BBTF.org/m/cubs : Cubs showing the next Mark Prior and Kerry Wood what it takes

Saturday, May 18, 2013

Babcock: Can The 2013 Cubs Channel The Turnaround Artists Of 1967?

(chicagosidesports.com)

posted 3 hours ago by Repoz to cubs, history | 0 comment(s)

Could always ask…Rich Nye the Quantum Chronophysics Guy.

Indeed, scanning the 2013 roster, only an optimist of Ernie Banksian dimensions would find four future Hall-of-Famers. I only count two position players who have even made the All-Star team as Cubs: Starlin Castro (2011, 2012), Alfonso Soriano (2007, 2008). Castro is still a work in progress and The Fonz can only hope for lasting recognition if his outfield hop turns into a Gangnam style YouTube sensation.

Getting more granular, ...

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1. RMc don't hate anyone Asian posted on January 18, 2013 at 12:39 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

"First, you grasp Andre firmly by the wrists, and pulllll him out of the ivy...!"

2. Misirlou is bad, he's nationwide posted on January 18, 2013 at 01:40 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

On a recent road trip, we passed the time by naming baseball players with legal scrabble words for first and last names. Mark Prior was my first one.

3. Swedish Chef posted on January 18, 2013 at 02:17 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

On a recent road trip, we passed the time by naming baseball players with legal scrabble words for first and last names. Mark Prior was my first one.

The one I can instantly answer with is Urban Shocker.

4. snapper (history's 42nd greatest monster) posted on January 18, 2013 at 02:21 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

The one I can instantly answer with is Urban Shocker.

Bob Walk. Elroy Face. Bob Friend. Jeff and Jered Weaver. The Matts Carpenters. Cecil Cooper. All the many Millers. Joe Thatcher. Bill Bean. Kerry Wood.

5. Pasta-diving Jeter (jmac66) posted on January 18, 2013 at 02:26 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Joey Jay

6. zonk posted on January 18, 2013 at 02:34 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Wood & Prior make for an odd title to this article --

I was expecting something more "First, make sure you keep your arm or shoulder very still while the MRI machine is creating the image... " and "second opinions are very important - and remember, your manager doesn't count as the first opinion".

7. VoodooR posted on January 18, 2013 at 03:04 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

"kerry" is a legal scrabble word?

**looks it up**

oh. yes it is.

KERRY [12 pts] , (KERRIES)

one of an Irish breed of cattle

Never mind.

Frank Baker. Mark Grace. Randy Johnson (maybe not). Chipper Jones.

8. JJ1986 posted on January 18, 2013 at 03:07 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Rich Harden

9. Meatwad denied pope, reveals he faked it at mass posted on January 18, 2013 at 03:07 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Prince Fielder should work

10. Swedish Chef posted on January 18, 2013 at 03:11 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

He's not a baseball player, but it would be a pity to leave out Dick Pound in any discussion where he would be even remotely topical. Because he has the best name ever.

11. Ron J2 posted on January 18, 2013 at 03:21 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Randy Ready

12. Pasta-diving Jeter (jmac66) posted on January 18, 2013 at 03:24 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Frank Chance

Bob Chance

Dean Chance

Chance Gardiner

13. RMc don't hate anyone Asian posted on January 18, 2013 at 03:35 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Superstar McBaseballguy

14. What did Billy Ripken have against Elroy Face? posted on January 18, 2013 at 04:08 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Dick Pole

15. What did Billy Ripken have against Elroy Face? posted on January 18, 2013 at 04:08 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Our very own Bob Tufts

16. mathesond posted on January 18, 2013 at 04:12 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Lee May

17. Fernigal McGunnigle has become a merry hat posted on January 18, 2013 at 04:12 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Tommy John, aka British Soldier Toilet.

18. snapper (history's 42nd greatest monster) posted on January 18, 2013 at 04:16 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Darren Fletcher. All the Smiths. Cy, Matt, Eric and all the other Youngs. Ernies Banks. Candy Cumings (first name).

19. snapper (history's 42nd greatest monster) posted on January 18, 2013 at 04:17 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Prince Fielder should work

Dean Chance

These and John Jay are double entries (both names work).

20. Lassus posted on January 18, 2013 at 04:19 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Wait wait wait. Darren and Elroy are not legal scrabble words.

21. cercopithecus aethiops posted on January 18, 2013 at 04:21 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

How is Jeff legal in Scrabble? Or Cecil? Or at least some of the many Millers? I think snapper missed the part about the first name being legal as well as the last.

Anyway, Jerry Reed. And of course, Babe Ruth.

Not a ballplayer, but Jay Leno.

Not a real person, but Maxwell Smart.

