Doug Glanville, who some of us may remember wore the blue pinstripes during his Major League debut in 1996, and also in 1997 and 2003, wrote a great opinion piece for the New York Times about the first game played after the attacks on our nation.

Seven years ago this week — Sept. 17, 2001, actually — my team, the Phillies, played a key game against the Atlanta Braves inside a packed Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia. The electricity in the stands was stunning. The pre-game ceremony showed off one of the biggest American flags I had ever seen, and the video presentation was one of a kind.

Because the three upcoming games would most likely make or break our season, we expected the series to bring Phillies fans from far and wide to support our efforts. At this point, every game counted — we were neck and neck with the Braves for the division title with only two weeks remaining. Even under the circumstances, though, we never expected this degree of support.

But we realized that the fans came out only partly to see a playoff race.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/18/opinion/18glanville.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

From the Tribune Blogs...

 

NEW YORK - According to a source who has seen the Major League Baseball master schedule, the Cubs will play their 2009 home opener April 13 against Colorado.

Also, spring training is expected to last seven weeks instead of the normal six weeks because of the World Baseball Classic.

Of course, this is the home opener.  I'm not sure if it's the 'true' first game and if the season starts later because of the WBC.

http://blogs.trb.com/chicago-breaking-news/2008/09/cubs-to-open-09-season-against.html

It seems like the two games played at Miller Park have started up the blasphemous talk of replacing Wrigley Field among the journalists and even players.  Among some of the quotes from the article...

There's no doubt the Cubs enjoyed their two-day stay in the Brewers' home clubhouse at Miller Park, and not just because they allowed only one hit in two victories over Houston.

After his no-hitter Sunday, Carlos Zambrano went as far as to say: "This is a beautiful ballpark. Gosh, I wish we could have a new ballpark."

Jason Marquis loves Wrigley, too, but wouldn't mind a replica built on the current site.

...

"If I had a personal choice, I think they should knock Wrigley down and build a replica in the exact same spot to give it that same feel. The same colored seats, same ivy, same wall, and throw up a Jumbotron, but have it look like a replica of the scoreboard that's up there now, try to give it the same feel, in the same spot. I wouldn't be opposed to that."

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/chi-17-cubs-brite-chicagosep17,0,1561611.story

Forget the no-hitter, this is the true sign of success.  Zambrano has been recognized in a MLB Game of the Year and the broadcast is available for a small sacrifice of 1.26gb of your hard drive, and 1.99 of your precious earnings...

September 14th, 2008: Chicago Cubs 5 at Houston Astros 0 F -- The only thing that frustrated Carlos Zambrano Sunday night was his at-bat in the seventh inning. He struck out and looked as if he were about to snap the bat across his knee. But he stopped himself. "I was feeling too good to do that," Zambrano said with a smirk. "I saw Lou's face. I said, 'No, not today.'" Zambrano remembered in time that he's a pitcher first. He looked it. Making his first start in 12 days, the right-hander threw his first career no-hitter and the first by a Cubs pitcher in 36 years as Chicago beat the Houston Astros, 5-0, in a makeup game played in front of a very pro-Cubs crowd of 23,441 at Miller Park. "Carlos made it special for them and for us," Cubs manager Lou Piniella said.

Direct Link to iTunes Music Store

MLB.com Reds blurb:

Though Dusty Baker has seven extra callups at his disposal, he has to be careful how to use them. He'll try to manipulate his lineup in Wednesday's finale vs. the Brewers.

MLB.com Brewers blurb:

CC Sabathia's start in Wednesday's series finale against the Reds was initially questioned, but now that they're facing a sweep, the Brewers realize they need their ace.

This game is on FSN Ohio, WMLW 41, AFN, Extra Innings, and MLB.tv

Probable Pitchers:

Shawn Estes - #55 LHP
* (1-1) 3.33 ERA 14 SO
Estes, out since May 29 with a fractured left thumb, was activated from the disabled list on Monday. The 35-year-old will be a free agent after the season, and the Padres want to get a look at him as they move forward with an eye on 2009. Estes is 1-1 with a 3.33 ERA in five games this season, including four starts.

Jeff Suppan - #37 RHP
* (10-7) 4.49 ERA 77 SO
Suppan capped off a stellar August with a seven-inning, two-run performance against the Pirates. The right-hander finished the month 5-0 and struck out twice as many batters as he walked. Suppan said he used the movement on his fastball to his advantage and mixed in a changeup to keep hitters off balance. He'll need to do the same against the Padres, against whom he is 5-3 with a 5.66 ERA in his career.

Tidbits
Estes flew out of Los Angeles before Wednesday's game at Dodger Stadium so that he didn't have to take the red-eye charter from Los Angeles to Milwaukee late Wednesday night. The Padres weren't due to get into Milwaukee until around 5 a.m.

(Bulk of information taken from Padres Game Story)

At the beginning of the season, everyone went through and predicted the playoffs.  At the all star break, lets do some new predictions.

