Len & Bob's baseball blog

Well, fortunately (or unfortunately, depending on how you look at it), our great fans remembered the little challenge Bob and I threw out a few years ago and that was this - if the Cubs win 10 in a row, he'll shave his beard or mustache (depending on what he's doing at the time) and I'll attempt to grow one.

Now, while we're thrilled the Cubs have rattled off 9 straight, we're a little uncertain how we should handle this so-called wager. My first thought is, I'll grow facial hair of some kind until the lose once they reach 10 straight (which hopefully will be tonight. Bob then can remain clean-shaven until the winning streak is over. The problem with that is, if it only goes one day, you won't even notice that I've attempted to grow a beard. So I'll do my best to let it go long enough for all the fans to see why it's a good idea for me not to have any facial hair.

You've been warned. It probably won't be pretty, especially on my end.

Len

Posted by WGN Sports at 9:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (6)

Courtesy of George at The Heckler, here's a possible look for our boys if there is a 10th win in a row tonight and if this long-ago pledge is honored. Stay tuned - there is more to come!

Posted by WGN Sports at 2:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (8)

(There was chatter on the air last night about rekindling this promise if the Cubs win 10 in a row. They are at 8 right now. Here's the original post from April 14, 2005. Let's see what happens tonight and we'll get an update from the boys tomorrow if the Cubs win. Bob V)

Vince Iadipaolo wrote us:

Bob and Len, I have an interesting proposal for the both of you for the 2005 Cubs season. If the Cubs win 10 games in a row or win 90 or more games total this year Bob should shave his mustache and Len should grow one.

Vince, we talked about this briefly on the air the other day. Bob and I accept your challenge, though his mustache will probably grow back long before we see any darkening on my upper lip. Let's hope the Cubs can put a string together to make this interesting.

Len

Posted by WGN Sports at 3:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (9)

The Cubs have an opportunity against the Rockies today to complete their first perfect homestand of 6 games or more since 1970. Pretty exciting times for this ballclub, and while it's still early, I think it's perfectly OK to ride this incredible high as a Cubs fan right now. In fact, I'll ask you the last time you felt this confident about a Cubs team going into the summer months.

The only caveat is the Cardinals are just 2.5 games back starting play today and you can't count out anybody yet, simply because it's so early. But based solely on how well this team has played, I think as a Cubs fan, you have to feel REALLY good about where this team is and where it could go.

Len

Posted by WGN Sports at 12:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

It's a cool night at the ballpark, but nowhere near as cold as Tuesday night. Former Cub Rick Sutcliffe told me it was the coldest he's ever been at Wrigley Field. Fortunately, the weather hasn't hampered the Cubs at home, as they've now won 21 of their first 29 in the Friendly Confines. Big Z goes tonight against Derek Lowe in what could be a fun matchup. Both have excellent sinkers. Z has been a lot better early on than Lowe, who hasn't won in over a month.

One lineup note: Reed Johnson gets the nod in CF for Jim Edmonds, who has struggled against Lowe in his career (5-30).

Next up, the banged up Colorado Rockies for a four-game series starting Thursday night. If the Cubs can sweep this Dodger series, it could be a fantastic week.

Len

Posted by WGN Sports at 6:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (8)

The Cubs are back home to start a 2-week stint playing teams from the NL West. The Cubs are 7-2 vs. the West so far. They'll play 7 of these games against the Dodgers, a club that is 26-23, 3.5 behind Arizona in the West. It's a banged up team, with star players Jason Schmidt, Nomar Garciaparra, Andruw Jones and Rafael Furcal all on the DL. Their bullpen has been really good, so you don't want to trail late. Surprisingly, the top of their rotation has struggled--Brad Penny and Derek Lowe have ERAs in the 5's currently. But their first
2 starters in this series, Chad Billingsley and Hiroki Kuroda, have pitched well in spite of losing records. Also, you have to contain their running game, let by former Cub Juan Pierre. They have 47 stolen bases, good for 2nd in the NL.

Should be fun...Lou Piniella vs. Joe Torre...let's hope the Cubs get back on track here at home, where they've gone 19-8.

