Bill Simmons: Keep The Faith Cubs Fans

Bill Simmons is a writer for ESPN and a lifelong Red Sox fan. He has some suggestions for Cubs fans. When I was growing up, it was suggested to me by Cubs Tat that the Red Sox were the AL Cubs. Ever since then I've had a special place for them. When they collapsed along side my Cubbies in '03, I shared their pain. When they won in 2004, I was ecstatic for them. Sox fans are typically intelligent and passionate. As with a Cubs hat, you can usually chat the wearer up about baseball when you share an idle moment. They have overcome in dramatic and convincing fashion. The Cubs have a lot to learn from the Red Sox. We can do this. Just like George Michael said, you've gotta have faith.

Dempster's Called Shot

I would prefer if he would predict a the final scores of the entire world series a la Plaxico Burress, but this called shot aint bad.

4 of my Favorite Words

Pitchers and Catchers Report. Just like that article describes, I've been waiting for this day since October 28th, when I watched my last baseball game of the year. Because it has been gone the past 108 days, means it is all that much sweeter today. Now that baseball has begun, I only have to wait a couple more weeks for the season opener. We are so close.

"That's the true harbinger of spring, not crocuses or swallows returning to Capistrano, but the sound of a bat on a ball." - Bill Veeck

I Don't Need An Interpreter

Holy Cow! I'm sooooo excited for the season. Check out these new advertisements for my Cubbies.
I got them from here: http://www.suntimes.com/business/lazare/753085,lew012208.article

Signing pitchers like it's 1999

The Cubs have made a couple moves lately. The most recent was bringing back Jon Lieber to my Cubbies for a 1 year deal. Last year they had Steve Traschel (and smartly let him walk this offseason) and this year they sign Lieber? Our pitching staff wasn't all that good back then. Back when we had both of those guys, Kyle Farnsworth was a starter! Do you remember that? Me neither. Bringing those guys back on the wrong side of 37 might not have been a good call. That being said, a lot of people think we can use some extra help at the end of the rotation. I disagree. I think Marshall can be as effective as Lieber, but I guess we'll see.

The way I see it, we have 7 starting pitchers now: Zambrano, Rich Hill, Ted Lilly, Jason Marquis, Sean Marshall, Ryan Dempster and now Jon Lieber. I'm hoping we make a move to ship one of these guys out for something decent. My choice would be to let Dempster and /or Marquis walk. I would hope you could couple them with Matt Murton and get something decent back. Maybe a shortstop? I like Murton, but we have both corner outfielders locked up until 2011 (and Soriano beyond that). I think Murton can start in leftfield for someone. We just don't have the room. If you can't play him, get something for him.

Another recent move was letting Mark Prior go to the Padres in free agency. I have to say I'm upset about this. I think they should have dumped the cash in good faith and tried to keep him around. You know he's going to bounce back eventually. Maybe not to the same form, but the guy's a good pitcher. I think that's one they will regret.