Community Guidelines

by Al Yellon on Dec 16, 2005 3:01 PM CST in Meta BCB

BCB has, in recent weeks, grown to become quite a large community -- we are now getting hundreds of posts daily, and I'm grateful for all of them, for all of you, for without you, we wouldn't be the vibrant community we have become.

With growth can come growing pains. As such, I have posted some community guidelines which should be seen as very basic "rules" on how you should approach posting here at BCB.

These are NOT intended to be Draconian, and I have an extreme aversion to "banning" anyone. This is an open and free community, and all viewpoints are welcome. Yes, ALL.

All I ask is that people be courteous, and not profane, and follow the general rules laid out in the guidelines. Let me say that in general, I think the tone of the discussion here stays on-topic, is intelligent and articulate, and puts forth interesting and lively ideas.

Let's keep it that way. Thanks.

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That's good, Al

Unfortunately, I wouldn't want kids to read some of the other blogs of the SB Nation. Some are a complete free-for-all with no civility at all. An operator of one of the AL Blogs freely sprinkles his thoughts with obscenities. When I pointed out that perhaps he might want to temper this -- after all, it's not 'adults only' at these blogs -- he replied with more of then same and I believe he banned me from the blog, as he sent me a private E Mail to take it to me even more. Classless. The standards are higher here at BCB.

by San Diego Smooth Jazz Man on Dec 16, 2005 3:23 PM CST reply actions

Why

the popularity explosion Al? And during the off-season of all times!

NLBallClub

by NLBallClub on Dec 16, 2005 3:23 PM CST reply actions

Why??

I don't understand why it hadn't exploded before, this blog is awesome!

Cubbie Blue always sPaRkLes in my eyes. Time to sPaRkLe Jimmy!

by sparkles721 on Dec 16, 2005 3:30 PM CST up reply actions

The reason is...

...Al is DA MAN!

by dvdmgsr on Dec 16, 2005 5:02 PM CST up reply actions

You are....

... too kind.

The explosion, as a lot of you may have noticed, started during the World Series, as a lot of people seemed to want to discuss that here, even though our team wasn't involved.

Then it really got huge over the Winter Meetings, and it seems that there was more interest in them this year than in almost any other year that I can remember.

by Al Yellon on Dec 16, 2005 5:06 PM CST up reply actions

because...

...we are all indoors more and frantic for any baseball/cubbie related activity! I just found BCB this past season, so this is the first time that i've had source for hot-stove chatter.

also, to the point above Al has fostered a great environment by leading through example. His positivity and passion are so evident and I believe it has brought together a great group of like minded folks.

on an unrelated note, i love the snow on the ivy in the logo! Can't wait til the sun shines warmly on it again...

by blueisthecolor on Dec 16, 2005 3:31 PM CST up reply actions

Well

I like this blog b/c it is kinda a clearing-house for all different sides of things. Some numbers analysis and crunching, but not too saber-metric-ed out generally. Narratives about what it means to be a Cubs fan and so forth, but not inundated with sentimental stuff. Critiscism, but not relentless. Optimism, but not (arguably) falsely just to make some sort of stand of "never giving up on the team".

I like all those aspects of following the Cubs and baseball but anything focusing entirely on, say saber-metrics, while fascinating, can get too dry for me, I'm not picking stocks. Just an example.

NLBallClub

by NLBallClub on Dec 16, 2005 3:37 PM CST up reply actions

All of that is true...

... and that's why I think all of you like it here, because everyone's opinion is listened to, I know I have learned things from all of you, and I hope you have learned from me and from each other.

by Al Yellon on Dec 16, 2005 4:56 PM CST up reply actions

One of the best things about the site...

...is the diary function. It keeps the site from completely relying on Al for direction yet also keeps the site from being a free-for-all like a message board.

by jolietconvict on Dec 17, 2005 12:10 AM CST up reply actions

And the diaries...

... are one of the reasons that the SB Nation blogs have been so successful.

Glad you like them -- I do too.

And this community is better because of them.

by Al Yellon on Dec 17, 2005 3:52 AM CST up reply actions

Yeah good point

diaries definitely better than a free for all message board.

NLBallClub

by NLBallClub on Dec 17, 2005 12:39 PM CST up reply actions

I love the snow too...

nice touch.

Cubbie Blue always sPaRkLes in my eyes. Time to sPaRkLe Jimmy!

by sparkles721 on Dec 16, 2005 3:39 PM CST up reply actions

Thanks!

Will pass that along to Mike, who did it for me.

by Al Yellon on Dec 16, 2005 4:56 PM CST up reply actions

BCB is great.....

because it is fair and balanced. And because Al does know more about baseball than my homophobic chihuahua.

by slide on Dec 16, 2005 6:10 PM CST up reply actions

oh yeah?!

well my mysogynist cocker spaniel.....is fat.

