10,000

The Chicago Cubs have reached 10,000 wins as a franchise. They become only the second franchise to do so, the NY/SF Giants being the other.

Game Recap


10K W's

10,000 Reasons to Celebrate

Congrats to a wonderful franchise on a magnificent accomplishment!

Earth Day - 38 Years Later

Happy Earth Day + 38 years.

Too many people lately have been calling Global Warming a hoax and a "concocted scheme by the left." These people are delusional. Look at the science. Just because our winter is colder doesn't mean that Global Warming is a hoax...it proves the science correct. Now I know, you folks don't want to believe in science because it flies in the face of your religion or whatever else it might be...you know what? Logic. Reasoning. This is what gives us, humans, the ability to do what we've done to transform our society and habitat. It makes us humans. Apply those same tenets to Global Warming.

Our Earth is fragile...please help to protect it.

Please, pitch in and recycle.

Opening Day!

Happy Greatest Day of the Year, which falls on March 31st this year, corresponding to Opening Day of the baseball season.

This year, unfortunately, the Brewers and Cubs face off on Opening Day at beautiful Wrigley Field in Chicago. Game time is 1:20. Tough draw, as the weather will probably not be very conducive to baseball.

Last year in the AL I picked the Red Sox, Tigers, Angels, and the Yankees as the Wild Card. This year I'm picking the Red Sox, Indians, Mariners, and the Tigers as the Wild Card. That's right, no Yankees...they just don't have enough pitching.

Last year in the NL I picked the Mets, Cubs, Dodgers, and Phillies as the Wild Card. This year I'm picking the Cubs, Mets, D-Backs, and Colorado as the Wild Card. That pick will be unpopular here in Milwaukee...but the Brewers have a fantastic offense, but I don't feel that their bullpen and pitching will be enough.

Baseball...welcome back! I've missed you!

Leap Day

Happy Leap Day, aka, February 29th. It only happens once every four years (like an election), so celebrate the confusion. :)

We found out today that our 2nd child will be a girl! We're obviously VERY excited! This leaves me very outnumbered in my house...something my wife won't let me live down.

Maybe the snow can stop now? Please?

Cactus League action is now underway! Stats don't matter, but it's SO wonderful to see baseball again. Maybe work will calm down enough that I can listen to a game.

Root for Obama on Tuesday...if he wins both Texas and Ohio, look for Clinton to concede and drop out. Not that I think she's bad, but it's Obama's time. He's clearly the better candidate, and maybe now the internal, personal attacks will stop. Here's to hoping so.

Damn Snow

And damn cold...

I just wanted to rant briefly on the snow cleanup, or rather, lack thereof. We got about 7-8 inches of snow on Monday afternoon and evening, into Tuesday morning. It started snowing mid afternoon on Monday, and there was NO cleanup by the DPW...none. It took us 50 minutes to drive from the East side to our home in Brown Deer that night. The roads just continually got worse, and we did not see even one plow on the way home. Not one...not even a salt truck.

The cleanup after snowfalls this year has been truly pathetic. Not sure what can be done, but here is an idea:

DROP THE BLADE!!!

If you're driving a plow, please, drop your blade! IF I see a plow during or after a snowstorm, they are usually trying to salt four inches of snow, rather than actually plowing. I don't get it. Let's try to improve the cleanup...please!

More Snow...

Luckily, I'm off on PTO from work today (all this week), so I don't have to try to drive in this crappy snow. At least it appears to be less than what was originally predicted.

A few notes...

Congratulations to my beautiful wife on her Graduation from Cardinal Stritch University. She graduated with a Masters in Reading and Language Arts, and I couldn't be more proud of her. She worked so hard, and juggled her full-time teaching job, grad school, and motherhood.

My wife and I are expecting our second child in July 2008. We are obviously very excited!

I bought a new car yesterday, a 2008 Honda Civic EX. I had a 2001, so it was nice to upgrade! I hope the roads clear up so that I can actually drive it.

Happy Holidays to all! I hope you all had a nice Christmas, etc, as I did. It's always nice to spend time with family.

Pursuant to my last post regarding the MLB Winter Meetings, congrats to the Chicago Cubs on signing Kosuke Fukudome. I'm really excited to see how he fares in right field. Only 93 days until Opening Day!

'Twas Just Before the Winter Meetings

HUGE hat tip to Al of Bleed Cubbie Blue:

with many, MANY apologies to Clement Clarke Moore

'Twas just before Winter Meetings, when all through the air
Not a creature was stirring, not even Scott Eyre.
The stockings were hung by the old ballpark's eaves,
Fans wond'ring what Jim Hendry had up his sleeves.

Cubs fans were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of Fukudome danced in their heads.
And Kerry Wood having re-signed to wear a Cubs cap,
We'd just settled our brains for a long winter's nap.

When out in the park there arose such a clatter,
We sprang from our beds to see what was the matter.
Away to the window fans flew like a flash,
Hoping to NOT see Guzman in the cache.

The moon shining down on the re-sodded field
Gave the lustre of midday to new players revealed.
As we hoped that our wondering eyes would behold
A new shortstop and relievers getting holds.

There was a big old manager, hat-tossing, not new,
I knew in a moment it must be our Lou.
More rapid than Pie, his players they came,
and he whistled and shouted and called them by name:

"Now DeRo! Now Soto!
Now, Alfonso and D-Lee!
On, Lilly! On, Marmol!
On, A-Ram and Z!
To the top of the dugout!
To the top of the wall!
Now pitch away! Hit away!
Let's win it all!"

As baseballs that before the wild Wrigley winds fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky
So up to the clubhouse Lou and Jim's minions flew,
With the sleigh full of pitchers, and outfielders too.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard from Tennessee
The prancing and pawing of old Jason Marquis.
As he wondered if he'd be traded, without a sound,
'Round the corner Jim Hendry came with a bound.

He was dressed all rumpled, from his head to his foot,
And his cellphone was all tarnished with ashes and soot.
A bundle of free agents he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.

His eyes -- how they twinkled, seeing five-tool players!
Unfortunately, none of them could run like Gale Sayers!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
Thinking about how the Brewers must close with Turnbow.

He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook when he laughed, like a bowl full of jelly.
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself.

(Sorry, that one was too easy. Had to leave that part alone. Onward.)

A wink of his eye and a twist of his head
Soon gave us to know we had nothing to dread.

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled the entire roster, with not a single jerk.
And after he'd bought all the players he might,
He and his team left Nashville that night.

He sprang to his plane, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, 'ere he went out of sight,

"We're ready to win in '08, and to all a good night!"