SB Nation User Blog: CubFreak

OT Who is your favorite local sportscaster?

CubFreak — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 01:54:03 -0000

With the recent, and overdue, firing of Dan McNeil from ESPN AM 1000, it got me thinking who do I really enjoy listening or watching when it comes to Chicago sports.

I think of names like Mark Giangreco, Mark Silverman, Ryan Baker, Mike Adamle, Mike Murphy, Peggy Kazinski, Jim Rose, Rich King etc.. But I don't have a clear cut favorite. I'd like to know if you have a favorite local sportscaster. If you're not in Chicago, maybe you can add to the mix with your favorite national sportscaster.

Or how about your ALL TIME local/national favorites?

Like Tim Wiegal or Jim Shorts "That's Good!" or Bob Costas, (the Sandberg Game)Dan Patrick, Jim Rome, Keith Jackson, Marv Albert YESSS!

John Smoltz set to sign with Red Sox

CubFreak — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 05:42:50 -0000

I like this move for the Red Sox and I wouldn't have mind seeing JS in a Cubs' uniform, that is if we never actually got , well, you know who.

I thought JS was going to be one of those few players in today's game that were going to retire with their original team. I thought the same for Kerry Wood. That not being the case, JS is set to join the Red Sox. He might not be ready till May/June, but with Harden's history, JS would have been a great insurance arm for us. Either as a starter, or in the bull pen, even as a closer if need be. The $$$ amount is fair and IF healthy JS is a gamer and a winner. Would you have liked to see JS in Cubbie blue?

Can two ex-Cubs help the Indians win the Central?

CubFreak — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 20:54:07 -0000

It almost seems like the Cubs are helping out the Indians? First the Cubs declined to resign Kerry Wood making him available and signing as a FA with the Tribe? Earlier today, the Cubs traded fan favorite Mark DeRosa for three prospects. Both player had good years and are poised to help the Tribe win this seasonI'd like to know a few things. How many more wins can the Cleveland expect with these moves?

I'd like to here from the Review. Would you have liked to see DeRosa on this team?How many wins can the Tribe expect from these two additions? Will these moves help Cleveland become the favorites for the division? Or is it still up for grabs? Will the latest move (DeRosa) force other clubs in the division to make a counter move?

Finally: CHEERS TO ROYALS REVIEW HAPPY NEW YEAR

In these last few months you guys, and gals, have helped me as a Royals fan and more observevant of the game. I look forward to what I hope would be an exciting year of Royals Baseball.

With Penny, is Red Sox starting 5 the best?

CubFreak — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 06:03:32 -0000

Now that Brad Penny has signed with the Nation, Is Penny and Wakefield better than the Yankees or Rays 4th/5th starter? Do the Redsox have the best starting rotation in the bigs? Seriously, no homer replys :) OK but make your case.

I know these are fighting words, but if Andy Pettitte returns to the Bronx, maybe the Yankees will have a better starting 5? Hell, if the Cubs get Peavy, maybe the Northsiders will be kings of the hill. Hell, even without Jake the Cubs look good. I like the Penny signing, I wish the Royals would have gotten him. For 8 million, they could afford that. But Penny is now with the Fenway Faithful. Is this the guy that make the Red Sox solid 1-5?

Don't let the name fool you. Since the early 80s, I have loved the Cubbies, Red Sox & Royals. I've been to Wrigley hundreds of times, Fenway a handful, and looking forward to visiting KC for the first time this summer. Can't wait for the season to start.

Brad Penny signs with RedSox

CubFreak — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 05:18:11 -0000

For only $5 million, with $3 million in incentives. I'm not saying that Penny would've chosen KC, but this is an affordable contract that even the Royals can seriously offer a FA.

Just throwing it out there, would you have signed Penny? If you had a choice to spend 5-8 million dollars on one of the remaining FA which one would you choose?

Please don't let the name fool you. I do enjoy talking Royals Baseball and would love to see KC win the Central this season and beyond. I feel that the division does not have a smash mouth, clear cut leader, & that it's up for graps; so why not the Royals.

JJ & K-Rod Better Than Marmol & Gregg?

CubFreak — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 04:21:38 -0000

As posted on MLB.com

The Seattle Mariners sent right-handed reliever J.J. Putz to the New York Mets on Wednesday night as part of a three-team, nine-player trade with the Cleveland Indians. Putz, who has been involved in trade rumors for several weeks, becomes the eighth-inning setup man for new Mets closer Frankie Rodriguez.

Do you think that Gregg can do the job as set up and/or as closer?.

