As I watched the Cincinnati Reds game Tuesday night, I saw a foul ball drop into the stands, just out of the reach of Pete Rose. He seemed to enjoy the brief attention as he autographed the ball for the lady who caught it. She then turned back to the field to focus on the game.
Seeing Rose made me think of what I usually do when I see him… his omission from the baseball Hall of Fame. As a life-long baseball fan who grew up watching Rose in his prime, I have long been opposed to Major League Baseball preventing him from election to the Hall. Many people agree with me, and many do not.
I have come up with a solution that just may appease the majority of people who care about this topic. It is an idea that Bud Selig can claim as his own, and it will be a bright spot on what has mostly beenso-so performance as Commissioner. My idea borrows from the fantastic Monument Park at Yankee Stadium. Cooperstown needs a similar area, just outside of the walls that enclose baseball’s immortals.
I have even come up with the name: The Rose Garden. It is in this space that Pete Rose can be honored. A plaque with his accomplishments would exist, letting all know the many positive ways that Charlie Hustle impacted the game. And his plaque would be joined in The Rose Garden by Mark McGwire’s and Shoeless Joe Jackson’s. Eventually, visitors will see plaques for Roger Clemens, Sammy Sosa, Rafael Palmeiro and Barry Bonds. Others will surely follow; players who produced both Hall of Fame numbers and enough controversy to prevent them from entering.
Visitors can stroll through The Rose Garden, giving it their brief attention, before focusing on the true greats of the game just inside the Hall.
Baseball rivalries fascinate me. Regardless of team records, there is nothing like watching the Yankees-Red Sox , Giants-Dodgers or Cubs-Cardinals. But the rivalry that has been building between the Chicago Cubs and Milwaukee Brewers just got a whole lot more interesting. To use a boxing analogy, the Brewers acquisition of C.C. Sabathia is potentially equivalent to a knockout punch. Sabathia’s was the biggest name on the trade market. Only Brett Favre’s arm was more coveted in the Badger State. A reigning Cy Young Award winner who most likely will make 15 regular-season starts before heading to a greener (as in money) pasture in the Northeast. This was meant to put the Cubs on the canvas. If the Brewers need someone to perform a 10 count, they can turn to last big name they acquired – Eric Gagne – and ask him to count his millions.
This isn’t a knockout punch on par with Ali’s when he took the heavyweight championship from Liston. And this punch isn’t a Mike Tyson shot like the one he landed on Michael Spinks. It is, however, a blow that has left the Cubs with wobbly legs. As the Cubs recuperate in their corner, they know two things: no counterpunch can be thrown that will be equal in force, and teams will now drive up the price for anyone the Cubs ask about.
If the Colorado Rockies taught us anything last year, it’s that you simply never know what will happen over the 2nd half of a baseball season. To that end, you won’t see any white flags going up in St. Louis or Chicago. And let us not overlook the fact that the Brewers are still trailing the Cubs by 3 in the loss column. There will undoubtedly be some injuries and slumps that teams will need to work through, but the Brewers have landed the biggest, baddest blow in this fight. They’ve gone from being a pesky team that won’t fade away to a team that should – at least for a short time – be considered the National League favorite. With the one-two punch of Sabathia and Sheets, the smell of hops and yeast may soon be overtaken by the smell of playoff baseball in the great city of Milwaukee.
Major League baseball is a great sport to watch. The players are the best in the world, and their ability to paint the corners, or slap a 100 mph fastball the other way, or track down a 400 foot rocket on the run just amazes me. As Yogi Berra once said, “You can observe a lot just by watching.” And I truly enjoy watching these great athletes perform their craft. It is when a microphone is placed in front of them that so many fail to perform. Similar to Jessica Simpson appearing in a movie, they are meant to be seen and not heard. The steroid scandal has resulted in countless quotes that are both humorous and sad. Humorous in that someone actually thought to say such a thing. Sad in that they believe that we, the fans, will buy what they have said. Well, more accurately, it is sad that many will believe it. Sure, Fernando Vina, I believe that you were simply trying to recuperate from an injury. I’m sure it had nothing to do with the fact that you were a small, aging, struggling ballplayer clinging to any chance you had to remain a Major League Baseball player. Heck, if you had come out and said that you used HGH because you were a small, aging, struggling ballplayer clinging to any chance you had to remain a Major League Baseball player, I would have respected that. In fact, I’m not sure I wouldn’t have done the same thing if I was in the situation you were in. But I have trouble believing you took it solely to rehab your hamstring injuries. That’s humorous and sad.
Of course, the idea of ballplayers saying some pretty bizarre things is not a phenomenon brought on by steroids. In fact, Major League Baseball has provided us with some gems throughout history. So, grab and pencil and paper and test your knowledge of who said what. Some of these will be pretty easy, and some will be about as tough as convincing the Twins that an offer for Santana is a fair one.
