The Cubs and their pitching staff took a drubbing at the hands of the lowly Nationals on Friday. A prior committment on my part kept me from meeting people at the game. I can't say I feel sad about that.
Marquis and Guadin managed to give up 10 runs combined. Marquis was doing respectably and hadn't given up a run (Cubs stood with a 4-0 lead after four innings), but he blew up in the sixth, giving up a single and two walks to load the bases with no outs. A sac fly and a double let two runs in and resulted in Marquis passing the ball to Cotts. Cotts gave up a walk and then gave up a granny to Willie Harris of all people. The game was essentially over at that point, but Howry managed to give up a run in one inning and Gaudin pitched the last two, giving up six runs. The Cubs did score five, but it hardly warrants a mention given what happened on the mound. Lee and DeRosa hit homers.
Fortunately, that game was left behind and the Cubs took the next two to take the series, stay 4 1/2 games up on Milwaukee and reach their 80th win.
Saturday and Sunday were as good as Friday was bad. Dempster won his 15th on Saturday in a 9-2 Cub victory, going 7 1/3 and giving up just one earned run. He was aided by a huge day from Aramis Ramirez (3-5, 6 RBI, 2 HR, 2 runs). The Riot also went 3-5 while Johnson and DeRosa each went 2-5, including another DeRosa homer. Marmol finished the 8th for Dempster before Marshall came in for the mop up in the 9th.
Sunday was more of the same as Harden went 7 innings with 11 strikeouts, no walks, two hits and one earned run in a 6-1 Cub win. Marmol took the 8th and Samardzija the ninth. DeRosa was the only Cub with a multi-hit day, including yet another homer (4 games in a row) and a single. Meanwhile, Fukudome came through with a pinch-hit homer.
I'm seeing the pitching I was counting on and the team is responding. Dempster has lived up to every expectation would could have had for him and Harden is turning out unhittable stuff lately. Combine the starting rotation with the kids in the pen and Wood at the anchor and this team can provide difficulty for any offense out there.
The home field continues to provide excitement and wins. Hopefully Fukudome is ready to shake off his slump. A day off for Lee should be nothing to worry about long term. In the meanwhile, the team depth helps the train keep rolling.
Notes:
Soto tied Randy Hundley's record for home runs by a Cub rookie catcher at 19. Billy Williams holds the club rookie record at 25.
Cubs are the first pitching staf to 1,000 strikeouts in 2008. They have led the majors in strikeouts every season since 2001. The Dodgers hold the record with seven straight seasons leading the majors (1957-63).
Monday, August 25, 2008
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Cubs Sale Tax Issues
In case anyone missed this tangle. The Trib detailed some of the issues with the Cubs sale structure last week.
I think it sheds some light on why Zell really wants the team and the stadium to be sold separately. For the new team owner, that's like the biggest Xmas or birthday present disappointment ever.
"Mom, IT SAYS BATTERIES SOLD SEPARATELY! WAAAAAAA"
"Let me see if I can find some AAs upstairs in Mommy's bedroom"
Anyway....
Trib Co wants to create a leveraged financing structure in order to limit the taxes they would pay on the sale. The Cubs were purchased for $20.5 million in 1981 and are likely to sell for around $1 billion. The tax burden on that gain is estimated to by up to $400 million.
Zell and friends still have debt to pay from the $8.2 billion buyout of the Trib in December of 2007. The upshot is the concept of a leveraged partnership, which can distribute borrowed money tax-free. The partnership (Trib Co and New Owner) borrows the money to buy the team and the proceeds from the loans go to the Trib. Trib Co would retain a small ownership in the team.
This kind of deal isn't that uncommon, but it is for the likes of MLB, which limits club debt to 10-15 times cashflow (Cubs cashflow is estimated at around $31 million in 2007). The limits are intended to ensure financial stability. MLB could, under its own rules, provide for this sort of deal but probably not at the terms Zell would want.
Also coming into play is that the New Owner could not pay down debt until 2018, 10 years after Zell's Trib purchase. Zell converted his new company to an S corporation from a C corp. The requirement of an S corp to pay taxes an asset distributions expires after 10 years.
I think it sheds some light on why Zell really wants the team and the stadium to be sold separately. For the new team owner, that's like the biggest Xmas or birthday present disappointment ever.
