This just in......

NY Times- November 26, 2006:
It was reported today that the Chicago Tribune, parent company and owners of the Chicago Cubs, have accepted an offer to sell the team- effective January 1, 2007. The new owners have been identified as the New York Yankees. A source within the Yankees who wished to remain anonymous stated that the Yankees intend to operate the Cubs as their top farm team, and also fully committed to upgrade the Cubs by sending some of their better minor leaguers to them for seasoning. Plans are also underway to enhance and modernize the Cub's present training methods. For instance, Jason Giambi will be holding seminars on the proper use of supplemental vitamins to grow strong, healthy bodies. The unidentified Yankees source also stated for the record that there was absolutely no truth to the rumor that they would move the Cubs to White Plains, NY and turn Wrigley Field into a flea market. Also today, Sammy Sosa was quoted in the Dominican Republic as saying "If a class team like the Yankees are involved, I would consider coming out of retirement to help the Cubs again".

If it's in the New York Times, it must be true.

Also, in other news today, the Boston Red Sox still suck.

:D Happy Holidays everyone!!! What a way to start off the holiday season.

Hey, that reminds me:

Shut up! :p

Big Mac doesn't get in:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16541906/

I didn't expect him to get in, to be honest, but I was suprised at how low the number was. About 23%, I think. How long does he have now, before he gets dropped from the ballot?

This doesn't bode well for all the other big stat guys from the mid-'90s to mid-'00s. If MacGuire can't get in with more than 500 HR (which is usually considered the magic number for a home run hitter), there will be a lot of other guys on the outside looking in.

Big Mac could hit home runs. Period. He couldn't hit for average, run or play defense. If the Hawk, Andre Dawson, can't get elected, then McGwire should never get a sniff- steroids or not. Dawson was a ballplayer. McGwire could hit home runs- only. 'Nuff said.

Looks like the Yankees unloaded the Big Unit and his Big Salary back on the Diamondbacks.

He never was comfortable in NY. At his age, you can't depend on him to be the ace of the staff either. Could be good for both parties.

I'm just hoping that they leave the Texas RoidBoy in Texas. Or maybe Bah-ston will sign him first instead- I hope.

Didn't see that story - the Yanks really aren't picking up a dime of that Big Salary? That would be a nifty deal for them... and not so smart for the DB's.

The Yanks supposedly picked up 2 mil of the $16mil they owed him.

I agree that Dawson should be in, but you cannot leave McGwire out based on his numbers. 500 is the number. He made it. He gets in, unless you want to punish him for the steoid use. Everybody who gets to 500, regardless of whatever else they did or didn't accomplish in their careers, gets in. So you need a better reason to keep McGwire out than just that he was a one-trick pony. Based on his on-field performance, he's in.

You're talking about Clemens? He's another one that you have to let in (300+ wins), unless you want to punish him for suspected steroid use. Based on his on-field performance, he's in.

The guy's a walking drugstore...

http://www.nydailynews.com/front/sto...p-410640c.html

Greenies? Just a wild guess, but there were probably quite a few names on that list along with Mr. PotatoHead's. And probably a few very familiar ones too.

Never come between a ballplayer and his greenies!:eek:

Of course, I'll also bet that most of the players caught didn't blame it on a teammate, like Bonds did. Typical.

yep Typical and sad.

Local talk radio show yesterday was discussing what the reaction to Bond's record breaking home run might look like: fans boo? turn their backs? walk out? Not to mention the banners. It's not even clear they'll have a ceremony for him.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2733168

Rangers bring Sammy home!! My Rangers are gonna ride Sammy Sosa to the World Series. Back where he started out, before Pres. Bush gave up on him.

Yup, ol' Sammy is on the prowl again. He's had a year away from those pesky damn testers to regain his....ah....bat speed. Should have it all out out of his system too before spring training and there still isn't a reliable test for HGH yet anyway. Yup, things are sure looking up for Sammy and your beloved Rangers.

And in other related news, Barry Bonds thinks that Pete Rose and Mark McGwire should be in the Hall of Fame.

Btw, I used to think that you were wise beyond your years <b>and</b> a Yankees fan. Guess I was completely wrong.

