SB Nation User Blog: nji232

A Thank You to Andres Blanco

nji232 — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 04:23:53 -0000

Andres Blanco will probably never be confused with a great offensive force, or even somebody who can be a full-time major league starter, but I feel that his play recently warrants some special mention.

Andres came in without much notice, and has been filling in at short and second. He immediately became our best defensive option at both positions. Since Lou has a strange love with Ryan Theriot only playing short, Blanco has mostly gotten playing time at second.

Needless to say he has been awesome at defense there. Making tough plays look routine, and impossible plays very possible. (I may be going a bit overboard) He ended the game today with a nice play, and he eliminated any concern with second base being a defensive problem. To had onto that he has gotten a couple clutch hits and is the best bunter on the team. Even if he won't ever light the world on fire with his bat, he has convinced Lou to play him almost everyday which puts Aaron Miles one step closer to the DFA line.

Thank you Andres, and keep up the good work. WIth each great play on defense and the occasional hit you can be the one who gets Aaron Miles off this baseball team for good.

Heyman Pedro List

nji232 — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 13:38:05 -0000

Heyman Pedro List

SI writer Jon Heyman has the Cubs as his favorite to sign Pedro. His tweet is bolded

revised pedro pursuer list: 1. cubs. 2. #angels. 3. dodgers. 4. rays. 5. ny teams. LAA worried about lackey, i hear

Aramis Making Progress

nji232 — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 13:50:06 -0000

Aramis Making Progress

Wittenmeyer talks about some good Aramis news. Going to get his bat out this week.

Big Z Now Not Playing in WBC! (Confirmed, but Venezuela still thinks Big Z is playing))

nji232 — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 18:29:07 -0000

This very disturbing report from bleachernation.com. Saying that Big Z was cleared by the Cubs medical staff and will indeed be the ace of the Venezuelan WBC staff.

This is nothing short of a disaster in my opinion. Big Z already has injury concerns both from last season and going into this year. He needs to be in camp with his team working with team doctors.

My opinion about the WBC doesn't need to be repeated, if this report is true I hope Big Z can come back unharmed. Nothing good can come from this experience, hopefully Venezuela gets eliminated early on and Zambrano is back to playing for the team that actually pays his salary.

I'll add the link to the official roster here

Martin Rucker will get his first career start for the Browns today according to his facebook...

nji232 — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 15:56:23 -0000

Martin Rucker will get his first career start for the Browns today according to his facebook status. Congrats to T-Ruck.

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/profile.php?id=15910646&ref=nf

Chicago Cubs May Highlights

nji232 — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 21:42:24 -0000

Chicago Cubs May Highlights

May highlight video. Soriano's Pirates series is missing because I am saving that for later. Any criticism or comments always appreciated.

Cubs April Highlights

nji232 — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 05:08:11 -0000

Cubs April Highlights

I'll try and make one for each month of the season. Music suggestions and feedback would be appreciated. Strong language last minute or so of video.

Big Z to start the ASG (unconfirmed)

nji232 — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 15:12:21 -0000

Yahoo Fantasy sports is reporting that Big Z is going to start the All-Star game.

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/6559/news

I know the source seems really odd, but I don't think this is being made up. What does everybody think of this. Personally I think Webb or Volquez may have been more deserving of the start, but Im pumped to see Big Z on the mound at Yankee Stadium starting for the NL.

Thank you Cardinals and Padres. Jimmy Edmonds first half highlights.

nji232 — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 00:42:40 -0000

Thank you Cardinals and Padres. Jimmy Edmonds first half highlights.

Aramis and Clutch Hitting

nji232 — Tue, 27 May 2008 01:55:42 -0000

It has becoming increasingly clear to me throughout the past two seasons that Aramis has quietly (though maybe not to us Cubs fans) become one of the best clutch hitters in the game. Today's home run was just another great example. Over the past two years I remember the homer against the Brewers, a two-run triple against the Reds that tied the game in the ninth inning, his late homer against the Pirates this year that gave us the lead (which we blew), the same against the Rockies, and the two-run double in Pittsburgh on Saturday.

I'm sure there are other examples, but my question is this. How many other hitters in the game today would you rather have up in a clutch situation? Maybe Pujols, but I can't think of any others. Is Aramis Ramirez the best clutch hitter around, I certainly think he is top-5, maybe top-3.