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| Articles about Headlines |
| News Headlines | | 2008-08-27 11:22:00 | | On my iGoogle page, I have a page set for news widgets that have 10 different news sources, 3 headline gatherers, and one for the Onion, America's Finest Newsource. In the middle of this page, split into three columns, are the widgets for MSNBC, CNN and FoxNews, on the left, center and right sides, respectively. I looked at their headlines not long ago, and this is what I saw:MSNBC focused mainly on Clinton and Obama at the Democrative Convention, with a headline on the progress of Hurricane Gustav:Hillary Clinton boosts Obama; next up, BillNYT: For Obama, a challenge to clarifyGustav may reach Category 3 strengthCNN also focused on the Concention, while also giving a poll showing McCain up on the issue of national security:iReporters say Clinton speech a grand slamNext up: Foreign policy, national securityPoll: Obama trails McCain on national securityFoxNews for some reason completely avoided the Convention on their headlines and instead gave two odd picks, including the third which i... | | By: (Beyond the Nation) | | |
| | | Monday Brunchtime Headlines | | 2008-08-11 09:43:53 | |
No offensive, but this isn't working for me
Abe and I are still not on board with this. In fact, I got into a fight with my dad about this very issue last night.
Everyone who said it would be a cold day in August before Cubs fans cheered former Cardinals center fielder Jim Edmonds for a warning-track fly ball were apparently right on the money.
With unseasonably cool temperatures dipping into the mid-60s Sunday night at Wrigley Field, Edmonds received three standing ovations in a 6-2 victory over St. Louis, including one in the second inning for flying out and advancing a runner.
The man Cubs fans once loved to hate has morphed into a player they've learned to love in pinstripes, and Edmonds mania was front and center again before a raucous crowd of 41,268 and a national TV audience.
"That's what it's all about," Edmonds said. "Playoff atmosphere. It's the ultimate home-field advantage. There's just so much energy. It's awesome." Don't get cocky, Dempster.
Kerry Wood threw a perfect ... | | By: A League of Her Own | | |
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| Saturday Morning Headlines and Game Thread | | 2008-08-09 07:55:49 | |
Cubs Win! Cubs Win!
And it was a beauty
It was a line single to left with the bases loaded by backup catcher Henry Blanco that sealed the deal, but before that the Cubs got a another great start from Ted Lilly, shutdown work by Carlos Marmol, Jeff Samardzija and Bob Howry out of the bullpen, 2 more home runs by Jim Edmonds, and enough quality defensive plays to fill an ESPN Web Gems segment.
"That's why we call it a team," said Blanco, who replaced Geovany Soto in the 10th inning. "Every day it's going to be nine guys that go out there, but at some point in the season all 25 count. That's what this team is all about." and all those Hank White fans have friends in the clubhouse
Few Cubs sit more than Blanco with Soto in the midst of a rookie-of-the-year season, but the veteran catcher is considered a pro's pro in the eyes of his teammates.
"It's so great to see him get involved, too," Lilly said. "He's such an underrated asset on this ballclub, I really believe that, in a lot of diffe... | | By: A League of Her Own | | |
| | Dannyjoe Carter: hits the headlines | | 2008-08-07 16:13:25 | | News:
06-08-2008:
If you remember the guitar world fastest guitar player article, you'll know Dannyjoe was noted as 2nd fastest at 17 nps. Well it he hit the big time and a local news cast featuring
Dannyjoe Carter was made.
Dannyjoe Carter News cast
This is a content summary only. Visit Truth In Shredding to find out more!
... | | By: Truth In Shredding | | |
| | Saturday Headlines/Game Thread: Pirates @ Cubs, 1:05 EDT/12:05 CDT | | 2008-08-02 06:25:53 | |
Cubs turn Karstens into Cy Young candidate
From the Daily Herald:
Pittsburgh pitcher Jeff Karstens, making just his 10th career start and the first in the National League, held the Cubs scoreless on 5 hits over 6 innings, and three relievers sealed a 3-0 victory for the Pirates in front of 41,340 frustrated fans at Wrigley Field.
Was Friday's poor showing a classic letdown by the Cubs after an intense series?
"I can't say 100 percent that we didn't have a letdown, but you definitely have to give that kid credit," Jim Edmonds said of Karstens. "It would be a shame not to give him the credit that he deserves."
A 25-year-old right hander, Karstens' previous major-league experience consisted of 9 starts with the Yankees over the span of two seasons.
He entered Friday's game with a career record of 3-5 and a 5.65 ERA, and he'd never faced anyone in the Cubs' starting lineup, which proved to be a problem for the division leaders,
The Cubs left the bases loaded against Karstens in the fou... | | By: A League of Her Own | | |
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| Top 17 Headlines of 2050 | | 2008-07-31 13:53:21 | | 1. Plague of Spotted Owls Threaten Crops, Livestock2. Texas Executes Last Remaining Citizen3. Florida to Be Readmitted to Union3. Great and Benevolent Galactic Ruler Reveals That Anal Probes Were “Just For Fun”4. Mother Monica Dies: Revered Hero of Bangkok Slums Overcame Lurid Past With US President5. Construction Begins On Grenada War Memorial In D.C.6. Cody, Cassidy Gifford Elude Authorities. Drug-Crazed Crime Spree Continues7. President “Bonecrusher” Jones to Face Chief Justice “Mad Dog” Ortega In Cage Match8. Pope Phil II Settles Custody Battle With Ex-Wife9. Upcoming NFL Draft Likely to Focus On Mutants10. Younger Generation’s Music Provokes Outrage of Elders11. D.C. Zoo to Receive Rare Cow12. Authentic Year 2000 Chad Sells For $6.9 Million at Sotheby’s13. Nursing Home Lawsuit Case: Clinton Denies Candy Striper’s Allegations14. Court Clears AOLTimeWarnerGE-DisneyCiscoFordRJR-NabiscoExxon-Mobil of Monopoly Charges15. 50-Year Study: Diet and Exercise Key to Weight ... | | By: Stupid Tips | | |
| | Fake Headlines Real News | | 2008-07-31 06:08:35 | | One armed swimmer nearly completes swimming the English Channel until someone waves at him Boyfriend of girl who spent two years in the bathroom stuck to toilet seat gets 6 months probation. Thankfully article includes stock photo of toilet seat, incase you forgot what one looked like The odds of...... | | By: Outhouse Rag | | |
| | | Saturday Headlines/Game Thread (Marlins @ Cubs, 1:05pm EDT, 12:05 CDT) | | 2008-07-26 04:56:07 | |
Welcome to the bigs. Please do better next time. Cubs decide to display stinky offense at home
From the Daily Herald:
Though the Cubs posted a respectable 10 hits against six Marlins pitchers, they couldn't deliver the timely knock in a 3-2 loss before 41,570 at Wrigley Field.
The Cubs went 1-for-6 with runners in scoring position and stranded 11 men on the bases, including six runners in scoring position in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings combined.
Such offensive inefficiency left the Cubs vulnerable late in a 2-2 game, and Florida pinch hitter Jeremy Hermida stuck his finger in their collective eye by ripping a game-winning, solo home run to the right-field bleachers off Bob Howry in the ninth.
The Cubs, who have scored 2 runs or less in six of their last 9 games, went down meekly in the bottom of the ninth against Florida closer Kevin Gregg. He earned his 21st save by retiring Ryan Theriot on a groundball, Derrek Lee on a flyball and Aramis Ramirez on another grounder to en... | | By: A League of Her Own | | |
| | New Home Builder Headlines – SummerHill Connections | | 2008-07-24 11:31:39 | | Here are just a few of the highlights from the latest edition of SummerHill Connections, which promises to bring you the latest about our new homes communities, exciting activities around the Bay, and tips to make your life easier:
SummerHill’s Homeowner Referral Program
If you are a SummerHill homeowner, refer someone to us who purchases a SummerHill [...]... | | By: New Home Community Blog | | |
| | Sunday Do-It-Yourself Headlines/Game Thread Cubs at Astros 1:05 CT | | 2008-07-20 11:42:27 | |
Little less of this today
The wheels have completely fallen off this operation this weekend due to too many late nights on the part of the "editorial staff," so this morning you guys are getting really bad headlines. The only thing that really jumped out at me is that Kerry is unavailable for the rest of the Houston series because his owie still hurts. I don't even remember where I that, probably the Trib.
If you find anything newsworthy, feel free to toss it up here. And then there's game today. Against the Astros. Who will probably beat us. Again. If you didn't notice, we're now only two game up on the surging Cards and Brewers.
Blah.
I'd like to think Dempster can turn things around today, but we're on the road, so that's probably a pipedream. And since Kosuke, Lee, Soto and Ramirez have all decided to stop hitting at the same time, our chances of scoring any runs is next to nothing.
I'm just going to go watch Padraig for a while.
Oh, go Cubs.
... | | By: A League of Her Own | | |
| | Tuesday Headlines/Open Thread | | 2008-07-08 00:31:40 | |
Sully advocates medicating Cubs
Though he stops short of calling them Bipolar Betty.
From the Trib:
The Cubs have shown a split personality of late, looking like a slightly better-than-average team the last three weeks after performing like world beaters the previous three.
They haven't won two games in a row since their sweep of the White Sox June 27-29, after winning nine straight from May 26 through June 3.
So who are the real Cubs?
The team that won 16 of 20 games going into the dreaded Cooperstown trip, or the one that has lost 10 of 17 games since?
With the All-Star break only six days away, the Cubs still remain a mystery.
They've held on to first place in the National League Central since May 26 and still have the best record in the NL. But nagging doubts remain, and some believe they should be better than their 53-36 record.
The Cubs are a combined 29-10 against Pittsburgh and the atrocious NL West teams, but only 24-26 against everyone else. They've failed to win on the ro... | | By: A League of Her Own | | |
| | Headlines: Homeless and Hedge Funds | | 2008-07-03 09:21:00 | | I know Anthony Hall, the homeless man who was arrested at Riverfront Park at 5:30 this morning by Springfield police and charged with rape, assault and battery, aggravated rape, assault with a dangerous weapon and assault and battery. Nice going, Springfield police!I met Anthony in 2005 when he was "dating" the 14 year old daughter of a family I knew. He always creeped me out.Later that year, he went on a bus trip with Arise to an anti-war rally in New York City, where hestole our video camera (the only one we've ever owned!) and probably sold it for crack. Of course he was banned from Arise after that. I was so furious that for several months, whenever I was driving around and saw him with a group of people, I'd yell, "Thief!" out the window at him. Didn't do much good, but it made me feel better.No, I personally and other members of Arise don't think every homeless person is automatically a victim or a saint..- - - - - - - - - -Yesterday, wanted fugitive and hedge funds manager S... | | By: Michaelann Land | | |
| | Tuesday Caffeinated Headlines/ Open Thread | | 2008-07-01 08:40:10 | |
DeRosa steps up to the plate
And sends a couple of souvenirs to the bleachers
Monday was also the first time DeRosa had hit a home run in 17 games. He had just three RBIs in his last 10 starts, but he smacked a two-run shot off Giants pitcher Barry Zito (3-12) in the fifth. Then he added a grand slam in the eighth. He tied a career high with six RBIs.
