Yesterday all the Chicago newspaper had clever little comments about Wood and Prior being put on the DL to start the season.  They all said something like "Cubs fold a pair of Aces".  Well, if two aces are out of the deck, what’s left? 

Starters

One more Ace in Carlos Zambrano.  He has easily been the best pitcher on the Cubs for the last two seasons.  He has had thirteen wins or more the last three years.  I can’t even imagine how many wins he would have had last year with a bullpen and some run support.  More importantly, he has been able to pitch over 200 innings in each of the last three seasons.  He has been their stopper during losing streaks, and he is the most intense player on the team.

Glendon Rusch is finally looking a little better at the end of spring.  The problem with Rusch is you don’t know what you are going to get.  Is he going to be the guy who saved the Cubs in 2004, the guy who went 1-12 in Milwaukee, or somewhere in between.  I think using him as a starter was a wise move.  I think Dusty really screwed up last spring by telling Rusch he would be a starter, then putting him in the bullpen and making Dempster a starter.  I don’t think either player benefited that move.  Now it is time for Rusch to prove that he belongs as a starter.

Greg Maddux is the opposite of Glendon, you know e xactly what you are going to get.  Double digit wins, 200 innings, and a guy who will win you ballgames.  Maddux didn’t come here to be a 1-2-3 starter.  He was meant to follow Wood, Prior, and Zambrano as a number four pitcher.  As far as having Maddux as your number four pitcher, you are in good shape.  Unfortunately, Maddux is being asked to carry a heavy load.  The Cubs need him to come through big this year. He gave up a lot of home runs last year and he didn’t look as sharp.  This is the last year in his contract, so he might have something to prove, especially after Dusty made some dumb *** comments about Maddux retiring.

Sean Marshall has earned his spot in the rotation.  He has been lights out this spring.  Could he be the savior that the Cubs need?  If he starts out hot, will he go back to the minors when the walking wounded come back?  Marshall is a lefty, meaning that the Cubs will have two lefties as starters in a while.  This is the kids chance to prove that he belongs.

The Bullpen

It was no surprise when Todd Wellemeyer for two prospects.  Todd has never been able to stay consistent.  Dempster has to prove that last year was no fluke, and he will have to very solid set up men in Eyre and Howry.  This will help the Cubs immensely.  The rest of the bullpen have a lot to prove.  Jerome Williams did not look good at all this spring.  I think the bullpen role suits him better.  Scott Williamson is coming back from surgery and I don’t know how healthy he is.  Will Ohmans has also been inconsistent.  Michael Wuertz has looked the worst out of anybody this spring.  Luckily, Rothchild and Baker saw something he was doing wrong in his delivery.  Hopefully he will have a breakout year.

The DL/Walking Wounded

Wood and Prior, the two aces.  No doubt that a healthy rotation of Wood, Prior, Zambrano, Wade Miller, and Maddux would be one of the most dominent in the league if they could stay healthy.  Kerry is supposed to come back at the end of April (heard that before), while no one is sure what is going on with Prior or when he will be back.  If Miller can come back and pitch like he can, who know what can happen?  The trouble is that none of these guys can stay healthy.  This is Wood’s tenth trip to the DL in his career and this is the third time that he has started the season on the DL.  The Cubs have to focus on the team they have.  Not putting all there hopes on these three.

AAA

Angel Guzman had a great spring and if either Rusch or Marshall falter he may be back in the majors.  Guzman is the same age as Zambrano and has been one of the top prospects in the Cubs organization.  Rich Hill is another one of the Cubs’ top prospects, but he has looked shaky in his major league appearences.  Look for John Koronka to get a possible shot at the bullpen if the Cubs decide to go with twelve pitchers.  Roberto Novoa is coming back from Valley Fever, whatever that is, but I expect him to come back to the big leagues soon.

The Cubs have a lot of options here, and I think there is more pitchers for Dusty to choose from.  If Dusty learned anything from last season, he should have learned that if a guy can’t cut it, sit him.  Find somebody that can.  Don’t keep trotting out  a guy like LaTroy Hawkins if he obviously can’t do the job. 

If Dusty plays his cards right, the Cubs may surprise a few people.

Thanks to all of you readers who keep posting comments.  I love hearing what all of you have to say.  Always feel free to comment on anything I write about or any questions you have by clicking on the "comments" after each of my posts. 

I thought I would respond to two readers questions/comments I have recieved recently.

First off,  dswedo asked me;

"We have an excelent young pitching staff and I think we should expose them to the rigors of a major league season and ditch Williams and Rusch what do you think?"

