We haven't talked about this in fanposts for a while (at least I haven't seen it).  With the news that Manny and Ortiz can be added to the list of people on the infamous list of 104 I think it's time to just release the names.  I know the testing was done under the assumption that it wouldn't be released originally, but the leaks are just making it worse.  Since leaks are inevitable, letting the fans know who the other 97 are so that we can stop prolonging the agony seems to be the only fair thing to do.

I know it wouldn't absolve everyone else, there is still always a risk that our favorite players juiced--but slowly leaking 1 or 2 names every 6 months seems to be death by a thousand cuts.  It ensures that we can't get over the scandal because every time it dies down, someone uncovers a new name.  Baseball needs to put this behind itself.  The only way to do that is release the other names. 

Thoughts?

Following a link from Baseball Prospectus I came across the following article at SI.  It's a pretty fun read all around, but given our recent series with the Giants, this particularly jumped out at me:

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Go Tigers!  Get those Dirty Birds!  Go Tigers!  Get those Dirty Birds!

Go Tigers!  Get those Dirty Birds!  Go Tigers!  Get those Dirty Birds!

Go Tigers!  Get those Dirty Birds!  Go Tigers!  Get those Dirty Birds!

Go Tigers!  Get those Dirty Birds!  Go Tigers!  Get those Dirty Birds!

Go Tigers!  Get those Dirty Birds!  Go Tigers!  Get those Dirty Birds!

Go Tigers!  Get those Dirty Birds!  Go Tigers!  Get those Dirty Birds!

Go Tigers!  Get those Dirty Birds!  Go Tigers!  Get those Dirty Birds!

Go Tigers!  Get those Dirty Birds!  Go Tigers!  Get those Dirty Birds!

Go Tigers!  Get those Dirty Birds!  Go Tigers!  Get those Dirty Birds!

Go Tigers!  Get those Dirty Birds!  Go Tigers!  Get those Dirty Birds!

Enough?

I thought some other people might need to hear this/a place to comment after yesterday.  I agree, yesterday was hard to watch, but still.

We are not those Cubs.

I've been a Cubs fan my whole cogent life.  For the record, I'm currently 29, and have been watching the Cubs on WGN since I was at least 4.

I come from a baseball family, what can I say?  My dad coached t-ball, little league, babe ruth and american legion.  At 3 I was playing indoor wiffle ball with my dad and my brother.  I was changing the numbers on the scoreboard at 8, I learned to keep the team book at 11.  I did play by play locally (very rurally, locally) at 13.  I recorded the Cubbies day games as soon as I was able to work the VCR.  I saw the evil corn cob dress and cried when Ryno retired.

I sat through 1984 (barely cogent) 1989 (Watching the Hawk strike out to end the series hurt).  In 1998, I was going through a horrible college angst break up.  Sammy's run cheered me up, their loss in the post season broke my already shattered heart, as did our brief post season show.  2003--well, we all were there.  I couldn't believe it.  Last year, I was lucky enough to be in Chicago during the Diamondbacks series, but couldn't get to the field.  I sat at the hotel bar and waited out the very last pitch as all the fans trickled home.

I get the heartache.  I've seen the implosions.  I remember getting my hopes up in late 2001 only to have them dashed.

This is not those teams.

It's just not.  I'm not a baseball statistician (oddly, I'm a politics statistician, so I could probably run some numbers if needed, I have the equipment).  I don't know why this isn't those teams.  It just isn't.

Every time we let ourselves think this is the magical moment of implosion though, we set ourselves up for a self-fulfilling prophecy, and this is not the year to do that.  We've come from behind too many times.  We've won close games. Yes, the Rays series sucked, but so what?  You win at home, you split on the road and you get to the playoffs.  That's what my dad always said, anyway.

BTW, This is not those teams.

So screw superstitions and be gone doubters.  They can do this.  We came back 9 down against the Rockies for God's Sake.  Yes a sweep hurts, but the season is 162 games long for a reason.

Grow some faith.

We'll need it in the post-season. ;)

These little guys may be the cutest piece of ceramic ever created.  My gnome came yesterday, I saw others got their's over the weekend.  This is the place to name your gnome.

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