It's Been Real

So I've decided that there's nothing better than forcing other people to read your opinions and viewpoints on various issues of the world. I haven't had this much power since I could control my little sister's every move. And I have to say, that I have enjoyed it. Sadly, the semester is coming to an end and so must my portion of this blog. I could continue writing, but I think that the world has had enough of me and my Cubs.

All I, and other Cubs fans, can do now is look towards next year. Before we know it, baseball will be upon us once more and the drama and excitement will unfold like it always does. This year was very productive for the Cubs and if they play like they did (minus the post-season) it should be another great year for them. There is no doubt that Lou Piniella will learn from his mistakes, that Derek Lee will be more aggressive at the plate in the post-season, the injuries will fade, and the various trades will enhance the team. The Cubs are a team of tradition and struggle but their time will come. I have every bit of faith that if we continue to support them, our dream of a World Series Title will come true.

Since this is my last post, I guess I'd just like to say thanks to those of you who actually read what I had to write. I know it was never easy and I know that some of the readers disagreed intensely with what I had to say. Thanks to the other contributors to this blog and if they are planning to keep on writing, good luck! If I have learned anything from starting a blog, it's that you have a responsibility to your readers to provide interesting information, develop a voice and character that people can relate to, and be relatively recent with your posts. Writing has always been fun but being able to write things that reach so many different people has certainly been a thrill. Even if you hated everything I wrote, I don't really care because I had fun.

So, this is it. So long. Peace, Love, Crabs. (Like Joe's Crabshack)

GO CUBBIES!

Top 5 Reasons to LOVE Chicago Baseball

1. The Cross-Town Classic
Probably the most obvious one. Chicago is the only place left with two chartered MLB teams in the same city. We wait all year to see the Cubbies and the White Sox battle it out in a two-weekend rivalry.

2. It all started here.
Did you know that the American League started here in Chicago? Well if not here is a little history lesson. The AL was created by Charles A. Comiskey in Chicago’s Fisher Building.

3. Some amazing baseball legends came from the Cubs and the White Sox
Ernie Banks, Ryne Sandberg, Frank Thomas, Billy Williams, and Carlton Fisk just to name a few.

4. There’s always something to do after a game.
Chicago is a city with many attractions.
Wrigley Field is known for their bars and restaurants, as the whole city is.
Navy Pier is always a good thing to do when you are in Chicago.
Baseball =summer=hot=swimming in Lake Michigan. You can always take a swim in Lake Michigan after an exciting game.
Shopping on Michigan Ave. is always a good time
Or you can go to one of the many museums in Chicago.
Bottom line, if you go to Chicago for a baseball game, make it an all day affair. There is something for everyone to do.

5. Baseball is historical at Wrigley Field
Wrigley Field, which was built in 1914, is the 2nd oldest baseball park in the Major League. He has hosted my historical events including:
Ernie Banks' 500th career home run May 12, 1970
Pete Rose's 4,191st career hit in which he tied Ty Cobb for the most hits in baseball history.
Sammy Sosa's 60th home run
The All-Star Games in 1947, 1962 and 1990.

I think he has missed the south side... don't you?

So how will the Chicago White Sox solve the problem with not having a center fielder for the 2008 season? I mean we attempted to sign Torii Hunter, but that fell through and was a big shocker to all of us when Hunter signed with the Angels instead of us. Well I don’t know… how about possibly signing Aaron Rowand, a Gold Glove center fielder. Now Rowand is probably not a new face to most of the White Sox fans, since he had previously played for the White Sox for 5 seasons. So let’s bring him back to Chicago White Sox organization!

Just two years ago the Sox traded Rowand in order to get Jim Thome. But now Rowand is a free agent and the White Sox are taking a particular interest in him. Rowand had commented that he wants “to weigh all my options before making a decision. Hopefully that team will make the decision for me."

So how possible is it that the White Sox could have Rowand at center field again? Well very possible I think if the price is right. Plus I think that he has missed the south side, who wouldn’t right?

Whether the White Sox’s main interest is in Aaron Rowand or someone else, they need to sign a center fielder for next season very soon. They are hurting greatly in this defensive area. Let’s hope that this is their number one priority right now!

Special Delivery

It's been almost two weeks since my birthday and I've still gotten nothing from my boyfriend. It's not that he didn't get me anything, it just hasn't come in yet. And I have to say, that it just might be one of my favorite gifts ever.

Mike Fontenot isn't the greatest player in the MLB or even on the Cubs team, but if you know anything about me by now, it's that I love him. So, that's what I'm getting in the mail. A Fontenot jersey. I'm very excited to support my team as well as my favorite player. It's just killing me having to wait for it. Don't be surprised it I wear it every day. Ok, I definitely won't, but it's exciting none-the-less. It was ordered a month ago and it still hasn't been shipped. At first, my boyfriend complained to the company but then it was explained to him that they don't have Fontenot jerseys in stock and it had to be manufactured somewhere else. My question is, why don't they have his jerseys in stock? That fact was shocking to me. Shocking.

So once I get my jersey, I'll be walking around campus in style. On game days, I'll wear Fontenot proudly along with my ball cap. Hopefully it will bring just enough luck to the Cubs to push them through the playoffs and into the World Series. That's what I'd like to think anyway.

Top 10 Reasons Why I Love Baseball

Baseball is called America's greatest past-time and there are many reasons why people feel this way. It can be something small like the hot dogs at their favorite stadium or something big like being the Tigers' #1 fan. Let me give you my reasons.

10. Baseball means summer. There's nothing better than looking forward to Spring Training. Not only is winter almost over but you can now put away your football jersey and break out the baseball cap.

9. The players. In baseball, you have to have skill. This is true in every sport, but you can be pushing 50 and still playing baseball...if you've got what it takes. Hitting a tiny ball going 98 MPH is far more impressive to me than making a layup.

8. The players. Yeah, this is also #9, but now I'm talking about really looking at the players. Football players may have huge muscles and soccer players have nice legs, but in baseball uniforms, a guy can look attractive with hardly anything at all. You can't be scrawny by any means, but show me some pinstripes and some tight pants, and I'll cheer for you.

7. It's in our blood. Americans have been infatuated with baseball for over one hundred years and the love affair shows no signs of stopping. USA=baseball.

6. Big League Chew. Hands down, this is the best brand of bubble gum out there. If there was no baseball, we would have never discovered such a wonderful treat. By chewing it, you feel like you could keep up with the pros and maybe even blow a bigger bubble.

5. The drama. You can't tell me that a brawl that clears both benches isn't one of the greatest things you can witness at a sporting event. It's not always pretty or dignified but when the pitcher is kicking the crap out of the hitter, you're bound to get excited. And don't even get me started on pitchers turning on their own catchers. Cough, cough, Zambrano.

4. "Buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jacks..." This song, sung in the 7th inning stretch, represents all that is good and holy in baseball. Everyone knows it and everyone can sing it, which means that everyone knows something about the great game of baseball. Our grandparents can sing it, while our parents hum it, and our own children will be trying to learn it on the piano. "Cuz it's one, two, three strikes you're out, at the ole' BALL GAME!"