Good question dswedo.  I have really been impressed with Angel Guzman and Sean Marshall.  The way those two no-hit the A’s for eight innings was amazing.  I have been waiting for Guzman to break into the majors for a long time, while Marshall has been a pleasant surprise.  Rich Hill on the other hand, has been a bit of a disappointment.  As far as ditching Rusch and Williams, I don’t know if I would go that far.  As good as Guzman and Marshall have looked, this is Spring Training.  These pitchers have faced a lot of guys that will not be on a major league roster.  That no hitter against the A’s was against a split squad.  In a major league game, these young pitchers will face the top hitters multiple times in a game. The more pitches and at-bats these hitters get against a pitcher, the harder it will be for Guzman and Marshall.  I have seen a lot of minor leaguers come up and have an amazing start or two, but once teams scout these guys, analyze film of their starts, and batters face them a few times, well that separates the men from the boys.  Guzman and Marshall would have to make adjustments the way the hitters will adjust to them.  Rusch and Williams have thrown in plenty of major league games.  Rusch can be valuable because he is a lefty,  the only experienced starter on the staff.  I am not a big fan of Rusch coming out of the bullpen.  If the Cubs plan on using Rusch out of the bullpen, then I would get rid of him.  If they plan on starting him, then I would keep him.  As far as Williams, he has some potential.  He may have his break out year this year.  If he doesn’t do well as a starter, I would keep him in the bullpen.  Because of injuries to the walking wounded (Wood, Prior, Miller), Guzman or Marshall have a shot to earn a spot, or be waiting in the wings if Rusch or Williams falter.  The Cubs are fortunate that their schedule in April and early May is not that difficult.   The Cubs start out April with the Red, Cardinals, the Reds, Pittsburg, the Dodgers, the Cardinals, Florida and Milwaukee.  The Cubs start out early May against Pittsburg, the Dimondbacks, the Padres, the Giants, and the Padres again.  Other than St. Louis, who look weaker than the last few years, the Cubs should be beating these teams.  This will provide everone we have talked about, Rusch, Williams, Marshall, and Guzman, an opportunity to prove they belong.  Hopefully Wood will be back at the end of April, Prior or Miller come back in early-mid May, and the Cubs stay healthy before the schedule gets much tougher in Late May, June, July, and August.

Faithful reader sheichenberger disagees that with me that Jim Hendry should be pitching a Walker or Harriston and Rich Hill for Alfonso Soriano.  She writes;

" I have to disagree with you again, Crawly. Soriano is a ticking time bomb. His attitude stinks and I’ll project that his contribution to the team would be less than stellar. I thought we were done with grossly egotistical players when we got rid of Sammy? Let’s not revisit insubordination-ville."

She also writes

"I do not envy the Nats’ position – trying to get rid of Alfonso will be like trying to give out an STD. No one will want him – especially after the stunts he’s pulling."

Ouch, comparing Alfonso to an STD? That’s rough.  Well, Sarah, again I have to disagree with you   I don’t think Soriano is an egotistical time bomb.  To the contrary, take a look at this article from Phil Rogers, baseball writer for the Trib.

http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/columnists/cs-060321rogers,1,826916.column?coll=cs-cubs-headlines

To sum up the article, Soriano has gone to two World Series and four all star games in seven seasons and never caused problems for managers Joe Torre or Buck Showalter. The only time he ever has balked at a request is when his team wanted him to change positions.  Is that such a horrible thing?  I am an ESL teacher in the northwest suburbs.  I like teaching ESL, I think I am good at it, it’s what I like to do.  Now, if a school hired me and told me I had to teach math, I would not be happy, especially if they didn’t ask me if I would be willing to do it.  The Soriano situation rests squarely on the shoulders of Nationals general manager Jim Bowden.  Who would trade two good outfielders, add 10 million dollars to your payroll without asking a player if he would be willing to switch positions.  I have seen Todd Walker play outfield, it was pretty embarassing.  Why would Soriano want to embarass himself during a contract year?  You feel his contributions would be less than steller?  The last time the Cubs had a second baseman who hit .290 with 40 homers and 100-plus RBIs, his name was Ryne Sandberg.  Soriano is a powerful hitter, fast, and an average defensive player who will look a lot better throwing to Derrek Lee.   He is on the last year of his contract, so look for him to have a monster season for somebody.  It’s just a question of who he is going to have it for.  Would you rather have Walker, Harriston, or Perez at second or Soriano?  I think that should answer any doubts.  According to one of his former coaches, "Sorey’s really a good kid, a good person.  He’s never a problem. He works hard. This is his free-agent year coming up, and I think he’s ready to have a big, big year."