Len

Posted by WGN Sports at 12:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (9)

As we near the month of June, it's always fun to figure out who the Cubs' All-Stars will be. This year, we could see the Cubs receive several selections. I will give you my top 4 picks based solely on their early season performance (i.e., not based on who might win the fans voting...I'm simply going by the top performers so far on the team)...

Now, all this is assuming these players continue at their current pace:

1) Carlos Zambrano should be a lock for his 3rd All-Star nod.

2) Derrek Lee should get in (would be his 3rd trip as well).

3) Geovany Soto is very deserving. It's always tougher for young players to make it as reserves, but if he keeps hitting, I think he has a strong chance. Brian McCann and Russell Martin probably will make it, so it could come down to roster space and whether the NL can carry a 3rd catcher.

4) Carlos Marmol...he's my sleeper pick. The toughest position is middle and set-up relief. If you don't start and you don't close, it's difficult to put up win and/or save totals that garner a strong look. All I know is Clint Hurdle would benefit from having Marmol pitch the 8th inning for the NL.

Other Cubs will get consideration, but if I had to pick 4, those are my choices at this point. Your top 4?

Len

Posted by WGN Sports at 4:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (14)

Jim Edmonds made a fantastic over-the-shoulder catch Monday night as
his momentum took him up Tal's Hill. It was vintage Edmonds. He
never panicked and actually made it look relatively easy. It was far
from it. Edmonds plays shallow and without asking him, I'm assuming
he does it for a reason--to take away bloop hits. He plays as shallow
as he can possibly play with the idea that he can still get back and
make those catches if needed. I laugh when people say he does it on
purpose to make the catch look better. That's ridiculous. I'm
guessing Jim plays it that way because he knows he's CAPABLE of making
those tough catches. Why play deeper to make that particular catch
easier when you know you can run it down anyway? It's like a base-
stealer who gets the biggest lead he can get without actually getting
picked off--there may be a couple really close plays at first, but you
stretch it to the limit. And back to Edmonds, If you can play 2 or 3
steps closer to home plate, the value of cutting off a blooper and
getting a big out is huge and you still give yourself a shot to make
the grab on a 425-foot flyball. As we said last night, there's
nothing more demoralizing for a pitcher than making a good pitch and
have a hitter fist it into shallow center for a base hit on a ball
that should be caught.

Just my two cents...

Len

Posted by WGN Sports at 10:33 AM | Permalink | Comments (14)

Some notes as the Cubs head into the weekend vs. Pittsburgh:

-The Pirates are 20-15 against everyone other than the Cubs, so this isn't a bad ballclub by any stretch.
-The Cubs will face 3 left-handed starters in this series, which means you might not see Jim Edmonds get another start until after this weekend.
-Lou is giving Kosuke the day off he wanted to give him on Sunday (as you recall, Randy Johnson was scratched late due to the weather, so Fukudome ended up playing).
-The Cubs have 4 lefties on the bench and only 1 right-handed hitter available (the backup catcher Henry Blanco). It's significant because the Pirates have 3 LH relievers. Lou says while Carlos Zambrano isn't listed on the "extras" card, he is available to pinch-hit.
-Daryle Ward is still active, although it looks like he'll end up on the DL in the next few days because of his back injury. Look for Micah Hoffpauir to replace him on the roster if/when it happens.
-The Cubs are looking more closely at what other teams' pitchers do at the plate. Lou said the Cubs advance scout will be giving the club more detailed notes on pitchers' tendencies offensively to help get them out. Cubs' pitchers are allowing the other team's 9 spot to hit .
225.

Len

Posted by Admin at 11:50 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Looks like Jim Edmonds is going to be a Chicago Cub. He's in town to
take a physical today and if he passes, we could see him in CF in a
Cubs uniform. Thoughts on this pending move? My take--low risk, high
reward. It won't cost the Cubs more than the prorated minimum. If it
doesn't work out, you can cut bait and move on quickly. But it has
the potential of being a worthwhile acquisition to help the Cubs from
the left side of the plate. Edmonds might not be the same player he
once was, but he still can have value. Maybe his early season
struggles were the result of just not being back all the way yet from
the calf injury. Plus, his experience could be a nice asset. My
guess is, the biggest problem some Cubs fans will have with him is
that he was a Cardinal.