3. The atmosphere. I went to a Dodgers game this year and although I'm not a huge fan, it was the best game I've ever gone to. Why? Simply because of the atmosphere. The sun had just set, it was about 55 degrees, and everyone was geared up in their favorite players' jersey. The stadium is one of the oldest in the country and I'm not even going to go into how wonderful a Dodger Dog is. What I'm trying to say is, the atmosphere of a baseball game is something that you can't take for granted and that you can't duplicate. If you've never been to a MLB game, please do yourself a favor and go.

2. You can be a baseball fan from the age of 4 up to 100. You start off playing tee ball, and then Little League. Soon you're on a middle school traveling team and your high school is winning regionals. You might play in college and you could be lucky enough to make it to the MLB, but the main thing is, you're in it for life. Baseball gets into your body and soul and without it, you are nothing. As Jimmy Dugan says in the movie A League of Their Own, "Baseball is what gets inside you. It's what lights you up, you can't deny that."

1. The loyalty and love you have for your team. For me of course, it's always been the Cubs. No matter what, if they haven't won a game all season or if they've just won the World Series, you stick with them. You follow the transactions, you feel for the pitcher when he has to get surgery, and you leap with joy when someone breaks a record. Your team and your fellow fans are what makes baseball great.

So there it is. My top 10 reasons why I love this sport. Stupid me, I've forgotten one. There's no crying in baseball.

Goodbye Cintron and Posednik, Hello Linebrink

So we finally have had some excitement in the off season trading industry this week. Its about time. The White Sox signed reliever Scott Linebrink on Wednesday, which was a four year, $19 million deal. However when you gain one, you normally have to lose one in order to make some room. The White Sox chose to make room by waiving their infielder Alex Cintron. The Sox were hesitant to give Cintron a raise, especially since he hadn’t made a complete recovery from a surgery he had on his throwing elbow. Another downfall that Cintron had was that he had a batting average of only .243 last season. So the White Sox obviously thought he was the one that needed to go. But I think that they made a very good choice.

The White Sox have commented that they also think that they made a good choice and are confident in their decision to sign Linebrink. The only consquence that came with signing Linebrink was that the White Sox ended up losing their second round draft pick. However, I think that they were willing to make the sacrafice. I’m sure they think it is worth it since Linebrink was 5-6 with a 3.71 ERA when he was with San Diego and Milwaukee last season. He will come to Chicago White Sox with a 30-16 record and a 3.21 ERA over the course of eight seasons with San Diego, Milwaukee, San Francisco and Houston.


The White Sox also decided to release outfielder Scott Posednik who signed the waivers last week and officially became a free agent. Posednik was out for a majority of the 2007 season with an injury.

And yet we still haven’t heard anything about what the White Sox plan on doing with Josh Fields and Joe Crede. I am surprised that they haven’t traded either of them yet, but maybe we will all be even more surprised if they decide to keep both of them. I have a feeling that there is a potential for more amazements in the very near future. Wouldn’t it be nice to see Aaron Rowand back on the south side?!?

I sure hope we don't choke in the off season....

Well it’s a new week, but it’s the same story. The White Sox are wasting another valuable week of off season moves with doing absolutely nothing. They have not resigned anyone nor are they showing any interest in anyone. I’m just wondering what is going through Kenny William’s head.

Like I stated in my last blog, the White Sox didn’t really make an intelligent move with the whole Orlando Cabrera and Juan Uribe ordeal. There are reports that we are not done with trading moves yet, (at least I hope so because we still need a centerfielder) but I’m just wondering when we are going to make some kind of move. Time is running out and it doesn’t appear that the White Sox are showing interest in anyone who is in the free market. The only one that they are really showed interest in was Torii Hunter and if you can recall, that number one target fell through miserably when he signed with the Angels.

I really hope Kenny Williams will make another off season move; however, I don’t really have high hopes of that actually happening. There will probably be the excuses of too much money, but we need to produce a promising 2008 season and the only way we can do that is with some good off season trading. And from the looks of things, I really don’t know if the “big” move is on the horizon. This is not the time to choke.

10 Reasons Why the Chicago Bulls are 3-10

Not only is Scott Skiles speechless about the performance of his team, but so is all of Chicago. In an NBA preseason power ranking, Topupsidepotential.com ranked the Chicago Bulls as the number three team in the East and the number seven team in the NBA. So far, the Bulls are last in the East and are third to last in the NBA. Sad to say, this is not what anyone was expecting. Most people thought that once the Kobe Bryant trade talk ended, the Bulls would be able to focus more on their game. But this was easier said than done. So here is a countdown of the ten reasons why Chicago is playing like "bullshit."

10. Bulls are still lacking a power forward. Tyrus Thomas started the season as Chicago's power forward. After little production, except in Chicago's first win over Detroit, Tyrus was replaced by small forward Andres Nocioni as the starting power forward, even while Luol Deng was injured. Joe Smith has provided a good spark from the bench, but he isn't capable of putting up big numbers or double-doubles. I say just keep on working with Tyrus until he mans up because a smaller line-up is not what the Bulls need.

9. Chicago's rookies aren't adding much depth to bench. Joakim Noah started off the season with an injury, Aaron Gray's surprising preseason performance did not carry on into the regular season, and JamesOn Curry ended up being shipped off to the D-league. Not that we were expecting much, but we want to send one of them to the Rookie Challenge in New Orleans during All-star weekend. All we ask is to do what they did in college...whenever they get the chance to play.

8. Charity stripe is not so generous for the Bulls. The Chicago Bulls are averaging 78% from the free throw line. Chicago shouldn't be surprised by Ben Wallace's 33% free throw percentage, but when Luol Deng is shooting 68% and Andres Nocioni is shooting 66%, who are two of the team's best shooters, then there is a little problem. I sometimes have trouble understanding how someone can shoot a jumper with a hand in your face so easily, but there is only about a 70% chance that you will make an uncontested free throw.

7. Is Big Ben running out of time? John Paxson brought Ben Wallace to Chicago hoping he might fill Chicago's void of a big man. This 4-time Defensive Player of the Year might have reached his peak. At the age of 33, he is only averaging 7.4 rebounds, 1.6 steals, and 1.3 blocks, as well as 4.5 points. So is Chicago back to where they started 2 years ago?

6. Still waiting for Tyrus and Thabo to emerge. The upside of both Tyrus Thomas and Thabo Sefolosha is so immense that it may be years until we get to see some real game come from them. With Tyrus being replaced by Nocioni in the starting line-up and Thabo not getting as much playing time as undrafted rookie Thomas Gardner, there is not much Chicago has seen from these two...except for the usual sick nasty dunks by Tyrus. Together, they average only 11.1 points.

5. They aren't winning the games they should be. Basically, Chicago should have won their first four games but somehow did not. It's sad that their first 4 games of the season (New Jersey Nets, Philadelphia 76ers, Milwaukee Bucks, Los Angeles Clippers), were also some of the easiest of the season. They can't beat them, but they manage to pull off their first win against the then undefeated Detroit Pistons. What's up with that?

4. Umm...they are not playing good basketball?? What more can I say? They just suck at the moment. The past two years, Chicago has gotten off to a slow start, but this time is different. The inconsistency of the Bulls' play is beginning to worry all of Chicago, especially now that they're on their crazy Western conference road tour.