1.) “I never thought anybody would make me look like an altar boy.”
a. Pete Rose b. Ty Cobb c. Ricky Henderson d. Billy Martin
2.) “The one thing we know today is that we can’t continue to do business the way we have in the past.”
a. Donald Fehr b. Bud Selig c. Happy Chandler d. Hank Steinbrenner
3.) “It's called talent. I just have it. I can't explain it. You either have it or you don't.”
a. Tony Gwynn b. Barry Bonds c. Nolan Ryan d. Ted Williams
4.) “The reality is that players can't play forever."
a. Minnie Minoso b. Cal Ripken, Jr. c. Satchell Paige d. Nolan Ryan
5.) “I'm not ashamed of who I am. Of course I'm ashamed of the things that have happened. But with life experiences, you're able to give back and help others.”
a. Mark McGwire b. Dwight Gooden c. Pete Rose d. Darryl Strawberry
6.) “Once and for all, I did not use steroids or any other illegal substance.”
a. Gary Matthews, Jr. b. Mark McGwire c. Jesse Orosco d. Jose Canseco
7.) “I'd always have grease in at least two places, in case the umpires would ask me to wipe one off. I never wanted to be caught out there with anything though, it wouldn't be professional.”
a. Sandy Koufax b. ####lord Perry c. Bob Gibson d. Stan Coveleski
8.) “Everyone in society should be a role model, not only for their own self-respect, but for respect from others.”
a. Derek Jeter b. Mike Schmidt c. Tom Seaver d. Barry Bonds
9.) "God knows I gave my best in baseball at all times and no man on earth can truthfully judge me otherwise."
a. Steve Carlton b. Ernie Banks c. Lou Gehrig d. Shoeless Joe Jackson
10.) “I'm not concerned with your liking or disliking me... All I ask is that you respect me as a human being.”
a. Jackie Robinson b. Warren Spahn c. Wily Mo Pena d. Ed Ott
11.) “Are we to say that any individual who's on steroids that has an angry moment is due to steroids? What about the individual who gets angry and kills someone who's not on steroids? What do we blame it on now?”
a. Bud Selig b. Jose Canseco c. Fernando Vina d. Vin Scully
12.) “There's nothing bad that accrues from baseball.”
a. Donald Fehr b. Marvin Miller c. A. Bartlett Giamatti d. Bud Selig
13.) “Don't ever forget two things I'm going to tell you. One, don't believe everything that's written about you. Two, don't pick up too many checks.”
a. Babe Ruth b. Tommy LaSorda c. Barry Bonds d. Cecil Fielder
14.) “If it wasn't for baseball, I'd be in either the penitentiary or the cemetery.”
a. Babe Ruth b. Ty Cobb c. Greg Maddux d. Jim Rice
15.) "If I hear Bowie Kuhn say just once more he's doing something for the betterment of baseball, I'm going to throw-up."
a. Pete Rose b. Mickey Mantle c. Sparky Anderson d. Charles Finley
a. Mark McGwire b. Rafeael Palmeiro c. Dusty Baker d. Ozzie Smith
17.) “I don't think that - you know, I'm sure that there's guys that are doing it, because I'm sure in every sport there's players who want to get the edge. But I think that it's been blown overly - way more than guys are using it in our game.”
a. Tony LaRussa b. Rafael Palmeiro c. Alex Rodriguez d. Sammy Sosa
18.) “I have never used steroids. Period.”
a. Mark McGwire b. Rafael Palmeiro c. Jason Giambi d. Dizzy Dean
19.) “When I testified in front of Congress, I know that I was testifying under oath and I told the truth.”
a. Curt Schilling b. Rafael Palmeiro c. Frank Thomas d. Sammy Sosa
20.) “I hope that people learn from my mistake and I hope that the fans forgive me.”
a. Kirby Pucket b. Rafael Palmeiro c. Roger Clemens d. Pete Rose
OK, let’s see how you did…
1. a. Pete Rose just said this recently. If Pete speaks, we should hear, “I’m sorry.”
2. b. Bud Selig. Does that mean it’s time for a new commissioner?
3. b. All four choices have talent. Barry Bonds felt he needed to tell everyone.
4. b. It’s too bad you couldn’t play forever, Cal. Baseball could use you.
5. d. All four could have said it, but it was Strawberry who actually did.
6. b. Um, yes you did Mark!
7. b. ####lord used the grease. Koveleski used his spit. The other two used talent.
8. d. Practice what you preach, Barry!
9. d. Shoeless Joe Jackson.
10. a. Jackie Robinson
11. b. We’ll just blame it on you, Jose.
12. c. Some would argue this point.
13. a. What would a baseball quiz be without the Babe?
14. a. If it wasn’t for the Babe, baseball may be in the cemetery.
15. c. Just one of the many colorful quotes from Sparky.
16. b. Rafael Palmeiro. You tried hard to fool us.
17. b. Rafael Palmeiro. You tried hard to confuse us.
18. b. Rafael Palmeiro. You wagged your finger and lied to everyone.
19. b. Rafael Palmeiro. Then you lied some more to cover your lies.
20. b. Rafael Palmeiro. OK, we forgive you. Or wait, maybe I’m lying!
The grading scale?
18-20 Correct: Hall of Famer
14-17 Correct: An All Star!
10-13 Correct: A solid job.
< 10 Correct: Dare I suggest performance enhancers?
Regardless of how you scored, my advice is that the next time you hear a player giving what he claims is an honest answer, you should remember Yogi Berra's advice and, “Take it with a grin of salt.”
Ernest L. Thayer’s famous poem “Casey at the Bat” was first published in 1888. From a historical perspective, that was well before the drug culture invaded baseball, and a short time before the Chicago Cubs last World Series win. Ironically, the poem first appeared in the San Francisco Examiner – in the same city, of course, where the center of the performance enhancement storm patrolled the outfield in recent years for the Giants.
The problems with steroids and the use of other enhancers have exploded over the past ten years, under the watch of current Commissioner Bud Selig. With that in mind, I offer you a revised version of the famous poem…
The Outlook wasn't brilliant for the Nation’s Game that day: The fans tuned to the news, to hear what Mitchell had to say.