Len

Posted by Admin at 7:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (12)

The Cubs are in the thick of it now as they start a big 10-game homestand today against the Arizona Diamondbacks, the team with the best record in the majors.

Quick news update...LH Scott Eyre is back from the DL and LH Sean Marshall has been sent to AAA Iowa, where he'll join the starting rotation. Rich Hill, Kevin Hart and Marshall all are starting now at AAA with Sean Gallagher here in the Cubs bullpen, so if more tweaks need to be made to the rotation, the Cubs do have some options. Jon Lieber is scheduled to make his next start on Tuesday vs. San Diego.

It's a cool, overcast afternoon on the North Side. The wind is blowing in from the N or NE, but balls were jumping out of the park in BP, so let's just say it's a thin wind (quoting my partner BB on that great description).

Have a great weekend!

Len

Posted by Admin at 12:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Big series starting tonight in Cincinnati. The Cubs have lost 3
straight sets and just haven't looked like the same team over the past
week and a half that we saw in the first 3 weeks of the season. Now,
it's a long, long season and teams go through ups and downs. And
right now, the Cubs are sorting through some stuff: the rotation is
still not clicking as a whole with Rich Hill getting demoted and Jason
Marquis showing some inconsistency. Alfonso Soriano is still working
off some rust after his DL stint. But the offense still leads the
majors in runs and the team's overall record is just fine. I look at
it this way--if you can be above .500 and feel like you haven't
clicked on all cylinders, that's a good sign (the theory being once
you put it all together, you can go on an extended hot streak). You
just want to see those "holes" get plugged up fairly quickly so they
don't become huge problems that ultimately send you on a tailspin. On
a smaller scale, this series is important because after these 3 games,
the Cubs will play maybe the best team in the majors so far this year,
the Arizona Diamondbacks, at home. You'd like to have a little
momentum going into the weekend.

Posted by WGN Sports at 2:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (21)

The Cubs are in the middle of what I would call an important week in that they play the other top teams in the NL Central, Milwaukee and St. Louis. With the Cardinals winning earlier today, the Cubs find themselves a half game out of first. Milwaukee is one game behind the Cubs. I know it's still way too early to make any predictions, but hey, that's the what the blog is for! Which team in the Central do you think will provide the biggest challenge to the Cubs this season? Hey, maybe it's one of the other three teams I didn't mention. My choice: Milwaukee. I think the Cubs are the team to beat, but the Brewers are good and probably won't let the Cubs just run away with it.

Len

Posted by Admin at 6:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (9)

With the Cubs reaching 10,000 wins Wednesday night, I pose this
question to you: what, for you personally, has been the biggest
regular season victory in the history of the franchise? Tough
question to answer. In fact, I'm not sure what my answer would be.
Maybe it was the play-in game in 1998, or how about the Ryno game in
1984. Was it a win that got you hooked on the Cubs? Was it a victory
on the day you proposed to your significant other? Or maybe your
first child was born and you heard the game-winning hit on the radio
on the way to the hospital. There has to be one particular Cubs
victory that stands out. Have fun with this one...

Len

Posted by WGN Sports at 1:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (71)

One of the great things about this job is having an opportunity to be a part of the Cubs community outreach programs and today, I emceed the Cubs Care/McCormick Tribune Foundation luncheon during which grants totaling more than $1 million were given to Chicago-area non-profit organizations. Special kudos to Cubs shortstop Ryan Theriot, who
helped Cubs' Senior Vice President Mike Lufrano hand out the checks.
It's one of those events that just makes you feel really good about all the wonderful organizations in our community which are dedicated to helping those in need.

As I mentioned on a previous telecast, many players go out of their way to pitch in and never ask for any credit, but Ryan really wanted to be involved in the event and it's just another reason to root for a guy who has been one of the big contributors on this team.

Len

Posted by Admin at 5:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

We're just a couple days away from the big 60th anniversary special, Cubs Forever, on WGN Sunday evening at 6 pm Central and I thought I'd
ask you what your favorite Cubs TV moment has been over the years.
For sake of this discussion, since this is about WGN's relationship with the Cubs, we'll just ask that you not include the Ryno game on your list simply because that was a network Game of the Week (it was ABSOLUTELY one of the all-time great CUBS moments, no doubt). But, any WGN moments that really stand out to you? And they don't have to be great finishes. Maybe it was a particular Jack Brickhouse line or a Harry moment that you'll never forget. Let's make this one fun.

