Tag Archives: Cubs

Jan 31

Sportswriters Needed!

If you’re a sports blogger, chances are you know about the myriad of blogging sites available for baseball, football, basketball, and hockey fans alike. There’s SB Nation, filled with insight, snark, and a lot of stats that go over my head. There’s Bleacher Report, which has perfected the art of 10-picture slideshows. There’s FanSided, which has just about every bit of breaking news you could ask for. And then there’s Aerys Sports—the only female-run sports network on the web.

As a writer, I know that personally, the biggest two needs I have to fill are 1) finding topics to write about, and 2) getting people to read those thoughts. However, when it comes to applying for blogging networks, I’m finding that the really successful sites also have tight-knit communities where you can bounce ideas off each other, help promote great work, and improve the quality of your own writing.

Back to the point… this great site I write for called Aerys Sports is gearing up for Spring Training, and it’s their goal to cover all these MLB teams by Opening Day. Check out the openings below and see if your favorite team needs a writer!

National League Teams 

American League Teams

Contributing Writer Openings

You can apply if: You love baseball!

Teams: All MLB teams

Who to contact: Click on the website you’re interested in, and contact the Lead Writers through Aerys.

Lead Writers

You can apply if: You’re a girl who loves baseball! (Sorry, guys…)

Teams: Colorado Rockies (hurry, this one might be filled soon!), Pittsburgh Pirates, Minnesota Twins, Cleveland Indians, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (this might also be filled soon!)

Who to contact: Reply to us at @AerysSports, @Aerys_MLB, or through Tumblr.

Questions? Leave them in the comments!

Dec 6

Winter Meetings: Mariners Recap

Things are even quieter on the Mariners front with tight-lipped GM Jack Zduriencik. Still, with Prince Fielder on the table, there’s bound to be a trade or two brewing in the next few days.

Trades

December 5 – Nothing to report.

December 6 – None.

December 7 – Zip.

December 8 – Brewers Double-A LHP Lucas Luetge is the Mariners Rule 5 draft pick. From Geoff Baker: “[he] will compete for LH role in M’s pen.”

Trade Rumors

December 5 – Zduriencik plans to play it cool with Prince Fielder, gauging the team’s needs and the dwindling competition as Milwaukee, Washington, and Toronto bow out.

The M’s are eying a number of players: IF Carlos Guillen, RHP Andrew Bailey, and Japanese SS Munenori Kawasaki. A meeting has been scheduled with Carlos Guillen’s agent, Wil Polidor. Geoff Baker thinks that Bailey can be acquired with a top prospect and several others. The trade might also allow the M’s to move Brandon League if necessary.

Chone Figgins may have snagged a deal with the Rockies, according to Greg Johns. Colorado is interested in moving outfielder Seth Smith, provided the Mariners eat a substantial amount of Figgins’ contract. If not, Zduriencik plans to invite Figgins to compete for third base during Spring Training.

December 6 – ESPN Insider Jim Bowden tweeted that the Mariners are front runners for Fielder, since the Brewers, Cubs, and Blue Jays are after shorter contracts. Before you try to pre-order a new Fielder jersey, however, Zduriencik debunked this claim. Nothing has changed since yesterday, or if it has, the M’s are keeping it under lock and key.

December 7 – Rumors were even vaguer today, as Zduriencik is in talks with various teams for veteran pitchers and outfield/infield help. No offers have been extended, and none will be for a while.

Fielder’s agent, Scott Boras, had some positive things to say about Seattle when he met with the media this afternoon. From Greg Johns: “They’re a franchise that, if they are successful, the fans really, really support the team. Frankly, it’s that iconic dynamic we talk about with those franchise players, where a competitive team can mean an additional million fans.” It’s nice to be singled out, especially with the range of interest Fielder has sparked so far. Hopefully he feels the same way about the M’s when he sits down with Boras in the next few weeks.

In a live chat earlier today, Shannon Drayer mentioned possible trade targets other than Fielder (shocking, I know), from Cincinnati LF/1B Yonder Alonso to Boston CF Jacoby Ellsbury and Miami SS Hanley Ramirez. Of course, this is pure speculation so far, but it doesn’t hurt to have other players in mind in case Fielder’s price tag gets too high.

