I am considering changing cell phone providers, I currently have Verizon Wireless now (With a Blackberry Storm) Recently the phone quality has been pretty bad, and Verizon has been really unwilling to help me. So I have Narrowed my choices to Sprint,T-Mobile or AT&T... I need some help deciding on who I should go with. Thanks in advance!

Please be as detailed as possible for me. I want to spend around $100 or so.

I am leaning towards Sprint however, I dont know anyone that has ever had Sprint, and Im kinda leaning away from T-mobile, but I know there prices are pretty decent.

Thank you So much in Advance!

Mike

From ESPN.COM

The A's and Cardinals are close to completing a trade that would send outfielder Matt Holliday to St. Louis in exchange for third baseman Brett Wallace, outfielder Shane Peterson and right-handed pitcher Clayton Mortensen, league sources told ESPN The Magazine's Tim Kurkjian.

Holliday, 29, is eligible for free agency after this season, and has had a lackluster season overall with the Athletics, hitting .287 with 11 homers and 54 RBIs.

What are your thoughts?

"Guess hitting hack", "punk with an attitude problem", "show-off" These are just some of the words use to describe All-Star left fielder Alfonso Soriano in the 2+ seasons he's been with the Cubs.

How about a new term?

Leader

''Somebody's got to step up and play better. I know we're going to miss him, but we got to start playing better and win as many games as we can until he comes back. And survive.''

 

Soriano on the loss of Aramis Ramirez

''My first at-bats, I struck out, but I tried to have my rhythm and mechanics [later] and make a good swing,'' he said.

Of the slider he dug low to hit, he said, ''It was a very good pitch. ... It's very important to come back and win the game.''

Just a sample of what Soriano has said in the early part of the season.  And honestly, from where a sit, I like what i hear.

Soriano is the leader this team needs, the player that has the ability, the talent and lord knows the contract that makes him the obvious choice for the leader of this club. Especially since D. Lee and Aramis basically keep to themselves, Zambrano is a bit too passionate, and Milton Bradley is.... Well Milton Bradley.

Say what you want about Sori's play in the OF or him needing to bat leadoff to succeed. But theres no denying that this year Soriano has shown on more then one occasion, to be this teams legitimate clubhouse leader.

For what its worth as well. Last Night I was at Miller Park (another post about that forthcoming) But when Aramis went down, Soriano high tailed it from Very deep LF (since Braun was up at the time) to check on Aramis, granted Theriot and Fonte where also there, but too me from where I sit, thats a leader thats a guy who cares about the team.

Couple this with the earlier comments Sori's made about the teams lack of drive early in the season is proof positive to me anyway that Soriano is the Cubs Leader/

History Channel's "Life after People: The Series" chronicles what happens to our planet  and more specifically its landmarks, buildings and other human made objects after people are gone forever.

In one specific episode known as "Life After People the Series: Outbreak"  The program explains what would happen to Chicago, Atlanta and London after people are gone for segments of time from 1 day after people are gone to up to 5000 years+ into the future.

Highlighted in this episode is our beloved Wrigley Field along with the Chicago skyline and what will happen to the most notable icons of humanity long after we are gone.

This program is perfect for family viewing and answers alot of questions that children may have about the world in which we live.

For Comcast customers who have a Digital Package with On-Demand you can watch this program right now by axcessing On Demand - Selecting the News and World Section - History Channel - Life After People - Episode #2

I highly recommend checking out this program and this series for that matter, but most specifically this episode since it does focus attention on Chicago and Wrigley Field.

A contract clause could mean the Cubs might be looking for a new Spring Training home.

The team has an opt-out provision that could allow the Cubs to leave HoHoKam Stadium before their contract is up.

Under the contract, the Cubs can leave Mesa as early as spring 2012 for as little as $4.2 million.

The clause was included when the team signed a contract in 1996 and could be exercised in 2011. The actual 20-year contract expires in 2016.

Read more about this on CBS2Chicago.com

Interesting to say the least, lets hope the Cubs and Mesa can get things straightened out.

