The Making's of a Cubs Fan

Yesterday, I plopped myself down on the couch at 11:30 AM, nursing a '2 bottle of Pinot Noir' hangover, and tasked with baby sitting my sister's 3 year old son.  I was hoping for an exciting WGN Cubs game to lift my spirits and turn 'The Boy' as I call him, into a Cubs fan.  My last effort of bringing him to Wrigley resulted in a 2 hour nap on his dad's lap.  

So, 'The Boy' as I call him, is at the "why" stage of his short existence, but he knows his numbers.  A few hours into the game, he looked up at the screen and said "The Cubs have 6 points!  And the other team has zero!"  I corrected him that they are called "runs" and filled him in on the information that it was just the opposite.  The Reds had 6 and the Cubs had 0, and being the 7th inning, the Cubs were likely to lose today.  'The Boy' said, "Why will the Cubs lose today?".  I said, "Because they're not very good this year".  'The Boy' pressed on, "Why aren't the Cubs very good this year". I said, "I didn't know", hoping that the barrage of questions I've been dealing with since last Saturday, would cease.  But he delved deeper, "But why do the Cubs have 0 and the Reds have 6?", I said, "Because the Cubs don't hit very well, and if you can't hit, you can't score runs."  He asked, "Why can't the Cubs score any runs?"  I said, "I just told you, because they can't hit, and the pitcher isn't doing very well today for the Cubs. So they're losing."  He asked, "Why isn't the pitcher doing very well?" I said, "because he gave up 6 runs to the Reds".  "Why?" 'The Boy' asked.  I said, "Because this guy (Jeff Samakbfibfribf) is supposed to be good, but he's only good sometimes." 'The Boy' exclaimed "But I want the Cubs to Win!".  I said "Me too buddy.  Me too, but today they're gonna lose".

Later on that evening, as I switched back and forth between the Mets vs. Nats, and Red Sox vs. Rays on my Apple TV, 'The Boy' saw the Cubs logo for that afternoon's archived game, and exclaimed, "I want to watch the Cubs!"  I said "The Cubs aren't on, that's the game we watched earlier, and the Cubs lost 6-0 remember?  We don't want to watch that again!"  The kid says, "But I DO want to watch the Cubs!", and insisted that I put the game on.  So I say, "you want to watch the Cubs even though you know they're going to lose?!"  It was then I realized..... he is a Cubs fan.  

Son Ranto and 'The Boy'

He hates having his picture taken....

Cubs Kick the living Crap Outta Nat's!

The Cubbies exploded for 11 runs against the Nationals, while Jeff Samarddbfefhf9v pitched a complete game shutout last night in a game I wasn't at.  Two homers each by Nate Schierholtz and Donnie Murphy, plus a ton clutch hits and excellent baserunning won the day, but.....Damn you!  I went to every loss on this home stand.  I suffered through a sweep at the hands of the Reds, and had to babysit my sister's kids during the Cubs only win against St. Louis.  In those 4 games I did attend, you scored a total of 5 runs.  And then last night, when I had something else to do, a sound design job at the Trap Door Theater for "The Balcony" which opens September 5th, (plug plug), you score 11 runs, and hit five dingers, and I missed it all.  Thanks a lot!  This is how you reward your loyal fans, by winning when they're not there?  Ugghhh...

Oh well, I guess I should be happy the Cubs won, especially because my best friend, Johnny Onomatopoeia, who hails from the DC area is gonna be pissed.  I should have placed a wager on this series with him, but the last time we wagered.... we had a weight loss competition before meeting in Vegas over the winter holiday's.  I won (but didn't keep the weight off, he did), and the loser was to play a half hour of craps in drag, but two things happened.  A.  We couldn't find a decently priced dress big enough for him, and B. He was arrested and pepper sprayed by the Vegas PD after getting sucker punched by a bouncer, and calling the cops on himself.  Needless to say, I am now a bit sheepish in asking Johnny to wager again, seems to be some bad luck strewn in there.  Besides, we kicked the crap out of the Cardinals in the first game of the last series, and then got basically shutout for the next 18 innings.  Well....we scored 1, which still sucks.  That could very well happen here.  The Cubs totally blew their wad in game 1 of the series, and then nothing....when I'm at Wrigley....

In other news, the Cubs did execute one of my least favorite transactions yesterday.  They traded David DeJesus to the Nationals for a player to be named later.  There's no payoff!  PTBNL?  By the time we find out who we got, the NFL playoffs will be on , and no one will care.  This is just a salary dump anyway.  And now the team will consist of people you never heard of.  It's not even 40 man roster time yet!  The Cubs already look like the Kane County Cougars! 