"Mom, IT SAYS BATTERIES SOLD SEPARATELY! WAAAAAAA"
"Let me see if I can find some AAs upstairs in Mommy's bedroom"
Anyway....
Trib Co wants to create a leveraged financing structure in order to limit the taxes they would pay on the sale. The Cubs were purchased for $20.5 million in 1981 and are likely to sell for around $1 billion. The tax burden on that gain is estimated to by up to $400 million.
Zell and friends still have debt to pay from the $8.2 billion buyout of the Trib in December of 2007. The upshot is the concept of a leveraged partnership, which can distribute borrowed money tax-free. The partnership (Trib Co and New Owner) borrows the money to buy the team and the proceeds from the loans go to the Trib. Trib Co would retain a small ownership in the team.
This kind of deal isn't that uncommon, but it is for the likes of MLB, which limits club debt to 10-15 times cashflow (Cubs cashflow is estimated at around $31 million in 2007). The limits are intended to ensure financial stability. MLB could, under its own rules, provide for this sort of deal but probably not at the terms Zell would want.
Also coming into play is that the New Owner could not pay down debt until 2018, 10 years after Zell's Trib purchase. Zell converted his new company to an S corporation from a C corp. The requirement of an S corp to pay taxes an asset distributions expires after 10 years.
Former Cub Update
The US Olympic Baseball team won 9-1 in a game versus host China. Three Chinese fellows ejected, two collisions at home plate (one resulting in injury to the Chinese catcher), a US player took a pitch in the head (resulting in a minor concussion).
The manager of the Chinese team? Former Cub manager Jim Lefebvre. Lefebvre was ejected for arguing after the Chinese catcher was hurt on a play at home.
Lefebvre managed the Cubs in the 1992 and 1993 seasons. He went a total of 162 and 162 (78-84 and then 84-78) and the team finished 4th in the NL East both seasons. The 1993 season was the best record of his 6 MLB seasons as manager (Seattle 1989-1991, Milwaukee 1999 as interim manager for 49 games).
A switch-hitting fielder (mostly 2B) for the Dodgers for 8 years, Jim was the 1965 NL Rookie of the Year and an All-Star at 2b in 1966. The Dodgers won the WS in 1965 (beating the Twins 4-3) with Drysdale and Koufax (49-20 combined, Koufax tossed two shutouts in the WS) and got swept by the Orioles in 1966. Lefebvre led the team in OPS in '66 and '67, though the '67 team fell to 8th in the NL with no Koufax and a sub-.500 year by Drysdale.
Baseball reference notes that Jim once got fired as a coach of the Dodgers for taking a swing at Lasorda. I'm betting Lefebvre would have liked to take a swing at US team manager and former Mets manager Davey Johnson (managed Mets 1984-90, including the famed '86 WS champs; Cincy '93-95, Baltimore '96-97 and Dodgers '99-00; with 1,148 managerial wins in the majors).
The manager of the Chinese team? Former Cub manager Jim Lefebvre. Lefebvre was ejected for arguing after the Chinese catcher was hurt on a play at home.
Lefebvre managed the Cubs in the 1992 and 1993 seasons. He went a total of 162 and 162 (78-84 and then 84-78) and the team finished 4th in the NL East both seasons. The 1993 season was the best record of his 6 MLB seasons as manager (Seattle 1989-1991, Milwaukee 1999 as interim manager for 49 games).
A switch-hitting fielder (mostly 2B) for the Dodgers for 8 years, Jim was the 1965 NL Rookie of the Year and an All-Star at 2b in 1966. The Dodgers won the WS in 1965 (beating the Twins 4-3) with Drysdale and Koufax (49-20 combined, Koufax tossed two shutouts in the WS) and got swept by the Orioles in 1966. Lefebvre led the team in OPS in '66 and '67, though the '67 team fell to 8th in the NL with no Koufax and a sub-.500 year by Drysdale.
Baseball reference notes that Jim once got fired as a coach of the Dodgers for taking a swing at Lasorda. I'm betting Lefebvre would have liked to take a swing at US team manager and former Mets manager Davey Johnson (managed Mets 1984-90, including the famed '86 WS champs; Cincy '93-95, Baltimore '96-97 and Dodgers '99-00; with 1,148 managerial wins in the majors).
