Can Money Buy Your Love?: A Cubs Preview (Part Two)

Before I begin, I wanted to mention what a disgrace it is that Ron Santo was denied entrance to the Hall of Fame once again. All the guy did was put up statistics which compare to the best third baseman ever... while suffering from diabetes. What am I missing here? His absence in the Hall of Fame is a disgrace and embarrassment to the game of baseball.

OK, on to the second part of my 2007 Chicago Cubs preview...


BENCH (INFIELDERS)

Henry Blanco: Blanco is the best backup catcher in the league, hands down. The Cubs managed to sign him early in free agency before other teams could drive up the price for his sought-after services. Among all the big moves that Hendry made, retaining Blanco might have been one of the most important. Offense has never been his strength. In fact, his numbers last year (.266 avg, 6 HR, and 37 RBI) were the best of his career. An injury to Barrett allowed Blanco to get into somewhat of a rhythm at the plate and it showed with better offensive statistics. Nevertheless, he is invaluable to the Cubs because of his defense. Only one catcher last year, Pudge Rodriguez, had a better percentage of throwing out runners that were trying to steal. For his career, Blanco has stopped over 40% of base runners trying to swipe a base and consider this: for the majority of his time in the major leagues, he was the personal catcher of Greg Maddux, a pitcher notorious for ignoring base runners. Last season, Blanco also had a fielding percentage of .998. Managers were hesitant to call for sacrifice bunts when Blanco was playing, because they knew if the bunt wasn't perfect Blanco would fire a strike to second to record the out. He completely disrupts the opposition's running attack because even the fastest of players have to think twice before taking off. This is why he is so important to the Cubs. He acts as a security blanket for the team if Barrett doesn't continue his gradual defensive development.

Ryan Theriot: Just take a look at the numbers for Theriot last year: .328 avg, 6 HR, 16, RBI, 13 SB, 34 Runs, and .412 OBP in only 134 AB. You can see why the Cubs are so high on his future. There has been talk that Theriot is the perfect candidate to hit behind Soriano, because his patience at the plate is that of a seasoned veteran and it's hard to argue when you look at his statistics. But what position is he going to play? Unless the Cubs find a way to deal Jones before opening day and either move DeRosa to right or let Theriot play the outfield, you can expect him to begin the year as a super utility man. It's a shame that his growth as a player might be hindered somewhat since he will have to start on the bench, but if he continues to grow at the rate he showed last year, the Cubs will be forced to make room for him in the everyday lineup sooner rather than later. As it stands now, he will get time at second base when DeRosa has to move to right to give Jones a rest against lefties. He can also play shortstop is Izturis goes down to injury and he has been fielding balls at third base just in case something happens to Ramirez. In the offseason, Theriot made it a point to catch fly balls in the outfield if Piniella chooses to play him there at some point. No matter what, the Cubs have a young, valuable utility man who can also serve as a speedy pinch runner. It should be fun to watch him grow.

Daryle Ward (INF/OF): Ward takes on John Mabry's role from last year: a left-handed, pinch hitting specialist who can give Derek Lee a rest from time to time and who can also play the outfield in an emergency. Ward led all major league pinch hitters with a .355 avg, 17 RBI and a .645 slugging percentage last season. His four pinch-hit homers were tied for the best in the league with Cincinnati's Javier Valentine. Overall, Ward hit .308 and his average rose to .371 with runners in scoring position, a stat which will come into play more times than not as a pinch hitter. Ward is considered one of the top fastball-hitting players in the game which is an important quality to have since the pitcher will try to test you as a pinch hitter knowing that you came straight from the bench and aren't completely loosened up yet. This was another one of Hendry's signings that took a backseat to the bigger acquisitions, but Ward should be considered a major upgrade to the bench.

BENCH (OUTFIELDERS)

Angel Pagan: Talk about speed. Pagan might be the fastest player that I have ever seen, except for maybe Tampa's Carl Crawford and Seattle's Ichiro. His season was cut short due to a hamstring injury, but he's healthy now and he says that his legs feel better than ever, which is a good thing for the Cubs since they will ask him to pinch-run in crucial situations. On the whole, the Cubs are a fast team this year with Soriano and Izturis playing everyday and Theriot and Pagan coming off the bench. Pagan's offense is not good enough to allow him to start. He is average at best with the bat, but, as I said before, deadly once he gets on base. I once witnessed him have to slide midway between second and third just to stop his momentum since he was running so fast. I never saw anything like that before. His defense is good and his speed allows him to chase down balls that most players wouldn't be able to. He is a great player to have on the bench, but the Cubs will know they are in trouble if they have to plug him into the everyday lineup like they did on more than one occasion last year.

