The Muskbox Is a Moving Target
Carrie is getting wilier as the eternal struggle between HJE and the Inbox rages on. Her latest ploy was to move the Muskbox to Thursday night. The only explanation that can possibly be is that she knows that Sweet Uncle Lou owns Friday’s at HJE. But fear not. For every one of Carrie’s thrusts, I have a parry. Even if my parry is delayed until Tuesday, meaning I have to omit out-of-date questions about Andres Blanco. So let’s box this musk.
With the way Tyler Colvin is playing, do you think he can steal Kosuke Fukudome’s spot or is Fukudome’s contract too big to bench?
– Humberto G., Naperville, Ill.
Colvin is going to execute a SNEAK ATTACK on the Cubs’ lone Japanese player? Payback time!
CARRIE: Fukudome has a big contract, Alfonso Soriano has a big contract and Marlon Byrd has a big contract.
And, yet, Jim Hendry has a job.
CARRIE: The Cubs won’t keep Colvin on the big league roster unless he will get a few starts a week. That could be possible to keep Soriano, Fukudome and Byrd fresh.
And if that doesn’t work…
I keep hearing about Xavier Nady’s injury. Why would the Cubs sign Nady to a new contract after he was injured? Why didn’t we go after a guy like Jermaine Dye or trade for an extra outfielder?
– Shane G., Lombard, Ill.
Mark Prior, Kerry Wood, Wade Miller, Ryan Dempster, Nomar Garciaparra, and Rich Harden want to know if you have ever watched the Cubs before.
CARRIE: Because Nady has a career .280 average and he’s a professional hitter.
These other guys are out there hitting for FREE!
CARRIE: The team can adjust defensively to any problems he may have throwing. They can move the infielders back further to keep the relay throws shorter.
Rather, they could if Theriot were capable of making a throw to first base at even standard depth.
CARRIE: Nady gives them experience, which is something they didn’t have last season on the bench.
DARYLE WARD: GONE, BUT NOT FORGOTTEN
CARRIE: As for Dye, he hit .179 in the second half last season with seven homers and 26 RBIs.
Yeah, and the Cubs already have plenty of guys who can do that in the second half!
FUKUDOME: 4 HR, 27 RBIs
SORIANO: 6 HR, 22 RBIs
What happened to Jeff Gray? I thought he was going to be an important piece of the bullpen when he was acquired from Oakland.
– Eric W., Coral Springs, Fla.
You seriously thought that?
CARRIE: Gray strained his groin before camp opened while working out at Fitch Park and made his first Cactus League appearance on Wednesday. He won’t make the Opening Day roster — he’s too far behind.
At least that’s what the media is reporting. With this team, it’s equally as likely that he gets folded up into a sleeper sofa and misses the entire season.
CARRIE: “He’s got a nice arm,” Piniella said. “But if you’re rushing to get him ready, you’re looking at something [bad] that could really happen. … I like what I see. But if you get him on the fast track, then you’ve got a little problem.”
Just a little problem, still? No worries, then. Just let me know when the problem gets David-Patton-sized.
A handful of years ago, the Cubs brought up a left-handed starter from the Minor Leagues which I believe had the last name of O’Malley. I don’t remember if he was injured or something, but he started and did a very good job for the club. What happened to this pitcher? I remember he was from Illinois.
– Hugh S., Catlin, Ill.
I never thought I’d see the day where I’d hear someone pine for Ryan O’Malley. Of course, I also never thought I’d see the day when Carlos Silva was the FOURTH starter on the Cubs.
CARRIE: It was Ryan O’Malley, who I saw Wednesday in Surprise, Ariz..
…for one night of unbridled passion and Awesome Blossoms.
CARRIE: He’s now a Minor League coach for the Rangers. That one game was Aug. 16, 2006, in Houston, when he was called up from Triple-A Iowa (the team happened to be in Round Rock, Texas). He threw eight scoreless innings, gave up five hits, walked six and struck out two. The Cubs had played an extra-inning game the night before and were out of pitchers. A Springfield, Ill., native, O’Malley made one more start Aug. 22, 2006, and went 4 2/3 innings but was injured. He did not pitch in the big leagues again.
It’s a miracle that the Cubs won that game 1-0. Look at this lineup:
Juan Pierre CF
Ryan Theriot 2B
Michael Barrett C
Aramis Ramirez 3B
Phil Nevin 1B
Angel Pagan RF
Matt Murton LF
Neifi Perez SS
Ryan O’Malley P
Michael Barrett batted THIRD. Incidentally, the Astros spent the entire week after the game bitching about how unfair it was that the Cubs were allowed to call up a rookie pitcher to face them.
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BigFlax
PenFoe
StPatrick
CT
CactusMcHarris
“…for one night of unbridled passion and Awesome Blossoms.”
gold, Jerry. Gold. Gives a whole new meaning to muskbox. Ok, it doesn’t really.
“Tracy sticks. Millar released. ‘It was tough’ Hendry sez”
There is a God!
I had to do a double take on that Summer’s Eve box. That was one ugly chick.
Because Nady has a career .280 average and he’s a professional hitter.
Oh yeah? So was Woody Harrelson’s dad, but we never signed him to a contract. Did we?
Alternately:
Oh yeah? So is Trey Anastatio, but we never signed him to a contract. Did we?
Off ESPN’s Page 2…everyone ‘loves’ the Guillen tweets.
@Derrick – The only way it could have been better is if it had been Carrie’s mug on that box.