Rollin'
The Cubs ripped off a 5-1 road trip. That one loss was a tough 2-1 loss to the Marlins. Sean Marshall pitched a solid 5 innings, giving up two earned runs. Other than that game, the Cubbies looked solid and got a little bit of a swagger on the road.
They swept the hapless Braves, including the strong double header sweep, and then took 2 of 3 from the Marlins. The first two in Miami were tight with each team getting a victory, but the Cubs cruised in the final game of the series. Ward came out of hiding to hit a three-run dong in the top of the ninth in the first game that gave the Cubs a 6-5 win. I'll admit, when Florida plated their fifth run off of Big Z in the third inning, I couldn't watch much more. I peeked back in regularly, but didn't stay to watch the ninth. I should know better with this team. Game 3 of the series provided Dempster with his 14th win, striking out 10 in six innings in a 9-2 Cub victory. An 8-run seventh inning saw everyone get involved and closed the door on the Marlins.
Home cooking produced another beauty. Harden (7 starts with the Cubs, 1.50 ERA, 59 Ks, 14 BBs, 3-1 record) delivered like the ace he is, going 7 scoreless innings and giving up just 2 hits. Marmol and Wood locked it down. The game was a pitchers duel behind good performances by Harden and the Red's Cueto, but the Cub bats blew it up in the eigth inning after taking a 1-0 lead in the fifth. Ramirez and Fukudome provided a total of 4 RBIs in the eigth for the 5-0 win.
Now the Cubs are once again tied for the best record in baseball at 77-48. A 5-5 last 10 games for the Angels has dropped them a couple games off the pace, while the Cubs and Rays both went 8-2 and sit atop the league. Not only that, but the Cubs extended their Central lead to 6 over the Brewers despite another complete game by Sabathia, including a 2-run single (Sabathia is 8-0 with a 1.60 ERA and 5 complete games for the Brewers in 9 starts - his no decision coming against the Cubs).
They swept the hapless Braves, including the strong double header sweep, and then took 2 of 3 from the Marlins. The first two in Miami were tight with each team getting a victory, but the Cubs cruised in the final game of the series. Ward came out of hiding to hit a three-run dong in the top of the ninth in the first game that gave the Cubs a 6-5 win. I'll admit, when Florida plated their fifth run off of Big Z in the third inning, I couldn't watch much more. I peeked back in regularly, but didn't stay to watch the ninth. I should know better with this team. Game 3 of the series provided Dempster with his 14th win, striking out 10 in six innings in a 9-2 Cub victory. An 8-run seventh inning saw everyone get involved and closed the door on the Marlins.
Home cooking produced another beauty. Harden (7 starts with the Cubs, 1.50 ERA, 59 Ks, 14 BBs, 3-1 record) delivered like the ace he is, going 7 scoreless innings and giving up just 2 hits. Marmol and Wood locked it down. The game was a pitchers duel behind good performances by Harden and the Red's Cueto, but the Cub bats blew it up in the eigth inning after taking a 1-0 lead in the fifth. Ramirez and Fukudome provided a total of 4 RBIs in the eigth for the 5-0 win.
Now the Cubs are once again tied for the best record in baseball at 77-48. A 5-5 last 10 games for the Angels has dropped them a couple games off the pace, while the Cubs and Rays both went 8-2 and sit atop the league. Not only that, but the Cubs extended their Central lead to 6 over the Brewers despite another complete game by Sabathia, including a 2-run single (Sabathia is 8-0 with a 1.60 ERA and 5 complete games for the Brewers in 9 starts - his no decision coming against the Cubs).
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Doh!
The Cubbies were rained out yesterday in Atlanta. The two teams are set for a doubleheader today. This will be a day-night affair (game 1 at 12:10 pm and game 2 at 6:15 pm). Marquis goes in game one and Harden in the night game.
Getting a break Monday and Tuesday could be good for this team. Sweet Lou has been hinting at giving Fukudome some pine time, giving Fontenot some playing time and Johnson and DeRosa more time in RF. Either way, I would like to see the Cubs give this Braves team a thumping.
