Len & Bob's baseball blog

Thankyou Len and Thankyou Bob...I have had a very rough year and watching the Cubs and reading the posts have been really really fun for me. I love the excitement in your voices when you call the games. The last stretch of home games before the playoffs still make me smile every time i think of them! To the Cubs...i love the team and always will and i will be looking forward to spring. I hope everyone has a safe off season. Thanks again...Pam Ziemer

Len, I have really enjoyed your blog this year. I came to it late, but I am glad to have discovered it.
Sigh. See you next spring.

You know a lot can be said of the decidsions of manager Lou Pinella. Did he take Zambrano too early in game 1? Why didnt he pinch hit for Ted Lilly in the top of the 4th inning in game 2? But the bottom line to me is that the cubs were just outplayed.

They were out hit and outpitched. When the D'backs made errors the Cubs couldnt capitalize. Noboby steps up for this team. They all rely on Derrick Lee Aramis Ramirez and Alfonso Soriano to hit hte ball out of the park. Look at what the Yankees did in game 3 against CLeveland. Joe Torre pinch hit for Jason Giambi with Doug Mientkiewicz. Instead of relying on Giambi to hit the 3 run homer. Mientkiewicz laid down a sac bunt and helped set up the inning.

The Cubs will need to learn to do the little things to be successful nex year. Let Ryan Theriot bunt he's a good handler of the bat. Use Soriano's speed if he gets on to lead off a game. The Cubs just didn t play winning baseball and that is why they were swept.

Thanks for a great year on TV. Over the winter PLEASE teach someone how to bunt....In the last game if PIN would have bunted the runners over in the first few innings we would have engineered 2 runs and the ending would have been different but he thought they were gonna hit homers like they did in September.I don't think we need to change much...get another pitcher and a e.d. right fielder and we're set for another great year with a great manager.
CUBS WILL BE GREAT
IN 2008 !!!!!

Thanks Len! You and BB are awesome -- enjoy your break!

The cubs had a good baseball team beacuse they had good games some bad games as well into the season so they have alot of things to cover in the offseason so i hope every cubs player returns for another great season!!

NICE NICE JOB LEN TIME 4 A MILD WINTER AND HERE WE GO AGAIN.THANKS

Thanks Len enjoy your off season. It should be interesting to see what the Cubs will do over the winter to improve the team. I can't wait till Spring =)

Len enjoy your 'winter' and being with your family. I enjoyed watching the Cubbies and listening to the 'home' broadcast despite living in Philadelphia. Sure, it would've been cool to go further this year, but,Rome wasn't built in a day. I look at how much better the Cubs did this year!! And first year under Lou Piniella, the Cubs won their Division. Already looking forward to 2008 baseball season...See ya next year!!!

hey len , just a personal note yourseldf and bob have been some of the brightest points of the year for the laughs you guys seem like you have been together for as long as harry and stoney were you guys rock!!!!just a word, enjoy this offseason with the family because next year you are going to be extra busy in the post season getting fit for your championship rings oh by the way i take a size 15.. you gys are great can't wait to hear the 1 st homerun call of the new season i know you go to chicago wolves games, enjoy the hockey pat foley should still be with the blackhawks please pass this on to him. GO CUBS I GO AND SE SOME PEORIA RIVERMEN games if you are down this way look me up and i will treat you to a game of hockey in peoria email me at the4motts@verizon.net

I didn't read this blog until August. Loved it, loved it, loved it! Loved the different point of views from Bob and Len. Bob made us laugh a lot. Selfishly I wish he would stay with the WGN broadcast forever; however, he is too good not to manage again. I will keep checking this blog for news in the coming months. It's going to be a long long offseason. Bob and Len, thanks again for the great season.

Great season Len. Loved listening to you and BB all season. Enjoy your offseason.

len and bob thanks for another great year in the booth it was a exciting season an do see reason for optimism on 08.WAIT TILL NEXT YEAR LOL

Len,

Why oh why didn't TBS use Bob and you to at least broadcast the home portion of the Cubs playoffs.

You two are superior announcers in your own right. Your analysis is spot on and the insights that you give; well, let's just say that they make a great game even better.

As for TBS's choice of announcers for the Cubs-Diamondbacks, could TBS have chosen two more anemic and vapid broadcasters? They were horrible!!! I wanted to listen to WGN, but couldn't pull it in here in Cedar Rapids.

So, it was a horrible experience: the Cubs disappeared and the announcers were miserable. Some of the worst days of my life.

And I am tired of waiting until next year, except for listening with great pleasure to Bob and you.

Len: Even though we all wanted a different ending, thanks for helping us enjoy all the memories this summer. Great work each and every game with Bob. I hope you can continue together on the North Side for a long time (unless, of course, Bob decides to manage after Lou).

I've liked listening to Bob on TBS, but I must say, your play-by-play skills are far superior to most...

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/09/sports/baseball/09sandomir.html?ei=5087&em=&en=51d7fd0f02defcb0&ex=1192075200&pagewanted=print

Can't wait for next year.

-Brian

Hey Bob, I enjoyed your commentary of the Clev-NY series. You obviously did your homework, and you and Tony G provided insightful and relevant views. I also liked the result...of Clev sending the Yanks packing. As you and your D'Bks did a few years back. Seriously, though, well done Big Guy!