Felix Pie: I'm choosing not to spend too much time on Pie since the Cubs are saying that he will more than likely be sent down to AAA after spring training. Jim Hendry and Lou Piniella want to avoid a repeat of the Corey Patterson situation when the organization's number one rated prospect was called up too early. Pie is a legitimate five-tool threat with great speed and growing power. He has great range and a strong arm in center. But he has a lot of work to do in regard to his plate discipline and although he possesses great speed, his base-stealing technique needs to be refined. Last season at West Tennessee he appeared in 59 games, going 73 for 240 with 41 runs, 17 doubles, 5 triples, 11 hrs, 25 RBI, 16 BB, 53 K, and 13 SB while hitting for a .304 average. However, he struggled in the Dominican league this winter, appearing in 29 games, going 19 for 91 with 12 runs, 3 doubles, 2 triples, 1 HR, 10 RBI, 4 BB, 19 K, and 1 SB while hitting .209. If he has a strong showing at spring training, then he has a shot to make the squad. My bet would be on him starting in the minors. If the trade I just heard about (Jacques Jones for Geoff Jenkins) is true, then that means Pie will be called up sooner than later, because Jenkins has a buyout in his contract next year. Interesting. Stay tuned.

ROTATION

1. Carlos Zambrano (R)
2. Ted Lilly (L)
3. Jason Marquis (R)
4. Rich Hill (L)
5. Mark Prior (R) - Could be moved to the third slot with Marquis sliding down to five if Prior manages to stay healthy throughout spring training

Zambrano: There's not much to say about Zambrano. He is quickly becoming one of the young premier pitchers in the game. The numbers he has been putting up the last few years have been astounding considering that he ranks among the bottom of the league when it comes to run support. He has been winning an average of 15 games for the last three seasons with a bad team behind him. That's impressive. Last year he was 16-7 with a 3.41 ERA and 210 strikeouts. With a wicked slider and blazing fastball, he is the prototype ground ball pitcher for Wrigley Field. In addition, the man can hit. He ranked first in homers by a pitcher last year and third in batting average. Considering that this is a contract year for him (if the Cubs can't sign him by opening day), expect him to put up even better numbers. Not only will he be motivated to prove he deserves Barry Zito-like money, but he also has a good lineup to support him. My hope is that the Cubs don't let another star pitcher get away, but if they feel that they can't sign him before the start of the year, then trade him for 3 or 4 very good major league-ready players or top prospects. If they keep him the entire year, I see Zambrano earning 20 wins for the first time in his career.

Ted Lilly: Lilly was ranked as the 8th best free agent on the market by ESPN.com... ahead of Barry Zito. The summary under his picture said something along the lines of "Lilly is Barry Zito with more stuff." His career record of 59-58 will not instill confidence in Cubs fans, but keep this in mind: Lilly was not a full-time starter until 2003 when he went 12-10. In four years as a starter he finished only once with a losing record and managed to do so with bad teams behind him. Toronto was a bottom feeder until just last year, yet Lilly managed to keep his record above the .500 mark in every season but one. He has a knee-buckling curve ball which he likes to set up with a letter-high fastball that he often uses as his strikeout pitch. The one concern is that he is a fly-ball pitcher and that does not translate well in Wrigley. However, that was the knock on Howry as well and he's turned out just fine. I like Lilly. I think he is the mentally-tough SOB that the rotation has been lacking for quite some time. He is also considered a great club house guy and has been described as a rock for the younger players to lean on when the major league becomes mentally and physically exhausting. I think he will turn out just fine for the Cubs.

Jason Marquis: This guy has turned out to be an enigma wrapped in a mystery. Only a few years ago, when he was in Atlanta, Maddux was calling Marquis the future of pitching in the major leagues. He was then shipped to St. Louis in a blockbuster deal, where he was expected to be the ace of that staff for years to come. He did just that in his first year with the Cardinals, going 15-7 with a 3.71 ERA and 138 strikeouts compared to 70 walks. Last year he started as well as you could hope for (he was 11-6). But after the All-Star break it all fell apart. He recorded a 3-10 record in the second half with a 6.72 ERA. No one had a technical explanation for this 180 degree turn, so more than likely it had something to do with his mental psyche and his confidence. Larry Rothschild, after receiving advice from Maddux, had Marquis workout for the Cubs in the offseason. Rothschild liked enough of what he saw to advise Hendry to sign Marquis to a 3-year, $21 million deal. The scouting report on him is that he throws a heavy sinker, good changeup, nasty cutter, and a low to mid-90's fastball. That sounds identical to when Maddux first came into the league which should come as no surprise since it was Maddux who mentored Marquis when they were both with the Braves. I honestly don't know what the Cubs are going to get out of him this year. In this case, it could be one extreme or the other. I could see Marquis doing well in Chicago, because he gets a lot of ground balls with his sinker, cutter, and changeup. But I could also see him imploding and losing his confidence if, for example, he has a bad game on a day when the wind is blowing out. Tough to get a read on this guy. We'll just have to wait and see.

