My heart and condolences go out to Randy Walker’s family after his tragic passing Thursday night. Obviously, I didn’t know him, but I am definitely a big fan of Big Ten football. Northwestern and Michigan have had some monumental tussles recently and I have nothing but respect for the way Randy Walker ran his program. He was by all accounts a stand-up guy, and with all of the coaching scandals in the recent past, we could use more coaches like that.

For a guy who leads the National League All Star voting for his position, he sure hasn’t helped my fantasy team as of late. JBay powered my week 10 win with 34 pts (9-19, 6 1B, 2B, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 5 R, 11 BB, 4 KO). Good stuff. He followed that up with 3 pts in week 11 (still got the win), and 8 pts for week 12 (suffered a crushing defeat). So far this week he has 3 points. This guy is killing me. He ranks in the top 10 for the outfield coming in at number 10. Coming into the season he was touted as a top 3 guy. I made him my first round selection, and frankly, I’m disappointed in his performance. I hope that he’s able to rise out of his slump to carry the BALCO Hitmen on to a triumphant season. I’m not so sure.

Have no fear, I’m still in first place in the league (although I’ve fallen from 1st to 4th in points total). I will need guys like Bay to contribute consistently to the team. I also need free agent pick-ups Rocco Baldelli, and Dan Uggla to continue their torrid hitting. My pitching is still a huge strength for my team, but I’ve really had a hard time settling on a relief pitcher. If anyone has any tips or ideas for players who are under the radar, or guys you think I should dump, let me know.

Let me extend my last post a bit. Ryan Dempster has got to go. I don’t care if they trade him, sell him, option him to Triple A, waive him and eat his salary… he’s a killer. Tonight the Cubs battled back behind some timely hitting (yes, I said the Cubs), and a gutty performance by their best pitcher. People say that there are turning points in a season. This had all the makings of such a turning point. It seemed like the team was getting really pumped in response to their comeback in the game tonight against the Brewers, and then Dusty (who still should be fired) brings in Dempster to ruin the 9th. I have to wonder, if I feel like he’s gonna blow it, how do his teammates feel when they see that he’s coming in? I can’t imagine they feel confident in this guy. Even when he does save a game, there are usually 2 baserunners just to make it interesting. He just doesn’t have it. Cubs, cut your losses and see what David Aardsma looks like in the closer role. He seems to have the stuff for it.

So the Cubs have been awful without Derrek Lee. Now they get to be brutal with Derrek Lee. Len and Bob talked a lot tonight about the Richie Sexson trade that brought the Brewers a ton of young talent that they’re building around. Sounds like a great plan right? RIGHT? But the Tribune Company, Andy McPhail, and Jim Hendry don’t have the stones to pull the trigger on a deal (or deals) like that.

First, let’s talk about who the Cubs should get rid of.

• Jacque Jones. Apparently the Yankees want him. I’m ok with that. I’m not convinced that the Yankees have a ton of talent down on the farm, so maybe a 3 team deal might have to be worked out. That’s fine. Jacque Jones has been an ok addition when he’s been on, and when he’s been off, he’s been terrible. So I wouldn’t miss him.
• Second, and I know this is sacriledge, but Greg Maddux. He definitely holds the cards here, and the deal would have to be done right (right there I should know that the Cubs aren’t capable of such a thing), but I think a contender would be willing to give you some prospects to get Greg Maddux in their rotation. Take the deal.
• Phil Nevin. I think he’s shown himself worthy as a 1B/DH. He’s a nice bat coming off the bench for a contender. Not the Cubs. Give the ABs to some kid who can use it to get better.
• Neifi Perez. Again, a good veteran bat who can play anywhere on the field. Some National League contender has to have an interest in that.

As much as it kills me to hang on to Prior and Wood (both should have been traded 2 years ago), I can’t see the Cubs trading pitching (excluding Maddux, of course). You can never have enough pitching. So what do I suggest the Cubs get in return for these guys? Prospects. Prospects. Prospects. I think that each one of the above (save Neifi perhaps) would fetch a top level prospect from most organizations. If my math is right, that’s at least 3 top-level prospects, which is about 3 more than the Cubs have right now. I know, the pitchers just aren’t ready yet, and they have to give Felix Pie the time that they didn’t give Corey Patterson to develop. That’s all well and good, but when I read about every other team having some young hot shot waiting at AA or AAA to get his shot. A can’t miss prospect, I think, What do the Cubs have? Pitchers who have been forced into the rotation and exposed as not ready, and a handful of decent prospects. I want more.

