Buy Or Sell......

With the July 31st trade deadline fast approaching and our two baseball teams in town still to really make a statement whether or not they're serious about contending in their own divisions.....time to play a little buy or sell.
(and yes....I did steal that from ATH)


The 2009 Chicago Cubs came into today's game vs. Cleveland with a 31-31 record (4 games back of Milwaukee) when last year through the first 61....39-23 and 3 1/2 up on Milwaukee. It hasn't been a good year for the offense of the Chicago Cubs and with the key injury to Aramis Ramirez and the struggles of almost every position player on the field, it hasn't made for a high offensive output from the team who scored more runs than anyone in MLB last season. The Cubs are in the bottom five of the NL in batting average, runs scored, on-base percentage, and hits. I don't believe that you can totally blame the absence of Ramirez on their problems. Aramis' bat is much needed on the Cubs for sure but even when #16 returns to the lineup, it's not going to be a quick fix. The Cubs struggles cost Gerald Perry his job which I believe is just an outright disgrace when the guy with the same job on the south side of town hasn't produced exactly stellar numbers either but yet still is employed.

I think that the Cubs have no choice to be buyersbecause of the pressure on the organization to WIN NOW AT ALL COSTS. It's been over a century since a world championship and the fans will NOT settle for a team that with the third highest payroll in baseball to start selling off pieces of a team that last year won 97 games. Plus when you look at the roster....what can you sell. The Cubs locked up Soriano/Lee/Ramirez/Zambrano/Dempster/Lilly/Fukudome all with some sort of a no trade clause whether it be FULL or 10/5. Obviously with the disturbing lack of offense this season you would think the Cubs need to bolster the lineup, but who can the Cubs really trade?

Geovanny Soto?
Mike Fontenot?
Ryan Theriot?
Reed Johnson?
Anyone in the bullpen?

The Cubs aren't going to bench Milton Bradley or Geovanny Soto anytime soon and you have to play Fukudome...so you have to figure the only place they can improve the roster is up the middle in the infield. One rumor floating around is moving Alfonso Soriano to second base and going after another outfielder. To me moving Soriano to second is a sign of utter desperation and frankly is just outright dumb. Outfielders currently on the market include the likes of Matt Holiday (OAK) Jermaine Dye (CWS) Aubrey Huff (BAL) and Magglio Ordonez (DET).

The key to any team that is a serious contender for the World Series is a good bullpen and the Cubs need to bolster that as well. I just don't feel comfortablewith Heilman/Guzman/Marmol/Patton/Ascanio and throw in Sean Marshall as well. Kevin Gregg is not a lights out closer although he has pitched well of late and that may hurt the Cubs down the stretch.

Plus when you talk buy or sell you need to have available funds to do so if you're a buyer. Right now with the ownership of the organization up in the air with the Ricketts family and recently other investors getting back into the fold....could White Sox fan Sam Zell be the one holding the Cubs back from making a move for a pennant push?

The Cubs are and should be BUYERS, but who and can they spend money they may not have?


The White Sox are a completely different story. Currently 31-35 and 4 games back of Detroit when last year through the first 66 games....37-29 and 5 games up on Minnesota. I think we can all agree that the White Sox are in the worst division in MLB and quite possibly we won't know till the last week of the season who will rise from this garbage division. Kenny Williams made no attempt to improve this team this roster wise....he did however improve the organization by saving money trading Nick Swisher and Javier Vazquez. The White Soxcut around 25 million dollars in payroll and moved from fifth in payroll in 2008 to twelfth. The White Sox have stayed in the division by playing a combo of the "kids" with the "vets" which is something that almost never works in baseball. I don't expect it to work this year for Kenny Williams and the White Sox. With injuries (possibly season long) to Carlos Quentin (5th in AL MVP voting 2008) and their top pickup in the off season Bartolo Colon....it's not looking good.

I expect the White Sox to be sellersthis season because the White Sox need to look into the mirror and say this isn't 2005 all over again. Bringing in Scott Podsednik (who has played good after being dropped by the Rockies) and Freddy Garcia while bringing up your #1 pick Gordon Beckham and playing Chris Getz everyday doesn't equal a winner. The AL Central may be garbage but it's almost not worth winning because of the likes in the other divisions who are so much more put together than the White Sox. Talking about the Red Sox, Yankees and Angels.

