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Best and worst performances from Saturday NCAA Football
Impressive
LSU: First off, as I stated in another thread, big emotional win for LSU. Was supposed to be a home game for the Tigers, but they had to travel to Tempe, a very tough place to win. They didn't quit when a lot of team would've, and got...
Gambling Events Basics
Gambling has always been a tabooed subject in the middle class households because of the adverse sociological impacts. The great epics of the east include stories about the kings loosing their whole dynasties in the game of gambling. Thought he...
NHL hockey lockout. Wayne Gretzky for NHL commissioner?
Could or would Wayne Gretzky become the next NHL commissioner? Is it a dream come true? Gretzky to the rescue to save NHL hockey, end the lockout, and everyone could return to play NHL hockey as if nothing ever happened. Gretzky has the reputation...
The Animal Rights Summit
Is it just me, or is society becoming increasingly polarized? It seems like for every action there is an equaller and oppositer reaction. For and against war. For or against the environment. For or against the family.
Consider the role...
The Penalty Box
Nowhere can an example of the corrupt capitalistic society be found more perfectly than in this NHL labour dispute. This is essentially a battle between the Haves and the Have Mores, who are scratching and clawing each other over their share average...
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Cubs back in the chase (is it for real??)
Cubs back in the chase (is it for real??)
Just when most everyone (including myself) was ready to put the proverbial nail in the Chicago Cubs coffin, looks as though they are back in the NL Wild Card race to stay. After soundly thumping the Pittsburgh Pirates once again at Wrigley on Friday Afternoon, they currently sit 4 ½ games behind Atlanta and look ready to pounce despite a rash of injuries to their starting rotation and offensive lineup.
I must give credit to the much maligned Dusty Baker for keeping this team together when it appeared they were likely candidates to fold up like a tent. Also, much praise goes out to the guys who filled in on Kerry Wood and Mark Prior while they were on the disabled list, Glendon Rusch and Sergio Mitre. Baker has plenty reason to be optimistic. "We feel very good and confident that we finally got our pitching staff back that we were starting with," Baker said. "When you can put a guy like Rusch in the bullpen and Sergio, it builds everything. Now it's kind of the glue putting the pieces of the puzzle together. I feel a whole lot better having those guys back. It's like having your whole army back."
Now comes the hard part for Chicago; they begin a critical stretch of 16 games in 16 days. After finishing up the Pirate series, they head to Cincinnati and then face the NL Central leading Cardinals. When they finish up this stretch at home vs. Arizona and San Francisco, we’ll all have a better idea of where the Cubs stand as contenders or simply another tease to the long suffering faithful.
This team still has issues, namely in the bullpen and
in the outfield, where centerfielder Corey Patterson was recently optioned to Triple A Iowa, and Jerry Hairston Jr. looks like the current incumbent and lead-off man. In leftfield, the Jason Dubois/Todd Hollandsworth experiment failed to produce the results the team was hoping for. Cubs GM Jim Hendry will be looking to add another bat, after coming up short in pursuit of Preston Wilson and Mark Kotsay. A package deal with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays for Aubrey Huff and reliever Dannys Baez remains a possibility; which would help sure up the bullpen as well, with the demoted Patterson and a couple minor leaguers dealt to Tampa in return. The Cubs also hope to have shortstop Nomar Garciaparra back in the lineup within the next month, which would help ease the burden on Derrick Lee and Aramis Ramirez. Baker has remained quiet on commenting on team needs in the trade market. "I can't say that," Baker said. "It'd be like me asking you what does your company need, a cameraman or a reporter. That's a good question, but a question I can't answer. I have to go out and tell these guys to give us all you've got. We talk about that in private."
Whether the Cubbies acquire offensive help or not, as long as they have Wood and Prior healthy at the same time for the rest of the season, you can’t help but believe they will remain right in the middle of the hunt in a very crowded chase for the NL Wild Card.
About the Author
John Onan (ego74) is sports writer/moderator at the online players union (www.theopu.com) and football contributor at www.realfootball365.com
he can be reached at nay7201@mail.com
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