Both balls were hit to the same spot in left-center field. The first scored Geovany Soto, who reached on a double and also had a single and a walk. The slam, the third of DeRosa's career and the second of the Cubs' season, plated Ryan Theriot, Derrek Lee and Soto, who all reached on walks.
"It was just nice to get back on the winning side," DeRosa said. Speaking of Zito, DeRosa said, "You walk runners and you put guys in scoring position, eventually somebody's going to get a hit."
So they didn't have Aramis or Soriano, who cares. Lou is bad cop, Rasputin is good cop?
Who do you want to visit?
When Cubs manager Lou Piniella ambles ou... | | By: A League of Her Own | | |
| | Thurday Headlines/ Open Thread | | 2008-06-26 09:36:02 | |
I want the team to do well, but he's making me not dislike him
The great men from the Northside bested their heated AL rivals from Clipper City last night in a game most of us couldn’t watch anyway. But since they won we should talk about all the good things. The Hitting A four-run first inning and two-run second gave the Cubs an early cushion, with Ryan Theriot, Aramis Ramirez and Geovany Soto producing multihit games. Jim Edmonds' seventh home run was among the Cubs' 12 hits. I heard about the first inning from the Reds fan watching the game in the BWI airport, presumably under protest.
The Pitching Carlos Marmol gave up a leadoff single in the eighth before striking out two, and Kerry Wood struck out the side in a 1-2-3 ninth for his 20th save.Kerry is a beast. And the ok things
The Other Pitching
Lilly was kicked out of the #2 starter spot by Dempster, but now he’s back up until Carlos comes back. Lets hear what he thinks of his pitching Lilly (8-... | | By: A League of Her Own | | |
| | Tuesday Morning Lack of Headlines Headlines | | 2008-06-24 09:10:47 | | Sorry everyone, with the off day yesterday, and the Cubs doing well there is a distinct shortage of stories.
Insert pun here
The big news today?
We didn't trade DeRosa! 3 months ago. Several trade scenarios had Roberts coming to the Cubs in exchange for various combinations of players including Sean Marshall, Jason Marquis, Kevin Hart, Ronny Cedeno, Rich Hill, Seam Gallagher, Tyler Colvin, and Felix Pie. Outfielder Eric Patterson's name also was mentioned in some reports
I'm sure DeRosa LOVES reliving all these questions again. Think we ahould ask how his 8th grade dance went too? Seriously people, this is the big news today.
Our Dear Old Friend
And the arrival of the Orioles means the return of McPhail
After a weekend listening to Ozzie talk everything McPhail says is even more boring than he indended it to be. He's looking forward to seeing people, blah blah blah, wants the Orioles to win, blah blah, hopes the Cubs do well starting Friday. Yawn... | | By: A League of Her Own | | |
| | Headlines Are Powerful Prospecting Tools | | 2008-06-24 00:00:00 | | Many copywriters will attest to the fact that headlines make or break a sale. A subtle change in a headline can result to astronomical increase in sales. A good understanding of headlines is pivotal in a successful internet marketing campaign.
Headlines will fall into three main categories. There are webpage titles, which appear in Search [...]... | | By: Resources Zone | | |
| | Monday Headlines/Open Thread | | 2008-06-23 02:35:14 | |
There's no place like home Dempster reveals secret to home success
Performance enhancing? You bet!
From the Trib:
Ryan Dempster (9-2) remained perfect at Wrigley Field with eight-plus innings of one-run ball, improving to 9-0 while pitching the Cubs to their 14th straight home win, their longest streak since 1936.
Dempster and the Cubs are traveling in a parallel universe, looking unbeatable at the corner of Clark and Addison Streets. What's the secret to Dempster's success?
"It's Otis' cooking," he said, referring to clubhouse man Tom "Otis" Hellmann. "It's as fine as it gets. It really gets you prepared. We're going to have him start cooking on the road."
The Cubs are definitely cooking at home, moving 41/2 games ahead of the Cardinals in the National League Central with Sunday's win.
The Sox, meanwhile, suffered their ninth consecutive road loss and saw their lead over the Twins sliced to 11/2 games in the AL Central.
In the end, the City Series again lived up to the hype, with em... | | By: A League of Her Own | | |
| | Friday Headlines/Open Thread | | 2008-06-20 05:25:33 | |
We all have a bad day sometimes.
Big Z to miss a start
Let's hope it's not more than that.
From the Trib:
Carlos Zambrano will undergo an MRI arthrogram on his right shoulder Friday and miss at least one start.
Zambrano flew to Chicago on Thursday and was examined by team orthopedist Stephen Gryzlo and other doctors, but the Cubs said they will know more about the condition of the shoulder after getting the results of the test, which is more detailed than a regular MRI.
"I have nothing to add except I hope it's not serious," manager Lou Piniella said. "I hope we find out what's wrong and we can take care of it in short order."
Left-hander Sean Marshall, who pitched Thursday night for Triple-A Iowa, is likely to take Zambrano's start Tuesday against Baltimore. Marshall allowed one run on four hits over eight innings for Iowa on Thursday. He compiled a 4.15 earned-run average in 13 relief appearances with the Cubs before being sent down to Iowa to become a starter.
"He has been stretc... | | By: A League of Her Own | | |
| | Create effective headlines in B2B marketing | | 2008-06-16 02:08:01 | | So we're BASHED over the head with the need for a headline. In EVERYTHING. No Exception.Here's the kicker though... Logically, it's just not a good idea when you're trying to get somebody to take you seriously. I mean, really, if you're writing to the VP Operations at a $10M/year company, you probably dont' want to have "Who else wants to solve their bottleneck problem with no effort?" at the top of the page.Reading through the section on "building a virtual relationship" in "Counterintuitive selling", there was a fantastic idea.Pick a quote from an industry journal, interview, or otherwise relevant source to put at the top of the letter.EG:"...whether you debate the semantics or even decry the conceptitself, the bottom line is that human capital managementwill have a huge impact on, well, the bottom line..."—Brian Grant, Editor-in-ChiefHRDirections, May 2007Dear Frank,With today's unstable business environment and the increased scrutinyby board members and shareholders alike, how... | | By: E-business Ideas | | |
| | Father's Day Headlines/Game Thread: Cubs at Jays 1:05 ET/12:05 CT | | 2008-06-15 09:42:52 | |
Happy Fathers' Day to all the dads out there, especially mine. Without dads, there could be no "daddy's little girl," and I'm not sure where that would have left me. So plant yourself in the butt-groove on your couch, grab your bowl of pork rinds, and settle in to watch some baseball, soccer, and US Open today. In a related story, I flipped a hash brown onto my bare foot while making Max's breakfast this morning, so if anyone knows how to treat third-degree burns, I would appreciate the advice.
As we briefly discussed yesterday, with a win today, the Cubs can hit 20 games over .500. This is definitely uncharted territory in my lifetime, which makes me faintly dizzy and a little sick to my stomach. In headlines today, Lou says he likes Reedz in the leadoff spot:
"I would think you'll see him in there more often than not," Piniella said.
Lou is a man of few words. And Reedz is puzzled by his popularity in Toronto:
Why is Johnson so popular in Toronto?
"I don't know," he said. "I play ... | | By: A League of Her Own | | |
| | ALEX VALDEZ VS. ANYETEI LARYEA HEADLINES NEXT FRIDAY NIGHT IN CHICAGO | | 2008-06-13 21:54:53 | | CHICAGO, IL, (June 11, 2008) World ranked bantamweight contender Alex Valdez returns to Chicago next Friday night, June 20th to face Ghana-based veteran spoiler Anyetei Laryea in the ten round main event at FEARLESS, an outstanding evening of World Class Professional Boxing presented by Dominic Pesoli’s 8 Count Productions, HOME OF THE BEST IN CHICAGO [...]... | | By: Fight News Unlimited | | |
| | Tuesday "There Are No Headlines" Headlines | | 2008-06-10 08:45:06 | | As you may expect, it's a slow news day in Cubdom. Without a game yesterday, and the lack of any real information coming from the clubhouse it looks like the media has gone back to those old staples.
bringing the news, even when we don't have any
First up: Will he or Won't he?
Did you guys know some guy named Cuban want to buy the team?
"All the accountants will start doing their things. Hopefully I'll be in the mix. I think I have a shot," he said. The good news on this front is that he wants to buy the stadium as well as the team. Oh, and Zell says the Trib wants to have a minority stake.
Gordo thinks that we're better from catcher to center
I can't really argue the Barrett reference, but the Pie v Edmonds/Johnson will surely get some riled up
Also, Edmonds wants to make friends
''Geo does a great job behind the plate, and he's doing a great job of calling games,'' Edmonds said. ''Our backup guys are great, too. I mean, Ronny Cedeno's unbelievable for a backup pl... | | By: A League of Her Own | | |
| | Substitute Sunday Headlines: NOW WITH GAME CHAT!!!!! | | 2008-06-08 15:14:01 | |
I don't remember who referenced Donkey Kong in the chat yesterday, but it was funny
There's video here. A smashing story from the Chicago Tribune:
Lou Piniella was on the mound making a pitching change Saturday at Dodger Stadium when he heard a roar coming from the first base side.
"I heard all this commotion and I thought there was a wave going on," the Cubs manager said. "But there was no wave."
The noise Piniella heard came from starter Carlos Zambrano, who did everything but turn green while impersonating the Incredible Hulk in the Cubs dugout.
After allowing seven runs and a career-high-equaling 13 hits in a 7-3 loss to the Dodgers, Zambrano proceeded to make a scene that was off the charts even by his lofty standards, kicking and throwing two water coolers before stomping off toward the clubhouse.
