Indiana Politician Wins Cubs Tickets

Indiana Lt. Gov. Becky Skillman gets four Chicago Cubs tickets as a reward for winning her Super Bowl bet with the Illinois lieutenant governor, Pat Quinn. So, presumably, she picked the Colts to win - unless she had a prop bet, like the Bears will return the opening kickoff for a touchdown. Speaking of which, I'd like to see the year that a politician lets his/her competitive juices get the best of him/her and bets on his/her team to lose the World Series, Super Bowl or whatever they call the championship of Major League Soccer. Sure, it would be political suicide, but he/she could win some fine meat, cheese or whatever products if his/her team loses. (Re him/her, Wrigleyville23 is feeling politically correct this evening...)

Quinton Bagley Picks The Cubs!

Quinton Bagley picks the Chicago Cubs for the 2007 World Series. Yes, the Quinton Bagley of The Courier of Russellville, Arkansas who picked the Colts to beat the Bears in the Super Bowl, way back in the Nov. 12 edition of The Courier. Take it to Vegas, and tell them Quinton Bagley sent you.

Cubs: Top Story Of Offseason

Jayson Stark seems to like the steps the Cubs took the last few months, with ESPN.com saying their moves are the top story of the offseason. So granted, the Cubs still have questions about health, top-of-the-lineup on-base percentage and how the pieces will fit in their outfield. But it's safe to say they're a lot better off with Lou Piniella, Alfonso Soriano, Ted Lilly, Cliff Floyd, Mark DeRosa and the rest of their 300 Million Club than they would look right now with none of the above. 20-25 wins better? We'll see...

Wrigleyville Is Back!

And drying out from that football game...

Bienvenido A Miami

Wrigleyville23 is off to Florida to see a football game. See you tomorrow.

Long-suffering, Yadda Yadda Yadda

Hey, it's Tom Weir and USA Today pulling out the "long-suffering Chicago Cubs fans" in a story about - you guessed it - Peyton Manning. In the lead, no less!

Biggest Cubs Fan Alive

Murray Chass opens a rumination on the Cubs misfortunes over the years with the following sentence: No bigger Chicago Cubs fan lives than Bill Murray. That very well may be a fact. But out of the millions of others, it most likely is not.

Counting Down BCB's Countdown...

Bleed Cubbie Blue's Top 100 list is getting down to it - now at No. 17 and Ed Reulbach, who played a long, long time ago. Greg Maddux, incidentally, was No. 18. Damn you, Larry Himes.

Michael Barrett: Best Since Randy Hundley?

Well, it seems like someone over at Goat Riders forgot about someone named Todd Hundley! My God, he was awful in Chicago.

Cubs Jokes And Hack Writing

Ever notice how incredibly often writers fall back on the "have as much chance as the Cubs winning the World Series" or "as terrible as the Chicago Cubs" comparisons in their stories? It's often in sports stories, but often not, and it is just a lazy way of illustrating your point that something is unlikely.

Sometimes it works, but more often fails - or is just cliche. Here are two examples from the InterWeb today:

BioPharm International reports today that Hank McKinnell's tenure was "a Chicago Cubs-like period of underachievement." Writer Brian O'Connell is more correct than he knows on this one, as one of the big knocks on Pfizer is they have no new drugs in the pipeline to replace huge revenue-producing products that will soon see their patents expire. Much like the Cubs, whose pipeline is less than robust, as well, especially in the everyday player department. Well done, Mr. O'Connell, whether intentional or not.

Another from today: Jimmy Shapiro from Bodog Beat reports from Miami that shlubs attending the Playboy or Penthouse parties have as much chance of scoring with the beautiful women there "as the Chicago Cubs have of winning the World Series." Really? Bodog itself has the Cubs at 8-to-1 to win the 2007 World Series. Tell me you wouldn't go to the Penthouse or Playboy party with 8-to-1 odds of hooking up (I wouldn't, of course, but I'm happily married...). Not so well done, Shapiro. The lesson: It's always important to know what is on your own Web site.

Thus ends today's installment of Media Critic Corner.

ESPNdeportes Is Not My Friend

Spending a week in the Caribbean, I have learned one thing: ESPNdeportes stinks. Really, really stinks. That's probably not entirely fair, because as a white mid-30s guy I am clearly not their demographic. But how many hours of sand soccer (???) and championship dominoes can you show? ESPNdeportes is to dominoes what ESPN2 is to poker. Luckily, the Internet access issues abated and we were able to get scores and Super Bowl stuff. But still. ESPNdeportes is killing me. Then again, there are casinos and beaches.

Tick Tock, Tick Tock

A useful reminder from Maddog at the Chicago National League Ball Club Blog.

A Pay Cut! In Baseball!

Mark Prior and the Chicago Cubs avoid arbitration. He'll actually get a raise if he makes between 27 and 30 starts. Update: The Cub Reporter read the story more closely than I did, noting: ... he can earn an additional $150,000 if he makes 27 starts and another $150,000 if he makes it up to 30 starts, which if I add it up correctly means he could make $3.875 million next year which is exactly what he asked for when the two sides exchanged arbitration numbers. Isn’t that cute? Cute and fair, to boot.

Sosa Contest Time

Sammy says he won't disappoint the Rangers. Which leads to the question: What are their expectations for Mr. Sosa in 2007? They've signed him to a $500,000 minor league contract, so clearly they are taking the Mark Prior route - anything they get is good. Which leads to Wrigleyville's new contest: 1. Will Sammy Sosa be on the Opening Day roster? 2. If so, how many games will he play? 3. And how many home runs will he hit? As always, the winner will be arbitrarily decided by Wrigleyville23 management. (And, yes, this is not actually Cubs-related, but Cliff Floyd is signed, the mediocre pitchers are signed and the convention is over, so now we're waiting for pitchers and catchers to report.)

Sosa Ready For Rookie League

A Wrigleyille23 Exclusive!

SURPRISE, Arizona, August 22, 2007 – Sammy Sosa will report to the ASL Rangers, the Rookie League team for the Texas Rangers, in time for Wednesday’s game after being sent down from Class A Spokane.

With the demotion, Sosa now has played this year for every one of the Rangers’ minor league affiliates, putting together a combined .231 batting average with eight home runs and 27 RBIs. The Rangers still hope to call him up when they expand the major league roster on September 1.

Demoting Sosa to rookie ball is a far cry from what the Rangers had hoped for when they signed Sosa to a $500,000 contract in late January. It is a deal that included substantial incentives – though none for playing at every level of the Rangers’ farm system.

This is what Rangers manager Ron Washington said at the time of the signing: “I’d love to have him hit fifth behind Mark Teixeira if he shows he can hit Major League pitching. … He’s looking for an opportunity to get back in the game. There are no promises – he has to perform. If he does do that, we’ll be happy to have him here. If he doesn’t, then we’ll have to make a decision.”

Unfortunately, the Rangers were forced to make decisions every step of the way – and none of them good.

Sosa, 47, started the year at AAA Oklahoma before struggles at the plate and frequent disputes with teammates over clubhouse music led to the Rangers sending him to AA Frisco Roughriders in Frisco, Texas. Sosa homered in his first at-bat in Frisco, but quickly regained form and was send to “find his swing” with the Class A Bakersfield Blaze.

His swing was not in Bakersfield, nor was it in Clinton, Iowa, or Spokane. So, Sosa gets his last chance in rookie ball.

“We know what he can do, and we really think he can help us down the stretch,” said Washington, who is hoping Sosa can help the Rangers avoid losing 110 games with a strong September. “We like to bring players up and give them a look in September, and Sammy is one of those guys we’ll be taking a long, hard look at this year.”

Sammy Sosa, Minor Leaguer

The Texas Rangers will announce the Sosa signing tomorrow, it was announced today.

All-In-One Solution

Well, here's a solution to outfield/leadoff/on-base percentage issues.

Colts=Cubs? Um, No

With all due respect to the Bismark Tribune, being a Colts fan is nothing like being a Cubs fan. As someone who is both (I'm a native of Indianapolis, where you basically picked between the Reds, Cubs and Cardinals growing up), I can say watching a baseball team that punctuates stinky season after stinky season with an occasional playoff run is much worse than watching a football team that has won basically 10-14 games nearly every year since 1999. But that's just me. (And the technical issues are resolved. For now.)

On Vacation

And having wireless issues. Hopefully, there'll be more to come this week...

Cotts Used To Booing

Unlike Jeff Samardzija, Neal Cotts should fit right in. Reflecting on a rough second half for the White Sox: "Booed before I even got to the mound," Cotts said, "and then, of course, booed when I left after giving up two home runs in like six pitches. I was horrible the last couple of months. I deserved it." The point of this Bob Verdi column, however, is people forget how good Cotts is and how important he was to the 2005 Sox.

How Many More Wins?

After doing math, Beyond the Boxscore has the Cubs picking up 16ish wins. This is also up at the Chicago National League Base Ball Club Blog, where they better understand what the hell they are talking about with all those numbers. I’ll just post the link and let you sort it out. Maddog does analysis. You get what you pay for, all right?

Brenly's Emmy Is Missing

The Cubs win one stinking award last season, and someone has to steal it?

Mr. January Keeps It Going

Ronny Cedeno continues to tear up Venezuelan Winter Ball postseason play. That will prepare him for a strong year in Iowa.

Sosa Update

The Rangers are nearing a deal with Sammy Sosa.

R.I.P., Cubs Fans

Chicago Cubs fans can officially go to the afterlife supporting their team, without ever seeing a World Series title in this life. Really? Officially licensed urns with Major League logos on them? This puts a new twist on the "which hat will he wear into the Hall of Fame" question. Now, we can wonder which urns former ballplayers will choose for their ashes. Perhaps if they pick one team for the Hall they can pick the other team for the afterlife. For example, Roger Clemens can wear a Red Sox hat at Cooperstown, with his ashes in a Yankees urn.

Carlos Contract Contest Entries

Here are the entries to the Carlos Contract Contest. As you can see, predictions on the length of the contract range from four to seven years and the value from $72 million to $105 million. Everyone picked the Cubs, with Santos Sorrow saying February 10 and antigoat saying it will drag out through the 4th of July.

Interestingly, nobody said the Cubs wouldn’t re-sign Zambrano.

Here are the entries:

Wrigleyville: 2/14/07, Cubs, 5 years, $92.5 million

Maddog: 3/31/07, Cubs, 4 years, $72 million

Antigoat: 7/04/07, Cubs, 5 years, $90 million

Nutsack: 2/27/07, Cubs, 6 years, $101.5 million

Justin: 3/22/07, Cubs, 6 years, $96 million

Santos Sorrow: 2/10/07, Cubs, 1 year, $13.5 million (this is presumably the arbitration number and not subject to the spirit of the contest).

Cubnut: 1/19/07, Cubs, 5 years, $86 million

Priorandaramisfan23: 4/02/07, Cubs, 5 years, $75 million

Jason: 2/19/07, Cubs, 6 years, $105 million

JMan: 3/22/07, Cubs, 6 years, $96 million

Aaron: 3/30/07, Cubs, 7 years, $119 million

Note: We'll keep it open one more week in the comments section of this post and then close it up.

