He might as well just close up that restaurant of his in St Louis today.

I'm a little unsure how to react myself. The best scenario I can come up with involves him hitting for a few weeks to shut everyone up and then being blacklisted for going into the stands to beat up a few Cubs fans.

“Can we really give Edmonds a standing ovation when he’s wearing a Cubs uniform? Can we do really do that? I’m not sure we can,” Leitch said. “Any other uniform, sure. It’s easy. But that uniform?

Dude, its laundry.

I think Cubs fans should be mored pissed than Cards fans.

“I don’t think Jim understands what this means,” Leitch said. “By signing with the Cubs, he may be thinking he’s getting back at Cardinals management. But the fans who loved him — we’re the ones who will feel this. The fan base is forever.”

Well, Will, try thinking of it from a Cubs fan's perspective. I'm going to have a hard time rooting for that frosted-tipped jagoff, too.

To me, it looks like Edmonds is becoming a Cubbie to help the Cards win.

I realize that this is somewhat tongue in cheek, but this is stupid. Do the Cards have an offer on the table? Are they pursuing him in anyway? Like Edmonds is supposed to spurn interest from another club because the fans of his old club don't like his new team.

I look at it like this:
1) The Jimmy Carson situation: Player is traded from your favorite team to a hated rival.
--In this case, you can't really fault the player. The trade was beyond his control.

2) The Bernie Nicholls situation: Player is traded to or signs a free-agent deal with a non-rival and eventually signs with a rival.
--It's OK to harbor a little animosity, since the player chose a rival with whom to sign, but you can't expect him to show loyalty to the fanbase of a team that traded him. No hard feelings. Especially if (as in Edmonds' situation), the player wasn't really pursued in the first place.

3) The Tony Granato situation: Player turns down offer from current team to sign with hated rival, based on rival being "in a position to win". Player does this despite being embraced by fanbase during battle with blod clot on brain.
--This player is a sack of crap and should be booed every time he steps in the building. Increasing the Schadenfreude factor is that old team actually made the playoffs while rival/new team hit the golf course after the season.

This doesn't mean Edmonds isn't a dick and shouldn't be booed. He is, and he should. But just not for the reasons that Leitch mentions.

Its nice to see an Angel fan comment on the Jim Edmonds situation. You all have long memories and really don't like the guy.

But he wasn't Duke Snider in an Angels uniform. Cards fans are sad, more than anything. He was the Yin to El Hombre's Yang through the best decade of Cardinal baseball since the '60s. No, the Eighties really don't match up in terms of on field performance - there's a reason that LaRussa and not Herzog have the most wins as Cardinal manager, and it ain't just the years.

Cardinal fans should be thrilled. This means that despite some good moves this off-season, and seemingly a change in organizational philosophy, Jim Hendry is still Jim Hendry. Short of Chris Carpenter growing a new right arm, this is the best news StL could hope for.

1) The Jimmy Carson situation: Player is traded from your favorite team to a hated rival.
--In this case, you can't really fault the player. The trade was beyond his control.

2) The Bernie Nicholls situation: Player is traded to or signs a free-agent deal with a non-rival and eventually signs with a rival.
--It's OK to harbor a little animosity, since the player chose a rival with whom to sign, but you can't expect him to show loyalty to the fanbase of a team that traded him. No hard feelings. Especially if (as in Edmonds' situation), the player wasn't really pursued in the first place.

3) The Tony Granato situation: Player turns down offer from current team to sign with hated rival, based on rival being "in a position to win". Player does this despite being embraced by fanbase during battle with blod clot on brain.
--This player is a sack of crap and should be booed every time he steps in the building. Increasing the Schadenfreude factor is that old team actually made the playoffs while rival/new team hit the golf course after the season.

This doesn't mean Edmonds isn't a dick and shouldn't be booed. He is, and he should. But just not for the reasons that Leitch mentions.

Alright! Explaining the state of the world using nothing but LA Kings references. That's a challenge. Shredder, you done yourself proud, m'man.

As a Cub fan, I will hate Jim Edmonds until the day they put him in the dirt next to his father, Adolf Hitler.

I realize that Hitler's ashes are down some well in the former East Berlin, but that sounds like a reasonable place for Edmonds to spend eternity.

I had no idea Cub fans had it in for Edmonds. Whatever for? Just on principle? Or is there some specific Pierzynski-runs-to-first-despite-striking-out-like incident you all point to?

I had no idea Cubs fans had it in for Edmonds, and I'm a Cubs fan.

I had no idea Cub fans had it in for Edmonds. Whatever for? Just on principle? Or is there some specific Pierzynski-runs-to-first-despite-striking-out-like incident you all point to?