 I wonder if the Cubs let him dress at his old locker?  

From one crappy team, to another slightly less crappy team.  I wrote one of my favorite parody articles for Bleed Cubbie Blue's Fan Posts section about David DeJesus.  It's Funny.  Or at least I think it is....

Speaking of Cougars!

The sad thing is, David DeJesus's hot wife will no longer be a Cub Wife.  She was by far the hottest of the wives.  At least in a traditional sense of hot.  You know, breasts and butt and a pretty face.  Not obese.  You know, the kinda girl straight guys go for.  

Anyway, bye bye David!  It was not fun losing 100 games a year with you on the team, but at least you did a halfway decent job as a stop gap measure.  I will miss drunkenly yelling "let's go Jesus!!!!" when you come to bat.  Farewell, "Of Jesus", have fun trying to get the Nationals to .500, because they ain't winning shizznit this year.  

Well, the Cubs better do something tonight too.  Hitting 5 homers would be cool, as I'll be in the Bleachers, and have yet to catch a ball....ever.....would be nice to catch a homer.  I would go early and catch batting practice, but I gotta see a man about a horse before the game.  For those of you not in the know, that means, I got crap to do that I don't want to share on a Cubs blog.  Yes, even Son Ranto has a private life.  Not much of one, but it exists.  Actually, not much of a life in general, especially after September 29th, when I have to suffer through 5-6 months of terrible baseball longing.  You'd think I'd be more suicidal watching the Cubs during baseball season, but somehow, the pain of being a daily Cubs fan gets me through, and when I don't have them to kick around, I kick myself around.  Maybe I'll go to the Dominican and watch some winter ball to stave off my baseball deprivation and seasonal depression.  

But Tonight!

The Cubs new lefty phenom Chris Rusin goes against veteran Dan Haren.  It should be a kick arse game as long as the blasted mosquitos stay off of my jock. I'm covered in welts!  Convinced I have west nile virus or bed bugs, but it's probably just a hangover.  

Go Cubbies!

http://www.sonranto.com

Cubs Get Dirty Sanchezed

Ok.  So it's not totally Eduardo Sanchez's fault that the Cubs lost in the 11th inning yesterday, but his 3 walks and 1 hit allowed that resulted in 2 runs certainly didn't help matters either.  The Cubs battled back in this one too, tying it up in the 7th.  The bullpen, except Sanchez was decent, not allowing a single run in 4 innings of work.  The Cubs had a few opportunities to win this one, but unfortunately, the league has found out that Junior Lake can't hit a breaking ball.  At least last night he couldn't.  Weakness found.  Batting average lowered.  Hopefully not to the point of a Rizzo or Castro who are batting .234 and .247 respectively.  Even David DeJesus is only batting .255 right now, and Darwin Barney, a lowly .214.  This is why the Cubs lost yesterday.  Our "good" players aren't that good.  Our "mediocre" players are decent though.  Good enough to sock a couple of homers yesterday, thank you Dionner Navarro, Nate Schierholtz and Donnie Murphy.  Maybe we should be like the Rays and field mostly players you never heard of.  I'm sure most fans in other cities, and Chicago for that matter, have never heard of half the Cubs players.  Except for Starlin, Rizzo, and las nights pitcher, Smardzierfn0`hr0new.  And those 3 gentlemen are sorely underperforming.  

Let's talk about Jeff Samalnf3hf4rhfjk for a second.  He is supposedly the Cub's #1 pitcher, though at this point, he's pitching like a 3 or 4, and is not under a long term contract.  He got hit hard last night, and had to use a lot of pitches, 110 through 6 to be exact.  He gave up 4 walks, 6 hits, and 4 runs.  And his ERA currently stands at 4.29.  He's a competitor, and I like him, I really do, but he is a #3 starter, period.  He can show you glimpses of being better than that.  But over the long haul.  He is by no means a dominant pitcher.  He's solid, and hasn't been hurt, but he's not an Ace.  My opinion is that he's thrust himself into a leadership role, and puts too much pressure on himself to perform like an Ace, but he's not one.  This is not good, as false expectations usually lead to failure.  His job is to get guys out, period.  But he wants to be some sort of team leader, which louses up his focus on the field.  The problem is, after trading Garza and Feldman, we need him.  But we need him to be a good solid number 3, not the Ace people think he might be.  Because he's not.  He just isn't.  

