Baseball videos

Thought of the Day

I was going to write something interesting and prolific today - maybe a Cubs mid-season report card - but I'm tired from working a day/night double header on Sunday followed by work these last two days from 9-5. So instead, a couple of cool YouTube's I found perusing the web.

1)

Found of Awful Announcing, this guy can do almost any batting stance of the last 20 or so years. I've always prided myself on my abilities to copy the stances of some Cubs over the years (my best is Moises Alou), but this guy is incredible.

2)

This is one of my YouTube favorites, thanks to the great Randall Simon. Love how serious the broadcasters are treating this, as well as the Pirates uniforms that game.

Why I love my job (Part 2)

Thought of the Day

Saturday's Cubs game wasn't memorable because of what the Cubs did, but I did have a memorable encounter in the stands. For the first time in my life, I was able to shake hands and talk with a member of one of the Bulls championship teams. Here's my Facebook status following the game:

Eli Kaberon sold some Old Style's to Bill Wennington, and he and I discussed his game-winning dunk at the end of MJ's double nickel game.

Why I love my job

Thought of the Day

There are a lot of perks to working at Wrigley Field. One of them is being up-close-and-personal for some pretty cool baseball moments. One example of that took place on Thursday night, when Cubs first baseman Derrek Lee smashed a grand slam in the bottom of the fourth inning.


Look next to DLee's left leg, where the bat boy and security guard are sitting. Now look over the security guard's left shoulder. See that?

I think besides Lee himself, on-deck hitter Milton Bradley, the bat boy and the security guard, I had the best view of the grand slam of the 42,000 people inside Wrigley Field that night. And I get paid to be there.

Baby do you remember when...

...fireworks at Lake Michigan.


Happy 4th of July

Bye bye Ben

An assortment of NBA thoughts, since the Cubs are too frustrating to discuss:

• - The Bulls-Ben Gordon-Pistons situation is a tricky one, because there’s no clear winner with the exception of Gordon’s agent and financial advisor. The Bulls lose their best scorer, a man with ice in his veins who is never afraid to shoot, regardless if he’s 10-for-10 or 0-for-10. At the same time, they lose a player who was never interested in guarding his man and who had worse ball handling skills than my 11-year old cousin. Gordon goes from a starting role on a playoff team with the league’s top young point guard to a rebuilding franchise without a coach and a star already at shooting guard. And the Pistons have to pay a 6-3 shooter $55 million over the next five years while also giving Rip Hamilton $32 mill over the next three seasons. The move changes things in the Central Division, I’m just not sure yet which way they change.
• - A lot of Bulls fans are banking on an improved Derrick Rose, a more mature Tyrus Thomas and Joakim Noah, a healthy Luol Deng and the same John Salmons that showed up in the Celtics playoff series to offset Gordon’s departure. If all that happens, well then losing BG is no big deal. But what are the odds of all that taking place? Rose improving makes sense, but I would put the other three (four if you count TT and Noah’s development separately) as 50/50 shots. Add in two rookies and remaining questions about Coach Vinny, and I say the Bulls as currently structured are no lock for the post-season, especially in the tougher Eastern Conference.
• -Last thought on Gordon; how will the Bulls replace him at crunch time? Say what you want about Rose, who I love, and Kirk Hinrich, who played great in the post-season save for that jagged layup that almost cost the team Gm. 6, but Gordon was clearly the go-to guy with the clock running out. He almost single-handedly won Gm. 2 and hit his ‘cajones’ shot at the end of Gm. 4 extended the game to another OT, which the Bulls wound up winning. In the past, whenever the Bulls needed a bucket at the end of a game, they’d turn to Gordon, who more times than not delivered. It’s going to be weird to have a Chicago-Detroit game where #7 is knocking them down against the Bulls instead of for them.
  
• -Best part about the signing: the cap space. The Bulls should have nearly $20 million next summer with a bunch of aspiring contracts, meaning they could potentially sign a DWade or Chris Bosh. Add in an already young team with some nice pieces, and the future looks bright on the West Side of Chi City.

• -Other NBA moves, in rundown mode.

The Shaq to Cleveland trade is putting a band-aid on a major scar. O’Neal, at his age, is no more than a role player. Make that a space-eating role player. Putting him on the same team as LeBron James is the equivalent to putting Refrigerator Perry in the same backfield as Barry Sanders; the skilled player can’t do his thing because the big guy won’t be able to get out of his way. Unless they add a skilled wing player, and there aren’t many left, the Cavs will officially blow the opportunity to have the best player in the league play in front of his hometown fans for his entire career. (Yes, I’m saying if Cleveland doesn’t win the 09-10 title, James is bolting.)