Well now 3/4 of my "nightmare scenario" is in place, The New York Yankees have signed 1B Mark Teixeira to an 8 year $180 million dollar deal according to ESPN's Buster Onley.

ESPN.COM Story

I think it is incredible that the Yankees are spending money like this. First CC, Burnett and now Tex. But what will happen if these huge deals dont pan out? We'll just have to wait and see.

Now heres a warming thought on this arctic December day. (Imagine if the Winter Classic was today)

ESPN presented a first look of MLB 09 The Show. The Release date for the game isnt until March 3rd but If you are lucky enough to own a Playstation 3 youll be in for a real treat with this game, whose franchise is often called the best Baseball simulation out there.

ESPN- MLB 09 The Show: First Look

I will have you read the review but I thought you'd all get a kick out of these two highlights that I personally thought where just down right awesome:

Franchise 2.0
Sony has added a lot of little details that the hard-core MLB fans have been shouting for, including salary arbitration, waiver transactions, September call-ups, and the 40-man roster. Player personality will also come into play as gamers try to juggle the needs of the franchise versus the needs of their star players.

Trash Talk 2.0 MLB 09 is about to bring out the crazed fan in all of us as not only can you record your voice screaming anything from "Where's Madonna?" to "we want a pitcher not a belly itcher" and put it in the game thanks to peripherals like the Rock Band mic and wireless headset, the fan yells will sound like your voice actually coming from the stands. You can even assign the recordings to be part of a chant and your voice will be put through a new process so that it sounds more like a crowd chanting "over-rated" and not just a single person yelling.

This sounds like one helluva game when it comes out on March 3rd.

As we usher in the holiday season of gift giving, and togetherness. I couldn't help but notice a potential nightmare scenario involving the New York Yankees.


Now most baseball fans loathe the Yankees, I do almost to a level of the hatred reserved for the White Sox.

And we've already seen the Evil empire throw a ton of money at CC and Burnett. But what if.

And this is a huge what if. The Yankees where to sign both Manny Ramirez and Mark Texeria??

Could you imagine a team with A-Rod, Tex, Manny and Jeter?

Having read some of the reports about Tex and Manny this nightmare hopefully isnt as close as Im envisioning it too be.

Or is it?

ESPN is reporting that The Washington Nationals Monday, agreed to a trade for left fielder Josh Willingham and lefty starter Scott Olsen of the Florida Marlins for a package of players.

The Nats traded away second baseman Emilio Bonifacio, who hit .243 in 49 games last season, and two minors leaguers in pitcher P.J. Dean and shortstop Jake Smolinski

ESPN.COM Story

Pretty interesting considering that the Nats had an outside shot at landing Holliday who was dealt to the A's earlier.

Discuss

As reported just moments ago on ESPN SportsCenter, Ken Macha is expected to be named the New Brewers manager.

 Macha of course was the manager of the Oakland A's and lead them to the playoffs a few years back. Macha has a career record of 368-280 in 4 Season as an MLB manager most recently posting a 93-69 record With the 2006 A's

Macha was most recently a broadcaster and it was believed that the Cubs broadcaster Bob Brenly was on the short list for the Brewers manager spot.

I want to say that I might be as popular as George W. Bush after publicly saying these thoughts that have came into my head.

I realize the importance that Wrigley Field has on us as Cubs fans, I understand that Wrigley is a temple of baseball, and the worlds greatest most loyal fans support the team that plays 81 games a year there.

I also love Wrigley Field myself, I love the atmosphere, I love the sights and sounds and while it pains me.

I have to say, that its time for the Cubs to get a new home, a new field to play ball on.

There are many reasons why I think the Cubs need and deserve a new stadium.

The most obvious is revenue, Yes I know what your probably thinking, Mike? revenue? Your joking right this team had 3 million plus in 2008 what are you talking about? Yes the Cubs did have a great ticket selling season, but when a great majority of your fans cannot go to a game because of outrageous ticket prices and “legal” scalpers there is a serious problem with that scenario. Granted that could happen at a new ballpark as well, but a Newer park has facilities for corporate suites and other amenities that keep the “hotshots” out of the general seating areas and thus opening those seats up for more fans.