3. Chicago's three-headed bull is being taken by the horns. Luol Deng, Ben Gordon, and Kirk Hinrich are averaging a combined 42 points, which is considerably lower than last year's 56.8 points. These are the guys who must carry the offensive. If they can get their game together, they will receive more help on offense from Nocioni, Duhon, and Thomas.

2. The Bulls can't shoot for shit...at the moment. I'll just give you cold hard statistics. The Bulls have a field goal percentage of 44%, and they are also shooting 37% percent from the 3-point line. They are only averaging 86.5 points per game, while their opponents are averaging 96.5 points per game.

1. Let's face it...Chicago needs Kobe. With trade talks involving Kobe being thrown out the window, so were Chicago's hopes of being one of the greats of the Eastern conference once again. Everyone figured Chicago's emerging talent would be enough, but their record says otherwise. Kobe is currently the NBA's second leading scoring, averaging 27.9 points per game. I'm sure he will continue to be unhappy in Los Angeles, but at least the Lakers have him.

I will continue to cheer for my Chicago Bulls. All I can say is that they have to start getting their shit together.

Wood Is Sticking Around

It's amazing what $4.2 million will get you. If you're a baseball General Manager, that money can help guarantee that a player will decide to stay with your team. In the case of the Cubs, that's exactly what happened.

Kerry Wood agreed to stay with the Cubs for a $4.2 million one-year deal. When free agents started to look into him, the Cubs put more money on the table to keep him around.

"Chicago's my home," Wood said during a conference call. "Chicago's been great to me. There's no better place to play, especially if you're winning."

Of course the word "winning" is in Chicago Cubs terms. This doesn't mean a World Series Title, it just means that with the NL Central victory, the team is on the right track to actually getting through the postseason. Heck, I would stick around to if my salary went from $1.7 million to $4.2 million in just a year.

It's most likely that Wood will pitch from the bullpen along with Marmol and Howry. He's had some elbow and shoulder problems in the past but that hasn't stopped him from being an important aspect to the Cubs' pitching. Wood has a 72-57 career record with 3.67 ERA in part of nine seasons with the Cubs.

"Physically, I feel like I can do it," he said. "But I know what it takes to go out and eat up 200-plus innings. I know what kind of toll it takes on your body. With what I've been through, I don't know if it's wise of me to take that chance again right away."

Hopefully this decision to keep Wood around for at least one more year will benefit the Chicago team. I see Wood doing great things next year, boosting fans' confidence in the bullpen and possibly becoming a great closer. The $4.2 million was well spent on Kerry Wood.

What are they thinking?

So another week has past and the White Sox have finally made an off season move! One that I would personally rank as absolutely horrible! They traded Jon Garland, one of the White Sox’s most consistent starting pitcher for a shortstop. The shortstop that they received is Orlando Cabrera from the Anaheim Angels. Yes he is one of the best defensive shortstops in the game, but the guy is 33 years old and the White Sox really need to improve their bullpen. The White Sox did receive cash in the trade, but like I just said, they really need pitching. I honestly don’t know what they were thinking! They said away one of their best in a position that needs some help all around, for a position that they already have. Within the last two weeks of this trade, the White Sox signed their shortstop Juan Uribe to a one year deal. Now my question is, why would they sign a guy for one year and then go out and trade one of our best players (Jon Garland) for a guy who they don’t have a spot for and who is getting a little old. Now granted, Cabrera will start over Uribe or should at least, but what do you do with Uribe? He really isn’t that good, so you wouldn’t get much of a trade out of him. What I think the White Sox should do is trade one of their two shortstops. I would personally keep Cabrera because he is an awesome shortstop and is much better than Uribe. Like I stated before, the only bad thing about trading Uribe is that you won’t get much for him. It would have been smart for the White Sox to just have released Juan Uribe rather than take on his salary and just hope that someone is willing to trade for him. So my next question is, if the White Sox can not trade Uribe what he is he going to do? He is not a player who I would think that you would want to put him in to pinch hit because he is not the best hitter to say the least. I mean they could use him once every so often to give Orlando Cabrera a break, but I honestly think that it would be just a waste of a salary. I hope that Kenny Williams knows what he is doing and is hopefully getting ready to make a blockbuster trade in the up and coming off-season months. Hopefully it can be for a great centerfielder, since the Torii Hunter deal fell through, when Hunter unexpectedly signed with the Anaheim Angels.

Thank Goodness for Thanksgiving

In a couple of days, it will be the wonderful holiday of Thanksgiving. This is when you head home, eat too much food, and watch as the members of your family fall asleep while watching football. It doesn't really get much better than that. Unless of course all you care about is baseball.

The Cubs have recently released their spring schedule which begins with a game in Scottsdale on February 28 against the Giants. Check out the full schedule. So if you are sitting at home not caring about the Detroit game, you can fantasize about the Cubs upcoming season and the success that they are sure to have.

There will be another member of the Cubs family missing next season: team President John McDonough. He has been associated with the Cubs for 24 years and became the President in October 2006. He replaced Andy MacPhail after a 96-loss season.

"The purpose of why I've been asked to do this job is for the Cubs to win the World Series -- not win the Wild Card or win the division or win the pennant," McDonough said when introduced as interim president last year. "It's time to win. It's time to win the World Series."

Under his reign, the Cubs didn't make it to the World Series but by winning the NL League, they greatly improved their performance during regular season. McDonough will now become the President to the NHL Chicago Blackhawks.

So just because football dominates the Thanksgiving holiday, it doesn't mean that there aren't happenings in baseball. Go home, have a great meal and visit with family, and don't forget about baseball.

Now Hiring

Wanted:
Right Fielder who can hit, stop baserunners from gaining extra bases, and costs between $120-$125 million.

If Cubs' general manager, Jim Hendry, took out a want ad for a player his team needs, it might look like the above. Last week, Craig Monroe was traded to Minnesota and now, Hendry is in the market for a new outfielder. He's looking for someone more athletic and who can do the job at the plate and by raising the amount of money he's willing to pay for such a player, there are bound to be some who are interested.

"We certainly have a fair situation no matter what the final number is," Hendry said. "And we feel confident we can add two or three pieces to the puzzle."

Getting rid of Monroe was a good decision the way I see it. He hit .204 with one home run and four RBIs after being acquired from Detroit in August. He was even left off the postseason roster. The Cubs need another outfielder like Alfonso Soriano. He's not perfect by any means, but he's fast as a defensive player and can usually squeeze out a hit or even home run when it's needed.

Hopefully Hendry can find someone to fulfill the open position soon. I would think that the main priority would be to find someone who can hit. Of course, they need to be a good defensive player as well, but we all know that the Cubs could use another power hitter. Or even someone who can squeeze out some hits in the clutch. For $125 million, I'm sure the GM will find someone suitable.

America v. A-Rod

Why Does America Hate A-Rod?

This is the name of the survey-type quiz on ESPN.com that I just took. The people from the sports website are trying to understand why fans just don't want Alex Rodriguez. On Tuesday, ESPN.com asked, "Would you want your favorite team to sign Alex Rodriguez?" and the results were that a 2-to-1 margin said "No." So why are people hatin'?

Here's the quiz with my answers in bold and the percentage of people who chose which answer. 91,999 people have taken the quiz so far.

1) If you don't want Alex Rodriguez on your team, what is your primary reason?