As far as Wrigley goes last night, I got twisted up on Gin and Tonics, and it was cold.  As in, I had to wear my relief pitchers coat cold.  It's not even the middle of August, and I'm already cold at Wrigley.  And to make matters worse, I'm already getting my fall allergies which usually don't come until September.  Why did I move to this God Forsaken Tundra!!!????  Oh yeah, right...the Cubs....

Well, today, some folks and I will be in section 420 (smoke em if you got em) to hopefully watch the Cubs try and salvage a game out of this so far abysmal series.  A real let down after taking 2-3 from the Cardinals.  It's Arroyo vs. Rusin.  Haven't seen Rusin pitch in person yet.  So this should be cool, because he's a pretty damn good lefty.  Better than Samjjfno34hr9hf by a full point Era wise anyway.  Both teams bullpens are taxed after yesterday's extra inning fiasco, so this should be a magical afternoon for baseball.  At least it will be warmer in the daytime.  For now.  Welcome to Augtober Cubs fans.  

Damned frozen tundra of a city.....

http://www.sonranto.com

One of each please....

Boring Cubs Game; No Runs, No Fun!

It all started with one of the worst anthem's I've ever heard....

A waste of an anthem, a waste of a great start by Travis Wood, and a waste of 2 hours and 27 minutes by me.  Plus the 39$ I spent getting drunk at the Captain Morgans Club on Gin and Soda.  You got my 40$ Cubbies.  Wanna spend it on someone who can actually hit?  In the end, the Cubs collected 6 hits, and struck out 12 times.  And of course they lost the game 2-0.  Yawn.

The only positive I can give about this game, is that it was a beautiful night to be at Wrigley Field.  Twitter was a fine companion, and I got a ton of great pictures of the old girl as the sun set over one of the most boring games I've ever been too.  At a point, I couldn't tell if I was watching a pitchers duel, or if the Cubs just plum suck at hitting.  I think it was a little of both.  Either way, I was bored, and then drunk, and then drunk and bored.  Of all games to go to by myself....ergh...

The Sun goes down over Chicago, as Travis Wood Strikes em out!

Love Birds at Wrigley.

We coulda used Billy's bat last night...

The "D" stands for Dull...as in this game was duuuullllll.....

Night.

The only one of these buttons that actually works....

A view from the bike racks....

Billy Cub still perpetrating mascot activities....what part of "cease and desist" do you not understand?

Well, we'll just have to win tonight.  Homer Baily 7-10, 3.73 goes against Jeff Samarejbv984hr, 6-11, 4.23.  Of course, the Cubs are gonna need to score to win.  That's how baseball works.  

And tonight, the Cubs will be honoring Ernie Banks at a pregame ceremony. Ernie will be given the presidential medal of freedom.  Not sure what Ernie did except be a great guy who hit a bunch of home runs, and uttered the memorable catch phrase "Let's Play Two".  But hooray!  Maybe Obama will be a Cubs fan now because the Sox suck so bad.  

http://www.sonranto.com

Ha Ha!! Cubs Shutout Cards!

I was late to yesterday's game because of (thank god) some work, and missed the first run that the Cubs scored in the first inning, which turned out to actually be the winning run, because the Cubs shutout the first place Cardinals!  Wrigley was packed with them crimson clad corn holes yesterday and I made a joke to a Cardinals fan wearing a World Series 2011 Champions patch on his sleeve, saying to him, "We don't see the word 'World Series' in Wrigley too often", and the jerk said, "And I hope you never do...".    I was being generous with the guy, making a self deprecating joke, and he had to still be a jag off about it.  Then we got to talking a little bit, and he was nice enough after that, but you could tell he was uncomfortable being nice to me.  Afterall, I was wearing Cubbie Blue.  But who cares?  We're all fans of the game, and it's not that big a deal.  He had such a hard time overcoming his jerky Cardinal nature, but managed to mumble out a conversation for an inning or two.  He left promptly after the game without saying good bye, even though we had been chatting seconds earlier as Kevin Gregg escaped some 9th inning trouble notching his 16th save, and preserving the shutout.

So many destitute Cardinals' fans in the cheap seats....they are so poor.  Losers....

So who's not a loser?  I am incredibly happy to report that Starlin Castro went 3-4, and Anthony Rizzo went 2-3 yesterday.  I am also elated to share with you that yesterday's winning pitcher, Edwin "don't call it a comeback" Jackson, pitched 7 innings of 3 hit, shutout, ball, with 5 K's and 0 walks.  These are the longest contracts on the team, and unless they are traded or injured, we are gonna be seeing this trio for a while.  Let's hope we see more of yesterday and not more of yestermonth.  Castro specifically seems to be on the upswing.  The Cubs scoreboard copy editors are certainly supportive...check out these scoreboard blurbs about Starlin from the last 2 nights....they're spinning the positives....

