It was the middle game of the series in St. Louis when Cardinals leadoff man Fernando Vina dropped a two-out bunt down the third-base line that scored Kerry Robinson on a close play at the plate.
In fact, it was so close that Robinson looked out upon replay. But Cubs manager Don Baylor didn’t charge out to protest, didn’t race toward the plate umpire to show his players the kind of fight and fire a team needs.
And after that game he holds a clubhouse meeting?
Nope. Sorry. Too late. Way too late.
So let’s recap: Baylor’s defense gets pantsed on a two-out bunt, and then Baylor can’t even argue the call.
Don Baylor?
More like Done Baylor.
It was May 13 before Cubs manager Done Baylor said he got tired of the talking and demanded action. Me, I want a guy who demands action Opening Day.
Looks like the Cubs miss Mack Newton.
And Dallas Green.
Especially Dallas Green.
Now it looks like the Cubs are using Andy MacPhail as a point man with Mayor Daley to get approval for renovations in Wrigley Field. But Daley apparently shuffled MacPhail to a lackey. Of course, if MacPhail is looking for renovations, he could start with Fred McGriff, Moises Alou, Todd Hundley, Delino DeShields and Done Baylor.
Betcha if Tribune stories and editorials started praising Daley’s Soldier Field rehab plan, the Cubs could get anything they wanted.
Are you telling me that the Cubs don’t have kids in Iowa who can hit .200 and look as out of place in the majors as McGriff and Alou?
A partial list of guys who began the weekend with more homers than McGriff: Tom Prince, Mark McLemore, Bobby Estalella, Jacque Jones and 400-year-old Benito Santiago. Oh, yeah, and Mark Bellhorn.
The Cubs play more day games than anyone. The Cubs have the worst batting average in the National League in day games. That is so Cubs.
Interesting that Cubs manager Done Baylor doesn’t like kids, while Cubs management trumpets its farm system, and yet the manager was all hot to have kid pitching sensation Mark Prior from the start, it seemed, while front-office wonks weren’t going anywhere near that. Wonder if that’s a problem, and if so, how big.
Turns out the Cubs indeed have been tipping pitch location: Des Moines.
The White Sox held Checkbook Cover Night around the time the general manager said he wouldn’t open his checkbook for another pitcher unless more fans show up.
It’s Dan Wright and Jon Garland vs. Kip Wells and Josh Fogg as to whether the Pirates can do a better job with the White Sox’s young pitching than Nardi Contreras.
Commissioner Bud Selig told the Los Angeles Times that six to eight unnamed clubs could go out of business if the current economic system is not changed.
Good. Baseball like it ought to be. Close them down. Maybe then Selig and his dopey bunch would stop sounding like they have a right to own a baseball team.
So let’s do it. Start with Montreal, Tampa Bay, Florida and Kansas City. Can’t draw, can’t win, can’t think–whatever, can’t have them.
Then whack the Angels (Disney wants out), Colorado (treating baseballs like Cohibas), Milwaukee (contract Selig too) and Minnesota (duh).
You can fold the White Sox if you want, seeing as how they aren’t averaging as many fans at home as the Twins, and Toronto (bad exchange rate), but even if you don’t, you’re left with 22 teams, 11 in each league, five in one division and six in another.
It’s not symmetrically perfect, but it’s a start. What’s more, the quality of player is immediately better. Maybe the quality of owner too.
Now that his Bulls days are done, Charles Oakley is telling people he would like to ruin Orlando, Philadelphia or the Lakers.
The Red Wings did to the Blues what the Blues did to the Blackhawks, just in case you’re wondering how little 96 points buys you these days.
Quick, someone give Kyle Calder a tape of Gary Roberts’ playoff.
Bulls wonks were unavailable for comment when public-address annnouncer Ray Clay was fired. During the championship years, Bulls wonks used to answer their own phones. But since David Stern and NBC and Michael Jordan stopped showing up, these guys won’t say hello without the media relations department debriefing you.
The guy who introduced Michael Jordan as Michael Jordan loses his job, but the guy who can’t sign away a free agent from Milwaukee doesn’t?
Former Padres star Tony Gwynn, explaining how he still holds San Diego State basketball records for assists: “Poor recruiting.”