The Soxwill be saving even more on payroll after the 2009 season with Jermaine Dye (1 million dollar buyout 2010)/Jose Contreras/Octavio Dotel/Jim Thome coming off the payroll. I think you can use Dye as a trade bait since he's having a decent year and start to build up your minors or bullpen. I understand the White Sox can't tell their fans that they need to rebuild because Sox fans do have a tendency to not show for ballgames. Sox fans I think know that it's time to start building something for next season and the years to follow but with the amount the White Sox are saving....could they be saving for some big free agent moves in the upcoming off season?

The White Sox have had an average payroll of 103.5 million dollars over the past 3 seasons and to think that the White Sox will go into the off seasonwith a payroll of under 70 million dollars and not buy just seems not right. Remember this is the same aggressive Kenny Williams that wanted to add Jake Peavy to the rotation and there were rumors of Roy Oswalt as well.



Overall both teams in town may not be playing their best this season but outlooks on both sides of town are completely opposite. I've always believed that what you do in the offseason shows what you'll be around the trade deadline. Normally when you're an aggressive team and buy in the off season....you're a buyer in July and vice-versa. So.....Cubs and Sox fans....are you buying or selling come July 31?

-RoCK

To all my friends and former colleuges at Webio.....much love and respect. I'm praying for you guys.


Don't miss the Joe O and Rock Show on Saturday night following the White Sox game.

It's Nice To Feel This Way Again

One of the problems with being involved in a business you grew up watching as a kid...you lose the innocence of being a fan. I've been a member of the Score roster since 2002 and there have been very few times since then where the fan in me comes out and the objectivity (if that's even a word) fades away.

One was the magic that was 2005. As a life long Chicago White Sox fan, when you work in a business that has to look as objectively as possible at a product you grew to love...it's tough to be as emotionally attached as the average fan. 2005 was an exception, it was something that not only my father waited fifty years to see, but many friends never got to see. When the White Sox clinched the American League pennant by winning the series over the Angels 4 games to 1, I can remember sitting in the aisle between the cubicles and all four TV's showing what I thought I would never see in my lifetime. I sat there and starting crying because the fan in me was too strong and overtook any objectivity (again, if that's even a word) as a member of the Chicago sports media.

Since 2005 my "fandom" hasn't been heard from. Yes, even the 2006 Chicago Bears Superbowl run wasn't enough to bring out the "Bob Swirsky" in me and order a dog and a beer. BTW...I work for the Chicago Bears Radio Network too....so it's tough to be a fan and cheer when you're working too.

Last night (Thurs.) was different than any other time I can remember however. I was not in Chicago the last time the Blackhawks made the playoffs as I remember driving up to Illinois to visit family and hearing the Hawks game on St. Louis radio somewhere in southern Illinois. This is a franchise that for years was embarrassing to say that you are a fan of. Everything from the notion you couldn't watch home games to a team that sold talent after talent after talent away for nothing. This is a team that five years ago finished with 59 points total and since their last playoff appearance have brought in coach after coach after coach. Remember Theo Fluery....??

Last night was the culmination of alot of hard work, dedication to the product and great marketing. The fans were always there....you just had to knock and say hello. Is this the dawn of a new age of hockey in Chicago? It's too early to say for me. However like many that were in attendance last night, and many watching in bars and their homes......I was a fan again.

Thank you Chicago Blackhawks.....the old feelings are nice to have once again.

-RoCk

A Message To Women's Professional Sports

WARNING: Some readers may find this blog a ..little offensive, but I want to ensure you that I am in no way sexist and I am not discriminatory towards women of any color, age , etc. I just have some thoughts that I've been discussing with some friends/co-workers of mine and I feel I need to share them with the reading public and see if you share my views.

WOMEN PROFESSIONAL SPORTS NEED TO GO AWAY


OK....I'm getting my pink slip as we speak.

Seriously!! Ask yourself this question and answer it honestly:
"When's the last time you watched women's softball/basketball/soccer/hockey/track and field?"

Here's an even better question....could you name the top 5 teams in women's college hoops? Their tournament is going on right now as well....UCONN, Tennessee and.........?