We have a great starting four (maybe 5 with Peavy) but now more than ever, bullpens are a huge and critical part of a team's over all success.

Was letting Woody go a mistake? Sure we still got Samardzija, but do the Mets now have a better bull pen than the Cubs?

NOTE FROM AL: I edited this post to put the text from mlb.com in a quote box. I couldn't find the link, otherwise I would have put that in here, too. Please do those things in the future if you are quoting from another online source. Thanks. (Also edited the title so it looks less "shouting".)

Without C.C, who will now challenge the Cubs in the Central

CubFreak — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 19:41:23 -0000

Now that C.C. has A-GREED! to wear the Yankee pinstrips over the lager-strips of Milwaukee, are the Brewers just another average team in the Central?

Adam McCalvy of MLB.com wrote:

GM Melvin confirmed that the Brewers made a five-year offer to Sabathia for about $100 million, and said he had "considered" adding a sixth year to the offer. The Brewers never formally made that offer, but on Tuesday were trying to set up another meeting with Sabathia's representatives.

""We were happy for CC because that's a pretty good deal, and the Yankees got themselves a pretty good pitcher. We had a good time with CC during the summer. He brought a lot of fun to our organization and our city, and that's the way we feel about it."

Well Cubs fans feel even better. Without C.C. and possibly with out Sheets as well, it will be tough for the Brew Crew to make the playoffs. I know winning the Series is the ultimate goal, but we gotta win the divison first.

So with saying that, who do you think will make a serious run at the Cubs for the Central Crown? Or will the Cubs just run away with it?

OK SO MAYBE JACOBS AT 3B WAS A JOKE, BUT KC WINNING THE CENTRAL IS NOT

CubFreak — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 18:53:23 -0000

Yes the line up with Jacobs at 3B was crazy but no one posed an argument on the signing Pat Burrell. Burrell would fit nicely with this young team. Arguably, after Manny, Burrell is the best right-handed, power-hitting, free agent on the market. Interestingly, I have not received a negative or humorist comment on signing Paul Byrd either. Paul Byrd will help this staff and, as noted earlier, has a great track record against the AL Central.

I know these two signings will help the Royals win 90 games.

On base percentage will improve this season.

They will need to replace Ramirez & Nunez.

KC has Teahan and Gload as trade options.

Trey Hillman will have plenty of options with 1B and DH. If they sign Burrell, Hillman can mix it up with Butler, Ka'aihue, Shealy and Jacobs.

So keeping Gordon at 3B is fine, unless Bobby Bonilla is available.

It is not inconceivable that the Royals can win 90 in 09.

I still believe KC can dethrown, I mean dethrone the SOX!

THAT'S IT!

KC ALIVE IN 09

It is not

KC ROYALS JUST 15 WINS AWAY! THAT'S IT

CubFreak — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 06:57:39 -0000

The KC Royals will shock the sports world this upcoming baseball season. Just like the Rays of 2008, the Royals will be the talk of Baseball in 09! With a couple of more moves, the Royals will be contenders and ALIVE IN 09!

The Royals have the potential of an everyday line-up that will compete against anyone in the league.

They have the core players to make a serious run. Aviles, Gordon, DeJesus, Butler make up the young talent they can build around and win with. Last year's signing of Guillen was huge and showed baseball the Royals want to win. The early off season additions of Crisp and Jacob will make the Royals contenders. I believe signing a couple of PBs will help KC win 90 games.

Pat Burrell & Paul Bryd. Burrell can be the team's DH and play some left field. Paul Bryd has a career lifetime record of 34-10 against the Central. (omitting the Royals) I believe that adding both of these veterans will be helpful to a young team and will help KC win 90 games. Imagine this line up.

CF CRISP (WANTS TO STEAL 40 BAES)

SS AVILES (.325 BA)

LF DEJESUS (BEST HITTER IN MLB W/ RUNNERS IN SCORING POSITION)

RF GUILLEN (POWER NUMBERS WILL IMPROVE WITH PROTECTION)

3B JACOBS (GREAT ADDITION, LEFT HANDED POWER STICK)

DH BURRELL (WILL HELP DRIVE IN MORE RUNS! CHAMPION ON TEAM)

2B GORDON (NEEDS TO MOVE TO 2B; WEAK HANDS AT 3B; SOLID STICK)

1B BUTLER (MAYBE PLATOON WITH Ka'KAILUE)

C OLIVO (WILL BE CLUTCH PERFORMER)

90 WINS WILL WIN THE WEST!

That's just 15 more wins than last season.

That's all it will take to dethrown the Sox.

That's what it will take to make the Royals the Kings of the Central.

THAT'S IT!