Hey I just found this site and I really like it. Right now I am very jealous of all this White Sox stuff. The World Series needs to come to the Northside. It will not be here with Dusty Baker at the helm. We need a manager who will light a fire in these players and instill in them that losing is not acceptable. Dusty is too passive and is too afraid to criticize a player when he is not producing. As much as I do not want to admit it, we need someone like Ozzie in the 3rd base dugout at Wrigley Field. 98 years is amazingly long and after seeing the Bambino go away in 86, the Black Sock in 88, the goat's gotta go in 98. I plead with the management and players to come into the 2006 season knowing that they can win in this city. Whatever curse this city may have had is gone now. Maybe a World Championship on the Southside will ignite something on the Northside.

The official site has posted a Q&A with Matt Murton. To gear up for what will be a winter-long pro-Murton propaganda campaign, I'd like to highlight this section, because I think it's one of the best explanations of what I want to see from a hitter that I've ever seen:

I'm trying to recognize it as the ball comes out of [the pitcher's] hand. It's a matter of spin, location, and the more patient you are -- that's the biggest thing I want to get better at. My body knows it's a strike. I can tell the difference nine out of 10 times between a ball and a strike. They'll throw me a pitcher's pitch and it's a strike, and I feel I need to swing at it because I know it's a strike, instead of sitting on a certain location or certain zone where I can drive the ball better. [Michael] Barrett and I talked about that a little bit. When you're swinging your best, you're not afraid to go to a 2-0 count and take a pitcher's pitch for a strike and go 2-1. If you're a little overanxious, you'll get 2-0 and they'll throw a good fastball down and away and you'll want to swing, because it's a fastball in a hitter's count. The biggest thing is making sure you can get pitches you can drive.

I think that's just wonderful.

Now I really doubt that the Tribune Company will ever sell the Cubs.

But since this article discusses the possibility, I thought I'd share the link with my Cub fan friends here.

I just visited Bleed Cubbie Blue and I found this Interesting post:

"Before I talk about the game itself, let me stay a bit on-topic here by telling you about some good Cub trade/free agent rumors I heard last night:

* The Cubs have been offered Juan Pierre in trade from the Marlins. Florida wants Corey Patterson and Rich Hill in return, and the Cubs are hesitating because they don't want to give up Hill.

This is wrong thinking, in my mind. The Cubs need a leadoff man. Pierre fits the bill. Hill may become a decent major league pitcher, but in 2005 he looked overmatched. I'd do this deal.

* The #1 position player free agent on whom Jim Hendry has his sights set is... and I know this will please many of you... Brian Giles.

Hummina hummina. Giles' power numbers were way down in 2005 (only 15 HR), but he did draw a huge number of walks (119) and hit 38 doubles. He'd hit way better away from Petco Park as his home field, and one thing he'd bring to the Cubs would be a hard-nosed attitude and some leadership, which the club sorely needs.

Hey, if anyone here goes to this event I want to see pictures!

10/17/2005 8:00 AM ET
Wood pitches in for Children's Hospital
Pitcher to host second annual celebrity bowling tournament
By Carrie Muskat / MLB.com

CHICAGO -- Chicago Cubs pitcher Kerry Wood and wife Sarah will pitch in to help children with cancer by hosting a celebrity bowling tournament on Nov. 12 at the 10-Pin Bowling Lounge, 330 N. State, to benefit Children's Memorial Hospital in Chicago.

A silent auction will be conducted during the bowling tournament, featuring items such as bat boy for a day with the Cubs; first pitch at Wrigley Field; a clubhouse toilet seat signed by past and present players; a Rolling Stones autographed guitar; one-of-a-kind baseball memorabilia; tickets to sporting events, concerts and much more.