That's my point....women's professional sports are INSIGNIFICANT in the sports landscape and need to go away. I understand that they heavily promote athletics for girls, but then again....who looks up to a WNBA player? I couldn't name 3 players in the WNBA....and you thought naming 5 Chicago Blackhawks was hard.

What got me on this idea is news of the new Women's Professional Soccer League which kicks off (no pun intended) on March 29th. A brand new women's soccer league with 7 teams and guess what...I bet you didn't know this.....there's a team in Chicago!! HOLY CRAP...I didn't know that.....98% of Chicago didn't know that!! The Chicago Red Stars are your local representative of the new WPS. Let's be honest again....you're not buying a ticket, hat, pennant, scarf, shirt or anything involved with the Chicago Red Stars. It doesn't peak your interest.

How about the WNBA..the crown jewel of women's professional sports. What a success it's been..... right? Love those Chicago Sky who average 3,656 fans in attendance per game. The WNBA as a whole (14 teams) average 7,931 in attendance per game. Here's some teams that average more than the WNBA average per game:
CHICAGO RUSH - 14,085 per game (AFL Cancelled Season this past year)
DEPAUL BLUE DEMONS BASKETBALL - 8,149 per game (0-16 in Big East Play...don't play on campus)
THE TORONTO ROCK(National Lacrosse League's worst team) - 13,324 in their last home game against the Minnesota Swarm.

The WNBA can't out-draw a bad Canadian lacrosse team....that's pretty sad. The Chicago Slaughter outdrew the Sky 2 weeks ago when they took down the Milwaukee Bonecrushers at the Sears Centre in Hoffman Estates. The four time champion Houston Comets of the WNBA folded their organization this year and are the 5th team to do so in the 12 year history of the WNBA. Attendance has not had significant growth since 2002 and their only averaging 415,000 viewers on nationally televised games.

The media as a whole doesn't even cover professional women's sports. The four letter network covers the WNBA only because they have a contract with the league. Where do you find WNBA highlights on SC?? AT THE END OF THE BROADCAST ONCE EVERYONE HAS ALREADY TUNED OUT.

Women's professional sports just doesn't sell to the American public and is insignificant in the grand scheme of sport. Sports is, and probably will always be a male dominated field of entertainment. If the Florida Marlins profit more than the LA Sparks....that's an issue.

Sports is like any other business.....it survives on profit. You need superstars in your sport in order for it to survive and make profit. Women's sports doesn't have superstars. While men's athletics (MLB/NFL/NBA/NHL) for the most part are living large....women's sports are living paycheck to paycheck like you and I. When you have teams shutting down shop in the top organization of women's athletics...that's an issue.

No one is watching, buying, caring, paying attention.....so here's a message to women's professional sports...


Here's The Door....GET OUT!

-RoCK

Jay Cutler To The Bears.....YEAH RIGHT!!!

Chicago is a wonderful place to make a living....wouldn't you agree? Let's look at what makes Chicago great.
1. Food
2. A Giant Body Of Water With Beaches Surrounding It
3. A Wonderful Downtown Area
4. Good Place To See All Forms Of Entertainment (Music/Sports/Plays/etc.)

But why is it that we Chicago Bears fans think that the big name available players wanna come here?


The latest name is Jay Cutler who reportedly has asked for a trade from Denver because of a riff with his new head coach (former NE Patriot Offensive Co-Ordinator) Josh McDaniels. I've seen articles written in/on blogs/papers/websites that the Bears could be a real good suitor for Cutler and Jerry Angelo would be doing a disservice to not pick up the phone and find out what's going on.


Let's be serious here people....of course it would be a good idea to go after Jay Cutler and screw over Kyle Orton once again for that starting quarterback position. In fact this off season Jerry Angelo pointed out that the Quarterback is the #1 priority this off season.....

"We have to get that position right. I know there's going to be a lot of talk about a No. 1 receiver. Guys, it starts with the quarterback." - Jerry Angelo 12-30-2008

Apparently Jerry didn't think Orton did too good of a job last year to secure the starting position for next season. So now there's Jay Cutler. Here's some things about Jay Cutler you need to know:
1. Great arm....much better than Orton or Grossman.
2. Played on a team with a horrible defense into a near playoff position (Denver gave up 28 a game last year)
3. Ran a much more complex offense compared to what the Bears have here.
4. He threw for over 4500+ yards last year. More int's than Orton....but Cutler can throw the ball farther than 10-15 yards. Plus...when's the last time a Bears QB threw for over 4500+ yards? EVER???
5. He's a bad attitude guy.....SO WHAT!!

