And this has absolutely nothing to do with the Cubs unfortunately.  No, this is something that all true baseball fans should experience at least once in their lives--the Midnight Sun Game in Fairbanks, Alaska.  Every year on the summer solstice the Alaska Goldpanners (an amature team made up of college players for the most part) play a game that doesn't start until 10:30 pm and its not uncommon for it to run until 2 or 3 in the morning.  The beautiful part of it is that it is played under nothing but natural light.  24 hours of usable sunlight at this time of year in Fairbanks leads to what is, IMHO, one of the best baseball experiences ever--anywhere.  Wrigley is absolutely the cathedral of the religion that is baseball, but this is something that should not be missed.  I was able to experience it once while I was stationed in Alaska and I cannot wait to go back some day and experience it again.  Visit the website and look around, read some of the history of the game.  Pay attention to some of the names that have played up there in this game, you might find one or two you might be familiar with.

Alaska Goldpanners Home Page

So, now the sweater vest is no longer in fashion at THE Ohio State University.  I don't suppose it's all that great of a surprise...especially to me.  When news started breaking that the troubles at OSU and with Tressel went a lot deeper than most people knew, I figured that if OSU wasn't doing a very quiet coaching search at that time that I would be very surprised.  As it turns out, they should have been and I think from the SI story that broke yesterday that they should be looking for a new AD also.  I guess my question is how does this effect the Big 10 (12) in general and Illinois specifically.  As I see it, big name coaches are going to wait and see what the NCAA does to the program (I predict something along the lines of a USC type punishment) and so too will major recruits.  As a result, that should lead to a downturn in the OSU program thus opening a spot toward the top of the league standings.  It might even open up some recruits (although with the real blue chippers it will probably just push them off to the SEC or some other major conference).  If you haven't, I would recommend reading the SI article.  From what I see, I certainly hope Tressel is done coaching in any form--I certainly wouldn't want him "molding" my kids.  Here's a link to the story for those that haven't read it--enjoy.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/magazine/05/30/jim.tressel/index.html?sct=hp_t11_a1&eref=sihp

Actually, more appropriately we got ours.  What is this that is causing so much joy you ask?  Why, it's my overpriced spring training tickets for the March 12 Cubs game vs. Reds in Las Vegas.  Less than a month and my family and I will be seated in Row T in Section 20.  If anyone else here happens to be at that game feel free to stop by I'd love to meet a few other BCB'ers, especially those who make the trip.  It is now officially baseball season--I've got my tickets and pitchers and catchers have reported, I absolutely love this time of year.

Well, its now official and we are headed to the Texas Bowl to meet up with Baylor.  I personally find it a little ironic that we're facing a Big 12 team just before we take one of the Big 12's best (Oklahoma be damned) as one of our own.  Well, we can now plan a trip to Houston over the Christmas break...OK, those of you still in school.  I'll have to be content to sit in the comfort of my in-laws' place to watch.  It should actually be a pretty good game.  I'm excited to see how Scheelhaase handles the spotlight as a first year starter and really can't wait to watch Leshoure run wild all over the Bears defense.  At least the field should be in slightly better condition this time round.  On a completely different subject...the St Louis Rams became bowl eligible today with their 6th win...oh wait.

Well, I've seen more minor league baseball in two weeks than I have in two years.  However, I've been finding that more enjoyable than this season in the bigs.  This time, I attended a Frontier League game--the Normal Cornbelters were taking on the Traverse City Beach Bums--quite possibly the best name for a baseball team I've ever seen.  There were no stars, just kids that have never had much of a chance and probably won't.  That doesn't stop these guys, though, and the fans are definitely the beneficiaries.  This was a great game and if anyone thinks independent league games aren't as entertaining they don't know baseball.  I saw things tonight that most don't see at the major league level.  I saw a submariner, a dying breed and the game went ten and was ended with a walk-off grand slam.  I didn't see anyone that would be promising at any advanced levels, but the starting catcher for the Cornbelters, Elvin Milan, had some of the best bat speed through the zone I've ever seen.  Too bad his swing is so big and there so many holes in it, he doesn't make contact much.  I think if he did, the ball would go on just about forever.  You really need to check out all levels of baseball, see these guys that play just for a chance and for the love of the game it's a great change of pace from the grind of a lost season.

Well, kind of off topic, I can actually tie this is in to the organization.  With all the negativity surrounding the team right now, I thought I would post this little pointless story.  The Air Force saw fit to move me and my family out west to Nevada.  Since I am in Vegas alone right now, I decided to take in a Las Vegas 51 game.  The 51s are the AAA affiliate of the Blue Jays.  Beautiful night and a really nice stadium.  If you're ever in Vegas, go to Cashman field, I highly recommend it.  The opponent tonight was the Sacramento River Cats, the AAA club of the A's.  I had seats not 10 feet from the field.  In fact, Tony Gwynn was there tonight signing autographs and walked right past me on the way to continue his signing after he threw out the first pitch.  On a side note, Tony looks like he has eaten the entire Padre line up, he's gained a little weight from his playing days.  Anyway, there were a few recognizable names on both sides of the diamond.  For the 51s, their 3d baseman is one Edwin Encarnacion and their 1st baseman is a young man by the name of Brian Dopirak.  A few of you may remember the name--we drafted him in 2002 and he moved through the system until we released him in 2007.  On the A's side of the diamond, Dallas McPherson was the DH.  Not much really to report, the 51's pitcher Lance Broadway had nothing and got lit up all night.  The really interesting thing was the River Cats' pitcher--Clay Mortenson.  He was dealing tonight.  He was hitting mid 90's consistantly and had great movement on his stuff.  As a bonus, it was announced that former Las Vegas 51 Edwin Jackson threw a no hitter shortly after that game had finished up.  I really don't have a point with all this, just use this to see that there are still truly fun things to be had in baseball.  If our major league 4 year olds have you feeling down, take in a minor league game.  These guys are playing for a chance or because they still love the game, the setting is family friendly, and its a hell of a lot cheaper than the bigs. 