The Daily Herald sums it up:
Matt Kemp capped a five-run seventh inning with a three-run homer, Russell Martin also went deep and the Los Angeles Dodgers beat Carlos Zambrano and the ... | | By: A League of Her Own | | |
| | Sunday Morning Do-It-Yourself Headlines/Gamethread | | 2008-06-08 10:13:49 | |
So there's a lot going on this morning in the cubbiejulie household: family obligations, Euro 2008 Games, baseball, block parties, etc. And God only knows what happened to Carl today; he's probably trapped under a downed tree somewhere in Indiana after the weather the midwest has had the past two days.
These are the times that try men's souls. Today, we see what LOHO is made of.
This is your do-it-youself thread. Headlines, comments, game thread. . .the whole shebang. It's time you people stepped up and starting fending for yourselves, by God, instead of waiting for the esteemed LOHO editorial staff to spoon feed everything to you. Man up and let's go.
(Of course, if anyone wants to actually post real headlines or a real game thread, i would not object).
I'm out until gametime.
Lineup and chat to come.
... | | By: A League of Her Own | | |
| | Very Short Sunday Headlines | | 2008-05-25 10:27:28 | |
No, guys, it was not your fault Blanco to Blame?
Kerry Wood sure buys that explanation
From the Trib:
Pittsburgh got a good effort from its starting pitcher, Phil Dumatrait, a two-run homer from Jason Bay and a rally off Kerry Wood to tie the game in the ninth. The Pirates picked off Alfonso Soriano at second base and cut down Ryan Theriot trying to steal second. Closer Matt Capps turned in three scoreless innings in his longest career outing.
Piniella, meanwhile, ran through almost every trick in his bag, depleting his bullpen and even pulling Derrek Lee in a double switch that left Henry Blanco playing first base. He used three second basemen and pinch hit a youngster playing his fifth game (Micah Hoffpauir) and a graybeard playing his 1,845th game (Jim Edmonds).
In the end, the Lee-Blanco move proved to be one too many. Pittsburgh won 5-4 in the 14th on a long single by Bay, evening the series 1-1 and dropping the Cubs' edge in the season head-to-head to 9-2.
Freddy Sanchez, who ... | | By: A League of Her Own | | |
| | Real news - Fake Headlines | | 2008-05-22 05:33:31 | | Fuel prices force farmer to ditch tractor in favor of mule. "It's the way of the future." Health Department: "Medical-marijuana patients should be allowed more than 2 pounds of pot every two months." Governor: "What are you smoking?" ?sesrevinu rehto ni drawkcab nur emit seoD First dinosaur tracks found in...... | | By: Outhouse Rag | | |
| | | Sunday Morning Headlines/Game Thread: Bucs at Cubs 1:20 CT/2:20 ET | | 2008-05-18 05:25:47 | | Since this thread is still brand-spanking new, let's just use it for a game thread
Big Z snaps
From the Daily Herald:
Big Z, as he had said he would in spring training, had kept his emotions in check for the most part this season. So much so that manager Lou Piniella had praised him before the game, saying, "He's found a good medium, and I think it's really helped his pitching. He's all business out there."
Then Zambrano came to the plate in the fourth inning.
After striking out swinging he eventually was thrown out at first base on the dropped third strike. As he jogged to first with lumber still in hand, Zambrano stopped halfway up the line, took his bat, and snapped it in half over his left leg.
That marked the beginning of the end for Zambrano, who faced five batters in the fifth, failed to register an out, and promptly was given the hook by a riled-up Piniella.
"I don't see the need to break the bat over your knee when you've got a 4-2 lead in a ballgame," the Cubs skipper gro... | | By: A League of Her Own | | |
| | | Wednesday Morning Headlines -- No Carl, but Edmonds is Apparently On His Way | | 2008-05-14 07:02:00 | |
The rain is God crying, too Paul Sullivan says Edmonds is pretty much a done deal
This could be the lone headline
From the Tribune:
Veteran center fielder Jim Edmonds is expected to clear waivers Wednesday and sign with the Cubs, opening the door to what could be a prolonged debate.
But what about Pie?
Pie will be the odd man out upon Edmonds' arrival, losing his starting job to Reed Johnson and his roster spot to Edmonds.
Lou -- what do you think about Pie?
Manager Lou Piniella said Pie has to "be ready" to succeed on every day, not just once in a while. "I played in the minor leagues six full seasons before I got to the big leagues," he said. "But when I got there, I stayed for 17 years. That's what you have to look at. You can't look at the short haul. ... Some kids develop and learn their skills a little later than others, and you have to be patient with them. But at the same time, we're not in a rebuilding situation here."
You know, it might be easier to succeed every da... | | By: A League of Her Own | | |
| | Sleepy Tuesday Morning Headlines | | 2008-05-13 08:56:59 | |
. . . yeah, but YOU said these guys couldn't hit!
Yes, the headlines are late. I just woke up.
Deal with it.
Mike Downey wants to know why you guys aren't excited about the Sox. Of course, he chooses to do this in the paper owned by the same people who own in the Cubs and read largely by the North Siders. Brilliant.
As of Monday morning the White Sox were only a game out of first place.
Was all of Chicago excited?
No. As of Monday morning, the Cubs had a piece of first place-but the Cubs were supposed to be good this year, whereas the Sox supposedly were not.
So is everybody in town buzzing about what a nice surprise the Sox are so far?
No.
As of Monday morning, White Sox left fielder Carlos Quentin had more home runs than David Ortiz, Albert Pujols or Alex Rodriguez.
Is everybody excited about how the Sox have come up with one of the hottest young sluggers in the American League?
No.
As of Monday morning, Sox pitcher Gavin Floyd had flirted with a no-hitter twice. He has given... | | By: A League of Her Own | | |
| | Dream Headlines, Deaf Ears and Human Checkers | | 2008-05-08 08:49:08 | | What do Tommy Heinsohn, Dave Cowen, Bill Fitch, Jo Jo White, Bingo Smith, John Havlicek and Walt Wesley have in common? A cold January night, a heated contest, and a Cleveland fan's dream headline. Let's salute our past and look...... | | By: And One | | |
| | Wednesday morning pinch hitting headlines | | 2008-05-07 06:05:12 | |
The only faith I have left is in this guy right here.
OK, so we all know what happens when someone other than Carl does the headlines. Especially when that someone is gravedigger. Too bad for all of you. Zambrano stops the Cubs 49 game losing streak
It felt that long, anyway
From the Daily Herald:
Ten years ago Tuesday, the Cubs got a dominant pitching performance the likes of which they haven't seen since.
On that day, Kerry Wood struck out 20 Houston Astros.
The guy who pitched Tuesday night wasn't that good, but he wasn't half-bad.
Carlos Zambrano worked 8 innings of scoreless 3-hit ball as he ran his record to 5-1 in a 3-0 Cubs victory over the Reds.
The victory was an important one for the Cubs, who snapped a two-game losing skid and improved to 19-14.
"Every team passes through some slump," said Zambrano, who lowered his ERA from 2.11 to 1.80. "That's normal. Right now we are doing the right thing, but we kind of like slowed down. But I know this team can put everyt... | | By: A League of Her Own | | |
| | Headlines: Subprime Crisis; Reality: Consumption Crisis | | 2008-05-01 16:22:27 | | Minyanville had a great post the other day, actually the quote was from an earlier post they quoted themselves, about an interesting perspective about the cause of the so-called subprime crisis. Of course, the same can be said of the entire credit crunch and financial meltdown.
“I believe that in time, historians will define the [...]... | | By: Florida Mortgage Report | | |
| | Ripped from the headlines - “Dothan Home Values on the rise” | | 2008-04-14 08:18:57 | | “Local population, home values on rise” was the headline of a story in a recent edition of the Dothan Eagle. According to the story, Dothan area home prices have risen over nine percent in the past year; a stat from the Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight. It isn’t until near the end of the [...]... | | By: Dothan Home Search | | |
| | Saturday Brunch Headlines/Open Thread | | 2008-04-12 09:59:32 | |
Big Z has a start from the past
Recovery is a process.
From the Trib:
The new, decaffeinated Carlos Zambrano was back to his old ways Friday night at Citizens Bank Park, letting his emotions get the best of him in a 5-3 loss to Philadelphia.
Whether he was snapping back his glove after taking a throw from catcher Geovany Soto, stalking behind the mound after issuing a two-out walk or throwing back his head in disgust after a Pat Burrell fly dropped a few feet away from right fielder Daryle Ward, Zambrano was a study in frustration.
Afterward, Zambrano was relaxed and contrite in the Cubs clubhouse.
"We don't have to worry about those plays," he said. "We just have to worry about our players and do our jobs. My team gave me a lead, and I blew it. But those things are part of the game and you have to deal with it. Forget about today."
Zambrano was he wasn't upset with himself or any of his teammates when he displayed some body language in the fateful sixth after the ball fell near Wa... | | By: A League of Her Own | | |
| | Random LGBT Headlines | | 2008-04-07 19:05:00 | | Community News at Queers United: LGBT Catholics to Protest Anti-Gay PopeEntertainment at Techstickle: Benjamin Godfrey is the new GodSassy Femme: Take the Couples MemeJessie at Post Trans Agnst: And now, not a word from our sponsorHIV & Aids News: U.N. Report: AIDS Cases Could jump In Asia By 2020... Gay Male Fantasy Story written by Fairview Sue: Friday Fantasy... | | By: LGBT Bloggers List | | |
| | Saturday Morning Headlines/Mariners at Cubs 11:05 AK/2:05 CT/3:05 ET | | 2008-03-29 10:31:20 | |
Apparently Carl slept in this morning, so you guys get your morning headlines from ME! You lucky, lucky dogs. And, since I'm lazy, this thread will also serve as the game thread for this afternoon. And don't forget to head over to the sidebar for a chance to win Sam Fuld's pants.
Okay, let's see here. . .
Dave Van Dyck tells us that the Cubs have too many pitchers.
I'm pretty sure we knew that already. . .
LAS VEGAS - Something strange has happened to the Cubs this spring. They made it all the way-well, about 90 percent of the way-without defections or disappointments in or damage to their pitching staff.
In fact, they came out of the Cactus League so intact they wound up with excess, losing Tim Lahey to waivers Saturday. The Phillies gobbled up the first pick in the winter Rule 5 draft when there was no room for him on the Cubs staff.
"This is the first year I've been the general manager that we wouldn't have kept him," general manager Jim Hendry said Friday night before the Cubs p... | | By: A League of Her Own | | |
| | Easter Intervention: Morning Headlines and Cubs at Padres 3:05 CT | | 2008-03-23 08:18:52 | |
(folds arms, taps foot)
This is an intervention, people.
