Hire Jim Essian

After a week of mediocrity in the Muskbox, the dummies are back out in full force. As I have long feared, Muskbox Nation still has no idea that Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer are trying to build a franchise capable of long-term, sustained success. The Muskboxers want to WIN NOW, and will accept nothing less than a first-place finish in the National League Central. Theo might want to avoid the Cub Convention this weekend entirely if he doesn't want to have to answer questions like, "HOW COME ANGEL GUZMAN ISN'T INVOLVED IN THE LONG-TERM PLANS?"

Well, this is a gift from the heavens. Also, from 'Duk. One of the greatest pitchers of all time went all hipster on us over Christmas, and the results are both glorious and meme-worthy. Have at it!

For the past...four? Five? SIX years? The weirdos over at Desipio, and you weirdos have been getting together on the evening of Day One of the Cubs Convention to drink alcohol, say hilarious things about Domingo Ramos, yell at Crane Kenney to go fuck himself, and nearly get punched by GORDON WITTENMYER. Well, Day One Evening is almost upon us. This Friday, January 13th (SCARY!) many of us will be at Shitty O'Kea's, a place so wholeheartedly shitty, it doesn't even have its own website.

I'm still sad. Not even your sugar-coated tips can bring me joy.

Today, a lot of stupid people are celebrating the fact that Carlos Zambrano is no longer a Cub. I'm not. Whether or not one thought Big Z needed to go (he almost certainly did), the end of the right-hander's amazing Cub career should have been met with "thanks for the memories and good luck, Z!" Rather than remembering the big lug for the incredible things he did in a Cubs uniform, too many people are gleefully dancing on his Cub grave and pretending that paying Chris Volstad $18M to pitch for the Cubs is WAY BETTER than paying Carlos Zambrano $18M to pitch for the Cubs. It's not, and I LIKE Volstad.

The first Muskbox of the new year picks up right where the last Muskbox of the old year left off. In a world of confusion, unanswered questions, and broken promises. However, to avoid you a horrible heart attack this early into the new year, I must warn you. Hidden deep in the recesses of the Muskbox lies an honest-to-goodness solid question AND answer. 2012 TRULY IS THE END OF DAYS!!!

Tim Wallach was many things. A five-time All-Star. A two-time NL doubles leader. A two-time Silver Slugger. A three-time Gold Glove winner. What he wasn't was good. His OPSes in the five seasons he went to an All-Star Game were: .706, .759, .858, .760, and .810. He won one of his Silver Sluggers while hitting only .260 (he hit .298 for the other one). He is a career .257/.316/.416 hitter who averaged 19 home runs and 82 RBIs in a 17-season MLB career with the Expos, Dodgers, and Angels. He is also the 13th-biggest Cub Killer of My Time.

Like a fine wine, Skip. Happy 61st birthday to the patron saint of HJE.