Cubs Sellers in a Buyers Market

Simply put, what the Cubs have not too many teams want.  It is buying and selling of assets.  In many ways it is a lot like playing the stocks.  The Florida Marlins have done it well. Buy low, sell high.  That is the idea.  Keep your minor leagues filled with assets.  Bring them up and start winning with them.  The final year under contract you ‘sell’ them to the highest bidder for more ‘prospects’.  This keeps the Marlins in the championship hunt about every 5 years or so.  The in-between can be rough but they eventually build winning clubs.

The other school of thought is one shared by the likes of the Yankees and Red Sox.  They don’t bring too many of their young assets up to the big club.  Their idea is to sell before they come up based on potential.  They get established veterans in return and acquire a few ‘high priced’ commodities from time to time to keep them in contention almost every season.

The Cubs have their own model which is not focusing on development of the young talent and paying way to much for marginal, veteran talent.  This school of thought has nabbed them a couple of winning seasons but not the big prize.  It also creates a hell of a situation when you have very little in the minors.  What you have is currently up and contributing and the vets you have are being paid way too much for the results they produce.  I know, they kind of sound like the Bear Stearns or Morgan Stanley of baseball.  If someone like Carlos Pena can earn $10 million per season what would someone like Ted Williams or Mike Schmidt be worth today?  $50 million a season.  It is ridiculous.

So now the Cubs have these high priced, aging, under-acheiving veterans and a few young pieces they might want to build around.  Add in the pathetic 30-42 record and you have an organization that is in quite a pickle.  What are they going to sell?  What are the other teams needs?

Well, based on an article on MLBTradeRumors.com most contenders are looking for a 3rd Baseman that can drive in runs.  Oh, wait a minute!  The Cubs have Aramis Ramirez.  He is a good 3rd basemen that can drive in runs.  He isn’t that old and his salary won’t scare off too many teams.  Great, they have a strategy.  Uh oh!  What did Aramis say?  He doesn’t want to be traded!  Mayday!!!  Mayday!!  Aramis is the guy that is going to bring the Cubs the returns they are looking for.  He is the guy that will bring in 3 or 4 decent prospects.  However, he doesn’t want to leave.  He wants to be a Cubby 4 Life.

Moving on the Cubs will free up a lot of money next season and they want to free up even more.  Soriano, Pena, Fukudome and Zambrano are all big money vets the team wants to move.  Who wants them?  Unless some of these contending teams like Boston, New York, Anaheim, Texas or Philadelphia get racked up with injuries their simply isn’t a play for them.  Not too mention they would have to eat at least 50% of Soriano or Fukudome’s contracts just to get teams to take them.  And what would they get in return?  Zambrano could net them a top prospect but most of these guys might only bring back a handful of mid-level prospects and a couple of other ‘bad’ contracts.

Some fans might think, “Who cares?  Cubs will have about $30 million to spend next season.”  There in lies the problem because that is what they do season after season and it doesn’t work.  Neglect of the minors and buying veterans only goes so far.  If the Cubs don’t get a lot in return for these over priced guys they currently have they are going to spend obscene amounts on guys like Prince Fielder and Grady Sizemore and then these contracts will look really bad in 4 or 5 years.  I’m not sure there is a right answer but they way they do business has to change.

Getting out from these terrible contracts is a step in the right direction.  Hopefully some opportunities present themselves where teams will have an immediate need for a DH (Soriano), left handed bat (Fukudome) or a starting pitcher (Zambrano, Dempster).  Another teams desperation is about the only thing that can help the Cubs in this buyers market.

MLB 2011 Preview

Ya, Ya, I know.  I am a little late with this one.  If it is any consolation I wrote this several weeks ago and didn’t post.

At any rate baseball is upon us and we have some interesting things going on.

Boston sucks and Cleveland is in first.  I know, bizarro world baseball.  But, as we all know, MLB is the ultimate marathon of 162 games.  A lot is going to happen.