There's been a fair amount of . . . . ennui. . . malaise. . . even downright crankiness around these here parts lately. So this morning, let's all relax, look at the cute bunny for a spell, and try to chill out.
First, the morning headlines:
In case you missed it last night, Lou has finally decided on a lineup. And it goes like this:
Theriot
Soriano
Lee
Ramirez
Fukudome
DeRosa
Soto
Pie
Pitcher I know, it doesn't inspire much confidence in me, either. I, like many of you, don't understand Lou's man-love for Theriot that seems to pervade every aspect of his decision-making. Theriot was below league average in just about every category last season, INCLUDING OBP. So does this lineup make me angry? Of course it does.
But look. Last year at this time, we were all screaming bloody murder because Cesar Izturis was our starting SS and we all thought Theriot should get a shot. We broke camp all upset, and what happened... | | By: A League of Her Own | | |
| | | Wednesday Morning Headlines/Open Thread - Late Edition | | 2008-03-19 09:28:44 | |
Please don't throw balls at $48 million necks. Lou wants us to squirm
I mean, really, that's the only explanation, right?
From the Trib:
Lou Piniella used his probable Opening Day lineup Tuesday in a 6-5 victory over Kansas City, although he had to insert a few qualifiers while announcing it.
"Unless there is an injury or unless there's a trade or whatever, this possibly could be our Opening Day lineup," Piniella said.
That lineup of Ryan Theriot, Alfonso Soriano, Derrek Lee, Aramis Ramirez, Kosuke Fukudome, Mark DeRosa, Geovany Soto and Felix Pie combined for five of the Cubs 10 hits, including two infield hits, so if you're filling out your Opening Day scorecard, be sure to use a pencil.
Everything is open to change if the Cubs manage to acquire second baseman Brian Roberts to lead off by the end of spring training. Then, Theriot moves to the bottom of the order and DeRosa goes into limbo as a super-utilityman.
Piniella, however, said he would like to have everyone's role set by Mo... | | By: A League of Her Own | | |
| | How to Create Killer Headlines! | | 2008-03-06 02:38:18 | | If you want to be successful online, there's one thing that you need to spend more time on than anything else.It's more important than flashy graphics, more vital than amazing ad copy, more necessary than huge bonus offers."What is it?" I hear you ask ... Your HEADLINE!Your headline is the heart and soul of not just your site, but your ENTIRE business.It is the first thing that people see... | | By: Ebook Review - Make Money | | |
| | Wednesday Morning Headlines/Anniversary/Open Thread | | 2008-03-05 03:31:24 | |
Today's a special day, I baked a cake.
"Special day?" You say.
"Why yes," I reply, "It's LOHO's first anniversary." (awaits spontaneous rendition of "Happy Anniversary")
You may be wondering what the appropriate celebration would be, and I think, in your hearts, you already know the answer. DRINK. Get out your flasks (I know you all have them) and raise a toast to the blog Carrie Muskat calls "home to a bunch of sick m-f-ers."
Booze it up.
And don't forget to pass the cake, so everyone gets a piece.
Fukudome goes from .142 to .400 in one day
He's the greatest Cub hitter ever.
From the Trib:
It's perhaps inevitable that some fans would make snap judgments on Kosuke Fukudome based on his first week of play in the Cactus League.
Anyone who signs a four-year contract for $48 million is going to be held to a high standard.
But Fukudome knows he's going to need some time to adjust, so he wasn't fazed by his 1-for-7 start with the Cubs. And after manager Lou Piniella switched him ... | | By: A League of Her Own | | |
| | Ignore The Headlines! | | 2008-03-03 09:00:00 | | It has been a tough year to decide what to do if you want to buy or sell a home. This Time article make some great points as to why you should buy a home now. But for every positive article like this, you have more negative ones like this one at Yahoo.com telling you why renting a home instead of buying might be better. If you need to sell a house right now, you do need to realize that prices are flat and you will need to price it realistically for it to sell today.What is a realistic price? A good indicator would be to go back 5 to 7 years, find the value then and increase it by 2-3% a year. While this is a very simplistic and often times the wrong approach, it can help us see the long-term, steady increase the house would achieve without the wild run-up of prices we saw a couple of years ago.If you are renting and have stable income, even just OK credit and a little cash, now is a great time to buy. What is keeping a lot of people on the sidelines are the headlines about record forec... | | By: Cherokee County GA Real Estate | | |
| | | Saturday Headlines/Game Thread: Cubs at Angels 2:05 CT | | 2008-03-01 09:52:58 | |
Sam Fuld challenges Felix Pie for the starting CF job
As I overslept this morning, I present to you the Headlines/Game Thread Combo Meal. Doesn't it already sound more appetizing?
First up, it turns out I was wrong about ARam having a sore butt muscle. I was too far south:
MESA, Ariz. -- Cubs third baseman Aramis Ramirez was sidelined Friday for the team's Cactus League home opener because of a tight right shoulder that has kept him from throwing.
Ramirez developed some soreness a few days ago, and his status was day-to-day.
"I'm all right hitting -- it's just throwing the ball," Ramirez said.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think throwing is going to be necessary this season. So we might want to work on that. BUT, I was right in that there IS a sore butt muscle in the clubhouse:
The only other Cubs nursing aches and pains were first baseman Daryle Ward, sidelined with a sore gluteus muscle, and infielder Ronny Cedeno, whose right forearm was tender from all the throwing he has bee... | | By: A League of Her Own | | |
| | Headlines and Rumors from Day Three | | 2008-02-17 01:00:00 | | There was one big surprise from Fitch Park on Day Three of Camp Lou. According to multiple reports, Piniella stated Rich Hill is currently slotted as the 4th starter in his rotation, not the third as has been assumed all winter. Piniella is undecided on which pitcher will occupy the 3rd and 5th spots in the Cubs starting rotation. Jason Marquis, Ryan Dempster and Jon Lieber are the leading candidates for the last two spots according to a report in the Tribune. Piniella added he is "not looking at Lieber as a potential long man in the pen." So if Lieber remains healthy, that leaves only one spot up for grabs?
Kosuke Fukudome's second day as a Cub was apparently a good one according to a report on Cubs.com. Fukudome made Gerald Perry smile after his second day in the cage and Mike Quade liked his footwork in the outfield....not a bad couple of days.
Here is the rest from Mesa, including Jim Hendry on Talkin' Baseball, a few rumors and a projection for the National League Central....... | | By: Chicago Cubs Online | | |
| | Free Agency, Toronto and Health Dominating Bills Headlines | | 2008-02-16 08:24:37 | | We've been elbow deep in analyzing potential Buffalo Bills free agents this week; it's been a good exercise, but this morning, we'll come up for air for a bit. If you've missed any of the interviews we've aired this week, don't sweat it - these stories are easily accessible from our free agent database, which we'll continue to add to right up until the start of free agency. Before free agency starts, however, we'll get to see the second major event for the NFL's upcoming rookies - the Scouting Combine. That event starts late next week, and we'll have coverage of that as well. If you've got specific players that you'd like to keep track of, feel free to leave those names in this diary. We'd like to keep y'all up to date on the prospects that you care about, so let's hear it. Here's what has been making headlines outside of our community this week: WGR 550 streamlines our free agent process into one free agency preview, which includes an enlightening look at the Top 10 Bills in... | | By: Buffalo Rumblings | | |
| | Friday Happy Birthday Max Power Headlines/Open Thread | | 2008-02-15 07:26:25 | |
LOHO's resident hunk, Max Power, celebrates a birthday today. Let's give him a birthday spanking. Wood frontrunner for closer?
Sully says yes, Kerry says no.
From the Trib:
The battle that figures to receive the most attention in Cubs camp is the one for the closer's role, and, whether he admits it or not, Kerry Wood enters the spring as the odds-on favorite.
Wood has built-in incentives in his one-year contract based on games finished. He's apparently injury-free for the first time in years. And he has seniority, with 10 years in a Cubs uniform entering the 2008 season.
"Seems like 30," he said with a laugh.
But Wood doesn't consider himself the front-runner to replace Ryan Dempster and said he's satisfied to compete with Bob Howry and Carlos Marmol.
So let the battle begin, and may the best arm win.
"We're set up for a great bullpen," Wood said. "We have a lot of good arms, so I know the staff and (manager Lou Piniella) will put the right guy in."
Rick Morrissey m... | | By: A League of Her Own | | |
| | Monday Morning Headlines/Mesa Tourist Information/Open Thread | | 2008-02-11 07:49:59 | |
When in Mesa, be sure to check out the Mormon temple. Daily Herald beat writers tell you everything you want to know (and more!) about Arizona
If it weren't for spring training and the Grand Canyon, I don't think Arizona holds anything that I'd want to see.
From the Daily Herald:
If you're heading to Arizona for spring training, all we can say is, you lucky dog ... and, the following primer is for you.
If you can't make it this year but plan on going some year soon, you might want to do some clipping and saving because our baseball beat writers Scot Gregor (White Sox) and Bruce Miles (Cubs) -- both veterans of the Arizona scene -- have offered some inside info on the ins and outs of the spring-training experience.
As you read on, imagine the desert sun and the crack of the bat and bask in the knowledge that opening day of the regular season for the Cubs and the White Sox is only 50 days away.
Q. What's a typical day like down there? Is there always a morning/afternoon practice early ... | | By: A League of Her Own | | |
| | Saturday Headlines | | 2008-02-09 09:07:46 | | Sigh. These are the hardest headlines I've ever written.
Why, Debbie? Why?!?!?!?!
It is with heavy heart that I report to you a story first brought to our attention by intrepid LOHO reporter thisyearcub:
The latest, and quite possibly oddest, twist involves Clemens' wife.
McNamee told congressional investigators he injected Debbie Clemens with HGH - at the seven-time Cy Young Award winner's direction - before the couple posed for a 2003 Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition photo shoot, a lawyer familiar with his testimony said Friday. (blinks back tears). Um. . . I know that right now my concerns really should be for Debbie's health, but you'll excuse me if all I can think of is what will happen to the Baseballs and Butterflies Boutique. (SNIFF). I mean, all those hats and jerseys and bags and GOD KNOWS what else just sitting around waiting to be be-dazzled. And the rhinestones. My GOD, won't someone think of the rhinestones before you go around dragging someone's name through the mud... | | By: A League of Her Own | | |
| | Today's Headlines | | 2008-01-10 09:54:58 | | It was "lights out" for everyone in Jamaica last night
Parliament member Vaz still being grilled about his "questionable" allegiance to Jamaica
Sanchez has "baby momma drama"...and it's not with...