Also the increased revenue from advertising, those suites and TV deals give more for the team to spend more money for players on the field and thus equals a better product that more people are going to have to go see.

New ballparks have more options for families at the ballpark. Purists will hate this one because the adage is you come to the ballpark to see the game, but the more you can get a family into the ballpark, the more money they can spend and the more likely they will come back. And really do you care that someone else’s kids using a pitch speed tracker? Or hitting machine? Basically opening the ballpark experience up to whole new demographics is vital to a teams financial successes, and this is the second reason why Wrigley has to go.

Third, while its great that the CTA is right next to Wrigley, it makes it difficult and very expensive to drive to a game. So you might say well too bad, but see people who want to experience everything that watching the Cubs live has to offer, don’t want to have to give up the convenience of their car. Also as a person who lives in the South Suburbs, I can tell you that id rather drive to Wrigley some games then pack myself into the cattle car known as the EL. Also the team owned parking lots give the team what??? MORE MONEY.

I think you can see where I am going with this, it all has to do with Money. Money talks, whether it be on the field or in the organization money is what makes Pro-sports teams flourish.

Fourth, More night games, while am not a numbers whiz I know there a lot of people here who are. But I know there is a link between the amount of day games versus the amount of night games and the wins and losses associated with each. Day baseball is what made Cubs fans, Cubs fans, and I understand that, Hell I am in that category too, but when you play a majority of your games in the day it does make you wonder how well the team could play if a good balance of those games where at night as opposed to the daytime.

Fifth, Wrigley is falling apart. I know theres some kind of sarcastic joke about the concrete falling at Wrigley a few years back and the netting and all that. But the main sections of the park sans the bleachers are crumbling. And a total over haul of the park might be just as costly if not more then a new one itself.

Sixth, New Ballparks give state of the art equipment for players to train, practice, and scout opposing teams. The equipment that some teams have in their ballpark could make your head spin, everything from gym equipment to video machines to weight training the works.

I love the Cubs, I love Wrigley field but I also know when its time to say goodbye, and that time is fast approaching im afraid, From all the “issues” that I have mentioned to countless others its really time to take what memories we have had at Wrigley and really start to think about just what might happen should the Cubs get a new ballpark.

With the chance of the Olympics coming to Chicago in 2016 and the hoopla surrounding that, It would make an excellent chance for the City, the Cubs and the State to look into this idea.  

Where would you put this new stadium?  That seems like more of the biggest question surrounding the idea of a new ballpark. There are prime locations in the Suburbs that a new facility would go. How about replacing the Old McCormick place with a new park that way you have prime parking lots and are still close to public transit.  People will argue this point, What?!? The Cubs in Arlington Heights? Are you crazy? We have to remember regardless of where they play… As long as the Red C is on the ball cap you will be a fan and love them just as if they where still a Wrigley.

Discuss

But I sure as hell do.

You know I dont know whats worse, the way the Cubs played or the way some of you so called "fans" boo hooed your way in the game threads. Said "blow up this team" said "Im going to go cheer for the White Sox, this team sucks"

How dare you, how dare you consider yourself a fan when you spew such disgusting thoughts from your mouth. Listen, I am pissed off as much as the next guy about the terrible performance the last 2 post seasons BUT....Every season since 1984 the year I became a Cubs fan I have loved this team with every ounce of my being... It sounds cliche but its the honest to god truth. But to hear some of you people bad mouth the very team I love and hold dear to my heart is just outright disgusting.

Shame on you....shame on you for actually thinking your a fan... and thinking your someone like myself, or Al or the dozens of people who thought up until the final out this team had a chance. Shame on you for calling our beloved "DP whoever" or "Sorry-ano" I know this sucks, I know it rips out hearts out. But

If you cant take it, i suggest you find another bandwagon to go jump on. Because you sure as hell arent wanted here.

Come spring trainning next year, I'll start this dream of hope once again, and I will still have that dream until its not a dream anymore it becomes true. And I sure hope that none of you Johnny come lately's try and overshadow it.

