SB Nation User Blog: Cubbie-Tim

JJ Putz Signed

Cubbie-Tim — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 22:32:03 -0000

JJ Putz Signed

White Sox one year 3 million

The Jake Fox Challenge

Cubbie-Tim — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 23:54:20 -0000

Ok here is my personal way to see who truly believes in Fox, and who is just flinging poop around the room. I believe there are more who are just using the trade as a reason to bash Hendry, and be negative about Lou. Some others never need a reason to fling poop around, and its a life style for them. I am curious to see how many takers of this there are.

I will donate $10 to Derrek Lee's Project 3000 IF Jake Fox hits 25+ HR's next season for each person who is willing to donate $25 if Fox hits 24 or less.

If 10 people say they are in, then my bill is $100, each of them are in for $25

If 20 people say they are in, then my bill is $200, each of them are in for $25

and so on.

I wait the Foxes to respond.

All winnings are to be donated direct, none passing from person to person, do not misunderstand the entire thought here.

Al, I respect that this is your site, and if you feel that this is not acceptable, I apologize in advance, and you are welcome to delete if you feel the need.

Poll

Are you willing to make a donation if you are wrong? If you are in, please state below that you are in as a comment as well so I can know who is in this and who isnt.

Yes, the money all goes to a good cause, and I am convinced Jake will hit 25+ HR's (below state your name and that you are in, so I can know and tally correct)

9 votes

No, Jake will not hit 25 and I would be throwing money away

33 votes

Is Tim Derrek Lee, since so much money can be on the line if all BCB gets involved

9 votes

Who is Jake Fox again?

16 votes

67 votes | Poll has closed

OT: Andruw Jones a White Sox

Cubbie-Tim — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 23:03:26 -0000

OT: Andruw Jones a White Sox

1 year $500k

OT Aged Stadiums

Cubbie-Tim — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 03:15:40 -0000

Many times we have discussed Wrigley and its age, and Fenway is another that ranks along with Wrigley in age, but I was recently having a discussion with a friend and an interesting question came up. I personally have no clue the answer, but what non professional stadium (i.e. college, minor league) that is active (sorry Roman Coliseum) is oldest? I did locate this article which talks of the three oldest in NCAA dating back as far as 1895 (does that make Wrigley "young"?)

Does anyone know if there are older that are active?

from the artile

The NCAA deems Franklin Field (33rd Street at South Street, Philadelphia), which has staged University of Pennsylvania sports since 1895, as its oldest football stadium. The facility is believed to have hosted the most football games by any one collegiate team – No. 800 for Penn is slated Saturday versus Dartmouth – although the NCAA does not keep official records in this category.

Harvard Stadium (95 N. Harvard St., Allston, Mass), opened in 1903, is the oldest permanent concrete structure in the country.

The Yale Bowl (276 Derby Ave., West Haven, Conn) hosted its first tilt, against Harvard, on Nov. 21, 1914.

Together they represent three of the four oldest Division I stadiums in the country; Bobby Dodd Stadium at Georgia Tech opened in 1913.

I thought was an amazing trip thru time about Franklin Field from the same link

Franklin Field firsts
Penn's all-time record at Franklin Field: 535-234-31 (.688) • Built in 1895 at a cost of $100,000 (equivalent to about $2.5 million in today's dollars) • Home to the first scoreboard (1895) • Site of the first neutral Army-Navy game (Army 17, Navy 5, Dec. 2, 1899) • Penn's football team was the first in the United States to use numbers on its jerseys (1911) • The first college football radio broadcast (Cornell 9, Penn 0, on WIP-AM, Nov. 30, 1922) • The first double-decker football stadium (1925) • The largest stadium in the United States when upgraded in 1925 (seating 78,205) • The site of the first college football telecast (Penn 51, Maryland 0, on Philco, Oct. 5, 1940) • The first Canadian Football League game played in the United States (Hamilton 13, Ottawa 7, Aug. 23, 1958) • Vince Lombardi's only NFL playoff loss (Eagles 17, Packers 13, in the NFL Championship, Dec. 26, 1960) • The site of the first episode of ABC's "Wide World of Sports" (covering the Penn Relays, April 29, 1961) Source: University of Pennsylvania

