Mark DeRosa is a Cardinal.  Makes me even more upset that the Cubs let him go in the first place.

Weed try to figure out why the slump this year even further...but now, no need.  This all makes complete sense.  Let's focus a little more on baseball and a little less on the mary-jane huh Cheech?  

Take the Cubs for instance.  You arguably can't get more bang for your buck.  The moment a new title pennant flies at Wrigley, the Cubs would be the team that give its fans more bang for their buck than any other team in baseball.  The history: huge.  The drama: unmatched.  The stadium: historic.  The reputation their fans have with other fans: lovable losers...basically bottom of the barrel, respected yet bashed with glee (especially by their rivals' fans).  The players...just to name a few: Soriano.  Ignites Cubs games on a regular basis with leadoff home runs.  Regular representative of the team come the All-Star game.  Raises the heat on debates on where in the order he should hit.  Carries himself like a professional and makes Cubs fans proud to root for him.  Bang for your buck?  Absolutely.  

Theriot.  Awesome nickname: The Riot.  Awesome first name: Ryan.  It is my name and sounds like Sandberg's first name.  Hard to go wrong there.  Hustles on every hit ball and is among team leaders in all hitting categories.  Helping carry this team during a very tough stretch where extremely important keys to the team's success have been injured.  Bang for your buck?  You bet.  

Bradley.  Controversial off the bat (pun intended) which is always entertaining providing lots of bang for the buck.  A huge threat when hitting well and finally in a long term deal, first of his career.  Love hate relationship with the fans....love hate relationship with the media...love hate relationship with...I'm guessing you name it.  Bang for your buck?  Possibly only Zambrano tops Bradley for most interesting character on this team.  

Lee.  Batting champ on the resume.  Team leader.  Scapegoat.  Absolutely dangerous when he hits his stride.  Hoffpauir hot on his trail causing fan debate as to whether it's time to let Micah take the role full-time away from Lee.  Talented, hot topic, leader in the clubhouse and proven winner.  Bang for your buck?  Please, absolutely.  

Soto.  Rookie of the Year.  Sophomore slump.  First rookie catcher to start an all-star game in forever.  Handles one of the most talented starting rotations in all of baseball and from what I've read on several female Cubs fan blogger sites...apparently the ladies are big fans as well.  Bang for your buck?  YUP.  

Fukudome.  Please.  From the off-season where all we could talk about as Cubs fans was will he-won't he up through opening day against the Brewers at Wrigley to the cool headbands, through the hot first half of his rookie season to the crash of his second half and a decent start to '09.  Plus you know the club must be thrilled with what he does for the organization in overseas merch and interest in the club.  Bang for your buck?  Tons...and bang for your yen as well for that matter.

The bench. This is where you really tell if you've got a team that gives you bang for your buck, or just a few over-priced stars and everyone else who happens to dress the same as them everyday.  The Cubs' bench has managed to step up and keep our team in the thick of the NL Central race and provided fans with quality guys to root for.  This bench as a whole has become the 2009 version of DeRosa when it comes to heart, versatility and ability to step  up and fill in in a crunch when injuries happen.  Without our talented bench, the Cubs would be in a lot of trouble right now heading into the the thick of Summer.  Bang for your buck?  Over and over again (thankfully). 

Zambrano, Harden, Lilly, Dempster, Marshall.  You bring your guys and we'll bring ours.  I like our chances, injuries, ups and downs and all.  Bang for your buck?  No matter what day it is, you got it.  Especially Zambrano.  Bananas.  Cramps.  Tantrums.  Strikeouts.  Opening day starts.  No hitter.  Team Ace.  Beating up catchers in the dugout.  And a ton of heart.  Bang for your buck?  Maybe the definition of said phrase.  

Like I said...this club could arguably be the one team in the league that provides the most bang for your buck.  And I'll go ahead and say it flat out, I believe they do just that...and there is no argument to be had come the day they raise a new World Series title pennant.

Cubs fans...think of a reason this is true that I forgot to list?  Tell me in the comments.  And fans of other teams who disagree and believe that their team in fact gives them and their team's fans more bang for your buck...tell me their too.  Interested to hear your thoughts.