To let everyone have 'educated' guesses, here's how the division series would look would be if the season ended today...

AMERICAN LEAGUE
Tampa Bay (Wild Card) at Los Angeles (Top Overall Seed)
Chicago at Boston (Home Field)

NATIONAL LEAGUE
Arizona at Chicago (Top Overall Seed)
St. Louis (Wild Card) at Philadelphia (Home Field)

And here's a look at the Wild Card races... (Games Behind)

AL:  MIN (2.5) / OAK (4.5) / NYY (5.5) / TEX (6.0)
NL:  MIL (0.5) / NYM (1.5) / FLA (2.5) / LAD (6.5)

Happy Guessing!

Just announced on ESPN... here's the Trib's take...

CHICAGO - According to a published report, it looks like there will be hockey at Wrigley Field, the home of the Chicago Cubs.

The Minneapolis Star-Tribune reports that the Chicago Blackhawks and Detroit Red Wings plan to participate in the National Hockey League's third outdoor game on New Year's Day, and want to use the North Side ballpark as the site.

An announcement is expected next week before the Blackhawks Convention at the Chicago Hilton.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/wire/chi-ap-hkn-hockeyatwrigley,0,946799.story

Edit:  Just realized there was a fanpost about this from yesterday.  This serves as the "official" notice post (yeah, that's my excuse!) plus as a 'bump' to the top.

From the wacky minor league promotions department... and in case you're wondering, yes, this is the same team that had the promotion a few years back where the first 3 innings were played on the X-Box...

 When you’re an independent, minor-league baseball team, you bank heavily on crazy promotions for big crowds.

And the T-Bones likely will score big with their Michael Vick “Welcome to the Neighborhood” promotion scheduled for May 28.

Vick, as you know, is serving a 23-month sentence at the U.S. Penitentiary in nearby Leavenworth after pleading guilty to charges related to a dogfighting ring.

The T-Bones assure us they are not making light of Vick’s crime. In fact, part of the promotion will include an auction of game uniforms to benefit local animal shelters. And there will be animal-shelter pets outside the stadium to be viewed for potential adoption.

But the T-Bones certainly are going to have some fun regarding Vick’s circumstances. For example, those uniforms to be auctioned off? They will include the T-Bones’ game jerseys from that night, which will be the old-style, black-and-white prison stripes. The visiting team, the Gary Southshore RailCats, will wear the orange jumpsuit tops.

Continue reading at the Kansas City Star, and learn about the ideas that didn't make the cut...

As a native Nebraskan and Husker Fan, I keep a close eye on the home-state heroes in the MLB, such as Alex Gordon (KCR) and Joba Chamberlain.  Joba rocketed to national fame by rising from A-ball to the savior of the Yankees bullpen last season, and I'm glad to see him do well even if it is for that hated New York team.

 Last night, his dad, who has been suffering from polio and a burst appendix, collapsed at his home in Lincoln and is currently listed in critical condition at the hospital.  As MLB.com reports,

Chamberlain learned of his father's condition after the Yankees' 8-5 loss to the Red Sox at Fenway Park. Chamberlain returned a telephone call from his sister after the game and broke down in tears in the clubhouse as manager Joe Girardi consoled him, according to the report.

Asked about the situation, Girardi told the Daily News, "Personal stuff stays in there," pointing to the clubhouse.

Chamberlain is not expected to be with the club as it opens a two-game series at Tampa Bay on Monday. He and his father are extremely close, speaking by telephone on a daily basis during the season.

Best wishes to you and your pops, Joba. 

Since Al was delayed this morning in posting a recap from last night, I was surfing around other SB Nation blogs and discovered a post on Pinstripe Alley about a website I never knew about before, http://www.whatifsports.com

As "Yankee come lately" says,

I'm a late-comer, as it has been around since 1999.  It's a simulation league that allows you to draft a team of players from the 1880's to the 2007 season, and then play against other people's teams.  It's a lot of fun and addictive as hell.

They have an exhibition season of ten games that is free and a full 162 game season with more options for $12.  I've played about ten exhibition seasons, and they're great.

I decided to play around on the site, and created a fantasy team of mine using players from Al's BCB Top 100 Cubs, and came up with this:

1896 Bill Dahlen      1952 Hank Sauer
1905 Ed Reulbach      1963 Billy Williams
1906 Jack Pfiester    1964 Ron Santo
1907 Frank Chance     1968 Fergie Jenkins
1908 Joe Tinker       1969 Ernie Banks
1909 Mordecai Brown   1976 Rick Monday
1912 Johnny Evers     1984 Ryne Sandberg
1918 Hippo Vaughn     1988 Andre Dawson
1935 Billy Herman     1989 Rick Sutcliffe
1936 Gabby Hartnett   1992 Greg Maddux
1944 Phil Cavarretta  1992 Mark Grace
1945 Andy Pafko       1999 Sammy Sosa
1945 Stan Hack 

Payroll: $189,118,149
---Position $105,832,055
---Pitchers $83,286,094

Batting Totals:
AVG .303 / HR 312 / RBI 1532 / FIELD B+ / RANGE A- /

Pitching Totals
W-L 143-78 / SV 8 / ERA 2.01 / WHIP .99 / K 1237 / BB 469
 

Trying out a simulation game, the BCB Cubs defeated the 1907 Cubs 5-3 at Wrigley Field.  Go BCB!

