Familiar Question for Cubs Fans: Wait Till When?

November 8, 2014 @ admin → No Comments

Rather than the familiar Chicago Cubs fan’s lament — “Wait till next season” — there might be a new one: “Wait till next offseason.” In a conference call Friday with media folks, general manager Jed Hoyer said of big-name (read that as “big money”) free-agent possibilities for the team to sign: “We’re not going to force it, and certainly a lot of the reports we’ve read makes us seem like we’re going to have some supercharged offseason; and I think that’s probably overstated.”

Video below of bikini competitor Korie Kellogg.

* If Hoyer’s job is to temper enthusiasm, the guy’s doing a great job. If his job is to obtain free agents who will lead the Cubs to the World Series for the first time since 1945 and their first championship since 1908, the jury is out. Check back in a month or two. Or a year or two (maybe more). After all, the Cubs have shown little interest in obtaining top-flight talent during president of baseball operations Theo Epstein’s tenure. All part of the rebuilding plan no doubt. Doubt does creep in if the Cubs fail to make an impact other than reconstruction of parts of Wrigley Field.

* Speaking of free agents, catcher Russell Martin reportedly has talked with the Cubs. Because he’s going to sign with them? Or because doing so can help increase his market value? Any free agent would be foolish not to talk with a team that has money to spend. The Cubs have money to spend. Of course, that doesn’t mean that they necessarily will spend it — or even worse (unless you’re not a Cubs fan) that doesn’t mean that they will necessarily spend it wisely.

* The Chicago Bulls defeated the host Philadelphia 76ers 118-115 with Mike Dunleavy leading the Bulls with 27 points on 8-of-15 shooting, including 5-of-8 baskets from three-point range. Based on a small sample size, he will not repeat the performance Saturday night at the United Center against the Boston Celtics.

* Speaking of small sample size, Bulls guard Jimmy Butler (22 points, seven rebounds, five assists vs. Sixers) will repeat his performance. Well, based on his efforts this season after he and the Bulls failed to reach agreement on a contract extension. If that’s what it takes for Butler to appear to be realizing his potential, then it’s one of the best moves the team has made under the stewardship of John Paxson and general manager Gar Forman.

Video below of figure competitor Maleah Jo Bataoel.

* Speaking of good moves by the Bulls, resting guard Derrick Rose against Philadelphia is either an indication coach Tom Thiobodeau is recognizing the importance of having his star guard healthy or Rose is injured more seriously than slightly sprained ankles.

* Still speaking of good moves by the Bulls, the signing of Pau Gasol as a free agent in the offseason is working out nicely in a 5-1 season. He had 17 points and 12 rebounds vs. the 76ers and continues to provide consistent points and rebounds (as well as a defensive presence — something that could not be said for Carlos Boozer, his predecessor at power forward).

* A question for philosophers and/or NBA fans to ponder: If the Bulls are only three points better than Philadelphia (0-6), how do they compare to good teams in the league (not that there appear to be a lot of those in the Eastern Conference at the moment)?

* As fate (or modern technology) would have it, we have some video from the recent Ironman Classic in Chicago. Among the videos are a couple of friends of this page, Korie Kellogg (who captured a couple of bikini titles) and Maleah Jo Bataoel, who was back competing in figure for the first time in a couple of years. Congratulations to both and to all the others who took part in the event.

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