Kittens?

Actually to be completely honest, I've always felt it was A-Rod's fault the Cubs lost game 6 in 2003... A-Rod bought Bartman's ticket for Game 6 and greased up A-Gon's glove. He also told Dusty to stay in the dugout while Prior melted down. You heard it here first.

What's with that weird star thing in the R? Pretty middle of the road otherwise.

I fail to see how this report is in the best interest of baseball. All it does is continue speculation and finger-pointing. And an honest question for those speculating about A-Rod: has there been any tell-tale signs or official rumors of personal enhancement during his career? I always thought A-Rod just had the natural talent to be a great player.

Seriously? A speed bump? That's what they're calling it. I'd call it a stalled engine or a flat tire, but definitely not a speed bump. That would imply forward progress, of which there has been none since the announcement the team was for sale.

Not to cast aspersions on Cardinals fans, but I was at a game in St. Louis last summer. I tried reading the text messages as they appeared and they were ridiculous. I'm glad that's one revenue stream the Cubs haven't implemented. This is professional baseball, not myspace.

I just don't see how they could expect top dollar for the Cubs without including Wrigley Field. Since the stadium was granted local landmark status in 2004, no developer would purchase the land separately with any hopes of building a new structure. And any purchase of the team without a stadium doesn't make fiscal sense. Why would an investor buy a team with no place to put it? This entire situation is so frustrating. ](*,)

The Tribune today said that Hendry was talking to Detroit about Dempster. He may be a good fit for them depending on what happens with Todd Jones or Kenny Rogers. He could potentially fill either the closer or starter role.

Somewhere Garry Marshall is getting prepared to be traded for Clint Barmes.

Fixed.

Friday's an off-day for the Series. I think that's why the Yankees are announcing it that day. Didn't Selig institute a silent agreement that no major announcements regarding baseball personnel would be made during the WS? Or am I thinking of the All-Star game?

Thoughts? Hmmm, baseball at a neutral site in which the best and brightest come to play, have numerous marketing tie-ins and festivities that enrapture the host city for a three-day period. Hey, maybe they can just have one game that brings all the best baseball stars through the league for home-field advantage in the World Series. Oh wait. . .

Well, at least you didn't suggest anything unrealitic. :lol: Well, it't not COMPLETELY unrealistic: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/2828947.stm