SB Nation User Blog: Zeke

OT: How will the Big Ten wind up and who goes where?

Zeke — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 13:09:53 -0000

Iowa's loss to Northwestern this past Saturday threw open the door to a lot of scenarios involving Big Ten football teams.

There are a LOT of Big Ten fans on BCB. Given that, where do you think your school/alma mater/walmart wolverine's favorite team will ultimately wind up when all is said and done?

Predict where in the Big Ten they will finish and what bowl game (if any, cough, u-m) they will go to.

There is also a poll for the top spot, so have at it ;)

Poll

Which Big Ten team will win this year's conference title?

OT: Why not name a field after Ernie?

Zeke — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 13:48:03 -0000

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.

OT: How much difference does a hitting coach make?

Zeke — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 19:21:03 -0000

OT: How much difference does a hitting coach make?

In today's Detroit News, baseball writer Lynn Henning wonders just how much a hitting coach makes a difference as the Tigers look to rebound from a terrible hitting year.

He even muses on the Cubs' acquisition of Rudy Jaramillo...

More "Hot Stove" speculation: Aroldis Chapman as a Cub?

Zeke — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 17:35:24 -0000

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?

OT - R.I.P. Soupy Sales

Zeke — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 10:24:06 -0000

OT - R.I.P. Soupy Sales

Growing up in Michigan, watching Soupy was the OTHER reason to love being home sick from school- the Cubs being the first, of course...

Is there ANY "reasonable" scenario where a certain former Cubs right fielder is parlayed into Curtis Granderson?

Zeke — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 22:31:42 -0000

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".

Poll

Will the Tigers and Cubs pull off a trade that includes Curtis Granderson coming to Chicago for (among others) a former Cubs right fielder (who shall remain nameless)?

YES! My god, YES! Git 'er done JIMBO!

69 votes

Maybe. It's worth having the conversation if it doesn't cost the Cubs too much beyond "you know who".

51 votes

Uh, what are you smokin' Zeke? Put away the blinders. It's NEVER gonna happen.

70 votes

190 votes | Poll has closed

Cardinals Suffer "Premature Elimination"; How bad IS the NLCD?

Zeke — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 13:58:40 -0000

The St. Louis Cardinals suffered a severe care of performance anxiety and "Premature Elimination" last night as the Los Angeles Dodgers swept the Redbirds out of the NL Playoffs.

This marks the third consecutive year the National League Central Division representative has pulled the old "three and out" trick out of the hat. We all know who the NLCD representative was in 2007 & 2008.

So, since the Cardinals won the World Series in 2006, does the recent three year trend mean the division is really weaker than the others in the National League, or is it just an anomaly? Is it just a case of running into a "hot" team in the playoffs, or is the problem deeper than that?

What does next year's division winner (AKA: The Cubs, silly!) need to do to stop this embarrassing happenstance?

(NOTE: Loss of BCB points for answering "We need to get 'more left-handed'.")

Poll

Is the National League Central Division weaker than the other two divisions?

Yep. Playoff facts "iz" facts.

20 votes

Nope. These things run in cycles. Look, the Cards won it all in 2006- and the Cubs did it in 1907 and 1908 (of course, there was no NLCD then, but don’t nitpick).

49 votes

Maybe. I don't like the pressure having to be forced into a "right or wrong" answer. Is there an essay question?

20 votes

What was the poll question again?

18 votes

107 votes | Poll has closed

If the Cubs are looking for an outfield coach, maybe they should: "Ask Andy".

Zeke — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 22:28:06 -0000

If the Cubs are looking for an outfield coach, maybe they should: "Ask Andy".

Tigers first base and outfield coach Andy Van Slyke will not return to Detroit next season. Given the Cubs often shaky outfield defense this past year, could Van Slyke be an asset working with the Cubs outfielders?

Tigers' Cabrera drunk after Friday's loss prior to a domestic dispute...

Zeke — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 14:09:23 -0000

Tigers' Cabrera drunk after Friday's loss prior to a domestic dispute...

In a display of incredibly poor judgement during the most important regular season baseball weekend for the Tigers in 20 years, Detroit's' Miguel Cabrera went drinking with a friend from the White Sox Friday night after the Tigers lost, then allegedly got into a physical altercation with his wife.

This apparently was not the first time Cabrera had trouble with alcohol resulting in an altercation and had been warned by team officials to stay away from the bar he frequented Friday night.

Harry Kalas and Ernie Harwell

Zeke — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 11:32:19 -0000

Harry Kalas and Ernie Harwell

A nice NPR story about the late Harry Kalas (Phillies PBP) and LOOOOOOG(gone)time Tigers' PBP legend Ernie Harwell.

There's also a link to the audio file...