Multi hit efforts 4 of his last 13 games....ummm...that means a low batting average....

Reached base 66 of his last 89 games.....huh?  That's not good....

These are weird stats that barely matter, but I think it's nice of the Cubs to try and positively spin Starlin's crappy season so far.  Does he even read those things?  

Speaking of spinning positives, this guy, who I call "Coon Skin Cap Man", might have the most creatively shaped mullet in Chicago.  Jeff Samardkfjbgerg44r4r, take note.  This could be you in 30 years....

Seriously, what is going on here.....but at least I know he's not racist, because I saw him help a black kid.  What a guy!

In other, "awesome guys at the game watching the Cubs shut out the hated Cardinals" news....

Hooked my self up with what I call "Double leaners"  I'm leaning on the fence and a railing simultaneously....jealous?  I'm also old enough to drink beer, and have been for 18 years now, unlike these sorry underage saps who got caught with 2 beers and subsequently kicked out....

Where do all the confiscated 8$ beers go?  Mmmmmm....confiscated beer....

These kids weren't even college age, but let's face it, the drinking age should be 16, and the driving age 21.  They got it all backwards.  You also shouldn't be allowed to vote after age 65 either, because there's a good possibility you'll die soon, and we will all be stuck with who you picked.  That's some Son Ranto logic right there....learn it.

Well unfortunately, I don't have a ticket to today's Cowboy Hat giveaway.  Tix didn't get below 40$ on the Stubhub, and Wrigley sold out all the cheapies to destitute Cardinals fans.  

But today.....

The Cardinals Joe Kelly, who not only has two first names, one of which is a girls name, (loser), is 0-3 with a 4.15 ERA, and he goes against Carlos "the artist formerly known as mustache" Villanueva.  2-4, 3.63.  My opinion is that we should sweep the Cardinals.  That would rock.  In fact, lets not allow a single run the whole series.  That would be killer.

*please support the blog and podcast....use the amazon search bar at.....

http://www.sonranto.com

Worst Cubs Game Ever...Great Times

So, I had a bet going yesterday at the end of the bottom of the 5th, when the score was Angels 11, Cubs 1, what the final would be.  I said 12-2, she said 13-3.  We were both wrong, Cubs ended up losing 13-2.  Shark Samarskdjbfer298r said it best after the game.  "They kicked my ass today".  It's true, they did.  Scoring 5 in the 1st, 6 in the 5th, (pouring it on), while the Cubs only scored 2 runs on 5 hits.  Yeah.  Ass kicked.  But you know what else kicks ass?!  Sweet Baby Rays BBQ restaurant on Clark!  A tender and juicy half slab of ribs smothered with Sweet Baby Ray's competition sauce.  Some meaty wings, poblano infused Mac and Cheese, all washed down with 3.50 cent Revolution Ale pints?!  Yes Please!!!  My server Missy said she's worked at another BBQ restaurant in the past, and Sweet Baby Rays makes the freshest food.  Where as at the other BBQ joint, they made the stuff the night before.  All this BBQ is prepared day of.  And let me tell you, the food is awesome, decently priced, (2 people ate and drank heartily for 50$ tip included), and they have dozens of delicious tap beers, local brews, and fried pickles!  Go there and pregame!!!!

Notice how I'm wearing a red shirt in this pic.  Well, I didn't have time to go home for my Cubs shirt, and I certainly didn't want to look like an Angels fan, even though last nights blowout would have been an appropriate night to switch allegiances.  But I had seen a 5$ T-Shirt stand just North of McDonald's on Clark.  I decided to root through their "Spring Training 2012 shirts, and expiring unseasonal Blackhawks t's, to finally settle on a Harry Caray shirt that says "Holy Crap! Sox Still Suck".  Given my recent experience of getting kicked out of Busch Stadium for defending Cards fans wearing a "Cubs Suck shirt" I found it appropriate that I would join in the "your team Sucks" festivities, and see what kind of trouble I can get into in this shirt in the future...

The game sucked, but the beer was flowing.  Did you know that Becks Saphire, sold at select stands, is a 6% alcohol beer?  Yeah...that's the way to do it folks.... Anyway...these guys were there....watching it all unfold...

Is that they're last name?  Cause those two little men look like they're on a Boycation.

Ahh....the Coveted Paul Maholm Jersey!

Ahh...the coveted Doug Dascenzo jersey....classic.

Had a twitter conversation with someone after posting this pic, about how she was born 3 years after Dascenzo played for the Cubs....ugh...I'm old....