National League

East

Philadelphia – 96-66

Atlanta  – 91-71

Florida – 84-78

NY Mets – 80-82

Washington – 62-100

 

Central

Cincinnati – 90-72

Milwaukee – 85-77

Chicago Cubs – 83-79

St. Louis – 77-85

Pittsburgh – 71-91

Houston – 68-94

 

West

San Francisco – 92-70

Los Angeles – 88-74

Colorado 82-80

San Diego 80-82

Arizona – 70-92

 

American League

East

Boston – 100-62

New York – 94-68

Tampa Bay – 88-74

Baltimore – 79-83

Toronto – 75-87

 

Central

Minnesota – 89-73

Chicago Sox – 86-76

Detroit – 83-79

Kansas City – 75-87

Cleveland – 66-96

 

West

Oakland – 88-74

Texas – 85-77

Anaheim – 81-81

Seattle – 77-85

My instincts say Boston v. Philly in the series but the best teams don’t always meet in the final dance.  Oakland could be a surprise with that fine, young pitching staff.  A team that could sneak in in the NL could be the wildcard Braves.  They have a good, all-around team led by a resurgent Chipper Jones.

 

MLB Post-Season Preview

AL

NY Yankees v. Minnesota Twins

Despite losing out on the East Division Championship at the hands of rival Boston, the Yankees remain a very tough and dangerous team.  Too bad for NY that they open up against Minnesota on the road.  Minnesota is one of the tougher places to play and they have been on cruise control for weeks.  Now having to go without Mourneau is going to be tough but they have managed thus far.  While NY seems to have an edge in the rotation, Minnesota appears to have a better lineup and bullpen.  Game 1 will be the key for NY.  If they lose the opener with C.C. on the mound they will lose the series.  If they win the opener than I like their chances to wrap things up in NY.  PREDICTION – Minnesota 3 NY 2

Texas Rangers v. Tampa Bay Rays

It is amazing Tampa was able to do what they have with all of the injuries and turnover this team has had.  The team’s rotation has certainly helped them get to where they are at, which is top of the Eastern Division.  Texas however matches up against Tampa extremely well.  They can pretty much go pitcher for pitcher and they both have good pens.  The biggest key, and the one I think will make a difference, is Texas has been coasting for quite a while.  They were able to breezy through some significant injuries like Michael Young and Josh Hamilton without having to worry about the 3 weaker teams in the division.  Tampa however has had to deal with NY and Boston all season long.  They had to battle until the last game to secure the home field advantage.  I think Tampa is more battle tested and many of these guys have been here before.  PREDICTION – Tampa 3 Texas 2

NL

Cincinnati Reds v. Philadelphia Phillies

The Reds have had a terrific season and have had some of their young players like Votto, Stubbs, Bruce and Gomes.  They have quite a “murderers row light” if you will.  They do what Dusty Baker team’s love to do, set the table at the top and let the big guns drive them in.  On the other hand you have Philly who has owned the National League for a while now.  They are filled with tough, grizzly veterans who want to win another championship.  In addition, they will throw Halladay, Hamels and Oswalt at the Reds and that is tough for any lineup to look at.  Let’s remember, in the post-season, the team with the best pitching usually comes out on top.  PREDICTION – Philadelphia 3 Cincinnati 1

Atlanta v. San Francisco

These two teams had similar trips to the post-season.  It took until the last day to get things settled and these teams had to battle hard to get where they are at.  Both teams also have dynamic rookies in Posey and Heyward.  They have good pitching staffs and timely hitting.  They really are equal teams in almost every way.  San Fran does have home field advantage but the Braves are letting it all hang out, trying to win one for the retiring legend, Bobby Cox.  Something has got to give and it could be in the first game with Lincecum going against playoff stud Derek Lowe.  PREDICTION – Atlanta 3 San Francisco 2

MLB Flea Market Open for Biz

Hurry, Hurry Hurry!  Don’t delay!  We’ve got big boppers and even bigger guns on the market.  Don’t like the price?  Wanna haggle?  Not a problem.  At least it wasn’t a problem for Arizona and pitcher Dan Haren who was traded for a handful of rubbish.

But our July deals are certainly not going to end at Dan Haren although perhaps Arizona should stop trading if they don’t know what they’re doing.

Some will go and some will stay.  That’s just the nature of the beast.  I think there are 5 guys that will almost certainly have a new address in the next few days.  I think there are also a couple of guys who will be shopped but not moved.

MOVERS

P Ted Lilly – The Chicago Cubs are in a semi-rebuilding phase.  They have a nice corps of young players but their window of opportunity has closed.  The bidders should be Minnesota, Detroit, New York (NL), New York (AL), Boston and Chicago (AL).  If the Cubs are smart and judging by some of the deals in the last 2 years that is in question, they will get as many young prospects as they can for Lilly.  My favorite of the group to land Lilly would be Detroit.  They have a solid minor league system and a bigger ball park.  They could package a combo of hitters and pitchers for Lilly.  Fukudome or Theriot could also go with Lilly in a mult-player deal.

