Big League Chatter

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Okay it’s June 11th and the Chicago Cubs still have the best record in baseball.  No, this is not a season being played in a video game…..this is really happening.  The last time the Cubs had the best record in baseball in June was in 1908, exactly 100 years ago.  The last time the Cubs won the World Series was 100 years ago in 1908.  The Cubs wear the letter "C" on their baseball cap.  The Roman Numeral "C" stands for centum, the Latin word for 100. So, maybe, just maybe, 100 will be the Cubs’ lucky number. 

Now remember, this is coming from a die-hard Cubs fan.  So, some may say I am reaching a bit in saying this.  So, here is why I think the Cubs truly have a chance to make it to the World Series and why I think they could win it if they get there. 

First, let’s start with manager Lou Pinella.  He was brought in last year to be the new manager of the Cubs.  It took him two months before he got his team to start playing winning baseball in 2007.  The team made the playoffs, but were swept by the Arizona Diamondbacks.  This year the Cubs acquired Japanese RF Kosuke Fukudome, moved Ryan Dempster to the starting rotation, made Kerry Wood the closer and recently acquired Jim Edmonds.  Oh, and don’t forget rookie catcher Geovanny Soto who is the NL leader in votes for the all star game at his position.  Pinella has taken the ingredients that this team has and put together a team that expects to win every day. 

Next consider the players.  You have some big name players in Alfonso Soriano, Derek Lee and Aramis Ramirez.  The additions of Fukudome, Edmonds and Reed Johnson have helped to form a solid core of outfielders.  Super utility man Mark DeRosa normally plays second base but will play anywhere he’s needed.  Don’t forget the Cubs version of "Mr. Hustle" Ryan Theriot.  Theriot and infielder Mike Fontenot won a college world series while playing for LSU in college.  Soto is already a candidate for rookie of the year and seems to get along great with the pitching staff.  The Cubs other bench players such as Ronny Cedeno and Henry Blanco contribute whenever needed and seem comfortable in their roles.  The Cubs pitching has been solid behind Carlos Zambrano and Ryan Dempster.  Ted Lilly is coming back strong after starting the season slowly while Jason Marquis is pitching solid too.  The bullpen has been lights out with Carlos Marmol and Kerry Wood in the 8th and 9th innings.  And even the players not mentioned are doing their jobs and performing well when called upon by manager Lou Pinella. 

Finally, consider the fans.  The Chicago Cubs are used to playing in front of a packed house at Wrigley Field.  As usual, the fans have been great.  They are showing up to road games all over the country and cheering this team on.  But the best thing to me is when the Cubs record the final out to win a game at home.  You will see and hear something truly amazing.  The fans aren’t leaving.  They are sticking around high fiving each other and singing the ever famous song by Steve Goodman, "Go Cubs Go".  As soon as the last out is recorded the music starts playing and the fans starting singing.  The players will be heading towards the dugout and then the clubhouse but the fans are still there.  They know that something special is happening this season.   

For Atlanta Braves baseball, John Smotlz has given the organization, the fans and his teammates nothing but dedication and hard work for 20 years.  From being an elite starter to an elite closer and back to the starting role Smoltz has always done whatever he could possibly do to help his team win.  Unfortunately, his pitching shoulder has prevented Smoltz from pitching most of this season.  Now that he is facing possible surgery on that shoulder his career may end sooner than planned.   He will travel to Birmingham, Alabama next week to see Dr. James Andrews to determine the extent of the injury on his shoulder.  Smotlz still has a desire to play and as of right now hopes to be able to pitch next season.  The 41 year old pitcher has been in the big leagues since 1988.  During his career, he has racked up 210 wins and 154 saves.  He also has over 3,000 strikeouts.  There should be no doubt that Smoltz is a future Hall of Famer.  We should know more next week about the future for Smotlz and his pitching career.  As of right now, it looks like he will have surgery soon and try to be ready to pitch in 2009.   

The Red Sox have had several players spend time on the disabled list so far this season.  The latest victim of the injury bug is slugger David Ortiz.  The DH is going to be out with a partially torn sheath surrounding a tendon in his left wrist.  The Sox are hoping that Ortiz is able to keep the wrist immobized for a couple of weeks.  Then they are hoping that the pain is gone.  If they are able to keep Ortiz pain free then he should be able to return in about 4 weeks.  If the wrist does not improve during Ortiz’s stint on the DL then he may face the possibility of having surgery and the possibility of missing the remainder of the season.  Currently, right handed pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka is on the DL with a mild right rotator cuff strain.  Curt Schilling began the season on the DL with degeneration in his right biceps tendon.  It is uncertain if he will even be able to pitch this season.  Mike Lowell, Josh Beckett, Clay Buchholz, Sean Casey, and Mike Timlin have all spent time on the DL too.  If the Red Sox want to repeat as World Series Champions they will need to stay healthy.   

When was the last time two teams in the MLB shook hands or high-fived after a game?  When was the last time two coaches congratulated each other on a great game or series?  Over the past 30 years or so, baseball has quickly become a game of mostly business.  Sure these guys love playing the game, but most of the players do it for the money and fame.  It’s the big score and rightfully so, but what about the passion of the game that used to be there?  How many major league players would play for a million a year..half a million a year..250k?  Not that many.  Where’s the love of the game then? Of course there are those who believe the players are just a small part of the big business called major league baseball. 