Franklin Field firsts

Penn's all-time record at Franklin Field: 535-234-31 (.688)

• Built in 1895 at a cost of $100,000 (equivalent to about $2.5 million in today's dollars)

• Home to the first scoreboard (1895)

• Site of the first neutral Army-Navy game (Army 17, Navy 5, Dec. 2, 1899)

• Penn's football team was the first in the United States to use numbers on its jerseys (1911)

• The first college football radio broadcast (Cornell 9, Penn 0, on WIP-AM, Nov. 30, 1922)

• The first double-decker football stadium (1925)

• The largest stadium in the United States when upgraded in 1925 (seating 78,205)

• The site of the first college football telecast (Penn 51, Maryland 0, on Philco, Oct. 5, 1940)

• The first Canadian Football League game played in the United States (Hamilton 13, Ottawa 7, Aug. 23, 1958)

• Vince Lombardi's only NFL playoff loss (Eagles 17, Packers 13, in the NFL Championship, Dec. 26, 1960)

• The site of the first episode of ABC's "Wide World of Sports" (covering the Penn Relays, April 29, 1961)

Source: University of Pennsylvania

Pie Stat Prediction

Cubbie-Tim — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 16:38:42 -0000

Pie Stat Prediction

DId anyone come close?

here is what he did

BA 266
OBP 326
HR 9
RBI 29
SB 1

1 STINKING STOLEN BASE WITH HIS SPEED??

Steve "Mongo" McMichael honored at Texas this weekend

Cubbie-Tim — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 17:15:52 -0000

Mongo will be inducted into the NCAA HOF later this year (December 8th), and his alma mater University of Texas honored him during the Longhorns game this past weekens. Some interesting notes about his college playing days.

McMichael will be the 15th Longhorns player to be selected to the hall. He was a four-year letterman from 1976-79, earning All-Southwest Conference honors twice. When he left Texas, he was the school’s all-time leader in career tackles (369) and sacks (30), and was a finalist for both the Lombardi and Outland Awards in 1979.

Mack Brown, current Texas Head Coach had a real nice write up about it back in April for those interested.

STEVE McMICHAEL
University of Texas
Defensive Tackle, 1976-79 Selected a unanimous first-team All-American, Steve McMichael led a Longhorn defense that allowed less than nine points per game in 1979.

A four-year letterman at Texas, McMichael was a member of the 1977 Southwest Conference Championship team. Twice selected All-Southwest Conference (1978-79), he graduated as the school's all-time leader in career tackles (369) and sacks (30). A finalist for the Lombardi and Outland Awards in 1979, McMichael claimed team and Hula Bowl MVP honors. During tenure at Texas, the Longhorns posted an impressive 34-12-1 record.

Drafted in the third round by the New England Patriots in the 1980 draft and picked up by the Chicago Bears as a free agent in 1981. He spent 13 seasons with the Bears, including six Central Division Championships and a victory in Super Bowl XX. McMichael retired as a five-time All-Pro selection and holds the Chicago Bears record for most consecutive games played (191).

Following his playing career, McMichael became a pro wrestler. He is currently the head coach of the Chicago Slaughter of the Continental Indoor Football League.

Beyond the Numbers - Intangibles

Cubbie-Tim — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 13:36:42 -0000

There are a lot of people who live and die by the stats and numeric rankings of players in various ways. I understand what the numbers represent, and how to read them. I understand why the numbers are a good foundation when looking at a player.

This never was my problem with those who wish to use them.

The part of a players skill set, that cannot be ranked is what the numbers lack. This is where you have to look past the numbers, and into the actual player himself. I would bet each one of us played sports and some still are very active in sports. Each of us have been around a person in our field of work, or while playing ball, who just had the confidence that allowed him/her to laugh at defeat (so to speak) while overcoming all the odds. This is a perfect example of an intangible asset for that person.

