MLB 2018

[Markalanbishop]

Interesting read on the Cubs, Indians and the rise and triumph of analytics in baseball.
https://theringer.com/2016-world-series ... .47djqvyoo

[ramonz]

Totally, randomly, in Chicago this weekend for a getaway with my lady. Our hotel is right along the parade route. I'm dying to dive in and join the fun today, and she wants to get as far away from all this stuff as possible! Really fun to be caught up in all this excitement!

[Tequila Cowboy]

And the river ran Cubs blue...

[whatwouldcooleydo?]

And the river ran Cubs blue...

definitely looks better than that time the Dave Matthews tour bus changed the color of the water

[whatwouldcooleydo?]

On a separate note, over the years as I've met new people and the topic turned to baseball I always introduced myself like this "I am the most pathetic of all of God's creatures, I am a Cubs fan". We Cubs fans are no longer pathetic so who the fuck AM I???

Cubs fans, take note

I lay in bed, staring at the ceiling this time, discombobulated. In a sense, once the Red Sox had finally won, I didn’t know who I was any more. Losing was the Red Sox’s most definitive, most distinctive feature – and by extension, in baseball-fan terms, my own. Suddenly, I was just like everybody else.

[Tequila Cowboy]

On a separate note, over the years as I've met new people and the topic turned to baseball I always introduced myself like this "I am the most pathetic of all of God's creatures, I am a Cubs fan". We Cubs fans are no longer pathetic so who the fuck AM I???

Cubs fans, take note

I lay in bed, staring at the ceiling this time, discombobulated. In a sense, once the Red Sox had finally won, I didn’t know who I was any more. Losing was the Red Sox’s most definitive, most distinctive feature – and by extension, in baseball-fan terms, my own. Suddenly, I was just like everybody else.

I totally get this. StevieRay (Peter) said the same thing in 2004 and I didn't quite understand him at the time. I do now.

[Zip City]

I don't. The Cubs failures never defined me or my fandom.

[whatwouldcooleydo?]

I don't. The Cubs failures never defined me or my fandom.

of course, but you're special

[Zip City]

Why would anyone mourn no longer being a loser? How dumb

[Tequila Cowboy]

Why would anyone mourn no longer being a loser? How dumb

That's not really it. Being a Cubs fan (or a Red Sox fan before 2004) carried a stigma to it, almost a point of shame. I wouldn't say I mourn it but it feels different now.

[Zip City]

Why would anyone mourn no longer being a loser? How dumb

That's not really it. Being a Cubs fan (or a Red Sox fan before 2004) carried a stigma to it, almost a point of shame. I wouldn't say I mourn it but it feels different now.

I guess I always felt that the stigma was something that made the "shamers" look bad, not the Cubs fans. "At least we've won in the last 100 years" was the kind of low-hanging fruit that I could easily laugh off.

But there ARE some fans who will probably feel like they've lost their identity, and I don't understand it. All I've ever wanted was for them to win. I want them to win every World Series for the rest of my life

[Tequila Cowboy]

I never could laugh that stuff off. In 2004 I wished I was Red Sox fan first instead of them being my second favorite. I have never hated a Cubs team like I did that 2004 bunch and my white hot hatred of Dusty Baker will never fade because of it. I seriously considered giving up my fandom in 2005. A neighbor of mine burned all his Cubs gear in his driveway that year and declared himself a Dodgers fan. That was tempting but I couldn't do it. I hung on and I'm damned glad I did. Now that's all changed. Now I'm not the obstinate, diehard fan tilting at windmills. Now I, and millions of others, are just like all the rest. Baseball fans. I like the sound of that but I can't say it isn't different.

[beantownbubba]

WTF?! I guess there's always one.

http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/1797 ... postseason

Legitimate beef or not (and I have no opinion on that), he couldn't wait a week? That's just stupid.

[Zip City]

WTF?! I guess there's always one.

http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/1797 ... postseason

Legitimate beef or not (and I have no opinion on that), he couldn't wait a week? That's just stupid.

Word on the street is he may have been more than a little drunk during that interview and let some things slip

[jr29]

WTF?! I guess there's always one.

http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/1797 ... postseason

Legitimate beef or not (and I have no opinion on that), he couldn't wait a week? That's just stupid.

Word on the street is he may have been more than a little drunk during that interview and let some things slip

Juan Encarnacion got his panties in a bunch about something in 2006 and didn't even show up for the parade and festivities in St. Louis following the Cards WS win that year.
I never liked him anyway.

