Lou Piniella wants to sign Pay-Rod to the Cubbies

[Missy Vixen]

Dearest People of Chicago,

On behalf of Seattle Mariners fans everywhere, please accept my most abject apologies. The unrelenting horror that is the ego of one Alex Rodriguez is about to be unleashed on your fair city.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2628823&campaign=rss&source=ESPNHeadlines

>CHICAGO -- Lou Piniella, who will be formally introduced as the new Chicago Cubs manager Tuesday afternoon, wants to acquire embattled -- and possibly available -- New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez.<

I can't believe that Lou Piniella wants another go-round with Pay-Rod. I'm sickened to think that a team like the Cubbies -- beloved by all, well, except for White Sox fans -- will have to deal with him and his temper tantrums, sub-par playing skills and all around unpleasantness.

In the meantime, my most sincere congratulations go out to the New York Yankees. While I still love to hate you, I have to confess that it's nice the people of New York City might actually pick up a real player now.

Julie
long-suffering Seattle Mariners fan

[XNASA]

1. I'm a true blue Cub's fan.

Rodriguez is by far, my least favorite player.

To see him in a Cub's uniform would be a nightmare.

[_testify_]

2. I would stick with Aramis Ramirez too

Are you happy with the Piniella signing?

[XNASA]

5. Honestly, I'd be happier if it were Girardi.

But Pinella + Wrigley is gonna make for an exciting summer.

[ComerPerro]

35. Girardi would have been perfect

he spent some time in Chicago in his career anyway, at the beginning and end.

Plus, what he did in Florida was amazing...

[Missy Vixen]

3. God help us

>To see him in a Cub's uniform would be a nightmare.<

Let's face it, who wouldn't love the Cubs? They're a nice team, from an even better city. They don't need the emotionally arrested Pay-Rod on their roster. Even scarier, I'm worried that Sweet Lou will think it's a great idea to bring Ken Griffey, Jr. there as well. Then again, Pay-Rod thought that the people of New York were hard on him? Wait till he pisses off the Chicago sportswriters.

AAAAARGH.
Julie

[Drum]

4. I'm a Yankees fan,

and I could get over the loss of A Rod...one maybe two beers is all it'd take.

Congrats Chicago, maybe this year will do the trick...you've definitely been cheated by fate too many times already, and deserve some good fortune.

A-Rod: go with God, and surely someday you will find the team who deserves you.

That is all.

[Missy Vixen]

6. Drum, I just have one question for you

>surely someday you will find the team who deserves you<

Will you marry me? Don't tell my husband.

In the meantime, :toast:

Julie

[Drum]

8. Yes...yes I will!

And thanks very much for asking! ;)
:toast:

[jakefrep]

7. I honestly don't understand the animosity towards Rodriguez

He's a great (albeit exorbitantly paid) player and a solid citizen. What gives?

[mac56]

20. He's a whining horse's arse crybaby, and he's playoff poison.

Solid citizen? Never seen any evidence of that.

[ComerPerro]

36. playoff poison, but at least he gets to the playoffs

I can't stand hearing pathetic Yankee fans complaining about A-Rod.

They go and spend millions and millions of dollars on him, because Steinbrenner is such a collector, and then when he doesn't singlehandedly win the World Series for them, they go nuts and want blood.

[jakefrep]

41. True enough....

...I can't beleive that Yankees fans will support steroid-addled wankers like Gary Sheffield & Jason Giambi over A-Rod.

[ComerPerro]

43. I can. They are Yankees fans, after all

[mark414]

9. the cubbies are not beloved by all

just ask anyone north of the border

go home FIBs!

[greatauntoftriplets]

21. Just checked...I AM home, in Chicago.

:D

Happy to take my vacation money to Michigan instead of someplace where Chicagoans are disliked. Go Tigers!!!

[mohinoaklawnillinois]

23. How bout it Sheila, this constant FIB from our neighbors to the North

is getting really old. :thumbsdown: :thumbsdown:

Gee I wonder how all the people in the Wisconsin Dells or the Door County area would feel if all us FIB's took our money and ran...

Personally, I've always liked Michigan as a vacation spot over Wisconsin for years. Go Tigers and BEAR DOWN, CHICAGO BEARS!!!!

[greatauntoftriplets]

26. Yeah, what is it????

Don't forget Lake Geneva and Twin Lakes... I have friends who live in Wonder Lake and go up to Lake Geneva to eat all the time. That is Illinois money supporting jobs in wisconsin.

I spent a weekend in Michigan last month and never heard any dissing of Illinois people while out and about...only razzing from my cousins about how the rental car picked up at the Grand Rapids Airport had Illinois license plates.

:shrug:

And I stayed in the greatest place...a town called Macatawa, which is a bit west of Holland and between Lake Michigan and Lake Macatawa...could see both from the house where we were staying. :D

[borlis]

30. Very well said!

:toast::applause:

[borlis]

28. Ok we will stay home and keep all of our $$ in Illinois too!

What would do to the already hurting Wisconsin economy? I wonder how much $$ Wisconsin takes in every year is from people from Illinois?