Dwayne Wade. He not only hit the shot that took Game 5 of the NBA Finals to overtime, but he also ices the victory with 2 foul shots with 1 second left. This guy is out-of-this world amazing. I remember watching him in the NCAA tournament when he was with Marquette. He was fun to watch then. I definitely didn’t peg him for the next superstar though. It seemed like he wasn’t flashy enough. He didn’t talk trash, he was a team player both things not typical of the NBA superstar. But it looks like with his performances in this year’s Finals (dropping 28, 23, 42, 36 and 43 points respectively), he’s solidified his place as an ‘A List’ superstar in the NBA. I couldn’t be happier to see it. A guy who is humble, a team-player, and a quiet leader stepping up to lead his team to a 3-2 lead over Dallas.

I just got done watching the Ghana v. Czech Republic FIFA World Cup game. I haven’t watched soccer since the last World Cup. That’s my bad. It was a wonderful experience. The Czech Republic was expected to win easily but Ghana scored a goal in the second minute that changed everything. From the inital kick-off Ghana was relentlessly attacking. Obviously initially it paid off with the first goal. Throughout the first half they didn’t stop attacking and the Czech Republic was not able to match their intensity.

Now, I don’t claim to be a soccer fan, and certainly not a knowledgable fan, but watching these two teams showed me why soccer is called ‘The Beautiful Game’. Not only are the athletes in peak physical condition, the way that they are able to move, change direction, and make the ball do what they want it to is truly amazing. And even though each team is challenging the other on every loose ball, when someone is injured (or even just down on the field) it is protocol to kick the ball out of bound to stop the play so that the downed player can receive time and/or attention.

That kind of sportsmanship coupled with the sheer athleticism, and intrigue of soccer make it really attractive. I’m probably not willing to give up my baseball, or football, but perhaps I need to make time in my life for some soccer.

Image Courtesy of Photofile
R.I.P. Tiger Stadium. Tiger Stadium is the place where I first climbed the stairs, peaked out onto the field, and saw the wide open expanse that was a baseball field. I was hooked. Totally hooked. The blue-grey stadium, with cages for fences and bullpens, could not have been more beautiful. It was the early 80’s and I was but a wee lad. Making the trip over to Detroit, baseball mitt in hand, to catch a game with my family.

I’m not a huge Tigers fan now, although they do hold a special place in my heart. I don’t really follow the team too closely. I’m happy to see them in first place (and not only because that means that the Sox aren’t in first place). It sounds like they have a really strong young nucleus.

So, on this day, when the Cubs meet the Tigers in interleague play, I also bid farewell to the place where I fell in love with baseball. Tiger Stadium. Good bye.

Today, Jason Kottke drops some funny on us. Apparently Madden 06 has even more influence that originally thought. (thanks kottke)

For a while now, I’ve kept my eyes on the 9rules blog network. I was introduced to it by John Zeratsky, who has been a 9rules member for a while now. They recently had an open call for entries to be a part of their network. We submitted this site, and I’m proud to annouce that we were accepted. I’d like to tell you about it but I think that they say it better than I could so I’ll just tell you about it by ripping the overview from their site:

The 9rules Network is a community of the best weblogs in the world on a variety of topics. We started 9rules to give passionate writers more exposure and to help readers find great blogs on their favorite subjects. It’s difficult to find sites worth returning to, so 9rules brings together the very best of the independent web all under one roof.

My hope for this blog and it’s participation in the 9rules network is that we will be able to provide quality sports content that keeps people interested. I hope that we gain knowledge about producing good content, and I hope that we are able to meet and get to know more people who have a passion for sports, and the internet. My thanks to Paul “Scrivs” Scrivens, Colin D. Devroe, Mike Rundle, and Tyme White for selecting vigilante sports to be a part of the 9rules network. And no list of thanks is complete without mentioning the best friend a person could have, my wife Mollie, who has supported me in my blogging pursuits and has established herself as a prominent blogger on environmental, and social issues. She is truly an inspiration. Her blog was also recently accepted into the 9rules network as well.

I was hanging out with this guy this weekend and he asks me, in all seriousness, why I’m a Cubs fan. So I start telling him about how I became a fan when I moved to the Chicago area in 1984 and the Cubs were a really hot team, and that my favorite player was Ryne Sandberg, and how my Mom was a Cubs fan, and my Dad was a Cubs fan. Then he interrupted me before I could tell him about young Greg Maddux and Mark Grace, and he asked me if my Mom was a prostitute and my Dad was drug dealer would I be those things as well? And I said… No, I’d be a Sox fan.