Would it be smart for the Bears to look into Jay Cutler?? Of course it is!! They won't.

Why is it so hard for Bears fans to admit that this team just does not go after the big fish/splash/or whatever word you want to associate with a top name free agent. Just recently Terrell Owens was on the market after being released from the Cowboys and he decided to go to Buffalo. Wanna know what's attractive in Buffalo....NOTHING!!! Snow, ugly women and chicken wings!!! That's it!!



Did you really expect Owens to end up in Chicago? NO!!

But we're a big market and we have money to spend.....CORRECT!! Albert Haynesworth was looking for money, guess the Bears didn't have enough of it. T.J. Houschman1zosa3l;zada *you know who I'm talking about* went to Seattle where it rains 24/7?? WHY?? In Chicago we got beaches and this thing...


Face it Bears fans....our team doesn't like the sexy pick. Our big #1 free agent move this off season was for a guy who played 5 seasons in the league and only started once. Wanna know how much we payed Frank Omiyale? 4 year deal worth 11.5 million and could go as high as 14.5 million with incentives. This guy only has one start to his name in 5 seasons and he yielded more 200,000 less just for next season (6.3 million) than T.O. got on a 1 year deal with the Bills. Plus his nick is "Tank".....great!!!

Haynesworth/Houschwhatever/T.O./Bart Scott/Fred Taylor/Kurt Warner/Darren Sharper......all I heard was the Bears should go after them. Yeah Right. We got a Tank and this guy....

Watch #29 Josh Bullocks....He's Now A Chicago Bear!!

Bears fans....just admit it.....we could have the best housing/restaurants/stadiums/parks/water/air/sunshine/trees/roads/trains/buses/electricity/media/fans/women/men/taxes/hospitals/etc.....No one is coming here.

Enjoy The Draft!!

-RoCk

Just Some Thoughts......

I consider this blog to be not only a another venue where I can publish Rock Reports which are for the Score's website, but I also consider this a place where I can get some stuff off my chest and clear the air on some things.


As most of you know, Mike North and some other investors including Dave Martinez are starting a new internet stream sports talk destination called ChicagoSportsWebio.com. It's going to be a 12 hour stream of locally based Chicago sports conversation. This is set to debut on April 6th which is also opening day for Cubs/White Sox baseball as well as the night of the title game of the NCAA Tournament.


While to some this venture may seem novel and unique.....it's truly just another skittle in the giant bag of internet destinations where you can hear live broadcasts. For example there are over 25,000 destinations (I say destinations because they're not really stations at heart) on shoutcast.com and over 6,000 on live365.com where you can hear anything from live talk to Joaquin Phoenix rap albums at the click of a mouse. Not to mention that alot of terrestrial radio stations are now online..(cheap mention 670thescore.com streaming 24/7)..the selection if you wanna use that avenue to listen to radio online is tremendous. Internet radio is not only been around since 1993, a recent survey showed that 13% of Americans listened to radio online at some point in their day.

Therefore this "Webio" thing isn't unique but however....it may work. There is more risk than reward when starting any new business.....but it'll be interesting to see if "Webio" can bring in as much as they say they can when the only place people can listen to them is at work or at home. Wi-Fi radios are indeed on the way with the adaptation of 3G technology and blue tooth but that's not coming for a bit. This destination will live and survive with the amount of hits they their site for at least the next year and then when wi-fi radio's become available in cars....not everyone is gonna get a new wi-fi radio right away. How long did it take you to get a cd player in your car?

Here's the thing......they're not reinventing the wheel of talk radio either. This destination "raided" (for lack of a better term) the two stations in town for their talent. They took from WSCR an update guy, a beat reporter, and some producers while from WMVP they took their night and weekend talent. They also added a former WBA Lightweight champion (that's boxing for the kids at home) plus an up and coming college basketball analyst on BTN. Where's the splash?

Internet radio is not like terrestrial where you can measure your ratings/sales are based on PPM numbers. You're revenue is based on how many hits you get on the website and how many people decide to click that listen live link. I understand they're gonna extremely advertise this with both CSN and some other outlets.....but let's all be serious here.....the numbers just aren't there...at least not yet.

