Forget a Reds hat, newly-elected Baseball Hall of Famer Barry Larkin should be enshrined wearing this…

barry-larkin-hall-of-fame

Barry Larkin has been elected to the Hall of Fame, with plenty of debate on both sides about his candidacy. Here is his Baseball Reference page so you can look at his stats and judge his credentials for yourself. As far as I’m concerned, when I think of Barry Larkin I don’t think “Hall of Famer” but his overall stats are better than I remembered, so I’m open to his induction if 80+% of people who know much more about this than me think he should be in.

But now to the more important issue.

With some players, the question of what hat to wear in the Hall is a big one. It’s not with Larkin. He played his entire 19-year career with the Cincinnati Reds. However, based on new evidence uncovered today by Reddit (here), I think the Hall of Fame should eschew a baseball cap for Larkin and instead induct him with a full body bronze statue complete with the sublime turtleneck-sweater-overall outfit he is pictured in below.

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Fun With YouTube: 1929 NFL Footage, The Oldest Recorded Sound, And Other Awesome Old Stuff

chicago-cardinals-bears

The magic of the Internet allows us all to be armchair archaeologists. Using devices that we can hold in one hand we can access old films and audio recordings that, less than two decades ago, would have been available only in museums, library back rooms, and private basements and attics.

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Dear Parents: Please Don’t Raise Your Kids as Chicago Cub Fans

Sad Cubs

I don’t want to come off as the type of person who tells people how to raise your kids or how to be a parent; but I feel, as a victim of what I’m about to discuss, that I need to speak out.

Please, whatever you do, do not raise your child as a Chicago Cubs fan.

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All I Want From Theo Epstein and the Chicago Cubs is a Reason to Believe Again

theo-epstein-gave-birth-to-baby-jack-this-morning

If you’re a Cubs fan or just a lover of baseball, you’ve probably heard the news that Theo Epstein has accepted the GM job for the Cubs. As there always is when a move of this magnitude is made in sports, people will give their opinion on whether they think it’s a great or terrible move.

I, upon hearing the news, had no real strong opinions. I read both sides of the argument, but I still found myself without a real opinion on the subject. I don’t really care what Epstein did with Boston. I don’t care to hear about his success stories. I don’t even care to hear about his failures in Boston.

All I care about is seeing my Cubs team start winning and becoming a serious threat in the MLB.

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LOLCubs: Bleacher Bum treats fellow fan’s beer like Randy Johnson treats low-flying birds

lolcubs

Apropos of absolutely nothing, I present to you the following animated GIF, which I just happened to spot on Reddit a few minutes ago.

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Away From the Action Podcast: Josh and Dennis Goodman on Bartman, Moneyball, the Colts and Much More

As much as we hate to relive the events of October 14, 2003, we harbor no ill will toward Steve Bartman. (Photo: Morry Gash/Associated Press)

In this episode of the Away From the Action Podcast, I talk to my good friend, Cubs fan and statistician Dennis Goodman, about Catching Hell (ESPN’s new documentary about the Steve Bartman incident), Moneyball, statistics, the Colts, the Evansville Purple Aces, and much more.

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Update on MLB’s Most Over and Underrated Players

Miguel Cabrera

Way back in February, USA Today’s 2011 MLB Preview Magazine published a lengthy piece by yours truly, whereupon I rendered my thoughts on who the most over and underrated players in the game were as we approached the new campaign.

I figured I might as well do monthly updates on these “predictions,” so as to capriciously praise or condemn myself.

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Forget Suspension; Cubs Should Cut Ties with Carlos Zambrano

carlos-zambrano-angry-bat

In what shouldn’t surprise anyone who knows anything about sports, Chicago Cubs pitcher Carlos Zambrano threw another one of his tantrums Friday night. After allowing five home runs to the Atlanta Braves and being ejected for throwing two inside pitches at Chipper Jones, Zambrano did what he does best: storm off the field in disgust.

Zambrano apparently told club staff that he was retiring after the ejection. Sadly, two hours later, Zambrano’s agent made it clear that his client was not going to retire; instead, the Cubs put Zambrano on the disqualified list for 30 days.

Cubs general manager, Jim Hendry, said that it was the harshest punishment without actually releasing Zambrano. My question is: Why didn’t Hendry release Zambrano?

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MSF QuickCast #8: As Carlos Zambrano Exits, Ol’ Reliable Mark Buehrle Stands Alone in Chicago

Mark Buehrle

In the 8th installment of the MSF QuickCast, I discuss last night’s classless exit and apparent retirement of Carlos Zambrano, which effectively ends a frustrating decade on the mound for Cubs fans that began so promisingly.

In Zambrano’s exit, and juxtaposed against the disappointment of the Wood-Prior-Zambrano trio, I find yet another way to appreciate their underappreciated contemporary: Mark Buehrle.

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All-Star Break Update on MLB’s Most Over and Underrated Players

paul-konerko

Way back in February, USA Today’s 2011 MLB Preview Magazine published a lengthy piece by yours truly, whereupon I rendered my thoughts on who the most over and underrated players in the game were as we approached the new campaign.

I figured I might as well do occasional updates — especially here at midseason —  on these “predictions,” so as to capriciously praise or condemn myself.

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Cubs to produce video for “It Gets Better” campaign

The Chicago Cubs have produced a video for the It Gets Better campaign and The Trevor Project to give hope to young people, and particularly LGBT young people, who are victims of bullying.

The Cubs are the second Major League team (after the San Francisco Giants) to do so. (From MLB.com.)

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The Chicago Cubs will never win a World Series as long as Jim Hendry and current management have their jobs

jim-hendry

I am not one who usually agrees with Cubs pitcher Carlos Zambrano, but he spoke nothing but truth yesterday when he called the Cubs “embarrassing’ after being swept by the St. Louis Cardinals.

I don’t know if any of you have watched the Cubs lately, but if you have, it’s hard not to agree with Zambrano’s assessment.

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Chicago Cubs At A Familiar Crossroads

mike-quade-cubs

For a real Cubs fan, hope springs eternal.

The phrase “There’s always next year” is part of Cubbie-blue language. It’s a part of Cubs Culture. Disappointment is our watch word, a blue sports T-shirt bearing a big red “C” is our uniform, and past victories are our memories.

And unfortunately, 2011 is shaping up like so many seasons Cubs fans have suffered through in the past.

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Yet another “LOLCubs” moment at Wrigley

cubs-upside-down-logo

As you know, I take great enjoyment in anything that is disparaging to the Chicago Cubs. While perusing Deadspin yesterday, I found yet another example of the Cubs being, well, the Cubs.

It’s this logo, located in the tunnel connecting the Cubs dugout to the clubhouse.

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Image of Cubs Fan in Pujols Jersey at Cardinals Opening Day Another Example of Non-Lovable Loser Mentality

cubs-pujols-jersey

103 years and counting.

That’s how long it has been since the Cubs last won the World Series back in 1908.

Sure, you might say that the 103rd season hasn’t even started yet and that I shouldn’t jump to conclusions. I say it looks like Cubs fans – at least one steaming Wrigley turd in particular – have already given up on 2011.

How else do you explain this?

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