Conventional wisdom says it's hard to win both games of a doubleheader. It seems logically, but it also seems too simple. As with a lot of old gambler adages, it doesn't hold up to the smell test.
EasyBaseballBetting.com gives a nice look at the numbers and some reasons why you may not want to hold to that adage.
Getting a break Monday and Tuesday could be good for this team. Sweet Lou has been hinting at giving Fukudome some pine time, giving Fontenot some playing time and Johnson and DeRosa more time in RF. Either way, I would like to see the Cubs give this Braves team a thumping.
Conventional wisdom says it's hard to win both games of a doubleheader. It seems logically, but it also seems too simple. As with a lot of old gambler adages, it doesn't hold up to the smell test.
EasyBaseballBetting.com gives a nice look at the numbers and some reasons why you may not want to hold to that adage.
Saturday, August 9, 2008
It's not 8/8/88
It is, however, 8/9/88, when the first official night game at Wrigley was played, ending in Cub win over the Mets 6-4. The original magical date of 8/8/88 was rained out after 3 1/2 innings.
The first baseball game was played there (then Weegham Park) in April 1914 by the Chicago Federals of the Federal League. The Federal League folded after the 1915 season and led to Weegham teaming with 9 others (including William Wrigley, Jr.) to purchase the Cubs from the Taft family. Up until then, the Cubs had played at West Side Park. The Cubs first game at Weegham Park was an 11-inning victory against the Cincy Reds on April 20, 1916.
In 1920, the Wrigley family purchased the Cubs outright and renamed the park to Cubs Park, which would become Wrigley Field in 1926.
But, back to the lights. Crosley Field in Cincy installed lights in 1935 and the Cubs were to be one of the early adopters after seeing the success of night baseball. In 1941, lights were purchased and ready to be installed at Wrigley. However, the day following the Pearl Harbor bombing, the Wrigley family donated all the material to a shipyard to help the war effort.
The original reason for the 1941 plan to install lights was, of course, financially based. After the war, there wasn't as much financial pressure and lights were not to be. That is until the 1980's when MLB told the Cubs that they would have to play playoff games in St. Louis. As you can imagine from seeing yesterday's game against bitter rival St. Louis, the Cubs quickly managed to get some lights up. Wrigleyville has never been the same.
Other notes:
The first baseball game was played there (then Weegham Park) in April 1914 by the Chicago Federals of the Federal League. The Federal League folded after the 1915 season and led to Weegham teaming with 9 others (including William Wrigley, Jr.) to purchase the Cubs from the Taft family. Up until then, the Cubs had played at West Side Park. The Cubs first game at Weegham Park was an 11-inning victory against the Cincy Reds on April 20, 1916.
In 1920, the Wrigley family purchased the Cubs outright and renamed the park to Cubs Park, which would become Wrigley Field in 1926.
But, back to the lights. Crosley Field in Cincy installed lights in 1935 and the Cubs were to be one of the early adopters after seeing the success of night baseball. In 1941, lights were purchased and ready to be installed at Wrigley. However, the day following the Pearl Harbor bombing, the Wrigley family donated all the material to a shipyard to help the war effort.
The original reason for the 1941 plan to install lights was, of course, financially based. After the war, there wasn't as much financial pressure and lights were not to be. That is until the 1980's when MLB told the Cubs that they would have to play playoff games in St. Louis. As you can imagine from seeing yesterday's game against bitter rival St. Louis, the Cubs quickly managed to get some lights up. Wrigleyville has never been the same.
Other notes:
- First permanent concession stand (1914) for hot dogs and beer
- First tradition of throwing back opponent home runs
- The famous "Take Me Out to the Ballgame"
- The tradition of singing the National Anthem before games started at Wrigley for the 1918 World Series
- First field with an organist (1941).
Friday, August 8, 2008
Today's Game
I'm looking at the bottom of the 11th and Lee just took a walk to lead off the inning.
I feel like Ryan Franklin is ready to cough this game up.
Rammy loves the big game situation.
I feel like Ryan Franklin is ready to cough this game up.
Rammy loves the big game situation.
Keep it Coming
The Cubs are still playing the Cards right now. Top of the 11th, 2-2 tie. Lilly pitched a good game, going 7 1/3 innings and giving up just 2 runs - a solo shot in the third and one run in the 6th, which could have (and should have) been a much bigger inning for the Cards. Two homers by Edmonds got the Cubs two runs. Stick it to 'em, Jimmy.