So You’re Telling Me There’s A Chance

In many, many words, Dayn Perry lays out on foxsports.com what has to happen for the Cubs to win the NL Central (and he doesn’t approve of all the spending this offseason):

Derrek Lee must stay healthy. Mark Prior must pitch 200 innings. Soriano should not bat leadoff. Jacque Jones must be platooned. Matt Murton needs to start. Kerry Wood must be the closer. The pitchers must strike out a lot of batters. Carlos Zambrano must re-sign before the season starts. Or at least a good chunk of these.

All of which brings to mind this scene from Dumb and Dumber:

Lloyd: What are the chances of a guy like you and a girl like me ... ending up together?

Mary: Well, that's pretty difficult to say.

Lloyd: Hit me with it! I've come a long way to see you,

Mary. The least you can do is level with me. What are my chances?

Mary: Not good.

Lloyd: You mean, not good like one out of a hundred?

Mary: I'd say more like one out of a million.

[pause]

Lloyd: So you're telling me there's a chance.

Samardzija May Not Fit In

Jeff Samardzija may not work in the Chicago Cubs system:

“I think I am a pretty aggressive pitcher and I like to pitch with an offensive mentality and make things happen early [in the count]," he said. "I like quick innings to get our offense out there swinging the bats. Make it kind of quick as a pitcher and get a lot of ground balls and double plays."

The Cubs historically like pitchers who futz around and build high pitch counts as early as possible to ensure the bullpen is tapped out by mid-July. Hopefully, they’ll work with him on that in A ball this year.

Plus, he looks like one of the Hanson brothers. Or a combination of all three.

Cubs Say Good Bye To Glendon

The Chicago Cubs released Glendon Rusch today. He did a respectable job and always seemed to do whatever they needed. Not terribly well, but ably.

Cubs Upgrade Medical Facilities

A Wrigleyville23 Exclusive!

CHICAGO – Hours after the signing of Cliff Floyd on Wednesday, contractors arrived at Wrigley Field to begin expanding the old ballpark’s treatment room to better prepare the Chicago Cubs for the 2007 season.

Cubs officials declined to comment publicly on the Wrigley renovations, but a source said that the indoor batting cages were being removed to make room for a state-of-the-art treatment facility.

“We have to be ready,” the source said. “With Mark (Prior), Kerry (Wood), Derrek (Lee), Wade (Miller), Michael (Barrett), and Cliff coming off of injuries to their arms, legs, sides, shoulders and nuts, it only makes sense to dedicate our resources to the areas that will get the most use.”

The source said new manager Lou Piniella had signed off on removing the batting cages “because it will be more important to get these guys healthy than it will to let Henry Blanco take batting practice inside. No amount of practice is going to help Henry.”

The changes will allow the Cubs to significantly increase efficiencies in the way the team diagnoses, treats and rehabilitates injured players. For example, there will be state-of-the-art operating tables and ultrasound machines in the new facilities, in addition to x-ray machines.

“It’s going to be like a small hospital in there,” the source said. “If Mark feels something pop in a game in April, we won’t waste any time shipping him off to see Dr. Jobe or get second opinions. We’ll send him down the tunnel and cut him open right there, and the surgery should be done by the time the game ends.”

Prior and Wood were unavailable for comment, but staff ace Carlos Zambrano was excited about the changes.

“This will make everything easier,” said Zambrano, who was wearing his uniform even though Opening Day is more than two months away. “I used to have to go all the way to the hospital to visit those guys after surgery. Now, I can just go down the hall. I hope they add a flower shop, too, so I can bring them something nice.”

Cost estimates were not available on the project.

Dusty And The Brittle Rotation

Dusty Baker’s two-year ESPN contract allows him to leave the Worldwide Leader if a major league team decides it needs a manager to ruin the confidence of all of its everyday prospects while using young pitchers until their arms go flying off. The Tribune story contains this tidbit: The Cubs' $300 million-plus commitment this winter wasn't lost on Baker, who was relegated to working with a brittle starting rotation during his final two seasons. "Looking back, it makes you a little distraught," Baker said. "They made a lot of moves. It makes you wonder, but you get over it. I like Lou. There are a lot of guys I'm pulling for over there." I’m always torn writing about Dusty. I really, really like him, and it is good he’s gracious. But shouldn’t that first sentence have some recognition that he may have contributed in some eensy way to the brittleness of the starting rotation?

Picture Of Health

Cliff Floyd's JockBio entry contains variations of the word "injury" 10 times. I just felt you all should know that. (They also call him tall and beefy.)

ESPN: NL West, Central Very Hot

ESPN.com said the NL Central is the second most responsible division for generating winter heat this year, which I think means global warming. I'm telling Al Gore. Again. Bob Klapisch had this to say about the Cubs: The Cubs, in particular, put on a dazzling show, spending enough money to fuel a third-world economy. The new faces include Alfonso Soriano, Ted Lilly, Henry Blanco and Jason Marquis, not to mention Lou Piniella.

Cliff Floyd Is A Cub

Finally! His contract is apparently made of elastic - worth anywhere from one to two years and $3 million to $17.5 million.

Lou Is No. 1! Or 2!

In the ongoing “Hot Stove Heaters” countdown, ESPN.com again turns its gaze upon the Chicago Cubs by naming Lou Piniella joining the Cubs as the No. 1 most intriguing managerial storyline (after an interminable introduction on Bud Black). So, actually, I don’t know if that makes him No. 1 or No. 1a or No. 2 or what. But this is what they had to say: Piniella, 18th on the all-time managerial win list with 1,519, can pass Lasorda and Dick Williams and move into 16th place if he leads the Cubs to a .500 season. Given Piniella's track record, his three-year, $10 million contract and the Cubs' winter spending binge, Chicago fans are obviously hoping for more. If Piniella can bring a championship to Wrigley Field to complement his title in Cincinnati, he will give his Hall of Fame chances a significant boost. If anyone were to manage the Cubs to the World Series, I think they should ship him off to Cooperstown right after the final out. It would only be right.

The Trib: Editorializing In Crayon

The Tribune embarrasses itself with an editorial apparently written by a seventh grader. It's all well and good to compare cities in the spirit of manufacturing a rivalry that doesn't exist in any meaningful way. But if Chicago is so big, so bad, so wonderful - which it is - why in the world would the Tribune need to bother comparing the city to Indianapolis, of all places? Especially when Hoosiers generally aren't inclined to badmouth the Windy City. Though now the Indy Star will feel inclined to respond in kind. That won't go well. As a native of Indianapolis, I loved going to Chicago. Lots of fun. Good baseball. Good food. Good shopping. Crappy newspaper.

Jim Hendry, Mediocrity

Jim Hendry isn’t one of the seven best GMs in baseball, according to Phil Rogers’ ESPN.com column. Nor is he the worst (Mr. Bavasi takes that honor).

Cliff Floyd, Somewhere Over Pittsburgh

Do the Cubs have company in the sloooowwwww bidding for Cliff Floyd’s services? Probably not, as even this story says the Cubs are the frontrunners. Perhaps he just stopped by on his long walk to Chicago from Queens. Why else would it be taking this long?

Cubs Convention Recap(s)

While Wrigleyville spent the weekend on the snowy East Coast, preparing for what turned out to be the greatest playoff game ever, others in the blog world joined the masses of Cubs Nation at the Cubs Convention. That includes the Goat Riders, who handed out wildly popular fake pictures, as well as the Cub Reporter, Bleed Cubbie Blue and the temporarily renamed Ivy Chat.

Cubs, Big Z Get Philosophical

Talks between Carlos Zambrano and the Chicago Cubs have begun, though one of Big Z's agents says they are just discussing philosophy at this point:

"We spent a couple of hours discussing Carlos' future with the Cubs. I would describe the discussions as more philosophical than substantive. As far as where they will lead, I am not going to handicap the outcome."

I don't know about you, but I would pay $100 million-plus to get Carlos' thoughts on logic, ethics, metaphysics and epistemology. Maybe get him a tweed jacket with elbow patches. A pipe. It would be fascinating.

Weekly Cubs.com Mailbag Follies

Responding to a question about Carlos Zambrano and whether he will be the next Greg Maddux to get away, Carrie Muskat comes up with this gem:

First of all, the Cubs didn't lowball Maddux. The contract he signed with the Braves did little more than match the Cubs' offer. Secondly, the Cubs' offer to Zambrano is simply part of the process. Let it play out. Negotiations are ongoing.

OK, perhaps the Cubs didn't lowball Maddux (which is debatable), but the second part of her answer belies the first. The Cubs let the negotiations "play out" after the '92 season and what happened?

1. Maddux got an offer from the Braves.


2. Scott Boras calls Larry Himes and says Maddux wants to stay with the Cubs.


3. But the Cubs had just signed a bunch of other free agents - Jose Guzman, Dan Plesac, Candy Maldonado - and say they have no money left for Maddux.

Now, is that shrewd negotiations or complete ineptness by Larry Himes? And why in the word is Carrie Muskat defending Larry Himes at this point?

(This is not to say they should wildly overpay for Carlos. This is to say Carrie Muskat rarely makes sense.)

Ryno Criticizes Sammy (Again)

Ryno still doesn't like Sammy, according to the Trib: He told a radio reporter Sosa's decision to return to the major leagues so he can reach 600 home runs is "a little out of sync" with the reason the game is played. 600 home runs AND the love of the game, of course.

From Bad To Bad

Can't run a team? Hell, try the whole league. Andy MacPhail is the leading candidate to replace Bud Selig, ESPN.com says.

Carlos: To Sign Or Not

Buster Olney on Carlos Zambrano (subscription required): The Cubs might prefer to get Zambrano signed for $100 million before he's eligible for free agency next fall -- and if he's happy in Chicago, he should take that offer. But think, again, about what Zambrano might get: The Boston Red Sox were willing to commit $103 million in this offseason in order to sign Daisuke Matsuzaka, a player similar in talent and age to Zambrano (who is 25 years old). But while Matsuzaka had zero leverage, Zambrano will have enormous leverage. The Yankees, Mets and Red Sox, baseball's financial superpowers, would almost certainly be involved in any bidding for Zambrano, which would escalate the price dramatically. And while Matsuzaka comes to the big leagues amid some question about how he'll adjust and pitch in the Major Leagues, there are no such questions about Zambrano; he's gotten it done in the big leagues, at an All-Star-caliber level, already. If the Cubs were to get him signed to merely a Zito-type deal of $126 million, that would almost be a bargain, given the current market. The Mets, in particular, would have reason to go all out for Zambrano next fall, given their needs, given the physical decline of Pedro Martinez, and given that general manager Omar Minaya really values power pitching. It's extraordinarily rare when a power pitcher of Zambrano's ability hits the open market at the age of 26, before he theoretically hits the prime of his career (Which is why the Red Sox were so aggressive with Matsuzaka). Buster should enter the Wrigleyville23 Carlos Contract Contest.

Cliff Floyd A Cub? Not Yet...

Hey, did you hear the Cubs might sign Cliff Floyd? The long-rumored one-year deal may get done this week. Or not. Whatever.

Gee, You Think So?

Jim Leyland says the Tigers "made a mistake" when they acquired Neifi Perez from the Cubs last year. Well, yes, especially since the Tigers acquired 2006 Neifi and not 1999 Neifi. The Tigers were apparently confused about that point, as Leyland said, "He was a hell of a player, and we thought we were getting a similar player to that, but Neifi simply did not perform well."

