Bring Back the Stein

What is that supposed to mean? There is a misspelling on the Banks statue. There's a story about it by the team's corporate masters today. Says "Lets Play Two," instead of "Let's Play Two." "It's An Accident!"

Go to the Nisei Lounge on Sheffield, my former corner tap. It generally avoids the kind of jerks that go to Bernie's or Murphy's, and still is a stone's throw from the stadium, the misspelled Ernie Banks' statue and the likeness of Harry Caray descending into hell.

The genius of Lou Piniella is what makes Wood a closer. It's the same thing that makes Ryan Dempster a starter and the Cubs the odds-on favorite to go 161-1.

What's worse? Booing the home team, like Cubs fans did yesterday; throwing trash on the field, like Cubs fans do even when they win, making more work for the $10 an hour garbage crew; or holding up signs with mistakenly-translated Japanese saying, "It's An Accident," like Cubs fans did yesterday?

I actually saved my sick excuse and told the truth, as someone up above suggested. Because I had worked too much lately, I got the day off to watch the beauty of that win. Still trying to expose the folks down here to the labor idea about the value of labor, but whatever. The weekend is still the best p.r. Anyway, was able to convince the boss that I had earned the time off. Union forever, and whatnot. Go Tony Jr.

All I know is that he had a brilliant 0-2 at bat, slammed that meat to put in a run, and made at least two, possibly three, incredibly athletic plays in CF. Outside of Sheets, the obvious MVP last night, that kid is doing all that's important. All Brewers fans must love this development, whatever happens to Tony's kid.

I'm going to vent about all the national media, particularly the lead Associated Press story that gets the most distribution, giving play to the fact that the Cubs lost, not that the Brewers won. Yeah, Fuku looks like a real ballplayer. Yeah, they were predicted to win. Yeah, Zambrano pitched lights out. But there was a corresponding narrative that might have been mentioned. Homerism, I'm sure, but I'd still like to vent. Ex-pecially since it's against a club that I almost got censured for calling a biblical term. (and I'm all with keeping this a G-rated site)

I saved my NCAA excuse (dangit) and "got the flu" over the weekend. Today, I'm plausibly sick.

If the Cubs fan is applying to virtue, then have him explain the folks who come late and leave early, so that they can't miss their Yakzzie's spot. The Cubs are the *%*+! of Babylon. Sorry that I don't have any gemuchlicheit. I'm Polish. (Language violation: It's the member's responsibility to preview posts so the cuss filter doesn't kick in. --1992)

Beyond the criminal fact that they had Opening Day in Japan before they had it in the Dominican Republic, Mexico or Puerto Rico, I'm glad that it's going to be cold at Wrigley. It keeps down the urine, Axe body spray, and wretched sense of entitlement smells.

Once Prince Fielder gloves the last out of the World Series, we need to think about creating a Brewers' version of Yad Vashem, the Hall of the Righteous for folks who helped with the almost hopeless cause of Jewish people. Uecker has to be the first inductee, having given his life to an almost lost cause.

The smart statheads here (and I'm not damning with faint praise) already have shown that the gut of the Cubs lineup had career years last year. The ceiling is low for them, and so is the basement. The upside for the Crew is high, but so is the basement. I like that we have this gamble, with this veteran middle relief behind it. Pound for pound, we pound them. No?

Arm cancer, natch.

I'm not going to get as much value out of my MLB package now that games won't take 3 hours. To reach the sixth inning. I'm struck by the interest at losing Vargas and am trying to put myself five years ago and wondering what would happen now if we were to lose the likes of Shane Nance, much less Wayne Franklin. It suffices to say, I wish to never think of that pitching staff again. Thank you Doug Melvin, you mustachioed savior of baseball in Milwaukee.

Interesting issues. 1. Seems to be the gross lack of sensitivity of Hench. His piece seems to be a bad try at aping other "attitude" blog postings and he trips up since he doesn't distinguish between what's invited criticism of lack of effort, and what's, well, a freaking disease. His sin is compounded because he had plenty of time to back up and correct himself. The best reporters and producers will move heaven and earth to correct the record when they know they got it wrong, in fact or in tone. The hacks ignore it, fail to write a correction and hope it goes away. Strike one. 2. The tastelessness of having Penthouse Pets announcing the weather. To be sure, looks are a determinant in television news, but the direct association with pornography is a different matter. Now, I'm a free-speech absolutist, but that doesn't mean that I believe all free speech should be available to every one all the time. The concerns of parents shouldn't be submerged to the market forces who are using this type of R-rated titillating (no pun intended) to market their brand. Strike two. 3. The general tenor and tone of cable sports coverage. I have the same criticism of cable news coverage and it is no coincidence that, since they've come under the aegis of their respective corporation's entertainment divisions, both have suffered. And that's the argument: Hey, it's entertainment, who cares, and so there goes the dive to the lowest common denominator. We're all worse off. Web sites like one are at least partly the byproduct of general dissatisfaction with sports coverage. Strike three. A fourth issue should be the failure of Fox News to even acknowledge the concerns of pretty interested viewers. I'm not naive enough to think that this Web site, which is an awesome Web site, by the way, should be the tail that wags the dog of big bad Fox. But even a cursory look around this site shows a passionate and active bunch of baseball fans who have to represent a significant cohort within their viewership. Seems to me that if they ignore folks here about this issue, they're likely to do it over and over in other cases, which is a contemptible position in its own right. Anyway, please update if they ever get back to you guys.