34.9% Costs too much money
26.5% I'd want him on my team
15.6% He's just not a winner
12.4% Clubhouse cancer
10.5% Just don't care for his personality

2) What has most shaped your opinion of A-Rod?

43.1% He just seems greedy
23.9% His recent poor play in the postseason
21.6% Who cares? He's a great player
11.4% The media portrays him in a negative light

3) Who do you dislike more?

66.9% Barry Bonds
20.5% Rodriguez
12.6% I like them both

4) At what price would you be willing to have A-Rod on your team?

36.7% $20 million per season
24.8% $15 million per season
15.8% $10 million per season
13.2% Wouldn't want him if he played for free
9.4% Whatever it takes

5) Who would you rather have your team spend $25 million on?

38.4% Do I have to answer this question?
34.9% Alex Rodriguez
26.7% Torii Hunter and Kyle Lohse

6) How does signing A-Rod affect a team's budget?

71.4% He eats up too much payroll to field a winning team
28.6% He's talented enough to justify the big salary

7) Would you want A-Rod and Bonds your team for 2008?

75.3% No
24.7% Yes

8) Which player would you most want on your team?

23.2% Johan Santana
15.7% David Ortiz
14.2% Alex Rodriguez
14.1% Albert Pujols
7.5% Ichiro Suzuki
5.2% Matt Holliday
4.5% David Wright
3.5% Grady Sizemore
3.4% Miguel Cabrera
3.1% Ryan Howard
3.1% Hanley Ramirez
2.7% Jimmy Rollins

9) Which player would you rather have?

69.3% Alex Rodriguez
30.7% David Eckstein

Where do you fall on the scale between tolerating, loving, and despising A-Rod? I can't explain why I chose not to care for A-Rod. It's not that I hate him but he's no where near to being one of my favorite players or even players I follow. Maybe the distaste is pure jealously or maybe it's because he's a Yankee. Like the experts at ESPN.com says, "...this is arguably the best player in baseball, a guy who has averaged 45 home runs and 128 RBIs the past 10 seasons. He plays hard, he plays every day and he puts up those huge numbers." So again, what's the problem with Rodriguez?

If you want to help them make sense of this situation, head to ESPN and take the quiz. Who knows, maybe my opinion of him will change if by some freak accident, the Cubs snatch him. And then again...

Making room for Mr. Hunter

The White Sox still have not gotten center fielder Torii Hunter to officially commit to them; however their efforts will increase dramatically from now on. This is due to the fact that yesterday was the first day that teams were allowed to make financial offers to the free agents. The White Sox are probably going to spend a good amount of their budget on Torii Hunter and try to convince him to play for the White Sox. Well how much you might be wondering? According to ChicagoSports.com, the White Sox may need to offer Hunter $15 million or more a year in order for him to sign with them, and the contract will probably have to be for at least five years. But we never know. Hunter has recently turned down a $45 million, 3 year offer from the Minnesota Twins. Hunter has also stated that the contract he will sign this year could possibly be his last because Hunter is currently 32 years old.

Ken Williams has stated numerous times that he has large enough finances to sign an all-star player, but now there are some doubts. There has been talk that the White Sox may need to trade starting pitcher Jon Garland and either Joe Crede or Josh Fields, in order to sign Torii Hunter or any good player at that. They need to make room for Hunter financially, and this is how they can do that. It is a possibility that they are going to trade Joe Crede because he will be eligible for the free agency after the 2008 season anyways. But again, there is always the possibility that Josh Fields can go also. I really don’t think it would be a good idea to trade Garland because the White Sox really depend on him as their starting pitcher.

It's a Win

Sexy Rexy Report: Hell yeah, it feels good to put up a Sexy Rexy Report again. Brian Griese got injured late in the first half and Grossman was put in. He went 7 of 14 for 142 yards and a TD to win the game. I'm glad Grossman got another chance and I'm hoping that if Griese looks like shit for another game that they give Grossman another chance.

The Good: We won, and the defense played well. We'll take what we can from the defense since they have been playing rather poorly as of late.

The Bad: Cedric Benson. He has continually looked like shit this season. I'm up for having Hester put in as a running back and see if he could perform something like Minnesota's Adrian Peterson. I realize he won't be that good, but I think he would be better than Benson.

The Ugly: Grossman had two fumbles, one of which came from his first snap.

The Red Flag Is Flying

When a red flag is dropped on the field, we all know what is coming next. The TV screen splits into two, revealing both teams' coaches and their reaction, the head referee goes into his little box, watching the play over and over, and the fans hold their breathes. What if I told you that in this instance, we're not talking about football? Instead, this flag had been thrown on the baseball diamond.

Last week, the General Managers of the MLB voted 25-5 in favor of recommending instant replay to Commissioner Bud Selig. Could you imagine this in baseball? Strike one! Oh wait, the White Sox are throwing the flag for an instant replay. Looks like the ruling on the field will stand, still strike one. Here comes the next pitch, ball one. Oh, here comes Lou Piniella and we're going to have another look at it...

Ok, it probably wouldn't really happen like that. At the GM meeting, it was said that instant replay will only be used on "contested home run calls." I could see where this might be helpful, especially in important, life changing games. Check out another baseball fan's opinion here. However, this might all be in vain. In the past, Selig has opposed the use of electronic replays during games to help assist call making. Also, Cubs GM Jim Hendry was among the few that voted against the proposal. I'm guessing that those who opposed instant replay felt that it would be used too much and and used for plays such as foul balls, if someone was safe or out, and even whether or not a pitch was a strike or a ball.

It's not that instant replay is necessarily a bad thing but I just don't see it being used effectively in baseball. Heck, it isn't used effectively in football half the time. Ok, that might be an exaggeration, but let's take the Colts game last night. However much I don't want to talk about it, a point must be made. It was late in the fourth quarter and the Colts appeared to have the 1st down far in Charger territory. Then, officials in the replay booth challenged the spot which reversed the call on the field making it fourth-and-1. Following this catastrophe, the Colts false started, Vinatieri missed a field goal, and all hope was lost. Needless to say, Indianapolis suffered because of this instant replay call. Of course, not all instant replay calls are bad but I still can't see this being used in baseball.

Dempster Is No Dumpster

Maybe the Cubs have found a key to another successful season. No, they are not planning to start Mike Fontenot but there has been talk of using Ryan Dempster as a starting pitcher. Dempster was the Cubs' main closer these past three seasons and while he didn't do a bad job at the position, he let some games slip away. Would this switch in the pitching department actually help the Cubs? The plan is to move Kerry Wood to the closing position while moving Dempster to a starting position. I don't really see any harm in at least trying this switch.

"We've talked to Dempster about starting," Hendry said Tuesday at the general managers meeting. "Lou [Piniella] talked to him at the end of the year about it. I think Dempster prefers to be a starter. We're talking about a guy who won 15 games as a starter and went to an All-Star Game in that role. We think he will be able to contribute to our rotation."

I think many fans would have better faith in the Cubs bull pen if Dempster was taken out of it. Just take a look at what Cubs' fan, Rob has to say. Personally, I have nothing against Dempster, but fellow bull pen mates Howry and Marmol usually pitch more effectively and in my opinion, could be trusted more with closing duties. And with Wood being added to the pen, this could only mean good things. Last season, Wood allowed .207 average against him. Compare this with Dempster's 4.73 earned-run average in 66 games. If numbers show anything, Wood would be a better closer and help the Cubs hold on to close victories. This move might be one of the smartest things that the team could do at this point.