It's been going well. DeRosa hit a granny on Wednesday to help power a Cub 11-4 smashing of the Astros. Soriano hit a 3-run dinger on Wednesday to put the Cubs up late in an eventual 11-7 victory. This all after a 2-0 loss to the 'Stros in the middle of that weather nightmare on Monday night, which gave Dempster his 5th loss of the year.
Prior to today's game, the Cubs sit 23 games over .500 with a stellar 69-46 record. Soriano has 20 hits in his last 11 games. DeRosa is hitting .355 (4 walks, 12 RBIs) in his last 10 games and 8 RBIs in his last 2 games. Edmonds has had 12 of 17 hits go for extra bases. Kerry Wood pitched and looked good. It's a good time for the Cubs to feel strong.
It's been going well. DeRosa hit a granny on Wednesday to help power a Cub 11-4 smashing of the Astros. Soriano hit a 3-run dinger on Wednesday to put the Cubs up late in an eventual 11-7 victory. This all after a 2-0 loss to the 'Stros in the middle of that weather nightmare on Monday night, which gave Dempster his 5th loss of the year.
Prior to today's game, the Cubs sit 23 games over .500 with a stellar 69-46 record. Soriano has 20 hits in his last 11 games. DeRosa is hitting .355 (4 walks, 12 RBIs) in his last 10 games and 8 RBIs in his last 2 games. Edmonds has had 12 of 17 hits go for extra bases. Kerry Wood pitched and looked good. It's a good time for the Cubs to feel strong.
Monday, August 4, 2008
Cuban
The Trib ran a piece painting Mark Cuban as a leading candidate to be the next owner of the Cubs. Not that surprising.
Don't Call it a Combeback
It was a good weekend overall for the Cubbies. Reed Johnson's pinch-hit, two-run homer in the eighth yesterday gave the Cubs the lead for good and secured a series victory over the Pirates. Things seem to be clicking again, but that has been the trend at Wrigley.
The Cubs now have a 5-game lead over Milwaukee and are 7-3 in their last 10. The Cubs league's best ERA for starting pitchers and have scored more runs then any other team in the NL. It's a good combination. Soriano looks healthy and ramped up. The combo deal of the year in the outfield, Johnson/Edmonds, has batted .306 combined with 23 doubles, 16 HRs and 67 RBIs. Not bad. Kerry is about ready to come back, but his absence has led to some good innings from Samardzija.
Couldn't be better, huh? Well, I'm a tad concerned about the 15-17 record in one-run games (9-7 at home and 6-10 away). Is this a major concern? Probably not, but it's worth looking at. Of those 17 losses, only six of them came when the Cubs scored 4 or more runs (5 away and 1 at home). You can look at these facts any way you want. I'm going to say that when the Cubs suffer a blip in the offense, they are losing close games. However, this doesn't happen terribly frequently (at 5.3 runs per game) and when it does, the pitchers are keeping them in those games. Those one-run games still amount to approximately 29% of the games thus far and we know what the playoffs are like.
The Cubs now have a 5-game lead over Milwaukee and are 7-3 in their last 10. The Cubs league's best ERA for starting pitchers and have scored more runs then any other team in the NL. It's a good combination. Soriano looks healthy and ramped up. The combo deal of the year in the outfield, Johnson/Edmonds, has batted .306 combined with 23 doubles, 16 HRs and 67 RBIs. Not bad. Kerry is about ready to come back, but his absence has led to some good innings from Samardzija.
Couldn't be better, huh? Well, I'm a tad concerned about the 15-17 record in one-run games (9-7 at home and 6-10 away). Is this a major concern? Probably not, but it's worth looking at. Of those 17 losses, only six of them came when the Cubs scored 4 or more runs (5 away and 1 at home). You can look at these facts any way you want. I'm going to say that when the Cubs suffer a blip in the offense, they are losing close games. However, this doesn't happen terribly frequently (at 5.3 runs per game) and when it does, the pitchers are keeping them in those games. Those one-run games still amount to approximately 29% of the games thus far and we know what the playoffs are like.
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