Big Z On Big Z

Carlos Zambrano, slipping into the third person to go with his new perm, wants a new deal before the season starts: "He spent a lot of money. I hope he has more for Big Z," Zambrano said (of Jim Hendry). (Still can't find a picture of the hairdo).

Soriano: Put Me In Coach

Alfonso Soriano says he would like to play centerfield. Lou Piniella says, "it makes a lot of sense."

If Only...

''I've thrown five or six bullpens, and everything feels good,'' Prior said at the Cubs Convention. ''I'm just looking forward to '07 and putting everything behind me.''

Carlos Has A What?

Here's the initial news out of the Cubs Convention: There was little actual news to report on the first day of the convention. Zambrano has a new perm and wants Barry Zito-type money, Mark Prior is throwing, Felix Pie will get a shot in center field this spring, Ryan Theriot will also get a chance to play center and Barrett had a Gino's East pizza named after him. Perhaps Zambrano is hoping the perm will distract Hendry during negotiations?

ND Receiver Sticking With Baseball

Jeff Samardzija commits to baseball. Pitching arm files grievance. (Thanks to Kermit for correction in headline...)

Carlos Contest Time!

The biggest issue/challenge facing the Cubs over the next few months is what to do with Carlos Zambrano. How much should he be paid? Should he wait and test the free-agency waters? Will this be the year he snaps and kills someone?

With that in mind, Wrigleyville23 is hosting its second contest (a Goat Rider won the first), and it has multiple questions. Each must be answered for the contestant to be eligible to win. Please add your entry to the comments section (don't worry about others copying your answer).

The questions are as follows:

1. Name the date that Zambrano will sign (you can pick any date in the next 385 days, or roughly through next Spring Training opening).

2. Name the team.

3. How much?

4. For how long?

The entry that gets the most answers correct/close to correct wins the contest. Questions 1 and 3 will weigh more heavily. For entries that are very similarly accurate in date and amount, Wrigleyville23 management will determine the winner, arbitrarily.

The winner, as always, gets a free subscription to Wrigleyville23.

Sandberg Riding Buses, Teaching Things

Ryno is a big hit in Peoria, according to this cubs.com story, and he offers this piece of wisdom:

"I remember those days, being in the Minor Leagues, riding the buses. It's fun. Players can learn things on the buses. It'll be fun to be around the young players again."

One thing I learned when I was young and riding buses was how to spell "Bill" backwards. Our bus driver - Bill - had a hat that had "Bill" spelled backwards with the letters reversed, so it spelled "Bill" correctly when reflected in that big mirror over the steering wheel.

When he was facing us, however, it said "LLIB," with the letters backwards. Kind of like "ECNALUBMA" or "AMBULANCE" in your rear view mirror.

Maybe the Cubs can get Ryno an "ONYR" hat, though I guess he probably won't be driving the bus.

OK, I'll go to bed now.

Technical Difficulties, 3.0

First, Goat Riders of the Apocalypse. Then, Chicago National League Ball Club Blog. Now, Wrigleyville23 goes down. It's an epidemic. And I blame Cardinals fans.

ESPN.com Approves Of Soriano Signing

Alfonso Soriano signing with the Cubs is the hottest offseason position-player acquisition, or so says ESPN.com.

MLB: No Spending - Except In NY, Boston

In this steroids story ... Bud Selig apparently singled out the Cubs, Giants and Blue Jays for their free-spending ways in an owners meeting today. Um, don't they still have significantly lower payrolls than, say, the Yankees and Red Sox? God forbid they try to compete.

Prior's Boot To The Backside

Paul Sullivan weighs in on the Cubs asking Mark Prior to take a pay cut, saying Prior will arrive at the Cubs Convention "with a bull's-eye on his back and fresh boot marks from a recent kick in the backside from Cubs management."

Sammy Sosa, No. 5 Hitter?

The Texas Rangers are so impressed with what they saw from Sammy Sosa that manager Ron Washington mused about batting him fifth in the lineup.

Impressive, but they worked him out at their indoor batting cages.

Maybe that’s like the indoor driving nets at golf stores, where they take you back to that back room with three $500 drivers and you just pound the hell out of the range ball into that little net. Every ball hits the net within the same two-foot window because it hasn’t had time to slice, and you’re convinced this magic club with the Fred Flintstone head is going to have you sitting in the middle of the fairway, 300 yards out. Every time.

By the time he left the Cubs (early), Sosa was sliding. Quickly. His average, on-base percentage and home run totals had dropped three years in a row, by a total of 75 points, 105 points and 29 home runs, (dis)respectively. And then he laid an egg in Baltimore the next year, with the numbers falling frighteningly low.

One Ranger fan is rightfully worried.

Plus, wouldn’t your No. 5 hitter be getting better than a $500,000 minor league contract?

Allegedly Positive Pitching News

Well. What to make of this.

Mark Prior is "going through a strenuous program and has been throwing for quite a while." Wade Miller "started throwing a few weeks ago and has had no problems at all." Larry Rothschild is "encouraged" by Kerry Wood's progress as well.

Ugh. I'm like a dog chasing a ball in the yard. The Cubs keep throwing this news out there, year after year, and I just keep believing them.

Of course, they dropped this "good news" as they were departing for the winter Cubs Caravan. It's not like they would say, "Yeah, these three guys are turds" on their way out to get fans excited for the coming season.

But still.

Chad Fox, Cautionary Tale

Fire Lou Piniella reminisces about Dusty Baker ending Chad Fox's career in the ongoing bottom 126 Cubs of his lifetime. Good times.

Devil Rays Going Back To Basics

The Crime Dog signs on as a special advisor to the Devil Rays. As a bonus, all players get baseball instructional videos teaching techniques used by back to back to back AAU national championship teams. And awkward looking foam and mesh caps.

Arbitration Over $475,000?

Chris De Luca asks a very good question about the Mark Prior arbitration dance: The Cubs offered $3.4 million, and Prior sought $3.875 million -- such a narrow gap for a star-power player and baseball's hottest new big spender, it's surprising a compromise wasn't reached via fax. It's odd to think that a $475,000 difference would become a sticking point between Prior and the Cubs. While nearly half a million is a lot of money in the real world, it isn't so much in the funny-money world of the Cubs and baseball these days. In fact, it is less than 1/272 of what they're paying Soriano over the next eight years.

7-Eleven Offers Cubs Fans Junk

Big news from 7-Eleven! Fans win a prize every time the Cubs score seven or 11 runs at a home game, among other promotions. It's not clear from the press release whether this applies to all fans or just those who attended the games. Not sure it matters, because what possibly could be worth winning at 7-Eleven? Smokes? A 40-ouncer? Bag of Doritos? A source said 7-Eleven considered offering the same deal every time a Cubs starter allowed seven or 11 runs, but they figured it would be too pricy once they signed Jason Marquis. OK, that was a cheap shot. I'm sorry, Jason. Prove me wrong.

Rangers Offer Contract To Sammy

ESPNdeportes.com (who knew?) reports that the Rangers have offered Sammy Sosa a minor league contract and invited him to spring training. Details were not disclosed.

A source, however, told el lider mundial de deportes that the contract would be heavy with incentives.

If he's going to make it anywhere, Texas could be the spot. Kenny Lofton, Nelson Cruz and Brad Wilkerson are scheduled to be the Rangers' starting outfielders. Frank Catalanotto is the DH. Plus, the pitching stinks, so why not? Sign him up.

Buena suerte, Sammy.

Big Z, Big Money

Carlos Zambrano asks for $15.5 million. Cubs offer a bit over $11 million. Update: In a second AP story, the Cubs ask Mark Prior to take a slight pay cut - $3.4 million, down from $3.65 million. Prior is asking for $3.875 million.

Cubs Arbitration Update

One down, as Will Ohman signed for two years and $2.5 million, and two to go. The Cubs were expected to trade salary demands/requests with Carlos Zambrano and Mark Prior today, as well.

Math Determines 2006 Cubs Not Good

For those of you who understand such things, Maddog got his calculator out and is discussing VORP over at the Chicago National League Ball Club Blog. Conclusion: The 2006 Chicago Cubs sucked.

Cubs Center Field Update

OK, not an update. Just a new source of speculation. The Sporting News is guessing Ryan Church for center field.

Heartbreak, Revisited

Following up on the Chargers meltdown, Buster Olney lists the top eight baseball postseasons in the last 25 years (subscription required) in which the team “that appeared to be the best had to trudge into the offseason knowing it could have and probably should have won.” No. 3 is the 2003 Chicago Cubs, after the ’88 Athletics and Mets (lumped together) and the ’86 Red Sox (the ’85 Cardinals are No. 4). No mention of the ’84 Cubs.

Sosa Works Out For Rangers

Sammy, back where it all started?

CBS Uses Its Quota Of Similes

In one column on fantasy baseball not even solely dedicated to the Cubs, Larry Dobrow manages to:

• Call Lou Piniella "crazy-eyed."
• Compare Matt Murton to a yogi with no arms or legs.
• Liken Kerry Wood's health with Natasha Lyonne's mortality.

There are a lot more of these insights in the column (Arlington, Texas as Darfur and Royals pitchers as kindergartners, for example). It's almost as if Larry just finished a grammar lesson in third grade and was told to write a paper using similes. Since he's used his fair share in one column, however, he's going to have to use the much more difficult metaphors as spring training approaches. Moderation, Larry. It'll get you through the summer.

Hard Mexican Infields

Here's a head-scratcher in this week's cubs.com mailbag: My question is about Casey McGehee. I've seen him play through the winter, and it seems that he could be in the Majors. I read that the Cubs are inviting him to Spring Training, and I wanted to know what possibilities he has?-- Cesar T., Culiacan, Mexico Carrie Muskat: McGehee will certainly be ready for anything -- I've heard the Mexican infields are very hard. As for his chances of making the big-league team, it depends on whether he shows the staff he's ready and whether there's an opening. It seems she is saying because of hard Mexican infields, McGehee has faced some challenges over the winter and therefore he "will certainly be ready for anything." But the answer doesn't make any sense, given the question. The second half of the answer is equally insightful: " ... it depends on whether he shows the staff he's ready and whether there's an opening." Well, yes. Those would be two important factors in a prospect making the team.

Good News For The Mets

The Phillies sign former Cub Antonio Alfonseca.

Cubs Convention Questions

Paul Sullivan previews the Cubs Convention and, evidently, the questions at this point are: 1. Will Cliff Floyd be signed and Jacque Jones traded? and 2. Is the pitching staff good enough? Good to know the beat.

Dawson, Sandberg On Offseason Moves

Ryno and the Hawk are playing wait and see with the 2007 Cubs. First Dawson: "They made some good acquisitions considering what was out there (for free-agent talent). But I still think there is work to be done." And Sandberg: "They were very aggressive this winter, but they had a lot of work to do after the last two seasons. I don't know if a quick fix will work, but in the future it's important that the Cubs get more players out of their own system." Then again, neither were a product of the Cubs system. Also, weren't they speaking at the Iowa Cubs' Fan Fest? They could be a little peppier. Or more peppy. Or both. But they have a point.

Why Do They Call Him Pieman?

