1. Cliff Lee Best Pitcher In Baseball

    Clifton Phifer Lee has become my favorite lefty since Tom Glavine retired. Probably because Lee pitches like Glavine–with grace and with his head. Earlier this year I hailed Lee as the best pitcher in baseball ...

    Bullpen Brian Written by Bullpen Brian about over 2 years ago 104 reads 0 comments

  2. NL Manager of the Year Award 2010

    * My vote * Dusty Baker, Cincinnati – Baker shed his reputation as a verterans-first manager to guide a young and inexperienced club to an unexpected division championship...

    Bullpen Brian Written by Bullpen Brian about over 2 years ago 50 reads 0 comments

  3. Former Cubs In The Playoffs

    I didn’t expect Dusty Baker’s Reds to knock off the Phillies in the NLDS. But I was hopeful Baker’s bunch would at least have a good showing. That, of course, didn’t happen with Philly making a clean 3-0 sweep...

    Bullpen Brian Written by Bullpen Brian about over 2 years ago 33 reads 0 comments

  4. Piniella’s Worst Move As Cubs Manager

    I remember Game 1 of the 2007 NLDS like it was yesterday. Up and coming Chicago facing the surprise Arizona D-Backs. I watch the game standing up, to nervous to sit on my favorite comfy chair...

    Bullpen Brian Written by Bullpen Brian about over 2 years ago 28 reads 0 comments

  5. Happy Halladay!

    I’m happy for Roy Halladay. Happy he made it out of Toronto. Happy he ended up on a contender. Happy he’s found continued success. Happy he’s getting the attention he deserves...

    Bullpen Brian Written by Bullpen Brian about over 2 years ago 31 reads 0 comments

  6. Ken Burns The Tenth Inning Giveaway

    Name your favorite baseball memories from the past 17 years. Lots to choose from, I know. There’s Cal Ripken’s record streak, the great home run chase of 1998 and ...

    Bullpen Brian Written by Bullpen Brian about over 2 years ago 44 reads 0 comments

  7. Cubs End 2010, Playoffs Begin

    Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower. ~Albert Camus Never had the Cubs making the playoffs this year. Not with a bullpen full of rookies and Ryan Theriot at SS...

    Bullpen Brian Written by Bullpen Brian about over 2 years ago 7 reads 0 comments

  8. Hiring Mike Quade

    Mike Quade is (24-12) since taking over, including Saturday’s 8-3 win against Houston. He’s won 8 of 12 series, gone (17-4) on the road and guided the Cubs to 15 wins in its last 21 games...

    Bullpen Brian Written by Bullpen Brian about over 2 years ago 22 reads 0 comments

  9. Getting To Know Casey Coleman

    Casey Coleman wasn’t even on the Cubs radar in April. Now he’s a candidate to make the 2011 starting rotation. That’s a huge improvement from his humble beginning this August, when the Cubs summoned Coleman from Triple-A Iowa...

    Bullpen Brian Written by Bullpen Brian about over 2 years ago 25 reads 0 comments

  10. Wrigley Wasteland

    I rode past Wrigley Field this afternoon on the Red Line. The place looked like a graveyard, which it was for most of the season. I know next week I’ll be thinking in unison with Cubs Nation when I ride by...

    Bullpen Brian Written by Bullpen Brian about over 2 years ago 7 reads 0 comments

  11. To Hire Quade, That Is The Question

    I said Mike Quade has zero chance to manage the Cubs next season. Maybe I spoke too soon? Ryan Dempster, who became the clubhouse’s unofficial spokesman with the departure ...

    Bullpen Brian Written by Bullpen Brian about over 2 years ago 11 reads 0 comments

  12. In Dusty We Trusty

    So many Dusty Baker haters out there, but there’s no denying this guy’s a winner. He was a winner with San Fran. He was a winner with Chicago, and now he’s a winner with Cincinnati...

    Bullpen Brian Written by Bullpen Brian about over 2 years ago 85 reads 0 comments

  13. Let’s Go Hawks!

    Felt good to back at the UC Saturday night. Game 1 of my modest Blackhawks season ticket package. Hawks threw us peons in the 300-level a bone with a pre-season matchup vs. Detroit...