Posted by Admin at 11:52 AM | Permalink | Comments (23)

Some news and notes as we get set for the series finale vs. Cincinnati.

LH Scott Eyre, who is on the DL with elbow inflammation, will pitch in
an extended spring game this weekend as he works his way back.

The Cubs will miss Johan Santana early next week when the Mets come
in. RHPs John Maine and Nelson Figueroa are the scheduled starters
for that quick 2-game set.

It would be nice to see the Cubs LH starters get it going the next 2
days as Ted Lilly works today and Rich Hill on Friday. In Lilly's
case, his arm strength seems to be a little off, but physically,
there's nothing fundamentally wrong with him. I suppose some could
call this a dead-arm period for him. Whatever is happening, he
certainly wants to get better and go deeper into a ballgame. He
hasn't yet gotten to the 6th inning.

Lastly, Gerald Perry and Lou Piniella are working closely with Felix
Pie on shortening his swing. Last night, Felix took a walk late in
the game, which was a good sign. They are videotaping his work so he
can see what he's doing and the results of his work. Lou said there
is no rush on getting him back in the lineup. The key is to get him
where he needs to be mechanically and maybe even mentally before
putting him back in the lineup. Lou wants him to feel comfortable
first. The good news is, the Cubs continue to win, so there isn't a
sense of urgency to send him down to the minors. Plus, his defense in
CF has been excellent.

Len

Posted by WGN Sports at 11:52 AM | Permalink | Comments (6)

We've already played 27 innings over 2 games to start this crazy
series as the Cubs go for the sweep tonight. I really think last
year's club would have struggled to win these games in April. It was
a team that was still finding its way under a new manager and if you
recall, they lost a bunch of one-run games over the first 2 months.
This year, while they haven't been able to bury teams in the early
going, they have remained poised and have gutted out some late-inning
victories. I always look at a stretch like this with the following
perspective: if you're not playing great baseball, but you're still
finding ways to win, that's a good sign. This team hasn't come close
to playing up to its full potential and it's 5-3. It tells you how
talented a club it is.

Len

Posted by WGN Sports at 2:42 PM | Permalink | Comments (11)

It's a beautiful day in Pittsburgh as the Cubs open their road
schedule. Sunny skies, temps in the upper 50s-low 60s. The Cubs face
a lefthander for the first time this season, Orland Park's Tom
Gorzelanny. In fact, the Cubs have only had 2 total ABs vs. a
lefthander this season--both against Houston reliever Wesley Wright.
The Cubs went 19-24 against southpaws last season and faced fewer
lefthanded starters than any team in the NL. Let's hope they fare
better this season and really, they should. It's a righthanded lineup
for the most part. I don't see any reason why the likes of Soriano/
Lee/Ramirez/et al shouldn't just crush lefthanded pitching.

Enjoy the game today (and the rest of the season as well) in high
definition!

Len

Posted by WGN Sports at 11:37 AM | Permalink | Comments (5)

Today ends the Cubs first homestand and what have we learned?

Kosuke Fukudome is THE MAN. I love watching him hit (and take
pitches) and by the way, did you see the catch he made Saturday? He does everything well.

Derrek Lee is really good. I get a little aggravated by all the concern about him (he doesn't pull the ball enough, I hear people say). Derrek is a terrific offensive players because he 1) gets on base a lot, 2) hits for power (his HR power was down last year, but it looks like it's back) and 3) he hits the ball to all fields--yes, it's a good thing that he hits the ball to RF.

Kerry Wood can handle the 9th inning. Yes, he struggled on Opening Day, but the last two outings, he got the job done. His stuff is electric and the sky's the limit.

Bob Howry struggles early. Just the way it is. Let's hope he gets it going soon (you know he will eventually). Lou said today he's going to use him under less stressful conditions for a bit to get him going.

Alfonso Soriano and Aramis Ramirez haven't hit but their track records say they will.