The Philly Inquirer, making note of Tomas Perez joining the Cubs, calls him Tomas "Pieman" Perez. This is an interesting and catchy nickname, but the Inquirer doesn't explain why they're calling him this. Does he bake pies for teammates? Does he just really, really like pie? Does he do those shaving cream pie things to teammates while they're doing interviews? A Google search shows he is well knows as "Pieman" or "Pie Man" by Phillies fans and writers, but I couldn't seem to find a good explanation of why (I didn't have the energy to read all 93 hits - or even nine). Does anyone know? If there's a good reason, I may be more supportive of this signing. It's good to have someone with a good nickname around.

Corey, Eric Patterson Are Different People

The Des Moines Register - covering the hell out of the Iowa Cubs Fan Fest - appears to be the first news organization to report that Eric Patterson and Corey Patterson are indeed two different people. Bruce Sutter, a neighbor of the Pattersons in Atlanta who also played some baseball once upon a time, explains why: “Their personalities are different. Corey is quiet and Eric is outgoing. And Eric is more of a late-bloomer. Corey would knock the ball a long way when he was a young man. Eric kind of came into his power in college. And Eric is a better base-stealer than Corey was. He reads pitchers better, though he’s not as fast. It would be a close race. I tried to get them to race, but I couldn’t.” Which is a better way of saying "He is a really good baserunner who knows how to run the bases."

Jody, Jody Davis (And Ryno)

The Des Moines Register talks to Jody Davis and Sparky Anderson about Ryno's new job managing in the minors. Jody has been out and about a lot lately, helping Michael Barrett, going to fan fests and talking about Sandberg. Which is unfortunate, because every time I see his name I walk around with Harry Caray singing, "Joo-dee, Jooo-deeee Davis" in my head the rest of the day. Now you will, too. You're welcome. Also, the Register mistakenly says the Cubs haven't been to a World Series since 1908.

Ronny Cedeno, Slugger

Ronny Cedeno was less than impressive at the plate last season. He batted .245, had a .271 on base percentage, while managing six home runs and 41 RBIs. He also had a slugging percentage of .339, which was just .339 higher than mine. To be fair, I’ve got a lot of pop, but still.

Cedeno provided more of the same in Venezuelan winter ball’s regular season (.226 ave, two home runs and 17 RBIs in 39 games). But he’s turned it on in the postseason for the Tigres de Aragua, homering twice with six RBIs and five runs scored in seven games.

The lesson, as always: Ronny Cedeno is Mr. January.

Arbitration Time

It's that time of year: Carlos Zambrano, Mark Prior and Will Ohman all filed for arbitration today, as did Dontrelle Willis, Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau.

Cubs Bottom Feeding

The Cubs sign a former Devil Ray to a minor league contract, after loading up on Washington Nationals. Addendum: Speaking of the Nationals, they signed Jerome Williams. Good luck with that.

Zambrano And The Money Question

The Tribune gets around to examining Carlos Zambrano's worth in a story today. The Cubs are eager to sit down with Zambrano this spring, but there seems to be a disconnect in expectations: Zambrano's agent, Barry Praver, refused to comment until he meets with Hendry later this month or early next, but it is clear he would like Zito-type money ($18+ million a year). It is just as clear Hendry would like the "hometown discount" Lee, Wood and Ramirez gave him. Hendry most likely is thinking more along the lines of recent signees Roy Oswalt and Chris Carpenter than Zito. Oswalt stayed in Houston for $73 million over five years and Carpenter stayed in St. Louis for $63.5 million over five years.In the end it may come down to how badly Zambrano would like to stay in Chicago and whether he wants to take the security of signing this spring over the risk of injury if he waits for a bigger payday. Predictions, anyone?

You Wanna Have A Catch?

Ted Lilly is with the Cubs in part because he didn’t want to play catch with Gregg Zaun. Now we learn John Thomson signed with the Blue Jays – to play catch with Zaun, no less – because he doesn’t want to play catch with Paul Lo Duca.

Goodness. I guess the key to signing mediocre to bad pitchers is to make sure you have a guy behind the plate they like. Maybe Owen Wilson. Or Vince Vaughn. They seem like fun. Or Brad Pitt – at least the Ocean’s Eleven Brad Pitt, not the Fight Club Brad Pitt (aka Michael Barrett).

Back to Thomson, who offered this critique of the Mets by way of explaining why he turned down their offer and decided instead to sign with Toronto:

"As far as just looking at Paul Lo Duca across the field, I'm not really into how he acts behind the plate. I know a bit about Gregg Zaun, and I know he wants to win and he's not going to let anything get in his way to do that, and I like that. And then with Vernon Wells in center field, I'm not really concerned about the outfield with him out there. ... Just watching the Mets' outfield, if Cliff Floyd is there it's not a real good fit for him out there. He can hit the ball, but as far as defense, he's a little shaky.”

Indeed. Thomson knows the value of having a good center fielder behind him from his time in Atlanta, where he pitched the last three seasons with nine-time Gold Glover Andruw Jones watching his back.

And how did he do with that defensive help? A career 62-84 pitcher, Thomson put up one winning season with Atlanta (the only one in his career) - sliding from 14-8 with a 3.72 ERA in 2004 to 4-6 with a 4.47 ERA and 2-7 with a 4.82 ERA in the last two years. Who knows what it would have been without Jones behind him.

Unfortunately, the Mets and Blue Jays don’t play this season.

Note: That’s a site-record three movie references in one post! Two are overt, so we’ll give a free Wrigleyville23 subscription to the first person to name the third (assuming anyone has made it to the bottom of this mess).

Morrissey Stomps His Foot

Well, well, look who came riding in on his high horse from the Tribune Tower. It's Rick Morrissey!

Wrigley Makes ESPN's Top Five

In its countdown to spring training, ESPN.com is offering a Hot Stove Heaters (Huh? Why do you need to heat a hot stove? Seems redundant. Or wasteful. I'm telling Al Gore.) series on the 25 hottest topics in baseball.

The first installment of the the 25 hottest topics in baseball is - you guessed it! - the top five ballbarks in baseball. Really? The five best ballparks in baseball is in the Top 25 of things we'll be talking about all summer?

On to the list. I'm not clear whether these are in any kind of order, but Fenway Park gets the most attention from Tim Kurkjian, with Camden Yards, PNC Park, Wrigley Field and AT&T Park rounding out the top five.

Fox: Cubs Pursuing Aging Center Fielders

Fire Lou Piniella links to this Ken Rosenthal story chock full of iffy to bad options for the Cubs at center field: Ryan Church (28 years old), Steve Finley (42 on Opening Day), Darin Erstad (32, but plays like he's 53) and possibly Bernie Williams (38). Rosenthal calls them "stopgaps until Felix Pie is ready." Note: This also will count as your "Why haven't the Cubs signed Cliff Floyd?" post for the week, because he's mentioned in the story. I know it's not the same, but you'll survive.

A Leon Durham Story

War's post on Leon Durham at Goat Riders of the Apocalypse reminds me of my one Leon Durham story, which I am contractually obligated to tell under the tell-this-story-every-time-Leon-Durham-is-mentioned rule.

Luckily, his name only comes up once every few years, at least in my circles.

Anyway, in October 1984, the morning after the Cubs lost the NLCS to the Padres, a friend heard on the radio that Leon Durham had killed himself by stepping in front of a bus. Actually, the radio guy had said "Leon Durham tried to kill himself by stepping in front of a bus, but it went between his legs." This refers, of course, to the ball going between Durham's legs in the seventh inning of the decisive Game 5.

But my friend just heard "Leon Durham killed himself" and passed it along, which was crushing to 13-year-old me. You can imagine my surprise when the Bull showed up at first base in the spring of '85. I believe my dad clarified the issue.

P.S. Is it me, or does Leon Durham have one of those names that all but requires you to use both names. Leon Durham. Leon and Durham just don't sound right.

Like with assassins, when the police release their full names and therefore are known ever more by three names. Lee Harvey Oswald. John Wilkes Booth. Sirhan Sirhan Sirhan. You get the picture.

Pondering The Top 100 Cubs List

I have been following with interest Bleed Cubbie Blue's Top 100 Cubs countdown - No. 41 is Mike "King" Kelly today - and eagerly await the top 10. Though I must admit my mind wanders whenever the player's picture is in black and white.

Anyway, how do you think they will handle the top 3 - as a straight America's Top 40 countdown or like they do it at the Miss America pageant? That's where they announce the third place finisher (2nd runner-up in pageant-speak) and then leave the two standing there in evening gowns before announcing the winner. In other words, the runner-up never really gets any recognition because they jump straight to the winner. Because we're Americans, and in America we love winners.

So, when they get down to Ryne Sandberg, Ernie Banks and Steve Lake, will they announce Banks as second runner-up and go straight to No. 1? Or will they do a story on the runner-up, leaving everyone to know who the winner will be the next day? Or will they post them both at once, thereby diluting the winner and No. 2?

And if they choose the straight countdown and announce Ryno at No. 2, leaving Steve Lake as the obvious No. 1 Cub Of All Time, won't that allow other blogs to scoop them on their long, impressive list?

I hope they've thought this through.

Cardinals Follow Cubs Pitching Strategy

Apparently alarmed that the Chicago Cubs are hoarding all of the seriously injured pitchers in the NL Central, the St. Louis Cardinals re-signed Mark Mulder today to a two-year $13 million contract. "I'll be damned if the Chicago Cubs are going to get all of the talented or somewhat talented injured pitchers," Cardinals general manager Walt Jocketty said. "They used this strategy to win 66 games last year, and I think there's something to it." Mulder - 6-7 with a 7.14 ERA in 2006 - is not expected to pitch the first half of 2007 due to rotator cuff surgery, so the Cardinals will have to wait until July for the left-hander to disappoint fans and teammates.

Will Ohman May Or May Not Like This

Bruce Miles breaks some sort of sports page record by using the words "garrulous," "loquacious" and "obstreperous" in one sentence - let alone one story - to describe Will Ohman. The larger point of the story was that the Cubs could go to arbitration with Ohman, Carlos Zambrano and Mark Prior. I forget his conclusion, however, as I was forced to dictionary.com and never returned to the Daily Herald Web site.

Look Who's Back ... Back Again

It's official: Mark Grace is back. Well, at least at the Cubs Convention. Which is nice.

Santo Next Up For Hall Vote

Turning our attention to the veterans committee, Rob Neyer says at various points in this chat that Ron Santo is among the Hall's biggest ommissions and he has a good chance this time around. Then again, he doesn't see Andre Dawson as a Hall of Famer, so his judgment is to be questioned and his family is to be shunned.

Good Baserunner Who Knows How To Run!

The Cubs announced the 11 players they're inviting to camp this spring. They are pitchers Sean Gallagher, Adam Harben, Ryan O’Malley, Carmen Pignatiello and Randy Wells, along with catcher Jake Fox, infielders Mike Kinkade, Casey McGehee and Eric Patterson, and outfielders Tyler Colvin and Chris Walker. Cubs.com didn't do Pat Listach any favors by quoting him saying this about Patterson, younger brother of Corey: "He's a really good baserunner and knows how to run the bases." That's good. It is high time the Cubs got a good baserunner who knows how to run the bases, as opposed to a good baserunner who can't run the bases.