Great run lately for the Cubs.  Love the fight we're seeing and loving that with even with all the injuries, we are right in the thick of this thing.  Harden's turn tomorrow in Detroit.  And since I mentioned Ryne earlier...as a side note, I completely agree Ryno.  Completely agree. Go Cubs Go!

 

Ok, this baseball season is completely unpredictable....it's official!

Perhaps that day he was a crazy headcase out of control and the dugout was all out of bananas to boot.

But as it is with many things in life, if the pros outweigh the cons then all's well that ends well.  Like dating.  Do you know how many crazy women I have dated in my life?  In all honesty, not that many.  However, the ones that were crazy also had to be incredibly attractive.  Otherwise, why in the world would one put up with the crazy?

That may sound horrible to some people and I don't mean it to be taken the wrong way.  They weren't crazy all the time, but often.  And there had to be pro's to the relationship that outweighed the crazy moments...otherwise...we're done.  Being attractive didn't hurt and the relationship lasted as long as the pro's outweighed the crazy (con's).

That's pretty much what the Cubs have in Zambrano.  A crazy hot headcase.  And his pro's definitely outweigh his cons.  

The guy went off and got a six game suspension.  First game back, he homers in a game his team won 2-1 which makes his run the difference in the game arguably, struck out seven, dominated throughout and notched his 100th victory in a Cubs uniform.  And with great timing too.  This team has been up and down all season long with the injuries and headaches along the way.  When Zambrano was suspended six games, ultimately since he's a starter we only really lose him one game due to the pitcher rotation.  But still, we need Z this season more than ever.  Our bench isn't as deep and our performance has more holes in it than the team's previously used Gatorade machine.  When it's Z's turn to pitch, in order for us to have a shot this year. we have to get the W.  And that's exactly what Z delivered yesterday.  His turn.  His game.  Our W.

Is Zambrano the most mentally stable player on the team?  I don't know, I haven't really spent any time with any of them one-on-one or in person for that matter.  From what I've seen on TV and in the news and during games?  I'd say no, he's not.  But does that necessarily make him a hinderance?  I don't hear anyone complaining about wins.  And aside from the dugout refreshment coordinator, I don't see anyone having a whole lot else to complain about.  So no.  Zambrano's talent definitely outweighs the crazy...and it's June, which is usually where a tantrum kicks us into gear.  So let the ump-bumping and gatorade smashing be appreciated I say.  Until he starts returning with ground outs and L's...then and only then would he possibly no longer be attractive enough to us Cubs fans to be acting so crazy.

(And since fans of other teams read this blog as well, I'd really be interested to hear who your team's crazy hot headcase is and if you think they're truly 'attractive' enough to be deal with all of their 'crazy'!)

Hey, hey there Cubs fans, it's me your friendly neighborhood Gatorade dispenser.

Make that, your not so friendly Cubs dugout Gatorade dispenser.  

Gone are the days when pitchers would beat up catchers to take out their frustrations.  I've never missed Barrett more than I have recently, that's for sure.  A quick message to the Cubs: I am not the reason you are a hot mess right now.  Not one bit and I'd appreciate it if you would please STOP beating the crap out of me to make yourselves feel better.

Eight losses in a row and then two W's.  Probably six more to follow to match the previous eight that's how unpredictable and consistently inconsistent you guys have been.  And now Z get's suspended six games...for bumping the umpire.  

Um, excuse me...didn't anyone happen to catch what he did to me?!?!  Hello?  

And how about you Demp...how's that pitching hand feel after punching the CRAP out of me, huh?  Feel better now?  Think busting up your hand on my lightning rod logo is going to help things?  Is that listed in your book o' tricks "How to get out of a horrible rut"?  Don't think so.

Maybe a little less time getting suspended and losing your crap and a little more time getting timely hits, knocking in some runs and striking some opposing batters out.  I mean, I'm not one to throw folks under the bus, but how about we look around and suggest a few other potential punching bags in the dugout to take your frustrations out on?  How about Soto, maybe a backhand upside the head will knock some sense into his sophomore slump of a season.  How about a quick right to Lee...maybe be Hoffpauir even...take Lee's spot and in receiving your first sign from Sweet Lou, your first action is smacking Lee upside his head to maybe rattle something inside that head of his in a place that makes hitting for power and average happen?