Well, it's become a truism to morons everywhere that Edmonds was an immobile oaf in the outfield who did nothing but dive to catch baseballs hit right at him. Plus, he had the temerity to hit a big HR off of that fat ######### at the front of Chicago's rotation after he had drilled him earlier in the game.

Oh yeah, and he had highlights in his hair and once wore a half-shirt under his uniform.

O.K., I wondered if I was just missing something. There seems to be a lot of "oh no not him" going on.

The best scenario I can come up with involves him hitting for a few weeks to shut everyone up and then being blacklisted for going into the stands to beat up a few Cubs fans.

I could live with that.

I think Cubs fans should be mored pissed than Cards fans.

No kidding. Cards fans get the best of all worlds re. Edmonds; they benefit from years of his superstar-level play, and when he craps out, their primary division rival snarfs him up and sticks him in the lineup.

He's an easily dislikable player with the diving for balls when he doesn't have to, and the half-assed effort he gave in Anaheim before ecoming to StL. When a player like that plays for your arch-rival, he becomes Hitlerian. I think he also had some less-than-complimentary things to say about Wrigley Field.

I had no idea Cubs fans had it in for Edmonds, and I'm a Cubs fan.

Brian Burwell has taken the "Patriots stole our Super Bowl!" columns, so Bernie had to find another made-up controversy to write about.

As a Cub fan, I will hate Jim Edmonds until the day they put him in the dirt next to his father, Adolf Hitler.

No, not Hitler--it is Steve Garvey who is more evil than Jim Edmonds, and who fathered half of the world's population. A Cub fan of all people should know this.

How about Sparkles pre-emptively calling out my moronitude. Very impressive. Usually I have to post something before it becomes that apparent.

And yes, the fact that he's a frosted-tipped showboating horse-toothed jagoff means I'll have trouble liking him even if he doesn't totally blow ass.

that fat ######### at the front of Chicago's rotation

Uh, Rick Reuschel's been retired for years.

once wore a half-shirt under his uniform.

Well, hell, I didn't know THAT. I hate him even more now.

Awful lotta rivalry outrage in here. Get it out now before Edmonds is released in a week.

Awful lotta rivalry outrage in here. Get it out now before Edmonds is released in a week.

Your lips to god's ears.

I'd rather see Steve Bartman in a Cubs uniform than Jim Edmonds.

Uh, Rick Reuschel's been retired for years.

See, I thought he meant Ruben Quevedo.

Half-shirt?

My position on this is that unless the team is desperate for any offense whatsoever, the time to do something like this is at the very beginning of the season. Like when the Red Sox signed Gary Gaetti. Hopefully Edmonds can top Gaetti's -100 OPS+ in a Red Sox uniform.

See, I thought he meant Ruben Quevedo.

Heh. Now HE was fat. Zambrano's barrel-chested.

I'd rather see Steve Bartman in a Cubs uniform than Jim Edmonds.

Only if he wears that awesomely awesome green turtleneck underneath it.

Well, I like the guy. Mostly because he was beyond awesome for a half decade, and without him we're not the NL's best team in the aughts. He doesn't quite make my personal Firmament of Cardinals, but playing at such a high level absolves many sins. So, yeah, I don't look forward to the aesthetics of seeing him disinterred and dressed up in a Cubs uniform.

I think he also had some less-than-complimentary things to say about Wrigley Field.

Let me join him in this. Architecturally, Wrigley is my favorite sporting venue, and it's not a particularly close call. However, outside of assorted frat rows and maybe Fenway, I can't think of a bigger lodestone for witless d-bags.

I don't think it's just a matter of it being a former Cardinal or worse, being a former ####### Cardinal. It's the idea of signing a guy who's clearly done to replace the guy who's supposed to be the team's centerfielder of the future. Has Pie lived up to expectations? No, but then again, he's been given little chance to do so. And it's just absurd when you consider this team is in first and still topping the bigs in runs scored. His presence in the lineup, in other words, wasn't affecting the team.

I had no idea Jim Edmonds was this disliked. You guys are talking about like him if he were not White.

Comment #30 makes a good point.

I hear the Cubs are also going to trade Matt Murton for a PTBNL, and sign Ray Lankford to platoon with Soriano.

Two things about last night that help balance out my dismay at the Edmonds signing:

1) The Cubs hitters' approach against Peavy was their best approach against a stud pitcher that I have seen in 25 years. They knocked him out after 4 innings and about 90 pitches.

2) Carlos Marmol is the best relief pitcher over 14 months in the history of the Cubs.

I had no idea Jim Edmonds was this disliked. You guys are talking about like him if he were not White.

Well, that's only because he's displacing a much whiter man in Felix Pie.

I hear the Cubs are also going to trade Matt Murton for a PTBNL, and sign Ray Lankford to platoon with Soriano.

