via www.chicagobreakingsports.com

Hey, I'd smile too if I made that kind of bread without having to be in a rotation too.

FWIW, the one time Cubs pitcher once again is going to try to mount still another comeback. 

Honestly, I kind of find it hard to believe anyone thinks Mark's worth the look. I guess throwing on flat ground is one way to build it so they (the scouts) will come.

I like Mark -- will never forget the 2003 and 2004 seasons in which he shone like a comet and when his afterburners began to flame out on the long slow powerdive down. But unless there's some magic the million dollars of rehab the Pads poured into him last year, he's done.

Well, it's week number 10. Both teams are truckloads of suckitude trying to see if they can fit in the playoff feature. The Davis-Ogunleye dust up a few moments ago on the field appears to be - if the Four Horsemen of the NFL Channel are to be believed - allegedly a precursor to a "play off atmosphere." Heh.

But who knows what will happen. Anyone want to settle in and watch and chat, let's see where this goes. The NFL Channel is carrying it and I guess I'll sit here and watch it. And maybe between plays we can help the Cubs figure out what they need to do, if Milton and Kevin are going to swap jerseys according to the next tweet, and if the grave of the Yum Yum Donuts building will really help the Cubs.

I just hope Hester and Cutler bring it. And Deion, I fear, is right. Davis will talk the smack but he'll bring his game.

<img src="http://www.spiritwatch.org/cubscincy08.JPG"/>

My utterly adorable niece Maggie and nephew Alex, both about 8 and 10 years old each and hopelessly  indoctrinated into being Cubs fans by our Cubs-crazy family, have suddenly decided they want to start learning how to play guitar. 

I kinda sorta plunk along with it, and am frankly not that great at it, but I want to encourage them to do so. I will be spending some time with them this Christmas and giving them real kid sized guitars to play with to see if they really want to do this long term. And as anyone knows who teaches music to kids, for them to put it all together, you have to help them learn to play something simple quickly that helps them feel like they're achieving something that gives them the payback for the attention to detail they'll have to put into it, plus whatever basic chord/music stuff I can rummage up for them.

I would really like to teach them Steve Goodman's  "Go Cubs Go" but can't find any tabs for it anywhere. Any guitar playing Cubs fans out there who can help me figure them out or know somewhere on the net they might be posted, your help would be really appreciated, plus any other suggestions on simple songs I could direct them to.

Just not "Dying Cub Fan's Last Request" .. puhleeze!

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/blog/big_league_stew/post/Umpire-Tim-McClelland-makes-the-worst-call-of-al?urn=mlb,197210

Heads up defense by the Angels was, as usual, miffed by their offense and pitching (thank goodness the Cubs didn't get Kazmir) and the Yanks blew them out of the water 10-1.

But there's no doubt in my military mind that yes, that really was probably one of IF not the worst umpiring call of all time in the ALCS game last night in the Angels v Yankees debacle. Preceded of course by that play in which New York's Swisher was picked off at second by a full foot off the bag, and - of course - missed by the ump also.

No, really. As if the Yanks didn't get another break that was pathetic in and of itself when playing the Twins, now this? I had to pick my jaw up when I watched this. I screamed "OUT!" twice when I saw the Angels' catcher nail the two base runners .. and then watch the AL ump call ONE of them out. That is absolutely insane. The reasoning the ump for missing it was specious .. he had several seconds to watch what was going on and he was RIGHT there!

Look, umps are as human as baseball players. They miss their calling on occasion just as the biggest superstar might. But how many more blown calls will we have to endure before Bud Selig decides to join the 21st century and start using the technology available to them to review these things in instant replay just like the NFL does?

The Twins may not have been able to see what happened in the depths of that left field hole in the Bronx they call a stadium in the ALDS, but there's no way you could miss what happened last night in the ALCS. This was absolutely absurd and an affront to this game, and Selig needs a serious check up from the neck up if he's going to keep putting that kind of review option on the shelf. Oh, wait, I forgot about the Magical Fox Wizard manifestation which reflects the equally stupid way they divvy up viewing of MLB games, so what can we expect?

via blogs.suntimes.com

I really could care less about postseason baseball play this year for obvious reasons.  When the Cubs folded their tent a week ago, that was it for me. Just because the Cards have been choking, I decided to watch the game last night between NY and Minnesota.  Because there's not a single sports team east of Baltimore that I remotely care for, especially the Yankees, I was rooting for the Twinkies.

And then THAT happened. I was absolutely stunned. Not one but TWO umpires on that line. I can see the one behind the back up missing it. The one RIGHT on top of it, one Phil Cuzzi, blew this so badly my half blinded saintly mom wouldn't have missed it. The picture shows just after landing within the foul line with the little puff of dirt showing the contact point .. and as it was on the bounce back up. Outstanding work by Getty.

That hit would have put Joe Mauer on first base at minimum with no outs and would have, with the three singles in a row after wards by the Twinks, brought him around to break the tie. I have no dog in the hunt, but boy does that call really have to go down as one of the worst of all time. And there was no provision for an appeal to video review of any of this last night? Unbelievable.

I remember interest back in October 2008 for this.

It now seems incumbent upon us to consider the possibility for the need of our healing community to once again convene. Heck, when we have to start thinking about this in August after the last couple years, then I gots the feeling it's going to be really, really needed come this fall.

I haven't given up on this season yet. Not at all. But prudent preparation is always good.

Even the biggest Cubs fans need a hug now and then. Remember what the Muppet on Sesame Street said, staring into the PBS cameras with plastic button eyes and street smarts: You ain't never too cool to cry.