<font color = red><font size = +4>Yo, M&M...</font></font>

This just in:

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/baseb...021507.article

Yup, he's back on the PL(Prior List). :D

Shouldn't this thread have been locked about 80 pages back? Take this to the general or baseball forum where it belongs.

Well, you've been locked completely four times so far and you keep coming back. I'd say that the odds are better that you'll disappear before this thread does.:)

:)
http://www.wardskids.com/wdkids/asse...es/32895_t.jpg
Play nicely.

The season hasn't even started and they are already saying "there's always next year." :D

Nobody mentioned it here, but Hank Bauer died a week or so ago. I didn't know that he'd been a Marine. He set a World Series record with a 17-game hitting streak. Pretty amazing player.

http://www.nbcsports.com/mlb/1018315/detail.html

Shouldn't you volunteer to be a mod before throwing your advise around?

Since I'm perusing the board today anyway. . .

"Advise" is a verb. I think you were going for "advice". It's like I never left, isn't it? :D

Actually no, it's quite a bit more pleasant without you around.

btw, some of the newer posters are wondering what this Chuck Elias thing is: myth, man, legend, part of a bad dream...please advize ASAP

Yeah, you're just like jock itch. Just when you think it's gone.....

Sign me up. I'd be more then happy to be a mod on this board.

PH for Mr. Annoying Spelling Guy....

A Tale of Two Games
 

I had a 8th grade season end tournament this weekend. I happen to be the assignor for this tournament. I reffed the third place game, which was played right before the championship game. It was great--two teams and coaches that demonstrated great sportsmanship. Everyone was having fun. At the end of the game, a boy hit two free throws with .6 left to send it to OT (my first of the year). A kid from the other team rimmed out a 3-pointer as time expired in OT, or we would have gone to a second OT. Nobody cried, pouted, complained. It was everything basketball should be, IMO.

I stuck around to watch the championship game. It was the complete opposite. The refs I assigned are both doing varsity high school semi-final games this year, top notch guys. They let the teams play a little, and are as consistent and mechanically solid as anyone. The coaches were jerks, the players were angry pouters, and the fans from both schools were just downright terrible. Watching from the stands, it made me want to quit reffing. Then I'm asking myself why I let this ruin the high from the third-place game. I have one more tournament next weekend, maybe it will leave a better taste in my mouth.

Is there really that much of a decrease in sporstmanship from year to year, or am I just letting the bad ones get to me?

The players make the game. All we can do, as officials, is just react. You can't make chicken soup from chicken sh!t.

Enjoy the good ones. Forget the bad ones.

undeleted.

Thanks mick. Now I can be reminded more often of 98 years of frustration...

Article in the local paper today talking about Felix Hernandez - Mariners pitcher...guess he lost 20 pounds and is in fantastic shape and they are looking for him to have a break-out season and become the ace the M's have needed the last few seasons. Sigh...I don't know why I bother getting my hopes uo...guess that's why they call us "fanatics"...

The Tigers got to Lakeland early.
They lost a 3-pitch-per-outing ptcher, lefty Jamie Walker.
Sheffield is smiling as much as Chris Weber.

Well the M's did end last season on a 2 game win streak. That did put them within 15 games of the A's........

I am a A's fan who enjoys the surprise of what we get every year, will Piazza get us 20, 30 who knows.

Um, no, actually we call you Mariners fans <b>"idiots"</b>. Don't take that personally though.

Thanks, Mick. I'll delete that other thread so that we don't have dueling baseball threads. Maybe on opening day, we can lure Chuck Elias out of retirement for a day to start this year's thread. It would seem kind of strange if he didn't.

I agree. I hope to read his assessment on the upcoming season, a season which could be kinda fun.

It's nice to hear about the good things some MLB players do, instead of hearing about drugs and arrests. Especially since this one is a Rangers player:

Plus, Hank Blalock's shoulder should be 100% by Opening Day!

Hank Blalock?

<b>The</b> Hank Blalock?