Rich Hill: Hill finally started to live up to the hype at the end of last year. Before the All-Star break Hill went 0-4 with an ERA over 9. The coaching staff was collectively shaking their heads, wondering when they were going to see the pitcher that every scout told them could dominate at the major league level. And then, after the All-Star break, it clicked. Hill went 6-3 with an ERA of 2.97. He also recorded 90 strikeouts to only 40 walks. If you thought Lilly or Zito had a good curve ball, wait until you see Hill in action, if you haven't already. How he gets the ball to dip so severely I will never know, but it is like watching one of those cartoons where the ball does about 6 corkscrews and 10 flips before it gets to the plate. His fastball tops out at 93, so he is not blowing anyone away, but he uses his heater to keep the hitters off balanced and then he drops the famous curve on them. If his progression continues, the Cubs have found their future ace and Hill could have a great year simply because major league hitters are not that familiar with him at this point in his career. I have a feeling though that by the end of the season opposing teams will know his name.

Mark Prior: Last, but not least. What can you even say about Prior other than when he is healthy he ranks among the best pitchers in the game, period. From 2004-2006, Prior has spent most of his time on the DL, but guess what, his career record is still 42-29 with an ERA of 3.51. If that doesn't demonstrate just how good this guy is, then I don't know what will. He is capable of getting the heater over at 96-98 MPH and he combines that with a hard-biting curve which is completely different than the finesse curve that Hill throws, yet just as effective. I say it again, if he stays healthy, Prior has the capabilities of an ace, so slotting him no higher than the third spot in the rotation is a great luxury for the Cubs to have. It allows the team to take some of the pressure off of Prior and match him up with the opposition's third starter instead of guys like Chris Carpenter or Roy Oswalt. This will cause Prior to regain the confidence he once had before all the injuries. I have a good feeling (knock on wood) about Prior this year. I think he will stay healthy and come close, if not return completely, to his dominant form.

BULLPEN

With Neil Cotts, Ryan Dempster, Kerry Wood, Scott Eyre, Bob Howry, Wade Miller, Roberto Navoa, Will Ohman, and Michael Wertz, it's safe to say the Cubs won't have trouble finding pitchers to fill out their bullpen. Piniella has said that he wants to have twelve pitchers on the roster when the season starts, meaning there will be seven guys in the bullpen. Therefore, two pitchers in the list from above will be sent to AAA or be dealt elsewhere. I think that Navoa and Wertz fall into this category. But, with talent like the Cubs have in their relief corps, it is safe to say that the Cubs boast one of the best, if not the best, pens in the entire league.

I believe that, when all is said and done, Wood will be the closer for the Cubs, which, in my opinion, works out perfect because Dempster used to be a starter and could take on a long-reliever or emergency starter role. I think that Wood could be as good a closer as Smoltz was in Atlanta when he made the same transition. Wood showed he could handle 8th-inning responsibilities last season with ease and I believe that will translate to success in the ninth inning.

Cotts gives the Cubs another long-relief option and he combines with Eyre and Ohman to form an impressive left-handed trio. Having this type of depth will translate to better years for the starters as well. I talked earlier about relieving Prior of some of the pressure on him. Having a pen which can take over in the sixth inning, if needed to, puts the starters at ease knowing that most leads will be safe with such a solid bullpen ready to come in.

The most intriguing pitcher to keep an eye on is Wade Miller. Where does he fit in? Remember, when he is healthy (I know it sounds redundant by now), Miller could easily be considered a 3rd or 4th starter. Will Piniella put him in the bullpen? There really is no other spot for him at this time and it would be a shame to waste the talent that he brings to the table, especially after investing in a player who has been rehabing for a year. It will be interesting to see how position battles such as this shape out during spring training.