For those who want to say intangibles do not exist in sports, I will define intangible

Adj

Incapable of being perceived by the senses.
Incapable of being realized or defined.
Incorporeal.

Noun.

Something intangible, especially an asset that cannot be perceived by the senses. Often used in the plural: intangibles such as goodwill and dedication.
Law Incorporeal property such as bank deposits, stocks, bonds, and promissory notes. Often used in the plural: a state tax on intangibles.

Or as another source defines it

Adj

nonmaterial: lacking material qualities, and so not able to be touched or seen, et al intangbible benefits
hard to be described: difficult to define or describe clearly, but nonetheless perceived et al an intangible quality of serenity in music

Noun

Something unquantifiable: an unquantifiable quality or asset et al such intangibles as duty

So, it is not measurable, but exists based on definition alone. An example is a radio advertisement is an intangible item. Now, how does this relate to baseball or sports in general? Well, what is something you cannot place a numberic value on, but exists and happens in a game, and can cause a difference in the end result? Here is a list of intangibles that come to mind (feel free to add to it):

Second efforts
Heart and Determination
Work ethic
Hustle
Being "clutch"
Ability to play thru pain
Mental toughness
Intelligence
Ability to be mentally "in the game"
Maturity / Immaturity
Team chemistry
Leadership
Comfort
Communication
Hot/Cold Streaks

Each of these can change the outcome of the game; none of them can be measured in a manner that they can be placed in the spreadsheet and used to make a decision.

The only way I know to measure heart is medically, which to my knowledge is not how it is used in a game situation.

You cannot measure how a second effort can allow an error to become an out.

Mental toughness is one I gripe about with Zambrano and Marmol, when they seem to look defeated and out of it mentally after a bad play or two behind them. This does happen, does exist, and cannot be measured.

Each of these examples are similar to when a fan talks about the years of suffering he/she has been thru, which cannot be measured (legally, psychologically, or medically) from one person to the next.

Quite possible the perfect example of a player who used the intangibles above to excel above what the numbers would have said he could, is "Charlie Hustle" Pete Rose. He played each pitch like it was the last, and the game was on the line. That is commonly measured as "giving 110%" but cannot be measured on paper.

These intangibles are why they play the games. Each one of them can cause a great team to lose, or a decent team to win. Sometimes a manager (and fans alike) needs to remember its ok to put the stat sheet down, stop trying to manage by match ups and probables alone.

Too soon to think of 2010 roster?

Cubbie-Tim — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 14:56:31 -0000

Here is a quote from Gordon Wittenmyer in todays Sun Times

Â•Â•General manager Jim Hendry and Piniella are assured of coming back.

Â•Â•Four players on the roster are free agents, including at least two the Cubs want back for the right terms (John Grabow and Reed Johnson) and two who may not fit their plans (Rich Harden and Kevin Gregg).

Â•Â•Nine others will be seeking raises through arbitration, including potentially big first-time arbitration jumps for closer Carlos Marmol, shortstop Ryan Theriot and pitching swingman Sean Marshall. Infielders Jeff Baker and Mike Fontenot, catcher Koyie Hill and pitchers Tom Gorzelanny, Aaron Heilman and Neal Cotts also are eligible.

Â•Â•And $117.5 million already is committed next season to 10 players under contract.

So, of those eligible for arbitration, Marmol, Theriot, Baker, Hill, Marshall and Gorzelany I believe should be offered, as they have earned it, and that is of course if Hendry cannot come to terms prior to arbitration (which he has done a very good job of). Heilman, Cotts and Fontenot can walk IMHO. None of those three produced well enough to worry about losing.

Free Agents, I can see making offers to three of the four, bye Gregg.

