Desipio Message Board

If you wondered how much it would cost to get Corey Patterson to tell Chuck "FYC," its $45.

Jim Frey, 88. RIP.

You had a nice run.

Chet Coppock.

Scott Sanderson, 62.

I bought OOTP XX because I am a bit of a geek when it comes to things like that, and while watching the Cubs play Boston last night, I had OOTP simulate the 2019 season. Maybe I'll do it again a second time tonight. OOTP this year has a "live start" feature in which we picked up on 3/25 with most of the teams current at the moment (Seattle was 2-0, for example). They did not have Eloy Jimenez's contract in it, and he played 15 games at Charlotte. Ian Happ also spent zero days in simulated Des Moines.

For those wondering, Dallas Keuchel signed with Washington the first week of April, and Craig Kimbrel held out until July when he signed with the Angels.

As for some good news:



The Cubs won the division comfortably over Milwaukee and St. Louis, who both miss the playoffs. Surprisingly, Philadelphia finishes fourth despite a 7+ WAR season from Harper, and the Braves and Nats go to the Wild Card. The Padres got hot in September and beat out the Rockies in the West.

The Cubs won the division despite Yu Darvish (herniated disc) and Brandon Morrow (Tommy John disease) went on the DL. Bryant and Baez had good years, and strangely, Ian Happ displaced Schwarber in left. Strop and Carl's Jr.  did a fine job as closer by committee.



The computer AI somehow decided that the Astros would trade Colin McHugh for Caratini and Cole Roederer shortly after Darvish went down. Look at what Caratini did in Houston, though. Still, roboJepstink did a fine job.




(nice 1-for-53 from Lester)

16 Days until Ken Harrelson departs the White Sox TV booth.
18 over Brewers
18 over St. Louis
16 for a playoff berth
18 for home field through NLCS


Date     Cubs             MKE        STL             #overMKE        #over STL
7          @WAS (L)     SF (W)     @DET (W)       18                     18
8          @WAS (W)    SF (L)      @DET (W)       16                     17
9          @WAS (L)     SF (W)     @DET (L)        16                     16
10          MKE (W)    @Cubs (L)    PIT  (W)       14                     15
11          MKE (L)    @Cubs (W)    PIT  (W)       14                     15
12          MKE (W)    @Cubs (L)    PIT  (L)        12                     13
13                     OFF DAY
14          CIN (W)      PIT (W)       LA (L)          11                     11
15          CIN (W)      PIT (W)       LA (W)         10                     10
16          CIN (L)      PIT (L)       LA (L)              9                       9
17          @AZ (W)    CIN (W)    @ATL (L)          8                       7
18          @AZ (W)    CIN (W)    @ATL (W)         7                       6
19          @AZ (L)    CIN (L)    @ATL (L)             6                       5
20                   OFF DAY
21          @SOX (W) @PIT (L)    SF (L)               4                       3
22          @SOX (W)  @PIT (L)    SF (W)             2                       2
23          @SOX (W)  @PIT (L)    SF (L)              0                       0


Hawk has to spend his last weekend watching the Cubs celebrate a division title at Guaranteed Rate Field.

Anyone want to pass his resume along?
This looks fun.
His commute wouldn't change.

Seriously, take up a new profession.

Doug Harvey called out.

I only assume this as it has been 48 hours and Mike Donohue has failed to properly mark the passing of Bears draft bust John Thierry.

Cubs plane in New Mexico with a medical emergency?

Also considered:
Flat linin'
Learning to Die
I will back down
Tom's Last Dance
You don't have to die like a refugee

A new watering spot is opening just north of the new hotel. And, I wonder what employee #44 of the enterprise across the street things. Tony Ballgame takes good care of his image, so is he concerned at all by the spot now known as "Rizzo's?"

The webpage is just a shell right now, so let's head to the Facebook page

Rizzo's "Since 1946?" Huh?

Ah, here's the backstory...

QuoteThe Rizzo Family has a long history in the Chicago dating back to 1946 at a time when Wrigleyville was unrecognizable from the Wrigley that we all know and love today.

Our Family business began with Vincent Angelo Rizzo, the son of Vincent Rizzo; an Italian immigrant from Sicily. Cubs Park Service Station (CPSS) started as a Mobile Oil Gas Station with an adjoining Auto Repair Shop & Car Wash. As the community around Lakeview developed, so did our business. CPSS began parking for Cubs & Bears games for fans & players alike. Legends like Ron Santo, Billy Williams, Glen Beckert, Dallas Green, Fergie Jenkins, Joe Amalfitano, Bob Will, Jim Fry & Lou Canela were not just regulars, they were friends. This turned the neighborhood parking lot into a hangout for the Rizzo's and their constituency. Cousins, uncles and friends all worked at the lot throughout the course of 4 generations.

Our family has worked from the ground up to open Rizzo's Bar & Inn. The restaurant pays homage to the history of Wrigleyville through the eyes of the family. We invite you to follow our journey through featured photographic memoirs, classic ballpark fare and Rizzo family recipes, as well as an old fashioned standard of service that will stand apart as a neighborhood institution.

Jim Fry? Reminds me of Jim Frey. But who the hell is Lou Canela?

This guy?


At any rate, I know it's the family name, blah blah blah, but it's clear to me that they are trying to capitalize on Anthony Rizzo's fame.  Even though the family is the "Rizzo family," would Anthony Rizzo have a claim against them for not spelling out that the restaurant is not affiliated with him in any way? I recall Lakers Kareem Abdul Jabbar sued fellow UCLA alum and Dolphin Karim Abdul-Jabbar for wearing #33 and having the same name.  Not sure about the outcome of the case. Thoughts?

Gene Michael, Dallas Green's final managerial hire (and fire)

Let's start this. Situations in which to use Justin Wilson:

1) In any inning in which 3 outs have already been recorded.
2) In any game in which the Cubs are losing by 13 runs or more and Jon Jay doesn't want to pitch.
3) When the bullpen pitchers and Lester Strode are hungry, Wilson should run over to one of those places on Clark.
4) When a rehabbing pitcher wants to pitch with a batter in the box.
5) In any exhibition game.
6) Batting practice (although he might be too wild)
7) After the Cubs have clinched or have been eliminated.

Any others?

... a casket has just been sold.
J. Geils.

Hmm, last active January 10, 2017. Was "yes" the answer to the rhetorical question, "Would it kill you to write your annual Deadpool post?"

I had the pleasure of meeting Stan Zielinski a couple of times during his tenure with the Cubs. The first was in 2002, shortly after he joined the team as was scouting in the north suburbs. He always asked media guys if we knew of any players at whatever place he was headed to and if we knew anything about who he was watching, etc. In 2002, he had gone to a movie with his wife one February evening and came home to a phone message informing him he was fired by the team's new owner, Jeffrey Loria (seriously, fuck this guy). A week or so later, Jim Hendry hired him to be the Cubs MW Scouting director. I crossed paths with him a week or so after the infamous Clement/Alfonseca-Tavarez/Willis trade. No surprise, but Zielinski liked the trade, knowing Florida wanted to dump El Pulpo. He thought the world of Clement, and thus he was bragging about it to anyone who would listen.

He then turned to me at some point and grinned: "The Lake County Sheriff's Office took care of one of our critics this weekend." We spent the next couple of innings at this high school game having fun at old Rob Goldman's expense.

Anyway, he was a pretty good scout, with Kyle Schwarber as one of his last great finds. Stan died in his sleep the other night at 64.

George Michael, of Wham, not the Sports Machine.

Rob Sherman, Atheist, Green Party Congressional candidate, Experimental Plane enthusiast.