Bloggy Hall of Fame Reaction

Here's how others are reacting to the Hall of Fame vote announcement today: Maddog at Chicago National League Ball Club Blog is rightly perplexed by the lack of unanimity for Cal Ripken Jr. Fire Lou Piniella! has kind words for Andre Dawson, as if at a wake, while mocking Big Mac. Goat Riders of the Apocalypse proactively voted for Dawson, before a skirmish breaks out in the comments over Dawson and Jim Rice. Emotions are high on this difficult day. Bleed Cubbie Blue opens a thread for a discussion of the vote. Shocking consensus: Dawson should be in. The Cub Reporter announces the results, with comments from commenters. Strangely, Wrigleyville23 is the only one that compares Andre Dawson to Jonas Salk. That's the kind of insight you get around here.

Voters Snub Dawson - Again

Despite all evidence to the contrary, Andre Dawson was deemed not good enough at his job to be in the Baseball Hall of Fame - as voted by a group of people who all aren't necessarily very good at their jobs, either. There's some irony or something in there somewhere.

Incredibly, Dawson saw his vote percentage drop from 2006, according to mlb.com. On the upside, at least two more writers vow to take a long consideration of the Hawk next year. As baseball writers, one would think they would know of this mysterious individual known as Andre Dawson already.

In related news, Jonas Salk was not voted into the Medicine Hall of Fame again this year because, as one medicine writer put it, "Was polio really that bad?"

(Congratulations to Cal Ripken, Jr., and Tony Gwynn, by the way, though they should refuse induction out of solidarity with Dawson. You know, just out of principle.)

Update: Dawson got 56.7 percent of the vote - down from 61 percent in 2006. This means 43.3 percent of voters are bad people. Jim Rice got 63.5 percent.

Hall of Fame '07 Announced Today

Phil Rogers says Andre Dawson, Jim Rice and Goose Gossage will get in - but not this year.

Cubs Drop Players, Staff From Health Plan

A Wrigleyville23 exclusive!

CHICAGO - The Chicago Cubs announced Monday they are dropping company-paid health benefits for all employees and instead will require front office personnel, players and staff to open health savings accounts if they want insurance coverage.

The Cubs said the change is effective immediately, citing rising health care costs in general and the over use of the company plan by a small number of employees.

"This really isn't something we wanted to do, but it is something we are forced to do," Cubs interim president John McDonough said. "Quite simply, the costs have built and built the last few seasons and it really is impacting the bottom line. We simply can no longer compete both here at home and on a global basis."

McDonough declined to say how much the Cubs have spent on health care in recent years, other than to say it was "considerable." Much of the money, he said, was spent on two players who spent significant time on the disabled list and a female employee in the ticket office who insists on going to the emergency room every time she doesn't feel well.

McDonough also refused to say which players were driving the rising costs. A source identified them as Kerry Wood and Mark Prior, who have experienced various arm, leg and mystery ailments since 2004.

"No one person is to blame," McDonough said. "It's more of a systemic problem in the way our nation funds health care. That and two of our pitchers can't stay off the operating table."

The move is expected to be unpopular in the clubhouse, as well as in the front office. One source speculated that it would be difficult for the Cubs to attract quality free agents or top-line janitors, hot dog vendors or broadcasters in the future.

"What about somebody like Ron Santo? You think he doesn't need a good health plan?" the source said. "Luckily, he just turned 65 and can get Medicare, but what about the next guy? I hope Mark and Kerry are happy with themselves."

Welcome, GROTA Readers

By the way, welcome all Goat Riders of the Apocalypse readers. Thank you for coming by, even if Famine vowed to destroy Wrigleyville. We hope to settle any disputes through further diplomacy.

Jayson Stark Supports Dawson

Jayson Stark stays in Wrigleyville's good graces by voting for Andre Dawson for the Hall of Fame, along with EIGHT other names: Tony Gwynn, Cal Ripken Jr., Mark McGwire, Goose Gossage, Dale Murphy, Jack Morris, Jim Rice and Bert Blyleven (a name I have to look up every time I try to spell it). Here's his rationale on the Hawk, in addition to the stats: I covered the National League in the 1980s. And every debate about the best player in the National League back then included Dawson's name. That's something I think about every year when I cast a vote for this man. ... So consider his whole package of credentials -- power and speed, defense and award votes, and the all-important non-statistical side of him, the leadership and the respect he commanded among his peers. Consider all that, and it's tougher to figure out why Dawson shouldn't be in the Hall of Fame than why he should. Amen. And bear with me. We're 21 hours away from the vote announcement, so the (multi) daily posts on Dawson will stop. For a price. Negotiations start at a case of Diet Coke and a Taco John's gift card.

Cubs: Second Biggest Story Line Of '07?

Buster Olney (subscription recquired) makes the rebuilding of the Cubs his No. 2 story to follow for 2007 (after Barry Bonds' pursuit of Hank Aaron's record). He's not too optimistic: They doled out more than $300 million on free agents this winter, leading the free spenders in the most frenzied spending spree in the history of the game. They've bet a lot of money that new manager Lou Piniella and lead-off hitter Alfonso Soriano are going to be difference-makers for a team with a very right-handed lineup and a suspect defense. What the Cubs' season could come down to is this simple equation: With Carlos Zambrano filling the No. 1 spot, they need two pitchers from the group of Mark Prior, Rich Hill, Jason Marquis and Sean Marshall to emerge with solid seasons. If they don't get that, there is a very good chance this team will be a tremendous disappointment. What about Ted Lilly? Or does he assume he'll have a solid season and they just need two more? Or is he writing Ted off altogether? Update: No. 8 is the NL Central race. Buster mentions the Cubs in passing at the end, but says the Central "should be a summer-long brawl." The Cubs have Michael Barrett, so that's a good start.

Computer: Cubs Will Win 86.9 Games

The Chicago National League Ball Club blog has posted team-by-team projected wins, developed by someone with a big calculator. The projections have the Cubs finishing second in the Central to the Cardinals with 86.9 wins. That would be good enough for the wild card, based on the forecast for other teams. Oddly, they say the Nationals will win 81.6 games. Huh? Their starting rotation at this point is John Patterson and two guys whose mothers didn't even know are in the major leagues.

Cubs: Most Improved In '07?

Jon Heyman of SI.com predicts the Chicago Cubs will be the most improved team in 2007. Here's why: 1. Cubs. Next up on general manager Jim Hendry's shopping list: The Sears Tower. The Cubs' stunning spending spree seemed like an unusual strategy for a company that is supposedly selling off parts. I'll say this, so far Hendry's done the best selling. He sold his bosses on committing an outrageous outlay to try to steal a winnable division. I don't think they'll accomplish that goal, but they will be much better. And not all the contracts were loony, either. For instance, the $10 million spent on Lou Piniella was well spent. And Alfonso Soriano is awfully talented. But after all the cash was committed, their biggest improvement will be attributable to them having Derrek Lee for a full year. Predicted improvement: 20 wins. That would put them at 86-76, which should be easily achievable. They should make up 10 wins just from removing the malaise from Wrigley, not to mention what a deeper pitching staff, Soriano and hopefully some health will do. I'm sticking with my 89-73 prediction, good enough to win the Central. Take it to Vegas (at your own risk).

Cubs: Light-Hitting Shortstops R Us

In the Venezuelan Winter League, Cubs players were less than stellar, to put it charitably. Here's an update from cubs.com: RHP Angel Guzman -- Guzman (0-1) took the loss for the Navegantes del Magallanes on Dec. 21 after surrendering three runs on three hits while striking out six in 4 2/3 innings. In his next start, he scattered three hits and struck out four over five scoreless frames but came away with a no-decision. C Henry Blanco -- Blanco went 1-for-3 on Dec. 21 to snap a five-game hitless streak. He batted .204 with three homers and 17 RBIs in 54 games for the Leones del Caracas. SS Ronny Cedeno -- Cedeno went 2-for-5 with three RBIs on Dec. 23 for the Tigres de Aragua. Through 39 games, the 23-year-old shortstop batted .226 with two homers and 17 RBIs. Cedeno's numbers are positively Izturis-like. So the Cubs should be set for light-hitting shortstops for the foreseeable future. Which is nice.

Two From Trib Snub Hawk

The Tribune published how their nine writers cast their Hall of Fame ballots this year. All but two - Mark Gonzalez and Phil Hersh - voted for Andre Dawson. And, yes, they both voted for Jim Rice.

Here's the rationale from Gonzalez on voting for Rice (he is silent on leaving Dawson out):

I never covered Jim Rice, but I saw enough of his games to recognize what a dominant hitter he was. The sight of him hitting a ball out of the Oakland Coliseum on two bounces during batting practice in 1978 was just a sampling of his strength and intimidation.

Um, so I presume he will vote for Russell Branyan for the Hall of Fame after he retires. Sure, he can't play worth a lick, but he puts on a hell of a show during batting practice.

Plus, this from Hersh:

And, with a bow to the achievements of sluggers who likely were not using steroids, my first vote for Jim Rice, who hit more than 40 homers just once but between 20 and 40—when those were respected numbers—15 times. I know, as my colleague Mike Downey pointed out convincingly, that Andre Dawson's record looks as good as Rice's, except for career batting average. That's a point I will weigh seriously next year.

And Dawson's record far exceeds Rice's on the basepaths and in the field (eight Gold Gloves to none). So, according to Hersh, Dawson is only worth considering after he waits seven years?

Goofiness.

Update: I was mildly encouraged by the seven of nine voters selecting Dawson, until I did the math and realized that it was only 77 percent - just 2 percentage points above what is needed. If the Tribune writers are only giving him 77 percent, it isn't encouraging overall.

Colangelo: Just The Cubs, Please

Jerry Colangelo shows remarkably good judgment in saying he would be interested in buying the Chicago Cubs - but not the whole mess of the Tribune empire. He also says nothing is imminent in this Daily Southtown story: "I think it's way too early for me to say anything other than I'm really interested, and if the opportunity presented itself, I'd love to be able to put a deal together," Colangelo said.

Moonlighting For The Hawk

The good and wise people at Goat Riders of the Apocalypse posted a column from Wrigleyville on, you guessed it, Andre Dawson and the Hall of Fame. Just vote him in and I'll shut up about it. Promise.

Dan Shaughnessy, Homer

The Boston Globe columnist leaves Andre Dawson off of his Hall of Fame ballot, but inclues Jim Rice. The eight Gold Gloves and 314 stolen bases? Yeah, forget those.

Left Out In Wrigley

Interesting - and depressing - tidbit on Bleed Cubbie Blue today: "The last lefty to start and finish a full year in the rotation was Greg Hibbard -- in 1993. Hibbard had a decent year -- 15-11 with a 3.96 ERA -- but was allowed to leave as a free agent, and threw half a year for the Mariners before arm trouble ended his career." That is almost impossible to imagine. That is 14 seasons ago. Ted Lilly and Rich Hill are the lefties starting the year in the Cubs rotation in 2007. Hopefully, one or both will be the Greg Hibbard of 2007 - something neither of them likely have in their preseason goals book. In fact, Cubs fans should be happy with 15-11 and 3.96 ERAs from both Lilly and Hill.

Rangers Not Through With Hairston Jr. Era

The Texas Rangers are hoping Jerry Hairston Jr. can match the .205 batting average, three doubles and six RBIs he managed after they acquired him from the Cubs last season. If not, re-signing him may prove to be a mistake.