Four-hundred and nine pages, sitting heavily upon his shelf,
No longer was Selig’s only fear Donald Fehr himself.
A vocal few long ago warned of such despair. The rest ignored the growing pecs adorning many a player’s chest; They thought, if only Selig could be in charge of this - We’d put up even money now, that he surely wouldn’t miss.
But McGwire bested Maris, as did Bonds to Hammerin’ Hank, The former using andro, the latter resembling a tank; And within the many stadiums the record crowds sat, Now there seemed but little chance of Selig risking that.
And all held tight to secrets, to the wonderment of all, And some, the much deceived, told stories of juicing the ball; But when the truth was revealed, and all saw what had occurred, There was Balco, Games of Shadows, and Canseco being heard.
Then from the throats of Congress there rose a lusty yell; It rumbled through the Bronx, it rattled in Pac Bell;
They said clean up your game or we will do it for you,
And Selig, mighty Selig, quickly decided what to do.
There was ease in Selig’s manner as he stepped into his place; There was pride in Selig’s manner, very stern was Selig’s face. And when, responding to reporters, he announced who he had hired, No stranger doubted that Mitchell would dig until he had tired.
Over seven hundred interviews as he dug up years of dirt; Twenty million dollars spent, sleeves rolled up on his shirt. Then while the rumors bubbled like liquid from a syringe,
Bud Selig realized - on Mitchell’s report, his legacy may hinge.
And then the rumor-filled news came hurtling through the air, And Selig sat a-listening with a nervous posture there.
They said that all-star players would be listed in this report,
“I’m clean”, “I’m shocked”, “No Comment” so many would retort.
From the pages, black and white, there were listed eighty-eight, Both hitters and some hurlers who had tried to improve their fate. "This is a call to action," Selig said as a matter of fact,
No wavering to his voice, he added, “And I will act!”
To describe Selig’s work, much too little, much too late;
Ignoring what was right, for more revenue from the gate.
And now the Commish holds the ball, and what will he decide?
Asterisks? Suspensions? Blame others to save pride?
Oh, somewhere in this baseball land there’s a place for the best;
Where heroes are enshrined and separated from the rest.
But Bud’s conflicted tenure leaves him where within this game?
Row 1, Seat 1, Section HGH - in baseball’s Hall of Shame.
The Place: Baseball Hall of Fame, Cooperstown, New York
The Scene: A Grandfather and his Granddaughter walking through the Hall of Fame
Grandpa: Do you see this guy, honey? His name is Babe Ruth.
Elizabeth: Yes! I know all about him. We read about him in class. My teacher said he was the greatest player of all time. Do you think that’s true, Grandpa? If he played for the Yankees today, would he still be the best?
Grandpa: He probably would be a great player even today. It is difficult, though, to compare eras. He was at his best way back in the 1920’s, right after the Dead Ball Era.
Elizabeth: The Dead Ball Era? What was that?
Grandpa: Well, the history of baseball can be broken down into different eras, or timeframes. From 1900 – 1919 it was considered the Dead Ball Era. One ball was usually used for an entire game and was misshapen and heavy, and games were often dominated by pitchers. There was one player – look over here – here he is! Ty Cobb. He was a tremendous player during the Dead Ball Era. But then along came Babe Ruth, as well as some changes to the ball and to the stadiums, and a new era was born.
Elizabeth: Which era did you grow up in, Grandpa?
Grandpa: The Steroid Era. When I was growing up, many of the players I followed were taking illegal drugs to make themselves bigger and stronger. They could also heal more quickly if they were hurt or really sore after playing a game.
Elizabeth: I learned about that in school as well. Mr. Lopez is a huge baseball fan, and he says that a lot of the records are held by guys who were cheating.
Grandpa: He’s right. There was a report released way back in 2007 that listed a bunch of players who had used steroids or other drugs to make them better. I remember how hard I laughed as I watched the news about the report.
Elizabeth: Why would you laugh about guys cheating? Didn’t it make you mad?
Grandpa: No, it didn’t make me mad. There was so much su####ion about it already that nobody was really surprised. I laughed, though, because there weren’t that many players listed in the report. It was later determined that about 20 percent of players were using some sort of stimulant to increase their performance. But the report listed around 1 or 2 percent of players.
Elizabeth: Can we go see some of those players?
Grandpa: Sure. Follow me. OK, here we go. This player held the homerun title for a handful of years before Alex Rodriguez broke the record.
Elizabeth: Why is his bust so big, Grandpa? It looked the others were life-size.
Grandpa: It’s funny you ask that. His body, including his head, grew dramatically throughout his career. Oh, look over here! This pitcher is considered one of the greatest of all time. He always denied taking anything, and nobody knows for sure whether or not he did.
Elizabeth: What does posthumous induction mean?
Grandpa: It means he was elected to the Hall of Fame after he had passed away. Unfortunately, he died of liver problems that some think were related to the steroids he was taking.
Elizabeth: They teach us in school about the dangers of drugs, and have told us how big of a problem it used to be. I'm surprised these guys were willing to risk their lives. And why did they put all these guys into the Hall of Fame?
Grandpa: They were all a part of baseball history, and were among the greatest players of all time. I’m glad they are here. While I don’t like that they used performance enhancing drugs, I don’t think it would make sense to simply ignore all they accomplished and keep them out of the Hall of Fame. Baseball history is passed along from generation to generation through conversations just like the one we’re having today. Nobody will forget what these players did. Some people wanted the record books filled with asterisks, but common sense prevailed. When you bring your kids here many years from now, you and your husband will tell them that their Great-Grandpa grew up watching these players. And you'll know why they hit so many homeruns, and pitched so effectively for so many years.