[[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]
... | | By: YawdFromAbroad | | |
| | | Thursday Morning Headlines: Old News Edition | | 2007-12-27 11:02:53 | | It feels so wrong...
This was from quite some time ago but I never saw anyone mention it. Then again, I haven't been around much
Steve Stone will be calling baseball games in Chicago next year, though that news comes with a few buts ...
But it won't be full time. But it won't be on television. But he won't be doing it for the Cubs.
Stone has agreed to join Ed Farmer and Chris Singleton on WSCR-AM 670 on the call for White Sox home games on Fridays in 2008. There will be 13 in all, including the June 27 game against the Cubs.
He's also trying to get on TV, and will resume his analyst duties on WSCR. Stone should be with the Cubs. Going from the Cubs to the Sox is like trading in your Godiva for Hershey's. Did you guys know Prior is going to pitch for San Diego?
Yeah, this has been covered ad nauseum, but its all that's in the news
Back in November when Mark Prior was still property of the Cubs, Padres general manager Kevin Towers said he sometimes crossed path... | | By: A League of Her Own | | |
| | LOHO Presents Random Sports Headlines | | 2007-12-26 09:24:33 | |
Surprisingly, Cubs headlines are rather hard to come by the day after Christmas (seriously. I have no idea how carl does this every day). So today, we endeavor to expand our knowledge of the sports world in general by perusing random sports headlines.
In case you missed it, the BUlls fired Scott Skiles on Christmas Eve. And Jay Marriotti has a big problem with that.
What kind of heartless, gutless organization fires a coach on Christmas Eve? Actually, what kind of heartless, gutless organization agrees to let three coaches go at Christmas and Thanksgiving over a seven-year period? Oh, maybe the same suspect organization that demoralizes two of its self-proclaimed young cornerstones by refusing to negotiate in good faith -- as exposed this week in Gilbert Arenas' blog, of all places.
You mean hearless and gutless like calling a HOF QB a "greedy and scared punk?" Like THAT kind of hearltless? Or do you mean the kind of heartless where you constantly dump on local sports team but then a... | | By: A League of Her Own | | |
| | Sunday Morning Headlines/Open Thread | | 2007-12-23 10:35:55 | |
It's almost Christmas! Speaking of Christmas and ponies, allow me to go off topic to begin this diary. Has anyone seen this commercial?
Does he bite? Tee hee.
First up today, the Chicago Tribune puts the full-court press on Roger Clemens. I didn't read either of these articles, but Phil Rogers,Rick Morrissey and Bob Verdi all have written what appear to be anti-Roger articles. I have to say, I'm glad Roger is now getting the Barry treatment, but I just didn't feel compelled to read any of their articles.
Mike Imrem is done with Wrigley
My question is: would the Cubs continue to draw without Wrigley? If they're good, probably, but what happens in the lean years? Do we then turn into the Pirates?
From the Daily Herald:
Here's a solution to the latest Wrigley Field crisis: Save the name, dump the dump.
Yes, I'm playing demolition derby again because the crusty, creaky old joint doesn't need to be renovated or renamed.
It needs to be replaced.
Ask yourself, what's t... | | By: A League of Her Own | | |
| | Wednesday Headlines/Open Thread with Contest! | | 2007-12-12 09:54:06 | |
Why do I worry that Fuku will be the Japanese Pinkerton? He'll come and knock us up, leave for Japan, and come back after we have our child, telling us that he's married. Then it's hari-kiri time. Today's Headlines come with a special contest. In order to celebrate the signing of our new Asian Sensation, Kosuku Fukudome, LOHO is sponsoring a "Funniest Fukudome T-Shirt" contest. So grab your thinking caps, drag them through the gutter, and set them atop your heads. Prize to be determined.
It's official
Hello, Fuku, most likely goodbye, Prior.
From the Trib:
The Cubs signed Japanese outfielder Kosuke Fukudome to a four-year deal late Tuesday, outbidding San Diego and the White Sox to gain the services of their primary off-season target.
Terms of the deal were not immediately known, though it's believed to be worth in the neighborhood of $48 million to $50 milllion.
Cubs general manager Jim Hendry was not available for comment to confirm the deal, but it will be ... | | By: A League of Her Own | | |
| | Tuesday Morning Headlines: Day Two | | 2007-12-04 05:34:20 | |
Please ignore the actual date on this picture.
[Update] The Infante/Ohman for Jose Ascanio deal has been confirmed. Any meeting that ends in us getting rid of Will Ohman was a good meeting, IMHO. Hendry's already touchy about mentions of Fukudome
"I'm not dating Fukudome, you're dating Fukudome!"
From the Trib:
The Cubs are unlikely to walk away from the winter meetings with Kosuke Fukudome under contract, and general manager Jim Hendry gets a little touchy whenever the Japanese outfielder's name comes up in conversation.
"There's a good likelihood that we don't leave here with a new outfielder that's that kind of a player," Hendry said. "And you don't have any assurances you're going to get one. You just have to keep plugging."
But no matter what Hendry says or what the Cubs do this week, the wheels are already in motion to try to bring Fukudome to Chicago. One former Cubs executive said Hendry probably wouldn't have jettisoned Jacque Jones so quickly if he wasn't sure he... | | By: A League of Her Own | | |
| | Sunday Headlines/Open Thread | | 2007-12-02 08:37:15 | |
"Sometimes, when I look deep in your eyes, I swear I can see your soul."
Guess the lyric. Sully lays out the winter meetings agenda
Lefty bat, speed, and Prior, with some other uninteresting stuff mixed in.
From the Trib:
So what's the game plan this week?
"We need some left-handed hitting, and I'd like to see if we can add just a little speed," manager Lou Piniella said. "We don't need to do nearly as many things as last year. We can specialize a little more. Last year was a step in the right direction, but we need another one."
Sounds simple enough. But is it? Here's a look at several key pieces in the Cubs' puzzle:
Paul's listed several, but I'm only going with two of the headings:
The free-agent class is relatively weak, and Japanese outfielder Kosuke Fukudome - the left-handed hitter the Cubs have targeted - might not decide whether he's going to play in the majors until after the winter meetings.
The Cubs would be tempted if they could find an impact player available in... | | By: A League of Her Own | | |
| | Wednesday Headlines/Open Thread | | 2007-11-28 09:48:46 | |
The sharks of Cub blogdom circling potential news. Greg Couch on Kerry Wood
From the Sun-Times:
First up, Greg joins the Church of Kerry:
Kerry Wood is more cult figure than pitcher. He always has been. I get it. I feel it. So it was easy to feel a little gooey when he came back this past season.
He's such a curiosity. He has been around so long with that thrilling fastball. How many players have struck out 20 Astros and also gotten hurt in a hot tub? How many have had that much hype, won so few games and tried to rehab by pitching in a Barcalounger?
But unlike his partner in pain, Mark Prior, Wood always seems to be coming back. Prior always seems to be going away. It's just perception, really. Wood is about fight and Prior about flight.
Wood gets hurt, pretends he's OK, when that doesn't work he has surgery, fights back, gets hurt again, tries anyway, fails, surgery, fights, hurt, pretends, surgery, fights ...
So you're waiting for the other shoe to drop? Here goes...
When he ... | | By: A League of Her Own | | |
| | | Thanksgiving Day Headlines/Open Thread | | 2007-11-22 05:23:33 | |
An historically accurate rendering of the first Thanksgiving. Clockwise, from top left: Martha Washington, Christopher Columbus, Queen Isabella, Sacagawea, and Senator Robert Byrd (D-WV). I'm thankful for...
Jason Kendall in a Brewers' uniform.
From the Trib:
Catcher Jason Kendall and the Milwaukee Brewers reached a preliminary agreement Wednesday on a one-year contract.
The deal, which includes a 2009 option that could become guaranteed, is subject to Kendall passing a physical. Milwaukee made the move one day after trading catcher Johnny Estrada, to the New York Mets for reliever Guillermo Mota.
Kendall hit .270 with 19 RBIs in 57 games with the Cubs after a midseason trade from Oakland. Prior to the trade, Kendall batted .226 with 33 RBIs for the Athletics.
Estrada, who was acquired in a trade with Arizona last offseason, hit .278 with 10 homers and 54 RBIs for Milwaukee last season but was considered a defensive liability.
I'm thankful that...
Jay Mariotti doesn't write abou... | | By: A League of Her Own | | |
| | Postcard Headlines Commemorates Half a Year of Blogging | | 2007-11-20 17:03:04 | | I almost forgot, but Postcard Headlines commemorates half a year of blogging this November.
I don’t remember why Postcard Headlines is named the way it is. Maybe it has something to do with my fascination for postcards and love for newspapers and magazines. I guess the name just stuck.
Today is not this blog’s date of conception [...]... | | By: Postcard Headlines | | |
| | Headlines | | 2007-10-25 09:47:00 | | Radicals are planning to block Erzsébet bridge in Pest tomorrow morning at 8 o'clock. The police is going to try to dissolve the "spontaneous" demonstration, but the event will probably cause quite a traffic jam in the rush hours.The hearing of TOROCZKAY László (who was arrested on Monday) was held today on the Metropolitan Court. The summary proceeding couldn't been completed because according to the court TOROCZKAY could be suspected of committing additional crimes too, so they transfered the case to the prosecutor's office for further investigation. The radical politician is now accused of incitement against the public and assaulting officials because he sent the protesters to the Opera House during Monday night where they clashed with the police. TOROCZKAY was the one who had told the demonstrators last year to go to the State TV where later they stormed the building. He was then held responsible for his action and was charged with the damage caused during the riot.Metro 4's budget is cut by 18 million HUF in order to improve its monetary return rate which is needed to recieve the EU subventions. The monster project's construction is already on schedule and experts doubt the reasonableness of the concept of the new subway line in Budapest.According to a Dutch newspaper (NRC Handelsblad) Hungary would send 50 soldiers to Afghanistan to support the Dutch mission. According to the Minister of Defence we Hungary would send only 20, although negotiations are on with the Netherlands in connection with Hungary's role.... | | By: The blog of Hungary | | |
| | Real Tuesday Morning Headlines/Open Thread | | 2007-10-23 12:28:46 | |
I tricked everyone into thinking yesterday was Tuesday. All a part of my diabolical plan. To Fenway or to Wrigley? That is the question.
From the Trib:
The Red Sox advertise Fenway Park as the "most beloved" park in baseball, a mighty bold statement in the eyes of many Cubs fans.
But comparing Fenway to Wrigley Field is like comparing Picasso to Dali, Clapton to Hendrix or Bogart to DeNiro.
