Ricky Butts Article Archive

B/R Articles

Slapping Scott Boras: What I Would Do in the Strasburg Situation

He is a super phenom with a 102 mph fastball. His ceiling is higher than almost any pitcher in history, so they say. Some think that he could be the Washington Nationals opening day starter in 2010...

Written by Ricky Butts about 3 months ago 306 reads 7 comments
Chicago Cubs: Tale of Two Seasons

It has been a frustrating first ninety eight games on the north side of the "Windy City." They were pre-season favorites to win the National League Central Division and make a run at their first World Series appearance since 1945...

Written by Ricky Butts about 4 months ago 109 reads 2 comments
Chicago Cubs: Top 10 Keys to the Second Half

The Cubs have been very disappointing in the first half of the season. They start today 41-41, when in reality, they should be six or seven games above .500. Luckily, they are not too far away from that...

Written by Ricky Butts about 5 months ago 99 reads 4 comments
Chicago Cubs' Milton Bradley: Is It As Bad As It Looks?

I have been paying a lot of attention to Milton Bradley in the box scores lately. His average has creeped up to .245, not a great number by any means, but better than the .208 he was at on June 9...

Written by Ricky Butts about 5 months ago 233 reads 9 comments
Chicago Cubs: Who Is To Blame For Their Struggles?

I have been reading a lot of articles over the past few weeks that have been throwing Jim Hendry under the bus. In turn, over the same time period, I have put a lot of thought in to who is really to blame for the Chicago Cubs struggles...

Written by Ricky Butts about 5 months ago 269 reads 3 comments
Chicago Cubs Rotation: Each Year Brings a Different Ace

This is what personally annoys me more than anything about the Cubs. Since they started their run as National League Central champs in 2007, there has been no consistency in the starting rotation...

Written by Ricky Butts about 6 months ago 136 reads 0 comments
BREAKING NEWS! Widespread Steroid Use Among Major League Umpires

It is hard to believe, but Jose Canseco didn't tell us the entire story. On Friday, May 29, 2009, breaking news came that 99.9 percent of Major League umpires have failed tests for numerous types of steroids and HGH...

Written by Ricky Butts about 6 months ago 258 reads 12 comments
NL Prediction: When the Ivy Turns Green, the Chicago Cubs Will Get Mean

Here we are, May 4, 2009. The Chicago Cubs are only 24 games into a season in which many picked them to run away with the National League Central. At 13-11, they find themselves three-and-a-half games behind the dreadful Red Birds of St...

Written by Ricky Butts about 7 months ago 170 reads 3 comments
Cubby Fire: Why I Love Milton Bradley Getting Tossed

High risk, high reward, I said that when the Cubs signed Milton Bradley. I am also not the guy that looks at a small sample size and is so sure that it will continue for a full season...

Written by Ricky Butts about 7 months ago 146 reads 3 comments
Around the Bases: The 10 Best Baseball Movies of All Time

I must admit that my decision to write an article about the ten best baseball movies of all time was sparked from reading Mark T's article of the same premise...

Written by Ricky Butts about 7 months ago 947 reads 11 comments
Slave for Saves: Moving Carlos Marmol to Closer Would Cost the Chicago Cubs

The debate is hot early on when it comes to the Cubs closer. Kevin Gregg has started the year with a loss, one blown save in two tries, and a 9.00 ERA in four innings...

Written by Ricky Butts about 7 months ago 102 reads 5 comments
Round 1: Chicago Cub Mike Fontenot vs. Cleveland Indian Mark DeRosa

A hot debate in Chicago over the winter was the decision to trade Mark DeRosa to the Cleveland Indians for prospects, some of whom have been labeled not worthy of such a swap. At the time, many thought Aaron Miles would be the everyday second baseman...

Written by Ricky Butts about 8 months ago 325 reads 2 comments
Letting the Goat Off the Truck: Chicago Cubs Try in 2009

There are many goats. One of my favorite is an old goat comes from middle school memories. This goat was brutally beaten by an old drunken man and constantly tied to a truck, by a three-foot rope...

Written by Ricky Butts about 8 months ago 101 reads 0 comments
100: Can the Chicago Cubs Do It?

I know what you are thinking. This is just another Cubs article about going a full century without winning a World Series ring. You are wrong. See, there is a different feat that I am interested in, for reasons I don't really know...

Written by Ricky Butts about 8 months ago 121 reads 1 comments
Lee-iterating Why the Chicago Cubs Should Have Traded Derrek Lee

Before I get into this article, I want to admit a few things. I didn't necessarily disagree with the Mark DeRosa trade, nor the Milton Bradley signing. That being said, I think there was a better move for the Chicago Cubs to make this past winter...

Written by Ricky Butts about 8 months ago 472 reads 9 comments
Chicago Cubs: Nothing Short of a World Series Will Satisfy

I remember it like it was yesterday. The first time I made a visit to Wrigley Field, at the age of 11 or so, the Cubs were not a winning ballclub. Yet, though a lousy team, the stands were packed...