Tying these two questions/comments together, the Cubs will have to make due with the pitchers we have until Wood/Prior/Miller come back. The schedule gives them this opportunity.  To help this situation, the Cubs need to add a big bat to help keep the pitching staff out of trouble.  This is where Soriano would come in handy. 

Thanks to those of you who posted comments and questions.  The rest of you feel free to jump in.

As the season get closer and closer, I am keeping my eye on the Washington Nationals situation.  This could be one of Hendry’s finest moves if he can pull it off.  Nationals GM Jim Bowden screwed up when he sent Termelll Sledge and Brad Wilkerson to Texas for Soriano without asking if he would be willing to change positions.  Soriano does not want to play the outfield.  He has made that perfectly clear.  He even refused to play earlier in the week and finally agreed to play left when he was almost put on the disqualified list for not rendering his services to the club. That would have  meant that Soriano would not earn his $10 million salary and lose service time.  Manager Frank Robinson has already had some harsh words for him, and if the the Nats struggle, you know this is going to be a problem.  The Nationals need a second baseman who could also play the outfield, if something happens to the health of Jose Vidro.  The Cubs have Jerry Harriston, who has had a good spring training, who could fill that role.  Send Harriston along with Rich Hill to the Nats for Soriano.  Everyone wins.  The Nats don’t have to deal with Soriano, they free ten million from there payroll, and they get an infielder/outfielder and a promising young pitcher.  The Cubs would get a powerful hitter with speed into a lineup that looks a little anemic.  Although Soriano has some problems with defense, Derrek Lee is able to make mediocre fielders look a lot better, aka Aramis Ramirez.  The Cubs could leadoff with Pierre, followed by Soriano, Lee, Ramirez, Jones, Murton, Cedeno, and Barrett.  Then you have a much better mix of speed and power.  With the Cubs no longer paying Sosa’s salary last year plus the addition of the bleacher seats, the Cubs can cover the ten million dollar salary.  With the broke-down brothers Prior, Wood, and Miller, the Cubs are going to need to generate runs and get leads for their starting five, whoever they may be. The Cubs could then look to move Walker for another starting pitcher or some young players since the Cubs have given so many away this season.   

Hendry needs to pull this off to make the Cubs a stronger club.  The division is there for whoever wants it.  Clemens and Bagwell appear done, the Cardinals are not as strong this year, the Reds still don’t have pitching, I think the Brewers are depending on too many young kids and Sheets looks like he is in bad shape, and then there is the Pirates.  Soriano would make the Cubs a much better looking team and an instant contender for the Central.

  How appropriate, on the first day of spring, my season tickets come in the mail.  Happy Happy, Joy Joy!

The tickets look glorious, with Cubs throwback jerseys on them.  Nothing beats the feeling of opening the package, seeing the glossy tickets, smelling the newness of a season to come.  All the anger and frustration of the offseason just melts away.  So we don’t have Wood or Prior ready, our second base situation in crazy, and Michael Wuertz looks awful.  Nothing can rain on this parade.  This is a new season and hope springs eternal for all members of Cubbie Nation.

Speaking of Cubbie Nation, last week I was interviewed by a group from HBO sports about what it’s like being a Cub fan.  The interview was a lot of fun and the guys from HBO were great.  I don’t know when it will be released, but I will keep you updated.

Take a look at the new tix and documentary photos in my photo album section.

12 Days till Opeining Day!

Go Cubs!!

The headline at Cubs.com reads, "Mark Prior likely to start season on the DL".  Wow, what a new flash.  Next they will be telling us "Beer likely to be sold at Wrigley".  This is now the third straight year that Prior will open the season on the DL after the magnificent season he had in 2003.  Kerry Wood will also start the season on the DL, where he spent a majority of the last three seasons.  It’s fair to say that as Wood and Prior go, so do the Cubs. No matter what changes were made off the field, those two pitchers will determine the success or failure of this season.  On average, a team looks for its pitchers to start thirty five games.  In 2003, when the Cubs were the champs of the division, Prior and Wood combined for 62 starts, threw 422 innings, had 32 victories, and took the Cubs to within 5 outs of the World Series.