1B/DH Adam Dunn – I think Dunn is done in D.C.  Adam’s offensive stats have been coming down steadily since 2008, but he is still the best power hitter from the left side available.  Chicago (AL) has been looking hard at Adam but they would want him to DH more than play field.  Detroit is also looking at Dunn but may have to choose between him and Lilly.  Another sleeper could be New York (AL).  If P Andy Pettite returns from injury soon than the Yanks will focus on hitting, no pitching.  The rub is Dunn would be a bench player/DH most of the time with very little play at 1st Base and OF.  I think the Tigers will find a way to land Dunn to replace Ordonez in the lineup and ensure the White Sox don’t get him.

3B/DH Mike Lowell – Mike has certainly had better years.  Mike who is currently on the DL will come off of it shortly.  Will he come off the DL with another team is the real question.  Texas, Detroit (AL), Minnesota and Anaheim are all looking at Lowell.  Lowell won’t go to Detroit unless their bid for some of the bigger free agents fails.  Minnesota is a long shot but they are interested in landing a veteran bat off the bench for the playoff run.  Anaheim could make the move but they have their eyes on a couple of other hitters.  I think the winner in the bid for Mike will be Texas.  The Rangers have been flirting with Lowell since the off-season.  They would greatly value his leadership in the clubhouse come playoff time.  Not too mention the Rangers don’t have too much too offer for Lowell due to the Cliff Lee deal.  Should still work out because Boston probably won’t ask for too much for him.

1B Derrek Lee – Ideally the Cubs would love Lee to stay on for 3 or 4 more years and retire as a Cub but the team is in no position to go that route.  Lee is underperforming and the Cubs are out of the race.  That being said their are teams like New York (AL), Anaheim and Texas.  Texas was an early favorite but may not have the players to give to get him.  New York is an intriguing location for Lee but the Yankees will be more interested in veteran, power hitters that can play multiple positions.  The winner is more than likely going to be the Anaheim Angels.  They have shown interest in Lee before and he would actually blend in very well with the group of guys they have now.

DH/IF – Jorge Cantu – Jorge has had an up and down year but could be the valuable bat off the bench and guy to give the stars a rest down the stretch for a contender.  New York (AL), Texas, San Francisco and Colorado should be in play.  Colorado and San Francisco may bid on him but I don’t see either team being serious enough to land him.  Texas is only interested if guys like Derrek Lee and Lowell are off of the board.  Not too mention Texas has some financial issues so they can’t add too much payroll.  I think it comes down to the Yankees.  He plays several positions and won’t be a huge drain on the already massive budget.

STAYERS

P Roy Oswalt – Roy is by far the best pitcher on the market.  He is the Cadillac of pitchers.  The only problem is teams may try to short sell the Houston Astros for Oswalt’s services.  They look at the Haren situation and they don’t want to get stuck with 4 or 5 marginal prospects for one of baseball’s most reliable and talented pitchers.  Philadelphia, New York (AL), Los Angeles (NL) and St. Louis are most interested in Roy’s services.  New York had interest as insurance for Pettite.  If Andy was going to miss any significant time they would make a run at Oswalt, or Lilly.  St. Louis would love to add an ace to a mediocre pitching staff.  That type of deal makes them contenders to take the Pennant, not just make an appearance in the playoffs.  However, St. Louis always talks big in July but management rarely delivers the big prize.  The Dodgers aren’t going to make many moves.  There are issues with management and coaching and very few believe this team can make a legitimate run at anything.  The team that could land Roy is Philadelphia.  They are the only team tossing names out their like Jason Werth and J.A. Happ in any sort of deal.  Houston would want some good MLB ready guys in any deal for Roy.  A deal for Roy could still happen but it is Philly or bust at this point.

1B/DH Prince Fielder –  Prince is a big time power hitter.  Although his numbers are a bit more pedestrian this season his value remains high as a big, left handed bat.  The teams that are looking at Prince are Chicago (AL), Anaheim and Texas.  Now Anaheim and Texas each have some issues with regards to chasing Prince.  Anaheim is looking at other players first and may not want to give up a boat load to get a big, out of shaped slugger.  Texas has seemed to have lost interest lately and will almost certainly go a different and cheaper direction.  The team that has the best shot is Chicago.  Another team is almost certain to jump in front of Chicago to land Dunn so they will be on to plan B.  Prince would play DH but wants to play 1B long term for his new team.  That could be an issue down the road.  Chicago would also have to part with at least one if not two top prospects to pry him away from Milwaukee.  Chances are slim this goes down but never say never when it comes to Kenny Williams and the Chicago White Sox.

