Baby Bears on the Prowl
Although I like St. Louis (I chose to live here), as some of my readers might know, I'm a Cubs fan. I grew up in Iowa, a state that has legions of Cubs fans. And being a Cubs fan is part of my psyche.
I was happy to discover that in an overt move to increase the value and asking price of my beloved franchise, the Tribune Co. is going on a spending spree comparable to a drunken lawyer at a Vegas strip club.
Link: http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20061120&content_id=1743683&vkey=news_chc&fext=.jsp&c_id=chc
Money seems no object, and this Cubs fan is happy. The public rationale offered by some is that the team has to "keep up" with the Cardinals, but it's mostly about the Tribune Co. making out well in its sale of the franchise. Hopefully, we fans will receive a windfall too, like a World Championship in '08--the hundred year anniversary of our last World Series Championship.
Everyone's entitled to a bad century, right?
posted by Quintilian B. Nasty @ 9:43 PM
7 Comments:
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Regarding the "drunken lawyer" crack, it's a compliment. I like the phrase better than the old cliche, "spending money like a drunken sailor."
"drunken lawyer at a Vegas strip club"
Heh.
The Soriano signing is pretty typical of what is wrong with the Cubs. He is an outstanding player, but he is 30 years old. The odds of his being worth what he will be paid in the last 4 years of this 8-year contract are virtually nil.
As I read elsewhere on the tubes of the Intarweeb, the Cubs better hope that Ramirez hits like its 2004, Lee hits like its 2005, Soriano hits like its 2006, and get some pitching that can stay healthy. The NL Central is obviously up for grabs for the next couple of years, at least, so you can't blame anyone for taking a chance to win now.
One thing about Soriano's and Ramirez's contracts are that they are both back-loaded. This helps the current ownership (the Trib) at the expense of any possible future owner.
Of course, the Cubs/WGN business combo is one of the most profitable in all of sports, especially since the fans come to Wrigley even if there is a sub-par product on the field. So I think it should be relatively easy to sell the franchise.
Go Cards!
The eight year contract is questionable because he'll probably provide only four or five years of strong work. I question him leading off for the Cubs. Heck, DeRosa might be a better fit for the club in that spot.
Pitching, as always, is key. I still think Prior is the real deal and has had some really tough luck. In contrast, I have little faith in Wood lasting the season, although I hope to be proved wrong.
I have little faith in Wood lasting the season, although I hope to be proved wrong
They have indicated that Wood will be a reliever/closer this year. This should help protect his arm somewhat.
His injuries are really a terrible thing for baseball as a whole. I still remember coming home from class one afternoon and turning to WGN because baseball was on. It was the 2nd inning of what turned out to be Wood's 20 K start against the Astros, IIRC. He was amazing that day. What a talent.
"I still remember coming home from class one afternoon and turning to WGN because baseball was on. It was the 2nd inning of what turned out to be Wood's 20 K start against the Astros, IIRC."
Travolta, that was May of 1998, when did (assuming you did) graduate from college?
Travolta, that was May of 1998, when did (assuming you did) graduate from college?
I took the extended plan and finally graduated in January 1999.
Its the comic gift that keeps on giving, I know.....
Post a Comment
<< Home