It’s always refreshing to see teams that still display that passion for the game at any level.  I think this display of sportsmanship between Western Oregon and Central Washington University should help the players and fans keep things in perspective.

It has been about three years now since I purchased my XM radio.  I decided to go with XM due to their extensive coverage of Major League Baseball.  XM has been the best purchase of my life.  Home Plate channel 175 is by far the best channel ever to be introduced to the airways.  At 5:00 a.m. central standard time I begin my day by listening to "Baseball This Morning" hosted by Mark Patrick and Buck Martinez.  B.T.M. is replayed immediately following the live broadcast.  This program is unlike any other baseball talk because it is a clean show that a true baseball fan can enjoy.  Mark and Buck go over the highlights from the previous day and they give their expert analysis about what is going on in the Major Leagues.  They have several different segments that are not only informative but very witty.  The best segment of the show is the "Power Lock".  The "Power Lock" segment is where Mark and Buck choose a pitcher who is a lock to win their game.  They keep a record of who is winning the competition and they declare a "Power Lock" winner at the end of the season.  For the baseball fan "Baseball This Morning" is hard to beat and it is a good way to start out the day.  There are other programs on Home Plate that are worth checking out such as "Fantasy Focus" with Jeff Erickson and "Baseball Beat" with Charley Steiner.  Both programs provide tremendous up to the minute updates and analysis.  For the money XM is an excellent value and it is a nice way to help the work day pass by.

Do you have a favorite baseball movie?  I have ranked my top 10 of all time.  Take a look and see if your favorites are on the list.  Please, feel free to comment on movies that you believe should be on this list.

1.   The Natural (1984)   

2.   Field of Dreams (1989)

3.   The SandLot (1993)

4.   The Rookie (2002)

5.   Pride of the Yankees (1942)

6.   61* (2001)

7.   For Love of the Game (1999)

8.   Eight Men Out (1988)
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9.   Soul of the Game (1996)

10. Bull Durham (1988)

These are movies I highly recommend for any baseball fan.

Here’s more baseball movies worth watching that didn’t make my top 10.

This Old Cub (2004) Must see for any Cub fan about Ron Santo.
Major League (1989) Who doesn’t love Charlie Sheen in this movie.
Bad News Bears (1976) A classic.
Cobb (1994)
Everyone hated this baseball legend. And he loved it.
Angels in the Outfield (1994)
It Could Happen.
The Babe (1992)
There Was Only One.

Since the Cardinals are beginning the rebuilding process this season
with the departures of Eckstein, Rolen, Taguchi and Edmonds, maybe it is
time to consider a change in the manager as well.  Tony LaRussa has had
a successful tenure as manager for the Cardinals including a World
Series Championship in 2006.  However, there has been a lot of
adversity surrounding the Cards and their clubhouse since then.
LaRussa received a DUI in March of 2007, LaRussa butted heads with
former third baseman Scott Rolen on numerous occasions, the rehab in
August of 2007 for Scott Spiezio and eventual release this week from
the team stemming from an incident that occurred in December. Also, the tragic death of pitcher Josh Hancock who died in a motor
vehicle accident while driving intoxicated. Hancock had possession of
a glass smoking pipe and over 8 grams of marijuana in his vehicle at
the time of the accident.  However, no drugs were found is his system.

A
possible replacement for LaRussa is Jose Oquendo.  The former player is
currently the third base coach for the Cardinals.  In the 2006 World
Baseball Classic, Oquendo was the manager of the team representing
Puerto Rico and guided them to a 4-2 record, but was unable to qualify
for the semifinals.  When LaRussa ends his tenure as the manager of the
St. Louis Cardinals look for Jose Oquendo to be at the top of the list
to replace him.

Do you have a favorite baseball movie?  I have ranked my top 10 of all time.  Take a look and see if your favorites are on the list.  Please, feel free to comment on movies that you believe should be on this list.

1.   The Natural (1984)   

2.   Field of Dreams (1989)

3.   The SandLot (1993)

4.   The Rookie (2002)

5.   Pride of the Yankees (1942)

6.   61* (2001)

7.   For Love of the Game (1999)

8.   Eight Men Out (1988)
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9.   Soul of the Game (1996)

10. Bull Durham (1988)

These are movies I highly recommend for any baseball fan.

Here’s more baseball movies worth watching that didn’t make my top 10.

This Old Cub (2004) Must see for any Cub fan about Ron Santo.
Major League (1989) Who doesn’t love Charlie Sheen in this movie.
Bad News Bears (1976) A classic.
Cobb (1994)
Everyone hated this baseball legend. And he loved it.
Angels in the Outfield (1994)
It Could Happen.
The Babe (1992)
There Was Only One.

Welcome to Big League Chatter.  This blog is intended to satisfy the information diet for baseball fans everywhere and will serve to offer my perspective and analysis of the game.  I welcome all comments, debates, and advice on how to make this site better.