When we last heard from Dan Plesac, he was inexplicably signing a new contract with MLB Network, after making such astute observation as “(random pitcher) needs to get guys out” and “You can’t win if you don’t score runs.” As you could probably tell by me screaming “DEAR GOD NOT DAN PLESAC” for four months during the Chicago Cubs search for a color man, I’m not a huge fan of the former-Cub-but-mostly-Brewer-that-people-keep-hiring-to-talk-for-reasons-I-don’t-entirely-understand.
And yet. People keep asking Dan Plesac what he thinks.
Q: Is the best-case scenario for Cubs a .500 record?
A: I think .500 is wishful thinking. The division is so good. We’re seeing the two leagues even out right now.
Whatever, Plesac. Shut up and stop talking about my team. Of course, the person who decided to get Dan Plesac’s thoughts on the Cubs is the Chicago Tribune’s David Haugh, who really needs to stick to writing about the Bears. You can read many more pearls of non-wisdom from Dan Plesac here. Seriously. I could have answered those questions with more insight.
I’m not sure why the Cubs need to name the starting rotation in February, but Dale Sveum is 80% of the way there, naming Scott Feldman (from across the hall), as the team’s number 4 starter:
MESA, Ariz. – Manager Dale Sveum said Thursday that competition for the Chicago Cubs’ rotation will be down to one spot, naming Scott Feldman as his No. 4 starter.
Scott Baker, rehabbing from elbow reconstruction surgery, appears likely to start the season on the disabled list.
Sveum said matter-of-factly. “There’s an above-average chance Baker is going to probably start just a little bit late, just because you don’t want to really rush him or anything. There’s no need for anything like that. You have (Matt) Garza, obviously (Jeff) Samardzija, (Edwin) Jackson and Feldman in those other spots. There’s no guarantee of any spots other than those top three, but we’ll just let it all pan out and see what happens.
Did everyone get that? Scott Feldman is the number 4 starter, unless Scott Baker comes back. In which case he’ll be the number 5 starter. But then again maybe not, because nothing is guaranteed other than spots 1-3, except for Scott Feldman in the 4 spot.
As Doc pointed out yesterday, Anthony Rizzo didn’t want Tony Campana on the team, either.
“I can think of teams in my head right away who could bring [Campana] in,” Rizzo said. “I think right now, our team isn’t a fit for him. We need more power than speed.”
Things learned today: Anthony Rizzo is smarter than 80% of Cubs fans.
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Someone…I don’t remember who…reported yesterday that the White Sox had claimed Tony Campana off waivers last August, but the Cubs pulled him back.
I didn’t realize that the Sox were in the market for a bat boy last year.
Mascot
WHAT?
How is that even possible?
Well, considering most people who like or work for the Sox don’t have the mental capacity to be a bat boy, it makes a lot of sense.
To add to this Plesac bashing…
He said that Anthony Rizzo shouldn’t try to be a 40 home run guy. Instead he should be more like Adrian Gonzalez.
Um…
Here’s the problem…Adrian Gonzalez has hit 40+ homers in two different seasons…while playing his home games in the least homer friendly ballpark in baseball.
Oops…my mistake…Gonzalez hit 40 homers only once.
I think what Rizzo is saying is that he is a ME player and not a team player and that perhaps he gets distracted by base stealers in from of him and resents having to take pitch or two to allow the running game?
I truely hope that Rizzo is not gonna be the second coming of Aramis Rameriz’s Horshit attitude.
Nope. Pretty sure he is saying what everyone has known for a while- the Cubs need 3 regulars who have legit power. Right now there’s two players with legit power (Rizzo and Soriano). Since Soriano is so streaky, another power hitter was needed on the Cubs rather than keeping White Lightening on the bench.
So that’s what happened. We added Hairston and lost Campana. Any attitude expressed should be read “I’d rather win than keep all the fans happy.” Truth be told, I’m absolutely OK with that. There’s always a fresh batch of 21 year olds who want to go get plastered in the bleachers. It’s not like we’re really going to miss both of the Campana fans.
I can tell you from experience that there are more than two. Go look at my Twitter feed from a few days ago. They were on me like ants at a picnic.
Maybe he is just saying that Darwin Barney is already fulfilling the role of scrappy white guy that can’t hit for a lick on the team and there really isn’t a need for two of those guys.
Are you guys doing a LOHO fantasy league again? I’ve been trying to keep an eye on comments, but sorry if it’s already been addressed.
I’ll start up a simple Yahoo 5×5 league soon unless someone else does. CJ usually has a posting for starting leagues.
Ian Stewart has arrived in camp, everyone! Jut thought you’d want to know.
I was kinda hoping he’d be stuck in his home country of Jerklandia with visa problems.
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