It won't be easy...it never is with the Cubs, is it? We're destined for a rollercoaster ride again this season. I believe this will be a very special year, but there are always Cubbie occurrences it seems.

The Ernie Banks statue is a HUGE HIT. There have been big crowds around the statue since Monday and it is already a top attraction at the ballpark.

I could go on and on...there are always a million topics with this club. Your thoughts?

Len

Posted by Admin at 11:44 AM | Permalink | Comments (7)

Take a deep breath...we're only two games in. Ryan Dempster goes today in his first start in a couple years after jumping into the rotation from the closer spot. Dave Bush pitches for Milwaukee. The big news today is the lineup change. Alfonso Soriano goes back to the top spot where he hit 12 leadoff homers last season. Ryan Theriot moves down one notch. Not a huge change, but one that certainly will stir up the columnists and sports talk show hosts. Lou was pretty blunt in discussing lineup changes. He said it's his job as the manager to make these decisions and he doesn't feel the need to have to constantly explain why he's doing what he's doing with his lineup on a daily basis. Soriano is running better, he's comfortable in the top spot, end of story. So, the lineup goes like this: Soriano/ Theriot/Lee/Ramirez/Fukudome/DeRosa/Soto/Pie/Dempster. Let's hope it's a winner.

Len

Posted by Admin at 12:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)

With the Cubs' 133rd National League season starting today, I want to get your keys to another division crown. Mine are these: 1) Can Kerry Wood be the dominant closer many think he can be? He sure looked the part in spring training. 2) Will an offense that finished in the middle of the pack in the NL in runs last year be a little better? The Cubs finished 8th in the NL in runs. If they can sneak into the top 5 and continue to pitch as well as they did last season, the sky's the limit.

Len

PS - It's pouring here at 11:59a.

Posted by Admin at 12:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (9)

One of the ways players keep themselves occupied during a long season or spring camp is to play jokes on one another. Or in the case of this spring, on the strength and conditioning coordinator. Tim Buss, one of the best in the business, had been driving...let's just say an older model car...and some players decided to have a little fun with him, but with a great payoff. So, they essentially smashed the car to bits without his knowledge and then told him that someone had
mysteriously ruined his car. You can imagine his initial reaction.
And to add to it, apparently, his wife actually owned the car, which made Tim's reaction even worse. So, after allowing him to stew a little bit about the news (he had to be wondering which player he had upset, right? I mean, who would do something like that?), they told him to go outside the weight room to check out something. It was, yup, a brand new car. Just another fun day in the big leagues...

For those of you with strong stomachs, here's a look at the wreckage.

Len

Posted by Admin at 4:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

As the Cubs break camp today, the roster is pretty much set, save for any last-minute deals or (I hate to even mention it) injuries. With Scott Eyre almost certainly slated for the DL, Sean Marshall is poised to grab the final bullpen spot if he shows he can handle a couple more relief appearances (today and once in Las Vegas). That's really the only major decision left (having said that, Carmen Pignatiello is making that decision very difficult, considering how well he's pitched this spring). Mike Fontenot and Ronny Cedeno will make the club, leaving Matt Murton in limbo. The Cubs would ideally like to trade Matt, whom they view as a major league player. Unfortunately for him, there's just no room on the roster at the moment. If the Cubs can't find the right deal, he'll have to begin the season at AAA Iowa. They also may lose Rule 5 pick Tim Lahey, who has to pass through waivers and be offered back to his original club before the Cubs can put him in their minor league system.

Aside from those issues, the 25-man roster is set and this confident (and surging, I might add...the Cubs have won 4 straight going into Thursday's game) club is ready to get back home to Chicago for Monday's opener.

Len

Posted by Admin at 8:07 AM | Permalink | Comments (5)

Good news on the Cubs nagging injury...Felix Pie is back in the lineup after having a procedure for testicular torsion. Alex Cintron, who was hit in the face by a foul ball on Friday, is fine (fortunately it hit him below the cheekbone so no broken bones). Ronny Cedeno has a tight hamstring as well but it doesn't sound too serious.