After the 2003 season ended, Cubs fans were buzzing with the return of Greg Maddux.  This, along with one of the best rotations already, was going to propel us to a World Series.  It never worked out that way. Since 2003, Cubs fans have had to live with a series of disappointments regarding Wood and Prior.  Constant injury problems, misinformation given to fans, fluke injuries have kept Prior and Wood off the field, and the Cubs slowly sinking.  The Cubs tell everyone that these two guy are fine, then they say there is a minor problem, then we don’t see them for two months.  In the last two seasons for 2003, Woods and Prior have only had 80 starts, threw only 590 innings, and  accounted for 28 wins.  Here is a quick comparison for you

Stats                Prior and Wood 2003                Prior and Wood 2004 and 2005

Games Started          62                                                     80

Innings Pitched         422                                                    590

Games Won               32                                                      28

Say what you will about the last two seasons, the true reason that the Cubs have not been successful is that these two guys have not been healty.  I don’t want to hear about the bullpen, or not being able to manufacture runs, or anything else.  When they are gone, it puts more pressure on the hitters, it scews up the bullpen, and it makes things more complicated for Dusty.  It begins and ends with Wood and Prior.  With the two of them healthy, the Cubs are a playoff team.  With the two of them injured, they are a .500 ball club.  Period, end of story.

The question is, whose to blame for these guys not being healthy?  Let’s look at the prime suspects.

1. Dusty Baker:  A lot of people blame Dusty for using these guys in 2003.  I disagree with these people.  When you have a chance to win it all, you go for it.  My problem is that Dusty didn’t use these guys more.  If it was me, I would have had Wood relieve Prior in Game 6 or Prior relive Wood in Game 7.  McKeon did this, so did Bob Brenley in 2001.  If your bullpen is suspect and everything is on the line, you go with the best you have.

2. The Cubs training staff: This has been as big a problem as a team on the field.  The Cubs hired trainer Dave Tumbas in 2002 and was with the team until the end of the 2003 season.  Then the Cubs brought in Dave Groeschner for the 2004 season and fired him at the end of the year.  Apparently Groeschner was not licensed to be an athletic trainer in Illinois. Assistane trainer Sandy Krum was also fired after the 2004 season.  He claimed he was fired for reporting the Groeschner situation to Hendry.  He filed a wrongful termination lawsuit against the Cubs, which was dismissed.  Now we have Mark O’Neal.  That’s three different trainers since Dusty has been in town.  Has this led to some of the injury problems that Wood and Prior have?

3. Pitching coach Larry Rothchild:  Is there something wrong with the throwing routine of the Cubs pitchers?  Is there a mechanical problem that Rothchild is not addressing?  I don’t know, just asking.

4. The Tribune Corporation/Hendry:  Are we not being told the truth in order to sell tickets?  Why all these strange reports, which are denied by the Cubs but then are proven true?  Former assistant Sandy Krum claims that there was an attempt to cover up Prior’s elbow injury in 2004, making it look as it was just an Achille’s problem.  Will Carroll, a reporterwho wrote last month on Baseball Prospectus’ Web site that reliable sources had told him Prior was "having shoulder problems", was dismissed by the Cubs organization as not being a legitimate reporter.  Apparently Carroll knew something that the Cubs didn’t, or maybe they did.  The report on Prior came after 90% of the games this year were sold.

5. Prior and Wood themselves:  Zambrano has been here since 2003 and has not had these injury problems.  Greg Maddux is almost forty and he’s been fine.  There has been a lot of talk that Woods was overused even before he got to the Cubs.  There have been rumors that Prior may have been on steroids.  Maybe both of these guys are not taking care of themselves in the offseason or working out enough.  Maybe they are just injury prone.  Don’t tell me about Prior’s fluke injuries.  Even without those, he has missed enough time to give the Cubs trouble. 

Here we are entering 2006.  Our rotation, as it stands right now is ; Zambrano, Rusch, Maddux, WIlliams, and question mark.  Does this scare any of you?  Rusch and Williams have been horrible this spring, none of the young pitchers except Guzman look ready to play, and he doesn’t have enough experience. 

If the Cubs are to win the division this season, we need two of the three, Prior, Wood, or Wade Miller to be healthy.  If this doesn’t happen, the Cubs won’t finish higher than third in the division.

OK Cubs fans, I am taking deep breaths into a bag, I am not going to hyperventilate, and I am now going to get out of the fetal position, especially since it is difficult to type this while on the floor crying.

As discussed numerous times on this blog, other blogs. sports radio shows, newspapers, etc, Mark Prior was not this healthy speciman that was ready to pitch the second game of the season as we’ve been told by the Cubs organization over and over again.  According to reports, Prior began to experience pain in his right shoulder during a bullpen session today.  Pitching coach Larry Rothchild stopped the session after Prior complained of the soreness.  Prior will fly back to San Diego today and then visit orthopedic specialist  Dr. Lewis Yocum tomorrow. 

