10/23/2005

Introducing Chicago Cubs Online

Thank you to everyone that has logged in to read my opinion over the past few months. I am proud to say that I will no longer be posting on this blog.

My new site is up and I have begun to post. I took all of the info from here and linked into my new site.

Click here to go to Chicago Cubs Online.

Keep on singing!

10/19/2005

The Countdown Has Begun....

Sorry I have been so quiet. I am very close to having the new site up and that has been taking all of my time.

Everything is looking great and I am hoping to be up by the weekend.

Keep logging in and....Next October The Cubs Faithful will be VERY BUSY.

10/11/2005

Dusty's Boys Will Be Back

The Cubs announced today the entire coaching staff will return for 2006, including pitching coach Larry Rothschild.

Rothschild apparently turned down the opportunity to go to Detroit to be reunited with Manager Jim Leyland. Rothschild says 'he owes Chicago to bring home a winner'. I hope he means that. He will retain most of his starting staff from 2005 (Prior, Zambrano, Maddux and hopefully Kerry Wood). Plus a more experienced bullpen. Let's hope they have more success and better health in 2006.

All of the coaches signed a 1 year deal and 2006 is the last year on the current contract for Dusty Baker. The Cubs coaching staff for 2006: Dusty Baker, Juan Lopez (Bullpen Coach), Dick Pole (Bench Coach), Gary Matthews, Sr. (First Base Coach), Larry Rothschild (Pitching Coach), Gene Clines (Hitting Coach), Chris Spier (Third Base Coach) and Sonny Jackson (Special Assistant).

The launch of my new site is VERY SOON. Keep on reading....Go Titans! Go Predators!...174 Days until Opening Day 2006.

10/09/2005

How You Became A Cubs Fan?

As I work on my new site...I have a question for all of the fans of the Northside. How did you become a Cubs fan? Leave a comment. I will tell my story soon and would like to include yours. Even if you are a 1st time visitor or a regular, I want to hear from you. Send this link to a friend, tell a co-worker...whatever...I wanna know how you became a fan of our beloved Cubs and a member of the Cubs Faithful.

Keep logging in...176 days until Opening Day 2006.

10/07/2005

Under Construction

I have been working on my new site and I am excited about launching it VERY SOON. With the season just ending, I feel this is the right time to be switching over. Keep coming here for updates as they break.

One thing that came out today is Larry Rothschild, the Cubs' pitching coach has been given permission to talk to the Detroit Tigers. The Tigers fired Manager Alan Trammel on Monday and hired former Pirates and Marlins' manager Jim Leyland. Leyland and Rothschild were together in Florida when the Marlins won the World Series in 1997.

I have mixed feelings about this. What has been happening the past 2 seasons on the Northside has not worked and change is necessary. I do not know if Rothschild needs to stay or go. We(the fans) keep hearing how good the Cubs' pitching staff is...and I have not seen it in 2 years. Even in 2003 when they won the division, everytime Dusty had to go to the bullpen...it was hold your breath time and hope no one blows it. Is this coaching or talent?

I look in Atlanta and see great pitching year after year and the only constant is Leo Mazzone. It seems to me pitchers go to Atlanta and become VERY good (Farnsworth, Millwood, Hampton, Wright, etc.) and when they leave Atlanta they become either average or below average (Glavine, Millwood, Merker, Remlinger, Wright, etc). Would a new pitching coach on the Northside help these young pitchers, that we have heard so much about, reach their full potential? Somebody help me with this one.

Also, my wife says I should be happy for the White Sox (and their fans) for winning their 1st post season series since 1917 today.

Keep on keeping on...new site is coming soon...178 days until Opening Day 2006.

10/04/2005

The 'B' Word

(Note: added 10/29/05 for updated Cubs info visit Chicago Cubs Online)

I was listening to the Angels-Yankees game tonight on ESPN radio. And there was a play where a fan almost interfered with a ball near the seats in the left field foul area. Does this sound familiar? The Angels' outfielder made the catch...then Dave Campbell blurts out 'That was almost like Steve Bartman'.

Almost like Steve Bartman??? Will the Cubs Faithful ever get a break from that horrible night? I said it the day after and I will say it 2 years later...Bartman did not cost the Cubs the game...he changed it. I think Alou would have caught the ball..no doubt. But Alex Gonzalez should have turned the double-play. He did not. The Cubs still had game 7. And they lost.

I did not sleep that night. That moment in time kept playing in my head. I remember looking at my wife and saying '5 more outs', then all (blank) broke loose. I still get sick when I think of what could have been. I still root for the team playing the Marlins.

One day all of the curses and goats and Steve Bartman will be erased. The Red Sox got rid of their's last year. Now there is hope for the Cubs Faithful.

It is amazing how the mention of one person's name can bring back such bad memories.

10/03/2005

AC026198 & EAMUS CATULI!

(Note: added 10/29/05 for updated Cubs info visit Chicago Cubs Online)

I was not planning on doing a blog today....I was going to take a day off. I have been getting a lot of searches on 2 signs that are on the rooftops on Sheffield Ave.

These 2 signs are 'AC026198' and 'EAMUS CATULI!'.

I have done research on these 2 signs that have become a fixture of Wrigley Field. Here is what they stand for and a translation.

The 'AC' sign is operated by Lakeview Baseball Club. The 'AC' stands for 'After Championship' the first 2 numbers (02) are the number of years since the Cubs won the division(2003). The second 2 numbers (61) are the number of years since the Cubs were in the World Series or were National League Champions(1945). The third set of numbers (98) are the number of years since the Cubs won the World Series(1908). Let's all hope in next year it reads 'AC000000'.

