vance_the_cubs_fan

I've never doubted Baker was a "good" guy. By all indications, he is. I've had an opportunity to meet Jim Hendry. He is a very personable and down-to-earth guy. I also won't deny that meeting Hendry and liking him may have been why I was slow to criticize him. That being said, whether Dusty is a "great" guy or not, I don't want him as manager just as I wish we now had a different GM even though I think Hendry is a good guy too. Both are very likeable. That doesn't make them competent at building a winning team. BTW, I hope you experience a recovery from your cancer. My mom is a breast cancer survivor and I know the struggles up close and personal.

The Kinks with a slim one vote lead. Too close!

Like I do with Skynard, I just refuse to listen to anything recent by Bon Jovi.

There's a little black spot on the sun today That's my soul up there. It's the same old thing as yesterday That's my soul up there. There's a black hat caught in a high tree top That's my soul up there. There's a flag pole rag and the wind won't stop That's my soul up there. I have stood here before in the pouring rain With the world turning circles running 'round my brain. I guess I'm always hoping that you'll end this reign, But it's my destiny to be the king of pain... There's a fossil that's trapped in a high cliff wall There's a dead salmon frozen in a waterfall There's a blue whale beached by a springtime's ebb There's a butterfly trapped in a spider's web There's a king on a throne with his eyes torn out There's a blind man looking for a shadow of doubt There's a rich man sleeping on a golden bed There's a skeleton choking on a crust of bread There's a red fox torn by a huntsman's pack There's a black-winged gull with a broken back There's a little black spot on the sun today. It's the same old thing as yesterday, That's my soul up there....................... I have stood here before in the pouring rain With the world turning circles running 'round my brain. I guess I always thought you could end this reign, But it's my destiny to be the king of pain............. I'll always be king of pain............................

A few quotes by Walker... Link

I was reading an article on Walker's induction to the LSU HOF when I cam across this tidbit. There wasn't a direct quote in the article, so I have no idea what his exact words were. This isn't a surprise, but I thought it was newsworthy.

And now a little Van Halen.... Oh wow, man ! Wait a second man. whaddaya think the teachers gonna look like this year ? My butt, man ! T-t-teacher stop that screaming, teacher dont you see ? Dont wanna be no uptown fool. Maybe I should go to hell, but Im doin well, Teacher needs to see me after school. Chorus: I think of all the education that I missed. But then my homework was never quite like this. Got it bad, got it bad, got it bad, Im hot for teacher. I got it bad, so bad, Im hot for teacher. Spoken: Hey, I heard you missed us, were back ! I brought my pencil Gimme something to write on, man I heard about your lessons, but lessons are so cold. I know about this school. Little girl from cherry lane, how did you get so bold ? How did you know that golden rule ? Chorus (guitar solo) Oh man, I think the clock is slow I dont feel tardy Class dismissed Damn...still can't decide!

This poll is causing serious conflict with me. I love the vintage Skynard. I don't consider the current band to be any more than just a cover band. Van Halen was one of my favs as well. I think I'll go listen to some of both that are on my computer and try to make a decision. Skynard first...I'll share with you. If I leave here tomorrow Would you still remember me? For I must be travelling on, now, cause theres too many places Ive got to see. But, if I stayed here with you, girl, Things just couldnt be the same. cause Im as free as a bird now, And this bird you can not change. Lord knows, I cant change. Bye, bye, its been a sweet love. Though this feeling I cant change. But please dont take it badly, cause lord knows Im to blame. But, if I stayed here with you girl, Things just couldnt be the same. Cause Im as free as a bird now, And this bird youll never change. And this bird you can not change. Lord knows, I cant change. Lord help me, I cant change.

Bon Jovi is one vote behind. I think I might need to register another screen name. ;)

Def Leppard has a very slim lead at this point.

The Police are an easy pick here.

Go Cowboys! Win it all this year! http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v257/vance_the_cubs_fan/trophy.jpghttp://img.photobucket.com/albums/v257/vance_the_cubs_fan/trophy.jpghttp://img.photobucket.com/albums/v257/vance_the_cubs_fan/trophy.jpghttp://img.photobucket.com/albums/v257/vance_the_cubs_fan/trophy.jpghttp://img.photobucket.com/albums/v257/vance_the_cubs_fan/trophy.jpg Five and counting!

I don't think HFA should be tied to the outcome of an exhibition game. Any other solution would be better. Tie it to best record. Tie it to the league that performs better in interleague play. Tying it to the result of an exhibition is ridiculous. Many pundits believe that this is the case because FOX is pushing for it so that they can say the game means something. Personally, I think it's ridiculous.

http://tcal.net/uploads/cartmanginger.jpg

Better beware the ginger kids!

You remembered incorrectly. He was killed in the backseat of an automobile in Gary from a shotgun blast. I was challenged to produce one player who gave back contract money due to poor performance, irregardless of the reason for his poor performance. So, there was one. Are all the others who haven't which is far more likely the norm, bilking their teams out of money? Would you treat these others with the same contempt that you treat Wood or is there something else that makes you act this way toward Wood?