Written by Ricky Butts about 9 months ago 161 reads 3 comments
Major League Baseball: Sad Times To Be a Fan

Throughout my life, I have been a baseball fan. Like many others, I dreamt of one day playing at Wrigley and Fenway. While I have always been a Chicago Cubs fan, I grew up idolizing guys like Frank Thomas, Rickey Henderson, and Cal Ripken Jr...

Written by Ricky Butts about 10 months ago 76 reads 1 comments
Cubs Contention: Defending Kevin Gregg Against Kerry Wood

There has been a lot of confusion at why the Cubs traded Jose Ceda for Kevin Gregg. To add to that, the Cubs let last year's closer, Kerry Wood, walk to Cleveland even though he wanted to stay...

Written by Ricky Butts about 10 months ago 532 reads 20 comments
You Never Know: The 2009 Major League Baseball Season

They say it is one of (if not) the hardest things to do in all of professional sports; hit a round ball with a round bat and hit it squarely...

Written by Ricky Butts about 10 months ago 181 reads 0 comments
One Through Eight: Predicting the Chicago Cubs Lineup and Statistics

It is mid January, only a month before pitchers and catchers report to Spring Training 2009. The Chicago Cubs have won two straight National League Central Division Titles, but have only played six playoff games combined...

Written by Ricky Butts about 10 months ago 571 reads 21 comments
Milton Bradley Presents Risk: The Chicago Cubs Edition

Risk is a game of world domination, or in this case baseball domination. Your objective is to conquer the world (series). To win, you must attack and defend, 81 times a piece. The game includes six continents (divisions) made up of 30 teams...

Written by Ricky Butts about 11 months ago 546 reads 15 comments
A Chicago Story: The 2008 Cubs and Bears Both Let Fans Down in the End

We saw it in October, then again at the end of December. You know what I am talking about. Games our two favorite teams should win. We feel in our heart, this could be the time. Then, they made us look like idiots once again...

Written by Ricky Butts about 11 months ago 100 reads 8 comments
Are You Ready To Play Poker? Evaluation, Discipline, and Money Management

So many people are playing poker these days. The craze started in 2003, and since then, I myself have played with many different types of people. Players from all over the world. I have played with the rich and not so much...

Written by Ricky Butts about 11 months ago 87 reads 1 comments
Lost Love: Chicago Bears Should Fire Lovie Smith

It is a distant memory...the Chicago Bears playing against the Indianapolis Colts in Super Bowl XLI. The Bears haven't made the playoffs since that 13-3 season. Their neighbors, the Colts, still haven't missed the playoffs...

Written by Ricky Butts about 11 months ago 949 reads 21 comments
Ryan Theriot Getting No Love in Chicago

Why "The Riot" Is Best Cubs Can Get I have been reading a lot about the Cubs this off-season. To my surprise, there are a lot of people who want a different shortstop in Chicago. I myself am a fan of "The Riot" for many reasons...

Written by Ricky Butts about 11 months ago 353 reads 10 comments

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Ricky Butts Article Archive

Slapping Scott Boras: What I Would Do in the Strasburg Situation

Chicago Cubs: Tale of Two Seasons

Chicago Cubs: Top 10 Keys to the Second Half

Chicago Cubs' Milton Bradley: Is It As Bad As It Looks?

Chicago Cubs: Who Is To Blame For Their Struggles?

Chicago Cubs Rotation: Each Year Brings a Different Ace

BREAKING NEWS! Widespread Steroid Use Among Major League Umpires

NL Prediction: When the Ivy Turns Green, the Chicago Cubs Will Get Mean

Cubby Fire: Why I Love Milton Bradley Getting Tossed

Around the Bases: The 10 Best Baseball Movies of All Time

Slave for Saves: Moving Carlos Marmol to Closer Would Cost the Chicago Cubs

Round 1: Chicago Cub Mike Fontenot vs. Cleveland Indian Mark DeRosa

Letting the Goat Off the Truck: Chicago Cubs Try in 2009

100: Can the Chicago Cubs Do It?

Lee-iterating Why the Chicago Cubs Should Have Traded Derrek Lee

Chicago Cubs: Nothing Short of a World Series Will Satisfy

Major League Baseball: Sad Times To Be a Fan

Cubs Contention: Defending Kevin Gregg Against Kerry Wood

You Never Know: The 2009 Major League Baseball Season

One Through Eight: Predicting the Chicago Cubs Lineup and Statistics

Milton Bradley Presents Risk: The Chicago Cubs Edition

A Chicago Story: The 2008 Cubs and Bears Both Let Fans Down in the End

Are You Ready To Play Poker? Evaluation, Discipline, and Money Management

Lost Love: Chicago Bears Should Fire Lovie Smith

Ryan Theriot Getting No Love in Chicago

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