The intriguing story involves first baseman Micah Hoffpauir, who is playing right field today. Hoffpauir is hitting .486 on the spring and he seems to be one of the those guys who has put himself in the mix for a bench spot simply based on his March numbers. He does a couple things that can be really help - he's a left-handed hitter, which the Cubs need, and he can hit for power, something every team can use. He will probably start the year at AAA, but if he can show he can play the outfield, we could see him, if needed, in a Cubs uniform soon.

Len

Posted by Admin at 1:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (7)

We're excited to do our first weekend of games on WGN Sports. Jon Lieber is back in a Cubs uniform and starts today in a split squad game vs. Arizona. Sean Marshall pitches in the other game at Oakland's complex in Phoenix.

We're celebrating our 60th anniversary of bringing you Cubs baseball on WGN Sports and we'll have more exciting news as the spring goes along about an upcoming documentary to air on WGN and a companion book as well. We are obviously hoping to cap our 60th anniversary season by calling a Cubs World Series Championship campaign and this team looks poised to make a serious run.

We also look forward to blogging regularly and tossing around some opinions, analysis, etc. as the season goes along.

So let's have a great season!

Len

Posted by Admin at 1:48 PM | Permalink | Comments (7)

As I nearly slipped and broke my ankle while navigating my hockey
rink...er, driveway this morning, I had visions of blue skies, green
grass and sunscreen. Can you believe pitchers and catchers report to
Mesa this week? And furthermore, that Wrigley Field will be hosting
Opening Day in about a month and a half? I, for one, cannot wait.
Let's fire up the blog for 2008 and get your thoughts on this Cubs club.

There are always question marks going into spring training. What's
your biggest question or issue with this club? Mine is, what will CF
look like on Opening Day? Will Felix Pie grab the job and not let
go? Can Sam Fuld push him in March? Will the Cubs make a deal to add
some depth at that position? I guess that's more than one question,
but it's one topic I guess.

I know the closer situation will likely get the most scrutiny, but I'm
not that concerned about it because the Cubs have several good choices
in Wood/Howry/Marmol. That one will simply sort itself out.

I'm totally excited about the upcoming season and I can't wait to hit
the air with Bob from Arizona...(editor's note - that will be March 8 on WGN-TV)

Len

Posted by WGN Sports at 10:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (27)

Thanks to everyone who came out to the House of Blues on a bitterly cold night to catch the 2nd annual Len & Bob Bash. The Felice Brothers were outstanding. They sounded like a young Bob Dylan fronting the Band. I told them when they finished, "the next time you're here, you'll be headlining." Son Volt totally rocked as expected. One of the best bands going today, no doubt. We had a lot of Cubs fans there, which was really great to see. Your support of the Bash meant over $21,000 for Chicago Cubs Charities, which is the main reason we do it.

Special thanks to Bud Light for its support. Without Bud Light, we couldn't put together an event like this.

Last, for those who came, thanks for cheering hard for the Len & Bob Band. Bob is looking to clear his schedule for an upcoming tour. I keep telling him we only have two songs, but he thinks that's enough to make it work. We'll see.....

Len

Posted by Admin at 11:38 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Posted by WGN Sports at 4:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I'd love to get your thoughts on the Cubs' big free agent signing of Kosuke Fukudome. I've never seen him play, but looking at his numbers, particularly his OBP, and hearing the scouting reports, I think this is a terrific acquisition. He is exactly what the Cubs needed: an on-base machine (and keep in mind that while he's never played in the big leagues, OBP rates are usually pretty constant--you either have a good eye at the plate or you don't and he definitely does). His defensive skills rate very highly on the scouting scale and if you can envision for a moment Alfonso Soriano with his cannon for an arm in LF, Felix Pie (or maybe even Sam Fuld, who is starting to make a push) in CF and Fukudome in RF, the Cubs should have one of their best defensive outfields in quite some time.

I don't think Jim Hendry is done yet. If he can work a deal for Baltimore's Brian Roberts, it would cap off what has already been a strong off-season. He's added a couple young power arms in the bullpen in addition to the big signing of Fukudome and is now working with excellent depth in just about every area on the ballclub. This was a good team going into the winter. It's already better on paper.