Overall, the Cubs have what it takes to make it back to the postseason for the first time since 2003. The talent is there. On paper (I know, it's a dangerous phrase) they are superior to the rest of the teams in their division. I truly believe they will win the NL central. You get into the playoffs and anything can happen. Could the Cubs win the world series this year? Let's not get ahead of ourselves. We all know how long of a season it is and how different factors such as injury can affect performance, so right now it's one step at a time. But there's no doubting that they have put themselves in a position to enjoy success. Tune in April 2nd if you want to see for yourself.

Can Money Buy Your Love?: A Cubs Preview (Part One)

$300 Million...that's the amount that the Cubs spent to field a competative team for this upcoming season. They resigned Aramis Ramirez, Kerry Wood, and Henry Blanco. They added Alfonso Soriano, Mark DeRosa, Ted Lilly, Cliff Floyd and Jason Marquis. But will this unexpected, Yankee-like mentality translate into wins? Let's break down the team to see how their roster compares with the teams in the upper-echelon in the league...

INFIELD

Do the Cubs have the best infield in the league? It's possible. They have the formula which is associated with success: power on the corners, stellar defense up the middle.

3B: Aramis Ramirez is almost assured of at least 30 homeruns and 100 RBIs this year with a healthy Derek Lee, and the additions of Soriano and Cliff Floyd. As for his defense, it gets better each year so there's no reason to believe that won't continue to be the trend. The knock on Ramirez is that he loafs around the field, at times not running to first base with as much effort as you would like to see. His laziness affected his defense at times when he failed to move his feet quick enough to make an accurate throw or to block a ball and keep it in front of him. Personally, this angered me to no end but when I thought more about it I think it was because of his injured groin and other nagging lower-body injuries. He's healthy now and vows to do his best to shed the "lazy" lable. The funny thing about his apparent lack of effort is that he's relatively fast when he wants to turn it on. A major question with Ramirez is whether or not the intensity he showed in the second half of last year will be there now that he's got his money. Ramirez projects to be the Cubs' best power hitter and I have a feeling he'll exceed everyone's expectations. Pencil him in for an All-Star spot this season.

1B: Lee is back and there's nothing being reported which would make me think he is anything but 100% at this point. At the end of last season, he showed flashes of power which is a good thing considering that wrist injuries usually take a full-year in regards to regaining your power stroke. No matter what, the defense will always be there for Lee. He saves the infield a good 30 errors a year if not more. So what should we expect of him as for his offensive stats? Will he revert back to the year when he almost won the triple crown? That would be a stretch and difficult for anyone to recreate but his numbers will be good. He has the lineup protection he needs this time around. The amazing thing with his potential triple crown season was that he was doing it alone so now with the aid of Ramirez, Soriano, Floyd, and Barrett, it's not unreasonable to think that he could put up all-star type numbers. I predict .300 avg, 30 HR, 100 RBI, 15 SB and a Gold Glove. Todd Helton's production is on the decline so I think that Lee will regain the title of NL's best defensive first basemen.

SS: Cesar Izturis is the best defensive player at his position in the league, period. He lacks any type of power at the plate but only two years ago he led the league in hits at the All-Star break. From then on, Izturis has found himself dealing with injury after injury which has obviously hurt his production. If his legs are healthy, he brings the element of speed to the lineup and if he is willing to be patient and take pitches, giving Soriano the chance to steal second, he might be the perfect fit as the second hitter. It would give the Cubs more speed at the top than they have ever had. Worst case scenario, Izturis is dropped to the bottom of the order and DeRosa is inserted behind Soriano. But Izturis makes more contact on a consistant basis than DeRosa and is far surperior in regards to speed and moving runners over with a bunt so Piniella is banking on Izturis working out in the 2-hole. One thing which will help him is hitting in front of Lee, Ramirez, Floyd, and Barrett because pitchers will not want to put him on base by walking him in front of guys that could put the game out of reach with one swing. I can see Izturis hitting .275, with 60 RBI, 30 SB and joining Derek Lee in accpeting his Gold Glove award...if he stays healthy.

2B: Mark DeRosa, although he has never won the award, is a gold-globe caliber second baseman. He has as strong of an arm as you will find in the league and he is accurate with his throws. His best position might be third base but he said he signed with the Cubs because of the chance to be the everyday second baseman. He had a breakout year at the plate last season but how much of that is due to half his games being played in Arlington, the Coors Field of the south? That said, DeRosa is at the age where baseball players are said to hit their prime so while his offensive statistics might have been inflated last year, don't expect too much of a drop-off. He is another possibility to hit behind Soriano if Izturis doesn't work out but his swing is a little longer than you would like from your two-hitter. A better spot would be batting sixth where he wouldnt have the pressure of taking strikes to allow Soriano to take off and he could utilize his decent power stroke to drive in runs. .290, 15 HR, 85 RBI seems like a reasonable projection for DeRosa.

