I don’t even know where to start today. It’s as if the Cubs have put together some kind of commission to evaluate all the ways they can piss me off and are now moving into Alienate Julie for 2013: Phase II (can we get a logo for this? I think we’re going to need it).
First, we have this:
MLB Network analyst Dan Plesac will interview for the vacant Chicago Cubs broadcast job in Chicago next week, according to an industry source.
Plesac, who did not return calls seeking comment, has been a mainstay at MLB Network since its inception and is in the middle off a long-term contract.A former closer, Plesac spent 18 years in the major leagues, including two seasons with the Cubs in 1993-94. He still holds the Milwaukee Brewers’ all-time record for appearances by a pitcher with 365.
I think I’ve been fairly clear, over the years, of how underwhelmed I am by Plesac’s . . . . contribution . . to baseball analysis. It’s not that I hate him, it’s just that I expect a little more out of my analysts than “It’s really important for (insert pitcher) get ahead in the count” and “The Cubs need to be patient at the plate.” Hell, for a whole lot less than the Cubs would pay Plesac, I could sit up there and toss around the same platitudes. And at least I could make it interesting. Dan Plesac cannot make anything interesting. Trust me.
The Chicago Cubs don’t intend to solve their long-term pitching problems in one offseason, but they do have some financial flexibility to go out and sign two starters.
General manager Jed Hoyer said Thursday the team has spoken with representatives of several potential free agents, including Ryan Dempster, though it’s likely Dempster will be seeking a longer-term deal than the Cubs are willing to touch.
Hoyer confirmed “there’s been contact with him,” but declined to say how much interest there was in re-signing Dempster.
“It’s preliminary,” he said. “A lot of players will end up expressing interest. … Certainly he pitched well here for a long time and people in Chicago respect what he’s done here and they should. Obviously, there’s a mutual respect there.”
Again, I’m not even sure where to start with this one. How is Ryan Dempster NOT a good fit for the Cubs? Let me count the ways:
- He ticked off 90% of the fan base on his way out of town.
- Would rather stay in Chicago and rot on a (second-t0) last place team than play for a contender.
- Delusional about his market value.
- Terrible impression of Will Ferrell doing a Harry Caray impression
- Will want way too much money.
Need I continue? Because I could.
Look, I know the Cubs need pitchers, but if they have money to burn, I’d much rather give a long-term deal to someone young than bring back Dempster just to flip him at the trade deadline. Unless Jed & Theo are bringing him back for the sole purpose of revenge and want to trade him to someone shitty at the trade deadline. That, I fully support.
And the hits just keep on coming:
CHICAGO — Top prospect Javier Baez has a non-displaced fracture of the tip of his right thumb, but was expected to be ready to go in Spring Training, Cubs general manager Jed Hoyer said on Thursday.
Baez was playing in the Arizona Fall League when he was injured last Friday, apparently while giving someone a celebratory high-five. Infielder Logan Watkins, who played for Double-A Tennessee, was added to the Mesa Solar Sox roster to take Baez’s spot.
“It is unfortunate,” Hoyer said. “[Baez] had some really good moments in the fall league and also had some really good learning moments.”
Le Sigh.
And then I get this in my in-box this morning:
Whether this is your first Convention or your 28th, fans won’t want to miss the chance to check out the exciting new atmosphere at the Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers, as Starlin Castro, Anthony Rizzo, Brett Jackson and Jeff Samardzija are joined by more than 50 current, former and minor league Cubs the weekend of January 18-20, 2013 to help kick off the 2013 Cubs season!
NOOOO!!!!!
You know what? No. I’m not reserving my hotel room. I’m not even promising to go. I’m still suffering the trauma of last season, so just back off and give me some space. Jerks.
Happy Friday.
You’re going. We all know you are going to go.
Besides, you’ll want to be at CubbieCon when the Cubs announce Plesac as the new color commentator.
(thumbs down)
(thumbs down to you!)
Dempster makes no sense, he’ll still have his 5& 10 rights, isn’t that what got us in to the trading mess in the first place?
No…he won’t have 5/10 rights.
His .01 of a season with the Rangers interrupts his 10/5 rights.
It makes me giggle to think that his .01 of a season with the Rangers cost them getting passed the play-in game.
Finally! A bright spot this morning!
Nyjer Morgan demoted to AAA by the Brewers.
They tolerate cursing on live TV much more down in AAA than in the big leagues.
He declined his assignment to AAA and is now a free agent.
I’d like to see him signed by the Marlins.
He has opted for free agency.
Can he play third base?????
I think I’d become a Brewers fan if the Cubs signed Nyjer Morgan to be anything beyond a peanut vendor.
Dan Haren.
Yes…that’s today’s rumor. The Cubs are interested in acquiring Dan Haren.
And I think I’m ok with that.
I can dig that. Haren is a badass. And Nyjer Morgan going to AAA is hilarious. I hate him more then Dempster.
Do you think the Angels would be willing to take Soriano or Marmol?
Marmol maybe Soriano, he does like the weather in LA.
I was done with the NHL for good weeks ago…
The fact that they are cancelling the “Winter Classic” is now funny to me. I love how this sport just keeps shooting itself in the foot.