And of course the Cubs organization was shocked, shocked I tell you.  Here are some quotes:

Cubs Trainer Mark O’Neal

"Everybody’s been aware Mark has been under a pretty strict throwing program and we’ve had absolutely no problems up to now"

Cubs manager Dusty Baker

"You hope it’s just a minor setback.  We have to stay positive and keep our fingers crossed. I talked to him. He’s tired of it, too. You could tell he was a little distraught about the whole thing. He wants to pitch. He wants to pitch with nothing wrong."

Jim Hendry even went on the offensive against the critics who have been speculating that something had been wrong with Prior from the start;

"It’s unfortunate.  The first time he’s ever complained of discomfort since we got here [in spring camp] is today. It will be perceived any way people want to perceive it. There’s no advantage to us holding back until March 14 and then discussing a problem that we knew about earlier. "

Riiiiight.  Everyone in Cubs management said he was fine.  Prior himself said so at the Cubs Convention before getting more money to avoid arbitration. 

Furious at this deception by the Cubs, I called my father, Crawly Sr. in a rage. That’s us in the bleachers in the early 80′s.   He told me to calm down, that the season hasn’t even started yet, and that I have been too negative on this blog ( the second person to make this comment!).  Since I respect his Cub opinions, I will try to take a postiive look at this situation.  Here goes;

1. It shifts the attention away from the Todd Walker disaster.

2.  Kerry Wood and Wade Miller always enjoy company.

3. Angel Guzman maybe be called into action.  The kid has looked good this spring.

4.  I am more optimistic with our hitting lineup this year.

5. The Cubs bullpen is improved. The Cubs lost twenty games last year when they were winning or tied in the seventh inning.  Win half of those and the Cubs would have been the NL wildcard team.

6. Man, this is getting tough.  Uh, this is Baker’s last year on his contract.  That’s good.

7. Maybe this will wean Cub fans off their love of Wood and Prior.  When the Cubs get rid of these guys, it will be less painful.

8. I will no longer have to hear, "We will be good as long as Prior and Wood are healthy."

9.  The Cubs still have time to trade for another starter.

10.  Still no sign of Wendell Kim.

Whew, who knew being so positive was so tough.  Cut me some slack, this wasn’t easy for me.  Now I am going to get some paper towels, wipe up my tears, and try to go to my "happy place".

For a funnier look at this situation, check out this link from the always funny Heckler, available around the ballpark during the season.

http://www.theheckler.com/index.php?page=0000-DH-06-03-14&idrub=65&idsite=1&PHPSESSID=b925cae6da1b3263af17493b2ccdb909

What has been going on with this ridiculous Todd Walker situation.  It all started when his extension was picked up by the Cubs and they were supposed to trade him.  The trade talks heated up at the GM’s winter meeting.  It continued at the Cubs convention with every uppermanagement and radio/tv personality trashing Walker.  Now comes the latest in the Todd Walker mess.

In an interview on the "Hit and Run" show on the score Sunday mroning, Todd Walker  said that manager Dusty Baker told him he’d be his starting second baseman on Opening Day in Cincinnati.  Walker said that Dusty told him he was "his guy".

To which Baker replied "I don’t recall saying that.  I’ve got to talk to ‘Walk’ about that. Walk’s been on the radio a lot lately.  I don’t even know who’s pitching for [the Reds] on Opening Day."

Walker then attempted to back off his comments by saying

"No, I didn’t say that,” I said that Dusty said I’m his guy, whatever that means. We had the conversation in the offseason. He said that ‘if you’re there, you’re my guy.’

Walker later made an ambiguous quote when pressed about the matter saying "They lie."

Baker assumed that the shot was directed at him, and was upset about the comment, along with uppermanagement.  Walker said his comment was not aimed at anyone directly.

How could the Cubs make such a mess of this situation?  Todd Walker is the only player on this team that could be used as trade bait. Harriston has been hitting well, playing great defense, and seems quicker this spring and maybe a trade involving Walker might have been a good idea.  The Cub need another starter and the Walker/Williams trade package could have landed them something.  Now with this mess, either Walker seems like a bad club house guy or the Cubs look like they want to get rid of him.  I think it brings down his value.  The Cubs need table setters for Lee and Ramirez, and with Cedeno slumping this spring, either Walker or Harriston will be hitting behind Pierre.  The Cubs better figure out what they want to do quick.