Cubs Hock a Lougie

Cubs management has forced upon Cubdom something wonderful and that is the soon to be dismissed Lou Pinella.  This infectious, puss filled spitball will be thrust from Wrigleyville in about 70 days never to be seen, or heard from, again.

24 months ago I wouldn’t have said this.  Then he was manager of the 1st place Cubs.  A Cub team that would go on to win 97 games and be favored to win the NL Pennant.  How quickly things and opinions change.

Since the playoff sweep of 08′ the Cubs have been mediocrely dismal.  They have had the players to be much better than .500, or sub .500 in the case of this years Cubs disaster but have failed.  He looks old but acts a lot older.  He is a lot less fiery.  He gets riled up by stupid questions from the media but not from the putrid play on the field.  “I’ve given up!  I’ve tried everything.” Lou utters from his st-st-stuttering lips.

Right then I knew it was time for a change.  He had given up hope so why retain his services any longer.  Seriously!  The Cubs have Trammell on the bench and Brenley in the press box.  Give them the last 60 games.  Maybe the Cubs catch fire in the last 60 and make a run towards respectability.  I think any Cubs fan would be delighted with 82 or 83 wins at this point.  It is worth a shot.

Let’s face it, the Cubs under “lame duck” Lou will do nothing but remain the same or it could get worse.  If that’s the case than gut the team.  Lilly, Theriot, Ramirez, Lee, Fukudome, etc.  Get rid of as many of those guys as you can and let Lou manage a minor league team for the last couple of months of his career.

Is Lou a Hall of Famer?  Based on the body of his work he probably is.  Has he been a HOF coach the last 22 months?  Far from it!

The best thing the Cubs could do is spit him out now while they have the chance.  But will they do it?  It’s the Cubs, what do you think?

MLB 2010 Outlook and Predictions

This season promises to be an entertaining one but I don’t see many surprises ahead.

To win the American League Pennant you still have to go through Boston and New York.  Both teams should be at the top of the AL East.  Tampa, a very good team in their own right, just don’t have enough to leap those two.  The AL Central should be the most competitive division in the AL.  Chicago and that killer rotation should have an edge over a Nathan-less Twins team and a rebuilt Tiger group.  The AL West could get interesting if Anaheim can’t stay healthy.  Seattle and Texas could knock on the door but everything has to go their way.

The National League isn’t much different than the AL.  But, instead of teams having to go through NY and Boston, they have to go through LA and Philly.  They are still far and away the better teams of the league.  Philadelphia should win the East yet again but Atlanta has made enough off-season moves to make some noise.  Atlanta and Florida should compete for a Wildcard spot.  The Mets will implode like they do every season.

The NL Central should be the Cardinals to lose.  They should run it wire to wire with very little challenge from Chicago or Cincinnati.  Look for Chicago to compete for a tightly contested Wildcard with about 4 or 5 other teams.

The NL West should be very competitive.  While LA is still considered the team to beat, San Francisco and Colorado have done enough in the off-season to remain competitive and stay on the Dodgers heels all season.  Colorado and San Fran should have an epic battle for 2nd place in the division and an opportunity at at the Wildcard.

