We are on vacation visiting my family in Chicago and I had the chance to visit with Rob last night. We were talking about what we think will happen before opening day. It got me thinking about how much of a difference there is between our thinking. In the spirit of Jacki’s wish list yesterday, I decided to post my un-Christmas list of sorts. It’s more a list of what I do not think will happen. Sorry to burst your bubble, guys.
1. The Cubs Will Not Get Brian Roberts – I’ve mentioned this one before and I’ll bring it up again. With Miguel Tejada’s exit to Houston, Baltimore has two major commodities that are in somewhat of a demand. Because of that, they have to make sure they get the most they can for the few products they have to sell, especially after the pathetic package they got for Tejada. If we were to get Bedard it would take a lot more than he would really be worth. It’s not happening.
2. The Cubs Will Not Get Dan Haren – Rob mentioned this one to me last night and it made me laugh a little. Haren is younger than Eric Bedard and Johan Santana. He’s won at least 14 games over the past three years and plays for a team overseen by the thrifty Billy Beane. That has the makeup of a huge price tag. Good luck with that.
3. The Cubs Will Sell The Naming Rights on Wrigley Field – This one pains me to say it, but doesn’t bother me enough to really make a stand against it. We live in a sponsorship age, this site is no exception, and the Cubs will continue to maximize their revenue with any means possible. I don’t know when it will happen, but I can see something to the effect of “Cialis Park at Wrigley Field”. Would it bother you? Would you quit going all together? I don’t think it would both me, but I tend to stay far away from Wrigley already due to cost.
4. The Cubs Will Not Sell The Team Before Opening Day – Sam Zell went on record this week to say that the team would be sold before the start of the season. Considering the fact that no bids have been taken at this point, and the public doesn’t even know who officially submitted paperwork to the league, and the fact that MLB wants to make sure this sale is the right fit, I do not see it happening in three months. I go on record right now to say it’s not going to happen.
Rob’s side of the story:
I did not say the Cubs will get Dan Haren, I said the Cubs will make a run at Joe Blanton. However,my main point is that I completely disagree with Joe’s premise that the Cubs do not need another starting pitcher. Joe said that he does not like a potential trade for Erik Bedard because it might also involve giving up Rich Hill and that Erik Bedard is not really a great pitcher anyway. To which I responded that Erik Bedard consistently is near the top in strikeouts every year and that a rotation that begins with Zambrano, Bedard,and Lilly is pretty good. Joe makes good points about comparing our four and five pitchers to other teams four and five pitchers, but I would like to see the Cubs go get a two or three not a four or five. And I will go on record saying that I think the Cubs will go get another pitcher.
I do think the Cubs will get Brian Roberts because when they are so intent on something they usualy do it. I just don’t know if they need to.
Finally, I do have passionate feelings about the Cubs selling the naming rights to Wrigley Field. Here they are: DO IT!!! Sell the rights and put the money back into the team. Anyone who thinks that it matters is too nostalgic to be running the team. For the Cubs losing is nostalgic. I would like to see that change.
Merry Christmas everyone. I hope I did not ruin your holiday completely by getting down off my usual optimistic horse to feel the real ground.
your a hater. shame on you.
The area known as Wrigleyville will lose something if there is no Wrigley Field.
It will always be called Wrigley Field. Whoever picks up sponsorship would be a grade A class monkeyfart to want to change the name.
Then again, I like to recall the uproar over the Chicago Bears brought to you by BankOne. Yeah, we hear that all the time…..
if the name changes, such as Cialis Park at Wrigley Field, there will be an uproar in chicago. i figure some serious mayhem if the name changes to something like that. but i figure that whoever takes over the name will not it because of the public scrutiny.
Oh no, Budweiser Park at Wrigley Field. No thank you. I hate Budweiser. Regarding Roberts, I am a bit more hopeful Joe, the buzz is there, so we’ll see.
**The Cubs Will Not Get Dan Haren – Rob mentioned this one to me last night and it made me laugh a little. … and plays for a team overseen by the thrifty Billy Beane. That has the makeup of a huge price tag.**
Joe… Haren was traded to the Diamondbacks a week ago.
Notice the update. I did not mention Dan Haren, I mentioned Joe Blanton.
When they were renovating Lambeau Field in Green Bay there was discussion about selling the naming rights for the stadium to help pay for things. Obviously, it never ended up happening due to public outrage. I think there are some places, including Wrigley Field, which are too important to change.
Between Joe and Matt I am laughing–Cialis Park and monkeyfarts?!
I could see sponsorship, and would support it if it means they have more money to keep Wrigley from falling to pieces and can pour more money into the team. I’m guessing that a sponsorship would be tastefully done, though. Anyone with half a brain knows that changing the name would be a monumentally bad idea.
**To which I responded that Erik Bedard consistently is near the top in strikeouts every year**
Lets see… Bedard had 221 K’s this year. Which is really good. But consistently near the top in K’s every year? Where are you making that up from?
The year before he had 171, the two years before that he had 125 and 121.
Again – 221? Really good.
One year at the top of the league in strikeouts? Not consistently at the top.
For comparison… Rich Hill has 183 K’s this past season, which was more than Bedard had in 2006.
Nice catch ddave. 2004 and 2005 were his first full years in the league and he was not near the top. In 2006 he was in the top ten in American League strikeouts and last year he was third.
So it was probably an overstatement, but it has some validity. Two years in a row in the top ten in strikeouts.
Selling the name rights to Wrigley would really suck (and I am not even a Cub fans). Gone already is Candlestick Park and Shea – the place of my childhood fandom – will be gone soon too. Cominsky Park is now a mobile phone company. My current team plays in "Petco" park which is causing the Padres now to be referred to locally as "the Petshop boys" which is both funny and sad. Baseball is loved partly because it is a game of tradition. I don’t mind moving on in some ways but this sponsorship thing is really depressing (especially since these owners do not need the money. They just want to get even richer).
You guys are losing sight. Even if they do change the name, The field itself is the history, who cares about the name. The memories are the history. If some dumb monkeyfart wants to change it, so be it. So what if it’s Viagra Park that guarantees to get you up before the game is over.
***So it was probably an overstatement, but it has some validity. Two years in a row in the top ten in strikeouts.***
Sure… but Hill was in the top 10 this year also.
My point is that Hill and Bedard are very similar.
Hill and Bedard are not similar and in my opinion extremely far from similar…..Bedard is an ACE – he could anchor any team in either league- at this moment, Hill maybe, someday, but too inconsistent at least for now – KO’s are not the best measurement of supreme talent – you can debate me if you want but you will not convince me of it. Bedard and Z are similar – how’s that – both in the same rotation is devastating – won’t happen – unless we give up Hill – which is what needs to happen – in my opinion.
You’re a bunch of cry baby wannabe’s – you’ll never get Bedard – I can’t wait til the Cardinal’s pick up Prior and turn him against you – or Houston or even SD – until you win at least ONE playoff game – I give you no credit whatsoever – I DON’T CARE IF YOU DO GO 162 – 0 IN THE REGULAR SEASON – cause you’ll just get swept by some BS team who really doesn’t even belong to be there either. WAAA WAAA WAAA
Gotta love the bitter Brewer trolls just coming out of their hangover.
First, Big Bird, Hill’s not going anywhere. Brew-lay off the local beer, it’s messing with your head. Maybe we should all go to the Brewer’s wedsite and hate on them. Oh wait-we’re better than that.
That must be one lonely Brewer fan. To troll on Christmas Eve, pathetic.
Cubbie, he’s probably drinking Miller, which anyone that loves beer knows, it’s not real beer.
Sorry Matty-I don’t drink beer, but even I know that.