I'm as much of an optimist as the next guy (as long as the next guy isn't Al) but lets face it, barring a miracle this team is going nowhere this year unless its actually further down in the stats.  I'm starting to see the names of more of our potential trade chips showing up in trade ideas and rumors.  We've already seen D-Lee and Fukudome's names appear in rumors, but a quick perusal of SBNation's Daily Dish would put out there two more.  The Dodgers may be looking for more pitching, truth be told who isn't.  One of the more realistic ideas put out there was our very own Ted Lilly.  Me, I can't see this happening because he's been the best man in the rotation for the past three years and I think the team would like to hang on to him (at least they should).  The other involved the Rockies looking for a short term solution for Tulowitzky, who has a wrist injury.  One idea here was our own Ryan Theriot.  I think we could get good return here and is worth exploring.  Of course, maybe they would take Baker back.  I think there is no way we get rid of Lilly unless someone absolutely blows us away with an offer but the Theriot idea I think is something that should be explored.  Personally, I think we really need to be exploring any and all options because this season is essentially lost.  What say you other long suffering members of BCB.

Well, all signs are pointing to Nebraska joining the Big Ten.  I can't think of a better fit for the conference, they stick with the option and power running game more than Ohio State.  This evens the conference at 12 teams and allows for two divisions and a conference title game.  Nebraska gets more money and wider national coverage.  Personally, I find myself torn about this.  I think the addition will be good for the Big Ten ultimately.  However, being an avid Illini fan, I find myself troubled because my first duty station was at Offutt AFB, just outside of Omaha.  Big Red football got under my skin and so when the Illini weren't going so hot (just about every year lately), I always had the Huskers to fall back on.  Oh well, more practically, I think Missouri would have been a better choice.  I think because Missouri recruits Texas so well, they would have opened up a nice recruiting area for us.  Also, it would have not only preserved the Braggin' Rights games, but ensured we continued having them for football.  This would have been a huge money monster for both schools.  However, they would have scared Jim Tressel with their modern, high speed offense.  Well, with this done, start looking for the Big 12 to disintegrate and cease to be an athletic conference as we know it in short order.  Any thoughts?

For any remaining Matt Murton fans out there, I found a little tiny blurb in yesterday's flood of information and disinformation from the winter meetings.  Seems Mr. Murton finally found a team that will give him playing time to prove he really does have skill.  Of course, to find this team he had to leave the North American continent.  The Hanshin Tigers of the Central League in Japan thought he was good enough to purchase his contract from Colorado.  Forgive me if this has already been posted, my internet connection is far too slow over here (Afghanistan) and I have far too little patience to have looked, so if I'm stepping on someone or recapping a recap I'm sorry and go ahead and blast me for it.  I would post a link, but I can't even remember under what pile of information I dug this up from.

If you saw these stats, who would you guess won the game?

Well, our stats are the first column and Cincinnati's are the second.  I actually finally got to watch the game and found that while the secondary did have its problems--poor coverage, bad angles to the ball and receivers--it was more our inability to get any pressure on the quarterback that killed us.  We actually should have won this game, damn.  Double damn, we lost in Vegas too.

I was at the Mariners/Royals game yesterday when I look in the field and who should be starting at short for the Ms but our (formerly) own Ronnie Cedeno.  The first play I saw to him he made a slick bare-handed fielding play and got the runner at first--not bad.  However, he found a way to be Ronnie Cedeno when it really counted.  On a sharp one-hopper with Coco Crisp on, Ronnie muffed the fielding attempt, allowing David DeJesus to reach and Crisp to score.  While the rest of his fielding was fine the rest of the game, his day at the plate was even worse with three swinging strike outs and I only saw him take two pitches in that span.  He was replaced by Yunnieski Betancourt in the 9th who promptly walked, making his offensive day that much better than Ronnie's immediately.  Maybe that Heilman trade wasn't such a bad idea after all.

One name that I haven't seen mentioned much in the free agent bonanza that is the off season is Garret Anderson.  I've seen Raul Ibanez mentioned more and I couldn't help but think that is a horrible idea--he can't play defense in a stadium that isn't affected by the weather as much as Wrigley, can you imagine him trying to run down a fly ball being driven different directions by the wind?  Anderson has a better glove and his power numbers seem to be similar--for a more detailed comparison, see baseball-reference.com--but Anderson's career numbers .296/.327/.469 compare favorably with Ibanez's .286/.346/.472.  Both are the same age--Ibanez is actually 28 days older, and both fit the "left handed hitter with pop" image.  Anderson also has extensive post season experience -- just don't look at those numbers, they are a little frightening.  Thoughts?