When you’re a kid you don’t put a whole lot of thought into who your favorite player ought to be. You don’t even know how you made the decision, you just did. This Week In Baseball had a camera behind the Seattle Mariners’ batting cage in the early to mid ’90s and caught Jay Buhner talking to a little kid watching Ken Griffey Jr. take batting practice.
Buhner asked the kid, “Is he your favorite player?”
The kid nodded yes.
Buhner said, “Well, you picked a good one.”
Some of us probably should have put more thought into it. The first Cub I remember idolizing was Bill Buckner, who is probably still sitting in an empty WGN TV booth telling stories that have no point, to imaginary versions of Len and Bob. The Cub I rooted for the hardest all through little league was Shawon Dunston. I just loved the way Shawon played all out all the time, though until Corey Patterson he was probably the Cub whose wild swinging and lack of plate discipline caused him to get the least out of an incredible set of physical gifts.
So where is this pointless rambling going?
If you have a kid who is just getting into baseball, or even if you just know one, do him or her a favor. Sit them down and convince them to pick this guy to be their favorite player.
They’ll thank you for it when they’re older.
It’s not just because he’s having an unbelievable season. I mean how do you not root for a guy hitting .376 with 30 homers and 77 RBI on July 20? It’s that he’s more than just a pile of stats.
He’s easily the most complete baseball player the Cubs have had in my still short lifetime. He’s a gold glove first baseman. He’s the fastest and best baserunner on the team. He also doesn’t just run out every ground ball, he sprints to first like his paycheck is taped to the base. He won’t hit .376 forever, but his effort’s not going to change. Derrek Lee doesn’t have it in him.
There were lots of us who enjoyed the hell out of the Sammy Sosa era from 1996 to about 2002. He was doing some amazing things. But even we knew a lot of it was a fraud. We just didn’t admit it, or didn’t want to admit it. The numbers he put up were amazing, but the other stuff, the blown kisses into the dugout camera, the hop and the sprint out to right field to start the games…it had its moments, but few of them were genuine.
And so, we look back, even at the amazing things that Sammy did, and no matter what he did or did not do to put up those numbers, they are amazing…but you almost feel guilty for feeding that monster. You feel like you have to defend the fact you ever liked him, which is sad and wrong.
That’s why the current generation of young Cubs fans should be encouraged to dive headlong onto the Derrek Lee bandwagon. They’ll never look back on it and wonder if they were wasting their time.
For almost three full months, Derrek hoisted the Cubs on his back and helped them score just enough runs to keep their heads above water. Without that superhuman effort, this team would be Pissburgh right now.
But lately, he hasn’t been doing it alone. He’s had help from many sources. Jeromy Burnitz is having a nice, if not spectacular year. Todd Walker is thriving back in the two spot in the order. Michael Barrett is going through one of his stretches where he remembers that he is allowed to take pitches and even drive some of them into right field.
But the real reason for the Cubs offensive resurgence (or maybe just surgence given the way they started) is E-ramis Ramirez.
It’s almost like we forgot, but when the season started, he was the one that was supposed to carry the heavy load. He’s the one who hit .326 last year and gave off that, “He’s gonna win a batting title some day” vibe. He signed a big contract, he got off to a lousy start and he probably would have gotten booed through most of May but the fans were distracted by the little guy doing the Don Quixote routine out in center field.
But E-ramis is doing what we knew he could. He’s mashing the crap out of the ball.
Derrek Lee ranks first in the National League in just about everything.
He leads the league in:
Average: .376
Home Runs: 30
RBI: 77
On base average: .447
Slugging average: .738
OPS: 1.185
Doubles: 30
His buddy, across the diamond?
Average: .310 (ninth in the NL)
Home runs: 24 (fifth)
RBI: 69 (eighth)
On base average: .366 (29th)
Slugging: .599 (third)
OPS: .965 (fifth)
Doubles: 26 (sixth)
Of those seven categories, Lee is first in all and Ramirez is in the top ten in six of them.
It’s getting to the point that if E-ramis doesn’t cool off (and he probably won’t cool off much), he might be the biggest obstacle to Derrek Lee’s triple crown hopes.
I think as Cubs’ fans, we could live with that.
As Mike Ditka would say, “Gang, this is why the Cubs have a shot, gang. They’ve got two of the best five players in the National League, gang. You can go a long way with that.”