LAKELAND, Fla. -- How did the first full workout go for the Tigers?
"Perfect," manager Jim Leyland said. "We got all the work in that we wanted to, and everybody knew where they were supposed to go. Invariably, when you have 60 players, someone doesn't."

http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll...702220370/1004

And in other news, Manny isn't able to make spring training because he's taking care of his ailing mother at a car auction in NJ.:)

1:00 p.m. Sheff returns
 

<TABLE class=grid><TBODY><TR class=grid-content id=34><TD class=channel>http://images.zap2it.com/station_logo/espn.jpg
34
ESPN </TD><TD class=Sports colSpan=6>MLB Preseason Baseball Detroit Tigers at New York Yankees CC http://images.zap2it.com/html/zb/zbAHD.gif </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

Might just watch a little of that, Mick. Maybe might get us both dreaming that spring is actually gonna come some time.:)

That, and both Kerry Wood and Mark Prior will pitch today.

Time to dream...

The excitement, the excitement.....

Nuthin' like a walk-off homer with one aboard. It easily beats a Hail Mary pass and a 50' three-pointer ... by a good 200'. :)

This just in....

AP: Both Kerry Woods and Mark Prior suffered arm injuries today in their Grapefruit League game. The were immediately placed on the 360 day Disabled List, but it is expected that both should be ready by the opening of 2008 Spring Training.

Especially in spring training. They ain't playing no extra innings there. :D

Supposed to be minus 5 here tonight. How about U.P. there?

Sigh...

I'd come over there and smack you 'up side of the head, but I slipped getting out of my hot tub.

Was 200 the number of the guy who hit the HR?

That may have been his number, or maybe that was the number of the guy who threw the pitch. :)

Either way it was fun.
Heck, watching Sean Casey run is very entertaining. He tries so hard ! Yet, I am afraid that he is the only person on earth that would lose a foot race to Steven Segal.

-16 C = +3.2 F

-5F = -21C (I think). Windy too. I'll guarantee the dogs won't be outside too long tonight on their middle-of-the-night whiz. Just once, I wish that they'd wake my wife up instead of me. The only thing stopping them is...well...fear. I wouldn't wake her up either.Think Godzilla being woken up by that nuclear blast and stomping Tokyo. :eek:

You're too negative.

Red Sox roll over the Yankees, baby!! Behind a scintillating 4-inning, 4 ER performance by the number #3 starter. A knuckleballer coming off a 7-14 season. The longer I type, the more depressed I get. . .

A Chuck Elias sighting.

Does this mean we'll have 6 more weeks of winter?

Or we'll be over run by squirrels?

Yo, Chuckster.....

Did you see the clip at the start of the game where the two Japanese BoSox players kept bowing to Matsui? Hilarious. That oughta tell you right there what the proper pecking order in the AL is.

Manny looked good on that triple too. Hope he didn't hurt himself hustling like that.

Is this fair ?

Cubs (ss) 16, Mariners (ss) 4

I have it on good authority that Chuck was officially jealous when I told him I had tix to the Grapefruit League opener at City of Palms on 2/28 in Fort Myers. A 4-4 tie with the Twins. While I was singing "Take Me Out to the Ballgame", he was walking the dog.

I heard this morning that Padres pitcher David Wells was just diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2804147

Not that I'm in the greatest shape, but was this really news to anyone?

A tale of two Bosoxs
 

Manny auctions a grill + baseball on ebay

http://cbs11tv.com/technology/local_...080110121.html

But it turns out it's just Manny being Manny, it wasn't really his grill, he was doing a favor for "a friend" (that could happen).

http://www.auctionbytes.com/cab/abn/y07/m03/i21/s05

So ebay pulled the item

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...MakeTrack=true

Before you decide Boston is full of jerks and the bigger jerks who play on their teams, read about a David Ortiz, who was just being a man while Manny was being Manny

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...031901902.html

Bad Manny.
Good David.
Thanks, Dan.

Speaking of bad, on ESPN this morning they are reporting that one of JR's favorite people (Tony LaRussa) was found asleep at the wheel of a running SUV, at a stoplight, and the car was in drive. :eek: He was cooperative, but also booked on suspicion of DUI.

And you thought I was kidding when I posted this weeks ago, didn't you, M&M, ol' buddy?

Aw, he was probably just tired from solving all of the world's problems. Again.