Question: could you and your side-kick Len bring that objective professionalism to the Cubs broadcasts next year? A lot of us are tired of the age-old sugar coated baloney served up by Cubs announcers over the years. Let's can the rah-rah stuff, eh? Its very unbecoming. We already know that most of these guys are overpaid losers. They proved that this season.

Have a good winter. Good luck with the golf game! Meanwhile, I'll be prepared to take cover. Imcoming! Or is it 'fore!? I believe its the latter.

Thx again for this excellent blog, and your commitment to broadcasting, communicating with the fans and, above all, your belief in free speech. Given some of the content expressed on this blog, some of our fellow bloggers need all the help they can get. But I love them anyways, faults and all.

Paul from Reluctant Reality

You're welcome. All we need now is for the team to be sold, preferably not to the suits Selig hopes to set us up with. We need ownership that is on our wavelength, and not folks who just want to continue to pick the carcass.
I know that might make some in your periphery a little nervous, but if the Cubs are going to really win, we need our priorities straight, and not more of the customary chiseling we see all to often.
You'll come through it. We like you.

I'm with you James. Its very important to get the ownership situation squared away. Uncertainty is almost never a good thing in sports management.

I also agree with you on Selig. He's been the worst commissioner by far in my life-time, and I don't trust his judgement one bit. He mis-handled the 'roids controversy, blames fans for things that aren't their fault, has failed to produce anything in the World Baseball Classic, to name just a few. Yet, during his watch, ownership and MLB have locked up everything in the way of merchandizing, broadcasting and the internet. Could this be another series of examples of 'show me the money'?

And remember when he was going to 'de-commission' the Minn Twins? What was he thinking, and how dare he?

So, as I've made pretty clear, a management solution is paramount. And we need to have a settlement that favors the Cubs and their fans. Not some hair-brained scheme cooked up from Commissioner See-ya's office. Well spotted James!

Paul from Reality

Hey Len! I just wanted to let you know that I have enjoyed listening to you and BB this year. I think you guys are some of the best broadcasters in baseball. I remember I was sad when Chip and Stoney left because I was so use to hearing them, but now that Chip is on TBS, listening to him makes me want to fall asleep! Another thing I've been meaning to tell you, I LOVE it when you scream and get excited when the Cubs make a great play. The sound of your scream is so funny, but I love it, so don't change it. See you at the Cubs convo! I can't wait for next year!

I have been a Cubs fan since the late 30's and have listened and watched many different broadcasters. I wasn't sure about you two for awhile. I guess you grew on me as I thoroughly enjoy your presentations of the games.Between the two of you, you both bring out many insights for the listeners. Thanks again and hope you both are around for a long time. Gary Asmussen

Although I consider the season a disapointment, I can't say the same thing about Len and Bob. Len comes prepared every night. He's a stat guru just like me, and he comes up with some good ones. I enjoy his play-by-play very much. Bob is also an excellent color guy. Others see that as well since he is doing postseason games for TBS. Bob had big shoes to fill imo, being a huge Steve Stone fan, but he's done it admirably.

We're spoiled here in Chicago to have a very good TV duo, and Pat Hughes- who should be nominated for sainthood. I hope all three are back next season.

Happy Offseason everyone,

Brad
Dekalb, Illinois

Hey everybody. I know it has been rough lately but I think I might have something to ease the pain. I have created some cool wallpapers and ringtones at www.myxertones.com They are totaly free. Go to that website and explore the word "cubs" it will show up with listings and mine are by the user name "cubs". Just click on it, put in your cell phone number and click "send to my phone". I hope you enjoy, and always GO CUBS!- Patrick Felke, worlds biggest 14 year old Cubs fan.

Hi Len and Bob. My name is Patrick and I admire you guys. Len I think you are a great announcer and love your voice. Bob, I think your pretty funny. Just wanted to say hi. Thanks for the great calls this year, can' wait for next year. Hope to be in your spot some day.

just a quick ?,is bonnie o and paul from reality married cause they argue more then my parents on this blog...............if not maybe they should get married!

I live in the Dallas area and so much is written about Mark Cuban. I'll say this for the guy. He is passionate about anything he buys, he's not a suit to sit up in a sky box and count money. He also cares about the fans, and not just because his money comes from them. I'm not a big Cuban fan myself, but the Cubs could do worse than selling to Cuban, such as ANYONE who is a friend of the Selig family. I think history will show Selig not only as imcompetent, but ignorant and crooked. If nothing else, Cuban might drive Selig to a heart attack and then we could get an honest, intelligent commissioner with integrity!

Hey Len Yea I agree winning one game would be nice to start off with. What do you think of Dusty going to the Reds?

Guys, you were a great team to listen to from the booth. Due to some personal situations this year, I was at home during the day more than usual so I caught almost all the day games on TV. Both engaging and funny, I looked forward to every broadcast. My two favorite moments watching were Aramis hitting the walk-off homerun, and when Bob's picture was side-by-side with Bill Cower's (priceless!).

Can't wait 'til next Spring.

Wow, Leo, can you spell delusional??

Why aren't the Cubs on WGN more. I remember back when they were in last place they were on WGN everyday.