2006 -- AC036097 -- Eamus Catuli!

by priorpwnz on Dec 16, 2005 6:11 PM CST up reply actions

Fair and balanced?

Hmmm.

;)

by Al Yellon on Dec 16, 2005 6:24 PM CST up reply actions

Because

Al (and many others on the site which I hereto in this comment refer to as Al) is a true Cubbie fan keeping up with all rumblings throughout the post season as accurately and with as much enthusiasm as during the season. I got to this site through Kos (oops, I just broke a rule) mid-season last year and am an addict. Without my BCB my blood will not stay blue.

Secondarily, I would like all of us loudmouths (another rule broken) to match wits in a "Who knows the Cubbies" contest. Somehow find questions (E.g., who was the best off-season pick-up, or which 2005 Cub will have the best season away from the Cubs) and put our opinions to the test. Maybe I would give up my 24-style Cubbie mug to the winner, maybe not. One way or another, I am confident that my Chihuahua will kick all of your [expletive deleted by management] (hah, two more rules broken. Down with the man!).

Seriously, this site is great. I don't think I watched, listened to, or went to a game without the pitching matchups and overview front paged here. Many times even saying things like, "Neifi!" making a point to add the excaimation point by hand. (It's easy to do, Just put your left forearm in a 12- 6 o'clock position and squarely below (often with emphasis) punch the air. Voila! A "Neifi!") Sadly, there is not enough opportunity to use it but very satisfying when in a St. Louis bar in Chicago and he hits a grand slam to win a game.

Now for my 2006 "ballsy prediction of the week:"]

Derrick Lee will come back to earth but Michael Barret will have the season of his career and Mark Prior (back and healthy (??)) just misses the Cy Young much to the chagrine of me.

by One F on Dec 16, 2005 3:40 PM CST up reply actions

Yowza!

You are not kidding, Al. I write one (granted lengthy) reply and four people beat me to it.

by One F on Dec 16, 2005 3:42 PM CST up reply actions

There is a contest...

One of the blogs of a Cubs fan living in Cincinnati sponsors a pretty interesting Cubs contest every year. ALthough that is predictions, not trivia or what have you.

NLBallClub

by NLBallClub on Dec 16, 2005 3:50 PM CST up reply actions

Contest idea...

Fine, but Mike from Al's section has to be disqualified.

by dvdmgsr on Dec 16, 2005 5:04 PM CST up reply actions

I'm fairly new

I discovered the site when I was looking at a Wrigley Expansion website. The website has been talked about here, due to the fact that they have been posting the construction pictures that can be found here. I followed the link to BCB to see what it was about and have been here ever since. I'm sure that there are some othere people who found it because of that.

AC 00 00 00 - BELIEVE

by mike @ Bleed Cubbie Blue on Dec 16, 2005 6:37 PM CST up reply actions

The only thing....

I don't like about this growing community is that since I read everyone's posts it takes me forever to read them, like today that I didn't read many yesterday so now I have to read like 300 comments.

But the more comments the better!

Cubbie Blue always sPaRkLes in my eyes. Time to sPaRkLe Jimmy!

by sparkles721 on Dec 16, 2005 3:42 PM CST reply actions

Understood...

assuming that this was a response to our discussion about Shawn Green...

C'mon now...anyone can have a bad century...

by Kinky Reggae on Dec 16, 2005 3:43 PM CST reply actions

No...

... it was something that I felt needed to be said, and I hope you all take it in the spirit of community in which I give it.

by Al Yellon on Dec 16, 2005 4:56 PM CST up reply actions

Sho nuff...

C'mon now...anyone can have a bad century...

by Kinky Reggae on Dec 16, 2005 6:02 PM CST up reply actions

See

this is exactly why I say we tell Nickler the honest to gods truth. That he's adopted.

2006 -- AC036097 -- Eamus Catuli!

by priorpwnz on Dec 16, 2005 5:57 PM CST reply actions

That's mean

I'm sorry, Nickler. Believe it or not though I just like giving you a hard time.

2006 -- AC036097 -- Eamus Catuli!

by priorpwnz on Dec 16, 2005 5:58 PM CST up reply actions

Nickler's not adopted

His mother just traded him for Rondell White.

I never travel far without a little Big Star

by Josh Timmers on Dec 16, 2005 8:51 PM CST up reply actions

LOL!!!

I love everybody at BCB, you guys all rock. Even nickler.

Cubbie Blue always sPaRkLes in my eyes. Time to sPaRkLe Jimmy!

by sparkles721 on Dec 16, 2005 11:47 PM CST up reply actions

Thank you sparkles

I do rock.

2006 -- AC036097 -- Eamus Catuli!

by priorpwnz on Dec 17, 2005 11:55 AM CST up reply actions

You're welcome!

