(Cub Champions: carbon dating verifies they once walked the earth.)
As slow as it gets today news-wise, as MSNBC’s Bob Cook and Tribune print-blogger Paul Sullivan ponder a Valentine’s Day themed issue, will Lou Piniella and the Cubs be a good match or a St. Valentine’s Day massacre? Cook says Piniella will never be able get out from under that $300 mil payroll, sniping: How is Piniella supposed to motivate a group of players who have already gotten paid? Somewhere, Dusty Baker is gnawing on a toothpick, and laughing.
Somehow, I doubt Dusty is laughing about the Cubs. Paul Sullivan, when not tuning into WGN like it’s a police radio, thinks the real question is whether or not Piniella “gets” the Cubs and the Wrigley Tradition. I for one hope Piniella doesn’t “get” the Tribune Cubs and decides to turn in a winning season.
MESA, Ariz. — After taking over as Cubs president last October, John McDonough was asked whether restoring the team’s image was one of the tasks of the next manager.
“You’ve just got to bring in a winner who respects this franchise, this brand, the fans, the ballpark and everything that is the Chicago Cubs ¦ someone who gets it,” McDonough replied. “But it has to be somebody who’s a winner, somebody whose only mission, whose only goal is to win the World Series.”
Does Lou Piniella “get” the Cubs? And even if he doesn’t, does it really matter?
Ready or not, we’re about to find out.
Interesting how they called themselves the Chicago Champions of 1909, with a 25.5 game edge over the ChiSox, but with neither team making the World Series. Do they still keep track of the “Chicago Champion” each year? If so, what if one team has a better record but misses the playoffs while the other makes it? Who’s the CC then? Were the Red Sox the Boston City Champs in ’48? They had a better record than the Braves, but only the Braves went to the World Series. If the Sox get credit for ’48, we’re the reigning Boston Champions for 59 years and counting. If not, 58 years.