Speaking of Sweet Lou, how about since June is coming up, somebody rough up Lou a bit and shake out one of his famous quarter of the way through the season tantrums that always seems to light a fire under your behinds and get those W's piling up?  We've seen it before and we win with a bench coach filling in for Lou's managing....hard to win with our team relying on tantrums from Z, Lilly and potential injury causing moves by Dempster to try and light a fire.  C'mon Lou, you and I say hi at least a dozen times a game...slug down some 'ade, cleanse that pallet and get out there and light a fire, man!

I love being in the Cubs dugout.  I dream of a day where I get poured out on someone in celebration of a Cubs World Series.  I've already been repaired once this season and this beating Z gave me was WAY over the top.  I want to be here for you guys, but I can't continue like this.  I'm happy to do my part, but please go back to beating up each other and leave me out of it.  In fact, run around the bases so many times we're destroying teams like the Cardinals and Brewers or please, stick to destroying each other to light that fire and then come see me for a cold beverage after you've both come to and the team is on a tear, ripping up the Central.

This team is better than this.  We couldn't have been held together by Rami and DeRo last year, right?  It's time you guys step it up and use that energy in a productive way.  Let's start with the Dodgers.  And most importantly, please stop hitting me.  Hit the Dodgers, hit the Dodgers pitching, hit each other, hit the bars in Wrigleyville.  Whatever it takes.  But please, more W's and less bats and fists to me.  I'm not the reason you're losing.  Figure it out fast though because if I have to listen to the Brewers, Cardinals and Pirates dispensers gloat about how awful we are one more time...I'm going to grab one of those bats myself and there's no telling what might happen then.

In tribute to the NBA playoffs...get the W's this weekend and beat L.A.!  (And it's hit parade.  Not hit gatorade, for crying out loud).  Go Cubs Go!

I don't know how long it'll take for them to start the stopping but it needs to happen fast.  I knew when I wrote my last post that things didn't look good, but c'mon.  I didn't see this coming.  Who did?  Any of you?  

I can't believe our rotation is going round and round losing back to back to back to back to back to back to back to back games like this.  Ok, fine not all of them were the starters' fault, but still.  We're supposed to be good to go in the bullpen too so no excuses there.  Hopefully the streak column in the standings stops at L8 and after tonight we get the long time coming W1.  L8 stinks, but at least with a win we can stop the bleeding.  I mean it's Pittsburgh, right?  I remember writing blogs last year like "We'll Always Have Pittsburgh".  Not enough has happened between then and now to change it so drastically...has it?  Come on Cubbies, let's get that W!

Forget should be, could be, would be.  How good ARE we?  Honestly, maybe not that good.

But like I said in the above paragraph, no excuses.  I should be blogging.  It's one of the things I enjoy most and if I'm going to hope you guys keep coming back to visit, I know how important it is to keep posting.  I kick this one off like this because of the comment Jeff left in the Prose and Ivy Chat room in the column to the right.  You're right dude, my bad.  This baseball season has been unreal so far...lots to talk about.  Whatever I can muster up, I'm sure I can manage to unlock the door, eat dinner and log on to MLB.TV on only like 5% brain power and blog with the other 5%.  You're right, my bad.

I'll admit too, without going into details, I've been straight up bummed lately.  I've been performing stand up comedy for eleven and a half years now, acting for about half of that and producing tv/film projects for half of THAT, including a few pilots for my own shows that I created and have pitched to networks.  Simply to get this off my chest before diving into baseball because I really haven't told anyone about it and it's really effected my desire to write lately, I recently found out that an idea of mine may have been straight up stolen by a network.  I won't say who and I won't say what, but I will say this.  A production company I have a deal with to represent my pilot in the marketplace recently pitched the project to said network.  They loved the idea.  They thought it would be a great companion to another show they have in the same genre.  When they said what they show was, I couldn't believe my ears.  They were basically telling the production company in the pitch that my new idea would pair up nicely to a show they have coming out and without them knowing that the production company that was pitching it to them was representing me...basically...without them knowing who they were talking to...stated that they have a show I pitched to them a year ago.  They loved it and thought it'd be perfect for their demographic yet nothing happened.  ONE year later and all of a sudden they have a show JUST like it coming out...that I CREATED.  It's up to the lawyers to do their thing now, but I seriously can't believe it.  I commit eleven and a half years of my life to my career in comedy and just like that, instead of enjoying what should be an amazing time in my career, successfully getting a show I created that I would write, produce and star in on the air...I have to deal with this crappy side of it where it seems to have been stolen out from under me.  Some executive at the network with no tie to the dedication and amount of time that I've poured into my career does something completely unethical and now here I am in this position.  It sucks.  It seriously sucks.  And it's effected my desire to do a whole lot of anything accompanied with the exhaustion of the new job.

