Smoking

I know a few Chicago Cubs fans whose affection for the wobegon club has turned into something of a bad habit. Like smoking.

Chicago Cubs Thoughts…

To improve their pennant chances in 2012, the Chicago Cubs might want to consider relocating their franchise to the Pacific Coast League.

Chicago Cubs Thoughts…

If I was the Cubs GM, I’d secure the rights to Ted Williams’ DNA, then plunk all my developmental dollars into cloning….

Fair Weather Bids Farewell

Although I gave it my best effort, mustering up the energy and courage to follow my once beloved Chicago Cubs – let alone write about them on a regular basis – has proven to be too big a challenge. Should they ever return to playoff contention, I’m sure my fires will be restoked, but until then— I’m done. I’m done with what is really a one-sided, dysfunctional relationship. We’re breaking up.

To be anything other than a fair weather fan at my age would be to embrace lunacy. I’ll step aside and allow the wide-eyed youngsters to blog about Chicago’s northside nine. This is their time, their team.

I’m more Kingman, Buckner, Sandberg, and Dunston; than Castro, Fukudome or Zambrano. And a note to the Ricketts family: Stop buying the slop Hendry’s selling over steaks and cocktails – As of late, he’s done a horrible, horrible job of spending your company’s money.

I haven’t given up on baseball yet. I still enjoy the time machine, travelling to the hidden corners of the game’s past, and writing about my discoveries. To find that material, go to the Outsider Baseball Bulletin web site and subscribe. Join the growing cult of followers who receive the weekly ezine. Each week provides surprises, as I do my best to look at the game’s past through a different window.

Hope to see you there. It’s a happy place.

The Fall of Castro

Starlin Castro graced the cover of Sports Illustrated and has gone 2-for-21 in his last 5 games. But I’m a Cubs fan and I have zero belief in silly curses, or stuff of that nature.

In other news: Defensive replacement Carlos Pena went 3-for-4 in yet another start at first, his average creeping frighteningly close to the .200 mark. He also homered. This guy gets to .280 and I swear I’ll stop giving him grief.

Cubs are now 15-17, right in the thick of the Central. Thank God for the Central, where apparently the teams are far too polite to want to show one another up, and jump out to a big lead or anything like that.

Carlos, my man

Cubs late inning defensive replacement Carlos Pena has started the last games at first base, and responded with two home runs. \

In other news: The Phillies have officially clinched the National League pennant.

Ten Mil d’oh!

The Cubs high profile Free Agent acquisition, Carlos Pena, is still hitting .159 with zero ding-dongs and a whopping 5 RBI.  In the last two games, he’s been used as a late inning defensive replacement.

And, oh yeah, he’s still collecting full-time money.

Carlos Pena—- .159

After another 0-fer last night, Chicago Cubs’ firstbaseman Carlos Pena’s batting average slipped below .160.  ONE-SIX-OH.  No homers. The team has played 24 games. Going back to the end of 2009, over the course of his last 167 official major league games, Carlos Pena has managed only 105 hits in 551 at bats, which pencils out to a .191 batting average.  He’s hit  28 homer, though- all last year.

The Cubs’ other Carlos- pitcher Carlos Zambrano- has 82 hits in his last 167 games. He’s 82-for-328 during the span (.250 batting average) with 15 home runs.

Oh, Carlos Pena- the firstbaseman batting .159 this season- is going to earn $10 mil this year.

Just wanted to pass that along.

Oops

Just noticed the Cubs have been playing official ballgames. Gonna check the newspaper- if it ever gets here (the 40-year-dope-smoker who delivers it has been off his game lately)- to see how they’re doing.

Carlos Silva Keeps Peace

Right-hander Carlos Silva managed to cough up 10 hits and 8 earned runs in just 2-1/3 innings pitched yesterday.  He also struck out none before hitting the showers, without so much as a peep to his error-free defenders.  Cubs’ bullpen held the Angels to five additional runs, but blocked the extra point.  Cubs scored two touchdowns in the last six innings, and came back to win 14-13.

Manager Quade said Silva “was in mid-season’s form.”