——————-
Last night I was driving home and was flipping around the dial and I heard a familiar voice being interviewed on Sporting News Radio. It was our old pal Chip Caray. He was in San Francisco waiting for the Braves to dump another game off their Wild Card lead to the Cubs and talking about how great the Braves are.
He said the word “we” about 1,000 times in three minutes. I’m not sure if he had a mouse in his pocket or if he thought he was in France.
But here’s the part of the interview that was interesting. The Sporting News Radio guy said, “Hey, your old buddy Moises Alou plays for the Giants, have you to had a conversation to clear the air over the controvery from last season.”
Chip’s churlish answer? “No.”
The guy pressed him and Chip went on to say that “…he’s a professional and I’m a professional and we only have to see each other six times this year.”
“What happened to me last year was unprofessional and the reputations of those players who were involved have been permanently damaged by it. It’s sad, but they brought it on themselves.”
What I was reminded of is the difference in the way Chip feels about last year, compared to Steve Stone. Stone is still upset that the Cubs didn’t step in and defend him. Chip’s hurt goes deeper than that. The Cubs’ players didn’t just criticize things he said, they rejected him personally. They found him annoying and didn’t want him around the team or on the plane. It wasn’t just that they didn’t like things he said–Stone wears that like a badge of honor–they didn’t like Chip Caray, and to make matters worse, his bosses with the Cubs apparently didn’t like him either because they let him go to Atlanta when he thought they’d exercise their contractual right to match the Braves’ offer.
It was funny, and somewhat sad to hear that same tone in Chip’s voice, the one that just screams “I am not still the fat loser I was in high school when the jocks pulled my underwear up around my throat every day!” The only difference between then and now, Chippy is your pants size.
With Scott Rolen hobbled, the most feared duo in the NL this year has to be Derrek and E-ramis.
Derrek insists he’s not tired. I don’t think he looks tired. I think he makes the pitchers look tired.
Jody Gerut grew up rooting for the White Sox. We might forgive him. Eventually.
Teddy G. on the Score’s dwindling ratings. Here’s some deep analysis as to why both the Mike North Morning Show and the afternoon show with Doug Buffone and Mike Mulligan are struggling. They both suck. There, how’s that for analysis?
Groucho says Chuck Daly was thisclose to coming in and finishing the season out for Larry Brown. Wow.
Ooh, the Big Ten has bids now with the Champs Bowl and with the Insight Bowl. Wow!
Mike Kiley needs to come to terms with the fact that as a writer…he stinks. Check out the opening paragraph.
True to form, Greggy doesn’t really care about his upcoming 3,000th strikeout.
Jody Gerut’s parents are Cubs’ fans and they’re excited Jody has to be one, now, too.
Dusty is babbling about how he can’t play Gerut much because he’s been playing mostly “right”. Yeah, because left and center are so tough to learn when you already know how to play them.
Alan Embree’s out, Tony Graffanino is in and the Red Sox are…better? Tony G? Really?
Eddy Curry can’t get insurance on his heart. The Bulls just saved a truckload of money.
The AJ Burnett hostage crisis will not end.
If the Burnett trade ever goes through, the Pirates are going to send Mark Redman to Florida for Larry Bigbie.
The Cardinals have a rookie almost as old as Albert Pujols playing left field now, and so they’re looking to upgrade. Maybe to Juan Encarnacion? Hee hee.
Tom Glavine would like to pitch for the Cubs or Cardinals. How about the Cardinals?
The Yankees are after Randy Winn, and have talked to Colorado about crazy Eric Byrnes.
Even Peter Schmuck knows the O’s ought to dump Steve Kline.
The Marlins want people to think Jack McKeon’s job is safe. They’re just hoping he’ll die.
Tom Verducci on ten players who might switch teams.
Kelly Dwyer on life without Larry (Hughes, not Brown).
Audio of Ron Gardenhire’s post game tirade. It’s not bad, but it’s no Lee Elia.
America’s finest news source on the Space Shuttle mission delay.
Fuck me, that Mike Kiley article is nearly as bad as the shit I write. Perhaps there is hope for me after all.
Unless you’re willing to blow me, BC, you shouldn’t get your hopes up.
Hmm… blow you, eh, Donkey? Would that count as insanity? Perhaps I could kill two birds with one stone?
The Gardenhire tape is interesting, but who are the clowns in the background laughing at his comments?
If I ever dump a coach for balls/strikes, I may have to use the “showtime” line.
Ironically, Kiley’s first paragraph sounds like someone describing that very paragraph.