It's all in the eye of the beholder.
Baseball's two oldest shrines have withstood the test of time, and both are well-positioned to celebrate their 100th anniversaries in the next decade. Fenway was built in 1912, and Wrigley began as Weeghman Park two years later, though it did not become the Cubs' home until 1916. As each new retro park is built, the originals look that much better.
When the World Series begins Wednesday night, Boston will have another opportunity to showcase its gem of a ballpark, which has undergone much more than the nip-'n'-tuck changes at Wrigley. Fenway has increased its capacity by nearly 10 percent to 39,600 in recent years, with new seating on top of the Green Monster and the right-field roof.
"The business side of the organization has done a fantastic job maximizing every revenue stream," Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein said. "With Fenway it's been a labor of love, improving the ballpark but doing it in the spirit of the original Fenway.
"A lot of these great improvements you don't even notice. They look like they've been here for 90 years. But there is a bottom line, and it's helped us improve our ballpark-related revenues as well. We're here in the same division as the Yankees, and every last dollar of revenue helps."
The Red Sox have worked closely with the city of Boston, which agreed to close Yawkey Way on game days, turning the street outside Fenway into a carnival. Cubs President John McDonough visited Boston over the summer and was impressed with the "Mardi Gras" atmosphere.
But McDonough doesn't foresee the Cubs emulating Fenway with any significant alterations or street closures. The Cubs have a better relationship with the city than they had in the past, but Yawkey Way is not a residential street, like Sheffield and Waveland Avenues, or a major thoroughfare like Addison and Clark Streets.
"The campuses are a little different, but I don't think there's anything we'd be looking for in the immediate future, nothing we'd change," McDonough said. "What really struck me during my visits is that both ballparks are a unique social experience and have a social culture. The one thing I noticed with both Fenway and the Cubs is the allegiance. It's more than a sports allegiance. It's a lifestyle."
I bet they could sell the old sod in a Cubs Care fundraiser
At least Ug Dunn won't be whining about the playing surface anymore.
From the Trib:
The Cubs are awaiting city approval to begin a major renovation of the playing surface at Wrigley Field but expect to have the project completed by early December.
"We are currently working with the city, and our engineers and designers continue to exchange information," said Mark McGuire, the Cubs' executive vice president of business operations. "Presuming that the talks continue to go well, we're assuming we're forging ahead."
McGuire gave no timetable for city approval, but with the weather beginning to change, it should be granted within the next week or two. Roger Bossard, head groundskeeper for the White Sox and an acknowledged expert, will oversee the project, as he did in overhauling the field at Fenway Park and the playing surfaces at several other sports venues.
The Cubs hope for final city approval before the start of November. They expect it will take about a month to tear up the field, regrade the surface and install a new drainage system before the sod is replaced.
"There will be an excavation of the current sod, and the crown of the field will be eliminated," McGuire said. "A whole new drainage system will be installed, and eventually the dirt and sod will be put back in place."
The Cubs have had the plans in the works since the beginning of the 2007 season but held off implementing them because of the impending sale of the team. Once money was allocated to the project, management hoped to begin it right after the season ended.
They were optimistically hoping for the Cubs to make the World Series, and they spent about $200,000 on new sod for postseason games after the outfield grass was severely damaged during the Police concerts in July.
Mailbag fun
Good ol' Carrie steps up to the plate.
From Cubs.com:
First up, Carrie gets laughed at, and Mike from Vegas favors hyperbole when speaking of ARod's defensive prowess:
I had to laugh when you said [in the Oct. 22 Mailbag] the fact the Cubs have Aramis Ramirez at third is one of the reasons Chicago wouldn't go after Alex Rodriguez. A-Rod is decent at third, but he's a great shortstop and that happens to be the biggest hole the Cubs have. If they don't pursue A-Rod, it should only be because of the money he commands, not because we already have a third baseman.
-- Mike L., Las Vegas
I do know Rodriguez played shortstop -- despite what some e-mailers may think -- but I don't think shortstop is the "biggest hole" the Cubs have. Ryan Theriot may never hit 50 homers or drive in 150 runs, but he's solid offensively and defensively. Bottom line: the Cubs are not likely to pursue A-Rod because of the money he and his agent, Scott Boras, will ask for.
Carrie doesn't take kindly to being laughed at. Next up, Michael H. from Chicago is an idiot:
I was wondering if there was any chance the Cubs would sign Kendall again. I read they weren't expecting to keep him, but I think he would be a good investment because he would be able to mentor Soto and Kendall is one of the better catchers the Cubs have signed.
-- Michael H., Chicago
As far as experience, handling pitchers and being a smart ballplayer, Kendall is one of the best. He can do the little things. The downside is he threw out two of 51 basestealers. If the season opened tomorrow, Soto would be the Cubs' starting catcher. He does need tutoring, and Kendall, a free agent, has to decide if he wants a backup role.
Plus, you'd have to magically make Henry Blanco (who's actually a good defensive backup) disappear. And finally, Carrie eats some crow:
You whiffed on this one. Chuck W. of Highland Park, Ill., asked last week, "Who was the last Cubs manager to make the playoffs twice during his stay in Chicago?" A quick check of history on the website shows the Cubbies won NL pennants in '32, '35 and '38, all led by Jolly Cholly Grimm. Add in '45 during his second stint, and Charlie Grimm is Chicago's career leader in championship NL seasons. His four pennants also exceed any South Side manager as well.
-- Herb G., Anaheim, Calif.
Yes, I whiffed. Thanks to others who pointed this out. I misread the question, and thought Chuck W. wanted to know who managed the team to the playoffs in consecutive seasons. I will defer to Cubs historian Ed Hartig from now on.
The mysterious business of baseball eludes Sam Zell's understanding
Seems like a strange statement for a shrewd businessman to make, but I guess he knows his limitations.
From the Trib:
Plain-spoken Sam Zell doesn't play games as a businessman, and he doesn't want to own baseball's Chicago Cubs because the business of their games eludes him.
"The Cubs are a wonderful national icon, and maybe it's a business, but it sure is a business I don't understand," Zell, who is poised to become chairman of Cubs owner Tribune Co. after it goes private, told a newspaper trade group Monday in Chicago. "So I'm going to pass the risk on to somebody who either understands it or gets enough psychic income" that they don't care.
The Cubs, 99 years removed from their last World Series title and 62 years from a National League pennant, have appreciated greatly in value since Tribune Co., owner of the Chicago Tribune, Los Angeles Times and other media outlets, bought the club and Wrigley Field for $20.5 million in 1981. Tribune said in April that it would sell the team as it unveiled Zell's $8.2 billion plan to take the company private.
... | | By: A League of Her Own | | |
| | Spice Girls - Headlines (Friendship Never Ends) | | 2007-10-23 05:34:00 | | The Spice Girls are getting ready to release a Greatest Hit's album due out November 13th!! The album is set to include all of the girl's hit's and 2 new tracks. One of them being thier first single "Headlines (Friendship Never Ends)".
... | | By: MusicSpot | | |
| | 5 News Headlines That IT'S GRRREATT!! To Be An American | | 2007-10-23 00:37:00 | | With American pride at a supposed low (according to recent Gallup polls), here are some recent headlines guaranteed to make you pledge allegiance. 1.) Panama Justice – Boot Camp Killers of 14 year Old Black Teen Acquitted - Yes, the punching, kicking and deprivation of oxygen of 14 year old Martin Anderson by seven men and one woman is not unusual apparently in the Florida juvenile justice system. Even with video-taped evidence a jury still found no inappropriate behavior. I'm sure these jurors were fair and unbiased here's a photo of the foreman and two jurors: 2.) Mrs. Bin Laden? - Caren Ann Burke, 49, petitioned to change her last name to bin Laden. She listed her reason as "divorce from Rory S. Burke." A few things about Caren: she enjoys long walks on the beach, killing infidels, starring in the TV show "Lost", not paying child support and Barbara Hershey.3.) Brokeback Joker? - Americans love Batman, and Americans love " Brokeback" gay cowboy jokes. Put the two together, mix in a sprinkle of Heath Ledger and what do you get... The Dark Knight...I guess.4.) When We Need It Most - The New Backstreet Boys Album - Much like a raging case of herpes, the Backstreet Boys have returned with their 5th album "Unbreakable." Will this album answer America's burning question? Who buys this shit?5.) Tila Tequeera? - MTV Reality Show A Shot At Love With Tila Tequila - The program is a bisexual-themed reality dating show where 16 straight males and 16 lesbian female contestants compete for Tila's love, the twist is the contestants were not aware of Tila's bisexuality until the end of the first episode. Keep in mind that Tila is so identity confused she claims to joining a Hispanic gang at the age of 16. The kicker to that is she figured out 2 years later that Vietnamese (which is her parent's background) wasn't Hispanic.Now if those don't make you feel patriotic I don't know what will....unless a bust of Hillary Clinton does it for you.... | | By: The Toxic Life | | |
| | Tuesday Morning Headlines of Desperation/Open Thread | | 2007-10-22 14:06:36 | |
I cast a very wide net searching for today's headlines. A fine piece of sports journalism
It's really an opinion piece from the newspaper of Western Illinois University. But they published more than the big three combined today.
From the Western Courier:
When I first heard he was interested in buying the Chicago Cubs from the Tribune Company, I was not very excited. Cuban's name conjures up images of his fanatic rants at Dallas Mavericks games, where he overstepped his position as owner and criticized both coaches and players.
On the other hand, he has helped turn the Mavericks around from a perpetual last place team into a contender. Even though the Mavericks have not won a championship with Cuban at the helm, they have improved dramatically.
After the Cubs choked in the postseason yet again, I am beginning to think Cuban is the right answer for the Northsiders. He brings passion to a team lacking just that, and aside from Big Lou, the Cubs looked dismal in the playoffs. They hit 45 home runs in the month of September and were looking very good going into the postseason. What did they do instead? Choked on some mediocre pitching by the Diamondbacks. They were jumping on every pitch that came across the plate, playing like amateurs, playing like … the Cubs.
Some people have doubted Cuban would be able to become a real Cubs fan. As we all know, the only way to become a "true" Cubs fan is to be indoctrinated through a ceremony that is appropriately called "blood in and blood out." There are some street gangs who practice this as well, but where do you think they learned it?
Cuban is OK with this. Even though he is from Philadelphia he said, "If all this goes down ... if you cut any part of my body, you can see Mavs blood and you can see Cubbies blood coming out."
That is just the sort of enthusiasm I am talking about. Forget the past. There are no more goats or Bartmans or curses that we could possibly survive. 2008 is the new 1908. BELIEVE!