Bizarro Baseball

Now it's official: The 2006-07 offseason is operating in some sort of bizarro world. Consider:

• The Cubs scared everyone out of the hand by going all-in to win Alfonso Soriano - not to mention Ted Lilly, Mark DeRosa and Jason Marquis.
• The Royals did the same for Gil Meche. Still don't get that one.
• The Yankees are shedding high-priced veterans for prospects, finalizing a trade today that sends Randy Johnson to the Diamondbacks for three minor leaguers. This after they sent Gary Sheffield to the Tigers for three pitching prospects.

If Kerry Wood and Mark Prior are healthy and pitching on Opening Day, we may need to check with scholars for additional non-baseball signs of the apocalypse.

Scott Miller Snubs The Hawk

Scott Miller did not include Andre Dawson on his Hall of Fame ballot this year, which of course means Scott Miller and I can no longer be friends and he won't be invited to any more Wrigleyville family functions. His loss.

He did vote, however, for Bert Blyleven, Goose Gossage, Tony Gwynn, Jack Morris, Jim Rice, Cal Ripken Jr., and Alan Trammel. This is part of what he had to say about Rice, the only comparable player to Dawson on his ballot:

"The argument against Rice -- that his years of dominance didn't stretch much more than a decade -- should be completely trumped by how dominant he was during his peak. The guy finished among the top five in MVP voting five times (sic), and his MVP 1978 season, with 406 total bases, remains one for the ages."

Let's compare Rice and Dawson:

Rice
MVP - 1
MVP Top 5 - 6
All-Star - 8
Ave - .298
Slug - .502
OBP - .352
HR - 382
Hits - 2,452
RBI - 1,451
SB - 58
Gold Gloves - 0

Dawson
MVP - 1
MVP Top 5 - 3
All-star - 8
Ave - .279
Slug - .482
OBP - .323
HR - 438
Hits - 2,774
RBI - 1,591
SB - 314
Gold Gloves - 8

Statistically, Rice compares favoraly on average, slugging and on-base percentage. Dawson has the edge in home runs, hits and RBI, though the last two are a function of longevity. A true differentiator for Dawson, however, are the stolen bases and Gold Gloves.

That surely counts for something in a Hall of Fame vote, does it not?

I would ask Scott Miller, but we are no longer talking.

Very Superstitious, Writing's On The Wall

Justin Morneau is nuts. Er, superstitious. In an endearing way.

Cliff Floyd Watch

That's right, it's Wrigleyville's weekly "What's up with Cliff Floyd?" post. It's been 22 days since WFAN reported that Floyd had signed with the Cubs and 15 days since the Trib reported he was close to signing. This is like waiting for Christmas, if only we didn't know when Christmas arrives and Santa Claus were an aging left fielder with a bum Achilles.

Neal Cotts Doubles Up

The Cubs gave Neal Cotts an $825,000 one-year contract, which sounds downright tiny given the money they've spent this offseason. Then again, it doubles his salary for 2006, in which he was 1-2 with a 5.17 ERA, 43 Ks, 24 walks and a WHIP of 1.63.

Oddly, Cotts will get a $150,000 bonus if he is named the World Series MVP.

Just $150,000? That bonus should work like a parlay at the sports book or a trifecta at the track. The odds are so infinitesimal that 1. the Cubs will make the World Series, 2. the Cubs will WIN the World Series, and then 3. a middle reliever will be the Series MVP that it seems they could say: "Neal, we're going to give you a $275 million bonus if you're the World Series MVP."

It would give him something to work for, the headlines could say "Cotts contract worth up to $275.8 million," and the Cubs would never, ever have to pay it out. And if they did win the Series and Cotts did win the MVP ... hell, the Cubs just won the Series! Who cares at that point?

Along those same lines: I will receive a hefty bonus if I cure cancer.

Michael Barrett's Man Pain

I wonder how much time Carrie Muskat spent trying to figure out how to politely characterize Michael Barrett's, um, man injury before settling on this: "He suffered an intrascrotal hematoma, and has vowed to find a cup that provides `bullet-proof' protection. Expect him to be touting a 2007 Barrett model this year." This still makes me hurt deep in my gut. And elsewhere.

Samardzija: One Game, Then A Decision

If I had a choice between being a 6-foot-5 pitcher in professional baseball (with a $7.25 million signing bonus waiting for me) and being a white wide receiver in the NFL, let's just say it wouldn't take too much thinking. Domer and Cub Jeff Samardzija is nearing decision time.

Don Doxsie Is A Downer

The columnist for the Quad City Times has this prediction for the Chicago Cubs: "Mark Prior and Kerry Wood, plagued by injuries, combine to pitch only 38 innings and Jason Marquis allows 38 home runs as the Chicago Cubs finish fourth in the National League Central." He does not say who will finish first, second or third. But if he's taking bets, I'll take the over on number of innings for Prior and Wood and the under on number of homers given up by Marquis.

Papa Fonsie

Alfonso Soriano and his wife Angelica have a new baby boy (second boy, third child). In other news, he will attend the Cubs Convention, is ready for spring training and will show up on time. So much for those Sosa comparisons.

Prior Not Throwing (From Mound) Yet

Less than enouraging news about Mark Prior in the Tribune today. But not totally discouraging, either. He's throwing lightly, but not letting it go from the mound yet. The Cubs sound more hopeful about Wade Miller, who is two years removed from surgery. They need just one of them to be healthy to have a full rotation. Two of them to have a good rotation. But I guess we'll have to settle for the former and hope for the latter, after last year's debacle.

Cubs: 35 Percent Of Top Chicagoland News

The Tribune sports staff selected its top 10 stories of 2006, with the Cubs figuring in 3.5 of them: 1. Dusty Baker fired, Lou Piniella hired. 6. Michael Barrett punches A.J. Pierzynski, who I continue to believe had it coming - just on principle. 7. Cubs offseason spending. Seems low. Barrett punching Pierzynski is a bigger deal than dropping $305.5 million and counting? Really? That's one hell of a punch. 10. White Sox overtake Cubs in ratings. For a year.

Newhan To Cubs?

David Newhan tells the Baltimore Sun the Chicago Cubs - and the New York Mets - have invited him to spring training. Newhan, 33, is a career .256 hitter and is described by the Tribune as a "scrappy" player who can play basically any position. His best year came in 2004, when he batted .311 for the Orioles, with eight home runs and 54 RBIs.

The Godfather Awards

With apologies to the Sports Guy, welcome to the first annual Godfather Awards for the Chicago Cubs - looking back at 2006 and ahead to 2007, all at once. This year, the awards are based on Godfather II, Wrigleyville's favorite of the trilogy.

Without further ado...

1. Hyman Roth to Michael: I'm going to take a nap. When I wake up, if the money is on the table, I'll know I have a partner. If it isn't, I'll know I don't.

Winner: Carlos Zambrano. This is how I would approach the offseason if I were Carlos, who can name his price after the 2007 season. That leaves the question: Will the Cubs leave the money on the table for Big Z when he returns from his winter nap?

2. Kay: It made me think of what you once told me: "In five years the Corleone family will be completely legitimate." That was seven years ago.

Michael: I know. I'm trying, darling.

Winner: The entire Cubs franchise. We're 98 years and counting in this rebuilding plan.

3. Tom Hagen: He'll try Panama next.

Michael: Panama won't take him. Not for a million, not for ten million.

Winner: Sammy Sosa, who is training for a comeback in the Dominican. If Panama won't take him, maybe the Royals will.

4. Vito Corleone: I make him an offer he don't refuse.

Winner: Jim Hendry, for the contracts awarded to Alfonso Soriano, Mark DeRosa, Jason Marquis and Ted Lilly.

5. Michael: I saw a strange thing today. Some rebels were being arrested. One of them pulled the pin on a grenade. He took himself and the captain of the command with him. Now, soldiers are paid to fight; the rebels aren't.

Hyman Roth: What does that tell you?

Michael: It tells me they could win.

Winner: The Cubs. Are the Cubs the highly paid soldiers in this scenario or the upstart rebels? Hopefully the rebels, even though they were Marxist thugs in the movie. Which raises the question: Would you root for the Cubs if they were all Communists? Tough question.

6. Fredo: I'm your older brother, Mike, and I was stepped over!

Michael: That's the way Pop wanted it.

Fredo: It ain't the way I wanted it! I can handle things! I'm smart! Not like everybody says... like dumb... I'm smart and I want respect!

Winner: Ryan Theriot, Ronnie Cedeno, Sean Marshall and Matt Murton. The Cubs brought veterans in to play all of their positions (pending the Cliff Floyd signing), leaving them on the bench, platooning or in the minors to start the year after significant playing time in 2006.

7. Michael: Fredo, you're nothing to me now. You're not a brother, you're not a friend. I don't want to know you or what you do. I don't want to see you at the hotels, I don't want you near my house. When you see our mother, I want to know a day in advance, so I won't be there. You understand?

Winner: Jacque Jones, but only if he's traded. Otherwise, never mind. (Note: I like Jacque Jones and think he's gotten a bum rap from Cubs fans.)

8. Fredo: Every time I put my line in the water I said a Hail Mary, and every time I said a Hail Mary I caught a fish.

Winner: Jim Hendry, who spent the winner saying - and throwing - Hail Marys to land free agents. Hopefully it works out better for Jim than it did Fredo, who was whacked the next time he went fishing.

9. Hyman Roth: I loved baseball ever since Arnold Rothstien fixed the World Series in 1919.

Winner: Our White Sox friends out there.

10. Hyman Roth: Good health is the most important thing. More than success, more than money, more than power.

Winner: Mark Prior, Wade Miller, Derrek Lee and Kerry Wood. May God (or the Godfather) bless them with good health in 2007.

11. Michael: I know it was you Fredo. You broke my heart. You broke my heart!

Winner: Feel free to enter your nominee in the comments section for the best scene in the movie (because I didn't come up with anything good). Winner gets to feel good about himself. Or herself.

Our winners can pick up their awards at the Corleone compound in beautiful Lake Tahoe.

The Hawk For The Hall, 3.0

Cubs.com does a good job summing up Andre Dawson's Hall of Fame credentials:

• 24th all-time in RBIs.


• 32nd all-time in home runs.


• 21st in extra-base hits.


• One of six players to hit 300 home runs and steal 300 bases.


• One of two eligible players (Cal Ripken is the other) with more than 1,000 career extra-base hits who is not in the Hall of Fame.

• Eight-time Gold Glove winner.


• Eight-time All-Star.


• NL Player of the Year by The Sporting News in 1981 and '87.


• 1987 MVP.


• Totaled 100 RBIs four times.


• Hit 20-plus homers 13 times.


• Hit 30-plus doubles five times.


• On May 22, 1990, the Cincinnati Reds intentionally walked Dawson five times in a 16-inning game. The Cubs won, 2-1.

Ryno put it up this way in his Hall of Fame induction ceremony in 2005:

"No player in baseball history worked harder, suffered more or did it better than Andre Dawson. He's the best I've ever seen. I watched him win an MVP for a last-place team in 1987, and it was the most unbelievable thing I've ever seen in baseball. He did it the right way, the natural way, and he did it in the field and on the bases and in every way, and I hope he will stand up here someday."