2012 Updates

December 6 – Mustache-less manager Eric Wedge met with the media to field questions about the lineup in 2012. Ichiro and the leadoff spot are no longer exclusive, after the star outfielder’s down year in 2011. Where he ends up is yet to be determined, depending on offseason developments. In a nutshell: nothing new.

Franklin Gutierrez is bouncing back from his injuries, and is on his way to filling the No. 2 slot. To quote Wedge (via Greg Johns’ article for Mariners.com): “I would love for him to really come in and fight for that and do that, because I think he’s capable of doing some things up there.”

Wedge is also looking to move some players around; again, depending on how things shape up in the offseason. Greg Johns reported that designated hitter Mike Carp may see more time in left field, while third baseman Chone Figgins could play a utility role.

December 8 – More Rule 5 draft activity: the Rangers picked up the M’s double-A outfielder Efrain Nunez.

Division rivals and “mystery team” for the last few days, the Angels nabbed LHP C.J. Wilson and superstar first baseman Albert Pujols for a whopping $325M. Now, more than ever, the M’s need to jump into the free agent pool for Fielder.

Nov 30

Free Agent Carousel

The Giants aren’t the only ones making strides as the Winter Meetings draw near. Yesterday, Mariners GM Jack Zduriencik held a conference call to outline his plans for the team this offseason.

Seattle has already committed to one trade so far, acquiring catcher John Jaso from Tampa Bay, and relinquishing RHP Josh Lueke, as well as undetermined minor league or monetary compensation.

Still, there are many gaps to be filled, and an offense that needs heating up in 2012. Prince Fielder is the big question mark on the Mariners’ list, but with $15M in extra cash, Zduriencik is understandably hesitant. As quoted by MLB.com’s Greg Johns: “There are so many factors there and no one knows where that number will end up. As much as you might have desire to go down a path, the length and dollars tie into that.”

Johns revealed that the M’s are looking at strengthening the team in many positions, building around a young—and still-developing—core. Nothing seems to be out of the question as the Mariners head into the Winter Meetings, from starting pitching to extra shortstops and third basemen.

A list of names and positions mentioned:

At this point, it’s nice to have options. I don’t expect the M’s to hook Fielder, and it may be more economical to go after a few veteran players instead. I’d rather see a team of young stars cemented by a few temporary vets than one or two big bats trying to carry the team.

Keep up with the Mariners’ moves and follow Greg Johns (@GregJohnsMLB) on Twitter for up-to-date information as the meetings develop, December 5-8.

Oct 15

2011 Fan[girl] Awards

Last year, I decided to give out my own awards to players, teams, and moments I felt contributed to the Giants’ memorable season. Although the Giants didn’t reach the postseason this year, I still want to highlight some of the highs and lows from 2011.

Worst Injury

Buster Posey vs. Scott Cousins. Need I say more? Didn’t think so.

Freddy Sanchez vs. his shoulder. Sixteen days after losing Posey to the DL, Sanchez rolled over a ground ball from Brandon Phillips, dislocating his shoulder in the Giants’ second season-ending injury of the year.

Jeremy Affeldt vs. frozen hamburger patties. I’m sure there’s a list of forbidden activities on off days, things like bungee jumping, playing with knives, or any other high-risk hobby. Unfortunately for Affeldt, this now includes trying to separate frozen hamburger patties with a knife, which he accidentally drove into his non-throwing hand.

Most Surprising Player

Pablo Sandoval. It was surprising enough that Panda managed to slim down over the 2010 offseason. What put him over the top, though, was watching his AVG spike from .268 to .315, with an OPS of .909 (.732 in 2010). Keep in mind that he played 35 fewer games this year, but factoring in a nasty hand injury in late April, it makes his accomplishments even more impressive–not to mention hitting for the cycle!

Ryan Vogelsong. Ryan’s was the ultimate feel-good story of 2011. He jumped into the rotation after Zito went on the DL this spring, finishing the year with a 13-7 W-L record and 2.71 ERA. He was warmly accepted by fans and teammates, recipient of the Willie Mac Award, National League All-Star, and ranked 6th overall for lowest ERA. Not too shabby for a guy who hadn’t pitched in the majors since 2006.

Miguel Tejada. Well, I never said the surprises were good ones. It makes me sad to think how excited I was about Tejada at the beginning of the season, only to see him slide from a .269/.312/.381 season with Baltimore and San Diego to a .239/.270/.326 season in San Francisco. And then there was the way he left the team in September… but more on that later.