But it was a beautiful night.  Bumped into Katelyn Kelley, one of the fan photo employees of the Cubs.  We also chat on twitter.  

For the first few innings, before I went down to smoke...I actually sat in my seat!  Not a usual for me...

And it all looked like this from my coveted fence leaning seats in right field.

And finally, it looked like this....

Beating traffic eh?

I think my friend Katelyn Kelley said it best in her Twitter Post from last night...

http://www.sonranto.com

Cubsplosion!!!!!

 5 Home Runs!  Count em! 1-2-3-4-5!  For your 2013 Chicago Cubs last night!  Two by Soriano, who's been hot as a pistol, batting .390 with 7 homeruns and 16 RBI's in the last 10 games.  

A 3 run shot by Darwin Barney, who's been batting .132 during that same stretch. 

One by Starlin Castro, .256 with 2 dingers in the last 10.

 And one by Anthony Rizzo, .158 in the last 10 games.  

The Cubs overall have gone 7-3 in this last 10 game stretch.  So yes folks, we are in one of those coveted periods of a Cubs baseball season when Alfonso Soriano carries the team.  Let's hope the other 3 men follow suit.  We're all waiting for Barney, Rizzo and Castro to get it together.... But right now....It's Soriano time!!

And hilariously, it was all witnessed by this awesome mulleted man!  Here he is cheering for Soriano's first homer of the night!

I call this hairstyle, the "Coonskin Cap"!

What is all amounted to last night anyway, was 7 runs for the Cubs on 9 hits, while the Angels only managed 2 runs on a Poo Holes homerun, which I correctly predicted while walking to the ballpark.  Once a Cub killer.....you know the rest....But It was nice to hear the smattering of boos around Wrigley for Albert as he confidently strode to the plate.  Being such a damned muggy night in the confines last night didn't make it easy to boo or cheer, or make any sort of physical movement.  For once, I wished we had an air conditioned stadium like Miller Park.  So damned muggy, but I booed all the same.  I love booing Poo Holes.  It's cathartic, and a past time I am loathe to give up just because he's in the AL now.  Boooooooo......

The wind barely touched my neck as it blew down Waveland....cooling me down to a heat index of 106 degrees.....

Now, in the false reality, known as the Twitterverse, I'm seeing people actually complaining that the Cubs have been playing better baseball.  Ruining their draft chances, by being a middle of the pack team, instead of god awful team like the Marlins or Astros.  Let me tell you something.  The draft barely matters.  Lot's of high picks don't make the majors, and tons of low picks do.  Sure your chances might slightly increase with a super high pick, but until one of these kids puts on a major league uniform, you just don't know what you're going to get.  For example, have you ever heard of Ryan Harvey?  No?  Exactly.  He was picked #1 by the Cubs, 6th overall in 2003.  How bout someone you may have heard of, 2007's Josh Vitters,  who in his 99 MLB At Bats has hit .121 with 2 homeruns.  He's not tearing the cover off the ball in Iowa either, batting .270 with 3 dingers this year. Sure....we picked Shawon Dunston in 1982, but Vance Lovelace the year before, and Tony Woods the year after.  Who?  Exactly.  So for all you nay sayers who want to watch the Cubs suck so you can pick higher.  You're ridiculous.  What about creating a winning culture?  Some momentum towards the future?  That is just as important as anything.  Rizzo and Castro are having terrible years.  What's going to pick them up off the ground?  A draft pick?  No.  Winning, winning and more winning.  I for one hope we get back to .500.  Everyone picked us to finish last this year.  Screw em! I hope we finish 3rd because the Cardinals go on a 53 game losing streak.  Draft picks don't win championships.  Winning teams do.  Period.  

Winning teams tend to have a healthy mix of youth with experience, veterans, and a hotshot rookie or two.  It's about balance, culture, focus, and execution.  How will the Cubs achieve this?  Well, youth with experience.  Castro, Rizzo, Barney.  Veterans?  Who knows?  Stick with Schierholz?  DeJesus? Soriano?  The man can obviously still hit.  And his fielding has genuinely improved.  Question is, will he take less money, like a 1987 Dawson contract.  And who will the hot shot rookie be?   Baez? Almora? Who the hell knows?  Draft pick Shmaft pick.

More winning baseball to come tonight!  CJ wilson, 8-6, 3.49 vs Jeff Samarefbvjhwev$#6njn, 5-8, 3.54.  On paper, they beat us by .05 runs.  I'll be there as long as I can hook up 10$ seats.  Feeling cheap these days....or broke...both...but if all goes well with Stub Hub...I'll be doing this later....

http://www.sonranto.com

Went to Wrigley, Forgot My ID, Cubs Lost

Does this look like the face of someone under 21 years of age?  