Elizabeth: Hey, why do they call this guy Charlie Hustle?
Grandpa: Because he hustled all the time! Even after a walk he would sprint down to first base. He played his best and tried his hardest at all times. But he got in trouble too. He was betting on games that he was involved in. His punishment was much more severe than any of the players that used illegal drugs. It wasn’t until about twenty-five years ago that he was even let in the Hall of Fame.
Elizabeth: Bowie Kuhn? Did this guy play wearing a suit?
Grandpa: No, he was a commissioner. You know how your Dad is a Chief Executive Officer in his company? That’s like what a commissioner is.
Elizabeth: Where is the commissioner who was in charge during the Steroid Era? Is he in here?
Grandpa: No, he certainly isn’t. I'm sure he would like to be, and there were several things he did during his time as commissioner that were good for the game.
Elizabeth: Like what?
Grandpa: Well, he introduced the Wild Card concept to the playoffs. If he hadn’t done that, The Rays wouldn’t have made their first post-season appearance last year!
Elizabeth: Well, he was a good guy then, huh, Gramps?
Grandpa: In some ways. But he also ignored the drug problem for way too long, and really let things get out of control. At the time, baseball was setting attendance records, homeruns were being hit at a record pace, and he wasn’t willing to take any personal responsibility for the problems the game had. He ended up resigning a year before his contract was up.
Elizabeth: Who took over then?
Grandpa: This man here right here.
Elizabeth: The Iron Man?
Grandpa: That’s right. He was respected by owners, players and fans. He instituted strict drug testing, helped control the outrageous contracts players were getting, instituted salary floors and caps, implemented a shared international scouting program and overhauled the draft process. He also spearheaded a new collective bargaining agreement that found both owners and players agreeing on revenue sharing, luxury taxes, and other factors that helped prevent perennially uncompetitive clubs.
Elizabeth: Wow! That all sounds important.
Grandpa: Yes it was. It helped the sport move beyond a very ugly era, and returned baseball to its rightful place as our country’s National Pastime.
During the twelve year career Sandy Koufax enjoyed, he was often referred to as the man with the golden arm - and rightly so for the lefty from Brooklyn, New York. His accomplishments were many, including four no-hitters, four All-Star MVP awards, the league MVP award, three Cy Young awards and two World Series MVP awards. It is no wonder that his name will always be mentioned in discussions on the best left-handers of all time.
It is often said that if you throw with your left arm, you’ll always be able to find a job. So it is no wonder that southpaw superstars have always been a hot commodity in Major League Baseball. That is one of the reasons why we are witnessing such an interesting off-season with the Johan Santana trade discussions. The rumored packages that the Yankees, Red Sox and other teams are putting together each contain at least three or four highly regarded ballplayers. And yet, the Minnesota Twins have apparently not yet heard an impressive enough offer to allow them to part with their golden arm. Should they eventually move Santana to the Red Sox or Yankees, the impact of the trade will have historical implications on the sport.
It is so difficult to compare eras, but I can’t help but wonder what value the Dodgers would have received for Koufax had they complied with his request to be traded during the 1960 season. Even if Fox Sports existed back then, and 24/7 sports coverage was being provided via the web, television and radio as it is now, it is safe to say that the rumored offers for Koufax would not be as high as they currently are for Santana. Or, to put it another way, if Koufax was pitching today, and was through eight years of his career as Santana currently is, Johan would still be the main man on the market. In fact, I’m not convinced the Red Sox or Yankees would offer more than Jon Lester or Philip Hughes, respectively, straight up for Koufax. That may sound outrageous, but let’s look at the numbers Koufax and Santana produced through their first eight seasons:
Games Starts Wins Losses ERA WHIP
S. Koufax 244 164 68 60 3.71 1.34
J. Santana 251 175 93 44 3.22 1.09
As you see, their total games and starts are quite similar. But Santana dominates in other categories.
Now, if the suitors for Santana had knowledge that he would produce like Koufax did during years 9-12 of his career, they would be scrambling to sweeten an already sweet pot. Koufax became the youngest player inducted into the Hall of Fame because he was unbelievably effective over his last four years. During that span he managed to go 97-27 with an ERA below 2.00 and a WHIP under 1.00. Amazingly, he logged just over half of his total innings pitched in the last four years of his twelve year career. The impact on his arm contributed to a career being cut shorter than Dodger faithful had hoped, but it was enough to establish him as one of the greatest hurlers in history.
Here are Koufax’s career totals:
GamesStarts Wins LossesERA WHIP
397 314 165 87 2.76 1.11
While it’s not at all realistic to think that Santana could duplicate a four year run like Koufax did from 1963-1966, he wouldn’t even need to in order to find himself in the same statistical position as Koufax through 12 years. Being traded to Boston or New York would certainly increase his ability to pile up wins. He can absolutely average 18 wins a year pitching for one of the top two teams in baseball. In fact, he has averaged 17.5 over the past four years in Minnesota. While he may not lower his ERA to the level of Koufax's, he would have the opportunity to add to his two Cy Young Awards and shine in the post-season on an annual basis.
If the Red Sox or Yankees do work a trade – and eventual extension - for Santana, it is highly possible that by the time his new contract expires his numbers will outshine those compiled by Hall of Famer Sandy Koufax. Only 28 years-old and likely headed to a perennial power, baseball enthusiasts should take note of just how outstanding he is. When all is said and done, Johan Santana could very well end up as the greatest southpaw to ever toe the rubber.