22. snapper (history's 42nd greatest monster) posted on January 18, 2013 at 04:52 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

I think snapper missed the part about the first name being legal as well as the last.

Both? Oh. I thought it was either/or.

23. jobu posted on January 18, 2013 at 06:17 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

First things I thought about when reading this article's title:
"Yanks Groom Next Brien Taylor and Joba Chamberlain"
"Zancanero, Dressendorfer, Van Poppel, and Peters Address A's Future Aces"
"Rangers Looking to This Generation's David Clyde and Bobby Witt"

Granted, Prior and Wood have had major league success--and a lot of guys would be happy with either's career. But setting their careers as an aspiration for a young prospect reflects Cubbylike diminished expectations.

24. asinwreck posted on January 18, 2013 at 06:25 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Jay Bell

John Smiley

Chuck Tanner

Bob Lemon

Butch Huskey

25. Harmon "Thread Killer" Microbrew posted on January 18, 2013 at 06:33 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

I really enjoy people whose first names are adjectives and last names are nouns, so they can be imagined as the item their name creates. For example, I once worked with a woman named Sandy Wall and a man named Randy Weir.

Baseball versions:

Rusty Shellhorn
Randy Johnson

26. Hello Rusty Kuntz, Goodbye Rusty Cars posted on January 18, 2013 at 06:41 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Herald Banes.

Sorry.

27. asinwreck posted on January 18, 2013 at 06:50 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Sorry.

Amazed you didn't try with your own handle.

28. Crispix Attacks 2: Swag Airlines posted on January 18, 2013 at 06:54 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

29. Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Griffin (Vlad) posted on January 18, 2013 at 07:40 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Baseball versions:

Rusty Shellhorn
Randy Johnson

Happy Chandler? He really enjoyed his candles, I guess.

30. Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Griffin (Vlad) posted on January 18, 2013 at 07:42 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Don August. That one's kind of cool, because his first name's both a noun and a verb, and his last name's both a (proper) noun and an adjective.

31. andrewberg posted on January 18, 2013 at 08:06 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Pepper Martin, Bobby Jones, Randy Jones, Tommy John (never trust a man with two first names that are both legal Scrabble words), Derrick May, Heath Bell, Jay Bell, Cool Papa Bell (that's a stretch), Lee Smith, and how did nobody say Dick Burns?

32. Hello Rusty Kuntz, Goodbye Rusty Cars posted on January 18, 2013 at 08:10 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Chicken Wolf and Chicken Hawks

Lance Johnson could be a very uncomfortable command

33. Sweatpants posted on January 18, 2013 at 08:11 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Still Bill Hill.

34. Swedish Chef posted on January 18, 2013 at 08:20 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Not good in Scrabble, but Gary Sheffield merits a mention for having two city names.

35. Swedish Chef posted on January 18, 2013 at 08:22 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Still Bill Hill.

Bill Bell

36. Walt Davis posted on January 18, 2013 at 08:37 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Ichiro could be a legal scrabble word if he wanted to.

37. Non-Youkilidian Geometry posted on January 18, 2013 at 08:38 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Pepper Martin

If we're allowed to use nicknames as first names our horizons will be greatly expanded, but it will be hard to top "Phenomenal Smith".

38. Transmission posted on January 18, 2013 at 09:23 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Bill Hall
Dizzy Dean
Three Finger Brown
Babe Ruth
Frank White

39. Voros McCracken of Pinkus posted on January 18, 2013 at 09:23 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Mientkiewicz isn't a legal scrabble word, but millions wish it was.

40. Transmission posted on January 18, 2013 at 09:33 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Bud Black
Frank Viola
Mike Za (if Za is a legit word short for Pizza, then it's damn well also a legit shortening for Piazza)
Branch Rickey
Chuck Carr

41. jobu posted on January 18, 2013 at 09:40 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Catfish Hunter
Billy North
Bob Locker
Mudcat Grant
Dick Green
Shooty Babitt

42. Transmission posted on January 18, 2013 at 09:43 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Dusty Baker
Rich Hill
Billy Butler
Joe Tinker
Rob Deer
Herb Score

43. Transmission posted on January 18, 2013 at 09:52 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

King Kelly
Joe West
Joe Morgan

This is too easy. Next, baseball players whose names can be spelled as the sum of the two-letter words, only.

44. Barnaby Jones posted on January 19, 2013 at 08:30 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

Death to Flying Things

45. What did Billy Ripken have against Elroy Face? posted on January 19, 2013 at 03:21 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Alkaline

46. Transmission posted on January 19, 2013 at 04:00 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Bravo, 45.

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Saturday, May 18, 2013

Babcock: Can The 2013 Cubs Channel The Turnaround Artists Of 1967?

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Cubs Think Factory