Good thing I pre gamed with some Whiskey, and had someone with me WITH an ID, because I went to Wrigley without one, got carded, and not served.  But I knew this game was gonna blow as soon as I paid 30$ for a nosebleed ticket.  The price fixers of MLB and Stubhub never let price get below 45$ for yesterdays, nearly sold out, 6-2 loss to the First Place Pirates.  It was pretty packed, but the bleachers weren't totally jammed, and I was easily able to sit the entire game in Upper Deck Box, instead of my assigned "behind a pole"seats.  Rickett's needs 10$ tickets to fill the place.  Hey, we'll buy you 6$ Hot dogs and 8$ beers, just make it affordable Daddy Warbucks!

As far as the baseball went yesterday, it was pretty terrible.  Shark Smardkbferbfowebf was mediocre for an "Ace".  5 runs, 5 walks, only 3K's over 6.  For some reason, Dale "Evil Genius" Sveum walked the 8 hitter in the second inning to pitch to Liriano, the Pirates pitcher, who promptly drove in the first run of the game.  Why are you walking the 8 hitter?  Chicken?  It makes the Cubs look weak.  Go after the 8 hitter!  It's not like it's Pete Rose up there!  It's Jordy freakin Mercer for Crissakes!  His names Jordy! Lame Dale...real lame...

And every player who did something good yesterday, also did something bad.  The Cubs had only 4 hits, two by the beefy back up catcher Dioner Navarro, who also hurt himself, and allowed a run to score from third with a high throw to second.  

Poor Dioner...McCutchen's bat hit him in the funnybone, the one place Navarro has no..."extra"...human padding.

Scott Hairston hit a 2 run homer!  But he also needlessly dove for, and missed this ball....

With nobody on and two out....he wasn't even close, and it ended up being a triple.  

And Starlin Castro Struck out on this pitch...

And on this pitch...

Then he hit a double!!!

Look how confidently Starlin smells his 8 inning ripened arm pit!

Then.....

He got picked off second...

Then called out...

Then Starlin pouted on all 4's, wondering if the hot girl in box seats he was looking at when he got picked off, liked his butt

Ahoy!  That game blew, but it was a beautiful day at the Wrigs....and I got drunk regardless of my lack of ID.  And even though the Cubs lost with blame to go around, I had a blast.  

Let's get em today eh?!!!

Charlie Morton, who's only pitched in 4 games this year, but has a 2.50 era goes for the Bucs vs.  Edwin Jackson, who unfortunately pitches worse at home and in the day time.  Well....at least it's a beautiful day for a ballgame!

http://www.sonranto.com

Chicago Cubs; Positive Thinking to the World Series

It's not easy to be positive when you're a Cubs fan.  We always expect the worst.  But today, I want to pretend I'm a Yankee fan, and expect to win with our awesome players.  No matter the situation today,  there is a ton of good news when it comes to the Chicago Cubs, and I'm going to share it with you.  As fans, let's get behind our beloved Cubbies and cheer them all the way until I am running naked up Sheffield Ave, covered in tears and beer.  Cool?

First positive.  The Cubs are young.  Fully 15 players on the 40 man roster are 25 years old or younger, so, as guys like Starlin Castro and Anthony Rizzo, both just 23 years old, develop, we could be seeing a strong Cubs infield for years to come.  Darwin Barney is only 27.  If we just add a third baseman, or move Castro to make room for Javier Baez, who is only 20 and has 17 homeruns at class A Daytona, our infield really could be solid for at least half a decade and beyond.  If Wellington Castillo continues to hit, and gets better at fielding, he's only 26, and could be part of a Cubs Championship run.  The outfield should include Jorge Soler, 21, in a few years, and Albert Almora, 19, batting .346 for Kane County.  And as far as pitching goes, both Jeff Samarjndceibiwv and Travis Wood, are under 30.  Compare this with other teams, like the first place Pirates, who have 8 players on their 40 man under 25 years old, and have gone through a steady rebuilding process to the point of contention.  Their players are on average 3-5 years older than the Cubs.  The second place Cardinals have 9 men under 25, mostly in their pitching staff.  So watch out!  Of course any youth movements need to factor in actual development, but when I started playing Piano years ago, I improved through the years, why shouldn't these guys.