Speaking of Lee

Alright, I caved in and watched some of the WBC the other night, USA vs Japan.  The Japanese were leading 3-1 when Derek Lee came up to bat with one man on and jacked a shot into left center. (Did I write that we need to sign this guy already!!)  But later I saw Lee make an amazing diving catch on a bunt attempt by the Japanese.  Lee appeared hurt at first, but it seemed like he was ok.  Hopefully there is nothing wrong with his wrist.  What irritated me about this situation was that former Cub Rick Sutcliffe was calling the game.  He said while the trainers were checking out Lee’s wrist that even though some owners did not want players getting involved in the WBC because of injuries (Steinbrenner), that these type of injuries could easily happen in spring training. 

C’mon Rick, who are you kidding?  Are you telling me that Derek Lee would sacraficed his body in a meaningless spring training game?  Lee has been very enthusiastic about the WBC and he want to win.  He did that because he wanted to help team USA.  That never would have happened in the cactus league.

Speaking of the Japanese

Jesus, were the Japanese robbed.  How could an umpire overturn such an important call.  That was horrible.  If there is any justice, they would call that game a tie.  The Japanese team was amazing.  I would replace our whole team with those guys and keep Lee and Ramirez.  They had no power on the team, but they were so fast and they were so disciplined at the plate.  I have never seen a more fundamentally sound team.  Maybe when Baker’s fat a@# heads back to the coast after this season, maybe the Cubs might bring in Japanese manager Sadaharu Oh.  This guy just looks cool!!Maybe he can get the Cubs to play fundamental baseball, to hit and run, to learn how to bunt, how to play defense, etc.  Heck, I’ll even chip in to keep the interpreter.

Here are some more bits and nuggets from Cubs Nation.  Most of it positive!

World Baseball Craptastic

I am happy to say I have not watched a minute of this garbage, but the good news is that the two teams with the most Cubs players, Team USA and Venezuela are on the brink of elimination.  If that happens, Derrek Lee (who hit a nice home run vs. Mexico) Carlos Zambrano, Henry Blanco and Michael Barrett would be back in spring training.  I would really like to see Barrett back in camp so he could start working with the pitchers.  The quick our players come home the better.

Derek Lee Contract Talks

I hear that Hendry and Lee’s agent are still hammering out a contract extension.  The sooner the better. Lee’s agent Casey Close and Jim Hendry have been busy laying the ground work for the extension.   Lee is going to have another great year and the Cubs do not want to get in a bidding war for Lee.  Let’s get this done quickly.

Prior to come out of his hole

And if he doesn’t see his shadow it means that we will have an early spring!  Prior threw batting practice today.  Although his velocity wasn’t there, at least he threw some breaking and off speed pitches.  According to Rothchild, he will see how Prior is feeling after today’s session and then he may face live hitters in a simulated game.   The Cubs still think he can pitch in the second game of the season.  That remains to be seen.

Kid K returns

Kerry Wood is back in camp after his surgery on his right knee.  Wood threw balls from a standing position to keep the arm loose.  If nothing else goes wrong with Mr. Fragile, he should be ready to pitch in May. 

Dusty is squirming

Nothing makes me happier then seeing Dusty Baker miserable.  He is under intense scrutiny and the media is not letting him off the hook with his duuuude/maaaan routine.  They want real answers and even though Dusty is trying to play dumb, no one is buying it.  Dusty claims

""Had I known, definitely I would’ve said something. But I didn’t know. Everybody was speculating about a lot of people."

Baker repeated he "never" saw Bonds use steroids.

"Everybody saw the physical change," Baker said. "You didn’t know if Barry was [just] lifting weights, because he lifts all the time. [The book] says I wasn’t interested, but what are you going to do? I’m not a detective. What are you going to do as a manager?"

He also proceeded use his son as a reason why he would never allow steroids and then threw Giants owner Peter Magowan under the bus by saying that known steroid dealer Greg Anderson had the "OK" from upstairs  to be in the clubhouse.  I am just waiting for Dusty to say something really stupid once he snaps from all the questioning.  I give him three more days!

Not since the 1919 Black Sox scandal has baseball had to deal with such a devastating crisis as the one that emerged in the news today.  The lead story today on CNN was about the book "Game of Shadows" written by two reporters from the San Francisco Chronicle.  The book contains numerous details about Bonds’ use of performance enhancing substances.  After all the denials, cover ups, doubters, and people who came to his defense, this is pretty damaging evidence.  According to Sports Illustrated

"The authors compiled the information over a two-year investigation that included, but was not limited to, court documents, affidavits filed by BALCO investigators, confidential memoranda of federal agents (including statements made to them by athletes and trainers), grand jury testimony, audiotapes and interviews with more than 200 sources. "

The book claims that Bond was steroid free until he became jealous of the attention McGwire got in 1998.  What connection does this have to the Cubs?  The manager of the Giants during Bonds chemically altered years was none other then current Cubs manager Dusty Baker.  Baker managed the Giants from 1993-2002.  No shock to anyone.  The reason I bring this up is because of comments Dusty has made in the past and what the authors claim in the book.