What's Lonnie Smith doing these days?

2) Carlos Marmol is the best relief pitcher over 14 months in the history of the Cubs.

Strike 2 to the third hitter of the 7th (forget who it was) was cartoonish. Looked like it jumped about a foot 2/3 of the way to the plate, then dove about another foot and a half when it reached the plate.

However, outside of assorted frat rows and maybe Fenway, I can't think of a bigger lodestone for witless d-bags.

As a Cub fan who attends about 50 games at Wrigley a year, I will not disagree with this.

When I can see the break on the ball from the upper deck, I just laugh. Can you see the looks on the victims faces, Retro, as they walk back to the first base dugout? It must be comical.

When I can see the break on the ball from the upper deck, I just laugh. Can you see the looks on the victims faces, Retro, as they walk back to the first base dugout? It must be comical.

Yes. It's tremendous. Seriously--I just busted out laughing at the pitch I described, because I was flabbergasted at what I'd just witnessed. Marmol has some of the best stuff I've ever seen.

Oh yeah, and he had highlights in his hair and once wore a half-shirt under his uniform.

I don't know anything about any half-shirts, but I will never forgive him for the crime against fashion that is the windbreaker under the jersey. This is a bigger offense than even being a Cardinal.

At least Fernando Vina never did that.

Considering how often us Bay Areans hear about how the SoCal teams don't pay any attention to us even though we hate them with a passion*, it's nice to hear that Tony Granato left for a "hated rival." I didn't know he had made a comment about going to a team in a position to win, however. That's pretty funny. The Sharks were getting out from under the Craig Janney era, but in a position to win? LOL.

*Collectively speaking. I've disliked plenty of SoCal teams, but never because of where they played their games. The Dodgers were actually my designated NL team to root for while Depo was at the helm.

It's the idea of signing a guy who's clearly done to replace the guy who's supposed to be the team's centerfielder of the future. Has Pie lived up to expectations? No, but then again, he's been given little chance to do so. And it's just absurd when you consider this team is in first and still topping the bigs in runs scored. His presence in the lineup, in other words, wasn't affecting the team.

Precisely. As bad as Pie's been at the plate, he's been slightly better than Edmonds thus far. And he's a hell of lot better defensively. Put Pie in the lineup every time there's a right-hander starting for the opposition. If he still sucks after a couple of months of this, then think about making a change. Leave him alone and see what he can do.

2) Carlos Marmol is the best relief pitcher over 14 months in the history of the Cubs.

Possibly. But if so, Bruce Sutter from 1977 - mid May 1978 is right behind:

CM - 95.3 IP 141 K 41 BB 1.32 ERA
BS - 132 IP 157 K 34 BB 1.43 ERA

Carlos has the better K rate and better ERA and ERA+. Bruce has much better control and worked almost 40% more innings.

edit: And Sutter's splitter was right up there on the cartoonish scale as well.

At least Fernando Vina never did that.

Surprised the Cubs haven't signed him. He WAS a second baseman, after all.

And yes, the fact that he's a frosted-tipped

Does he really frost his hair?

If so, why not just wear a dress?

edit: And Sutter's splitter was right up there on the cartoonish scale as well.

From the CF camera view it looked like a wiffleball, it looked straight, belt high, or higher, until it just about reached the plate, then dropped like a dead pigeon at an 80 degree angle

Joe Foy used to wear a windbreaker under his jersey. Looked weird.

If so, why not just wear a dress?

He's putting a Cubs uniform on, isn't he? (ba-zing.)

I didn't know he had made a comment about going to a team in a position to win, however. That's pretty funny. The Sharks were getting out from under the Craig Janney era, but in a position to win? LOL.

Actually, I had the year wrong when I said the Kings went to the playoffs that year. They went the next year, but the Sharks still sucked in '96-'97, so I guess that was the Schadenfreude part. I remember going to a game in '96 (we had a mini-plan) where they showed Granato on the screen. He had been out for a while with the blood clot, and it was the first time he had been in the building for a long time. He was there just as a spectator that night, but he got a huge standing ovation when they showed him on the screen. He was really loved in L.A. Then he left for comparable, if not less, money than the Kings were offering. I've hated him ever since.

And part of the hatred toward the Sharks was the California thing, but a lot of it was that they played Keven Constantine's boring-ass style that was just painful to watch. And I hate that building. Worst place I've ever been for a professional hockey game (though Allstate Arena for Wolves games is pretty bad, too).