Cubbie Blue always sPaRkLes in my eyes. Time to sPaRkLe Jimmy!

by sparkles721 on Dec 17, 2005 12:09 PM CST up reply actions

Not to change the good natured theme of this post

but did anyone else see that Jayson Stark said that the Cubs have moved past just wanting Jacque Jones for one year and are willing to offer him a 3-year deal?

Nothing will make me more upset than Jacque Jones in RF for 3 years. It's unacceptable. One year? OK. Not going to help us much at all, but what's one year?

I dislike Corey Patterson as much or more than anyone else and have since he came to Big League's, but I'd rather have Patterson in RF for one year than Jacque Jones for 3 years. Ready or not, I'd much rather have Felix Pie in RF than either of them.

3 years of Jacque Jones? We've hit rock bottom if that's the case.

by Maddog on Dec 16, 2005 7:23 PM CST reply actions

I saw that too...

... I cannot imagine it is true. Three years for that? I'd rather have three years of Jeromy Burnitz.

by Al Yellon on Dec 16, 2005 7:26 PM CST up reply actions

That was my first instinct, too.

Thinking it couldn't be right, but it was backed up by saying since the Cubs had lost out on Ibanez, Wilkerson, Gibbons and Huff they've basically realized they have nothing better. So, I don't know. I've always thought Stark was pretty good at reporting what he believes to be solid information. We shall see.

I'm not sure i'd rather have Burnitz for 3 years, but I see what you're saying. To me, why sign someone like that for 3 years?

I mean, unless Tejada is coming, in which case they can sign Jones for however long they like as far as i'm concerned, but I just don't believe Tejada is leaving Baltimore. I'd rather have Calvin Murray or Trenidad Hubbard in RF for one year than jacque Jones for 3 years.

by Maddog on Dec 16, 2005 7:58 PM CST up reply actions

Good points...

... but I have yet to see any definitive word that Huff is unavailable.

by Al Yellon on Dec 16, 2005 8:03 PM CST up reply actions

Since when is Huff unavailable?

Sorry if that's a dumb question--I've been on trial for the past two days--I am dangerously out of touch with the rumor mill right now.

Hey-Dawson backwards is Noswad!---Harry Caray

by cubbiejulie on Dec 16, 2005 8:10 PM CST up reply actions

I've been in close touch...

... and I haven't seen this, either.

by Al Yellon on Dec 16, 2005 8:14 PM CST up reply actions

It's not that he's not available,

it's that the cost for him seems to be prohibitive.

In the end, I expect the D-Rays will trade Huff this offseason, but it's going to cost an awful lot for the team that gets his services.

The D-Rays said NO on a straight up deal of Lugo for Andy Marte. That's the equivalent of them saying no to Felix Pie for Julio Lugo.

Aubrey Huff, while he had somewhat of a down year, is going to get more for the D-Rays than Lugo will.

by Maddog on Dec 16, 2005 10:17 PM CST up reply actions

One thing I read...

...said not that they refused but that for some reason the Braves never offered Marte straight up.

by jolietconvict on Dec 17, 2005 12:13 AM CST up reply actions

or

that they might have been concerned about his elbow being more serious than the braves were letting onto.
making a deal with the braves GM is like making a deal with the devil--even though it seems like you're getting a good deal, you just know he's going to win out in the end.

by tomas21 on Dec 17, 2005 8:47 AM CST up reply actions

What?

Is that true? That can't be true. Please, someone, tell me that's not true. . .

Hey-Dawson backwards is Noswad!---Harry Caray

by cubbiejulie on Dec 16, 2005 7:31 PM CST up reply actions

I could tell you it's not true,

but i'm afraid i'd be lying.

by Maddog on Dec 16, 2005 7:59 PM CST up reply actions

FYI

La Velle Neal of the Star Tribune (Minneapolis) was on WGN 720 a few days ago to discuss Jones. He commented that Jones is Corey patterson lite. He K's a ton, not as much as Patterson, but still a lot.

I'm one of the few people who still has some tolerance for Corey Patterson and I wouldn't be mad if he were brought back. However if Jones is going to be signed to play right field, they would be better off keeping Patterson.

DmL

by dmlichte on Dec 16, 2005 7:48 PM CST up reply actions

Agreed...

...at least if it's for more than 1 year.

by jolietconvict on Dec 17, 2005 12:14 AM CST up reply actions

JJ

Double J can stay away for as far as i am concerned..