Comments #1 and #3 couldn’t have been from BC. He’s on his way to Cincy for the next two games and waiting for hilarity (or was it insanity) to ensue.
I think what you mean, CP, is that comments #1 and 3# couldn’t possibly have been from me, as they were grammatically correct and made sense. Whoops, there I go again.
I am big time now! Andy actually sprung for my url!
http://www.hankwhitefanclub.com
The people laughing in the Ron G. audio are dj’s from a local station
Why the hell am I still working?
Hey, the person in #11 isn’t me! Stop yourself!
How hard would it be to change the back of the t-shirts in the Hank White Superstore?
And, when is the http://www.jodygerutfanclub.com/ URL going up?
Hey…if we get Juan Pierre, we either a) hafta include Gerut in the deal, or b) will witness a hilarious bitchy slapfight over who controls the dreaded #9
Shouldn’t we be reserved for Murton and Greenberg?
Maybe you should’ve waited to buy a Derrek Lee jersey this year instead of me 8 years ago…I tried to warn you with my muffled cries from the closet.
When did BC say he was going to the Reds game? I’m going tonight and I have to see this insanity for myself and contribute in some way, perhaps with a side salad.
I guess none of our heroes have said anything of note in the last month or so….
How many different people have pretended to be me on this site?
Honesty compels me to report that We lost a game in Frisco last night and another game off the Wild Card lead over the Phighting Philadelphia Phillies, with the Cubs somewhere further back.
Andy, terrific topic for the Dose today, I’d love to tell you about my favorite ballplayer and I hate to keep your readers in suspense, but John Smoltz and the Bravos take on the Giants shortly. Moises Alou will not be in the lineup today, and you have to feel this permanently damages his reputation.
I was the idol of many a young Cub fan. Remember my batting stance? Closed, the bat waving slowly above my head. That menacing stare had opposing pitchers shitting themselves. Lou Piniella had his Reds walk me five times in one game. I was a perennial Gold Glover and had a cannon that actually found the cut-off man on a regular basis. If I had half of one good knee by the time I got to Wrigley Field I would have put up numbers any Hall of Fame voter would splooge over. And my home run swing was and always will be the tits. It’s D. Lee’s world now. And you’re right he’s the anti-Sosa. Actually, D. Lee is sort of the next me. He’s quiet, professional, consistent… but he plays on grass instead of that horseshit turf in Montreal which robbed me of my blazing speed. God willing he’ll become what I should have been and smile under Cubs hat on his Hall of Fame plaque.
Long live King Derrek!
How much longer is Lloyd McLendon going to last in Pissburgh? The Buccos are down 8-0 to Houston this afternoon and are about to go 1-7 since the All-Star Break.
Don’t listen to the Gardenhire clip, he just wants showtime.
1) I hope that true Desipiots can tell the reel me from the ersatz me
2) Why do we assume Murton and Greenberg are in some mutual admiration society, just because they came up to the club together?
3) Am I the only one who goes out here on the hour, every hour, hoping to see news on a real trade by the Cubs?
Brad Radke just struck me out on 4 pitches, wasn’t even close, it was one of those breaking balls in the other batters box that I couldn’t hit with a snow shovel. Miss me yet. I am the Gladiator, not like Derrek Lee. He is supply company, I am warrior.
I suck.
I was hitting fifth last night behind Alou. That might be the reason the giants are not very good this year.
Remember when Peter Gammons said that we would be the best 3 and 4 hitters in the league? One of the Twins beat writers compared us to Mantle and Marris earlier in the year. How’s that working out for us?
But Mike, you are so graceful and you go down on balls so nicely. Come here Mike, I love you. You move like a gazelle trained in classical dance, I love you Mike Matheny.
Hey, Dawson spelled backwards is Naswad. And you know what, Steve? He does have a nice wad.
It’s not our fault people were guilty of premature jockularity. We’ll be good, though.
Grandpa,
Honesty compels me to say that Dawson spelled backwards is “Noswad” and not “Naswad.” Honesty compels me to say that Dawson was my favorite player. Not Andre Dawson, but Dawson Leery in that movie where he plays high school football. He’s dreamy!
It’s not my fault that there are 4 big-leaguers on my roster and 2 of them are on the DL. I’m not seeing who else I could have started to win the other 7 ballgames, Dave B.
I wasn’t dissin’ you Lloyd, I was just pointing out that your team is awful and is in a tailspin that will probably cost you your job. You’re such a red-ass (though I share your disdain for The Genius) that it will probably be tough to get another managerial spot in the bigs.