Catcher: We all know that Michael Barrett can hit. He won the Silver Slugger Award two years running so offense is not his problem. It's his defense which is holding him back from that monster contract. But analyzing the statistics shows that he is in fact improving in this area. For as good a defense catcher as Henry Blanco is, Cubs pitchers actually had a better ERA when Barrett was behind the plate meaning that he is learning how to call a better game. If he can increase his percentage of runners thrown out while attempting to steal, there's no reason why he shouldn't be considered in the top-tier of catchers in the league. As of now, MLB.com has him ranked 6th so imaigne what they would think of him if he was better defensively. It is realistic to expect Barret to continue his offensive success. With a better lineup around him, it is logical to think that his stats will go up. I would say .285 avg, 25 HR, 85 RBI sounds about right.

OUTFIELD

The outfield is interesting. It could be great, or it could be a disaster. I love the addition of Floyd as both a left-handed presence and a clubhouse leader but can he stay healthy? Can Soriano handle a full year in center when he only has one season as a left fielder under his belt? If Soriano can't handle center, will Piniella swap Jones and Soriano or will he give Pie a chance? Can Piniella find enough bats for Matt Murton? Like I said, it should be interesting.

LF: Cliff Floyd and Matt Murton make quite the platoon in left but will either accept having to share time? Matt Murton feels like he is primed to break out and that platooning could ruin his rhythm. He has good patience at the plate and showed power to the opposite field which is a huge milestone for a young player's development On the other hand, Cliff Floyd has been voted to the All-Star game multiple times and when healthy is one of the best left-handed hitters in the game. If Murton only plays against lefties, which Piniella has hinted at, Floyd will be getting most of the playing time. As for the defensive side, neither is stellar but both will run through the brick wall at Wrigley for their manager. I honestly can't say what will happen in reards to LF. I am very high on Murton. I think he has a lofty ceiling in regards to his potential. But I just can't ignore the potency that Floyd brings to the lineup. To be continued...

CF: The $136 million question is whether or not Soriano can handle center field. He is definitely athletic enough and posseses enough speed to track down balls hit in the gaps but how will he deal with the swirling winds? You have to remember that this is no ordinary center field, this is Wrigley and the wind pattern changes from day to day. I wish that he could spend his spring training in Chicago so he could get ready for what is in store when the season begins but obviously it doesn't work that way. In a perfect world, I would play him in right but right field at Wrigley might be even harder than center because of the sun during day games and the small foul territory, half of which is occupied by the opposition's bullpen. The Cubs really don't have an alternate position for Soriano since they failed to work out a trade for Jones in the offseason. No matter what, Soriano is playing so the other outfielders better hope he works out in center because otherwise someone will be losing out on a lot of playing time. Offensively, Soriano is one of maybe two players, the other being Carlos Beltran, with the ability to steal 40 bases and hit 40 homeruns. Hitting in Wrigley will increase his numbers except for the start of the year when it is cold and homeruns are hard to come by. This is when his speed comes into play because Soriano can thrive without hitting the ball out of the ballpark by using his legs to beat you. He is the all around package who suddenly finds himself in a lineup which is much more talented than the one he had in Washington. There is no reason to expect anything but an increase in his statistics. 200 runs, 95 RBI, 40 HR, and 40 SB is a realistic projection for Soriano. That's incredible production considering he is batting leadoff.

RF: Jacques Jones is returning for his second season and looking to improve on his solid stats from last year. He played all season long having a problem with his rotator cuff which is why he bounced many of his throws. He's fixed that so expect him to go back to having a rocket for an arm. He, like Floyd and Murton, go all out when playing the field and he has the experience in right to be successful in Wrigley. While he is known to strike out more than he should, he has improved each year in that regard. He never loafs, has more than decent speed and never makes mistakes on the bases. He had a big problem hitting lefties last year so look for Piniella to switch DeRosa to right on days when they face a southpaw and insert Theriot, another young player the Cubs love, at second. I think that Jones hit his ceiling in regards to offensive stats last year and I expect him to duplicate those numbers (.280 avg, 25 HR, 85 RBI). I also expect his outfield assists to go way up now that he has fixed his shouler problem.

Tomorrow I will break down the bench players, the rotation, and the bullpen.

