31st Edition - 10/18/06

• My new manager: Is Piniella an idiot?

The following item is going to get very little press in the Chicago area. But it shouldn't. In multiple interviews yesterday the Cubs new manager Lou Piniella claimed to not know about the curse of the goat. Piniella said he just found out about it on Monday. I read this, and I hear it when he gave an interivew on ESPN Radio 1000.

When Piniella spoke of the curse, there was no joke in his voice, there was no obvious benefit of lying about this, it seemed he was serious, he didn't now about the goat. If indeed he was serious, this is a problem.

First things first, I don't believe in the curse. I never have. But I KNOW about it.

Piniella is a baseball lifer. He has been in the game for over 40 years and played for the Yankees.

*How did the curse of the goat NEVER come up socially when someone talked about the Curse of the Bambino?
*There are only two curses in baseball. It's not a broad subject that requires a lot of research.
*Did Piniella never watch a Cubs playoff game? In 2003 FOX showed images of the goat about 2,000 times.
*Piniella was an analyst for FOX, did he never have to do research on the teams?
*In the Cubs interview process, do they not ever bring up the fan base or history of the club?.. as in, "Lou, how do you think you'll handle questions about Cubs fans or the curse with the media?" - after all, he is now the face of the ball club.

All of the above applies, IF Piniella didn't know about the goat. If he did, then the answer to my very first question is yes, Lou Piniella is an idiot. If he lied about his knowledge to somehow prove the curse doesn't matter, then he isn't very good at interviews. Or perhaps it is simply a matter of a 63-year-old man starting to lose his grip. If so, managing the Cubs isn't going to help him. So annoyed right now, moving on...

• My Mets: On life support

Mets 2, Cardinals 4 (Cards lead the series 3-2)
Hmmmm, looks like trouble. The Mets had a 2-0 lead but Glavine couldn't hold it, in fact he only lasted four innings. A Game 7 is the only thing that could give this series some excitement.

Tonight's game
Game 6, 7:19 on FOX
Carpenter vs. Maine

• Stuff

I just watched "Dazed & Confused" again last night. I don't understand how two of the most popular seniors WANT to hang out with two freshmen, so they both (seperately, mind you) invite them to the party and make sure to hang out with them the whole night. It's not a tradition at this school, because NO ONE else does it. I'm interviewing Linklater tomorrow, we'll see if I bring this up.

Anything else I should ask him?

30th Edition - 10/17/06

• MNF: Insanity

During the Bears vs. Cardinals game last night, perhaps you went to bed when the Bears were losing 3-23. Or maybe you stuck it out until Rex Grossman had 4 INT, along with his two fumbles. But hopefully you stayed up until the very end, when the Caridinals' Rackers (a VERY good kicker) missed a 41-yard field goal, somehow giving the Bears a 24-23 win.
Some facts:
*The Bears were losing 3-23 with less than a minute to go in the 3rd quarter.
*The Bears scored two defensive TDs to close it to 17-23.
*Matt Leinart threw for 2 TD, no INT. and over 250 yards.
*Again, worth repeating, Grossman had 4 INT, 2 Fumbles -- in Fantasy terms he was -9.2 points.
*With just over three minutes left, the Bears were getting the ball back, and it looked like Grossman would have to try and march the team down the field for a TD. Instead, rookie Devin Hester returned the punt 83 yards for a TD. The Bears took the lead.
*Edgerian James carried the ball 36 times for 55 yards.
*The Cardinals are the only team in the history of the NFL to lose two games in the same season after leading by 14 points at half. They did it in back-to-back games against the Chiefs and Bears.

I understand the Bears were supposed to win this game, but not after they were down 3-23. I can't stand all the people saying they KNEW the Bears would come back. I understand the mentality of a player such as Urlacher saying they never gave up, but fans didn't KNOW the Bears would come back. It was one of the most surprising, insane, impossible comebacks I have ever seen. Not only did the Bears have to beat the Cardinals, they had to beat Grossman who had one of the worst games a QB has EVER had. You don't win games like that. Too bad I don't believe in destiny.

• Cubs: Sweet Lou wants A-Rod

I will not get excited. I will not get excited. I will not get excited.
So, Lou Piniella is now the manager of the Chicago Cubs. This is much better than Dusty Baker. Piniella will actually care when the Cubs don't try, or make mistakes. Dusty would normally give them more praise in those situations.
There is talk that Piniella wants Alex Rodriguez to join the team. I like the idea. We need another big bat in the line-up, and Rodriguez is a better SS than 3B. It is not worth doing the deal if the Cubs trade 3B Ramirez for A-Rod.

• My Mets: Game Five is ours

Tom Glavine is rested. Thank the rain gods. His ERA in October is zero. The only problem is that Glavine won't be pitching in Game 6 or 7, so the Mets will have to win the series without him.