Hendry could have gotten creative with his money and trades. Had he signed Millwood for example, it would have freed him up to trade Prior in a deal for Tejada or Abreu. Instead he settled for Jacque Jones. True again. He just doesn't seem to be a guy that wants to make that big leap. But, if he did trade Prior a lot of fans would of went nuts on him and that would put more pressure to win. These safe little moves got him an extension. And to be honest, I'm not sure I'd have favored trading Prior even with Millwood in the fold. Hindsight is 20-20. I'm also not getting paid the big bucks to run this team either. There were bats available this offseason. The Cubs had players to get them had Hendry spent wisely and been a little creative.

I noticed he didn't mention LaTroy and Corey as some of the guys who have experienced success with him.

Hendry could have gotten creative with his money and trades. Had he signed Millwood for example, it would have freed him up to trade Prior in a deal for Tejada or Abreu. Instead he settled for Jacque Jones.

It's a good article, Bruce. I agree with most of what was written. I'd have replaced Barrett with Maddux. After his hot 5-0 start, he's stunk it up most of the time. Good call on the payroll. If the Cubs had spent 11 million more than the 94, we could have had Millwood. How much better might we have looked with Millwood pitching in April and May? Furthermore, had the Cubs signed Millwood, we might could have pulled the trigger on Prior for Tejada or Prior for Abreu.

It's pretty easy to understand. Rehab starts in the minors take away starts from the young pitching. Here's what this guy did when we needed him most down the stretch. 2004 Aug. 27th vs. Houston LOSS Sept. 10th vs Florida LOSS Sept.16th vs. CIN WIN Sept. 26th vs NYM LOSS Oct. 1st vs ATL LOSS What's interesting is to look at the game logs of those games. He had a horrible start against Houston. Against Florida, it was neither good nor bad. He allowed four runs in six innings, but since we were shut-out, I'd place that loss on the offense. Wood wasn't "good" by any stretch, but when the offense scores zero, it really doesn't matter much. You also left off his ND against Pittsburgh on 9/21 in which the team won. He went 6IP and allowed on 3, so it was a quality start. In the loss against the Mets, he turned in another quality start, allowing only three over 7 IP. Our offense once again was woefully inept, only scoring twice. The Atlanta game was bad, but saying we needed that game is a stretch. I don't think we were mathematically eliminated yet, but the nails were already in the coffin. I wouldn't say Wood performed well in those last games, but your characterization of them, like all your posts about Wood is clouded in some misguided agenda. I think it would do you well to make clear your real reason for despising Wood.

Vance, your education is not yet complete. Today's lesson-Lyman Bostock. Bostock was an OF with the California Angels in the 1970's. He signed a long term contract. Bostock's 1978 season started off a disaster, with him batting only .150 for the month of April. Bostock went to Angels' owner Gene Autry and attempted to give back his April salary, saying he hadn't earned it. Autry refused, so Bostock announced he would be donating his April salary to charity. Thousands of requests came in for the money, and Bostock went through each of them, trying to determine who needed it the most. Tsk..tsk. Continue to answer my questions then. Do you think Gagne bilked the Dodgers? Did Driefort bill the Dodgers? Did Mo Vaughn bilk the Angels? Or furthermore, did Kaz Matsui bilk the Mets? Did Chan Ho Park bilk the Rangers? Is Adrian Beltre bilking the Mariners right now? The fact is, Wood along with all these players, signed negotiated contracts. There was no swindling involved. The teams could have said no to length and dollars. Might someone else have paid up? Likely. That's the game one plays with these big money deals. When you use a term like "bilk" along with the other vitriol you spew toward Wood, it implies something dishonest on Wood's part. It implies that he knew he couldn't live up to the contract and signed it anyway. Wood had the following numbers in 2002-2003: 2002: 213.7 IP, 110 ERA+ 2003: 211 IP, 133 ERA+ He was 26 during the 2003 season. After that season he signed the 4/32.5 contract. Including the buyout of the option it was guranteed 4/37.5 contract for an average of 9 million a season. Ben Sheets pitched220.7 innings in 2003 and posted a 98 ERA+ and then 237 innings in 2004 and posted a 154 ERA+. He was also 26 in the 2004 season. He followed those two years by signing a 4/38.5 million contract, essientially one million less than Wood. While Sheets 2004 was better than Wood's 2003, the combination of their work is eerily similar. Next, let's look at AJ Burnett. Burnett only pitched 120 innings in 2004 while posting a 112 ERA+. His 2004 was remarkably similar to Wood's 2002, except for the fact Wood was healthy and Burnett was not. Burnett then pitched 209 innings in 2005 and posted a 117 ERA+. Wood's 2003 was better. Burnett was already 28 in 2005. Burnett was able to turn those two years into a 5/55 contract. Much greater than anything Sheets or Wood received, partially because he could negotiate on the open market. But it goes to show what both the Brewers and Cubs knew could happen if they let their big fish out to play on the open market. I could go on, but I think I have aptly proven that your use of the word bilk is in error. It's obvious you have other issues with Wood other than the contract he signed. While the Cubs never did get a return on their investment, the contract signed in good faith by two parties seems right in line with what other players with similar performance coming off two healthy seasons would have signed. In some ways, it seems Wood may have given a bit, yet only a small bit, of a hometown discount.

When you finish the work on Hill, can we have someone email it to Jim Hendry?

I'll be watching my nephew play baseball instead.

The three game winning streak has postponed any Dusty Baker firing party for the immediate future, unfortunately.