Vince Carter to the Magic is genius. The fact that Orlando could get him without giving up any of their All-Stars makes them the favorite in the East next season. VC isn’t the player he was with Toronto early in his career, but he’s still one hell of a scorer and has even become more of a playmaker over the past few seasons. Team him with Jameer Nelson, Rashard Lewis and Superman Howard, and the Magic have one hell of a squad.

Ron Artest is now a Laker and Trevor Ariza a Rocket. What’s it mean? That L.A. is clearly the team to beat in 2010. With Kobe, Gasol, (I assume) Odom and now Artest, the purple and gold have no real weaknesses, unless Phil Jackson decides not to return. So I guess the question is, who’s their top competition? Boston should be a beast again (especially if they add Rasheed Wallace), Orlando as I mentioned is really good, and Cleveland will be tough in the East. Denver, Utah and Dallas should all be back at premier levels out West, with Portland and even Oklahoma City being much improved.

But the #2 team is clearly San Antonio. If Duncan, Parker and Manu are healthy, the Spurs are already tough. Add in a great fourth scorer in Richard Jefferson, the unexpected offensive lift of Matt Bonner and Roger Mason, and also two of my favorite players in the NBA Draft, Pitt forward DeJuan Blair and Miami shooting guard Jack McClinton, and the Spurs could give the Lakers all they can handle.

Watch what you say, it just may be true

Thought of the Day

"My off-season grade thus far for the Cubs: C-. I don’t understand the Mark DeRosa deal, I’m not too sure about Milton Bradley and am confused on why they continue to discuss with San Diego on acquiring Jake Peavy. DeRosa, who finished fourth on my list of most valuable Cubs in 2008 and first in ’07, is obviously the big loss. A player of his versatility- he played 20 or more games at four different positions last year and has seen time at six spots on the field during his Cub career- shouldn’t be given away for three minor leaguers. There is no doubt in my mind that at some point in 2009, probably when Aramis Ramirez or Alfonso Soriano inevitably get hurt, that Lou Piniella will openly question Jim Hendry as to why they traded away the team’s version of a Swiss Army pocket-knife. As for Bradley, he is great under two conditions: he’s healthy and sane. History has shown when Bradley has to play the outfield and not DH, he has a history of injuries. And history has also shown that when he gets frustrated, he is likely to do something stupid. "

-From January 9, 2009, on this here blog.

I felt it was appropriate to post after the incidents of the last two days, which included Bradley going nuts and getting benched by Piniella, DeRosa being dealt to the rival Cardinals and a gut-wrenching loss to the White Sox.

Two new Bulls

Thought of the Day

I'm no genius, but at the same time, I'm no idiot. Basically, for most of my life, I've been a B student. And because of that, I can relate to the Bulls draft class Thursday night.

Their first pick, Wake Forest forward James Johnson, is an athletic small forward who can also bang down low. He's been known to take some plays off, which will remind Bulls fans of Tyrus Thomas. He can also jump out of the gym, which will remind Bulls fans of (get where I'm going with this) Tyrus Thomas. I'm not expecting great things out of Johnson in '09-10, but if he can bring consistent energy off the bench for 15 minutes a night, including some time at the four, I'll be happy.

Pick number two went to USC big man Taj Gibson. Three causes of concern about Gibson: 1) He was coached by Tim Floyd, which as I mentioned earlier this month is a very dangerous sign; 2) He's 24 years old, which means he isn't going to improve much more over the course of his career; and 3) he's not DeJuan Blair, the Pittsburgh power forward who I wanted the Bulls to take first at 16 and then definitely at 26. Gibson is OK, but with Noah, Tyrus, Miller, Tim Thomas and now Johnson, when is he going to get minutes unless he proves to be an outstanding defender or rebounder?

So all-in-all, the Bulls did OK. Johnson should contribute, and Gibson - though he's not Blair - may not be that bad. It's not DRose in '08 draft, but it's better than the Chandler/Curry in '01 draft. And as I can attest to, earning a B aint that bad.


-Also, I have plenty of thoughts on the rest of the NBA Draft, all the trades going down in the Association and of course the Cubs, but I'm saving them for my 4th of July 12-pack of Random Thoughts.

My mimi NBA Draft preview...

...so that in a few years I can either say "I told you so" or walk with my head down in shame.