    Bullpen Brian Written by Bullpen Brian about over 2 years ago 12 reads 0 comments

  14. Bud Selig Talking Playoff Expansion

    I’m not for expanding postseason baseball. At least, not with additional Wild Cards. Doesn’t mean I’m a purist. Doesn’t mean I’m not open for suggestion...

    Bullpen Brian Written by Bullpen Brian about over 2 years ago 2 reads 0 comments

  15. Bud Selig Talking Playoff Expansion

    I’m not for expanding postseason baseball. At least, not with additional Wild Cards. Doesn’t mean I’m a purist. Doesn’t mean I’m not open for suggestion...

    Bullpen Brian Written by Bullpen Brian about over 2 years ago 44 reads 0 comments

  16. Bautista Hits 50 HR, Big Deal?

    Jose Bautista hits 50 home runs and baseball fans talk about 50 dingers like it means something again. Really? Albert Pujols hit 47 last year. Ryan Howard hit 48. Just three years ago A-Rod (54) and Price (50) hit the 50-mark...

    Bullpen Brian Written by Bullpen Brian about over 2 years ago 7 reads 0 comments

  17. Jim Edmonds Vs. Achilles

    Good news for my boy, Jim Edmonds. Turns out there’s no tear in his right Achilles’ tendon. Which means, one of my favorite former Cubs lives to play another day! Got to believe Baker will rest the 40-year-old for the remainder of the season..

    Bullpen Brian Written by Bullpen Brian about over 2 years ago 38 reads 0 comments

  18. Buster Posey NL ROY

    Buster Posey is my NL Rookie of the Year. He’s been the back bone of the Giants since being recalled May 29. San Fran is nowhere near the West title without him. Since his call-up, Posey is batting ...

    Bullpen Brian Written by Bullpen Brian about over 2 years ago 12 reads 0 comments

  19. Derrek Lee Update

    Derrek Lee has finally got it going offensively with Atlanta. He crushed a two-out, seventh-inning grad slam to power the Braves to a 6-3 come-from-behind win on Sunday, then went 2-for-4 Monday night at Philly...

    Bullpen Brian Written by Bullpen Brian about over 2 years ago 3 reads 0 comments

  20. Derrek Lee Update

    Derrek Lee has finally got it going offensively with Atlanta. He crushed a two-out, seventh-inning grad slam to power the Braves to a 6-3 come-from-behind win on Sunday, then went 2-for-4 Monday night at Philly...

    Bullpen Brian Written by Bullpen Brian about over 2 years ago 10 reads 0 comments

  21. Troy Tulowitzki’s Hot September!

    Seeing the Cubs win five straight is pretty remarkable, but pales in comparison to Troy Tulowitzki’s month of September. When you’re hot, you’re hot...

    Bullpen Brian Written by Bullpen Brian about over 2 years ago 18 reads 0 comments

  22. Troy Tulowitzki’s Hot September!

    Seeing the Cubs win five straight is pretty remarkable, but pales in comparison to Troy Tulowitzki’s month of September. The guy’s batting .394 with 35 RBI in his last 16 games...

    Bullpen Brian Written by Bullpen Brian about over 2 years ago 69 reads 0 comments

  23. Fontenot & Theriot Update

    In 16 games, eight starts, Fontenot has gone 12-for-40 (.300) with one double and three RBI. He’s batting .370 with RISP, .286 vs. right-handers and .300 vs. southpaws. Overall this season he’s batting ...

    Bullpen Brian Written by Bullpen Brian about over 2 years ago 5 reads 0 comments

  24. Ted Lilly Update

    Ted Lilly suffered his worst outing with L.A. Thursday night. Unable to keep the ball down, the Giants tagged Lilly for six earned runs, two coming via the long ball, courtesy Aubrey Huff & Buster Posey...

    Bullpen Brian Written by Bullpen Brian about over 2 years ago 42 reads 0 comments

  25. Cubs First Sweep Of Cards Since 1988!

    Cubs sweep its first three-game series at St. Louis since 1988! Perhaps more impressively, they do it against the Cardinals Big Three: Garcia, Wainwright & Carpenter...

    Bullpen Brian Written by Bullpen Brian about over 2 years ago 11 reads 0 comments