Tuesday, September 30th
7:30 p.m. MIN @ CWS - A.L. Central Tie-Breaker (IF NECESSARY) on TBS

Wednesday, October 1st
3:00 p.m. MIL @ PHI
6:30 p.m. LAD @ CHI
10:00 p.m. BOS @ LAA

Thursday, October 2nd
2:30 p.m. CWS or MIN @ TB
6:00 p.m. MIL @ PHI
9:30 p.m. LAD @ CHI

Friday, October 3rd
6:00 p.m. CWS or MIN @ TB
9:30 p.m. BOS @ LAA

Saturday, October 4th
6:30 p.m. PHI @ MIL
10:00 p.m. CHI @ LAD

From MLB.COM

 http://mlb.mlb.com/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20080928&content_id=3570430&vkey=pr_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb

Appologies for a repost all times in ET

We hear them all the time "Free Floppy Hat this Tuesday at 1:05" Free W Flag..."

But I want to know what was the best/worst promo item you've received at Wrigley. It can be something from 2008, or whenever.

For me: The Best thing I have ever gotten at a Game was the Lou Pinella bobblehead. I have him sitting on my window sill as I type this. Its a nice little knick-knack that also is one of the best managers our beloved Cubs have ever had.

The Worst was probably the fun size Baby Ruth bars handed out at a game once. I mean you couldn't have given away a WHOLE bar? Also a Sharpie Marker was one of the worst also because It didnt even write!

Anyway post yours here

After handcuffing the Cardinals last night in an impressive 6-2 victory, The Chicago Cubs will be handling their business against a much tougher opponent.

The 1927 New York Yankees have made the trek all the way back from the dead in fact to face off against the Cubs in a one time one night show down! Its One of the best teams ever to step foot on the Diamond versus A Team with dreams of its own!

Chicago Cubs Baseball Starts Tonight at 7:05pm

 The Starters

CHICAGO CUBS

Jason Marquis (2008 STATS)

1927 New York Yankees

Waite Hoyt (1927 STATS)

ERA      W-L     SO   WHIP

2.64     22-7       86      1.15

First Pitch Thread Will be posted at 7:00pm

Line ups posted at 6:05pm

While the Cubs got a great win today at Wrigley! Its now time to set our sights to our arch-rival to the south!

Sunday Night Baseball Scoreboard Watchers thread

8:00 PM CT, August 03, 2008
Busch Stadium, St. Louis, Missouri

Pitching Matchup
PHILADELPHIA		ST. LOUIS
	Brett Myers 4-9, 5.46 Last appearance: 7/29 at WAS 7.0 IP, 0 ER Dec = Win		Todd Wellemeyer 8-4, 4.13 Last appearance: 7/29 at ATL 6.0 IP, 2 ER Dec = ND

LINE-UPS:

Or should I say "Fugly" We talked about the last 3 weeks or so being the first difficult stretch for the Cubs. Take a gander at 7/18 though 7/31.

@ Houston for 3 18-20th

@ Arizonia for 3 21-23

VS. Florida for 4 24th-27th

@ Milwaukee for 4 28th-31st.

This looks like it could easily be tough stretch for the Cubs. And why its very important for Soriano to forget about the All-Star game, yeah he was voted in woohoo Im happy for him. And focus on getting back to the Cubs team that will desprately need him during this stretch especially against Milwaukee.

Historically the Cubs seem to have a terrible time with Florida (No 2003 mentions please) and while we did sweep 'Zona earlier in the year, Chase Field is really no fun place either. Then theres Milwaukee. Stretches like this make me glad to see that Marmol was not put in the All-Star Game, reason specifically was what ever hitch he was having as of late gets resolved because he will most certainlly be needed during this ugly stretch. Unless we go on a 14- 0 Run :)

After taking one on the chin this afternoon at US. Cellular Field, the Cubs and thier fans will now look to Kansas City for a little scoreboard watching.

Game 1 of the Intra-State Missouri showdown!

St. Louis Cardinals vs. Kansas City Royals! Tonight!