1. Ted Simmons will be manager by the end of June. 2. Dave Bush wins 15 games. 3. Parra wins NLCS MVP.

When you make a joke, you really ought to try to make it somewhat realistic. How did he get the out for 1/3 inning? Did he come in to the game with at least 4 guys on base? Because I sure as heck can't figure out how to score 5 runs on 5 WP's otherwise. Yes, let's make it realistic. With, say, Ryan Dempster starting, there really won't be that many save situations for the Cubs. And, Wood will make more appearances at Make a Wish fundraising golf outings this year than as the Cubs closer.

(Or, Help Out A Lazy Brewers Fan.) I've been swamped the last month with work, family and travel and haven't done my due diligence this year on the narratives developing from Maryvale. So what are your five headlines thus far, now that we're two weeks from the motherless Cubs? Here's what I'd say on limited info: -Vargas Studly -Fielder Eats Greens. Lots of Them, Apparently. -Infield Defense, Um, Improving?. -Veteran Bullpen Needs Nap -Sheets: Cy Young, NLCS MVP or Both? (Okay, okay, some stupidity, some wishful thinking, but seriously, what do the learned posters here think are the biggest stories.?)

To mix threads, perhaps Prince Fielder could stand to learn something from Liberace's watermelon diet.

Isn't Fielder's weight one of his driving motivations, a la the stoo-pid "Moneyball" chatter? I'm not worried about it, at least not yet. I'm more worried about dodging one of his line fouls. Or being eaten by him.

Heckling is as honored a part of baseball as chewing tobacco. Maybe not appetizing to most people, and especially the holiest among us, but I won't concede the point. I say anyone going to Wrigley is released from any obligation to propriety by the classless way the Cubs fans behave when they come to Miller Park. What will bind you is your conscience. There are so many good reasons to hate the Cubs, chief among them this sickening nimbus of piety about Wrigley Stadium. It's a necessary part of their story, the same way that reconstructive colon surgery is sometimes necessary after a rape. Having lived on Addison and had my apartment's front door urinated and vomited on by day-tripping Cubs fans, having been sucker-punched in the Wrigley Stadium bathroom for wearing a softball-league hat that was mistaken for a Cardinal's hat (the Cubs were playing the Dodgers that day, by the way), having worked for the Tribune Corp. for four years, I have a special hatred for the organization, the fans and the venue. I won't quibble with any Brewer fan exercising his conscience, either to decry boorish behavior (we sinners need people to appeal to our better angels) or to give as good as he gets. I understand that we are their rivals in the same way that Lions fans think the Packers are their rivals, but it won't stop me from wondering loudly when I'm at Wrigley Stadium where's the replay board, or how many simulated games is Prior going to win this year, or from waving my "1908" placard. (And yeah, it's a bit childish to call it Wrigley Stadium but worth it because of the pedantic, whiny protests it engenders from Cubs fans.)

It's February. That's when the Cubs win their World Series.

I agree entirely with Stoney. Totally logical. In fact, I doubt the Cubs will lose a single game. The problem will be deciding who their team MVP will be: Fukudome, who will have a .700 OBP with 212 RBI, or Henry Blanco, who will successfully flush the clubhouse toilet after his b.m. But yes, they will runaway with it. I also think the Cubs will win the Stanley Cup, the Calder Cup, three Tonys, a BAFTA, the Bay View Parochial Soccer League, Iron Chef America (battle onions) and then be assumed bodily into heaven.

I'm really hoping that the statheads-no offense, only praise intended-can weigh in on whether JJ's range is within the market range. It's not my money, so I don't care, inasmuch as it doesn't affect the Brewers ability to be competitive, but my only worry is his health. Anyway, I'll get out of the way and see the comparisons.

You're absolutely right. Yo's listed at 6'1. Liriano at 6'2. I guess his motion is different or I drink too much.