Hopefully Wood doesn't decide to let go of the Cubs and become a free-agent instead of re-signing. He is obviously an important aspect to the team's pitching and if he left, the Cubs would be forced to find another bull pen arm. Wood has the numbers and the experience which means that Chicago should try very hard to keep him on board for next season. Could this switch between Dempster and Wood be the key to next seasons' success and ultimate victory over every other team in the nation? In my mind I refuse to think otherwise but in reality, it could be a total disaster. But I trust Lou Piniella with the Cubs and am willing to see how this plays out.

Here's some offensive evaluations

Since the White Sox are in the off-season and there is obviously not too much going on with the trading, I think that it is a great time to evaluate the team and see where we could use some possible improvements.

So let’s start off at first base. The White Sox have Paul Konerko there and he is one of the best hitters, it not the best, on the team. He is also a very good defensive player and to be honest, I really think that we need to build the team around him.

At second base, we have Danny Richar. Richar’s first year in the pros was last year and the White Sox had a lot of expectations for him, and at times he showed us why. He contributes to the team with his speed for the top of the order and he is also a pretty good defensive player. However, I really think that second base could improve. He didn’t really show anything too spectacular last year, but it was his rookie year. Like I stated in a previous post, I think that the White Sox really need to work on improving their middle infield, and hopefully we can take a step towards that with a trade this week or one in the near future.

Now let’s move to shortstop. Juan Uribe played shortstop for the Sox last year and he has a good arm, but it really lacks talent offensively. He is a poor hitter and I think the White Sox could definitely get someone better to help improve the middle infield. Uribe had some off-the-field issues last year and is a free agent at the end of next year.

Like I have said in numerous posts, the White Sox have a dilemma at third base. They have two really good players, Crede and Fields, that will be fighting for the position. I really think that Crede will be the starter next year. He is one of the best all around player s that the White Sox have. Without a doubt he will win a gold glove in his career and he is the best clutch hitter for the White Sox. I am pretty confident that the Sox will end up trading Fields. There is no way that he could replace Joe Crede. So third base is a really solid position, and it doesn’t need any improvements at all.

Now let’s take a look at the outfield. In right field we have Jermaine Dye. Two years ago he made a run at the MVP for the American League. This year he struggled and he definitely had his low and high points. As for fielding, he is an average fielder, but he has a pretty good arm. If the White Sox can find a player that is a better power hitter then they could really use it. But if they can’t, the Dye is a good enough player to stay in right field.

Centerfield is in dire need of an improvement. Last season the White Sox had a variety of players there with not one being really that impressive. Rumor has it that the Sox are trying to acquire Tori Hunter from the free agent market. He would be a huge improvement and asset both offensively and defensively.

In left field for part of the 2007 season we had Scott Podsednik. He is another player for the White Sox who was hurt a lot. He is a decent left fielder, but he is a really, really good offensive player. He steals a lot of bases and does a good job scoring runs. If he can stay healthy then the White Sox will be just fine with left field.

Well I think that is enough for now. I will be sure to write a post in the near future that will evaluate the White Sox bullpen.

Monday After

It's the Monday after the bye, and things are looking up a little. We've got the Raiders coming up, who shouldn't be a tough task. The Bears are reporting that they're getting Hester involved in the offense. But in that same article they're making excuses for players, which I hate to see, especially since it's for Benson. He's a sorry excuse for a player.

The playoff hopes are gone. The packers have a good lead in the division, and the Lions keep winning. Even the Vikings are playing pretty well. It seems to be a classic case of first to last, or Super Bowl hangover.

The defense should play well against Oakland. They have had time to heal, and hopefully to get some things straightened out.

I Take It Back

I've been thinking and I hope you all are as terrified as I am. Don't worry, it's not that big of deal. I do it all of the time, I swear. In case you are worrying, I'll let you in on some of the things that have been mulling around in my brain. Mainly, I have been wondering if I would be considered a hypocrite in the eyes of my peers.

This revelation has to do with one of my former posts when I, well, condemned bandwagon fans and those who purchase teams' clothing just because everyone else has them. What, you might ask, does this have to do with me? Well, my birthday is coming up (November 24 in case anyone cares) and of course Christmas so I've been thinking about some stuff I would like. Obviously I am a Cubs fan seeing as I write about the Chicago team and so I asked for a Fontenot jersey. I realized that I don't own any Cubs shirts and that I should probably start a collection sometime soon and what better time to start than my birthday.

And then it hit me. Could I be as bad as those fans who buy jerseys and hats because everyone else has them? The way I answered that question was "mostly no". I do own a Cubs hat and I wear it from time to time when my hair isn't cooperating or on the off chance that a shower was missed. Granted, I do not own any other Cubs merchandise and by asking for some for my birthday, it sort of puts me in the group I expressed my dislike for in my former post. But maybe by declaring my love for the team before I receive my jersey, it will exempt me from the harsh brutalities that other sports followers, including myself, inflict on such "pretend fans". At least I'm hoping that's the case.

So please, if you see me walking around campus in a brand new Fontenot jersey, have mercy. I am now taking back some of the things I said in my earlier post 1. to me more fair and less judgmental and 2. to save my own skin from the hawk-like eyes of fellow sports fans. Hey, I don't want to be called a hypocrite or a fake fan and so I'm saying sorry. Not everyone who goes out and buys new sports apparel are untrue fans or just simply jumping on the bandwagon. It was unfair for me to generalize all fans and I realize that now. So don't call me a hypocrite and don't judge me for wanting a new Cubs jersey. Yes it will be my first one, yes I have loved the Cubs for a while now, and no, I don't think that all Yankees fans are bandwagon riders.

And by I don't, I mean I do.

Aw, I'm just kidding.

I will trade you ..... for ......

So yes, the deal making has started, and like I stated before, the White Sox are off to a pretty slow start. But,according to Chicagosports.com, the White Sox could possibly make a trade as soon as today. Ken Williams stated that he believes he is in a position to do so, especially with the annual general managers’ meetings starting today in Orlando.

The White Sox main concern in my opinion, is to look for players who can help with center field, the middle infield, and pitching. It would also be nice if we could find some players to help with the top of the batting order too.

Some other news that could possibly come out this week are the answers that will ultimately solve the dilemma between third basemens Josh Fields and Joe Crede. We might finally get the answer to question most people have been wondering about. “Who will play third base next season?” The question will probably be solved with either trading Fields or Crede, and probably not keeping both of them. Yes keeping both of them is a possibility, by putting Fields in the outfield and leaving Crede on third, but is unlikely. Since Crede has been cleared to start playing again, team’s who are looking for a third baseman will more than likely come to the Sox because they have two great ones. So hopefully we will have some exciting trades this week and hopefully get some answers.

Lights, Camera, Action

Saturday afternoons are the perfect opportunities to catch some great movies on television and today has been no different. While flipping through the channels, I got glimpses of Jurassic Park III, Jaws, Blow, and the ND and Navy football game. Ok, the last one isn't a movie but it might as well be for as many times as they scan the Navy student section. There could not be a stadium filled with better looking men. But even those fellas in uniforms couldn't contain my itchy finger from changing the channel. I eventually ended up on Major League and have concluded that there needs to be a movie involving the Cubs. I don't have a story line, but that can be thought of later. We should probably focus on actors before anything.