[Zavulon]

10. I have no love for the Cubs at all.

Ever since the Expos were moved, I stopped really caring who wins (I had preferences when the playoffs started, but both teams are gone and the preferences weren't that intense), but I still retain a healthy dislike for the Cubs. I don't find them to be "lovable" losers at all and found every Cubs fan I've ever met in person to be annoying - just like pre-2004 BoSox fans. They all seem to think that a World Series win is something they "deserve," which I think is ridiculous. I hate the Cubs' uniforms, I hate their logo, I hate Wrigley Field (yes, I've been there), I hated Sammy Sosa's embarrassingly childish and pompous homer hop, but mostly I hate the Cubs' fans' sense of entitlement. I hope they finish in last place for the next five hundred years just so that I'm covered for a while if reincarnation actually exists.

The Cubs should have hired Girardi instead of Piniella. As for A-Rod, I think he'd thrive in Wrigley but I don't think the team would thrive if he came.

[ComerPerro]

38. agree about Cubs fans

[SeattleGirl]

11. Pay-Rod has become a pox upon whichever team he is with.

I will add my abject apologies to JulieRB's.

[reyd reid reed]

12. See???? See????

What'd I tell ya? What. Did. I. Tell. You.

Ain't even been 24 hours yet.

Fuck.

:nuke:

[Shakespeare]

13. Oh my.

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: Good luck with that, Lou.

Hey, maybe they'll take Zito off our hands, too! I have a love-hate thing with Zito; he gets into his own head WAY too much, and has meltdowns of the spectacular variety.

[LSK]

14. I thought they had a pretty good 3B

The Cubs need to get healthy and stay there. They need Prior and Wood pitching like they can.

[reyd reid reed]

17. They've got Aramis Ramirez at third and yeah, he's pretty good.

My understanding is that he's got an option this year.

Wood is finished as a starter, I'm thinking. That rookie year was his undoing. 20 K game, one hit away from a perfect game (and that hit was questionable)...he's been playing catch up and trying to beat himself ever since. Club has an option this year...he's owed 13M -- maybe 13.5 -- and at that price, they ain't gonna pick it up. There's talk he might stick around for less and pitch out of the 'pen, though. We'll see.

Prior's supposedly healthy...but by the time he was, there wasn't any point risking him. Season was over on paper.


Rich Hill -- who I didn't give any credit to (after watching him the last two times he came up from Iowa, can you blame me?) -- looks promising. Finally got something other than that curve ball and he looked good the last time he came up.

Baseball gods need to stop actively pissing on the Cubs. Look at the collision with Furcal that took Lee out. That was bizarre. The bad bounce that took out My Barrett. Not to be crude here, but how often does a player LITERALLY get his balls busted? Year before it was that thing with Nomar that we all saw over and over and over and over.

[ComerPerro]

37. Ramierz had comparable numbers to ARod in the regular season. But

don't forget that ARod started his career as one of the best SS in the AL.

And, given a choice between ARod and Cedeno, ARod looks much better. Better average, hes faster, and when he is on, he can bat anywhere in the lineup.

[reyd reid reed]

39. What about Izturis?

:shrug:

[ComerPerro]

42. forgot about him, they did trade for him, after all

injury made me forget

[reyd reid reed]

47. *sigh*

Yup...this year, the way it seemed to work was: Contract + Cubs = Injury.

:eyes:

[Blue_Tires]

15. O RLY?

I didn't know A-Rod could pitch!!

[Drum]

16. He does pretty well for Pepsi.

Sad irony---no?---in that new Pepsi ad on TV:

"Y'know, A-Rod, you could have a good future in the beverage distribution industry."

:shrug:

[ScreamingMeemie]

18. No love for the Cubs here... And, scaredly going out on a limb here

to sort of defend A-Rod... He isn't subpar. His numbers are excellent. He's had great play off seasons except for the last two. This sounds just like the people of Detroit talked about Magglio until he blasted them into the World Series. ARod a jerk? Probably. A sub par player? Not in the least. A sub par player is Bobby Higginson. :hi:

[Missy Vixen]

19. MrsGrumpy, I'm not going to bite your head off

I still hate Pay-Rod, but you are a sweetie. ;-) :hi:

Julie

[bertha katzenengel]

22. I can't believe the Cubs went with Petulant Piniella.

He was a great third baseman. Obviously he didn't get enough third base because he keeps ripping them out of the ground.

[WildEyedLiberal]

24. Oh GAWD, pleeeeeeeease!!!

YES... PLEASE, Cubs, PLEASE trade 3 or 4 good prospects for the honor of saddling yourself with the biggest spoiled baby in baseball!

*wicked Cardinals fan :evilgrin: *

[reyd reid reed]

25. No

nonononononono...we put up with enough year after year and yet we still come back for more.

