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Opinion

Opinion

Chicago Cubbie Nation is Fine with Marlon Byrd in Center—For Now

Stopping to read the Jim Hendry outfield foibles over the last few seasons reads like the tale of a man who just doesn't get it. Corey Patterson, Jacque Jones, Jeromy Burnitz, Matt Lawton, Cliff Floyd, Juan Pierre, Alfonso Soriano, Kosuke Fukudome, and Milton Bradley, just to name a few.

In pretty much every case, the Cubs have either failed to get the production that they hoped for, and/or wildly overpaid for it. I'll let you figure out which is which.

Detroit Tigers Offseason: A Month Late and a Million Short

Alright, my thoughts on the moves so far this offseason are late. At any rate, hate them or love them, here they are.

It would be an understatement to simply say that the Detroit Tigers have entered a rebuilding phase.

It has become a reality that we are all dealing with in our own ways. Common solutions include denial, rage, optimism, sadness, and/or the bottle of your choice.

Our offseason activity thus far has done everything but confirm that a fire sale would not be taking place.

Jason Bay Will Be Missed, But Boston Red Sox Were Correct in Letting Him Go

So the Bay era is over in Boston. Probably a lot sooner than many Red Sox fans, myself included, had hoped.

Jason Bay, while no Manny Ramirez with the bat, provided the Red Sox with a very solid power stroke in a very walk-happy lineup (second in the AL with 659), hitting 36 home runs, and providing a very nice line of .267/.384/.537.

It will be interesting to see how Bay's style plays at Citi Field, as it is a very young ballpark, and while Fenway Park is noted as a hitter's park, it also can depress HR totals. Particularly for a right handed hitter.

The Red Sox Top 20 Games From 2000-09 (Part I)

As with the rest of the articles in this series, I started out intending to list the Top Ten games of the last decade; but then realized I would have to leave too many great games off the list if I limited it to just ten games.

So, as a result, I hereby present you with my Top 20 Sox games of the last 10 years.

Part I of the list contains Games 11-20:

Game #20. Big Innings Abound - June 27, 2003 and May 7, 2009

These were the BIG-inning games from the decade…both occurred at Fenway Park.

Five New Years Resolutions for the Cleveland Indians

Well, it's January 1st, and as always, people around the world are resolving to better themselves in the year ahead.

Some people will resolve to lose weight, some people will resolve to think more about others, and some people will resolve to read my articles more often (I hope).

The principle doesn't apply very well to baseball; if executives thought about improving their teams only once a year, they'd be fired pretty quickly.

Nevertheless, here are my suggestions for how Larry Dolan, Manny Acta, and Mark Shapiro could better the Cleveland Indians in the year ahead.

Are the Chicago Cubs Trying Out for the "Biggest Loser" TV Show?

Watching highlights of new Chicago Cub centerfielder Marlon Byrd running the bases makes me wonder if the Cubs are trying out for “The Biggest Loser.”

 

If you have ever had your girlfriend ask you, “Honey, does my butt look big in these jeans,” you know where I’m coming from. We all know what the politically correct answer is, but boy does Marlon Byrd look big in his baseball pants.

Philadelphia Phillies, Danys Baez Agree to Two-Year Contract

The Philadelphia Phillies have signed Danys Baez to a two-year contract pending his physical, which is expected to take place next week.

Baez, 32, went 4-6 with a 4.02 earned run average in 59 relief appearances with the Baltimore Orioles last year.

The addition of Baez means that the Phillies will not re-sign Chan Ho Park as the right-handed Cuban will replace Park as a late inning reliever for Philadelphia.

Byrd Flu: True to Form, Chicago Cubs Overpay for Free Agent Outfielder

Throughout history, birds have been symbols.

In the Bible story of Noah and the ark, a dove heralds the first sighting of dry land after the long flood. Even before Edgar Allen Poe forever linked the raven to all things macabre, it stood as a foreboding sign. Eagles represent freedom, doves symbolize peace, hawks typify tenacity, and cranes embody grace.

Here's a Thought: Oakland A's Designate LHP Jay Marshall For Assignment

The Athletics signed Justin Duchscherer to a one-year deal earlier this week, and I praised the move.

Of course, Duchscherer's signing took up a 40-man roster spot, and someone thus had to go.

Cubs Carlos Zambrano To Mets Rumor Refuses To Die

While Cubs GM Jim Hendry continues to insist that Carlos Zambrano isn't available, rumors to the contrary continue to surface.

The New York Post seems to think that Zambrano is readily available.

Sherman wrote today in the New York Post that "two AL officials say the Cubs are definitely dangling Zambrano," while acknowledging Zambrano's unwillingness to approve a trade.

Poll

Best of the American League
Tampa Bay
19%
Boston
19%
Chicago
7%
Minnesota
10%
Los Angeles
17%
Texas
27%
Total votes: 270

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