I'm not going to run through the entire team but I'll just give you an idea about the kind of actors I'm thinking should be in the movie. To start off, for Piniella, I was thinking along the lines of Jack Nicholson. He's got that charm and yet could have the same fury that Lou brings to the field. Now, Mike Fontenot is going to be played by none other than Owen Wilson. Similar hair, the much loved nose, and of course that boyish, charming personality. Matt Dameon should play Ryan Theriot. Did you see him in The Bourne Ultimatum? Then you know why he should be in this movie. For my first choice to play Derrek Lee, I would choose Denzel Washington. But then I was thinking, would he be able to play baseball or give the illusion that he can? Washington is probably the most hardcore actor in terms of characters he's played, so he could undoubtedly handle this role. But for safety's sake, we'll go with a backup...Taye Diggs. And how about Benjamin Bratt to play Aramis Ramirez? Silent but deadly.



So, I've got the actors. Now we just need to think of a plot. I'll leave that to the skilled writers that will be hired. Maybe we can get writers from hits such as The Lion King, Field of Dreams, and Billy Madison. All three movies have a great story with adventure and a sense of accomplishment at the end. If we get writers from all three films, I think we could create some magic on the big screen.

If Major League can become such a great movie than surely a movie about the Chicago Cubs can do just as well. Everyone likes a story about an underdog and heck, maybe it will help them win. No one thought Boston would win the World Series when they started making Fever Pitch and look what happened. This movie needs to be realized. And maybe in a couple of years, I'll be watching Saturday afternoon flicks and come across a classic about the Cubs and remember that on such a Saturday, the movie began with one girl's dream.

It could happen.

A Pretty Inexpensive Free Agency for the White Sox

The Chicago White Sox claimed that they would like to have a competitive team through the free agency for the 2008 season. Well lucky for them, this is a inexpensive decision due to their poor 2007 season.

According to ChicagoSports.com, two free agent center-fielders, Torii Hunter and Aaron Rowand, who are on the Sox list, were classified as Type A free agents this past week. This is good for the Sox because they are in need of a center-fielder. If the White Sox decide to sign either of these players, it will result in them only losing a second-round pick because they finished with one of the 15 worst seasons in 2007 (although we really don’t like to be reminded of it.) Whereas, if we finished with one of the top 15 records, we would have lost a first-round pick. And in case you were wondering, in the 2008 draft, the White Sox will have eight overall selection.

The Sox are still facing their dilemma with what they should do with Juan Uribe. They will need to decide by next Wednesday whether or not they are going to pick up Juan Uribe’s $5 million option.

We are just getting our feet wet.... a little

Another week has gone by and the Chicago White Sox have yet to really test the free agency market. Although, they have recently decided to decline their option on Darin Erstad, who was the White Sox first baseman and outfielder this past 2007 season. And if you remember, he was the guy that the Sox picked up in the off-season who was SUPPOSE TO give them depth in the outfield and infield. He was also also SUPPOSE TO help the Sox with the top of their batting order. I think that it was a good choice to get rid of Erstad and here is why:

This past season he did not really play many games for the White Sox. He was hurt for about half of the season. When he did have a chance to come back into the lineup, he would either re-injure something or injure a new body part. And as for batting, I don’t think that he really ever found his swing. I don’t think he was exactly what the White Sox thought they were getting. But so far he is the only player that the White Sox have decided to release.


Everyone is now probably wondering what the Sox will want to do with their start third baseman Joe Crede. He had his 2007 season cut short because of a serious back injury, which actually resulted in him getting a season ending back surgery. He is entering the final year of his contract and no one really knows what the White Sox are going to do with him. His 2007 season replacement was Josh Fields. It would be an understatement to say that Fields had a good season, he actually had an outstanding rookie season and brought a lot to the team both offensively and defensively. The White Sox have been waiting for their chance to bring Fields into the big leagues. Granted, he had sort of a slow start, but by the end of the season, he was one of the White Sox power hitters.

So this is where the White Sox are in a little bit of a dilemma. What should they do with Crede and Fields and who deserves third base? They have two really good player and essentially only one spot to put them. There has been talk about possibly converting Fields into an outfielder, but there is no definite answer as of right now.

In my opinion, I think they should give the spot to Joe Crede. I think that all around, he is a better player than Fields. He is a great hitter and probably one of the best defensive third baseman in the league.
I think that Fields’s downfall would be his batting average. Yes he is a good power hitter, but he does not have a consistently good batting average. And like I said above, Fields is a good defensive player, but I think that Crede is better than him on that aspect.
However, you have to take into consideration that this is the first year that Fields played in the big leagues. So in my opinion, I think that the White Sox should keep Crede and either figure out a way to convert Fields into a position that they need (possibly a center fielder) or they need to trade him.

So this pretty much raps up another disappointing week for the White Sox and the trading industry. Hopefully next week the Sox will make a move that is a little more exciting and will give us some insight into what the 2008 season might be like.

Bye Week

The Bears have the bye this week, which they should use to prepare themselves for the rest of the season. Here's my list of what the Bears need to do to improve:

1. Get Orton ready to start. Griese looked good at first, but last game he looked like Grossman on a bad day. Although he didn't fumble any snaps, he still threw four interceptions. Some people are still thinking playoffs, and our best chance for that is to put Orton in at QB.

2. Heal Urlacher. He has been having some sort of strange back pain, but he is playing through it. He needs to get some relief and start playing to a level he's capable of.

3. Revive the Defense. Adam Archuleta is a terrible safety. He needs to go. Something is wrong with the defense; they aren't playing like they should be. I don't know how to fix it, but then again I don't get paid to fix it either.

4. Find a way to involve Hester in the offense that in some way that isn't a trick play. He would make a better running back than Benson. Benson is ass-awful and he needs traded after this year, although I doubt they could get anything for him.

Exchange Uribe for A-Rod?

Once the World Series was over, the White Sox needed to decide what they wanted to do with Juan Uribe along with a few others (Darin Erstad and Mike Myers). An option could be A-Rod? Yes, Alex Rodriguez is a third baseman, but according to the LA Times, A-Rod’s agent Scott Boras is trying to market him as not only a third baseman but also as a shortstop. Well we know that we aren’t going to get rid of Crede or Fields, so what about Uribe? Uribe has made his fair share of mess-ups this season, but he has 20+ homeruns and didn’t completely suck. So this could be a possibility. The fact that he was a Gold Glove shortstop in 2002 is a definite plus. They question is however, are we willing to pay for Alex Rodriquez? I mean the guy is going for about $30 million a year. Anyone would want A-Rod, but teams like the White Sox and the Cubs are especially attracted to him because of his shortstop capabilities.

It is sort of unlikely that the White Sox will sign A-Rod, mainly because of the financial situation. But according to the LA Times, some baseball sources stated that the Angels are currently the front-runners. So there are many possibilities to where A-Rod might play next. We just know that he wants to get away from the Yankees. We’ll just have to wait and see to find out how everything will play out.

Chicago has a lake. Why not get a Laker to go with it?