A-Rod might just be the last straw...

[WildEyedLiberal]

27. There are LIMITS to a Cubs fan's masochism?? Who knew?

:evilgrin:

As much as I dearly love watching the Cubs f#@k up year after year after year, I certainly don't want you to have a mental breakdown. :D I have to admit that seeing A-Rod in a Cubs jersey is a delicious mental image, however...

Hahahaha I was watching ESPN earlier and they showed a highlight reel of all of Lou Piniella's hissy fits throughout the years - my favorite was when he actually picked up first base and threw it into the outfield.

So, you should be in for an exciting season at the very least!

[reyd reid reed]

29. ....

I've avoided ESPN today. I don't need to see that...I've got a feeling I'll be seeing enough of it next year.

I feel like...

:cry:

[mohinoaklawnillinois]

31. I know how you feel.

I'm convinced that as long as the Chicago Tribune owns the Cubs, nothing will ever change and this decision today just verifies it. I just don't understand this decision.

If Piniella brings that ar*ehole A-Rod to play in Wrigley Field, that will be the final straw for me and I've loved the Cubs since 1964.

My late Mom, who made me a Cubs fan, I'm sure is rolling in her grave tonight. At least she got to see the Cubs play in a WS in 1945, but I'm really beginning to think I never will..

[WildEyedLiberal]

32. Oh no! Cheer up Cubs fan!

:hug:

C'mon... you gotta admit it's gonna be hilarious to watch random objects flying out of the Cubs dugout. :rofl:

[Drum]

45. Pssst:

(add 50% onto your buying price, and we'll throw in Randy Johnson.)

:evilgrin:

[reyd reid reed]

48. GAAAAH!!!

Nooooooooooooooooo....

:scared:

[Missy Vixen]

33. Day 3 of the Pay-Rod reign of terror in Chicago

I've finally figured out why Pay-Rod will agree to the trade: He will never, ever have to play in Safeco Field (with the accompanying deafening boos and showers of Monopoly money flying out of the stands everytime he steps up to bat,) again.

You know it's true.

Julie
Seattle fans might forgive, but we never, ever forget

[Drum]

40. Monopoly money? I'd forgotten...that's funny!

Even against "my" team. Gotta love the ingenuity of hometown fans everywhere, especially after those "departures." :)

By-the-bye, Seattle fans, how're things with my fav current Mariner, Ichiro? He sure is an exciting player...I caught a Mariners/A's game while visiting SF last year, and Ichiro was on the threshold of some big "number." Every at-bat he was cheered hugely...a lotta love (even in the opponents' park) out there for that guy. Is he firmly in place there in Seattle? (Meaning: how is Ichiro better at succeeding in those off-field aspects of the career where A-Rod falls down?) Surely Seattle loves him and wants him to stay.

[Missy Vixen]

46. Ichiro is on a mission

>how're things with my fav current Mariner, Ichiro?<

Okay, this is what's been happening with Ichiro. He's very unhappy with the lack of team leadership and the front office. He is so unhappy he actually discussed it with a member of the press this year, and for him to do so is pretty much unprecedented. There were rumors last year that the Cubs were after him. It would be beyond awful to lose him, but I am starting to wonder if this is exactly what will happen. He can't pack the entire team on his back, and the M's management is making some truly stupid decisions these days.

Even if Ichiro leaves, I know the people here will still love him. He has conducted himself with class and grace in the community. I think the difference between Ichiro and someone like Pay-Rod is that I've never heard of anyone here having a negative experience with Ichiro. We live on Seattle's Eastside; most of the players probably live here as well. I heard report after report after report from people who'd met Pay-Rod and he'd acted like a big baby. Ichiro has a couple of local "hangouts" that are unofficially known; those who approach him off the field say that he's cordial and polite.

For all of the whining Pay-Rod and Griffey did after they left Seattle, it did my heart good to hear Mike Cameron insisting that he'd come back to Seattle in a minute. Seattle had a love affair with Cammy from the minute he stepped onto the field, and it's still going on.

The Mariners don't seem to get it. They rehired the GM; I was hoping he'd be gone. I have never thought he was all that and a bag of chips since the day they hired him. We keep trading away people that end up on World Series teams elsewhere, for instance.

IMHO,YMMV.
Julie

[Drum]

49. Ouch, sorry to hear of the front-ofc friction.

Agreed: my impression of (+anecdotal evidence of) Ichiro has been of a solid, level-headed, team-spirit sort of fellow.

Thanks for the update, and good luck to y'all there with things. I truly love Seattle, even more so when the Mariners are playing.
:hi:

[Zomby Woof]

44. Seattle does play Chicago in the Cactus League

And every few years in Interleague play. I saw the Cubs at Safeco a few years ago. He isn't safe anywhere. :evilgrin:

[Deja Q]

34. Pay-Rod? I thought it was A-Hole. My mistake...

:blush: