Still Sulking

Ok, maybe I am still a little bitter that Andre Dawson and Lee Smith were shut out of the Hall of Fame.  I just wish these baseball writers would get off their high horses and actually do some research on some of these guys.  Well, maybe next year (again).  Again, Ron Santo better make it in February or I may ban myself from going to Cooperstown.  Anyway, two interesting columns about the Hall and Santo/Dawson/Smith can be found at these two links.

This one is written by Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt

This one is written by Phil Rogers

Alright, enough about the Hall, its time for "Other Odd and Ends"

Don't Give Me A Heart Attack!

The headline on the Chicago Tribune Sports online and the Cubs website both had the headline "Perez Signs Minor Deal"  I almost fell out of my chair thinking that the Cubs resigned Nefi Perez.  In reality, they signed a player similar to Neifi, Tomas Perez.  Tomas, like Nefi, is a utility infielder. And I don't blame Neifi for anything, it was Dusty Bakers manlove obsession with Neifi that kept him in the lineup everyday.  I know Lou Pinella won't do the same thing.

Cedeno Fighting For His Job

Right now, Cesar Izturis looks like he will be the everyday starting shortstop after Ronnie Cedeno did not have the type of year the Cubs thought he would.  Cedeno is now playing in the Venezuelan Winter League to try and improve before the start of Spring Training.  Right now, he is third in home runs and tied for first in RBIs in the Venezuelan Winter League playoffs? Cedeno, who had two homers in 39 regular-season games for the Tigres de Aragua,has gone deep twice in the playoffs and has six RBIs and five runs scored in seven games.  The Cubs have Izturis signed for this season as a result of the Greg Maddux trade. After the 2007 season, he will be a free agent. It will be interesting to see if Cedeno makes the team or goes to Triple A.

Winning Attitude

I know you are all going to roll your eyes, but their is a new attitude with this Cubs team. The Dusty Baker era will forever be remembered as the "Excuses Era".  Baker and the Cubs had someone to blame for everything; Bartman, the media, Steve Stone and Chip Carey, the fans, the weather, not having horses or something like that. I get a much different feeling from Lou Pinella and what the Cubs have done in the off season.  It is being reported that shortly after the first of the year, he sent a text message to a few of his Cubs teammates saying, "This is the year."  I think Derek believes this, and that the rest of the organization does.  Lou will not make or accept excuses.  I really have a good feeling.  When I got my passes in the mail for the 2007 Cubs Convention, right on the front was the blue "W" with the white background.  It sent chills up my spine.  This really could be the year.

Speaking of the Convention

The 27th annual Cubs Convention rolls into town next weekend.  I expect the Cubs to release the names of the players, managers, and former Cubs who will be attending sometime this weekend and will have a link to the names immediately.  The Convention is sold out but Crawly's Cub Kingdom will give you wrap ups following each day.  Keep checking the blog out as I hope to ask you the readers what kind of questions you want to ask the players and managers. 

GO Cubs!