AL EAST

1 – BOSTON RED SOX   99-63

2 – NY YANKEES   95-67

3 – TAMPA RAYS   88-74

4 – BALTIMORE ORIOLES   75-87

5 – TORONTO BLUE JAYS   65-97

AL CENTRAL

1 – CHICAGO WHITE SOX   86-76

2 – MINNESOTA TWINS   84-78

3 – DETROIT TIGERS   81-81

4 – KC ROYALS   79-83

5 – CLEVELAND INDIANS 75-87

AL WEST

1 -ANAHEIM ANGELS 88-74

2 – SEATTLE MARINERS   85-77

3 – TEXAS RANGERS   80-82

4 – OAKLAND A’s   77-85

NL EAST

1 – PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES   95-67

2 – ATLANTA BRAVES   87-75

3 – FLORIDA MARLINS   83-79

4 – NY METS   80-82

5 – WASHINGTON NATIONALS   68-94

NL CENTRAL

1 – STL CARDINALS   90-72

2 – CHICAGO CUBS   87-75

3 – CINCINNATI REDS   84-78

4 – MILWAUKEE BREWERS 80-82

5 – HOUSTON ASTROS   77-85

6 – PITTSBURGH PIRATES   66-96

NL WEST

1 – LOS ANGELES DODGERS   98-64

2 – COLORADO ROCKIES   90-72

3 – SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS   87-75

4 – ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS   80-82

5 – SAN DIEGO PADRES   70-92

AL Playoff Teams – Boston, New York, Chicago, Anaheim

NL Playoff Teams – Philadelphia, St. Louis, Colorado, Los Angeles

AL Champ – Boston

NL Champ – Los Angeles

World Series Champ – Boston

For Sale: Corner Outfielder, good condition

For Sale:

Corner outfielder with 9 years of MLB experience now available.

Enjoys travel.  Has spent time in Montreal, Cleveland, LA, Oakland, San Diego, Texas and Chicago.

Is well versed on the challenges facing cultural diversity and fan relations.

He excels in interpersonal communications.

He plays well with others and is a team leader.

Possesses amazing strength (has broke bats across his knee).

He is a family man and loves his mama.

He has had a few unfortunate incidents professionally but NONE of them were his fault.

He is available at a LOW, LOW cost.  ACT NOW!  Chicago may pay all of his salary.

They might even throw in a membership to the Jelly of the Month Club.

The Cubs are in a giving mood so don’t delay on this future Hall of Famer.

If interested in this one of a kind player contact Jim Hendry with the Chicago Cubs.

1-312-404-CUBS

Don’t wait, act now.  PLEASE act now!!!!!

Random Thoughts

OK, Deep Thoughts Jack Handy I’m not but I haven’t posted anything of substance in a while and I feel a rant coming on.

It has been 9 seasons since the Yankees last won a world championship.  In monetary terms that is about $1.4 billion in player salary over the course of those 9 seasons.  The payroll of the 2009 Yankees alone…

When you are $63 million better than the #2 team in baseball you ought to win the championship.  Hell, my 10 year old son could manage a team with a $208 million payroll.  The Yankees argument is “we pay the luxury tax and spread our wealth to all of the other teams”.  GREAT, what has it got those teams.  It helps Kansas City do what?  Rehab the stadium?  Nope, that was mostly public and other private funds.  Get better players to challenge in their sad ass division?  Nope.  They pretty much still suck. 

The economics of baseball don’t work and it is certainly a sign of the times.  The Yankees and their over priced Roid’ boys won.  We can’t take anything away from them.  I actually like Jeter and Matsui so I am happy for them.  But I’m not happy with the situation.  Baseball is soon to be the way of the many extinct sports leagues if they don’t wise up and find a better way to level the playing field.  Wouldn’t it be nice if teams like K.C., Seattle and Oakland actually had a snowballs chance in hell once in a while.

Enough about baseball.  What is going on with the Chicago Bears?  They get Jay Cutler and the offense goes…BACKWARDS.  OK, I didn’t think the offense would be league’s best but I thought we would improve coming off of last season.  No, they look like shit.  Jay Cut runs for his life half of the time and really has no reliable receiver to look at when things get rough.  Olsen regressed, Hester is always banged up and Forte can’t run.  The offensive line went from fair to suck in one season.  You add a healthy Orlando Pace and go from fair to suck?  I don’t get it. 

My guess is the coaching and player development SUCK!  Cedric leaves and gets better.  But not just better, we’re talking best in the AFC better.  Orton leaves and get better.  Not just a little better, we’re talking top QB rating in the NFL better.  And, from a coaching perspective, it is a terrible group.

Ever since Rivera left the D-Coordinators position after the SuperBowl in 2006 the defense has gotten worse.  The offense is consistently poor.  Turner is a terrible coordinator.  Lovie who is both the head coach and D-Coordinator is unable to wear both hats.  This experiment isn’t working and they are watching the season get flushed down the toilet.

I really hope they can turn things around but a small part of me hopes they do only win 7 or 8 games and Lovie and the whole lot of them get launched in favor of a Dungy or Cowher.  We can only hope

 

All-Star Game is Super-Weak

In the words of Eric Cartman the MLB All-Star Game is “super weak”.