The term “Exit Strategy” is often used in the business world to describe the plan that an investor or entrepreneur establishes to ensure he or she is not stuck in a losing situation. The term has also been used to criticize various Presidents and military leaders for the way they have managed wars. A lesson that has been learned by leaders in many aspects of life is that you should always enter into something with an exit strategy in mind. As the sale of the Chicago Cubs approaches, my advice to the new owner or owners is to have an exit strategy. I’m not talking about an exit strategy that would result in selling the team. I’m talking about an exit strategy that would get the Cubs out of Wrigley Field.
Built in 1914 and inhabited by the Cubs since 1916, Wrigley Field is the 2nd oldest active ballpark, behind Fenway Park. The list of wonderful Wrigley Field memories is long. There was the Cubs 26-23 win over Philadelphia in 1922. In 1932 Babe Ruth called his homerun. In 1945, the Billy Goat Curse took place. In 1958 the Wrigley Field fans saw Stan Musial notch hit number 3000. Ironically, Musial’s fans in St. Louis listened to Harry Caray make the call as the Cardinals announcer. The 60’s didn’t produce too many memorable events for the Cubs, but the Chicago Bears did win a Championship in 1963 at Wrigley Field. Two years later, Gale Sayers would gallop for 6 touchdowns in a win over the 49ers. 1970 saw Ernie Banks launch his 500th homerun into the bleachers. There was the “Sandberg Game” in 1984. Kerry Wood struck out 20 Astros in 1998. And this past season, future Hall of Famer Tom Glavine won his 300th game. These are just some of the great events taking place at Wrigley Field.
And yet, the sooner the Cubs move from Wrigley, the better.
There are four primary reasons why it’s time for a plan to move from Wrigley into a new stadium. The reasons are simple:
1. Wrigley Field is inconvenient
2. Wrigley Field is uncomfortable
3. Wrigley Field is unfriendly
4. Wrigley Field is NOT the reason Cubs fans go to the game
I realize that a quick list of four reasons is certainly not enough to convince many of you that I’m not crazy for having this opinion. So let me expand on this…
1. Wrigley Field is Inconvenient
OK, on its own merits, this point doesn’t provide enough of a reason for the Cubs to look for a new home. But it’s an important piece of the overall argument. I spent the last weekend of September in Cincinnati, watching the Cubs wrap up the division as they took two out of three from the Reds. The Great American Ballpark is a beautiful ballpark, and it’s very easy to get to. I was able to park in their parking garage, under the stadium, for $15.00. Had I wanted to save a little money, I could have parked in a number of various lots within very close proximity to the ballpark. A week later I was trying to figure out the best way to get to Wrigley Field to attend Game 3 against the Diamondbacks. The thought of driving and parking anywhere near Wrigley Field was laughable. So I took the train in. It took me about an hour to get on the train once I parked at the station. I have no objection to using public transportation, especially when it is more convenient than driving. The Cubs encourage it as well. In fact, their website states, “Cubs fans are strongly encouraged to use public transportation going to and from Cubs games.” The bottom line is that it is not convenient to use either method for getting to Wrigley. I finally did make it to the game, and I got to my seat just in time to see Rich Hill give up a bomb to start the game. So much for getting there in time to enjoy batting practice and the pre-game excitement. I did go to a game in early September and I was able to park close to Wrigley Field – for the small fee of $30.00. I’ve been to many ballparks around the United States, and Wrigley wins the prize for being the most inconvenient. Maybe if the Reds, baseball’s first all-professional team, was still playing at Crosley Field, Wrigley Field wouldn’t seem quite so inconvenient to me.
2. Wrigley Field is Uncomfortable
There is no question that sitting close to the field during a game at Wrigley Field is a blast. Of course, it’s also blast at Miller Park, Oriole Park at Camden Yards, etc. If you’re close to the field, the game seems faster and is more enjoyable. The bleachers are also quite a bit of fun at Wrigley, though you are packed in about as tightly as Barry Bonds would be in a size 8 helmet. The seats around the stadium are rather tight as well. Some of them are uncomfortable because you have to spend the day sitting at an angle to see around the various poles. My playoff seat – located in one of the 200 sections down the rightfield line – left me with no clear view of second base. That really was unfortunate, as the Cubs hit into so many double-plays there was a lot of action there. Above my head was a sizable net, which was placed there to catch falling pieces of concrete. Nice. I paid $100 or so for a ticket that had me behind a pole with no view of second, a net hanging above me designed to prevent severe head trauma and my car parked an hour away at a train station.
In May of 2005 I spent an afternoon at a Cubs game and nearly froze to death. It was the first baseball game I’ve attended there in which the Hot Chocolate vendor outsold every other vendor. Well, except one. The guy selling Cubs stocking hats couldn’t keep up with the demand. The wind off of the lake was intense, and resulted in about half of the crowd leaving prior to the 7th inning.
Another uncomfortable aspect is that the restrooms are a disaster at Wrigley Field. I can only personally speak for the men’s restrooms, but the horse troths simply do not create a comfortable environment. And any restroom that requires “This is not a toilet” signs on the sinks is a restroom that should be kept locked up.
Finally, Wrigley Field is at – or certainly near – the bottom of the list when it comes to accessibility for disabled fans. Admittedly, this is a small population of the fans who attend games, but lack of accessibility may by the reason.