1907 Scoring Plays:
2- G.Hartnett is charged with a passed ball and all runners advance. J.Kling scores.
9- H.Sauer botches a routine flyball and J.Evers reaches on the error. J.Tinker scores.   
9- J.Sheckard hits into a 4-6 fielder's choice. J.Slagle scores.  

BCB Scoring Plays:
6- H.Sauer grounds a single to CF. B.Dahlen scores. 
7- B.Dahlen hits into a 6-4 fielder's choice. R.Sandberg scores.   
7- P.Cavarretta smokes a line drive single to LF. G.Hartnett scores.  
8- R.Sandberg hits a flyball double to LF. R.Santo scores.   
8- G.Hartnett hits a groundball single to RCF. R.Sandberg scores.  

 

West Virginia, Davidson, Villanova, and Western Kentucky... welcome to the Sweet 16 as the only remaining 7 seeds or above remaining... one of you could become Cinderella and earn the trip to San Antonio for the Final Four.

However, the real point of this fanpost is to update everyone on the BCB Bracket Contest now since we've completed the first weekend of play. Tied in first with 48 points are  hugh41979 and RJV 2008.  In third with 47 points is bluesweatergirl, and Matt and Goast Whisperer round out the Top 5 tied for fourth place. 

I'm sitting way back in 12th place with 32 points, but I'm hoping since I still have 7 out of my Elite 8 alive, I can earn some points here in the later rounds.  And Al, what were you thinking putting Notre Dame in the National Championship?  That decision along with a bad host of others has you in 36th place out of 46 filled-out brackets.

Here's the Sweet 16 Matchups for later in the week:

East Region - Charlotte
(1) North Carolina vs (4) Washington State
(2) Tennessee vs (3) Louisville

Midwest Region - Detroit
(1) Kansas vs (12) Villanova
(3) Wisconsin vs (10) Davidson

South Region - Houston
(1) Memphis vs (5) Michigan State
(2) Texas vs (3) Stanford

West Region - Phoenix
(1) UCLA vs (12) Western Kentucky
(3) Xavier vs (7) West Virginia

The round of 64 is complete, and the round of 32 has already started with Duke looking weak for a second game in a row.  Congratulations to cubsfan0623 and hugh41979, as they are tied for first place in the BCB Bracket.  Both of their brackets have lost just 2 Sweet 16 teams so far, though Hugh looks to take the edge if West Virginia "upsets" Duke this afternoon... Hugh has WVU going to the Elite 8, while Cubsfan has Duke doing the same.

Otherwise, there's a 6-way tie for 3rd place and a 6th way tie for 9th place.  I'm stuck in 28th place right now, and our fearless leader Al is stuck in 41st place.

Today's lineup of games (winner advances to the Sweet 16):

1:10PM	Duke vs West Virginia (National) 
Duke losing by 8 in 2nd half...

3:20PM	Kansas State vs Wisconsin (94%)
3:40PM	Purdue vs Xavier (6%)

5:40PM	Notre Dame vs Washington State (63%)
5:45PM	Marquette vs Stanford (16%)
5:50PM	UNLV vs Kansas (21%)
--- COVERAGE MAP ---

8:10PM	Michigan State vs Pittsburgh (47%)
8:15PM	Texas A&M vs UCLA (53%)

Sure, it's cold, blistery, and downright miserable in Chicago right now.  

However, Cubs faithful, there is good news.  It's sunny and 70 in Mesa, Arizona, and even more importantly,




Pitchers and Catchers Report Tomorrow!!!!!




It's time to take the shorts out of storage and stock up on Old Style - because Next Year is Here!

Torre, 67, could be named manager as soon as tomorrow, according to two sources close to the situation. Don Mattingly is expected to accompany Torre to Los Angeles as his bench coach. Torre is also interested in hiring Kevin Long, his hitting coach with the Yankees.

http://www.lohud.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071029/SPORTS01/710290436

Wow.  I haven't seen this posted anywhere else, but this shakes up the N.L. and the west for sure...

I've paid my dues - Time after time
I've done my sentence - But committed no crime
And bad mistakes - I've made a few
I've had my share of sand kicked in my face
But I've come through

We are the champions, my friends
And we'll keep on fighting - till the end
We are the champions - We are the champions
No time for Brewers,
'Cause we are the champions - of the NL CENTRAL!!!

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