Second positive.  Billionaire owners.  I believe Tom Rickett's when he says he's going to bring a Championship to Chicago.  Once he gets his stadium built and the revenue streams going, I can see him buying some big name players to fill the holes we may have at any given time.  These Wall Street guys are competitive as hell, he grew up rich and has never wanted for anything, so how's a guy supposed to get fulfillment out of life?  Why, bringing a World Series Championship to Wrigley!  That's how!  I can see the Cubs adding some big name star pitchers and a huge bat in a year or two.  Shin soo choo and Robinson Cano are free agents at the end of this year, or we could trade one of our plethora of developing talents for some proven prowess.  Either way.  The Rickett's will bring a Championship here.  He has a personal stake, and something to prove.  The Cubs are billionaire fan owned.

Third positive.  The Cubs play in the best ballpark in the major leagues, hands down.  And it's about to get better... I attended the Cubs series in Boston a few years ago, and the renovations there maintained the feel and atmosphere of an old ballpark in the center of a city, while providing modern amenities for the entertainment and comfort of the fans.  At heart, I don't want anything to change, but Wrigley will still be in Wrigleyville, we'll still have more day games than anyone else, there will still be Ivy on the walls, and they're keeping the hand operated scoreboard and bathroom troughs.  So I'm fine.  So, let Rickett's get his money, and get a Championship team out on that ball field!  We Cubs' fans deserve it.

In summation, baseball is a Marathon, not a race.  And right now, we have the youngest legs, the richest owners, and the best stadium.  Even this year, our starters are 8th in the majors in .ERA.  Not too shabby. Our catchers are 5th in caught stealing.  And the Cubs are third in doubles, with 166.  I believe the current builders of the Cubs are not content to give us a flash in the pan, aging all-stars team, but rather a contender for years to come!  It's time for fans to realize where we are headed.  And that's to the top baby!  To the Top!!!!

http://www.sonranto.com

2015 Cubs Off Day Blues

The Cubs have managed to win the last 3 series!  There's something I haven't said all year.  Fortunately, there was a lull in the schedule, and we faced 3 teams worse than the Chicago Cubs.  The Astros, Brewers, and Mariners.  We now sit 10 games under .500, 1 game away from the halfway point, and with the trade deadline looming, and key players expected to depart Chicago for prospects and cash, the future doesn't look so bright.  Or does it?  Oh yeah....2015....

Except for one game against the WhiteSox, the Cubs don't face a single bad team this month, until Milwaukee comes in for 4 the last 3 days of July (double header).  With Sweeney and DeJesus on the shelf, Marmol off the team, and the rest of the offensive regulars underperforming, what will stop the Cubs from scuffling the rest of the way?  The bullpen, except Kevin Gregg, already looks shot, and we're not even half way through the season!  Kevin Gregg will be gone soon anyway, and then who will close?  Russel?  Then who's the lefty?  Fujikawa's getting the Tommy John.  And with Garza and Feldman on the trading block, who will start?  Who will be the long reliever when Carlos Villanueva comes back to the rotation?  Soooo many questions.  No answers.  Oh yeah....2015....

Recently, Theo Epstein has come out in recent support of Sveum and his management skills, saying we've put an imperfect team on the field, and it's not his fault.  Then whose fault is it boy wonder?  Oh yeah...yours! Your big free agent signing has been a bust so far in Edwin Jackson.  And even though Schierholtz and Sweeney, fill in signings, have performed well, the core of the team in Castro, Barney and Rizzo has underperformed.  What exactly are you building Theo?  Besides a scoreboard and a hotel.  You do realize that in 2015, all bets are off, and those fans who drank the Kool Aid you fed them a year ago, will be demanding a championship, or at least a decent playoff run.  You have a window of opportunity here in Chicago, and it's closing fast Theo.  In 2015....

I am impatient by nature, and I'm not going to pretend putting a winning baseball team together is an easy task.  But so far....meh....I don't see too many glimmers of hope except for starting pitching, and as always, you're an injury away from a huge roster hole.  Especially after trading away any pitching depth and experience we might have.  And Cubs fans have had it!  Wrigley is a great place to see a ball game, but people have stopped showing up because there's nothing to really watch.  There is not a single Cubs hitter who strikes fear in the hearts of the other team.  Not one.  In 1987, at least the last place Cubs had Dawson and Sandberg.  Who do we have now?  A bunch of kids.  And if they don't develop, it's your ass Theo, it really is.  In 2015.