If only an estimated 13% of Americans listen to radio online...is that enough of an audience to command the amount of money invested in this? I understand getting ahead of the curve....but it's been 16 years since internet radio has been around and yet not even an 1/8 of Americans venture online for their favorite radio program while at work. Plus also when dealing with the internet and companies....some corporations have firewalls that prevent you wasting time at work listening to Boom Boom and Chet talk about the Cubs 4th inning last night.

It's a big risk and it could have some reward, but as far as being competition to the other two stations.....maybe not yet. I understand they're using the model that when the Score started "People laughed in our face...blah blah blah...". Now you have two established outlets for Chicago sports talk that you can get online, at work and IN YOUR CAR!!

Change the Chicago sports talk landscape? Not really.
Change the way radio is done? Please
Change pay scales for corporate radio? In a recession...ah..no.

I respect what the investors of this new destination are trying to do, and if it turns out good for them than outstanding. There's nothing wrong with a little more competition.

I just hope this whole venture isn't driven by revenge because even post-MNMS....the Score has moved on.

To clear the air.......it's not that I will not be joining this venture...you never say never in this business....it's just MY GUY never called and asked. In the end, you should never believe an innuendo until you see it for yourself.

I'm happy where I am, and I look forward to maybe my chance at growing.
-RoCK

Down The Stretch They Come....Concerned??

Maybe you haven't noticed but Chicago is going to have at least one representative in postseason play this year. Besides the expectations that the Cubs season officially begins in October and the White Sox may get in along with how "close" the Bears are as the Bulls....ah never mind.

The Chicago Blackhawks (barring a total collapse) are headed to their first NHL postseason since the 2001-2002 season when an Eric Daze and Alex Zhamnov were committed to the indian. The Blackhawks are currently slotted in the 4th seed in the West behind Detroit, San Jose and Calgary and "FIGHTING" to keep home ice advantage for the first round of playoff play.

That's right....I used the word "FIGHTING." After going through a stretch of 13 out of 17 games on the road where the young Hawks came out of it winning 10 of those games, the Hawks have struggled lately at the place they call home going 3-3 in their last 6 home games including losing 3 of their last 4 overall. The Hawks have been "FIGHTING" with the injury bug lately as well with players like Patick Sharp and Nikolai Khabibulin going down with injuries keeping each of them out of the lineup for some time now.


Now with the struggles at home as of late, the injuries have taken their toll with this Hawks team and it has to make one wonder......is it time for Blackhawks fans to worry about that 4th seed in the west? I think so.

The Hawks have 16 games remaining on their schedule with 10 of those at the UC. That's a good thing to have the fight come to your backyard but here are a couple of problems that the Hawks may face in their sprint to the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

#1 - Games Against The Central
The one blemish on the Hawks record this season is their record against their own division (4-7-5). It's the only division in the west that they have a losing record against and like any other sport....down the stretch of the season, who do you play? YOUR DIVISION!! The Hawks have 8 games (4 Home 4 road) left against the Central including 2 against the hated Red Wings who the Hawks haven't beaten yet this season.

#2 - Those Damn Canucks/Blue Jackets

These are the two teams right behind the Hawks for that all important 4th seed in the West and home ice in the first round of the playoffs. Those damn Canucks are only 4 points (2 wins) behind the Hawks with the Blue Jackets only 5 points behind (2 wins and an overtime loss) as well. The Hawks have 1 game remaining against Vancouver and 3 games remaining against Columbus. The Canucks have been one of the hottest teams in the NHL since the end of January with a record of 13-3-1 and have one of the hottest goaltenders (Roberto Luongo) in the NHL. With the mid season acquisition of Mats Sundin and if Luongo stays as hot as he has been the last month and a half....The Canucks could indeed leap frog the Hawks.

The only concern about the Blue Jackets for Hawks fans, besides being in their same division, should be that they have 3 more games against them. The Hawks do have a winning record against Columbus so far this season (2-1) but if Columbus finds a way to pull out games like they did last night at the UC they could be a problem being only 5 points back.