3. Wrigley Field is Unfriendly
The nickname “The Friendly Confines” is a neat little nickname that would work well for a local little league field. No offense to Mr. Cub, who helped popularize the name, but teams aren’t fearful playing at The Friendly Confines. The real point, though, is that Wrigley Field has not been friendly to the Chicago Cubs. Remember, this is a team that last won a World Series in 1908, when they played at the West Side Grounds. How does a team – in a major market – spend a century without winning a World Series? Actually, in any market, how do you go ten straight decades? They haven’t even appeared in the World Series since 1945. This is a team that earned home field advantage in the 1984 playoffs, and then had it taken away because of Wrigley Field and the lack of lights. It was Dallas Green who finally said, “If there are no lights in Wrigley Field, there will be no Wrigley Field.” Unfortunately, lights were installed and the Cubs remained at
1060 W. Addison St. And since that time, another two decades have passed with no championships.
Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not blaming the physical structure that is Wrigley Field for the century of suffering Cubs fans have had. I’m fully aware that Lou Brock was not traded by the actual building. I don’t believe Wrigley Field somehow forced Don Zimmer to continually pitch to a red hot Will Clark in the 1989 playoffs. I know that the Boston Ivy that adorns the outfield wall didn’t pull the trigger on the Jon Garland for Matt Karchner deal. I don’t blame Wrigley Field for the poor decision made by a fan to interfere with Moises Alou’s attempt to make a catch. Nor do I believe that the Wrigley Field home dugout entrapped Dusty Baker, preventing him from walking to the mound to calm his young ace. And I certainly don’t blame Wrigley Field for the quick sweep the Cubs suffered this past season at the hands of a more disciplined, fundamentally sound team from Arizona. But let me ask you something. If you lived in house for over 90 years, and the nightmares greatly outweighed the pleasant memories, wouldn’t you wonder why you never moved on to possibly find greener pastures? Or would you stubbornly say that tradition prevents change and you’re not going anywhere? If you are one who would opt for tradition, at what point would you be willing to move? When would it become acceptable to move into a new, state-of-the-art ballpark? Would Wrigley have to literally crumble to the ground, rendering the various safety nets useless? This is a ballpark that requires millions of dollars a year in repair work. Some have suggested that in order to truly make all of the necessary repairs, costs could be somewhere around 125 million dollars. That’s one-third of the entire cost to build the new Busch Stadium. It simply makes no sense to me to continue to pour money into a structure that is this old.
4. Wrigley Field is NOT the reason Cubs fans go to the game
I am a Cubs fan, and there is nothing that irks me more than hearing people say that Wrigley Field is for socializing and not for true baseball fans. Thirty years ago, that was a fair statement. Wrigley Field was a place you could decide to go to at the last minute, park nearby and walk in for a few dollars. You could sit in the bleachers, drink beer, and try to impress those scattered few around you. That’s not the case any longer, and it hasn’t been the case since about 1984. I credit Ryne Sandberg for inspiring this positive change among Cubs fans. His MVP play, and the Cubs run to the 1984 playoffs made fans realize that the Cubs could be – and should be - a contender. It started to matter whether or not the Cubs won or lost. If you look at attendance figures historically at Wrigley, they jumped in 1984 by over 600,000 fans compared to 1983. Think about that! That is growth of over 42% in one year. There hasn’t been another non-strike year in which the Cubs’ attendance total has fluctuated nearly that much in either direction. The strong desire to see a championship for the Cubs has increased each year. Since 2000, only the Yankees, Dodgers, Giants and Mariners have surpassed the Cubs attendance total of 23,870,905. The Yankees and Dodgers have surpassed the Cubs because they are in major markets and have more seats in their stadiums. The Giants and Mariners can thank new, wonderful stadiums and loyal fan bases. As for the Cubs, I firmly believe that you’d see an even higher attendance number if the Cubs played in a more accessible location with a higher seating capacity.
My conclusion is simply that a new ballpark for the Chicago Cubs will not hurt them, and in fact, will help them with becoming a perennial contender. They should follow the example of the New York Yankees, who are opening a new ballpark for 2009. New ownership should build a park that is quite similar to Wrigley but with an additional 10,000 in capacity, and with modern day amenities like stylish luxury boxes, ample parking, etc. Also, Cubs fans across the country would surely be pleased by the thought of an additional 810,000 tickets being available each year. If sold at the average ticket cost of $34.30 the Cubs had in 2007, they would realize an additional $27,783,000 in revenue each regular season! That doesn’t take into account parking, concessions, etc. It makes all the sense in the world to me. New ownership must look to create an exit strategy that has them in a new ballpark by 2010 or 2011. Wrigley Field will always be a major part of Cubs history. Let’s allow a new ballpark to be the home of many future championships.
While so much attention gets paid every baseball off-season to free agents and trades, one way a team can really help itself is by calling on young talent from within their system. Watching players like Jacoby Ellsbury, Dustin Pedroia, Jon Lester and Troy Tulowitski added an extra dose of excitement to the Fall Classic. Experience is so important, but so is having loads of talent. It is when teams – especially those in the heat of a pennant race – call on the youngsters that memorable debuts are made.
Although rosters are far from being shaped at this point for the 2008 season, here is a look at five pitchers and five positional players who have not yet gotten a taste of the Major Leagues – but could play a major role next season…
THE ARMS
A pitcher who has continually excelled in the Padres organization is Josh Geer. The Padres have some questions after Peavy, Young and Maddux, and the 24-year-old Rice University product may be an answer. His numbers were very solid in Double-A, going 16-6. He is 30-12 over the past two seasons and will almost certainly get an opportunity in Spring Training to either claim a spot at the bottom of the rotation or place his name at the top of the call-up list. He is a control pitcher who could only benefit from being around Greg Maddux for a season.