Thing is, with $117 Million to 10 players, we are going to likely need a lot of cheap talent for the other 15 spots, unless one of two things happens:

Ricketts opens the wallet
Hendry works some miracle trade(s)

Potential Free Agents

* - player whose current contract includes 2010 option

Player Club
First Basemen
Russell Branyan SEA
Carlos Delgado NYM
Jason Giambi COL
Ross Gload * FLA
Aubrey Huff DET
Nick Johnson WAS
Adam LaRoche ATL
Robb Quinlan LAA
Matt Stairs PHI
Mike Sweeney SEA
Jim Thome LAD
Chad Tracy ARZ

Second Basemen
Marlon Anderson NYM
Ron Belliard LAD
Jamey Carroll CLE
Mark DeRosa STL
David Eckstein SD
Orlando Hudson LAD
Akinori Iwamura * TB
Omar Infante ATL
Felipe Lopez MIL
Placido Polanco DET
Freddy Sanchez * SF

Shortstops
Orlando Cabrera MIN
Bobby Crosby OAK
Adam Everett DET
Alex Gonzalez * BOS
Khalil Greene STL
John McDonald TOR
Marco Scutaro TOR
Miguel Tejada HOU
Jack Wilson * SEA

Third Basemen
Adrian Beltre SEA
Hank Blalock TEX
Geoff Blum HOU
Joe Crede MIN
Pedro Feliz * PHI
Chone Figgins LAA
Troy Glaus STL
Mike Lamb MIL
Melvin Mora * BAL

Catchers
Josh Bard BOS
Henry Blanco SD
Ramon Castro CWS
Ramon Hernandez * CIN
Jason Kendall MIL
Jason LaRue STL
Victor Martinez * BOS
Benji Molina SF
Jose Molina NYY
Miguel Olivo * KC
Mike Redmond MIN
Brian Schneider NYM
Yorvit Torrealba * COL
Jason Varitek * BOS
Gregg Zaun * TB

Outfielders
Bobby Abreu LAA
Garret Anderson ATL
Rick Ankiel STL
Rocco Baldelli BOS
Jason Bay BOS
Marlon Byrd TEX
Mike Cameron MIL
Frank Catalanotto TEX
Endy Chavez SEA
Coco Crisp * KC
Carl Crawford * TB
Johnny Damon NYY
David Dellucci CLE
Jermaine Dye * CWS
Darin Erstad HOU
Cliff Floyd SD
Ryan Freel TEX
Brian Giles SD
Ken Griffey Jr. SEA
Vladimir Guerrero LAA
Matt Holliday STL
Geoff Jenkins * PHI
Reed Johnson CHC
Andruw Jones TEX
Austin Kearns * WAS
Hideki Matusi NYY
Jason Michaels CLE
Xavier Nady NYY
Magglio Ordonez * DET
Manny Ramirez * LAD
Dave Roberts SF
Gary Sheffield DET
Randy Winn SF

Starting Pitchers
Brandon Backe HOU
Miguel Batista SEA
Josh Beckett * BOS
Erik Bedard SEA
Daniel Cabrera ARZ
Bartolo Colon CWS
Jose Contreras COL
Doug Davis ARZ
Justin Duchscherer OAK
Adam Eaton COL
Kelvim Escobar LAA
Jon Garland * LAD
Tom Glavine ATL
Mike Hampton HOU
Rich Harden CHC
Tim Hudson * ATL
Randy Johnson SF
John Lackey LAA
Cliff Lee * PHI
Braden Looper * MIL
Jason Marquis COL
Kevin Millwood * TEX
Brett Myers PHI
Vicente Padilla * LAD
Carl Pavano MIN
Brad Penny SF
Odalis Perez WAS
Andy Pettitte NYY
Joel Pineiro STL
Sidney Ponson KC
Jason Schmidt LAD
John Smoltz STL
Jarrod Washburn DET
Brandon Webb * ARZ
Todd Wellemeyer STL