#3 - Youth And Inexperience

This is probably the biggest test for the Hawks down the stretch. Let's face it...this is a young hockey team playing on the west side of town. In fact they're the youngest in the NHL. Both of their superstars (Toews/Kane) aren't even old enough to have a sip of a cocktail legally yet. 6 of the 21 players on this roster have playoff experience and only 2 players (excluding Sam Phalsson) have won the Stanley Cup (Khabibulin{Tampa Bay}/Ladd{Carolina}). The youth and inexperience of this team could be a big factor in how this team performs down the stretch. Most of these players have never felt the pressure of a must win/pressure situation before and it'll be interesting to see how they come through. There are some things that should help them deal with that pressure however. One being you have a head coach who has plenty of playoff experience with multiple organizations, and another being you have a goal tender that has won a cup which is experience that you'll definately need for the stretch run.

I'm not saying the Hawks are gonna totally fall apart for the remaining 16 games and they'll miss the playoffs. However, it seems to me that most Hawks fans and the media just figure this team is going to the playoffs anyway and don't need to worry about the remainder of the season. What does seeding matter anyway?? Huh?

If the Hawks don't get that 4th seed and the home ice advantage that goes with it.....they'll do NOTHING in the playoffs. Fans and media will then lump this team in with the likes of the team on the north side. Great regular season but can't get it done in the playoffs.

Blackhawks fans be forewarned....there could be a disappointing end to this magical season. Don't just be happy with playoff hockey. Get greedy and let's get that 4th seed locked up and do some damage chasing down Lord Stanley's Cup!


-RoCk
Committed To The Indian Since 1981

If He Only Had A Brain....

Why should we feel sorry for Dan Leone?

OH....you don't know who Dan Leone is?? He's the {now former} Philadelphia Eagles employee who was recently fired for posting a negative comment about his employer on his Facebook page. Apparently Mr. Leone (who I'll now refer to as dumb ass) posted his status as the following after Brian Dawkins was no longer an Eagle:

“Dan is f***ing devastated about Dawkins signing with Denver…Dam Eagles R Retarted.”

Who knew that when a free agent signs with another team that it could lead to such harsh feelings. Brian Dawkins (who was considered the heart and soul of the Philadelphia Eagles defense) signed a 5 year deal worth 17 million dollars with the Denver Broncos. News of the signing shocked many and infuriated fans of the green and silver so much that even dumb ass has to post his feelings as a status on his personal facebook page.

Haven't we learned anything by now when it comes to these facebook/myspace pages? When you go looking for a job, don't you think the employer may look up your info on google and research you a little bit if they're that inclined? Seriously, dumb ass should have thought that through before letting his heart do the typing.

Go ahead....try it....CLICK HERE to see what pops up when you Google Rock Mamola. You can find out all kinds of crap on me.



Dumb ass should know better to post trash talk about his employer for the whole world to see.

Look at your own work situation. I'm sure there are some feelings you have about your gig that wouldn't necessarily make the suits laugh and giggle. You gonna write a blog about it? How about video tape yourself ranting and raving how your boss is a complete idiot and if he maybe got his/her head out of you know where....maybe we'd get some work done around here!! PUT THAT ON YOUTUBE AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS!!!

Dumb ass apparently didn't get the memo about the cover sheet on his TPS report!!


Now from everything I've read and heard.....the Eagles are the "bad guy" in all of this for firing someone based on something on his personal web page? Wouldn't your employer do the exact same thing if you posted something negative about the company and someone found out about it?

Obviously someone tipped off someone about this posting....DUMBASS LEFT IT UP FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS!!!

So, I'm supposed to feel sorry about a guy with a neurological disorder who runs the gate at Lincoln Financial Field for Eagles home games because he didn't think the post would get him fired? Please.

Dumb ass was a flat out idiot and didn't think straight. When you work for someone, you represent your company even on your own personal facebook/myspace/twitter/skype/etc. Any kind of negative tone you make public is subject to discipline/termination.

Don't tell me I should feel bad for this guy. Dumb ass is gonna get all kinds of pub out of this anyway....he'll be getting his 15 mins out of this and then it'll become an after thought. The fact that we are a forgiving society doesn't mean that everyone gets a second chance. His actions were enough to get him fired, and the Eagles did the right thing. Why should we forgive his stupidity when "big brother" is always watching?


-RoCK

p.s. - One More Thing: IF YOU'RE GONNA GET FIRED OVER WHAT YOU TYPE....PLEASE SPELL RETARDED CORRECTLY!!