Author Archive
Top Ten Things Overheard at St. Louis Hitters Meetings in 2010
Posted: 25th October 2009 by TAB BAMFORD in MLB
ESPN's Buster Olney is reporting that, when Tony LaRussa returns to St. Louis to manage the Cardinals in 2010, he'll have a new hitting coach.
Mark McGwire.
That's right, the man once responsible for "saving baseball" with Sammy Sosa, and was later embarassed in front of Congress enough to disappear for a few years, will return to the game.
Which got me to thinking.... what are some things that a fly on the ...
Chicago Blackhawks Debate Time: Brent Sopel vs. Chris Chelios
Posted: 25th October 2009 by TAB BAMFORD in NHL
Whoáwould be betteráon the Blackhawks' blue line:
Brent Sopel or Chris Chelios?
Brent Sopel
DOB: 01/07/1977áá áHt: 6'2" áá Wt: 205ááá 10 years of NHL experience
Drafted sixth round (140th overall) by Vancouver in 1995
Current team: Chicago Blackhawks
Sopel is a 32-year old defensive man who is trying to make it on one of the youngest rosters in the NHL. He missed most of the 2008-09 season with an ...
Chicago-Nashville: Lackluster Blackhawks Shut Out Predators
Posted: 25th October 2009 by TAB BAMFORD in NHL
On Saturday night, the ChicagoáBlackhawks were without two of their best players, Brent Seabrook and Jonathan Toews.
It didnÆt matter. They were playing the Nashville Predators, who are a bad hockey team.
Sure, the HawksÆentire lineup was different because of the two key missing players, but the same team that took Vancouver for granted on Wednesday was dangerously close to making the same mistake just three days later.
The Hawks skated 20 ...
Cristobal Huet Starts Saturday: Confidence Builder Or Regular Rotation?
Posted: 23rd October 2009 by TAB BAMFORD in NHL
Chicago Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville announced after practice on Friday that Cristobal Huet will start in net for SaturdayÆs game against the Nashville Predators.
This newsáturns up the heat on an already simmering debate : where do ChicagoÆs goalies stand with their coach?
Antti Niemi took his first loss of the season on Wednesday night against Vancouver in a game that was poorly played by the Blackhawks and saw two of the ...
Chicago Blackhawks: Friday Injury Updates On Toews, Seabrook
Posted: 23rd October 2009 by TAB BAMFORD in NHL
After Friday morningÆs skate, Chicago Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville indicated that he saw good progress from both Captain Jonathan Toews and Brent Seabrook from their ôupper body injuries,ö and that both will be game-time decisions for Saturday nightÆs game against the Nashville Predators in Chicago.
Quenneville also indicated that both players were doing well enough that any absence from the two would be short. Toews got lit up by Willie Mitchell ...
John Lackey Re-Affirms His Position Atop My Cubs Wish List
Posted: 22nd October 2009 by TAB BAMFORD in MLB
Two weeks ago, I begged other Cubs fans to watch John Lackey pitch this October.
After his performance both on the mound and leaving it Thursday night, I again step before Cubs Nation at large and submit that Lackey should be Cubs' GM Jim Hendry's top target in free agency this winter.
Lackey showed, yet again, that he's a big game pitcher. He came out dealing and battled through more miserable "work" ...
Chicago has always been a city full of bars where, after a few adult beverages, the inevitable conversation is about which former Chicago athletes should never have left.
There are Hall of Fame players that have left, like Lou Brock and Greg Maddux. There are also the All Stars that wereáforced out of town in their prime, like Jeremy Roenick, Chris Chelios and Ed Belfour.
Chicago also has a list ofáAll Star ...
Chicago Blackhawks Lose Players, Game To Vancouver Canucks
Posted: 21st October 2009 by TAB BAMFORD in NHL
On Wednesday night, the Chicago Blackhawks facedáa banged-up Vancouver Canucks team that was struggling. The Hawks were coming off a rough loss to Dallas, in which goalie Cristobal Huet looked bad, and were hoping to bounce back with a strong showing against a conference opponent.
The Hawks not only lost the game, but might have some injury issues to deal with moving forward.
Chicago has statistically dominated their opponents this season, and ...
The trade deadline is months away, but some franchises might be inclined to start dealing sooner rather than later. Injuries are making a significant impact on every NHL roster already this year, and the way the schedule is arranged because of the Olympics, a slide early in the season could be devastating in April and May.
Just look at some of the players who will miss significant time already this year:
Vancouver ...
News: Chicago Cubs Sign Hitting Coach Rudy Jaramillo
Posted: 21st October 2009 by TAB BAMFORD in MLB
It's official. The quick courtship of Rudy Jaramillo by the Chicago Cubs added up to a three-year deal worth reportedly $800,000 per season on Wednesday morning.
The salary makes Jaramillo the highest paid coach in baseball.
Jaramillo comes to Chicago with an impressive resume, having coached 17 Silver Slugger Award winners in 10 seasons. He is considered one of the most respected coaches in the game.
Unfortunately for the Cubs, the hitting coach ...