On the issue of steroids and Bonds, Dusty has said the following;

“It’s like McCarthyism or something. They’re looking to see who looks like a communist.  I’ll probably get in trouble for that, too, but that’s how I equate it,” Oh, he lost weight. He gained weight.”’

“Who am I? The FBI? I ain’t the FBI. I’m not the DEA.  Because I was the manager, does that mean I know what guys are doing when they get away from the field? Does that mean I’m supposed to know everything in every situation in every town about everything? Nobody knows that."

“I’ve never even seen steroids.  I don’t even know how you take it. How am I supposed to know who’s doing this and who’s doing that?”

On Bonds grand jury testimony 

"You’ve got to take Barry at his word. A man’s innocent until proven guilty Hey, if that’s what he says, and if that’s what he says before a grand jury, that’s the only thing you can go by. I mean, at this point, my opinion doesn’t mean nothing. I’m not on the witness stand, and I’m not on the jury."

On Jose Canseco and Ken Caminiti revealing information about players’ steroid abuse; "Everybody hates a snitch,"

"I feel bad for Barry I’ve known him, and I feel badly because this guy works. I mean, I haven’t seen anybody work as hard as Barry. I’d hate to see this happen late in his career like this. We’ll have to wait and see. But if he doesn’t feel bad about it, I don’t feel bad about it, either."

Asked whether or not Bonds records were tainted after BALCO testimony was leaked; "No, I don’t think so.  It’s hard to taint something until it starts stinking. Once it starts stinking, then you know it’s tainted. Right now, it’s not stinking enough."

Is it starting to stink now Dusty? 

Let’s contrast this with excerpts from the new book about Barry Bonds.

"By spring training, his weight had increased from around 210 to 225, and almost all of the gain was rock-hard muscle. When he showed up a day late at the Giants’ spring training camp in Scottsdale, Ariz., in 1999, angry at the club for refusing to renegotiate his contract, the change in Bonds’s physique was startling. Around the Giants, they took to referring to Bonds as "the Incredible Hulk." When Bonds took batting practice, he was driving the ball farther than he ever had before. To teammates, writers and fans in Scottsdale that spring, and especially to Giants management, Bonds’s appearance and performance raised a fundamental question: What in **** had he been doing in the off-season? "

"Sportswriters didn’t press the question. Most attributed the changes in Bonds’s body to a heavy workout regimen, as though a 34-year-old man could gain 15 pounds of muscle in 100 days without drugs. The Giants, from owner Peter Magowan to manager Dusty Baker, had no interest in learning whether Bonds was using steroids, either. Although it was illegal to use the drugs without a prescription, baseball had never banned steroids. Besides, by pursuing the issue, the Giants ran the risk of poisoning their relationship with their touchy superstar — or, worse, of precipitating a drug scandal the year before the opening of their new ballpark, where Bonds was supposed to be the main gate attraction."

"The new Pac Bell Park opened in 2000. It had a 2,700-square-foot clubhouse, and Bonds had the run of the place. He felt he had built the new ballpark, and he insisted on bringing Anderson, his stretching coach Harvey Shields and his running coach Raymond Farris there with him. "

"The Giants’ training staff wanted nothing to do with Bonds’s three trainers and urged management to ban them from the clubhouse, according to a source familiar with the conversation. The Giants had unofficial background checks done on Bonds’s trainers and learned that World Gym was known as a place to score steroids and that Anderson himself was rumored to be a dealer. But the club decided it didn’t want to alienate Bonds on this issue, either. The trainers stayed."

Didn’t seem like you cared too much Dusty.  You were winning with Bonds and you didn’t care.  How did the whole world see what was happening but you didn’t?

Dusty is not to blame for the steroid scandal in baseball, or what happened to Barry Bonds.  Bud Selig, MLB union head, Donald Fehr, owners who sold all the tickets and took all the money from people wanting to see the home run freak show, Victor Conte and his Balco lab, players, and fans are all to blame.  The person who deserves the most blame for all of this is Barry himself.  But this does shows Dusty’s main weaknesses; He has no control of the club house.

