Pujols Right Guy for Cubs

I wish Chicago Sun-Times columnist Joe Cowley would stick to telling White Sox general manager Ken Williams how to do his job.

In Thursday's Sun-Times, Cowley, a former longtime White Sox beat writer, advised Cubs fans to not get their hopes up in regards to the North Siders signing St. Louis Cardinals slugger Albert Pujols. He suggested that any Cubs fan who dares dream of Pujols donning a Cubs uniform in 2012 should "pick up the nearest stapler and punch it into your chest to help snap you back to reality."

SI Cover Features Castro

Cubs shortstop Starlin Castro graces the cover of the latest issue of Sports Illustrated.

Remembering Jackie Robinson - and Mike Royko

This is a terrific post, courtesy of Bob Vorwald. Mike Royko recalls attending Jackie Robinson's first game at Wrigley Field on May 18, 1947. Royko's column was published on Oct. 25, 1972 after Robinson's death. (From One More Time: The Best of Mike Royko).

The Beats Go On

I had WGN (720-AM) on in the car recently while the Cubs beat writer Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune was being interviewed by a host.

Justin Berg Did Not Make the Team

ESPN's Tim Kurkjian nominates this year's National League rookie crop as one of the best ever.

Girardi's Still Trying To Focus on Managing the Yankees

Joe Girardi, I assume, is in complete agreement with Deadspin's David Matthews that much of the talk so far regarding who the next Cubs manager is going to be has been wild speculation.

Rozner on Ramirez

Daily Herald sports columnist Barry Rozner wrote another recent gem, regarding Aramis Ramirez and his recent comments regarding his player option worth nearly $18 million (when you include his 2012 buyout).

A Tip of the Cap to Barry Rozner

I was glad that our publisher, Steve Rhodes, brought to my attention some of the recent work of Daily Herald sports columnist Barry Rozner regarding the sad state of the Cubs.

Ryno's Not Just Doing It, He's Doing It Well

The longtime intramural sports director ay my alma mater, St. Ambrose University, was a gentleman named Leo Kilfoy. Kilfoy used to hand out t-shirts as awards for intramural champions, runners-up, and all-stars that usually included a motivational phrase of the back. One of those maxims on a shirt that I owned was a play on the old Nike slogan and read, "Don't just do it. Do it better!"

122 Pitches! The Horror!

The jury is still out on whether Thomas Diamond will be a decent starting pitcher and if he'll be part of the Cubs' rotation in 2011, but with the Cubs 14 games under .500 with 54 to play there is no time like the present to find out.