Best Series

May 20-22 vs. Oakland. Take your pick: there was Huff with the walk-off single in Game 1, Lincecum with 6 K’s and 3 hits in a Game 2 shutout, and Burriss with another walk-off single for the sweep.

June 28-30 at Chicago. Not as sweet as a sweep, this was a 4-game split with the Cubs. However, what makes this series so remarkable is June 28–a doubleheader where the Giants’ winning streak expanded to 7 games, Zito earned his first win of the season, and the team dominated with a total of 30 hits and 19 runs.

September 15-18 at Colorado. Injuries, slumps, and struggles aside, this was not the team we’d grown accustomed to in 2011. Pablo lead the charge, hitting for the cycle in 6 innings of Game 1, then hitting 2 homers in the 4th inning of Game 4. Altogether, the Giants emerged from the series with 35 runs, 48 hits, and 8 consecutive wins… not to mention a very pleasantly surprised fan base.

Oddest Move by Management

Sending Belt to Fresno. And bringing him up. And sending him down. And bringing him up. And sending him down. And bringing him up. I’m not saying Belt would have thrived on the team had he been allowed to play a full season, but you can’t blame his numbers (.225/.306/.412) on a lack of readiness alone.

Releasing Tejada and Rowand. It was the day we all hoped for, but didn’t dare dream of. After an unfruitful season by both players, management ate over $15M in contracts and designated them for assignment before the final month of regular season games.

Giving the boot to Bill Neukom. Sorry, that’s supposed to read, “Bill Neukom chooses to retire.” Only his retirement came in the middle of September, a shock even to the team. The problem? None that was outlined clearly, as Larry Baer’s transition to CEO needed to be made smoothly. According to Mercury News columnist Mark Purdy: “The action is believed to be the fallout from a series of disagreements with the committee during Neukom’s three-year stewardship of the team.”

Most Promising Rookie

Brandon Crawford. In his first major league game, Crawford ripped a grand slam. It would be his first of only 3 home runs in 66 games, but the flashy glove at shortstop didn’t hurt–especially with a .972 FP. He spent the entire month of August in Fresno, and is polishing his fielding and batting skills with the Scottsdale Scorpions this offseason. My only hope is that he can pull up his AVG from .204 when we see him in the starting lineup in 2012.

Eric Surkamp. Surkamp made his major league debut in August, issuing 3 walks, 1 earned run, and 4 K’s over 6 innings. He fared slightly better in his subsequent five games, pulling out two wins against the Padres, but slipped in the last few games of the season, giving up 6 runs to Arizona for an embarrassing 15-2 loss that ended any thought of the playoffs. Despite leading the minors with a 1.94 ERA in 2011, his slip-ups in the majors mean we probably won’t be seeing Surkamp in a starting role anytime soon.

Brandon Belt. Belt has been heralded and defended and championed throughout the 2011 season, even as he was often passed over for Aubrey Huff (41 times, by my calculations). Whether or not those decisions were justifiable, Belt has had a decent season, considering all the traveling he’s done from SF to Fresno and San Jose. He debuted on Opening Day as the starting first baseman, and split the remainder of his games between first base and left field. Now, Belt is honing his skills in the Dominican Winter League, which will hopefully give him the edge he needs to be seriously considered in 2012.

What do you think? Vote in the comments, and stay tuned for the results!

May 20

Together We’re Giant

Credit: Mark J. Terrill/AP

It’s been an emotional week away from AT&T Park. Last Friday, the Giants started slow with a brutal 11-4 loss in Chicago, while Bumgarner relinquished five runs over one inning. Lincecum and Sanchez caught the bad-inning bug and had mini-disasters of their own in Colorado, without adequate run support to cover their mistakes. DeRosa couldn’t catch a break at the plate, and ended the road trip on the DL with a strained wrist. Tonight, Wilson nearly surrendered Bumgarner’s hard-earned win with back-to-back walks in the 9th, only to be saved by Schierholtz’s diving catch.

Credit: Mark J. Terrill/AP

Still, it hasn’t all been grey skies. Tejada is finally warming at the plate, finishing the week strong after 2 runs, 7 hits, and 3 RBIs. In the L.A. series finale, Bumgarner achieved his first win of the season, with a total of 3 K’s, 2 walks, and only 1 ER. Bochy’s controversial decisions are teaching us fans to trust our starters to pitch their way out of troublesome innings. (Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t, but you can’t argue that they haven’t earned the right to try.) Posey kicked off today’s game with a double, his first extra-base hit in a month. Run production is also improving so that every game doesn’t need to be a nail-biting pitchers’ duel (as fun as those can be). In the last two days, even Cain and Bumgarner have contributed with a run apiece.