I guess what really makes me angry is when Dusty claims to hate steroids.

"I hate steroids."

"I’m concerned about the amateur guys.  Are some of the guys being forced, in their minds, to do it to keep up with the guys that are doing it? I’m concerned about who’s going to come up with spleen problems 20 years from now. Or heart problems. Or brain cancers."

"From a guy that had cancer, I’m concerned not about the sport as much as I am about a guy’s life and his family later on. Because nobody knows the repercussions of what’s going on and what’s happening until later."

Dusty, if you really cared about those amateur players and the effects that steroids will have on guys after there careers are over, you would have said or done something about Bonds and his crew of chemists.  You didn’t.  You could have kicked Bonds off the team or quit over management allowing guys you knew dealt steroids into your clubhouse.  You didn’t. 

You play dumb, you acted blind, you turned the other way, and you lied.  Don’t pretend like you cared.

I’ll be happy when you leave Chicago, Dusty.  Take your flexseed oil with you.

Does it stink enough now, dude?

Is it true?  Am I angry? Am I bitter?  Am I frustrated?  According to a comment on my last post,

You are one angry Cubs fan.

I appreciate the comment, and maybe I am all of the above.  I only report things as I see them.  I see Wood injured again, I don’t see Prior pitching anywhere, I see three second basemen.  I guess I can try to put a positive spin on things, but then I would not be honest.  I feel that Cubs fans have stuck with this team through thick and thin, and we deserve some repect and honesty from the organization.   I don’t want to be a "lovable loser".  I am not someone one who uses Wrigley as a glorified beer garden. I want to see good baseball.  I want to see smart decisions being made, on the field and off. I want to win.  If that means being a little bit hard on the Cubbies, so be it.  That doesn’t mean I love them any less.  I will be at opening day at Wrigley, again, in another cold April in Chicago.  With that in mind, a few topics that I feel are worth mentioning.

Survivor Part I.

On a positive note, the Cubs bullpen is looking strong.  Howry and Eyre are looking sharp, Dempster is picking up where he left off, and I think that Novoa and Wuertz are going to benefit from having less pressure on them.  I would rather see Jerome Williams in the bullpen then Rusch.  I think Rusch makes a better starter.  If Scott Williamson comes back as well as Dempster did, the Cubs bullpen looks dangerous.  The Cubs lost twenty games last year in games they were winning or tied in the seventh inning.  If the Cubs won just half of those games, they would have been in the playoffs as the wildcard team.  This year looks to be different.  Unfortunately, the way Todd Wellmeyer looks this spring, I got a feeling he will no longer be part of the Cubs after spring training.  He will be voted off the island.

An Angel Amoung Us

If there is anyone that can save us from Kerry Wood Syndrome, it is Angel Guzman.  I have been waiting for a long time to see Angel Guzman get called up to the big leagues.  He looks great so far.  He is 25 years old, injuries in the minors have set him back.  If the fragile combination of Wood and Miller do nothing, I would like to see this kid brought up. 

More Marlins?

There is a lot of talk that the Marlins would dump their last two players, Dontrelle Willis and Miguel Cabrera, right around the all star break.  If Hendry could bring Cabrera to Wrigley, even if that means giving up whatever prospects we have left, I think it would be worth it.  That kid is a stud and would be perfect in left field. Give the Marlins Jones and eat his salary.  They added more seats in Wrigley, they can afford it.

Infected fingernail??!!?

It was reported that Aramis Ramirez left the spring training game because of an infected nail on his throwing hand.  After Sosa’s sneeze induced back injury, Prior’s monster Achilles, Nomar falling like an old lady out of the batters’ box, and Woods’ _____________ (insert injury of your choice), I couldn’t believe this.  I know it is minor, but only with the Cubs.   In anticipation of future injuries, I have the Cubs starting lineup and projected bizarre injuries they might have. 

Juan Pierre-CF-Sports Hernia

Todd Walker-2B-Ingrown facial hair (very painful I hear)

Derrek Lee-1B-I won’t even joke about this

Aramis Ramirez-3B-Infected fingernail

Jacque Jones-LF-French Disease (I didn’t make that up-check it out.  He’ll get this if he goes to High Tops)

http://www.medterms.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=25760

Ronny Cedeno-SS- Avian Bird Flu

Matt Murton-LF-Gingervitis (look this one up too!)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ginger_Kids

Michael Barrett-C-Hemorrhoids

Or the Cubs could go injury free all year.

In the spirit of my new found optimism, let’s hope this fingernail is the last we hear of injuries.