[whatwouldcooleydo?]

Cubs all over last night's SNL

Let the oversaturation begin

[Tequila Cowboy]

Cubs all over last night's SNL

Let the oversaturation begin

Don't worry, soon Cubs fandom will be arguing over offseason moves and the warm fuzzies will be gone with wind.

[Mr. B]

Cubs all over last night's SNL

Let the oversaturation begin

Don't worry, soon Cubs fandom will be arguing over offseason moves and the warm fuzzies will be gone with wind.

And so it begins. Jason Hammel gone.

[Tequila Cowboy]

And so it begins. Jason Hammel gone.

In the classiest way possible. I assumed they would pick up his option and trade him, which would have made a lot of economic sense, instead they said that when he signed contract they told him that when his contract was up and it was time for the option, and they felt he no longer part of their plans, they would make a clean break and let him pursue FA rather than exercise the option and trade him. They were good to their word despite surprising a lot of people.

“When we agreed with Jason on this two year contract back at the 2014 winter meetings, the option was included with the intent that it would be exercised if Jason was going to be a Cub in 2017. The intent was never to exercise the option and then trade Jason, so we will not consider that path. Instead, Jason will have the opportunity to enter free agency coming off an outstanding season and the ability to choose his next club.”

[Mr. B]

And so it begins. Jason Hammel gone.

In the classiest way possible. I assumed they would pick up his option and trade him, which would have made a lot of economic sense, instead they said that when he signed contract they told him that when his contract was up and it was time for the option, and they felt he no longer part of their plans, they would make a clean break and let him pursue FA rather than exercise the option and trade him. They were good to their word despite surprising a lot of people.

“When we agreed with Jason on this two year contract back at the 2014 winter meetings, the option was included with the intent that it would be exercised if Jason was going to be a Cub in 2017. The intent was never to exercise the option and then trade Jason, so we will not consider that path. Instead, Jason will have the opportunity to enter free agency coming off an outstanding season and the ability to choose his next club.”

Yep, first class all the way.

[whatwouldcooleydo?]

if any of you Cubs fans want my copy of the World Series Sports Illustrated that just came, just say so and send me your address.

[whatwouldcooleydo?]

if any of you Cubs fans want my copy of the World Series Sports Illustrated that just came, just say so and send me your address.

'tis claimed

[Tequila Cowboy]

It's starting to look like Nippon-Ham Fighters pitcher/DH Shohei Otani could be posted this offseason. If you don't know him he's a 22 year old pitcher/hitter that excels at both. Some numbers:

As a hitter in 382 PA: .322/.416/.588 OPS of 1.004

As a pitcher with 140 IP: 1.86 ERA, .957 WHIP, 11.2 K/9

Obviously the potential suitors start with the big money clubs of Cubs, Dodgers, Red Sox and Yankees. He could be looking for as much a 10 years/$300 mil. People call him the best pitcher on the planet not named Clayton Kershaw.

[Zip City]

He will end up in LA. Most Asian pitchers pick west coast teams so it's easier to travel home

[Tequila Cowboy]

He will end up in LA. Most Asian pitchers pick west coast teams so it's easier to travel home

Often yes, but Tanaka signed with NY and Theo has told people that this kid is the holy grail. They'll go hard after him. Interestingly enough the Red Sox are said to like him better as a hitter but likely wouldn't pay that kind of money for a non-pitcher.

[Tequila Cowboy]

Kendrys Morales signs with Toronto.

[whatwouldcooleydo?]

Cubs fan, born in 1908, dies one week after team recaptured World Series

[Tequila Cowboy]

Best Tweet ever?

Kate Upton Verified account
‏@KateUpton

Hey @MLB I thought I was the only person allowed to fuck @JustinVerlander ?! What 2 writers didn't have him on their ballot?

[beantownbubba]

Best Tweet ever?

Kate Upton Verified account
‏@KateUpton

Hey @MLB I thought I was the only person allowed to fuck @JustinVerlander ?! What 2 writers didn't have him on their ballot?

Can't you just see Kate madly tapping away in that warrior costume from that videogame commercial?

[whatwouldcooleydo?]

Best Tweet ever?

Kate Upton Verified account
‏@KateUpton

Hey @MLB I thought I was the only person allowed to fuck @JustinVerlander ?! What 2 writers didn't have him on their ballot?

Can't you just see Kate madly tapping away in that warrior costume from that videogame commercial?

I can now