Have you heard the one about how Kobe Bryant wants to be traded? Oh...you have. Then this won't be news for you, unless you're a Chicago Bulls' fan. The only difference is that now the Lakers are willing to let him go so Kobe would no longer be a distraction to the team, as well as the Lakers organization. Kobe has mentioned that his team of choice is the Chicago Bulls, due to their rising talent. Kobe also realizes that the Bulls are based upon teamwork and role playing, but they are still missing that one final piece. Kobe figures he is that Jordan-esque player that can bring some glory back to Chicago.

John Paxson has been willing to listen to the different trade offers, but none of them sound good at the moment. These rumors range from giving up Deng, Gordon, Noah, and Thomas, to Gordon, Hinrich, and Wallace, to Gordon, Hinrich, and Nocioni. Basically, Ben Gordon was involved in every trade aspect. The Bulls organization is having trouble do not want to give up Luol Deng, since he is the Bulls most consistent player and shows the biggest upside of the baby Bulls.

BullsCentral.com listed 5 reasons why Kobe will not go to the Chicago Bulls. Some reasons are that Jerry Buss doesn't want to let Kobe go and how Scott Skiles has limitations as a coach. With the deadline for Deng's and Gordon's contract deadlines coming up, this only adds more pressure to the Bulls organization. Deng and Gordon were the Bulls' two leading scorers last season and for Chicago and for Chicago to lose one of them would be a major loss.

Another trade rumor that came up was that there would be a third team involved. One team that was willing to get in on the trade action would be the Sacramento Kings, who are willing to give up Ron Artest and try to pick up a point guard, such as Hinrich or Gordon, to replace the injured Mike Bibby. In this trade, Sacremento would acquire a Bulls' guard. Sacremento would acquire Ron Artest and possible Ben Wallace. And then of course Chicago would get Kobe.

I know that this whole Kobe Bryant trade drama has been on and off for I don't even know how long, but this is the closest that Chicago has been to getting Kobe. He may not play the same team ball Chicago does, but the fact of the matter is that Kobe is the best player in the NBA, hands down. On the Lakers opening night game, Kobe dropped 45 points, 18 of which came in the 4th quarter, in a loss against the Houston Rockets.

All in all, I think Chicago would benefit tremendously if they acquired Kobe, even if it means the loss of Ben Gordon. I doubt that any of these trade rumors will happen, but I guarantee these rumors will come up many times in the future. Until then, the Bulls will be just fine without Kobe. Chicago will continue to play the same team basketball that they have played these few years, and they will continue to get better with or without a true star player.

Here are some of the few Kobe Bryant highlights.

The 30 Million Dollar Man

As the World Series wrapped up, many baseball players and fans are now looking towards the off season and the transactions that are sure to make a difference. For the Cubs, there is one man that everyone is wondering whether or not will join the team. A-Rod is known to want to play for his former manager, Lou Piniella, but the likelihood of him joining the team is not that great. Basically, it comes down to money. The Cubs spent $300 million last season acquiring various players and it would be unwise to make another big purchase. Rodriguez costs $30 million a year. THIRTY MILLION! At this point, unless there is a price reduction, it is doubtful that A-Rod will be playing for the Cubs next season. As upsetting as this might be to fans, it's not the end of the world.

I am satisfied with Aramis Ramirez playing at third base. If A-Rod came, where would he go? He played exceptionally well for the Cubs and if anyone deserves a spot on the team, it's him. So is it Alex Rodriguez or Aramis Ramirez? If A-Rod came, it would undoubtedly help the team out but would it bring too much media attention? Would everyone be happy with this purchase?

As rumors are spread and Rodriguez continues to look around at other teams, all fans can do is wait. It might work out for the Cubs and Piniella may get to manage a former player. But again, is it wise for the Cubs to make any major purchases with the $300 spending spree that took place last year? It's not like the team doesn't have the money but the real issue is whether or not they should be spending that money on one person. I think this comes down to Ramirez being a perfect fit for the Cubs and A-Rod being too much of a distraction, for the most part. I suppose we'll see how these events unfold and how much money the Cubs are willing to spend on one player soon enough.

Pizza Hut is for Winners

Remember after your big Little League Championship when you, your teammates, and the adults would gather at Pizza Hut to celebrate? The evening would be filled with toasts, too much pizza, and random items (salt, bread sticks, straw wrappers) being placed in drinks. There was nothing better than this celebratory dinner and the tradition continued throughout your sporting career. Heck, my sister, who is a senior in high school, just won volleyball sectionals last week and where did everyone go after the big win? Pizza Hut. So where, I wonder, did Boston go to celebrate their World Series win?

Surely they didn't gather their families and head to the local pizza place. Did they just do a lot of yelling, champagne opening, and slapping of the butt in the locker room and call it a night? Or could they have ditched their wives and all made their way downtown to a popular bar? I hope they didn't just shower and go home. That's anticlimactic. This is the World Series! We need some serious celebrating to go on after a team sweeps another team in the World Series.

How will we ever know how professional teams celebrate? And how cool would it be if you were enjoying your team's victory in a pub and in walked in your favorite players? I'm telling you, go to a Pizza Hut. Maybe they'll still remember the Little League games with the all-you-can-eat pizza buffet and want to relive it. Sports and pizza are often seen together but Pizza Hut and Victory go hand in hand with no chance of ever separating.

Think about it. If you lost a game, what did you eat? Stuff from the night before, cereal, or anything you can round up from your refrigerator. I'd say close to never did your parents take you for pizza when you lost. "You obviously didn't play hard enough to eat Pizza Hut so why should we indulge you?" is what your (and my) parents were thinking. And I guess it makes sense. If Boston players didn't remember those tearful nights of losing and not getting to eat pizza, they might have never swept Colorado. But they kept those memories of victory fresh in their minds and look what happened...World Champions.

So don't tell me that you don't like pizza. And don't go further to tell me you don't care for Pizza Hut because all I will infer is that you don't like winning. Will I call you a loser? No. You would have already done that yourself.

It Hurts

Griese Chicken Report: His performance this week may be enough to get the quarterback controversy started again, but this time it will involve Kyle Orton. He threw for 4 interceptions today, and only one touchdown. He went from NFC Player of the Week last week to playing like Sexy Rexy this week.

The Good: Pissed Off at Da' Bears Blog was right that getting Olsen involved in the offense is good. Otherwise there wasn't a whole lot of good to be found. The defense held Detroit to 16 points which is a lot better than their first meeting where they let them score 34 points in the 4th quarter which was enough for an NFL record.

The Bad: The offense has looked terrible for almost this entire season. Benson has looked awful. He ran for a meager 50 yards and had a 3.8 yard average. The Bears aren't being able to force turnovers this season, which was one of their biggest keys to success last year. They're also having a hard time getting Hester involved in the offense, which could be the spark the offense needs.

The Ugly: The Bears are 0-3 following a victory, meaning they don't have any back to back wins this season.

Injury Report

The Bears continue to be plagued by injuries, and this week is no different than the rest. Tommie Harris's hamstring is likely made out of the same old rubber bands as Mike Brown's tendons are. He did have full participation on Thursday though, so we should see him Sunday. Defensive backs Vasher and McGowan did not participate in Thursday's practice, which could mean bad news for the Bears against Kitna. Offensive linemen Fred Miller and Ruben Brown are both injured, but Brown was good to go as of Thursday, and Miller had some participation. The Bears are going to have to get healthy if they want to be competitive.