Damn straight, show Hawk the love. I’ve got an autographed Dawson jersey I paid a fucken fortune to get professionally mounted and framed, and it’s worth every penny to me. It proudly sits in my game room and my son (who’s just 10) thinks Dawson was Babe Ruth from the way I talk him up.
The OBP and the fact he toiled for half his career in Montreal is what’ll keep Dawson out of the HOF. Sucks.
Sosa was a sideshow freak fueled by steriods. “Flintstone vitamins”, still love that one.
Sosa also couldn’t hold a candle to Dawson’s play in the outfield. Dawson’s instincts, jump, arm, accuracy, and decision-making at the age of 35 and on two bad knees was still better than Sosa in his prime.
Aramis hit rock bottom on May 26th, when he was hitting .226. Since then he has been red, no white hot. If he had been this hot all year, his line would be .383 32HR and 95 RBI. He would be one and Derrek would be two in all triple crown catagories. Meanwhile, the Cubs are 6 over .500 in that span, even without the Corey-Neifi one two debacle.
Well..I for one, would take Joe Mauer…..he’s playing pretty well, if a bit injury prone…
Dawson was the first name I thought of as I read the D Lee piece. Class and Skillz. I also believe there should be a life size poster in every locker room of Andre in his Cubs uniform titled “If you don’t look like this turn around and start over”. These over the shoes pants, baggy shirts and crooked hats are killing me. Killing Me! I’m begging you. I’m going to lie down now.
Oh Yeah, Run Aramis Run. It’s only 30 yards to first. Run like the wind my Dominican Dynamo. Gracias
The thing that is more alarming than the Score’s bad ratings in the afternoon is AM-1000’s good ratings in the afternoon. Harry, Spike, and the inbred is a horrendous show. How would Chicago react if we had a knowledgeable person(s) who wasn’t a jerk that hosted an afternoon sports show?
E-ramis runs the bases like there are land mines planted in between them. I like him, but I’m pretty sure he’s never really hurt his groin, it’s just a built in excuse to loaf.
Dang, Andy! The Dose title is “your favorite player”, there’s a picture of me right underneath it…then I click to read more and it’s all about freaking DLee and E-ramis?!
Most definitely that hurt, mang.
Hank, the visual was all for you, buddy.
I’m your leadoff hitter today??
And I’m playing right??
And Burnitz is playing center??
WTF??
That Dusty is a sage…and that Matheny is a dreamboat.
Yeah dudes, in case there was still any doubt, tonight’s lineup should clear it all up. I absolutely fucking hate Jerry the Lesser. He’ll be Bellhorned out of here before the trade deadline.
I don’t have Todd Walker lead off because he’s not fast. I don’t like Jerry leading off because he’s not aggressive enough on the bases, so I bat Jody Gerut, the one guy on the team who has doctors orders not to run at 100%.
Gerut is the best center fielder on the team, so I’ll put him in right and make Beer Nutz play center.
I am a retarded assbag.
I am involved in many of the lineup selections.
If the Cubs win anything with Dusty as manager, it will be me.
I own Kerry Wood.
I’m awesome.
I threw way too many pitches in the 2nd inning.
NEIFI, Will you stop comming to the fucking mound. I can’t understand what the hell you are saying anyway.
My originator claims he called his source again and was told the deal will “definitely” happen after tomorrow’s game. Kearns was called up because he’s going to play left in Dunn’s absence.
I’d put the definitely up there with, Big Ern McCracken’s paternity defense, “Oh, that’s not my kid. I definitely pulled out of her really early.”
Hendry’s in the booth in the bottom of the third, Len should ask him, “Why did Dusty lead the gimp off, if he won’t play him in center?”
I had to put a stop to that nonsense over at NSBB.
I’ll get about 10 pages of ass-kissing now.
What is my back hurting again or something? I stink.
We found Kerry Woods problem.
We checked him out and discovered he has a vagina.
All this time we were thinking it was his elbow.
Spells “Dominant”.
I am what Kerry Wood is made out of.
Hey, where is that guy who posted after Kerry’s last start and told everyone to suck it? Probably the same tool who was calling people internet warriors. I could use his help around here tonight, though.
“I think (Hairston) needed a day off,†Baker said. “He’s probably not used to all that running in center field. It’s hot. He’s starting to chase some bad balls you usually don’t chase.â€Â
I have a sick feeling we will have a macias sighting today. My guess is at 2nd base.
Losing today will render the last 10 games moot.
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