SB Nation User Blog: Brian B

Where do you burger in Chicago?

Brian B — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 03:28:49 -0000

If you have all night with nothing else to do, and you're in Chicago, and you like burgers, and you don't mind loud goth metal, go to Kuma's Corner.

Where? Belmont, just west of California.

How much will I pay? For the best gormet burgers in town, you'll be pleased by the $10-15 plates. We got three burgers and a plate of mac and cheese for something like $56.00 (alcohol separate).

Reservations? Not accepted. On Saturday night, our wait was a little over 2 hours. They only seat 36 (looks more like 20) including the bar spaces. Also, you'll be standing, shoulder to shoulder, the entire time. And only the lucky get to wait inside. We were, and the 2 hours FLEW by for us.

The bar? You'll also be pleased by the beer selection, unless you're a Yuengling douchebag. They have PBR and soft drinks for $3.00. A few Three Floyds on tap (Gumballhead and Alpha King) for $5.00, Jack Daniels, Woodford Reserve, and some other small batch bourbon on TAP. And plenty of other craft bottle beers like the Lagunitas varieties. And a couple $17.00 specialty beers to boot (including 3Floyds Alpha Klaus). I went with the 3Floyds Alpha King and a forgettable other IPA.

The food? Before I mention the burgers, their mac and cheese is apparently world class. I didn't try it, but I saw the giant dishes, and you get your choice of 2 toppings. There were at least 10 choices for toppings. Bacon is the only one I recall. We ordered some to-go for my brother in law and his wife who watched our kid.

Now the burgers.

via i870.photobucket.com

This is called Eyehategod, the month's special. If the photo is so crappy, here's the description from the menu:

via i870.photobucket.com

Can you read that? "10 oz burger, topped with Dusseldorf Mustard, pecan crumbles, bacon wrapped blue cheese stuffed dates and fresh rosemary on our famous pretzel roll." I don't have the words to describe how good this was.

I don't remember what was on the other two burgers we ordered (half of each of them went to the sitters), but they were also incredible. Here's half of one:

via i870.photobucket.com

I had other pictures, but they didn't come out very good because the light was bad. Also, Jim O'Toole stopped by chatted Reds baseball with me.

Oh yeah . . . I woke up in the middle of the night with the meat sweats, passed out in the bathroom, knocked the glass shower door off its track, and bruised my shoulder on the track. Yup. I'm 34. But nevermind that. Go to Kuma's.

Marmolejo suspended for using performance-enhancing drugs

Brian B — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 14:13:58 -0000

Marmolejo suspended for using performance-enhancing drugs

I don't know anything about him besides the fact that he's young. But Bob Griese would tell you that he's probably out getting a taco.

Peoria POS convicted on felonious assault charge

Brian B — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 03:58:52 -0000

Peoria POS convicted on felonious assault charge

Remember this jackass? He claimed at trial that he was aiming the ball "downward" toward the dugout in order to keep the Dayton players from rushing the field. Anyway, he was convicted in a Dayton court.

Griffey to Mariners . . .

Brian B — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 03:18:45 -0000

Yup, it's final this time. Really. Seriously. 1 year, $2 million with incentives.

http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/29267535/

Apparently Atlanta is having a hard time knowing when its deals are done. First Furcal, now Griffey.

I think this is what everyone wanted, but wasn't the offer originally for two years? It'll be fun to see him appreciated again, and not living out his days as a part-timer in Atlanta. Word.

Bill Bray discovered baseball in 1755

Brian B — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 03:29:41 -0000

No really, it's true.

http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/26664476/

In his diary entry of March 31, 1755, he says “Went to Stoke Ch. This morning. After Dinner Went to Miss Jeale’s to play at Base Ball with her, the 3 Miss Whiteheads, Miss Billinghurst, Miss Molly Flutter, Mr. Chandler, Mr. Ford & H. Parsons & Jelly. Drank Tea and stayed till 8.”

But then, "Mr. Baker pulled me to allow Mr. Weathers to confront the righty and prompty blow the bloody game to hell." Buggers.

On a side note, why did they hide the "new diary post" link in its current location? This format sucks. JD, can we end this trial period and go back to the old site?

Pete and A-Rod

Brian B — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 03:32:40 -0000

Pete and A-Rod

ESPN The Magazine insight into A-Rod's personal hitting coach. Pete's 67 now and not getting any younger. The article isn't about this, but what's the harm in letting him come back for a year or two before the guy, you know, buys the farm?