Oy Vey! Marquis An Ace For Israel?

Baseball is booming in Israel, with the new Israel Baseball League being formed. Among those trying out is a 65-year-old utility infielder. Looking long term, the Israelis hope to compete on the world stage: "Officials also said they hope to compete in the 2009 World Baseball Classic with Jewish major and minor league players such as Jason Marquis of the Chicago Cubs and Boston's Kevin Youkilis." Haven't the Jews suffered enough without making Marquis their ace?

Carlos And The Cubs

As noted earlier, Carlos Zambrano's value went through the roof today with Barry Zito's signing. The reaction among Cubs fans has ranged from hopeful panic to sheer terror to resignation that Carlos is leaving Chicago.

These are the four of options facing the Cubs:

1. Sign him now. Offer him whatever it takes to get him locked up before the season starts - because chances are it will be much cheaper than when he presumably becomes a free agent after the season.

Pros: Peace of mind and Carlos is locked up for the foreseeable future - at what eventually could become a bargain price.

Cons: It will be pricey, at least what Zito got, in terms of dollars per year - but probably an extra 10 percent more. Plus, it's always risky to sign pitchers to longterm, big money deals (See Hampton, Mike).

Likelihood: 67 percent they will make a real effort. 31 percent they will succeed.

2. Trade him before the season starts, because teams will give up significantly more now than later because they will have his services all year and will have a chance to sign him throughout the year. Note: We at Wrigleyville do not speculate on who they could trade for or with, at least not until it's out there in the media.

Pros: The Cubs would get a good number of Major League-ready players and/or topline prospects, players who could help out this year and in the future.

Cons: The Cubs lose their ace, and an already shaky rotation is now in shambles. The pitchfork brigade would make last year's fan rebellion look downright friendly.

Likelihood: 2 percent. Jim Hendry is in his contract year, and the stated goal is to win the World Series. This year. You don't do that by trading away one of the three best pitchers in the league, unless you get one of the two best pitchers in return or one of the five best pitchers and a center fielder or ... well, you get it.

3. Trade him at the deadline, no matter where the Cubs are in the standings, to ensure they receive something for him. The argument is this would give Rich Hill, Mark Prior and Wade Miller a chance to establish themselves a solid core of the rotation, in addition to Ted Lilly and Jason Marquis.

Pros: The Cubs still get value and could plug holes needed in a penant push.

Cons: The Cubs lose their ace, hopefully in the midst of a penant push. The natives would be extremely restless. There is nothing to indicate yet that the rotation is solid after Zambrano.

Likelihood: 1 percent, if they're in the hunt. 97 percent, if they're out of the race.

4. Play out the season and try to sign him a la Aramis Ramirez, even though it has been said Carlos would be the subject of the biggest bidding war for a pitcher in baseball history.

Pros: None, other than you get Carlos Zambrano playing his butt off in a contract-year situation.

Cons: Obviously, the Cubs either lose Zambrano or have to pay an incredibly high price to keep him, unless he lays an egg or gets hurt this season. Then, he joins the Prior-Wood-Miller brigade.

Likelihood: 33 percent, up until Opening Day. 89 percent after Opening Day.

Option 1 is my stated preference and seems like the best of some very difficult choices, though I understand the sentiments behind Options 2 and 3. They just simply don't seem realistic when the goal is to win the World Series this year - and getting to playoffs is a very real possibility in a presumably weaker National League Central.

Zito Gets $126 Million; Carlos Next?

The San Francisco Giants agreed to pay Barry Zito $126 million over seven years, according to Peter Gammons.

Rob Neyer, author of the Big Book of Baseball Blunders, doesn't like it: "... this one isn't as dumb as the Mike Hampton deal with the Rockies. But based on the facts at hand, this looks to me like one of the dumber free-agent signings ever. Zito just isn't very good. And if he's worth $18 million per season, Santana's worth $25 million."

Now, what about Carlos Zambrano? Just three days ago, a highly respected writer - OK, me - suggested the Cubs should wait to see what Zito signed for and add 10 percent. That would make Carlos baseball's first $20 million-a-year pitcher.

Does that still make sense? In this market and faced with losing him for nothing after 2007 - not to mention a still wary fan base, I say yes. A qualified yes. But a yes nonetheless. Either way, Carlos Zambrano is gonna to get paid.

USA Today: We Follow Transactions

USA Today apparently is out of things to write about. For the second day in a row, Steve DiMeglio of USA Today writes a few hundred words on what has been in the daily transaction reports over the last month or so.

Yesterday, DiMeglio didn't bother to even quote anyone while summing up which teams signed which 19 players, the point being National League teams got most of them. Except for those they didn't.

I didn't bother to link to yesterday's story, even though it was heavily Cub-centric, because there wasn't really anything interesting in there. I wanted to save you the time and energy needed to read the story, because you wouldn't learn anything. Your time is too valuable.

But now we have a full-blown trend going. Today, DiMeglio focuses solely on the National League Central and finds - surprise! - teams are trying to catch the Cardinals and rehashes the transaction report for 25 players. To be fair, he did manage one quote today, from Reds GM Wayne Krivsky.

Tomorrow, a blow by blow of the stock tables.

New Cubs Curse: Paycheck Envy

My friends, the recent free agent signings by the Cubs and other Major League teams have brought forth a terrible epidemic on our great land - originating in newsrooms and spreading to the public doorstep by doorstep, computer screen by computer screen.

It is an epidemic that brings out uncomfortable feelings in paunchy white men. Side effects include sarcasm, incredulity and - worst of all - hackneyed prose.

That's right: Paycheck envy is sweeping the nation. From Knoxville to Bristol to Springfield to Philadelphia, this insidious disease is causing feelings of bitterness, bloviating and condemination of contracts awarded to baseball players. Good ones, bad ones, tall ones, short ones. It doesn't matter. Paycheck envy doesn't discriminate.

Sadly, there is no vaccine for this condition. And the cure - paying columnists what they believe they are worth - would kill the newspaper industry.

ESPN Editor: Dawson Not Worthy

Does Jim Rice belong in the Hall of Fame? Does Andre Dawson? ESPN.com has a series of debates going on "borderline" players - starting with Rice and Dawson and presumably continuing through the week.

Someone named David Kull, who does not have a Hall of Fame ballot because he's an editor, writes that while Dawson was a great player, he doesn't deserve to be in Cooperstown (or at least the museum in Cooperstown):

"... Not every great player is a Hall of Famer. I believe the Hall of Fame should be reserved for the truly elite, the best of the best. With Dawson, I only have an issue making the leap from "great" to "elite." Sure, there are several Hall of Famers with inferior ability and numbers. While that seems unfair to Dawson, that doesn't mean one should automatically admit him for comparison's sake. On his own "Hawk" falls short of garnering my vote -- for what it's worth."

In other words, "I'm not going to give you any concrete reasons the Hawk shouldn't be in. I just don't think so."

Mr. Kull also stayed at a Holiday Inn Express last night.

Phil Rogers rebuts in the same feature:

"... Dawson had 16 straight years with 45 extra-base hits, a run worthy of guys like Henry Aaron, Stan Musial, Willie Mays, Mel Ott and Honus Wagner. His 2,774 career hits are the most of any eligible player not in the Hall. Dave Winfield, a first-ballot Hall of Famer, had 3,000 hits and a World Series ring but never finished in the top two for MVP honors. Dawson won an MVP and finished second twice. It's time to remember just how great of a player he was."

Yeah. What he said.

Cubs.com Looks At 2006, Strangely

This is the lead on cubs.com's 2006 Year in Review story:

"The Cubs might have survived without Mark Prior or Kerry Wood for the season, but not both. If Derrek Lee had missed 12 games, not 112, things might have been different. If Ronny Cedeno didn't scuffle through a .229 second half, who knows what would've happened?"

Well, yes. They also might have been better if Albert Pujols, Derek Jeter and Johan Santana played for them. But they didn't. That's just a strange way to open a story on a team that finished with 66 wins.

But the writer recovers in the very next sentence to offer keen insight:

"The 2006 season had more lows than highs for the Cubs, who finished 66-96, last in the National League."

In the words of the Colonel: "Oh you think so, doctor?"

Vote For The Hawk!

Not that it counts, but you can cast your very own Hall of Fame ballot right now for Andre Dawson at ESPN.com. And some other guys.

What are you waiting for? Go ahead. Vote. We'll wait.

Update: So far, only Cal Ripken (88 percent) and Tony Gwynn (88 percent) are above the 75 percent level needed to make the Hall. Dawson is at 54.1 percent. And, again, this of course counts for nothing, because they let people like me vote. And people like you. So go vote. It's your duty.

Whither Cliff Floyd?

Has anyone seen Cliff Floyd? Wednesday marks the one-week anniversary of the Tribune reporting that the Cubs were close to signing Floyd. It also is the two-week anniversary of WFAN reporting that Floyd had already reached an agreement with the Cubs. My feelings would be a little hurt if I were Cliff Floyd. Jim Hendry felt so strongly about signing Ted Lilly that he finalized the deal while hooked up to EKG machine in the hospital. As for Cliff? Feh, when we get around to it.

Lou's 2007 Resolutions

Courtesy of Fire Lou Piniella.

Zambrano: Give Him The Wells Treatment

Here is my request to Jim Hendry while he still has access to the Tribune's checkbook: Whatever Barry Zito signs for this offseason, add 10 percent and make that your first offer to Carlos Zambrano. He's younger. He's better. And he'll cost a whole lot more than that after he wins the Cy Young this season.

ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick currently has the odds on Zambrano signing an extention with the Cubs at 50-50 and notes what Hendry has had to say about the issue:

"We certainly have interest in keeping Carlos in Chicago. That's always been something he's expressed to me that he wants to do. We'll sit down and have conversations with his representatives before and during spring training, and pursue it with our normal diligence."

The Cubs would do well to look at how the Blue Jays saw the market explode and quickly locked up Vernon Wells to a hefty contract extension. Did they overpay? Maybe. Will it prove to be a bargain? Definitely.

As with Wells, it is best to get Zambrano signed before Opening Day. No sense in having a distracted Carlos on the mound, though it would be interesting to see what kind of numbers a contract-year Carlos would put up.

Merry Christmas!

From Wrigleyville.

2007 Predictions, And A New Pet Peeve

Mike Nadel, formerly the AP's sports guy in Chicago and now working for Copley, used Christmas Eve to let the world know all of the Cubs moves this offseason basically stink. Merry Christmas! He does it in the clever memo-to-Jim-Hendry gimick style that sportswriters use when they can't think of anything else to write. Which leads me to my newest pet peeve regarding baseball coverage - and especially Cubs coverage - this offseason. While the Cubs are receiving plenty of attention for spending eleventy-bazillion dollars on free agents, there are plenty out there (such as Nadel) who are using the opportunity to pretend to zig while others zag and predict more doom and gloom for the 2007 Chicago Cubs. Not to bash the bashers, but is that really such a risky prediction? The Chicago Cubs won't be very good? Be careful way out on that limb, Mike, you might hurt yourself. What's next? Traffic jams will occur on the Dan Ryan? Tiger Woods will win a golf tournament? That said, it is time for Round 2 of the first annual Wrigleyville predictions (subject to revision, because it is only December 24):

• The Cubs will win the weak National League Central with 89 wins.
• Carlos Zambrano will have 19 of those wins and will win the Cy Young.
• Wade Miller will be a pleasant surprise, with 14 wins.