Boy, am I casting a wide net today
At least it's not another fluff piece from Carrie.
From The Christian Century:
The Chicago Cubs have done it again. After winning the National League's central division, they were swept aside by the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Cubs have not won a World Series since 1908 and have not even appeared in one since 1945. Cubs fans are the brunt of bad jokes. We learn to respond by quoting St. Paul: "Suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope."
On the day after the Cubs made the playoffs, Barbara Wheeler, president of Auburn Theological Seminary, an avid Yankees fan, looked me in the eye and said, "I want to extend my condolences." "Why?" I responded, "We just won the division." Her rejoinder: "I'm extending my condolences in advance for what you know is going to happen next."
She was right. We lost three straight. In fact we never even made it interesting. At such times one asks oneself why one cares so much about baseball-cares enough to spend time at the games, keep score, follow games on television and read about them in the paper.
In Take Time for Paradise: Americans and Their Games, A. Bartlett Giamatti argued that "sports represent a shared vision of how we continue, as individual team or community, to experience a . . . care so intense, so rare, and so fleeting that we associate their experience with experience otherwise described as religion."
Sports do create community, as Giamatti pointed out. The joy of victory is shared joy, and when you lose you are part of a community of grief. People who are reluctant to pass the peace in church turn to one another in Section 421 at Wrigley Field and high-five their neighbor in response to a home run or a well-turned double play.
Amen.
All you ever wanted to know about Scott Boras, and more
Did you know he was once a Cub farmhand? And a real farmhand?
From the Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
So where does the scourge of the negotiating room come from? Try a farm in Elk Grove, Calif.
Boras fit his daily chores
in at his father's farm 40 miles south of Sacramento - yes, he milked the cows - around a dedication to baseball that would earn him a scholarship at the University of the Pacific, where he roomed with future USC football coach Pete Carroll.
An all-stick/no-glove infielder, Boras rose to Class AA with St. Louis and then the Chicago Cubs before knee injuries forced him out of the game in 1978. He had earned a degree in pharmacology and enrolled at McGeorge School of Law in Sacramento while supporting himself with a night job at a hospital.
Boras caught on with a Chicago firm litigating for major drug companies, and he might be still there if the Cubs' drafting of prospect Shawon Dunston in 1982 had not caught his attention. Dunston's $135,000 signing bonus as the No. 1 pick was roughly the same as what Rick Monday had been designated when he was the first pick in 1965.
"These people were not represented," Boras said. "The [Players Association] washed their hands of it. They'd walk in and be told they're getting what the guy got last year."
So in his spare time, Boras scouted the talent in the 1983 draft, settled on a couple of guinea pigs - pitcher Tim Belcher and infielder Kurt Stillwell - and said if they would stick with him, he might earn them some money. Belcher and Stillwell wound up going No. 1 and 2 that year, and Boras got owners' attention by declining Minnesota's $125,000 offer for Belcher and advising him to sit out the year.
Belcher settled for $150,000 with the Yankees but the change was permanent. Signing bonuses rose 21 percent in 1984, and teams have ever since had to weigh Boras into the equation when figuring a draft pick's signability.
ARod's situation compared to Maddux in '92
I'm not sure it's a fair comparison, as even the author states, Maddux was only 26.
From nytimes.com:
The 1992 Chicago Cubs finished with a 78-84 record. The best thing they had going for them was Greg Maddux, 26, who won his first Cy Young Award that season. But Maddux left as a free agent to sign with Atlanta, where he won three more Cy Young Awards and a World Series.
In Maddux's place, the Cubs signed closer Randy Myers for $3.8 million and starter Jose Guzman for $3.5 million. They also added starter Greg Hibbard for $1.425 million.
The Cubs improved by six games, but they were up and down for the rest of the decade and the management team who let Maddux go was soon fired.
The significance to the Yankees is the agent who represented Maddux: Scott Boras. Could a doomsday scenario follow for the Yankees if they choose to take the money one star player might make and distribute it to a few others?
That is certainly one option for the Yankees if they let Rodriguez go. For now, they want to re-sign him, because Rodriguez is a terrific player who helps them win. But the one concrete news item to come from the Yankees' two-day Tampa meetings is that the team stood firm in its position on A-Rod.
"Yes, I can reaffirm that," said Brian Cashman, the Yankees' general manager, as he left Legends Field. "If Alex Rodriguez opts out of his contract, we will not participate in his free agency. That is accurate and that is definitive."
More nervousness from Reds country
They've got a few more months for the anxiety to build.
From the Coshocton Tribune:
Homer Bailey should do plenty of "limbering up" exercises this offseason.
With Dusty Baker now managing the Reds, the team's prized pitching prospect will need all of the flexibility he can muster to make it through next season.
It should be known that I'm not opposed to Baker getting the job. He's a proven winner who knows how to manage big-name players (e.g. Barry Bonds and Sammy Sosa). Perhaps most importantly, he garners the players' respect and relates with them. Those are traits that shouldn't be overlooked.
But let's face it. If he ruins Bailey - or ace Aaron Harang and No. 2 starter Bronson Arroyo, for that matter - the way he did Mark Prior and Kerry Wood in Chicago, or Jason Schmidt in San Francisco, there won't be enough change in the Reds' piggy bank to go out and buy another quality pitcher.
Reds' fans, while irascible sorts, aren't numbskulls. Most knew Baker's history with mishandling starting pitchers before he was hired. More importantly, they know the Reds' history with young pitchers. Names like Basham, Gruler and Howington are famous for the wrong reasons - because their careers were cut short because of too many pitches in the minor leagues.
If that happens to Bailey, or minor league phenom Johnny Cueto, it's hard to tell what sort of backlash will take place.
If management has anything to say about it, Bailey's work will continue to be under close surveillance.
Bailey, 21, was limited to modest pitch counts in the minors, much like all of the team's young pitching prospects. The Reds' former managers, as mandated by the front office, treated him much the same. He was pulled after less than 90 pitches with a two-hit shutout in the works against San Francisco in September - a testament to their dedication to protecting him.
But they can't afford to do that next year.
With a rather thin free agent market expected, Bailey will need to hold down a spot in the rotation for the Reds to compete. Suppose he develops into the ace that many foresee, much like Prior did in his first full season as a rookie with the Cubs. Will Baker have the guts to rely on his bullpen in a close game, rather than squeeze another 20 to 25 pitches out of Homer?
Two words: Burning question.
... | | By: A League of Her Own | | |
| | Sunday Brunch Headlines/Open Thread | | 2007-10-21 17:31:27 | |
Rick Morrissey wants you to remember the good times
I can't say if he was giggling while writing this, but I suspect he was.
From the Trib:
So I'll say it: The Reds made a good move. You know, if winning's your thing.
It's interesting how, aside from his odd decision to pull Carlos Zambrano after 85 pitches in Game 1 of the Arizona playoff series, Lou Piniella is regarded as something of a baseball genius for getting 85 victories out of a franchise that won 66 games the season before under Baker.
Never mind that many believed the Cubs had the most talent, by far, in the National League Central this year.
Never mind that the Cubs spent gobs of money on players for Piniella.
Or, for that matter, that the Cubs won 88 and 89 games in Baker's first two seasons at Wrigley Field.
Piniella is a savant!
And Baker, who got his 2003 club closer to the World Series than any Cubs team in almost 60 years, is perceived as a loser, a punch line, chump change.
You still can hear the moaning long after his departure.
Why, why, why didn't he take Mark Prior out of Game 6 when the Cubs were five outs from going to the World Series? I don't know. Perhaps it was because Prior was throwing a three-hit shutout going into the eighth inning, and he was the Cubs' best pitcher. Perhaps it was because setup man Kyle Farnsworth didn't inspire a whole lot of confidence and Baker liked his chances with a pitcher who had gone 18-6 with a 2.43 earned-run average in the regular season.
Why, oh, why didn't he have starter Carlos Zambrano warming up in the bullpen when the sky fell in that game? Perhaps it was because the sky fell at warp speed. If you were in the ballpark that night, you know how quickly things fell apart. And if you're a follower of this sad franchise, you know the sense of inevitability that settled in at Wrigley Field with Moises Alou's glove-throwing incident. It was over before it was over.
It has become gospel that Baker ruined Prior and Kerry Wood. Wood was injuries, plural, waiting to happen, and nothing before or since Baker's arrival can change that simple truth. Prior's situation is a bit more complex. The piling on of Baker began when Prior sat out the first two months of the 2004 season … with Achilles' tendinitis.
That's not to say Baker was innocent of overpitching Prior and causing chronic arm problems. It's to say I don't know. Nobody knows.
One study that analyzed pitchers from 2000 to 2006 showed that Baker's starters averaged 3.68 pitches per start more than they would have been expected to throw under certain conditions. This was based on innings, hits, strikeouts, walks, the particular season, the particular league and a lot of stuff I never understood in math class.
In other words, Baker was not a pitcher killer.
Swingin' Sam's having a good fall
Too bad he doesn't play short. He seems a natural fit: short, white, scrappy.
From the Trib:
Sam Fuld, the outfielder who caught Cubs manager Lou Piniella's eye in September, is off to a fast start in the Arizona Fall League (.323, two homers, five stolen bases, 10 runs scored in nine games). He and Tyler Colvin could play themselves into spots as big-league contributors as early as the second half of next season.
And MacPhail's goin' a-huntin':
Andy MacPhail's restructuring of the Orioles' front office has led him to consider guys on both sides of Chicago for jobs. There are rumors of him pursuing Oneri Fleita, the Cubs' farm director; Alan Regier, the White Sox's farm director, and Bill Harford, a longtime scout for the Cubs who previously has served as farm director.
I want to hear Hendry say, "Get your hands off my Oneri!"
The ownership saga continues...
I think we'll be lucky to have a new owner in place by 2013.
From the LA Times:
WASHINGTON -- The $8.2-billion deal to take Tribune Co. private has become entangled in a newly inflamed debate over media ownership rules at the Federal Communications Commission that could pose problems for the transaction.
Tribune needs FCC waivers to complete the deal because it owns newspapers and TV stations in Los Angeles and four other markets in violation of rules that prevent such cross-ownership. Tribune owns the Los Angeles Times and KTLA-TV Channel 5 as well as other newspapers, TV stations and the Chicago Cubs baseball team.
Now, trying to capitalize on Tribune's push to complete the deal by year's end and its support from some key lawmakers, FCC Chairman Kevin J. Martin has indicated that he won't grant any waivers pending a vote on major revisions to the commission's media ownership rules, agency officials said.