As a kid of the 80’s I remember the All-Star games being memorable.  There would be a big hit or a couple of great plays in every game.  I can still remember Freddy Lynn’s Grand Slam in old Comiskey Park.  There were always great players in the game as well.  Carl Yazstremski, Reggie Jackson, Pete Rose and Rod Carew in the 70s to Sandberg, Boggs, Garvey and Guidry in the 80s. 

The most amazing thing is those teams played  for nothing.  Their wasn’t any extra incentive.  You didn’t get home field in the World Series if you won the All-Star game.  You played because it was an honor and because the American League and National League didn’t cross paths until the World Series.   So when you see Rose lower his shoulder and destroy Fosse keep in mind it was an All-Star game with virtually nothing at stake except for bragging rights.

As I mentioned previously the All-Star games of the past  had the big stars too.  With fans currently voting in record numbers the process has been too washed down.  You can get on your computer and vote 25 times per day for your favorite players.  That is exactly what must have happened this year.  How else do you explain Texas OF Josh Hamilton.  He has only played in 35 games this season and has sucked doing it.  How do the fans reward him?  With a STARTING nod in the All-Star Game.  Meanwhile a kid like Toronto’s OF Adam Lind (.306  19  59) is on the outside looking in.  I am a Red Sox fan but even I know Bay probably doesn’t deserve to start in the game.  Jermaine Dye of the White Sox has just as many homeruns as Bay, is hitting 42 points higher with a weaker supporting cast and isn’t in the game.  And the snub of snubs had to go to Detroit’s 1B/DH Miggy Cabrera who is hitting .321 with 18 homers and 50 RBIs.  Instead Carlos Pena of the Rays makes the team.  Sure, he has 24 homers but he is hitting .228.  That is not All-Star worthy.

Instead of having the best of the best playing the game you have some of the best and then some guys who are fan favorites voted on by high school girls, cyber-geeks and 10 year-old-boys.  This might be America’s game but why entrust it to the fans?  In past years it is obvious the public doesn’t get it.  No, not the true baseball fans that actually fill out one of the ballots at the game.  Not the fans that actually know the value of the sacrifice, hold and WHIP.  I am talking about the teen girls, cyber-geeks and little kiddies.  Instead why not have a panel of retired vets to make the call.  Establish some sort of voting system the vets have to abide by and determine the All-Star teams that way.  And I am not talking about just the starters, I am talking about the whole team.  Sometimes the managers of the teams (LaRussa being a prime example) will select a few reserves from teams contending with theirs and play those players a lot.  It is kind of a classless thing to do but several managers have done it.

The vets can be hall of famers and non-hall of famers.  It should also be a diverse panel from both leagues.  This would make me feel a little better about things.  If we, as fans, don’t like who gets picked we would have a small group of individuals to blame for it.

I think another reason its appeal has gone way down is inter-league play.  All of these teams play one another.  There is absolutely no fascination with Albert Pujols hitting against Roy Halladay.  It has happened.  Jason Bay hitting against Ted Lilly.  No interest.  Back in the day Bill Madlock might bat against Ron Guidry.  How about Ernie  Banks facing off against Jim Palmer?  That’s hot!  Classic future Hall of Famers would face each other in this game and sometimes for the only time ever.  That made the game attractive to viewers.  Now they face off all the time. 

One final point about this weak game, forget the “each team must have one representative rule”.  If your teams sucks and you have no all-stars, too frickin’ bad.  Draft and sign better players.  Quality players like Dye, Cabrera or Lind should not be left off because we want Pittsburgh or Kansas City to feel better about their baseball teams.  I am pretty sure most fans won’t tune in just because their middle-reliever made the team.

Well, that is my rant about this once proud game.  If you tune in, enjoy the All-Lame Game.  I’ll be watching Rescue Me and the NFL Network.

Spring Training Inspiration

Like most of you I really don’t give a rat’s ass about spring training. Perhaps it is of interest if you actually get to leave an ass cold climate like Chicago, Detroit, New York or Boston and vacation in Florida or Arizona. I friend of mine did the Arizona trip and combined it with a few days in Vegas. That sounds pretty good. But for those of us stuck here, who cares. You pretty much know which guys will make up your team. It is nothing more than a way for players to get in game shape and for the organization to sort out AAA and AA players. But, even as pointless as this period is for fans I have found something to keep us “excited” until opening day. Enjoy.