SB Nation User Blog: CubFan81

Why a curveball is so hard to hit. (HINT: Blame your eyes!)

CubFan81 — Wed, 27 May 2009 21:05:28 -0000

Why a curveball is so hard to hit. (HINT: Blame your eyes!)

An interesting article about the optics of seeing a curveball and how a batter's eyes interpret what they are seeing. Be sure to click the graphic link in the 4th paragraph for two interactive illustrations.

3D Baseball cards from Topps

CubFan81 — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 16:59:58 -0000

3D Baseball cards from Topps

Baseball cards are obviously not what they used to be and it probably will require some creative thinking to keep any sort of relevance that they do have. Here's an interesting idea from Topps.

Wrigley Rooftop refusing to pay Cubs 2008 share.

CubFan81 — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 17:45:43 -0000

Wrigley Rooftop refusing to pay Cubs 2008 share.

I'm not entirely sure of what kind of arrangement the team has with all the rooftop owners and from an outsiders perspective it seems that the sides generally don't like each other.

The Lakeview Baseball Club apparently had to appease it's customers for the Winter Classic because the jumbotron that was installed blocked their view. They offered the customers a free trip to Wrigley this summer and wanted the Cubs to pay the difference. Though, rather than try to work this out with the Cubs they've withheld their entire 2008 payment which was apparently due on 12/31.

AJ Burnett agrees to join Yankees

CubFan81 — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 22:34:39 -0000

ESPN is reporting that AJ Burnett just joined CC Sabathia in the Yankees spending spree. He's agreed to a 5 year, $82.5M deal. Between him and CC the Yankees have just guaranteed nearl 1/4 of a BILLION dollars to two players. Opt out clauses never end well for the team, though I'm not entirely sold on his health so Toronto may still come out ahead.

It'll be interesting to see how this affect Derek Lowe's price since the Braves have failed to land Peavy and Burnett. Might they turn their attentions towards Lowe? Could the Yankees make it 3/3 and add Lowe to their rotation as well? Does the economy ever really affect them?

Single Game Playoff Coin Flips

CubFan81 — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 20:51:38 -0000

Single Game Playoff Coin Flips

If by chance the Cubs tie for the division with Milwaukee, the one game playoff will be in Milwaukee. For everything else though, Milwaukee plays at Philadelphia, at Houston and at St Louis.

Skiles accepts Milwaukee Job

CubFan81 — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 15:09:54 -0000

Just a verbal agreement but the off-season has begun. Skiles has agreed to be the Bucks next head coach. I wonder if he'll take Boylan with him to Milwaukee (he did play at Marquette).

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3356713

Apparently he's agreed to coach and all that's left is the financial aspects of a deal so that's one less vacancy out there for whomever Paxson wanted. I don't think Skiles would've ever seriously considered taking the Knicks job with Curry AND Crawford out there. The article mentions it, but in case anyone didn't want to read the whole thing. Skiles was drafted by the Bucks originally in 1986.

OT: Soccer player death

CubFan81 — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 11:04:26 -0000

Slightly off topic, but did anyone else see this:

http://sports.aol.com/fanhouse/2007/08/28/antonio-puerto-dead-at-22/

A little scary. It wasn't the same type of cardiomyopathy but they're all essentially similar. Regardless of what I think Eddy Curry should've done, I hope for his sake he's being as careful as he can.

Deng wins Sportsmanship Award

CubFan81 — Thu, 03 May 2007 15:59:59 -0000

Deng Wins

Good for him.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2858885

Scott Skiles contract situation...

CubFan81 — Fri, 13 Apr 2007 20:33:09 -0000

Not sure if this is the place to put this. Does anyone know what Scott Skiles' contract situation is like? I never thought about it much, but in Bill Simmons latest article about the Celtics and Doc Rivers he mentions:

"A number of proven guys could become available this summer, including Scott Skiles, Rick Carlisle and Jeff Van Gundy."

Not sure how credible he is about that, but is he implying that Skiles' contract is up or that the Bulls would go with someone else if they aren't successful in the playoffs?

The article is here: http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/070413&sportCat=nba