.249 an OBP of .303... 24 hrs and 59 rbi's this guy simply just does not get it... Neither does Patterson they both are little guys trapped in this idea of homeruns..... If Corey could just watch film from a non biased point of view
and see hey fans dont boo me when i just make contact.. seriously even if he grounded out into more DP's id be happier if he just made contact ... even if he popped out with runners on 1st and 2nd... thats fine just make contact... Corey doesn't understand that sometimes its okay not to be the hero... he tried too hard to be the guy he says "the fans do not affect me" translation: it hurts when the fans boo me but i want to impress them. He was pressing and when he came back and things got good again he relished in it a bit too much and then started his slide again.. What should happen is Dusty needs to sit Corey down and tell him to play the game the way it was meant to be played... and not to worry how his stats look but just focus on the fundamentals of baseball...

by cubsfan2883 on Dec 16, 2005 8:46 PM CST reply actions

jj is tolerable,

as long as we can swing tejada. i'd even dare say lets keep patterson (since i'm less sold on murton than for having only jj in right) and have an outfield of

lf - korey
cf - pierre
rf - jones

again......only if we get tejada

by geetarnwhiskey on Dec 16, 2005 9:00 PM CST up reply actions

Community standards

I post regularly at 4 sites (I think)(including BCB) and read many more.

This site, and its resident posters are by far the best behaved and most courteous amongst 'em.

I wonder if that's the same experience for everyone else, and I hope it stays that way...

by drone1047 @ Bleed Cubbie Blue on Dec 16, 2005 9:15 PM CST reply actions

It's because...

...were cub fans. If you want crude and vulgar you have to go to the south side for that.

cubsfan4life

by cubfan4life on Dec 16, 2005 11:52 PM CST up reply actions

Go check out...

... the Cubs.com forum. Newton Minnow's famous "vast wasteland" would apply. That place is just the worst.

DmL

by dmlichte on Dec 17, 2005 1:17 AM CST up reply actions

The noise-to-signal ratio there...

... is pretty high.

But if you can wade through it, occasionally there is some useful info there.

by Al Yellon on Dec 17, 2005 3:53 AM CST up reply actions

the

only thing that board is useful for is for breaking news. they tend to post whatever was just said on the radio faster than any other site.

by tomas21 on Dec 17, 2005 8:50 AM CST up reply actions

That is...

... exacty the "wading" I was talking about.

by Al Yellon on Dec 17, 2005 8:53 AM CST up reply actions

If we get Tejada

we can run anyone out there ...

the cubs line up would still need a good 8 hitter...also Patterson would probably be included in a deal to get Tejada maybe Murton too..
Murton, Patterson, Prior... Should get it done ... I wonder if the Cubs could even convince the Orioles in a
Patterson Murton Rich Hill Cedeno deal that would be great.. but unfortunately its going to take Prior or Z and i dont know that i want to part with either of those two... Also the Cubs need to save some money because Derrek Lee and Mark Prior are both FA next year... that scares me more than anything to lose Lee and Prior...

by cubsfan2883 on Dec 16, 2005 9:15 PM CST reply actions

it ends up a pretty simple choice,

cubs curse would indicate that if prior were included, he would surely become a cy young winner. (obviously speculation and pessimism) but if prior is needed to get the deal done, sign millwood or trade for zito

by geetarnwhiskey on Dec 16, 2005 9:52 PM CST up reply actions

as attached to prior as i may be

i actually wouldnt feel so bad about that scenario....how bout you al?

by geetarnwhiskey on Dec 16, 2005 9:53 PM CST up reply actions

I don't understand

why anyone would ever resort to personally attacking a faceless person on the internet...but I have always wondered this. Are there any rules against cussing? Because sometimes the f word evokes an emotion that is hard to achieve in writing in other ways.

by Ienpw @ Bleed Cubbie Blue on Dec 16, 2005 9:56 PM CST reply actions

Ken Rosenthal says...

Price for Tejada to be too high for anything to likely get done.

by Maddog on Dec 16, 2005 10:19 PM CST reply actions

it is a little hard to swallow...

that the only blockbuster trade consummated during the angelos regime was for sammy sosa.
"salary dump by the cubs" would seem to be either poor reporting or flat out ignorance of the fact that the cubs mailed some extremely large checks to baltimore in 2005. doesn't a salary dump indicate you get out from under the obligation altogether?
maybe baltimore will reciprocate with a salry dump of tejada to the cubs, and mail back some of that 2005 money in 2006. 'tis the season of miracles, right?

by dc60123 @ Bleed Cubbie Blue on Dec 17, 2005 7:56 AM CST up reply actions

Options

Ugh, Jacque Jones or Corey Patterson is like choosing between having the flu or diarrhea---either way, you're going to be sick and it's going to be messy.

About Shawn Green, head on over to our favorite site and see what they say about Green coming to the Cubs. There's a line or two there that are priceless.

It'd be nice to figure out if we can get Tejada. If not, our best course of action might be over-paying for Huff, unless there's something out there that hasn't yet been speculated on.

"If it takes forever."

by JDay on Dec 16, 2005 11:16 PM CST reply actions