Who will these Cubs be in 2 years?  Will Castro be a .300 hitter?  Will Rizzo hit 40 homers?  Will Darwin Barney bat .270 AND win a Gold Glove?  Will Samardskjbfkeb have 20 wins?  Will Jorger Soler win rookie of the year? All this has to at least come close to happening, in order for the Cubs to make a run at it in 2015.  Everything, and everyone else is a question mark.  Well....Enjoy the second half!  I know I will.....in 2015.....

http://www.sonranto.com

2015 World Champ Cubs Keep Losing in 2013

I propose that the Guns and Roses beautiful power ballad, "Patience" should be the song that the players take the field to at the start of the game for the rest of 2013.  The notion must be reinforced that if we just wait a few more years, and allow our current core of players to develop, the  World Series trophy will be held high in Wrigley only 2 short years from now in 2015.  In the meantime, the Cubs have dropped their second straight game to the Pirates, while shut out for the first 17 innings of the 2 contests, until Alfonso Soriano's 7th homerun plated 2 in the bottom of the 9th, at the end of a 6-2 loss to Pittsburgh.

After sitting through Friday's 2-0 snoozefest loss, I wasn't about to pay 25$ to sit in nosebleed on Saturday, plus I was exhausted from hanging out with my fearless podcasting partner, The Lovable Lou Sears, who's boundless energy and love of bourbon usually ruins my life for a day or two after seeing him.  And good thing too!  The Cubs only had 4 hits against AJ Burnette, the Pirates tattooed ace.  Watching that woulda pissed me off.  I won't bother listing all of the Cubs players without a hit yesterday, so I'll stay positive and tell you who did hit.  DeJesus, Rizzo, Soriano, and Schierholtz each had 1.  Still, all but Rizzo lowered their batting average yesterday, and the Cubs slid further into the depths of the National League Central, ending the day only one game ahead of the lowly Milwaukee Brewers, and 11 games under .500.  But this is 2013....

But in 2015, we will have a new scoreboard, and it's continuous barking of advertisements and fan centric games by which we can follow a hidden baseball under one of 3 hats, will surely motivate our current future star players to new heights in the art of hitting.  Starlin Castro is hitting only .247 in 2013, but once the Deep Dish Chicago Style Pizza Slice races begin, in 2015, Castro will loosen up at the plate from laughing hysterically as the Lou Malnati's Pepperoni slice trips and falls on the center field warning track.  In fact, that event, which I predict will happen in July of 2015, will be credited with actually winning the division, as all of the Cubs players laugh their way to victory, watching the replay of the Pepperoni Slice falling on the left field jumbotron.  Castro will bat .357 in 2015 with 42 Homeruns.  Likewise, Soriano, signed to another 13 year contract, locking him up into his early 50's will feel rejuvenated by the new boutique Cubs hotel and farmers market located right outside the ballpark.  The organic Kale and Quinoa he buys there will give him the fortitude to hit 38 homeruns, and steal 42 bases for the first time since 2006.  Jeff Smakjfbwfbwufbwkbjks, the Cubs Ace pitcher will win 31 games, crediting the new salon in the pedestrian mall outside of Wrigley, this future genius stylist will craft Smfbrjbfskjvsjfnwef's mullet into a finely tuned pitching machine.  Smskjfbebwfljc jfwf's hair will be aerodynamically sculpted to give him .00034 mm extra break on his curve ball.  And the National League batters won't like it one bit!  Here's is an artists rendering of what Smafdnergbaev ae's hair will look like after the renovations.

Ironically, the stylist, (pictured above) just so happens to be Kyuji Fujikawa's current interpreter.  But with Kyuji Fuji out for the rest of 2013, facing Tommy John surgery, Ryo Shinkawa used his extra time in the dugout waiting for Fujikawa's return, to carefully study the effects of pitcher's mullets on the movement and velocity of the pitched ball.  His charts, graphs, and skill with styling shears pays off in 2015 when Smabdkgbkfdsv vk goes 25-1 with a 1.34 ERA, wining the Cy Young Award, along with the Prestegious "Hair-O Dynamics" prize given bi annually by SuperCuts and Aussie Hair Products.  

But alas, this is 2013, and yesterday Smardsjkbfjsbksv gave up 4 runs on 4 hits, though he did strike out 7.  Just a few more years Jeff, and you'll be the Ace you already act like you are!

So, yes...Gun's and Roses said it best, all we need is just a little patience.  Theo, Jed and Tom have this all under control.  They are rich, so they're smarter and better than us regular people.  So let's all relax, pay full price for our tickets and enjoy 2013 as the "rebuilding year" it is.  Today, Edwin Jackson 1-8 with a 6.29 ERA goes against Jeff Locke 5-1, 2.45.  The Pirates will most likely sweep us today, just as they did on the road a few weeks ago.  But don't worry!  All we need is patience.....

And a podcast.... http://www.sonranto.com