It’s refreshing to see the Giants play as a team. Although we’re known for our pitching-centered approach, no game is a one-man show. Lincecum can rack up 12 K’s and Bumgarner can work towards that complete shutout, but it still takes Torres and Posey and Freddy to step in with runs. It takes Cody Ross to blast a 3-run homer in the 9th so we don’t have to go into extra innings. It takes Nate Schierholtz to rescue Wilson with an incredible catch. At the end of the day, that’s the kind of team I want to watch–one that rallies together to get the job done, rather than expecting any one player to carry the win.

Tomorrow we face the A’s in San Francisco for a three-game Battle of the Bay. Vogelsong takes the mound against Oakland with over 13 scoreless innings, a streak I hope will only continue to grow! Go Giants!

Feb 3

This Week in Baseball Headlines – January – February 4

Pitchers and catchers report in just a few weeks, and the headlines are picking up the pace in anticipation of the upcoming season. From fun-filled fanfests to retirement talks, it’s hard to believe this offseason is almost over!

Lou Piniella: Back so soon?

If you thought August 22, 2010 was Lou Piniella’s final farewell to baseball, think again. The former Cubs manager is making a comeback in 2011 as Brian Sabean’s special advisor. Still, the contract is only for one year, so we may be seeing another special closing ceremony for Lou not too long from now.
Retirement struggles: Part Two
After a stunning 16 seasons, 5 World Series victories, and a full career with the New York Yankees, starting pitcher Andy Pettitte is stepping off the mound for good. It makes sense to question this decision, especially with the needed strength Pettitte provides to New York’s pitching rotation. According to Andy, however, things just weren’t feeling right. “I just feel like that my heart is not fully, completely sold out to do this again,” quotes AP sportswriter Ronald Blum. And while reentering the majors in 2012 hasn’t been ruled out yet, it’s not looking likely. Even if Pettitte sticks with a permanent retirement, I have to respect a player who believes that baseball should be played with heart and passion, who is living proof that this sport is more than just a business.
From San Francisco to Seattle, with love
Although I hate to see any Giants leave SF, I can’t complain too much when those players end up in my hometown. Last month, relief pitcher Chris Ray left sunny California to become a minor-league Mariner. He’s one of few players to end up on both World Series teams in the same year, having pitched for both the Rangers and the Giants in 2010. Up in Seattle, I have high hopes for him, and can’t wait for the day when he closes out a game in Safeco Field.
Get ready for… The Real Giants of San Francisco!
Seriously, how awesome would that be? Negotiations are in the works for the first-ever reality TV show starring major members of the San Francisco Giants. If all goes according to plan, the series will follow the Giants through their “comeback season” of 2011, keeping tabs on their every heartbreak, triumph, and moment in between. The only question is, will the Machine be given a recurring role?
Dec 16

Fans Gone Wild: The Curse of Fan Interference

Baseball thrives on superstition. Fans insist on eating particular foods, wearing the same ragged shirt for days, and shutting up during a no-hitter. And even more important than personal rituals are the great curses of baseball that must be broken. There’s the Curse of the Bambino, the Curse of Captain Eddie, and the Curse of the Black Sox. There are curses that involve animals, magic spells, and irreverent fans.

In 2003, the Chicago Cubs faced the Florida Marlins in the NL Championship Series. Chicago held a 3-2 lead heading into Game 6, and by the 8th inning it looked as if they would take the pennant as well. This wasn’t just any series for the Cubs; if won, it would be inked in the history books as the game that broke the Curse of the Billy Goat.
The Curse of the Billy Goat began in 1945, when fan and animal lover Billy Sianis attempted to bring his pet goat into Wrigley Field. Although the goat was admitted into the ballpark, the animal’s B.O. wasn’t quite so welcome, and the fan was asked to leave. As he did so, Sianis reportedly claimed the Cubs would lose. This was interpreted to mean that Cubs fans would not see their team win a pennant or a Series, and the team consequently lost that season’s World Series to the Cardinals.

