Al's old photo posts got me "rumanatin'". Seeing photos of Ernie's 500th HR and Kenny Holtzman's no-hitter bring back a lot of memories.

As we near the end of the year and begin to look to 2010, I started thinking back to memorable Cubs games I’ve attended. Sadly, there aren’t a lot. I get to see maybe a couple of game a year since I live in Michigan.

But it got me to thinking about what might be other BCBer’s most memorable Cubs game that you’ve seen in person. This exercise might be a nice break from all the player transaction (or lack thereof) hand wringing that’s been so prevalent these past few weeks.

So think about it and share your experiences. The only criteria is “memorable”. It doesn’t necessarily mean the Cubs won the game, nor does it have to be at Wrigley.

What’s the most memorable Cubs game YOU’VE attended?

Al's haiku Friday seems to have been quite a hit- with many BCBers penning very clever verses. So I propose a "Cubs Limerick Weekend". A limerick is a five line poem with a strict form (AABBA) [no, not the music group silly] and is intended to be humorous. Some can be baudy and some even obscene.

For the sake of a PG rated blog, let's keep the obscene stuff out of the postings. I'm sure Al would appreciate not having to spend his weekend deleting "clearly over-the-top" material.

But have fun. Here's a starter:

There once was a right fielder from Nantucket

who couldn’t catch balls with a bucket. 

They’d bounce in the stands. 

He’d shrug, hips with hands 

and snarl: “What else you got?” Nothin’? Then #&%@##!*^#!

The dust has settled from this week's games. Congratulations to OSU (& ballhawk) for their overtime win against Iowa (sorry, sue369) and likely trip to the Rose Bowl. It was a great game. Well played by both teams.

Also, congrats to Wisconsin, Minnesota, Northwestern, Penn State and my alma mater Michigan State for their victories.

I've closed the poll, but there are still a number of possibilities as to where teams will finish up. Look for a final week Big Ten Thread posted later this week by Vermont Cubs Fan in anticipation of the final regular season weekend.

P.S.- ballhawk: don't let your guys rest on their laurels. You have a job to do against our "little sister" in A2 Saturday at the "state prison"... or as they refer to it there: "The Big House". Kind of silly to me to nickname your stadium after a place of incarceration, but I just consider the source... ;)  

Ernie HARWELL, that is...

Since longtime Detroit Tigers' play by play announcer Ernie Harwell announced he has cancer, there has been a groundswell of support to recognize his Hall of Fame contribution to baseball by naming the playing field at Comerica Park the "Ernie Harwell Field" (at Comerica Park). 

For those of us Cubs fans that are also Tigers or Ernie Harwell fans, there is a way to support the movement.

You may visit the Detroit Free Press article link: Support "Ernie Harwell Field" at Comerica Park for more information

or you may visit the FaceBook site directly at: Facebook direct link to show your support.

Back in July, Aroldis Chapman (21), a Cuban considered by many scouts to be the best left-handed pitching prospect in the world, defected from the Cuban national team and is currently a free agent.

While pitching for Cuba, his fastball regularly topped out at over 100 mph.   

The Yankees, Angels, Red Sox, White Sox, Cardinals, Mets, and now the Tigers are interested in him, among “other clubs”. MLB sources say he could sign with a team as early as next week. Chapman said he is "80 percent ready for MLB right now".

By several estimates, Chapman could garner a contract worth anywhere from $40 million to $60 million.

This story has flown under the radar a bit. Some sources say the Cubs are one of those “other clubs”. Are they legitimate bidders here, or is this a pipe dream?

My gut says "pipe dream". New owner Ricketts is not likely to open up his wallet for $40-$60M during his first full week as owner especially with the Cubs already holding onto several long term contract commitments.

Thoughts?  

Longtime Tigers beat writer Lynn Henning wrote an article in today's Detroit News speculating on what the Tigers need to do to during the off-season to stay in "contention" in 2010.

http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20091020/OPINION03/910200396/1004/sports/How-the-Tigers-can-stay-in-contention 

According to Henning, one of the areas of focus is that the Tigers: "... will trade Curtis Granderson for two players. I cannot shake a personal belief that dealing Granderson is their only way out of heading into 2010 with zero chance to win the division. This is said with the understanding that losing your center fielder and leadoff man is not an ideal way to get better."

So my question BCBers is this: Is there a scenario under which the Cubs can be a trading partner with the Tigers and exchange multiple players INCLUDING A FORMER CUBS RIGHT FIELDER WHO SHALL REMAIN NAMELESS and wind up with Chicagoan Curtis Granderson in center field next season?

And who ELSE would the Cubs have to include to make it happen?

As Al would say: "Discuss".