Rick Sutcliffe has cancer

Brian B — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 00:55:53 -0000

Wow, I missed this announcement last week:

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_ylt=AkVI3lR6REYP1g6yKrk5pMyFCLcF?slug=txsutcliffecancer&prov=s t&type=lgns

BRISTOL, CONNECTICUT (TICKER) --Former Cy Young Award winner Rick Sutcliffe has been diagnosed with cancer.

A baseball analyst for ESPN, Sutcliffe was diagnosed with colon cancer following a routine physical, the network said in a statement.

"I deeply appreciate the support of the ESPN family and my family and friends around the country," Sutcliffe said in a statement.

The 51-year-old Sutcliffe will undergo chemotherapy and surgery over the next four months.

In a 15-year career in which he played for five teams, Sutcliffe compiled a record of 171-139 and a 4.08 ERA. He won the National League Rookie of the Year in 1979, the NL Cy Young Award five years later and was a three-time All-Star.

I'm no doctor, but colon cancer sucks. Hopefully they caught it early like they did with ED. (And I hope they caught his ED early too.)

On a related note, I can't think of any other broadcaster who is as bad as Rick Sutcliffe in the tv booth. Except Jeff Brantley, I mean. So, have a speedy recovery, Rick. But please, don't call ESPN when you're ready to come back to work.

3rd Party Bowden Analysis

Brian B — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 06:36:56 -0000

If that's what you want to call it.

If you haven't already seen it, mlbtraderumors.com </insert link here> took a stab at analyzing Jim Bowden as a GM. Part I is Leatherpants' 10.5 years with the Reds.

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2008/02/jim-bowden-trad.html#comments

To say the least, it's a cursory observation. However, I do like the handy spreadsheet of Bowden trades through mid-2003. And Big Mike Glab(who is new to the site) does single out JimBo's common trade trade partners.

However, the report's draft analysis looks only at Assface's first round picks, ignoring other gems that Boy Wonder grabbed in "later" rounds (see Dunn, Adam, sidnancy, comments).

And Big Mike claims that the October 30, 1999 trade for Dante Bichette was a playoff-stretch deal. So Trader Jim was just a couple months late on that one or what?

All in all, it's a fun feature. But this one was written by either (a) some dude who did a book report on someone else's article on Jim Bowden, (b) a Reds fan who knows what we know but tried to dumb it down for a larger audience, or (c) some respectable guy I don't know who will beat me down with my own arm.

Bereavement pool update: Apparently, Edna Parker of Shelbyville, IN, may not be the oldest living human after all. A 120-year old dinosaur in Israel has applied for an identity card.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23173016/

Sorry, Fat Vegas.

Second Bereavement Update [2008-2-16 12:0:18 by Brian B]: Steve Fossett has been declared legally dead on February 15, 2008, not the date he went missing (September 3, 2007). I still don't feel like he fits into the Osama Rule, but that's okay. There should be a rule against missing persons anyway.

Poll

Who looks better in leather pants?

Jim Bowden

2 votes

Edna Parker

0 votes

Big Mike Glab

0 votes

boobs

15 votes

17 votes | Poll has closed

Reds in on Cameron?

Brian B — Sat, 08 Dec 2007 05:46:42 -0000

This from mlbtraderumors . . .

Reds In On Cameron?
According to Tom Krasovic of the San Diego Union-Tribune, Mike Cameron's agent tonight said he has a new suitor. Krasovic makes an educated guess that the Reds are that team. He cites Cameron's desire to play for Dusty Baker, the possible defensive improvement, and the availability of Josh Hamilton as factors. It would be odd for the Reds to spend their remaining money on a position player though.

Cameron enjoyed his time in Cincinnati in 1999, hitting .256/.357/.469 as a 26 year-old before being included in the Griffey trade. Wouldn't it be interesting if the Reds brought back Cameron and Brett Tomko? And Antonio Perez is probably kicking around somewhere too.

This is pretty much garbage. How can this guess be educated? I like Mike Cameron and all, but seriously. Still, I thought it was worth a post so we can laugh it off before it actually happens. This would be just the thing that could start another classic Wayne Krivsky bender . . . with Castro getting an extension through 2012.

My "educated" guess is the mystery team is Washington, because . . . well, you know why.

Lidge to Phillies

Brian B — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 05:26:02 -0000

In the first big trade of the winter, the Phillies acquired Brad Lidge and Eric Bruntlett from the Astros for Michael Bourn, Geoff Geary, and Mike Costanzo today. This means Brett Myers is back in the starting rotation.

Didn't they do this with Billy Wagner a few years ago?

Does anyone honestly see the Reds dealing anyone this winter? If so, who makes the wish list?