I honestly don't know why everyone else hates Edmonds. For a long time, I thought it was a personal grudge that I had. I remember being mildly distrustful of him for some reason while he was with the Angels. When he got traded to the Cards, I read an article where someone asked him if he wanted his old Angles duffle-bag. He said something along the lines of "Screw That!" Somehow, that clicked in my head that he was a dishonorable person. Now, I know that what I just wrote is not grounds for a decade-long player-hatred, but it did it for me. I never even really talked about it, because I assumed I was the only guy who hated him. I have always just hated him in a Gary Carter-Steve Garvey sense. All Cub fans hate Garvey. I personally despised Carter. I think it was the perm.

It's irrational, but I will not back down from it, particularly since Edmonds is a downgrade from anybody else. If the Cubs were getting the Edmonds of 5 years ago, I'm sure I'd whore it out for him.

As long as he sucks, I have my principles.

It's irrational, but I will not back down from it, particularly since Edmonds is a downgrade from anybody else. If the Cubs were getting the Edmonds of 5 years ago, I'm sure I'd whore it out for him.

As long as he sucks, I have my principles.

Well-stated.

What's Lonnie Smith doing these days?

Misplaying flyballs in some slow pitch softball league somewhere.

PRIMEY FOR #48!!!

Stan Musial would make a great platoon partner at first with D. Lee.

I hear Jim Hendry is going to tender an offer to Will Clark if the Edmonds signing pans out...

And part of the hatred toward the Sharks was the California thing, but a lot of it was that they played Keven Constantine's boring-ass style that was just painful to watch. And I hate that building. Worst place I've ever been for a professional hockey game (though Allstate Arena for Wolves games is pretty bad, too).

Sounds as though your visit to our building was some time ago. It's gotten worse. SJ Sharkie, once a top notch mascot, now just walks around the arena banging on some sort of drum that actually just sounds like two lead pipes being bashed together. This goes on all game long. I was in high school during Constantine's reign, and my dad and I had season tix that I was glad to partake in even though the team was dreadful. He still has the tickets, but I seldom go. Like, once each of the last two seasons seldom.

Even though they've been winning, Ron Wilson's style wasn't any improvement. They bore me to no end.

And I wish pestilence and plague upon the Kings as long as Lombardi is in charge.

Dumbest move ever. EVER!!!!

Sounds as though your visit to our building was some time ago.

Sometime in '96 or '97, not long after it opened. We were in the first row of the second deck in the center ice section, right behind the broadcast row. They sound like great seats, but we couldn't see one whole offensive zone. Instead of putting in thin wires, or even better, plexiglass, for barrier at the top of the steps up from the concourse (to keep people from falling into the lower bowl), they had these big huge pipes, which completely blocked the view of the seats where we were. In the era of modern design and construction techniques, that's inexcusable. Plus, the single concourse design is ridiculous nowadays. Horrible, horrible building.

Its nice to see an Angel fan comment on the Jim Edmonds situation. You all have long memories and really don't like the guy.

I love the guy, and I think Cubs and Cards fans are both being really silly here.

He's an easily dislikable player with the diving for balls when he doesn't have to, and the half-assed effort he gave in Anaheim before ecoming to StL.

That is a complete and total myth.

I always liked Jim Edmonds. Not for any rooting reasons or personal reasons, but because I think his uppercut swing is really cool.

That is a complete and total myth.

I have to defer to you on Angels stuff, Blackhawk, but if it's a myth, it's a widely repeated myth. Meanwhile 1-0 in the Edmonds era.

This thread has been my first chance to be the first one to say "mind-boggle this retard" or "so's your mom" but I'm afraid everyone else is tired of that already even though it still makes me laugh every thread it shows up in. I'm undecided.

I'm undecided.

So's your mom.

I can't understand people not understanding the Edmonds hate. He was a popular player of our primary rival. He beat the Cubs many times. Now, he's being signed by the Cubs when he's crap. What's to like?

I can't understand people not understanding the Edmonds hate. He was a popular player of our primary rival. He beat the Cubs many times. Now, he's being signed by the Cubs when he's crap. What's to like?

Your mom.

Odd this reminds me of the Sox signing Santo when he was over the hill. Cub fans thought it was hilarious, sorry Ron.

Jimmy was my favorite player for a long time, but I do have to point out that not only was it a half shirt . . . it was a faded pink half shirt.

Still love the guy, though. The stories out of Anaheim about his jaking may have been true, but man, you couldn't have asked for harder or better play in his StL years. I'll give him a standing O in any uniform short of the National Socialists'.

Odd this reminds me of the Sox signing Santo when he was over the hill. Cub fans thought it was hilarious, sorry Ron.

Well, they didn't sign him as much as they traded for him. Gave up Steve Stone and Steve Swisher after Santo became the first player ever to exercise 5-10 rights and refuse a trade to the Angels.

And he wasn't over the hill. Well he was, but he was still a good player. 20 HR and a 112 OPS+ in 1973. It's been 3 years since Edmonds has been that good.