I got some rumors for ya....

After a horrible season, the Chicago White Sox are hoping to make some off-season moves. Their ultimate goal: improve and to not have a repeat of the 2007 season.
The first thing on my list would be to hopefully improve the relief pitching. Let’s face it, the White Sox bullpen is very inconsistent and unreliable. But they are going to try and fix that real soon. There have been rumors circling that the White Sox are going to try and get the famous, future Hall of Famer Marian Rivera. However, with this excitement there comes some problems:

1.Where would they put him?

2.How much would they have to pay him? And more importantly, how much are they willing to pay him?

My Answers:

Q1: The White Sox already have an unbelievable closer, Bobby Jenks, and we all know that we certainly don’t want to get rid of him. So actually I don’t have an certain answer for that question. It will be a toss-up and a hard decision for the Sox.

Q2: Well we all know every extremely valuable player comes with a high price. So Riveria will not be cheap by any means. In my opinion, I think he might be a little to pricey for the White Sox.


The second aspect of the White Sox team that I think will need improvement is centerfield and I think that the White Sox agree. There have been rumors about the Sox being interested in Carl Crawford from the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. I believe that this would be a great fit for our South Siders. Crawford is an awesome leadoff man and an even better centerfielder. He can be considered a threat both offensively and defensively. However, with this proposal also comes some problems.

1.They White Sox will need to give up a few players in order to get Crawford.

2.Also, there is always the possibility that Tampa Bay might not be interested.


Other than some possible player changes, the White Sox have also made some coaching changes. They have recently added Jeff Cox as the new 3rd base coach. And hopefully the bullpen will improve under the new command of Juan Nieves, who was also just appointed the position. Both of these positions weren’t coached very well last year at all. I think that these moves will be good for the team and the upcoming 2008 season. The White Sox need to step it up next season and hopefully these new changes will help them achieve their goals and lead them to a successful season.

Like I stated the possible trades are just rumors. But, I hope that we can turn these rumors in facts in the near future.

So the trading talk is beginning, but soon enough we will have some definite answers. Let’s just hope that the White Sox can make some wise trades and we can almost guarantee that the will have a better 2008 season.

Baseball Shenanigans

I've always wanted to get arrested for running out on a baseball field, you know, like in the movies. Except they seem to never get arrested or in trouble at all. But in reality, if you mess with the cops at a professional baseball game, you're going to get in trouble. Period. Just ask seven Red Sox fans.

They were ordered by a judge to write a 5-page essay explaining to the court what they have learned about being arrested after a Red Sox game. This wasn't just any game, it was the one to win the American League Championship so there were bound to be some rowdy, overexcited fans in Fenway. If you're going to get arrested, make sure it's for disorderly conduct at a baseball game. That will make a good story for the children someday. You can read the whole story here.

At least no one was killed after this particular game. Apparently, a young woman was killed in 2004 by a pepper pellet fired by a cop after Boston won the AL pennant. Hopefully, cops will keep everything in line for tonight's Game 1 of the World Series. If the movie Fever Pitch told us anything about Red Sox fans, it's that they're crazy. Or maybe it's just Jimmy Fallon.

I can't help but think of the World Series and how the Cubs should be battling it out. No, I'm not saying that they deserve to be in it more than the Rockies or Red Sox, it would just be nice to have Chicago in there. I would have something to look forward to at least. You know, something to get excited about, other than my two exams and the mound of laundry staring me in the face. Oh well. Do I dare to say it? Should I even root for a team? I'll keep it inside so I don't ruin it for either teams' fans. No one needs my jinx on them tonight.

2 for 1: Bulls branded by Mavericks in loss; Chicago Bulls shut Milwaukee the 'Buck' up

The Dallas Mavericks decided to end their preseason on a high note with a victory over the Chicago Bulls Tuesday night. Chicago was glad to finally have Gordon back, but they were still without Luol Deng. Chicago was down two more players the Chicago Bulls waived free agents Andre Barrett and Justin Homan. Rookie Aaron Gray once again started in the line-up since he has been impressively consistent. Gray started the game off well by scoring 6 of the Bulls first 8 points. Then Josh Howard decided to answer back by scoring 10 points in a row for the Mavericks. By the end of the second quarter, the Mavericks had taken a 57-45 lead over Chicago.

By the beginning of the second half, the Bulls were desperate for some sort of offensive spark. However, they were not able to find one. Chicago only managed 16 points in the third quarter, while Dallas was led once again by Josh Howard, who helped extend their lead. Josh Howard had already dropped a game high 19 points before he left in third quarter due to a wrist injury.

In the fourth quarter, Chicago finally picked it up on offense. Benchwarmers Thabo Sefolosha, Thomas Gardner, and Joakim Noah carried the offensive load for Chicago. All three finished the game with 12 points each. However, this was not enough to catch back up to the Dallas Mavericks, and the Bulls fell to the Mavericks, 88-96.

Dallas received strong contributions from guards Jason Terry, who finished with 16 points and shot 6-for-6 from the field, and Devin Harris, who finished with 13 points and 4 assists. Chicago and Dallas tied their preseason series by winning a game apiece.

Box Score of the Game
Video Recap of the Game

Thursday night was the Chicago Bulls preseason closer against the Milwaukee Bucks. The Bulls started the game with their regular season projected starting line-up, which consisted of Kirk Hinrich, Ben Gordon, Luol Deng, Tyrus Thomas, and Ben Wallace. Milwaukee was without star shooting guard Michael Redd and center Andrew Bogut. Chicago took advantage of their absences by running the ball up and down the court. Luol Deng led the first quarter charge by scoring 8 of his 12 game points. Every starter scored in the first quarter.

The second quarter was pretty stagnant for both teams. Both teams only managed to score 22 points each. Chicago finished off the first half with a 52-43 lead. Ben Wallace left the second quarter due to a sprained left ankle. This would be the beginning of a string of injuries of Chicago big men during the game.

Ben Gordon opened the second by draining a 3-pointer. Ben Gordon even worked on his passing game by dishing out 3 assists. Joe Smith went on a tear at the end of the third quarter by scoring Chicago's final 8 points. This was by far Joe Smith's best performance of the preseason. Chicago opened up a 13 point lead going into the final quarter. However, Tyrus Thomas left the game in the third quarter due to a right foot injury.

Thomas Gardner put away the Bucks by scoring all of his 9 points in the fourth quarter. Mailwaukee's Yi Jianlian lead the Bucks in fourth quarter scoring by scoring 7 points. Joakim Noah was taken out of the game in the final quarter due to a right ankle injury. Despite the losses of Wallace, Thomas, and Noah, Chicago was able to hold on to their lead and finish off the preseason with a 97-81 victory over Milwaukee.

The Bulls finished off the preseason with a 4-3 record, but the damage had been done in the final game. According to "Blog-a-bull," Wallace and Thomas should be fine, but Noah could miss the season opener. Chicago will open its season on Halloween night in New Jersey against the Nets. New Jersey better have their candy bags ready because Chicago is going to be dishing out a lot of special treats for them, as well as some tricks.

Box Score of the Game
Video Recap of the Game