Thought of the Day

Five guys I’m convinced will be studs

DeMar DeRozen - An athlete in the Vince Carter mold, though I’m slightly worried that one year under Tim Floyd may have ruined him.

Ty Lawson - Quicker than 99% of the NBA, plus he has a jump shot.

Blake Griffin - Duh.

Stephen Curry - Did you watch the 2007 NCAA Tournament?

Gerald Henderson - I see his skills translating much better to the NBA game than the ACC one.


Five guys who will be better than expected

Hasheem Thabeet - A lot of people say he’s going to be the next Shawn Bradley, but I don’t ever remember Bradley having the defensive timing that Thabeet does.

DeJuan Blair - Short for a four, but he’s a bruiser in the paint who can finish around the rim.

Tyler Hansbrough - All he did for four years was grab boards, go to the foul line and win.

Chase Budinger - With his outside shooting and athleticism, I see him very Rashard Lewi-like.

Jonny Flynn - Won’t ever be an All-Star with his size, but teams that pass him will regret it.


Five guys who will be busts

Jrue Holiday - Example A of a guy who should have stayed in school past his freshmen year.

BJ Mullens - Example B, even worse than Holiday because he wasn’t even average in the Big Ten.

Jordan Hill - It’s not that I hate his game, but he just doesn’t seem polished enough for me.

Ricky Rubio - This is my riskiest of all picks, especially since I loved watching him in the Olympics, but he seems to have major holes in his game.

Earl Clark - Maybe a solid player, but people really love him for some strange reason.

Two for the memory bank

Thought of the Day

I don't really know how to describe what the Cubs did the last two days. If you didn't see it, you wouldn't believe it. And if you did see what the Cubs had been doing in the games before Thursday, you definitely wouldn't believe it.

On each day, Thursday and Friday, the Cubs won games where they trailed by four or more runs entering the eighth inning. On each day, the Cubs got huge contributions from guys who had struggled for the season's first 60 games. And on each day, the Cubs won in their last AB.
Two wins, neither of which anybody who wears a C on their cap would have imagined.

I'm not sure if the last two games will turn the season around, but if it does, I'll surely believe it.

Say it aint' Sosa

Thought of the Day

Yesterday's news about Sammy Sosa was far from a surprise; everybody that follows baseball kind of knew that #21 was on some sort of PED. His huge power surge in the late-90's/ early-00's, the corked bat incident and of course, his complete joke of a Congressional hearing in 2005 where he essentially claimed he never knew how to speak English kind of gave away any secret he'd hoped to keep. Still, I am sad.

The summer of 1998 was one of my favorite as a Cubs fan. The team on the North Side was the best it had ever been in my 11 years of life, with a star rookie pitcher named Kerry Wood, a veteran infield carried by Mark Grace and of course my favorite player, Slammin' Sammy Sosa in right field. I clearly remember watching Wood's 20K game in early May, going to Wrigley in mid-June and seeing Sosa hit one of his 20 homers that month, staying up late every night to listen to the team on WGN push for the Wild Card in September. The one-game playoff win versus the Giants was probably the greatest non-Michael Jordan related sporting moment of my life at that time.

And Sammy was the key to all that. His swing, his hop, his smile; the way he'd hit his chest twice, kiss his hand and put up the peace sign in the dugout following a homer; the way he always seemed to respond to any challenge put in the Cubs way. Here was a guy who'd people always seen as a waste of talent hitting 66 homers and driving in 158 runs in one season. It was a blast. SI For Kids, which was my magazine at the time, had two commemorative Sosa posters that season; both still hang next to my bed.

Of course, things turned sour a few years later, after Sosa was beaned by a Solomon Torres pitch in 2003. After that he started backing up from the plate, hitting fewer home runs. Then came the corked bat, followed by Dusty Baker finally dropping Sammy from his usual #3 spot in the order all the way down to #7. Still, in the '03 playoffs, when the Cubs needed a bomb in the ninth inning of Gm. 1 versus the Marlins, it was Sosa who came through. But in 2004, Sosa struggled more, leaving Wrigley early on the last day of the season before saying goodbye to his teammates. That winter he was traded to Baltimore.

Now, in June of 2009, 11 years exactly after his epic, record-breaking month, it turns out Sosa was on PEDs. It's not a huge surprise, and generally when these things come out (like Clemens, A-Rod and Bonds), I don't blink an eye. But Sammy was my guy. 1998 was my summer. The Cubs are my team. It's sad that all has a stain on it right now.