Len

Posted by WGN Sports at 12:42 PM | Permalink | Comments (21)

Just a quick note regarding the big news today. If you haven't heard,
Cubs President John McDonough has resigned to become President of the Chicago Blackhawks. In my opinion, John was born to lead a pro sports
franchise. Before he became team president, his work in the Cubs
marketing department for years set the industry standard and he should
take great pride in his contributions to make the Cubs one of the
biggest, most popular pro sports franchises in any sport, and most
rewarding for him I'm sure, leading the team back to a division title
on the field in 2007 in his first, and ultimately lone, season as team
president.

On a personal level, John is one of my favorite people on the planet
and I'm thrilled for him. He takes on a great challenge and there's
no doubt in my mind he'll have the Blackhawks back to being one of the
most popular and successful franchises in the NHL. He's brilliant,
charismatic and listens as well as anyone I've ever met.

It is a bittersweet day because of what he has meant to this
franchise. John, we'll miss you, and we wish you the best.

The silver lining here is, John leaves this franchise in excellent
hands with Crane Kenney overseeing the club and Jim Hendry (baseball
ops) and Mark McGuire (business ops) leading a fantastic front
office. There's a lot to be thankful for when it comes to the Chicago
Cubs and I cannot wait until the Cubs crank it up again in spring
training.

We'll have more hot-stove league action to talk about in the coming
weeks and months. Until then, have a great Thanksgiving!

Len

Posted by WGN Sports at 3:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)

Hey Everybody, just checking in after a couple weeks of
decompressing. With the World Series beginning Wednesday night, I'm
curious to get your predictions. It's funny how the Rockies have
become an afterthought, mainly because they haven't played in about a
month! They were the hottest team in the recorded history of Earth
before having to endure this looooooong layoff and it will be
fascinating to see if they can shake off the rust in Boston.
Meanwhile, the Red Sox have seemingly already been fitted for their
World Series rings after erasing a 3-1 deficit and beating the Indians.

All I want to know is, will Kevin Millar be on the Sox World Series
roster or will he just be in uniform in their dugout?

Len

Posted by WGN Sports at 10:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (11)

Just a word of thanks to all of you for posting, for reading, for
venting all season long. This blog has been a great outlet for all
of us the past few years and continues to be a great resource for me
as I can gauge Cubs fans moods throughout the season. Bob Brenly,
Bob Vorwald and I will continue to blog throughout the off-season
with updates, analysis of big moves and random thoughts. Keep
checking back here for information on our 2nd Annual Len & Bob Bash,
which once again will take place at House of Blues Chicago the night
before the Cubs Convention in January (January 17 is the date).

I'm going to take some time to get re-acquainted with my wife, son
and 3 dogs and enjoy this incredible fall weather. And I'll be
watching BB along with Chip Caray and Tony Gwynn as they finish up
the Cleveland-Yankees series and then head west to call the Colorado-
Arizona NLCS. At some point soon, you'll see my smiling photo up
here again with some more Cubs baseball talk. Thanks again for
making this the most rewarding season of my career. Next year, let's
go a little deeper into October...

Len

Posted by WGN Sports at 12:53 PM | Permalink | Comments (28)

You often hear the term "must-win," but usually it's not. It's normally a "would be nice to have" win. Well, today is DEFINITELY the former! I have a feeling if the Cubs win today, this series is going back to Arizona Tuesday because I really like Carlos Zambrano's chances on Sunday if the Cubs can get there. But, with the way this series has begun, it's really difficult to predict much of anything. I'm very impressed with the Diamondbacks. They battle hard and they've come up with some huge extra base hits in this series. Stephen Drew, in particular, has shined and they've received contributions from up and down the order. On the Cubs' side of the ledger, most of their offense has come from the 6th spot on down. The superstars carried this club in September and need to come up big today (and hopefully tomorrow and Tuesday).

One quick Rich Hill note: he's pitching on 6-day's rest and when he gets at least 6 days off, he's 4-0 with a 0.96. He's also won 3 of his previous 4 decisions.

Len

Posted by WGN Sports at 12:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (19)

I cannot wait for Game 1 tonight. It's going to be a raucous night at Chase Field, due in large part to the vast number of Cubs fans I expect to see down here. They've traveled in bunches throughout the season and I anticipate a huge contingent here, just a few miles from the Cubs' spring training home in Mesa.

I was chatting with former major league outfielder Bil