Aw, geeze, I wouldn't expect anything less than an injury report about Kerry Wood. But the 360-day list is just a bit of an exaggeration. The reports I saw indicated no more than 9 months or so... :eek:

Beside, this is giving other players an opportunity, like Rocky Cherry, who has an under-2 ERA so far this spring. It would be fun to root for someone named Rocky anyway. Although I heard he's only good in short relief...

I was under the impression that the Cubs bought enough bats this year and didn't even need any pitchers. :cool:

I've seen that movie before. It doesn't end well. They need reasonable facsimilies of pitchers at some point.

This is a test, right?

You're testing me with that name because you just know that I'm gonna make some kinda comment that will end up making Mick & Bob give me a time-out in the corner, right?

Lah me, Rocky Cherry.......

Restraint, JR, restraint........

Can I let Dan take this one?

<font size = font size>:D</font size>

Or not. He blew a .09

Did the .09 take him out to dinner?

Aw, JR made me do it.

It's true...it's true...

Just so JR can have his fun...

La Russa is arrested on suspicion of DUI

http://www.thenewstribune.com/24hour...12838470c.html

Just got a call from my daughter. She went to Las Vegas last weekend. Probably not a surprise to most, but guess who she saw there? Yep.....
http://img.timeinc.net/time/magazine...890710_400.jpg

Well since we are posting pictures and ripping on La Russa I being from St. Louis have to stand up for Tony by posting this picture.
/Users/peterfonseca/Desktop/n1307640082_30007996_7855.jpg

Looks like Ugueth Urbina's going on the 14-year DL.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2815590

Opening night on Sunday and I have tickets to opening day on Monday. Starting to get pretty excited here.

Mark Prior
 

Heard he was NOT going to start off THIS season on the dl. Is it true? Is it true?

Yep, it's true. I heard he's staying in AZ for "extended spring training", whatever that is. Wade Miller will start off the season as the 5th starter.

Not so fast there, CubbieFanboy.......

There's a lot of time left between now and next Monday for Prior to hurt himself again. Never doubt his magical powers to almost instantaneously become injured.

I guess Kenny Roger's successful surgery to remove a blood clot in his pitching arm will keep him out 6-8 weeks.

Uh oh. He caught that Prior/Wood syndrome.

Who needs pitching when you got offense? The Cubs are beating up on some minor league team...er, I mean the Mariners, in Las Vegas. The offense is going so well tonight there was even a broken bat HR.

I live for spring training. :D

Well, looks like it may be 12-16 weeks.
I hope he will be able to visit and advise those kids while he's out.

This just ain't right......

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/spor...Pesky-Out.html

There should <b>always</b> be exceptions to some rules.

I wonder if Teddy Ballgame came back to life if they'd keep him out of the dugout too.

There's a rumor going around that Rogers hurt his shoulder swinging at cameramen, Mick. Any truth in that?

That vision of Pesky getting a liner upside the head isn't a pretty thing.

Maybe he did ! Was that 8-10 years ago in another state ? ...The state of emotion ? :)

Wow.

Any chance of him coming in as a "trainer?" Maybe he could tape up a few ankles here and there.

Shouldn't there be a NEW annual thread?

I believe that's Chuck's job. Chuck?

Maybe he's waiting for first pitch of tomorrow night's game?

Or perhaps it will magically switch over at midnight.

I can understand why MLB made the rule. Some of the players were getting ridiculous with their posses in the dugout. Jason Giambi was bad with his own personal trainers a few years ago--always checking to see if he was down a pint on his roids. Barry Bonds was even worse with his his trainer, valet, shoe-shine boy, butler, etc. But when you're also stopping an icon like Pesky from sitting on the bench, then you're just getting plain stoopid imo. Somebody forgot to use their heads on this one.

Have no fear, Chuck will be here!

He'll pop outa retirement to start a new thread on opening day.

And if luck is on our side, he'll then pop right back into retirement.

87 pages has to be an all-time record for a thread.

I tend to agree with you that the Reagan exception should come into play here.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...-Standing2.jpg

Chuck???:confused:

Stupid rule. Let Pesky sit in the dugout.

Teddy in action

http://graphics.boston.com/sports/re.../ted_cover.jpg