Now that's bold. Ish. More to come. I know you can't wait.

Suppan To Brewers

Jeff Suppan signs with Milwaukee, as the Cardinals lose yet another mediocre pitcher. Which raises the question: How in the world did they win the World Series? Two words: Poo Holes.

DeRosa Makes Christmas Wish

In this mlb.com interview with Mark DeRosa, we learn he is 1. Italian, 2. surprisingly muscle-y, and 3. not so much the splurger. After signing a $13 million contract with the Cubs, he bought a new set of golf clubs. Which, even on the high end, couldn't have cost him more than $1,500 - $2,000 for a completely complete set.

But his Christmas wish is a good one, assuming he means for the Cubs. It is slightly more realistic than world peace, which tops most holiday wish lists.

MLB.com: What's on your holiday wish list?

DeRosa: For Christmas? Nothing. When I signed my contract [with the Cubs], I bought myself a new set of golf clubs and told my wife that was my Christmas gift to myself. Me and my wife take care of each other during the year so much, Christmas is all about our daughter and our families and other people. We don't concentrate on ourselves.

Here's what I wish for -- I wish for a healthy season and a World Series title.

Since he's claimed the easy one, my Christmas wish would help make DeRosa's wish come true - a healthy Mark Prior.

Oh, and world peace. And a pony.

Marquis: I Have Something To Prove

Merry Christmas Eve Eve, if there is such a thing. Jason Marquis tells scout.com he "wasn't too far off" last year and expects to lower his ERA next season: "I have something to prove to myself and the city of Chicago."

Telander's Hall Of Fame Votes

Rick Telander of the Sun-Times announces his votes for the 2007 Hall of Fame class and explains why. He votes for nine players, including some Cubs: Tony Gwynn, Cal Ripken, Andre Dawson, Jim Rice, Goose Gossage, Lee Smith, Tommy John, Ken Caminiti and Jose Canseco. Caminiti and Canseco - but not Mark McGwire? Yes. Telander explains, less than persuasively: "But to me they represent more than the game or accomplishments or numbers or even off-field antics. They represent the Steroid Era -- the first of their kind, along with Mark McGwire, all of them on the ballot for the first time. "I will not vote for McGwire because he sickened me with his know-nothing testimony at the baseball/steroid hearings in Washington and because he was mainly a one-trick pony, with his 583 home runs analogous to the strong man at the carnival who can do nothing but ring the bell with his 40-pound sledgehammer."

Sammy: Back In The Saddle Again

Sammy Sosa has begun working out, in preparation for many expected offers to return to the major leagues. Unlike last season, he says he would accept a minimal non-guaranteed offer like the one the Washington Nationals offered in 2006.

Sosa also says he isn't worried about the year layoff because other players have successfully returned from breaks, pointing to Ted Williams' success after serving in the military.

Well.

Williams served as a Marine Corps pilot during World War II and the Korean War. He was 27 at the end of World War II and 35 at the end of Korea. He missed the 1943-45 seasons at ages 24-26 and only played a combined 43 games in 1952-53 due to Korea. He won three batting titles in the years after WWII and two more in the years after Korea. And on and on.

Sosa, on the other hand, is 38 years old and batted .221 with just 14 home runs in 102 games in 2005.

Other than that, the comparison makes a lot of sense.

Cubs Sign Dave Matthews For $47 Million

OK, that's not true. But the Cubs want Matthews to play two concerts at Wrigley Field on July 8 and 9 - even though their tour bus dumped poop on a sightseeing boat in the Chicago River in 2004. Great headline in the Sun-Times: "Cubs woo Dave Matthews despite poo" Awesome.

Floyd And Cubs Close. Still.

Um, haven't the Cubs been close to signing Cliff Floyd for at least a week now? WFAN reported essentially the same thing - give or take a detail or two - on December 13. Either way, that would appear to give the Cubs an Opening Day left field platoon of Matt Murton and Cliff Floyd, at least until Jacque Jones is traded and Felix Pie is ready to play center field.

Jason Marquis: Making A List

If I were Jason Marquis (and I'm not, just for the record), I'm saving every little snide comment like this one in Matt Meyers' ESPN.com chat today:

Mike (St. Louis): I've been asking for 2 weeks now, and no one can answer this: Who was bidding against the cubs for Marquis' services? Why pay $21 mil over 3 years for him?

Matt Meyers: Who was bidding against them? Common sense. Honestly, this is one I don't really understand. Remembers (sic) when Kris Benson signed a deal like that with the Mets and they were considered crazy for driving up the market? Hard to believe that was just two years ago.

And after I (if I were Jason Marquis, which I still am not) win 15-17 games after being rejuvenated by the soothing waters of Lake Michigan ... well, the Matt Meyers of the world would get some very strongly worded letters.

That would fix their wagons.

Stealing Juan Pierre

A Chicago man is charged with identity theft of more than 20 people, including Juan Pierre and Jim Thome. If I were stealing a baseball player's identity, I would go with A-Rod (252 million reasons why) or Derek Jeter (because, you know, he gets the ladies).

Marquis Contract Final

Jason Marquis is officially a Chicago Cub, for better or worse. For better. Please. I honestly believe it will go well.

Lou Likes Young Players

Lou Piniella tells BaseballAmerica.com that 1. Alfonso Soriano is playing a corner outfield position and 2. he doesn't mind giving young players a chance: PINIELLA: No, no. If you look at my history as a manager, we give young kids opportunities. I like young kids. I like the enthusiasm they bring, the work habits they bring. I'll give guys a lot of chances. The problem is, if they're not ready to perform in that arena, you're almost doing them a disfavor. While he was talking about pitching, you can add 1 and 2 and the fact that the Cubs don't have a center fielder (other than moving weak-armed Jacque Jones over) and it seems more likely by the minute that Felix Pie is going to get a chance to win the job.

Baseball As Math

The 2007 Cubs as a complicated mathematical equation. Whatever all this means, 1060west forecasts a .534 winning percentage (or 86.508 wins). I think. As Barbie says, math is hard.

Williams Bashes Cubs Approach To '07

White Sox GM Ken Williams on the Chicago Cubs in this ESPN.com story comparing how the Cubs and the Sox have approached the offseason: "Some of these things are unpopular,'' Williams said. "But you know what would be more unpopular? If we did nothing and got old and got too expensive and then had to go out scrounging for leftover talent and overpaying for mediocre talent." Last winter, Williams ripped into Frank Thomas - spurring the Big Hurt to go out and win Comeback Player of the Year and finish fourth in MVP voting. May Williams' mouth do the same for the Cubs in '07. Update: More White Sox griping here.

Uh Oh...

Buster Olney speculates (subscription required) that Chicago is a natural place for J.D. Drew to end up if his deal with the Red Sox falls through due to his bum shoulder, because of the Cubs' need for lefty bats and help in the outfield: "It would be interesting to see where Drew would land. The Cubs, desperate for a left-handed hitting outfielder capable of playing center field, would be a natural spot. The Pirates need a left-handed hitter. But it's hard to imagine that Drew would get anything close to the conditional agreement he has with the Red Sox." With all of the injury problems the Cubs have, let's hope they don't dump millions into a broken outfielder that Red Sox fans hope never comes to town, given his track record. On the other hand, Drew would be comparatively cheap if his Boston deal falls through.

Complaining, Complaining, Complaining

Greg Couch has a good column in the Sun-Times today, essentially taking Cubs fans to task for doing nothing but complaining. Complaining when they don't sign anyone. Complaining when they sign the wrong players. Complaining about too much complaining. Specifically, he's talking about Ted Lilly - and the complaints that he's not Jason Schmidt or Barry Zito. No, he's not. But that's OK. Schmidt wasn't going to come to Chicago, by all accounts, and Zito appears determined to go to New York or someplace where he will be paid $100 million (and that's not necessarily the same place). Given that, Ted Lilly is a nice consolation prize - one that I predict will finish with 16 wins and an ERA south of 4.00. That's my first prediction of 2007 - two weeks early.

Ted Lilly's Number

"I know No. 31, No. 31 was a friend of mine. Ted Lilly, you're no No. 31..." The Cubs tell Ted Lilly he can't have uniform No. 31, which he wore in Toronto but previously belonged to Fergie Jenkins and Greg Maddux in Chicago. Tellingly, however, the Cubs are going to allow Jason Marquis to wear No. 21, should he want to. Poor Sammy.

Starting Rotation: If Only...

The front office for the Chicago Cubs is making much of the starting rotation's newfound depth and the fact it is no longer relying on the health of Mark Prior and Kerry Wood going into the 2007 season. It is a good strategy, but it also is a strategy that relies heavily on some contingencies that absolutely have to occur. In essence, the Cubs rotation is in good shape:

• IF Ted Lilly is 2007's Bronson Arroyo...
• IF Rich Hill builds on the last third of 2006...
• IF Jason Marquis remembers how to pitch...

If those three things occur, they have a solid 2-4 to go with Carlos Zambrano. And then the Cubs can take the next step and say their rotation is great:

• IF Mark Prior or Wade Miller return to form - especially Prior.
• Or IF both are solid, giving the Cubs considerable wiggle room with the first three IFs.

Other than that, the rotation is completely set.

Soriano Likes Music Loud

Daryle Ward, who was Alfonso Soriano's teammate in Washington this year, says Soriano may remind the Cubs of another Dominican - at least in the clubhouse: ''He's very exciting,'' Ward said of Soriano, adding that the slugger might stir memories of ... Sammy Sosa. ''He's real loud in the clubhouse. He's real fast and has power -- there's no telling how many homers he might hit in Chicago -- and I'm pretty sure he likes to play his music loud.'' Sosa's boom box is no longer available, however.

Hendry: Cubs Pitching "Deep"

At the news conference introducing Ted Lilly, Jim Hendry said the Cubs are done looking for pitching. He also said the pitching staff is "deep": "I think we're deep now. We've got guys who can give us innings. I like the depth of our 'pen. We might have the ability to send a lot of good, young people back into the system and allow them to develop properly instead of forcing them up like we had to last year." Deep is good. Talented is better. Healthy is best. One out of three isn't bad. Or maybe one and a half. We'll see.

Ted Lilly Update

Ted Lilly is officially a Cub, as is Daryle Ward.

Felix Pie Playing Good Defense

Cubs.com just posted a story by Carrie Muskat speculating that Felix Pie could be the Cubs Opening Day centerfielder - or not. The story talks about what a lousy time he's having at the plate while playing good defense. It doesn't really sort out what the Cubs would do with Matt Murton, Cliff Floyd, and Alfonso Soriano, or whether Jacque Jones is going to be traded - and how that will impact Pie's status.

The only person quoted is Cubs player development director Oneri Fleita, who sums up the situation by saying: "There's a lot of stuff flying around. I think that's why you have Spring Training. If he earns it, God bless him. I know he can play center field."

Pie very well could open the season at center for the Cubs, with Soriano in right and Murton and Floyd (assuming he is signed) platooning in left and Jones happily playing far away from Wrigley Field. Perhaps someone who covers the Cubs for a living could shed some light on this situation for us.