"He's tying the fate of the Tribune deal that he wants to a large proceeding on media ownership," said FCC Commissioner Michael J. Copps, a Democrat who opposes loosening the rule. "To say we have to change the media ownership rules so we can get the Tribune deal done does not strike me as . . . a good way to make public policy."
Martin has proposed an ambitious timetable for the FCC to vote on a package of media ownership rule changes by Dec. 18. Among the changes he is expected to propose is the elimination of the ban on owning a newspaper and a TV station in the same market. But some FCC commissioners, lawmakers and public interest advocates criticize the vote as coming too soon.
A Dec. 18 vote could come too late for Tribune, which has long pushed for lifting the cross-ownership ban. The company needs 20 days to complete the transaction after FCC approval.
To go private by the end of the year in a deal led by real estate mogul Sam Zell, the company needs the FCC by mid-November either to grant temporary waivers or to lift the cross-ownership ban, said Shaun Sheehan, Tribune's Washington vice president. Failure to do so would mean significant financial penalties. The new private company would not be eligible for tax-exempt status for 2008 and the $34-a-share offer would go up, based on an 8% annualized "ticking fee," until the deal closed.
"I have enormous concern," Sheehan said. The deal probably would die if it was not approved by May 31, when financing commitments expire.
... | | By: A League of Her Own | | |
| | Saturday Morning Super Happy Fun Time Headlines/Open Thread | | 2007-10-20 15:48:08 | |
Super Happy Fun Time Headlines today! Woo! A new article from one of the big three
Too bad it's all about radio ratings. Sorry to get your hopes up.
From the Daily Herald:
They say a high tide floats all boats, but I believe the Cubs' run to the playoffs actually washed away listeners at the all-sports stations over the summer.
The Cubs generated all sorts of interest, and they lifted WGN 720-AM to an easy victory in the quarterly Arbitron book with a 6.6 percent share of all listeners 12 and older. So how come, even as they were talking about the Cubs, WSCR 670-AM dipped from a 1.9 share in the spring to a 1.6, while WMVP 1000-AM remained level at 1.3?
The answer was obvious, and I knew it as soon as I actually stopped to think about how Mike Murphy's ratings at the Score had dropped this spring while the Cubs were just beginning their resurgence. How could that be?
As good as Murphy is doing Cubs talk -- and it's his area of expertise as the Score's midday-afternoon host -- the Cubs also just happen to be on much of the time on spring and summer afternoons. What would you rather listen to: Murphy talking about the Cubs, or Pat Hughes and Ron Santo doing an actual Cubs game? (Santo-phobes, don't answer that; the ratings show you're in the vast minority.)
Good as the competition is in afternoon drive -- and both shows have been excellent lately -- Dan Bernstein and Terry Boers at the Score and Dan McNeil, John Jurkovic and Harry Teinowitz at WMVP notice the effect as well.
"The Cubs' audience, rightfully so, went to the flagship," said Mitch Rosen, the Score's program director.
Looks like Tony will be back in St. Looey
I guess the Yankees didn't show any interest.
From the St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Tony's back . . . almost.
Cardinals manager Tony La Russa confirmed Friday that he is prepared to return for a 13th season in his current post, barring unforeseen complications in his ongoing talks with team chairman Bill DeWitt Jr.
"The fact that we're talking pretty much daily and everything is progressing tells you where it's heading and where we'd like it to end up. Obviously, that's assuming nothing falls through the cracks," La Russa said after speaking with DeWitt.
La Russa emphasized his desire to return while backhanding suggestions that he has prolonged his deliberations to gauge any possible interest from the New York Yankees, who dismissed manager Joe Torre on Thursday.
"I'm talking to Bill because that's where I want to be," La Russa said. "Frankly, I'm offended the question is even being asked."
In recent days, many within the organization have assessed La Russa's return as increasingly likely. DeWitt attended this week's meetings with major league scouts and has involved the manager in all elements of the club's postseason planning as well as the 17-day-old search for a successor to ousted general manager Walt Jocketty.
"I think there isn't a whole lot left to talk about," La Russa said.
Whenever someone says: "frankly, I'm offended", it reminds me of a bit Jon Stewart does when Dick Cheney says he's offended(at least a couple times). Since Comedy Centrals embed links don't work, here's a link to one such video.
Carrie and Jim: together again
Do you think she sits on his lap while she interviews him?
From Cubs.com:
First, Carrie goes for the jugular:
MLB.com: So you don't say, "OK, we need to add players to improve situational hitting?"
Hendry: No. You have to look at it globally. In the second half, we were saying we need to get better on this and that for next year. That was talked about and kicked around before somebody had a bad game in the playoffs. We're not going to turn our back on Rich Hill, for example, because he had a bad game, or say, "Gee, Ted Lilly was terrible that night [in Game 2 of the NLDS] -- what are we going to do with Ted?" We wouldn't have been playing in the postseason without Ted.
You want to improve and you want to change things. Even if you're the World Champions, I think you come into camp next year with four or five different guys on your roster. That's the way the game is now.
"Oh, Jim, your noncommittal responses turn me on. Please give me more"
MLB.com: Will most of those changes come from within the Cubs system or will you be active in the free agent market?
Hendry: I don't know. It's too early to tell. One thing we've been good at in the offseason is with new acquisitions and the free agent signings, which were very good last year, but you can't predict outside help. You can't predict somebody wants to come to your place. We've had a good track record -- people want to play here. Trade-wise, we tried to make a trade or two that would've been as significant or more last year than probably any of our free agent signings except [Alfonso] Soriano, and sometimes they don't work out. The other team isn't obligated to trade you their better players.
A bit of good news:
MLB.com: Is finding a regular catcher a top priority?
Hendry: I'm happy with [Geovany] Soto. I think Soto has a great chance to be the catcher on Opening Day.
And the question on everyone's collective tongue:
MLB.com: Does the Tribune Co.'s situation and the pending sale of the Cubs affect what you can do this offseason?
Hendry: I don't think so. I believe in the near future, I'll get the payroll for the offseason. I have no complaints about how we went about our business in the last 12 months. Everything that [team president John McDonough] told me and [Tribune executives Dennis FitzSimons and Crane Kenney] above John told us that we would be able to do last offseason and this season, they backed that up. There's been no indication that we're not going to do anything but go forward.
I commend the company for allowing us to try to put the best product on the field in very tough times for them. It's very admirable to sit in this seat, knowing what they went through in the last 12 months, and whether it was all the things we did in the offseason and signing [Carlos] Zambrano for $91.5 million, there was never a "No."
I believe our payroll will go up [in 2008]. I don't know how much. If it stayed the same or close to the same, I wouldn't complain about it.
Honestly, no shit it's going up. All the contracts have escalating salaries. Does he think we're idiots?
... | | By: A League of Her Own | | |
| | Friday Morning Headlines/Open Thread | | 2007-10-12 14:47:30 | |
Will real baseball start again soon? Jeff Passan rips the Dbags fans a new one
I usually don't care for his columns, but I enjoy him this one.
From Yahoo:
The view from Section 307, Row 40, Seat 13 - the one that not a single person of the four million living in the Phoenix metropolitan area cared to inhabit Thursday night during the biggest baseball game of the Arizona Diamondbacks' season - was quite nice. Take in a few innings from that seat down the right-field line, the field unfolding in an expansive portrait, and the game feels so much more real than TV's microwave-popcorn version of it.
Hector Tapia and Eddie Reyes, sitting three seats down from lucky No. 13, didn't know until 8 a.m. Thursday that they would come to Game 1 of the National League championship series. During homeroom at Summit High, the 18-year-old seniors' teacher told them that because of their perfect attendance this year, each would receive a ticket - face value: $60 - gratis.
"And even then we weren't going to come," Hector said, "but we figured we had free tickets."
The announced attendance for Thursday night's game, a 5-1 victory by the surging Colorado Rockies over the Diamondbacks, was 48,142. A sellout, the Diamondbacks said. Maybe, even with Seat 13 surrounded by thousands of cousins in emptiness during the first pitch, it was. Perhaps every person in Section 307 got caught in the same traffic jam because they had to scramble after the dog ate their tickets. Or it could be that someone bought up all the remaining tickets and gave them away - some, say, to local schools.
A Diamondbacks spokesman said he did not believe the franchise had bought tickets, though if majority owner Ken Kendrick and his partners did, who could blame them? So much talk leading up to Game 1 focused on the flaccid ticket sales, taking away from the fact that Arizona has built itself up from the 111-loss mess of 2004 to the winningest team in the National League.
Now, on the biggest stage since the Diamondbacks' 2001 World Series championship, the great fans of Phoenix - which is creeping up on Atlanta for most pathetic sports city in America - couldn't bother to watch their team host a division rival hotter than any team since Oakland won 20 straight in 2002.
The Diamondbacks deserve better than this city.
What does one of their fans have to say about it?
To the right of Seat 13 sat Nick Johnson, Jordan Kaye and Brian Aden, all 9, who had moved up to the $60 seats from their $25 ones. Kaye's father, Sean, came up to check on the kids, and, bless the man, tried to defend the dozens of empties that surrounded him.
"This stadium is huge," Kaye began.
"Give the sense it's a hard ticket to get and people will want it more," he continued.
"Look at everything going on here: Cardinals, Coyotes, preseason Suns, 6-0 (Arizona State football)," he explained.
"We have really good TV numbers," he elucidated.
"We got spoiled going to the playoffs after the second season and winning the World Series after the fourth," he rationalized.
So, he was all right with this.
"Um. OK. I wish there were more fans," Kaye said. "We are the biggest bandwagon fans here."
And it looks like we can take our LOHO trip to the NLCS, after all:
On StubHub, the ticket resale site, the lowest price for Game 1 of the ALCS in Boston was $200, the highest $1,730. For Game 3 in Cleveland, the prices were $75 and $1,990. Even for Game 3 in Colorado, which sold out almost immediately, the cheapest went for $85 and the priciest $1,200.
Anyone interested in Game 2 here can get in for $15.90.
And in case a big group wants to go, as of midnight here, blocks of up to 18 tickets were available for Game 2 on MLB.com.
Mark Gonzalez hits the Arizona Fall League
Could you please write as little as possible about just a couple prospects, please?
From the Trib:
Wednesday's Instructional League game between the Cubs and White Sox provided a small snapshot. The late Oscar Acosta, a pitching coach for the Cubs in 2000-01, would be proud of son Ryan Acosta.
Ryan Acosta displayed near-perfect mechanics while pitchi |
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