Deja Vu

Well, the refs were at it again in tonight's Bulls game. This time their stupidity lead to a loss against a struggling Orlando Magic team. The Bulls were losing by two points with about 1:30 left when Orlando's Nelson pulls a fast one on the refs by stopping suddenly, sticking out his backside, and allowing Hinrich, who anticipated Nelson curling around the screen, to slam right into him. Because the ball hadn't been inbounded yet, the Magic got one shot and the ball back. Now, they are up by three. Next play, Nelson fools the refs yet again, this time by leaving his feet for a shot and leaning into Hinrich. He initiated the contact, not Hinrich, but, of course, he's on the line shooting two and putting the Magic up by five. On the inbound play, it should have been an offensive foul, because Hinrich has as much right to that spot on the court as Nelson does, plus Nelson was the one who purposely stuck out his rump, drawing the contact. On the jump shot, there should have been a no-call, considering that Hinrich stood there with his arms up. The shot rimmed out, by the way.

Regardless, the refs get worse on a nightly basis. They make it difficult for me to sit through an entire game, because they are just that bad. I mean, the average age of the three refs they had out there tonight must have been pushing 90 and that's being generous. For God's sake, hasn't Dick Vebetta qualified for retirement yet? Isn't there an age where refs are forced to hang 'em up? If not, there should be. These guys just can't keep up with the fast pace of the NBA

That said, I'm introducing what I call "The Missed Call Counter." I am going to keep tabs on all the bad calls or calls which the refs neglect to make, and I'm doing it for both teams, not just the Bulls. With every blog I write, I'll make a note of my calculations for that night. This should be interesting.

Nonetheless, how long is it going to take for a change to be made? Everyone knows that the league is suffering because of this. It makes me laugh when Scott Skiles is stating his case to the ref and the ref actually has the nerve to argue back when thousands of people in the stands and on TV can see just how bad of a call it was.

But let's be fair. The Bulls were out rebounded tonight by 16. That's pathetic. Sometimes I don't know what's worse, the refs or the mental lapses this team displays night in and night out. Case in point, the Bulls made a strong run in the fourth quarter, taking the lead by four points. They force a missed shot, Gordon grabbed the rebound and took it down the court for a fast break. Instead of making the smart pass to Deng on the wing, he tries to force a lob to Sweetney which is broken up and leads to a three-point play by Ariza on the other end. What should have been a six or seven point advantage rapidly dwindled to just one. Unbelievable. For as good as Gordon can be, he, along with Hinrich and others, makes the stupidest choices at times. The excuse of this being a young team can only hold validity for so long. Back to the drawing board.

NBA Refs

I had to take a break from studying to get something off my chest. What I have to say is simple: the refs in the NBA are by far the worst of any professional league.

Today I watched the Bulls play the Pistons. A great game, which, unfortunately, was decided by the refs in the end. In the fourth quarter, with the score tied 93-93, Billups pulls up for a jumper. He misses the shot, but for some reason, which at the time was unclear to me, Webber was wide open for the putback. When looking at the replay it became quite evident why there was no one near him: he completely pushed off his man, P.J. Brown, with two hands and arms extended. The whistle must have conveniently malfunctioned, because the replay also shows the ref no more than 5 feet away, staring directly under the basket. The Pistons went on to win the game 95-93 and the Bulls had another game stolen from them, the first being when they hosted Toronto before the All-Star break. In that game, they did make the call under the basket in the final seconds, but this time it was agianst the Bulls. I had no problem with the foul, in fact it was refreshing to see a call being made that everyone knows is not 9 times out of 10. But then Gordon comes down and goes up for the jumper to tie the game, gets bumped into the first row and the whistle once again remained silent.

Maybe I'm coming off as biased right now, being that I'm a Bulls fan, but they get the short end of the stick more times than not. And I'm not the only one complaining about the incompetency of the NBA refs. Believe it or not, Marc Cuban is right about them. They stink, period, and I'm sick of them deciding games in crucial moments. For the health of the league there needs to be a different referee-evaluation process put into place, because if things like the end of the Bulls-Pistons game continue David Stern will have a full-blown mutiny from the players and their union in a few years. Jason Kidd put it best when he said it's like three blind mice running around out there.

There, I got that out. I feel better now. Back to studying...

