Spears Dog Wed Day Play

[Spearit]

Houston is ready to close out the Cubbies and many would say this game is already in the books- but Marshall is a true talent for the club and had it going earlier. He has since had 4 games where he wasn't so sharp. Now, Oswalt has not been much of a pitching great either lately- and for a +200 bet- I am biting. Feeling this one.

Chicago Cubs +200

[Spearit]

Any Chicago Cubs die-hard fan is all too familiar with that expression, which has permeated throughout their lives in the summertime. For decades the Cubbies were affectionately known as “Loveable Losers”. The rules have changed and the stakes are higher in all of sports, except for those on the corners Addison and Sheffield. Two other long time losers, Boston and the White Sox ended long World Championship droughts the last two years. As a friend of mine and Cubs loyalist said “Any team can have a bad century.”

For the Cubs it has always been about the lack of quality ownership. That is not to say the former owner the Wrigley Company and the Tribune Company does not know how to make money. Quite the contrary, as both have and continue to pull every nickel they can out of the franchise. For years it has been about the Wrigley Field experience. In truth, that has had to do as much with the watering holes outside the park as the game itself. Oiling the pump before the game and seeing females walking around in bikini tops soaking up every ray of sunshine has little to do with the local nine on the field. For a decade it was “Sunshine and Sammy” to keep the visitors happy.

The Tribune Company tired of scalpers making additional income on sold tickets, so instead they opened up their own legal scalping shop down the block on Addison Street to “Provide a service” for those that wanted premium seats for high demand games. Basically selling what the market will bear, far and above the face value of the tickets they produce themselves. Somehow this is legal.

No question the Cubs have had bad luck with both pitchers Kerry Wood and Mark Prior unable to stay healthy. Yet superficial trades of supposed name ball players are used to fill out a line-up card that has led to a 30-52 record. GM Jim Hendry and manager Dusty Baker have added their names to the local legend of where careers go to die. Neither will likely be around next year, as Year 99 in the quest of World Championship continues.

Cubs fans were able to dismiss the White Sox as second rate, because they never had a park that was a shrine and the team was just as bad as the Cubs. Now the city of Chicago has thousands of black Sox caps and black Sox jerseys being worn by local residents. The South Siders will have record attendance this season, as once again the White Sox are among the premier teams in baseball.

The numbers tell the story.

Home Games 14-25 -15.4 units
Away Games 16-28 -8.5 units
RH starters 21-33 -11.8 units
LH starters 9-20 -12.1 units
Inter-League play 4-11 -5.5 units
1-run games 5-14 -9.7 units
Day Games 14-31 -18.2 units

With pressure increasing on the Tribune suits, they sign Notre Dame (local favorites) wide receiver and 5th round draft choice, Jeff Samardzija to a record $7.25-million contract, provided Samardzija gives up catching the oblong ball following his senior season. To understand what this means, that is roughly a million more dollars then what Arizona signed their number one choice Justin Upton last year, who has miles more potential to play in the majors. For the Cubs, a band-aid will do to cover an open wound on the hearts of millions.

With the Cubs last in runs scored and next to last in home runs, the future is far from bright as anyone that has played on the Cubs will profess. The fact is this is business that is designed to make money. As long as the business model has people buying tickets to nearly sell the place out every game and pay $7-8 dollars a beer, why mess with success.

If you must go to what is the best park in the majors, make sure to put your money on the opposing team at someplace like YouWager.com, because at least your receiving a partial refund against a truly miserable ballclub.

In the end, the Chicago Cubs are about as relevant as a glass of Old Style beer.

[griffey_mojo]

Great stuff Spearit! and GL tonight!

[Tomorrows Paper]

Enjoyed reading it, good luck Spearit.

[ChuckLazar]

Everything today points to the Astros by the rise in the line...They were going to be my POD today but as we all know, when it's too good to be true, it usually loses....GL Buddy!

[BrezzeEaze]

GL today Spearit

[The Cooler]

Good Luck Spearit

[zeib10]

Good luck Spear

[Dennis14072]

gl spearit!

[Spearit]

My thoughts exactly Chucky- Thanx all.

[Kaptain]

Spearit----you gonna be alright my man---????????

best to ya----with the Cubbies----kapt

[Spearit]

Yeah Kapt - I haven't lost it completely yet. Cubs- flubs - subs- duds- yeah dem guys.

Just adding extra info. Have noticed that Marshall is 9-3 starting away games and Oswalt is 8-5 starting at home.

[TheRook]

Good luck buddy,

I'll be rooting extra hard tonight!

[Lsufan]

Good Luck Spearit

[bwade210]

Nice call buddy! I hate the Cubs, but rode it with you!