
Thursday, December 31, 2009
It's Over

Hall of Fame Voting
Most 1-0 shutout victories
Walter Johnson: 38
Pete Alexander: 17Bert Blyleven: 15
Christy Mathewson: 14
Cy Young: 13
Eddie Plank: 13
Doc White: 13
Ed Walsh: 13
Dean Chance: 13
San Coveleski: 12
Gaylord Perry: 12
Steve Carlton: 12
Fergie Jenkins: 11
Greg Maddux: 11.
Nolan Ryan: 11.
Sandy Koufax: 10.So the next time someone tells you that Bert Blyeven never won a Cy Young, you can say: “Yeah, but he won more 1-0 shutouts than Cy Young.” And he did it when the ball was LIVE.
The Hall of Fame seems to come down to a player’s peak and his longevity. Was he truly great at his best? And was he good for a long enough time?
Well, Tim Raines had a huge peak. From 1983-87 — the five year peak — he hit .318/.406/.467 for a 142 OPS+, the same OPS+ that Jim Rice had during his five-year peak. During those five years, he averaged 114 runs scored, 34 doubles, 10 triples, 11 home runs and 71 stolen bases a year. He led the league in runs scored twice, batting and on-base percentage once, doubles once, stolen bases twice, and could have won three MVP awards. He had 163 win shares in those five years — an average of 32.6. Bill says a 30-win share season is an MVP-type year.
Tim Raines also had a huge career. He reached base almost 4,000 times … or to compare him to a similar player, about 150 times more than Lou Brock. He’s fifth all-time in stolen bases. His .385 on-base percentage is the second-best among eligible Hall of Famers with 9,000 plate appearances (behind only the Walking Man Eddie Yost), and his slugging percentage is better than Rickey Henderson’s or Brock’s and just two points behind Joe Morgan.
This is not a borderline Hall of Fame candidate here. This is a dominant player. He never really got his due as a player while he was playing … in part because he shared his era with the great Rickey Henderson, in part because he spent his best years in Canada, in part because he was hammered by collusion, in part because on-base percentage did not (and does not) get the respect it deserved, in part because leadoff hitters tend to be naturally underrated, in part because he spent his last six or seven years as a part time player and that image of the older Raines was burned in the memory of people (especially his two championship years with the Yankees).


Sunday, December 27, 2009
Good Friends, Keepers, & Sleepers




Sunday, December 20, 2009
The Beauty of Hee Seop
I've always liked Jim Hendry. His work ethic is legendary, but sometimes you need to see positive results or at least a sound "process". For too long, we've been scratching our heads over his moves before the benefit of hindsight. He's turning into the Anglo Omar Minaya, and that isn't a complement. Where can the Cubs find another Jack Zduriencik? That's what we need.
Ok, well I promised a positive post, and believe it or not, this is it...
Where do we turn when we are at our low point? We turn to family and old friends, no matter how far away they may be...
Enter the inspiration of Hee Seop Choi... Here is a guy who climbed the mountain to the Show of Major League Baseball. He reached cult-hero status on the Northside of Chicago but never achieved the glory of traditional stardom or, of course, championships.
After being traded for Derek Lee, he toiled away in the Marlins system and returned to his homeland to play for the Kia Tigers.
I'm hoping we can get through these trying times, as fans, by learning from the acquired wisdom of our old brother in arms, Hee Seop Choi. There is inspiration in the story we bring to you today. I won't muddle it with my own interpretation, but we can learn much about the healing powers of hard work, determination, and patience... When you get a chance, please take a look at one of our favorite stops on the InterWeb, the Joong Ang Daily: "Athlete climbs to health on Mt. Seorak"
Go bless the Cubs, the fans, and God bless you, Hee Seop Choi.

Friday, December 18, 2009
Oh Noooooooo!!!
From the AP, via ABC News...
A baseball official with knowledge of the trade says the Mariners have acquired mercurial outfielder Milton Bradley from the Chicago Cubs for expensive and underperforming pitcher Carlos Silva.

Saturday, December 12, 2009
Get Well Soon, Jose Arredondo

Arredondo posted a 1.62 ERA in 52 games (plus 3.2 scoreless playoff innings) during his 2008 rookie year, but struggled to a 6.00 ERA in 43 games with Los Angeles in 2009. He was sent down to the Triple-A Salt Lake Bees at midseason and spent some time on the disabled list with a strained elbow ligament.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Best Team Money Can Buy: Full Throttle



Millwood Trade Reaction


Tuesday, December 8, 2009
The Best Team Money can Buy