Random Thoughts

I was so sick last night that I had to sleep in the bathroom. No, not because of the chicken I ate at the airport waiting for my flight back to Boston but because of the cowardice shown by Bulls' GM John Paxon by not pulling the trigger on a trade-deadline deal. Let's get something clear: I never wanted him to give away the team's future for one player, Pau Gasol, but Paxon had the opportunity to add two proven, playoff-tested veterans in Abdur-Rahim and Bonzi Wells and came away from negotiations empty-handed. All it would have took to pry away Abdur-Rahim would have been P.J. Brown and a second-round pick the Bulls got from the Knicks. Paxon, however, felt that Abdur-Rahim's contract was simply too big to take on. Question: Isn't the point, when making a trade, to work it out so that neither team is left to deal with a financial mess? Doesn't the leage have rules in regard to a salary cap that teams are not allowed to exceed? Therefore, Paxson's comments have no validity. They are a facade to cover the fact that he didnt have the guts or gile to change his current roster. Let's be honest, and I've heard this directly form his mouth, the Bulls want to keep Brown's expiring $8 million contract because the team is saving as much money as posisble for the summer that Dwyane Wade, LeBron James, and Chris Bosh become free agents.

As for Wells, Paxon offered Sweetney but Houston didn't bite. I guarantee if he had added the other second-round pick the Knicks' so graciously gave the Bulls, the deal would have got done. Wells was the big guard that this team needed. He can post-up the smaller guards in the Eastern Conference and the Bulls could have run their offense through him when they needed to slow the tempo which would allow them to hold on to the big leads they are so quick to give away. Wells is also a prime-time player come playoff time as was evident in last year's postseason when he almost single-handedly defeated the Spurs in the first-round. Gordon would have gone back to the bench, teaming up with Nocioni, and the team would have been that much better. Now imagine a frontcourt of the offensive-minded Abdur-Rahim, defensive monster Ben Wallace, and budding-sperstar Luol Deng combined with Wells at the two-sopt and Hinrich at the point. And guess what Paxson? You didn't have to mortgage your team's future as you were so worried about doing. You could have won the East with two minor trades. You blew it. Live with that as you look in the mirror the rest of this season. But I will forgive you if you manage to sign Wade or James in a few years.

Oh by the way, the Bulls are 3-0 since the All-Star Break. 2-0 since Jim Paxon let the team down. Ben Wallace is playing with a chip on his shoulder. Maybe he's upset with all the talk that he need shelp up front. Perhaps he's preping for his upcomming battle in Detroit. Whatever the reason, ot's impressive what he can do when he feels like playing. That bodes well for for the playoffs.


Here are some other headlines in the sports world, inlcuding those which are non-Chicago related...

CUBS

• Eric Patterson is following in his older brother Corey's footsteps and hoping to make a bigger impact in the Cubs organization than Corey did in his brief stay. Trust me, that shouldn't be too difficult of a task.


• The Alfonso Soriano experiment will be scrutinized, mainly because it could lead to a game of musical chairs in the outfield if he can't handle the switch to center field. Does anyone else feel uneasy about a player with one year of experience in Left Field making the transition to Center? I thought that this was the most absurd idea I had ever heard when it was first proposed all the way back at the Winter Meetings. My heart says that I hope it works but my brain is teling me otherwise. Plus, I want to see what this kid Felix Pie can do already.


• After Cubs pitchers were done running Wednesday, Larry Rothschild gave young Jeff Samardzija some unsolicited advice on how to wear his cap. He recommended the centered look, the way almost most major-leaguers have worn caps since 1876. But it was OK for Juan Pierre? Maybe I'm crazy but I even remember when Pierre was trying on his hat during an introductory press conference he remarked "I've always worn it a little to the side". Can you say double-standard? Leave it to the Cubs to make an issue out of something like this.


• Part I of the Carlos Zambrano saga ended Tuesday when he agreed to a one-year, $12.4 million deal, avoiding an arbitration hearing only minutes before it was to begin. This should have been done months ago ala Chase Utley's $76 million extension soon after the conlcusion of the World Series.$76 million would be a bargain now considereing how Zito's $128 million contract has inflated the free agent market beyond belief. After Zambrano's comments that the Cubs need to sign him before opening day or he will enter free agency, I think it would be better for the team to trade him for 3 or 4 really good players. It's hard for me to see the Cubs agreeing to another Soriano-type deal.


• Kerry Wood threw 25 pitches off the mound Monday in his first prolonged throwing session since hurting his chest in a hot-tub spill last week. Close your eyes, invent a creative way for a major-league pitcher to hurt himself and before you can say "DL", Kery Wood will do it. I hope he stays healthy because I think he could be as good a closer one day as John Smoltz was for the Braves after he converted from starter to reliever.