Anyway.  I came to the page today and while I've occasionally posted a comment in my chat box or a tweet on Twitter over the past few weeks, I hadn't really blogged.  When I came on today and saw Jeff's comment about me not blogging in a while, it bummed me out further.  I love this blog, I love following the Cubbies and love communicating with everyone on here about the season.  Can't let frustration or exhaustion get in the way of my enjoyment on here and I'll have to remember that going forward.  Thanks for the kick in the **** there Jeff, appreciate it.

ALL of that being said (phew) game and a half out tonight as it stands and a crazy season so far across baseball and in the NL Central.  I can't believe we're looking at four team race and I can't help but wonder if it will hold up the entire season.  I can't help but hope the Big Z comes around and the injury bugs decide to fly elsewhere for a bit.  The article on here about Fukudome and his old batting coach recovering his old stroke was really interesting.  Comparing hitting to boxing is really smart.  Have to use your legs and transfer the power properly or else you're going nowhere.  Hopefully Fukudome will keep it going throughout the entire season this year since he's got one year under his belt and doesn't have to worry about things like moving his entire family over and adapting completely to a whole new environment and batch of new teammates.  

Soriano looks great, it'd be great if Lee would wake up.  Bradley for that matter. I feel like if Bradley were to come around and Lee wakes up, this is going to be a whole different race in the Central.  I can't believe we're only 1.5 games out with the injuries we've had to Z, Lee, Zambrano, Bradley, Ramirez, Soto...and on and on.  This team, healthy...very dangerous.  Can't wait to see us heal and start tearing away in the Central.  No expectations...but come on.  This roster, healthy?  Good stuff.

I don't know about sticking with Gregg.  Long term anyway. I understand we're only midway through May so I wouldn't quite jump the gun and make the switch yet either (to Marmol) but seriously, Gregg has to be on the on the edge of his seat and looking into his rearview mirror all season long knowing that there is a perfectly capable firethrower that could step in and take over in a second.  We're lucky to have the situation we have with two capable pitchers with some teams barely competing with closers that can hardly claim to put any real fear in the opposing batters.  Just need Gregg to be more consistent and then no reason to look in the rearview and all the world to be confident, use Marmol's gun to set him up and close out the eighth before Gregg shuts 'em down in the ninth.

I like the way Piniella has worked the rosters and obtained the most out of this bunch this year.  Can't be easy when the middle of the lineup is mush.  I know about mush.  Not easy to work with.

Here something maybe some of you Cubs fans can answer for me...here's Cubs.com photo of this year's Cubs to vote for for the All-Star game.  

How many of them would you vote for?  Probably all of them, we're Cubs fans.  But how many of them do actually think deserve it?  Let me know your thoughts and I'll tell you mine in my next post.  Go Cubs Go!

And then came Sunday.  90 degrees beating down on the NYC pavement...and of course, the one day in nearly the past decade that my dad chose to visit.  Figures.

We had a great time regardless.  He and my stepmom had never been to Central Park so we took a long walk.  Beat the heat with some ice cream and waters bought at those carts you find in parks across the country.  I only just recently decided to eat hot dogs sold from a cart.  A baseball hot dog is a wonderful thing.  Something about buying a hot dog from a baseball vendor or at a concession stand at a stadium just feels right.  Buying a hot dog from a weird man with a dirty cart filled with old hot water...not quite the same appeal.  However, they are $2 and sometimes, especially lately, a two dollar lunch is just what the checking account ordered.

There were kids all over the Alice in Wonderland statue.  People driving remote controlled boats at the boat pond.  A Greek parade pouring down Fifth Avenue.  Lots of people out sunbathing and people walking their dogs everywhere.  A great Summertime scene in 90 degree weather smack in the middle of Spring.  