The Chicago White Sox think so highly of Gio Gonzalez that they re-acquired him after having included him in the Jim Thome deal. His return appears to have been a very wise move. Gonzalez, a lefty who throws in the low 90’s and has control of a sharp curveball, led the minors with 185 strikeouts. The departure of Jon Garland makes a Gonzalez debut in 2008 close to a sure thing. While he’s only 22, I can’t imagine the White Sox getting such a strong performance from their rotation that it would result in a talent like Gonzalez spending another season in the minors.
I’m interested in seeing what Cincinnati does during the Winter Meetings, and what shape their rotation is in come March. I’m confident they’ll look to add a veteran pitcher, but regardless of whether they do or not, Johnny Cueto will get an opportunity this year at the big league level. He is 22 and has been dominating in the minors – striking out more than one batter an inning last year, while showing nice control. His Winter League play has shown a similar trend. In five starts, Cueto has fanned 30 in 27 innings, while walking only 6. He is one of many reasons why Reds fans should be very excited about their future. He is also a guy that many GMs will ask about during trade discussions, but I’d be pretty surprised to see him moved.
The Tampa Bay Rays have virtually no shot at contending this year, but they could wind up with a formidable rotation from #1 - #3 with Kazmir, Shields and Jeff Niemann. Playing for the Durham Bulls last year, Niemann had a solid season – starting 25 games and fanning nearly a batter an inning. He possesses an outstanding slider and fires it from his 6’9” frame. If he gets his chance this year, and lives up to his potential, he could help the Rays cut into the 30 game gap that existed between them and the Red Sox last season.
If you are a prospect on the New York Mets, you would be wise to keep a bag packed this off-season. They seem destined to make a move or two, and they have several youngsters that other teams covet. Kevin Mulvey is one of their talented pitchers, and he could very well be called upon in ’08. He hasn’t gotten the same amount of publicity as some of their other young pitchers, but he may force his way onto the parent club. Last year he allowed only 4 homeruns in 151 innings while in Double-A. He showed outstanding control as well. In his one start in Triple-A, he threw 6 brilliant innings – allowing 2 hits and walking none. The Mets should do all they can to keep the 22-year-old Villanova product. Trading him could quickly bring back memories of the Scott Kazmir trade.
THE BATS
When you are the Minor League Baseball Player of the Year recipient, it’s hard to imagine that you would return to the minors the following season. However, the Cincinnati Reds have a very crowded outfield, and Jay Bruce may not start the year in The Queen City. Or, the Reds may look to deal for pitching, and in doing so, clear a spot for Bruce. The only negative – though it ultimately will be a positive – is that he’s left-handed. The Reds are full of powerful lefties with Hamilton, Dunn, Votto and Griffey, Jr. If they don’t have a spot for him at the start of the season, they will almost certainly call him up at some point in ’08. He will be only 20 years old when the season starts, but could play a significant role in Cincinnati’s attempt to turn things around.
It will be odd, to say the least, to watch the Atlanta Braves next year without Andruw Jones patrolling center field. Jordan Schafer could wind up as the guy tasked with filling the void. Though only 21, and without experience beyond High-A ball, Schafer has both the offensive and defensive tools to excel in Atlanta. He’ll certainly have competition from several within the organization, but I’d be surprised if Schafer isn’t the one who eventually wins the job and holds it for quite some time.
The Arizona Diamondbacks have an impressive group of outfielders – including Eric Byrnes, Carlos Quentin, Justin Upton and Chris Young. All four hit from the right side, and that’s one of the reasons I think Carlos Gonzalez will have an impressive debut with Arizona in 2008. The other main reason is because he’s just awfully good. The lefty just turned 22, and has an incredibly high ceiling. The depth this team has in the outfield also could lead to a trade. It’s hard to imagine a talent like Gonzalez being dealt, but regardless, he will likely spend much of ’08 showcasing his skills at the major league level.
Travis Snyder may be a bit of a reach for a 2008 debut, as he’ll only turn 20 in February. However, the Blue Jays may just have to give into temptation and move this young outfielder swiftly through their system. He was dominate in Single-A ball last year, is crushing the ball during Winter League play, and is justifying the opinions of the many scouts who thought he was the best hitter in the ’06 draft. The Blue Jays have something the Orioles and Rays don’t – a glimmer of hope when it comes to tracking down the Red Sox and Yankees. Snyder’s left-handed stick could help them make it interesting.
The Yankees are frequently criticized for buying championships. They have proven, though, to have an eye for young talent and the ability to develop that talent. In 2008, Juan Miranda could be a solid contributor to another strong season. The 24-year-old first baseman and Cuban native swings a powerful bat form the left side. His ability to draw walks helps to offset his propensity for striking out, and he has continually produced a solid on-base percentage. It’s not unreasonable to think that he could hit .290 with 20 homeruns and 35 doubles playing for the Yankees.
Time will tell if any of these players will truly impact the 2008 season, but I’m confident that most – if not all – of them will get their chance by debuting during the season.
The upcoming Winter Meetings (Dec. 3-6) will surely result in a number of rumors being tossed about, some trades being made and, hopefully, some clarity being shed on some moves that have already taken place this off-season.
