31 Random Thoughts

In honor of the number 31 worn by Greg Maddux and Fergie Jenkins, below are 31 random thoughts on the Cubs 2009 season so far:

1. Derrek Lee, Geovany Soto, Aramis Ramirez, Milton Bradley, Carlos Marmol, and now (probably) Carlos Zambrano will all have missed playing time due to injuries already and the Cubs are still 13-11 on the season.
2. It's great that Ryan Theriot has hit a couple of homeruns recently, but it looked like he was trying to kill the ball on Sunday with no one on base. That's not his game. Then he laid down a bunt single later and I felt better.
3. I still can't stand Aaron Miles.
4. I don't miss Michael Wuertz or Chad Gaudin even a little bit.
5. I'd prefer having Ronny Cedeno on the team instead of Joey Gathright.
6. There just isn't anywhere on the roster for Jake Fox as long as The Hoff keeps hitting.
7. Keeping Angel Guzman and David Patton was absolutely the right decision at the time.
8. Barring a miracle, neither Guzman or Patton will be on the roster for the whole year.
9. I still can't get used to seeing an ad for Horseshoe Casinos instead of Budweiser on the building across Waveland.
10. I can't think of a situation where I would be OK with Neal Cotts coming into a game.
11. If Carlos Zambrano continues to be the best pinch-hitting option for this team, its going to be a long, long year.
12. Wishing I would see firsthand why Milton Bradley is worth $30 million.
13. I'm nearing the point where I will say I was wrong to worry about Fukudome - but I don't want to for fear of jinxing it.
14. I'm not worried about Geovany Soto.
15. I like Ted Lilly more and more every day.
16. Sean Marshall is becoming what I had hoped Rich Hill would be last year.
17. Now that Aramis has finally answered the question, "Who will be the next Ron Santo?" can we get to work on who will be the next Bruce Sutter?
18. I don't have a problem with Denise Richards singing horribly during the Seventh Inning Stretch, I have a problem with filling the slot with celebrities who are trying to market their new book, movie, hair product, or reality show that have no actual interest in, or knowledge of, the Cubs or baseball in general.
19. Joey Gathright and Ryan Theriot both graduated Summa Cum Laude from the Dwight Smith School of Baserunning.
20. How come nobody is saying we shouldn't have let Paul Bako go? Oh, right, he sucks.
21. How is Neal Cotts' ERA not in double digits?
22. Remember when Reed Johnson robbed Prince Fielder of a game-tying grand slam? That was awesome.
23. Is it just me, or are there fewer kids and more drunken fools in the stands this year?
24. You know what would make life so much easier in the concession lines? Condiment packets instead of having to unwrap every hot dog and brat in order to get a squirt of mustard from a dispenser.
25. Mark DeRosa is the new Chuck Norris.
26. I'll go on record right here and now and say I'm in favor of whatever signage, jingles, or other marketing nonsense they want to sell if it means keeping my ticket prices from tripling again in the next 10 years.
27. Soriano can not and should not hit anywhere in the order except leadoff, unless we want another .200 guy in the middle of the order AND no lead-off hitter.
28. When you're thrilled if you get 25 starts out of Rich Harden, it's hard to fathom Fergie Jenkins once had 30 complete games in a season.
29. I still can't believe that Greg Maddux and Andre Dawson were replaced by Jose Guzman and Candy Maldonado.
30. Say what you want about Hendry's moves, but he has added payroll left and right to try to win a championship, and would probably kill himself with his cell phone if he had to let a Cy Young winner walk because of money.
31. The no Cubs on the disabled list streak ends today with Carlos Zambrano being lost and Hendry loses the bet and his soul to the devil.