Chicago Cubs Claim Righty Zach Putnam Off Waivers from Rockies bit.ly/QZHtiz
meh.
Fringy.
This whole NYC marathon thing has got me a bit worked up.
Yup the mayor is an idiot.
It’s not that simple. Cancelling it creates a significant amount of issues in itself. Don’t get me wrong, going ahead and running this race is a huge problem especially in a city with so many people suffering right now. But cancelling it adds a very significant burden on a number of people as well.
And postponing it a week or something really is not an option. As someone who has worked in the operations area for many major marathons, including New York, it would be virtually impossible for them to reschedule this race any time before winter set in. The marathon hires companies like the one I work for to handle IT infrastructure, timing, medical, and all sorts of other things and these companies are based all over the country. For my company, which thankfully is not involved in this marathon for the first time in 6 years, we organized the timing systems coordinating equipment from dozens of other timing companies all over the country to provide the infrastructure to put this massive event on. It would be impossible for us to be able to just push everything back a week. The equipment and man power that was allocated for this event was put in place almost a year in advance. The earliest it could be run again would be next spring…late March at the earliest. For many of the serious runners looking at the NYC Marathon as a way to qualify for the Boston Marathon, March would be too late. Better off cancelling it and letting these runner find another marathon in the south to compete in during the winter months to qualify.
If it was me, I would have immediately cancelled the marathon on Monday night. Bloomberg didn’t…and every second he delays in doing it makes it harder to actually cancel the event and increases the burden on the people who are involved with this either as runners, volunteers or in operations if it actually does get cancelled.
They are still pulling out bodies. This is not the proper time to hold a marathon. The mayor is thinking about money when he should be lending a hand.
He’s thinking about money that could be infused into a city that really could use it right now as well. Tens of million of dollars in losses will be accumulated by a number of companies in new york because of the cancellation of this Marathon. The worst hit areas really aren’t on this course, with the exception of the start on Staten Island, which they only run on for a short while.
The biggest issue is taking resources away from the recovery effort…in particular the police. Hotels are another issue, but the Marathon seems to be coordinating that quite well to limit the impact of displaced Sandy victims. It’s not even a medical issue at this point as those resources are pretty much available for the race.
He should have cancelled it on monday. It’s as simple as that. I really don’t know what should happen now. Every second they delay brings more of these runners into New York, at which point it makes little sense in cancelling it because the damage is already done.
It, honestly come down to police protection and cleanup. Cancelling it 1 or 2 days before the event is supposed to happen is going to be extremely problematic, more so than most people realize…especially after there were all these assurances from the Mayor and event organizers that the race was going to go on.
On thing is for sure…I’m sure glad a) I’m not running in this race and b) that my company isn’t timing this race this year.
And it appears they have decided not to run the race on Sunday…so any discussion about it is now a moot point.
That was the right thing to do.
I don’t entirely agree…that being said, I would have cancelled it as on monday night as it became apparent that the city was being hit hard.
The race itself wouldn’t have been the inconvenience that many have led people to believe, and hundreds of millions of dollars will disappear from the new york economy because of the cancellation.
From a publicity point of view, this was the right decision…and that’s the only reason I believe the ultimately decided to cancel it.
You are correct sir they should have cancelled it Monday.I understand the monetary ramifications of the matter but people are in shock. When they held the marathon after 9/11 it was 2 months later. Not the same week as the occurrence.
Cubs interested in Scott Baker.
http://www.chicagonow.com/cubs-den/2012/11/cubs-interested-in-scott-baker/
Never really cared for Baker.
Did he even pitch last year? I thought he had Tommy John surgery or something.
At first all I could think of was the guy from “The Mentalist.”
Ya he didn’t pitch last year but he’s ready to go now. Might even pitch during Winter Ball.
Mark McGwire is leaving the Cardinals to become the Dodgers hitting coach.
wow.
Is sounds as if the Cubs are in the process of trading Carlos Marmol to the Angels for Dan Haren.
This is a big trade for the Cubs.
THANK YOU BASEBALL JESUS, THANK YOU BASEBALL JESUS, THANK YOU BASEBALL JESUS, THANK YOU BASEBALL JESUS, THANK YOU BASEBALL JESUS, THANK YOU BASEBALL JESUS, THANK YOU BASEBALL JESUS, THANK YOU BASEBALL JESUS, THANK YOU BASEBALL JESUS, THANK YOU BASEBALL JESUS, THANK YOU JESUS, THANK YOU BASEBALL JESUS, THANK YOU BASEBALL JESUS!!!!!!!!!!
Ken Rosenthal is reporting that the Cubs will indeed be trading Marmol to the Angels for Haren.
Now the Cubs only need about 20 more good players to compete for a playoff spot next year.
Its now official, check MLBTR.
Actually, Dave Kaplan just said a second ago that the two side are still working on the financials…and he has sources on both sides saying the deal is not finished yet.
Addition by subtraction. Adding Haren is bonus.
Now Angels fans will have the pleasure of watching Marmol blow games….
Ha! We definitely got the better deal in this one. Marmols inconsistency has haunted us for to long. Any pitcher is better then the Boo Radley’s and all of the other stragglers we put on the mound and on the field. This is an upgrade.