BEARS

• With his stalled contract talks and other organizational changes serving as a backdrop, Bears coach Lovie Smith addressed reporters at the NFL scouting combine Friday morning and said he's hopeful a deal will get done. What in the world is going on? All Smith has done is earn Coach of the Year and take the Bears to the Super Bowl, yet he is still the lowest-paid head coach in the NFL In fact,. there are some coordinators making more than him. This is a joke. Pay the man his money. Don't make the same mistake you made with the team from 1985. Unbelievable. Only in Chicago.


• Expect the Bears to accommodate Thomas Jones' apparent trade request. Presume they will ignore the same request from Lance Briggs. If the Bears decided to trade Jones, which I am not ocmpletely opposed to, they can accept nothing less than a first-round pick. There are teams such the Giants and Jets who are desperate enough for a starting back that the Bears would have the upper-hand in any discussions involving Jones. As for Briggs, if he demands a trade the Bears, by rule, would recieve two first-round picks. In my opinion, Benson will be a star in this league and for a team who has no glaring weakness and whose philosophy is to build through the draft, having three first-round picks in your pocket wouldn't be the worst thing in the world.


• Ron Rivera accepted the job of Linebacker Coach for the San Diego Chargers after he was let go by the Bears. When I heard the news, I jumped out of my seat in delight. Rivera lost the Super Bowl for the Bears, period. When they blitzed Manning in the first half, he looked bad, throwing an interception on his first posession. But for some reason in the second half, the defense went conservative which allowed Manning to pick them apart with 4-5 yard passes the rest of the night. At one point, Urlacher looked over to the sidelines and began yelling at Rivera to get his act together. Good riddance.

BLACKHAWKS

• Another five-game losing streak for the Hawks. Another? When did the first one end?

WHITE SOX

• Ozzie Guillen's gut says first-place. First place in what? The draft? I know he's not talking about finishing first in the AL Central. With the moves that GM Kenny Williams made this offseason, don't be surprised to see the Sox finish behind Detroit, Minnesota, and Cleveland. All of those teams had productive summers while the Sox invested in nothing but young pitching which might pay off down the road, but not this year.

MISCELLANEOUS

• Did you see that all-out brawl between Buffalo and Ottawa? It was nostalgic. A blast from the past reminding us of what the NHL used to be; a league filled with excitement and passion. The goalies went at it, with the coaches almost doing the same. I absolutely loved it.


• Sadly, an NBA legend passed away. He took a piece of all that is good about sports with him to the grave. Why does it seem like the worst things happen to the best people. Dennis Johnson collapsed due to heart failure while coaching a youth AAU team yet, as horrible as it may sound, people like Terrell Owens and Jay Mariotti remain in perfect health, flapping their gums to whoever's left that can still stand the sound of their voice. I would never wish harm upon any individual, but you get my point, sometimes it just feels like the best people suffer the worst of fates. Johnson was truly one of the good guys.


• Just how much can change in a matter of months? Ask Brady Quinn who is projected in the majority of mock drafts to be taken at the number 9 slot by Miami. Before the season Quinn was the hands-down number one pick but after a shaky Sugar Bowl he will need a strong combine showing to even be selected in the top 10. I don't know what would be worse for Quinn, free falling down the draft board or being scooped up by the black hole we so fondly call Minnesota at number 7. You be the judge.


• The GM of the Tennessee Titans says that because of Pacman Jones' legal troubles, he is involved in a triple shooting at a Las Vegas strip club, it is very possible for him to not be on their roster come next season. Could you imagine him lining up next to Devin Hester on kickoffs and punts? Even more scary, would be him and Tank Johnson getting together on weekends


• The Kansas City Royals are counting on Gil Meche to be their opening day starter. At least in the past the Royals had an excuse for being a bad team: they were a small market club with no money to spend. So now the team will stay in last place and they'll owe Meche $55 million. And you wonder why some teams just never get any better. Talk about a prime canidate for dispansion. Bud Selig needs to break this team apart and start an expansion franchise, perhaps in Las Vegas.


• Finally, Kevin Garnett speaks out saying that his team is obviously not trying to better themselves. He stopped just short of demanding out but he did say "Thank God for (contract) opt-outs" meaning that he is as good as gone this summer. I dount Minnesota would allow him to walk for nothing so look for a blockbuster sign-and-trade deal during this year's draft. Calling Jim Paxson. Time to awake from your slumber. Are you paying attention? Your path ot the NBA finals has been paved.