With the World Series only a month behind us, it is certainly too early to declare “winners and losers” of this off-season, but some teams have definitely made, or failed to make, decisions that will greatly impact the ’08 campaign. The two teams that seem least concerned about payroll implications – the Yankees and Red Sox – quickly took care of business by re-signing Posada, A-Rod, Rivera and Lowell. I may be in the minority on this, but I love the fact that teams are not restricted by a salary cap and are able to re-up with their stars if they want to. Neither team is going to sit back and rest, and it makes me think that the AL East will again be an outstanding battle. I am confident that both of these teams will have a “winning” off-season.
I like the move the Los AngelesAngels made to sign Torii Hunter. Yes, they had to pay him more per year than the entire 1985 Angels squad earned, but that’s what you have to do in this day and age if you want to add an impact player like Hunter. He makes their line-up and their defense stronger – even after accounting for the loss of Orlando Cabrera. That’s another move I liked by the Angels, and one that leaves me scratching my head over their trading partner.
Why would the Chicago White Sox be excited about trading Jon Garland for Orlando Cabrera? Kenny Williams seemed thrilled by the deal, and quickly proclaimed, “People want to examine each deal as they come along and don't see the big picture being painted. Hopefully, in the next month -- and in my desire the next week --people will say, 'Oh, I get it.’” Well, I still don’t get it. Garland is 28, Cabrera is 33. Garland has won 46 games over the last three years. Both are free agents after this season. Yes, Williams did unload a larger contract and got cash back as part of the exchange. Big deal. And since when does in a team located in Chicago need to be concerned about saving a few million? If Williams wanted to save money, he shouldn’t have signed Juan Uribe to a one-year, 4.5 million dollar deal. Uribe essentially hit his weight, batting .234 last year and had his second straight season of a sub-par .300 on-base percentage. And let us not forget what Williams said right after the signing, “Now that we've got a lay of the free agent possibilities, combined with the trade possibilities, we felt he was the best option.” See why I’m confused by this one? Apparently Williams changed his mind pretty quickly, and decided that trading a guy that has won only four fewer games than Johan Santana over the past three years for a shortstop was a better option. White Sox faithful will tell you that Uribe will now be dealt. If there is a General Manager at the Winter Meetings that asks about acquiring Uribe, I’ll be shocked. To further confuse matters, Williams signed Scott Linebrink for four years and 19 million. It’s reasonable money for a top set-up man, but is that what Linebrink is? He certainly was from 2003 – 2005, but his ERA has climbed the past two seasons, and he allowed more homeruns last year (12) than he did in ’05 and ’06 combined (13). And keep mind that he pitched a portion of the season last year in San Diego – which is a pitching paradise compared to Cellular Field. To add insult to injury, Torii Hunter headed to the West Coast. If the White Sox fail to contend in 2008, the fact that Williams won a World Series in 2005 will no longer carry the weight it does right now. If they do contend, maybe I’ll be one of the many saying, “Oh, I get it.”
And just what are the Milwaukee Brewers doing? Re-signing Francisco Cordero needed to happen. Not only did it not, but they let him walk away to a division rival. It’s conceivable, I guess, that Derrick Turnbow could resume the closer role and do an outstanding job. However, the fact that his walk totals have climbed each of the past three years must be concerning to the Brewers. But even if he shines as their closer, they would be left with a very questionable middle relief corp. The addition of 34-year-old Guillermo Mota won’t be enough – even if he manages to pitch like he did in 2004 and years prior. If fact, Mota’s acquisition confused me more than failing to sign Cordero. By trading Johnny Estrada, and signing Jason Kendall as their everyday catcher, the Brewers downgraded the position. Neither catcher is a guy I’d want to be penciling in 130 or so times a year, but I’d take Estrada over Kendall at this point. Ironically, they were the two lowest ranked catchers in baseball last year when it came to throwing out runners. Estrada had two surgeries (elbow and knee) after the season – and should improve on his percentage in ’08. I’m not sure what Kendall’s excuse was – other than delivering the ball slower than most Pee-Wee Leaguers. If having to choose between the lesser of two evils, I’ll take the switch-hitter who brings a little bit of pop to the line-up. The Brewers should look to address their needs and their future by trading Ben Sheets. If the team can’t afford Cordero, they certainly won’t be able to afford Sheets after this season. His value is high right now, and his departure could immediately help the Brewers fill some needs.
Francisco Cordero’s new team, the Cincinnati Reds, are poised to make a run in 2008. His signing was huge. They won 72 games last year with the lowest ranked pen in the National League. You could make a strong argument that if Cordero pitched in Cincinnati last year, and Weathers was allowed to work as a set-up man all season, the Reds could have won the division. That may sound outlandish, but the Reds converted only 34 of 61 save opportunities. If the Reds acquire a starter who can serve as their #3 (a guy like Cliff Lee – as I’ve written before) and one more respectable arm for their pen, they will have as much right to feel like a NL Central contender as any other team in the division.
Lastly, Tom Glavine returning to the Atlanta Braves is only fitting. His signing helps balance out the Mets and Braves – the two teams who will spend the season trying to keep pace with the Phillies. It also helps ensure that the Mets will be active at the Winter Meetings and throughout the off-season as they look to fortify their pitching staff.
So as the Winter Meetings draw closer, and we’ll continue to hear about the likes of Miguel Cabrera and Johan Santana, I also look forward to seeing what some teams – like the White Sox and Brewers – will do to recover, and what teams like the Angels, Red Sox, Yankees and Reds (yes, I mentioned the Reds in the same sentence as the Red Sox) will do to continually improve their team for 2008.