We went out to eat for every meal which something I really only do when company is in town visiting.  My stepmom was talking about the Yankees/Red Sox games she caught over the weekend and how exciting they were.  Great games sure, but on top of that, the Red Sox won.  She's one of those fans who have recently come back around to baseball.  She's in her early 60's and after the 1994 strike, she had had enough.  Too much focus on money and greed for her to respect the game she once loved.  Enough years passed though and she's come around again.  Rooting for the Red Sox like she always has.  Of course for a while there it was because she liked to go sit in the outfield and check out Dwight Evans booty.  Now though, it's simply for love the Sox and having something in common with her grandchildren who live in CT.  

We had tickets to see 'Chicago' on Broadway Sunday night and she kidded about skipping it to watch the Sox/Yanks on Sunday night baseball.  She decided she could hang in there though (of course) and enjoy the show based on the movie she's loved since she saw it.  I hadn't seen the movie so I didn't know what to expect.  Let me tell you...this show (and I'm sure film) does not paint a very pretty picture of Chicago.  Murders, crimes, lies, etc...I understand the city has a reputation for crooked politicians...but they sure didn't try to shine a light on anything positive with regards to Chicago, that's for sure.  I mean come on, throw a baseball fan a bone and mention Wrigley or something, ya know?  Of course with the way this show was going, if there had been a baseball reference, it surely would've been about the Black Sox scandal.

Anyway, the show was great.  Not one of my favorites of all the shows I've seen in New York, but up there among one of the better performances...especially when it comes to less is more.  They do a lot with hardly any set or stage frills and you're entertained the whole time.  Which really, is a lot like the Cubs now that I think about it.  Wrigley Field.  Barebones.  Old school.  No real frills.  No cookie cutter park.  Bare essentials.  Few thrills or real 'characters' when it comes to our lineup.  Just hardnosed baseball that entertains you the whole time you're at the park or following the season.  Pretty cool in that respect considering the show is called 'Chicago'.

Some of the songs in the show remind me of some of the Cubs roster though.  Just for fun (considering we're a few games in back of the Cards right now...not exactly the April I had hoped for) here are some of the songs that made me think of Cubs players and the players that match up:

"I Can't Do It Alone" - Carlos Zambrano.  Ace of the staff.  No-hitter last year.  We know he's going to bring it every time he takes the mound.  But he is not going to be able to do this thing alone. Demp, Lilly, Harden and Marshall are all going to have to step their games up if we want to repeat in the Central again this year.

"My Own Best Friend" - Aramis Ramirez.  Pretty much our only quality at third base.  Without a true backup, he's basically his own best friend on the hot corner. Aramis goes down and we're pretty screwed at third.  We need his glove and bat all season long.  Injuries will come and go...let's hope Ramirez isn't effected too often in '09.

"Mister Cellophane" - Micah Hoffpauir.  This really applied stronger during Spring Training.  Lately Micah has been getting his share of at bats and his talent is no longer see through to Lou.  He's giving him a chance to shine in the regular season like he did in Spring Training.  Not ready to give up on Lee by any means, but like DeRosa was great to have as a quality anywhere kind of guy, Micah is the closest thing we have to that right now on the ballclub and it's good to see he's finally getting noticed.

"All I Care About" - Chicago Cubs fans.  While the character that sings this in the show is rather sarcastic in singing that all he cares about is love...I think Cubs fans would be genuine.  Sure we want the trophy after all these years...but there has to be a reason we come back year in and year out.  For love the Cubs, we wouldn't come back if it was all we really cared about.  Championships are nice and a World Series title would be insane, but be honest, you'll keep coming back regardless.

All in all it was a great weekend.  Took my dachshund to the dachshund festival on Saturday and it was hilarious.  Dad and stepmom came in on Sunday and we had a blast in the big city, can't wait for them to come back again.  The show was a great time and a real treat for them to take us.  Chicago needs to do something to change that rep though, it really doesn't come off all that great in the show.  Maybe something big is needed to make people think about it differently...like I don't know...a Cubs championship perhaps?

Couldn't hurt.  Go Cubs Go!