Image via Wikipedia

The big bully on the block doesn’t want your lunch money anymore. He’s branching out, now he wants little Johnny to fork over a licensing fee for the honor and privilege of wearing a Cubs Jersey!

Major League Baseball is throwing its weight around, having sent letters to suppliers of little league baseball organizations stating that without the organization or the supplier paying a licensing fee to MLB, they could no longer sell and wear uniforms emblazoned with the official team names, logos, etc. Last I checked, little league baseball was about the kids, save for the groups of unruly parents who think they’re kids are the next Alex Rodriguez. With that being said, Little League Baseball is non-profit. I can remember playing little league baseball and having to sell fund raising candy just so the league could afford to purchase the uniforms. Who knows how much the licensing fee costs, it’s really besides the point. Tens of thousands of kids play little league baseball, most with the dream of someday making it to the big leagues, and also for most, the dream never comes true. For those few years in our innocent youths, little Johnny could say he once wore the same uniform the big guys wear. That moment in the sun won’t come for little Johnny anymore, unless we dish out gobs of money to the MLB machine that can’t even decide if we need instant replay to help umpires or if we just need to make sure they aren’t blind as a bat.

I will always love the game of baseball and I will always be the biggest of Cubs fans, but its stupidity like this that makes me sad for what MLB has become. Now, I’m not so narrow minded as to not realize that like anything else, baseball is a business, but is letting little Johnny run the bases, stand in centerfield or sit on the bench wearing Cubbie Blue and a big read ‘C’ on his jersey and cap really going to destroy Bud Selig’s bottom line?

Related Articles:

• MLB Naming Rights: Bullying the Kids
• Major League Baseball goes after Dougie, Charlie

The reactions of a few drunken boobs is a valid reason to root against a team?

“Far and away the most obnoxious fans in baseball in this league.” - Marty Brennaman

Let me think a moment. Yep, I’m sure I’ve been called much worse. Besides, its about time we come out on top for something in baseball.

But, this coming from a man who played a big hand in nearly inducing a riot from Reds fans, 20 years ago. Following manager Pete Rose being ejected from a game in 1988 for shoving umpire Dave Pallone, a Brennaman tirade towards Pallone only helped to incite the crowd as they began pelting him with objects including radios and cigarette lighters. The barrage of debris forced Pallone to leave the field and let the other three umpires officiate the remainder of the game without him. A feat so damning on Brennaman and partner, Joe Nuxhall that NL President, Bart Giamatti requested a talk with both announcers over their role in the craziness that unfolded that night.

“This is the kind of thing quite honestly, right now, that makes you want to see this Chicago Cubs team lose.” - Marty Brennaman

For someone so apt to making stupid remarks, you should stick to calling balls and strikes and leave the finger pointing and backhanded remarks of an entire fan base to yourself.

All of that being said, I don’t want it to seem like I am trying to defend the most likely inebriated individuals in the stands, but lets be serious for a moment, I’ve seen worse displays of dissatisfaction from fans. If this is the worst you witness from announcing a game at Wrigley Field or anywhere else, consider yourself lucky. Just because you are a pompous, self-righteous idiot, who just so happens to have a soapbox to stand on, doesn’t give you the right to chastise Cubs fans, or any others for that matter. And, I don’t give a damn if you did try to backtrack the following day on Chicago sports radio. Its too late. If for no other reason than your track history, you lose all rights to criticize the fans or to retract the comments you so easily spewed the night before.

Related Articles:

• Reds’ Broadcasters Apologize (New York Times: May 4, 1988)
• Piniella defends Wrigley Field faithful (MLB.com)

Fukodome provided all the offensive punch today, going 3 for 3, with a walk, a single, a double and a 3-run game tying home run. At least for today, it seems like the $50+ million the cubs dropped in Fukodomes’ lap, is well spent.

Big Z went 6 2/3 innings allowing 3 hits and 1 walk, 0 runs to go with 5 K’s before leaving with a cramp in his right forearm.

Let us hope Kerry Wood got the crap out of his system today and that the rest of the season can only get better.

Related Articles:

• Fukudome’s heroics not enough

WooHoo! Opening Day is right around the corner and the Chicago Cubs are breaking camp for the start of Spring Training: 2008! It helps to know baseball is so close to kicking up again, as that means winter is on its way OUT! I’m sick of seeing snow, sick of brushing it off my car and sick of shoveling it up off the sidewalks. But, back to baseball. Will the Cubs snap a 100 year drought and win the World Series? Personally, I’ve been waiting nearly 30 years, and all I have to show for it is 5 playoff appearances and the infamous 5 outs from the World Series back in 2003. Damn you Steve Bartman! So bring on first pitch, I’m ready to see some home runs land on Waveland Avenue, and I’m ready to see Lou Pinella have another outburst or 3.

The Patriots have to settle for close, but not close enough. The Giants completed an improbable run, starting the season 0-2 and making the playoffs as a #5 seed, wild card team to defeat the Patriots 17-14. An Eli Manning TD pass to Plaxico Burress with 0:35 on the clock was the difference in the game. This just further proves why they play the games. When the playoffs began, the vast majority wanted to hand the Lombardi Trophy to New England, go home and get ready for the draft in April. Biggest upset in Super Bowl history? If its not, its damn close.

Congratulations to the New York Giants.

Not a bad weekend for New Yorkers; you get a Super Bowl Championship and Johan Santana

It just came across the news that MLB starting pitcher, Johan Santana, whose trade from the Minnesota Twins to the New York Mets was contingent on a renegotiation of his current contract just signed a brand new 7 year - $150 million contract. A contract which surpasses the contract Barry Zito signed (7 Years - $126 million) with the San Francisco Giants, last year, by a measly $24 million. Beyond the outrageous dollar amount as a whole. The breakdown per season comes to roughly $21,428,571 per season.

The numbers below or calculated based solely on last seasons statistics.

• 3345 pitches thrown = $6,406.15 per pitch thrown
• 33 starts - $649,350.64 per start
• 219 innings pitched = $97,847.36 per inning pitched

Before it gets brought up … I know 2007 wasn’t his best season as he has won 2 Cy Young awards previously (2004 & 2006) Regardless, at $21+ million per season, tacking on a few more to the stats wouldn’t skew the numbers too far from what is shown above.

Let us also not forget that if Johan Santana goes into spring training and his arm falls off after 4 pitches, he still gets $150 million dollars, as MLB contracts are guaranteed money.