The 'EAMUS CATULI!' has been translated several different ways. It is Latin and most think it says 'Let's Go Cubs!'. The actual translation(from Latin) is 'Let's Go Young Bears!'.

Keep on reading and there will be a picture and a more in depth explanation on the new site...it's coming soon...are you ready?

10/02/2005

That's All Folks

Cubs 4 Astros 6

The last day of the baseball season is usually a very sad day for me...and today is no different. I am a HUGE football fan, but baseball(and the Cubs) are my first love. I get used to watching and listening everyday for 6 months...see how the team did, who's pitching tomorrow, etc. Baseball is unlike every other sport, it takes a commitment to keep up with your team and the teams in their division for 162 games. With football, it is basically 1 day a week. With baseball it is 7 days a week for 6 months, just ask my wife she hears it all (she will also tell you she is the best wife in the world). So I guess the plans I have with this blog and my new site will fill some void until Spring Training in March. Anyway today's game....

The Cubs got to watch their 2nd celebration of the year today. The Cardinals celebrated the Division Championship at Wrigley and the Astros celebrated the Wild Card today. Maybe this will leave an impression over the long winter that will make whoever is left more hungry. I am not going to recap the game...they lost and the season is over. Next year starts tomorrow. I did want to list the opening day lineup and today's lineup...pay attention to the changes.

Today's Lineup:
Patterson
Macias
Lee
Nomar(3B)
Burnitz
Barrett
Murton
Perez
Maddux
(off the bench or bullpen)
Grieve
Walker
Theriot
Wuertz
Ohman
Van Buren
Hill


Opening Day:
Patterson
Walker
Nomar(SS)
Ramirez
Burnitz
Lee
Hollandsworth
Barrett
Zambrano
(off the bench or bullpen)
Hariston
Perez
Macias
Dubois
Bartosh
Wellenmeyer
Rusch

A LOT OF THINGS CHANGED in 6 months.


Derrek Lee did win the 2005 National League Batting Championship. Lee is the first Cub to win since Bill Buckner in 1980. Lee finished with a Major League best .335 average. Lee had a great year and I will talk about him in the Year in Review.

Keep reading the Cubs Faithful. Watch for changes and a new address coming soon. I have some cool stuff planned for the offseason.

Until then....Opening Day 2006....April 3rd in Cincinnati!!!

10/01/2005

A Rocket for the Ages

Cubs 1 Astros 3

The extra outs killed the Cubs today. In the 6th and 7th innings, Williams got the ground ball he needed to get out of the inning and the infield could not turn the double play. Both of those plays cost the Cubs 2 runs and the game. Clemens did not have a good game. He threw a lot of pitches(101) in 7 innings. But the Rocket on a bad day is better than 90% of the league on a good day. For the 6th start in a row, Williams received little run support while throwing a very good game. Williams will be back next year and he could compete for a 4th spot in the rotation.

Milo Hamilton and Alan Ashby are just horrible. At one point today, they both said how bad of a pitcher Jerome Williams is and they did not understand why the Astros were having such a hard time with him. Did they not do their show prep? There have been many occasions this year when Pat Hughes and Ron Santo could have said the same...and they did not...to much class!! Hamilton may be a Hall of Fame Broadcaster, but he needs to retire...he is so hard to follow and Alan Ashby is worse. Jerome Williams has had a up and down season, but has been very good of late. I hope Williams beats the Astros everytime he faces them next year...you better believe when he does, I will bring this up again.

The offense was just sad today. They did not do the little things that you need against Clemens. Thankfully with 1 game left, I should not have to hear 'Neifi pops up to (insert position here)' or 'Neifi out at 1st...double play'. He has been a good player this year, but he is not an everyday shortstop anymore and if you play him...do not hit him in the 2 hole. Neifi grounded into 2 dp's today. Lee went 0 for 2 with 2 walks. He should win the batting title(Derrek Lee .337, Albert Pujols .330)...I just hope he can get 1 more hit and please make it a double. He is a hit and and extra base hit away from history(will explain tomorrow, if he gets it).

With today's loss, the Cubs are now 3 games under .500 and the best they can finish is 80-82. Another losing season on the Northside...but next year will be different. Today they made a step in the right direction by signing Ryan Dempster to a 3 year contract extension.

Ryan Dempster signed a 3 year, $15.5 million contract extension. He is locked up through 2008.
According to cubs.com Dempster, who began the year in the Cubs' rotation and made six starts, leads the National League in save percentage at .943 and has been successful in 33 of 35 opportunities.


The Last Game of 2005

Sunday - Greg Maddux(13-14/4.18) vs. Roy Oswalt(19-12/2.86)

Maddux is going for pride tomorrow and the Astros are playing for a playoff spot. Oswalt has been tough on the Cubs for years...and expect more of the same tomorrow. Like today, Sunday's game will be a tough one to win. Runs will come at a premium against Oswalt and the Cubs will have to play a near perfect game in order to win. I do not know which would be better...a win to finish the season or a loss. With a win, the team could go into the offseason feeling good about themselves. With a loss, they could be very hungry during the offseason to correct what went wrong. Who knows? I just hope this is the last below .500 season for a LONG LONG TIME.

Be patient, no extra outs, DO NOT ALLOW THEM TO CELEBRATE!!!...keep horrible Milo and Alan quiet and beat the (blankin') Astros!!!