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Back to the 2003 NLCS: the Cubs saw their chance to finally snag that pennant, and with it, the upcoming Series. They were five outs away from the win when Luis Castillo fouled off a pitch towards the stands in left field. Rushing for the second out, Cubs outfielder Moises Alou tipped his glove over the edge of the stands… only to find it in the grasp of overeager fan Steve Bartman.
Now, fan interference is nothing new to baseball. It happens during regular season games and pivotal postseason moments. Sometimes it’s overturned; most of the time, it isn’t. However, this was quite a different story. Not only was the championship series at stake for Chicago, but the simple act of snagging an ordinary foul ball changed the whole momentum of the game. In the remaining out of the 8th inning, the Marlins rallied for a stunning 8 runs, allowing them to win the final two games of the series. They then advanced to the World Series for a spectacular 4-2 finish against the New York Yankees. And the Curse of the Billy Goat lived on.

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If only the drama of that fatal out hadn’t arrived at such a critical moment, Steve and Moises’s run-in might have been quickly forgiven. Instead, stadium security shielded Bartman from angry fans. His house in Illinois was placed under police protection, and Bartman and his family was encouraged to enter the witness protection program. In perhaps the oddest postgame act, the foul ball was sold for over a hundred grand to restaurant owner Grant DePorter, who ordered it electrocuted, boiled, and served in a special pasta sauce (the steam of the boiled ball, that is–no part of the baseball was consumed).
Unfortunately for DePorter and every other Cubs fan out there, the horrendous disposal of the unlucky ball did nothing to break the Curse of the Billy Goat. Today, the Cubs remain pennant-less since ’45 and trophy-less since ’08 (think again: that’s 1908, not 2008). Time will tell how many more baseballs will have to be eaten before the Cubs rise to victory once again.
Dec 12

This Week in Baseball Headlines – December 4-11

While it hasn’t been the slowest news week we’ve seen in the offseason, every story seems to revolve around the one-upmanship between the Yankees and the Rangers over Cliff Lee, or a number of non-Giant trades. Here’s just a sampling of the current goings-on in MLB:

1. Astros pick up Ryan Rowland-Smith for 2011
Well, that settles it. My first favorite Mariner is now an Astro. Left-handed pitcher Ryan Rowland-Smith signed a contract with Houston for one year, $725,000. With all the millions being thrown at big-name players like Jayson Werth and Carl Crawford, this is peanuts by comparison. But for now, I’m more than happy to see Ryan staying in the majors, even if he won’t be playing in the Northwest anytime soon.
2. Ozzie Guillen skips meetings for more important events
According to David Brown’s winter meetings report, Ozzie Guillen played hooky from the last part of the meetings to help flood victims in Venezuela. After heavy rains killed 32 people and displaced around 70,000 more (full story here), most families were moved into vacant hotels. Ozzie opened his home to about 40 refugees and hoped to do even more on his trip back home. It may not have gotten anything accomplished on the White Sox’ behalf, but it certainly was a more important priority this week.
3. Cubs fan lands in jail from inappropriate display of grief
Following the tribute to Ron Santo on Thursday, one grieving Cubs fan landed himself in jail after Sharpie-ing the following message on a CTA platform wall: “Good! Buy! Ron Santo! Cubs Best Cub Thirt-Baseman Forever Love Always God.” The fan, Ron Brakes, was charged with criminal defacement of property and, my favorite, possession of a marker with intent to deface. Still, I don’t know which appalls me more: the decoration of public property with cheap advertising, or the misspelling of the word “third.”
4. List of steroid users is unacceptable, says Justice Department
Steroid-using ballplayers can breathe a collective sigh of relief. On Friday, the Justice Department confirmed that the government held illegal possession of a list of 104 players who tested positive for steroid usage. The list was seized in a drug lab raid in 2004, and the blacklisted players were understandably none too happy about it. Now, investigators have to cut their exploration of steroid usage in baseball short, keeping those 104 in the clear.
5. Seattle pays tribute to broadcasting legend Dave Niehaus
Beloved Seattle broadcaster Dave Niehaus was properly honored at today’s service in Safeco Field. Niehaus began his baseball broadcasting career with the Angels in 1969, and made his first breakthrough in Seattle for the Mariners’ inaugural season of 1977. Fellow broadcaster Rick Rizzs and former Mariner Ken Griffey Jr. both made tribute speeches in Dave’s honor, while family, friends and fans filled Safeco Field to remember this baseball great.
Dec 5

Profile: Ron Santo

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Since yesterday, I’ve realized that Ron Santo’s legacy cannot be summed up in a simple paragraph. Let’s take a closer look at the man who was Chicago’s biggest fan and will remain one of its most memorable players.