Pitching Matchup
ST. LOUIS		KANSAS CITY
	Joel Pineiro 2-3, 3.86 Last appearance: 6/22 at BOS 7.0 IP, 2 ER Dec = ND		Gil Meche 5-8, 4.91 Last appearance: 6/21 vs SFO 5.2 IP, 1 ER Dec = Win

Kauffman Stadium Kansas City Missouri

Weather At a Glance

Tonight
50% of Severe Thunderstorms low of 67*F

RIGHT NOW:

Overcast

87°F
(31°C)

The Chicago Cubs and their masses of fans are still revelling in the weekend Sweep of the hated White Sox at Wrigley, but tonight Cubdom is doing a little scoreboard watching:

Tonight's NL Matchup The Milwaukee Brewers take on the Atlanta Braves live from Turner Field.

The Pitching Match Up:

MILWAUKEE		ATLANTA
	Ben Sheets 8-1, 2.74 Last appearance: 6/18 vs TOR 6.0 IP, 2 ER Dec = Win		Jo-Jo Reyes 3-4, 4.05 Last appearance: 6/18 at TEX 7.0 IP, 1 ER Dec = ND

Last Night: Mark Teixeria had what could only be described as a career day at the Plate launching Not 1 but 3 Home Runs Against the Mariners in Interleague action.

ScoreBoard Watching Baseball Is NEXT!

After the thrilling come from behind victory by our beloved Cubs, Its time to set our attention to Fenway Park were our rival Cardinals set to open up a 3 game series with the Red Sox.

Away: St. Louis Cardinals (42-32)

Home: Boston Red Sox (46-29)

Starting Pitchers:

St. Louis: Kyle Lohse W-L 8-2 ERA 3.77  K 40  Walks 21  WHIP 1.21

Boston: Tim Wakefield W-L 4-4  ERA 4.19  K 59  Walks 38  WHIP 1.31

The Game will start soon, as it was delayed by Rain. and ill have your coverage here.

Right Now: 6 STL to 6 PHL top 9th

Yadier Molina was hurt in a home plate collision. He was on the ground for several minutes and  was carried off the field in a strecher.

 The play happened with a chopper to 1st by Jimmy Rollins, Duncan threw to home and as the play developed ,Eric Bruntlett collided into Molina covering home. Bruntlett was out on the play. Molina looked to have a head injury and had a neck brace placed around his neck while being attended too. This collision looked really nasty.

This just coming in from ESPN.COM:

 Two high ranking officials from the World Umpiring Association and US Today confirm that Major league baseball wants to equip itself for instant replay on disputing home run calls by August 1st.

"It's all premature," MLB spokesman Rich Levin told USA Today. "Nothing has been decided yet."

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3441886

Personally, I think this was going to happen anyway, but its really interesting to see how quickly this all developed. Maybe because the recent rash of blown calls the most obvious one being the Yankees vs Mets game on Sunday Night baseball recently.

Former Major League pitcher Geremi Gonzalez, who won 11 games for the Chicago Cubs in 1997, was killed by a lightning strike in his native Venezuela on Sunday. He was 33.

Emergency management official Herman Bracho said Monday that Gonzalez was struck by lightning at a beach.

Gonzalez pitched for five Major League teams from 1997-2006, appearing in 131 games, 83 of them starts, and compiling a 30-35 record.

The right-hander also played for the Tampa Bay Rays, Boston Red Sox, New York Mets and Milwaukee Brewers. He made a combined 24 appearances for the Mets and Brewers in his final Major League season in 2006.

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080526&content_id=2774705&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb

Thoughts and Prayers go out to the Gonzalez family.

I know its early, really early but early weather reports indicate that the weather is going to be rather "difficult" to say the least on Monday.

Tom Skilling says mid 40s and heavy rain likely

Weather.com 60% chance of rain

Weather.gov showers possible highs in the 50s

Im starting to get a little nervous looking at this.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3306100

This is from ESPN, but it looks like the Brewers up and coming pitching phenom Yovani Gallardo with start the season on the 15 day DL, This of course is due to a torn knee ligament he suffered earlier in spring training. This looks to be a big impact on the Brewers rotation and we will see what that means for them espeically if this is a long drawn out injury.