Relief Pitchers
Danys Baez BAL
Joaquin Benoit TEX
Rafael Betancourt * CLE
Chad Bradford BAL
Doug Brocail * HOU
Kiko Calero FLA
Octavio Dotel CWS
Ryan Franklin * STL
Gary Glover WAS
Mike Gonzalez ATL
Tom Gordon ARZ
John Grabow CHC
Kevin Gregg CHC
LaTroy Hawkins HOU
Matt Herges COL
Trevor Hoffman MIL
Jason Isringhausen TB
Masahide Kobayashi * CLE
Brandon Lyon DET
Ron Mahay MIN
Gary Majewski WAS
Trever Miller STL
Darren Oliver LAA
Troy Percival TB
J.J. Putz * NYM
Fernando Rodney DET
Duaner Sanchez NYM
Scott Schoeneweis ARZ
Rafael Soriano ATL
Matt Thornton * CWS
Jose Valverde HOU
Luis Vizcaino * COL
Billy Wagner BOS
Jamie Walker BAL

Todays 7th Inning Stretch

Cubbie-Tim — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 17:44:00 -0000

Hoping someone can help....................................

Can anyone here record and youtube (send a file to me, whatever works best lol) the 7th inning stretch today? Two of the three singing today are from the Windy City Rollers (Roller Derby) and many of my friends (and myself included) know them, and want to see it. I would be very very very very appreciative to anyone who does happen to make this happen.

Thanks in advance, and GO CUBS!

WE LOVE LIND!!!!!!!!

can we change the street name to ASHLIND by chance?

I would rather suffer with the Cubs

Cubbie-Tim — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 21:15:30 -0000

Than be without baseball. I understand wearing your years of being a fan as a badge of honor. I am proud to say I am a lifelong Cubs fan As long as I can remember I have loved the Cubs and baseball as a whole. I tell people Chicago Cubs baseball is my religion, since I did more praying at Wrigley than I did in Church (which is true, since we were not a religious family, and did not attend church on a reguilar basis). I have endured the last six playoff losses that the Cubs have been kind enough to allow me to witness with hope, only to end in defeat.

Do I consider this suffering, hell no. I believe I am fortunate to have the Cubs, year in and year out. I believe I am blessed that I have a team with tradition, history, and a large fanbase. I am greatful that anywhere I go, I can find a Cubs fan, to strike up a conversation about the Cubs, and baseball itself. These are riches that few fan bases can truly understand.

Suffering, in my opinion

* Would be living in Montreal as an Expo fan, and watching the team be moved to D.C.

* When baseball went on strike and I was not able to go to Wrigley and watch them.

* Watching the cost of a ticket at Wrigley continue to skyrocket, pricing out many of the average fan, who (God love ‘em) still stay true to their Cubbie Blue ways

No matter how few years a fan has been following the Cubs, they have heard all the stories, they have heard all the negatives, and the reasons not to, yet choose to do so. For that reason, I will never look at a newer fan and belittle them for having less “time in the trenches” so to speak. Why, because this person is my brother/sister in my extended family.

Newer fans have more outlets to learn about the history than some of the elder fans who lived it. That makes a big difference in the understanding process, and the feelings of the past. Ron Santo is a perfect example.

Fans both young and old always want to hear the words “Hall of Fame Inductee, Ron Santo” because of these resources to bridge the generations as much as anything. Younger fans have listened to Santo on the radio, but have also seen old footage, read books, watched DVD’s (this is before Dad, Mom, Grandpa, etc has told a story about seeing Santo make an amazing play).

40 years ago, you could not pop in a DVD or log onto Wikipedia and learn about the 1910 Cubs, so the gap between the fans was different. This is not to take anything away from a fan of 40 or 80 years ago, but to explain that I believe present fans understand more than they are credited for often.

I may not agree always, I may butt heads a time or three, but that is part of being in a family. I would rather disagree and butt heads while talking about the Cubs, then “happily” talk about the stock market (for example).

GeoMak, Han, BLou, Clutche, and anyone else who has had a disagreement with me before, I may not always like your opinion or comments, but I respect you as members of my Cubbie Family. The same goes to everyone else on BCB, and those who are future BCBers whose acquaintance I have yet to make.