If you had a choice

Not too hard to guess who I would pick otherwise.

From all that I’ve heard, he’s a very social guy, extremely friendly. He’s been through a lot too, from recovering from surgery and dealing with family issues.

Different cultures are fascinating to me, plus he seems like a humble, genuine guy.

just because I like figuring out what makes people raging mad. And because I would have a good story to publish.

I’m certain he’s a fascinating cat to talk to; you know, when he feels like talking.

“How do you feel about the year you’ve just had, Aaron? "

First, my purpose of selecting these persons is to learn more about the game of baseball, a perspective I wouldn’t otherwise have.

My Cubs selection:

Somebody like Bobby Scales probably has enough stories about the game of baseball to last me the rest of my life. I think of a Crash Davis type of guy when I think of Bobby Scales, and I’m sure he could teach me more about baseball than just about anybody else on the team. And he would be humble as he went about it, too.

My overall selection:

Charlie Manuel seems like a guy that I could learn a lot from. I know he has coached in the Japanese leagues, was good friends with Ted Williams, and has now coached a World Series Championship team. Works for me.

Dan

for me.

Lee for me….love the guy and his passion for the game and life in general

But it’d be fun to have a night out at the bars with Big Z.

I’ve been impressed with the way he’s carried handled his business on and off the field. He’s a good ballplayer and seems like a genuinely nice guy.

For a couple reasons. No matter what you think of him, he seems like he’d be entertaining to hang out with. And the second reason is to talk some sense into him.

just to sit around and talk nothing but Notre Dame, but seriously, D. Lee

any of those four would be a blast.

a stoned Soto.

Oh, wait…

But it may need to be in a confessional – I don’t think I could look him in the eye and live.

Is that the “midget that lives inside Ryan Freel’s head” that he talks to?

I’m sure we’d go hang out after the conversation, because he’s a cool cat… and let’s face it, so am I. As we walked toward our destination, he’d tell me about something baseball related, and I’d quickly change the subject to strippers and mutton chops, then he’d get slightly embarrassed and change the subject again to riding coach on a plane and defusing IEDs. I’d get flustered and start talking sternly about how we need to find ourselves a local Spearmint Rhino and hire a feisty dwarf to deliver the dollar bills to the ladies FOR us, for fear of the paparazzo.

He’d give me a look like he should probably have taken a lesson from Morgan Ensberg and carried a weapon at all times, then tell me to go without him, and he’d leave. And dammit, I WOULD go without him – though without the dwarf either (who can afford to rent one during these tough economic times?) – and I’d still enjoy myself…. BUT, sure enough, he’d come back and find me, a primordial dwarf in each hand, and tell me he was sorry and knew I was just looking out for his sanity and well-being.

We’d leave at 9:45 am, and go our separate ways. He’d never contact me again, nor would I try to contact him, but he’d tell his grandkids about it some years later and say, “That dude… he made me whole again. I wouldn’t have become President of Baja California if it weren’t for PacificCub inviting me out that night.”

Joke’s on him, though. I actually will have been running most of the cartels in Baja during his administration and vaguely undermining his authority.

Koyie Hill. Spent a good bit of time in the minors, chopped off fingers with a table saw, capable backup that seems like a really good, humble guy. I think I would enjoy hanging out with him.

I have heard a lot of people say that when you get Lou away from the media, all the stuttering, and the “Look….” and the “Well, whaddya want me to do??” all stops, and he becomes one of the most intelligent baseball people to talk about the game with. I would love to have one hour, off the record, and no holds barred with Lou to discuss the last three years and what has really gone on off the field. Oh, and I’d have to ask about the Bronx Zoo Yankee teams of 1977 and ’78 too.