Where he came from… Ron originally hails from Seattle, but his home was firmly set in Chicago. From his debut in 1960 with the Cubs to his retirement in 1974 with the White Sox, Santo remained faithful to the Windy City for the entirety of his major league career.
What he’s known for… There’s no doubt Santo was a skilled baseball player. As third baseman for the Cubs, Santo ranked #10 among all-time best 3B with 1138 runs, 342 homers, and a .277 career batting average. Defensively, he made 41 double plays in 1961, and broke a league record for assists with 374 in 1963 (thank you, Wikipedia). To top it all off, Ron played in nine All-Star games and won the NL Gold Gloves for five consecutive years, from 1964 to 1968.
Still, what Santo is perhaps most well-known for was his lifelong struggle with type 1 diabetes. At the ripe old age of 18 years, he was given approximately 25 years to live, and concealed this life-threatening disease to prevent an early retirement. As Santo himself put it, “When you’re 18, 25 years seems like forever… What I really heard was, ‘You may not be able to play ball.’” After retiring at only 34 years old, he stayed loyal to both baseball and Chicago and became the Cubs’ beloved commentator in 1990. Unbiased play-by-plays may be preferred protocol, but for a Cubs fan, Santo was the perfect broadcaster with his enthused cheers and loud moans. You always knew how the Cubs were doing and how Ron felt about it.
What you didn’t know… In 1966, Santo became the first major league player to wear a helmet with protective ear flaps. With a consecutive hitting streak of .390, Santo was suddenly sidelined for two weeks after a beaning by Mets’ pitcher Jack Fisher. Although the pitch fractured Santo’s cheekbone and kept him out of games for a couple weeks, he was back the following month to shatter Hack Wilson’s 27 game-hitting record with 28 games.
By statistics alone, Santo was a great baseball player. What makes him legendary, however, is the courage he showed in his years in the majors and beyond. His love for the sport could not be interrupted by anything, even a debilitating disease, and it’s this kind of strength of spirit that will immortalize him in the hearts of Chicago and MLB fans.
Dec 4

This Week in Baseball Headlines – November 27-December 3

It’s been a while since I ventured out of the Giants bubble, so let’s look at what’s happening in the rest of MLB these days.

1. Derek Jeter doesn’t sign with the Yankees, but might.
How long has this been going on now? Here’s a recap for those of you who’ve somehow missed the flashy headlines on an otherwise dead MLB sports page: Jeter (or at least his agent) thinks he’s the Babe Ruth of the modern age. Babe Ruth wants a cut above his $18.9 million a year. The Yankees, on the other hand, are dragging their feet, probably because Jeter won’t sign with any other team and they know an agreement will be reached soon. Until then, I think we’re all supposed to be on pins and needles, crossing our fingers that the superstar shortstop will return to his beloved New York City.
2. Chicago legend Ron Santo passes away.
Seattle native and Chicago icon Ron Santo passed away this week after a 52-year long battle with diabetes. He is fondly remembered as a third baseman for the Cubs and White Sox, and deeply admired for his strength of heart as he played his entire career while struggling against the disease, even concealing it in early years to prevent a quick retirement. Rest in peace, Ron–you are deeply missed and never forgotten.
3. K-Rod’s violent outburst gets settled in court.
Remember this August, when Francisco Rodriguez assaulted his girlfriend’s father after a game at Citi Field? Turns out that drama is still being settled, even after K-Rod spent $3.14 million in fines, a seven-week time out, and months of apologies to the fans. According to Yahoo!Sports, the Mets closer also pled guilty to the charge of harassing his girlfriend (and mother of his twin girl and boy) with 56 variations on “Will you forgive me???” text messages. Now, he can skip jail time if he attends a solid year of weekly anger management classes.
You may think that I’m leaving important stories or trading tidbits out, but really, weed out all the speculation and almost-made-trades and wish-list articles and there’s not a lot of solid action out there. It’s kind of a nice break from the constant barrage of regular season, though–now, you can read three or four stories and be all caught up in MLB! And hey, at least the Winter Meetings next week will give us plenty to talk about, right?