Cubs Name Hoffpauir 1B; Trade Lee To Giants For Cain
by Al Yellon on Apr 1, 2009 7:00 AM CDT
in The Next 100 Years
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PrintAt last, BCB readers have had the influence over Cubs management that we have long sought. There have been numerous readers here who have sung the praises of Micah Hoffpauir. But Lou Piniella took his cue from BCB readers Clutche and cubswynn, who have been the most adamant Hoffpauir supporters on this site, and has named the hottest spring training hitter on the club, Micah Hoffpauir, as the Cubs' starting first baseman. Said Lou: "The BCB readers are right. Micah's leading everyone in RBI's. Why shouldn't he start?"
D-Lee
To make room for Hoffpauir in the starting lineup, Jim Hendry took my suggestion from last October 22 (and to think, so many of you laughed at me when I suggested this) and, after several weeks' worth of secret negotiations carried out at the Paradise Bakery in Scottsdale (the very same location where Nomar Garciaparra himself, the subject of one of Hendry's biggest deals, was spotted buying bagels and coffee during spring training in 2005), Hendry convinced San Francisco GM Brian Sabean to take the two remaining years on Derrek Lee's contract in exchange for pitcher Matt Cain.
M-Cain
"We love Derrek, but after Sean Marshall's performance yesterday, we felt we needed some more depth in the starting rotation," said Hendry. "Sean can go to Iowa and keep Jeff Samardzija company."
BCB reader ballhawk said he'd miss Lee and all the balls he hit onto Waveland during batting practice, but that Cain's 19 HR allowed in 2008 "showed promise".
Negotiations with D-Lee to get him to waive his no-trade clause were complicated. They involved a supply of ice cream sundaes for his six-year-old daughter Jada for as long as Derrek plays for the Giants, and a promise that she could meet Dora the Explorer when Dora's live tour comes to a city near where the Giants are playing. Lee said he'd miss Cubs fans, as he's become one of the most popular Cubs, but said, "I'll be closer to my home in Sacramento. Plus, I can hit cleanup for the Giants -- I mean, come on. Bengie Molina hitting cleanup?"
Both players will report to their new clubs for action this afternoon. That is, unless they look at the calendar and realize what day today is.
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Nicely done.
Had me for about 0.2 seconds.
Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! --Homer J. Simpson
Yeah, I jumped a little when I saw the headline.
Then I remembered today’s date.
"That little kid at second base - he is after a job, isn't he?" ~ Lou Piniella, 3/9/09
You need help
with your photoshop skills……
by CubFan in STL on Apr 1, 2009 7:23 AM CDT reply actions 1 recs
yeah, the headline was all that got me
Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! --Homer J. Simpson
by Shanghai Badger on Apr 1, 2009 7:25 AM CDT up reply actions
You're right.
Now, see if you can guess who the real Giant and real Cub are whose photos I used (the real photos are not Lee and Cain).
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
Dave Roberts on the Giants end?
I love to play baseball. I'm a baseball player. I've always been a baseball player. I'm still a baseball player. That's who I am. - Ryne Sandberg
I agree about Dave Roberts
the Cubs one is a little fuzzy, but the build makes me think Rich Harden
"It's the fans that need spring training. You gotta get 'em interested. Wake 'em up and let 'em know that their season is coming, the good times are gonna roll." ~ Harry Caray
Looks more like Dan Plesac
than Rich Harden.
But /me shrugs.
Happy April Fools Day Al.
by northernsails on Apr 1, 2009 5:09 PM CDT up reply actions
Al If you ever need someone do something photoshop for ya, Im more than willing to help
Funny how loneliness sounds so good, until you hear the echoes of your soul burning a hole in your shirt. -DJM
Noted, and thanks.
I thought about asking yesterday, but didn’t want to give away the post.
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
yeah i dont think it would have been as effective
Funny how loneliness sounds so good, until you hear the echoes of your soul burning a hole in your shirt. -DJM
You forgot
Cubs traded Vitters and Kevin Hart for Jake Peavy.
"I daydream just like everybody else, I just do it with my body facing the field, so everybody thinks I'm paying attention."- Greg Maddux
That would have been too easy.
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
Ha! Nice work.
Took me a second.
Is it just me or is opening day coming all too slooooowwwwwww….
"In theory there is no difference between theory and practice. In practice there is." - Yogi Berra
I think it is coming pretty quick,
I can’t believe it is April, time flies. I like knowing that now games in the first two series can be cancelled due to weather.
I'm curious if I will follow the Cubs with a different perspective after last year, we will soon find out, thank God!
Well done.
The hair on the back of my neck stood on reading the headline and initially seeing the photo.
Lasted just long enough for a quick scare.
if this was still new to me, i wouldn't understand
LOL
ummm. Even Jim Hendry ain’t that dumb.
"Manny Trillo is coming in to pinch run. You know, for a lot of teams, you would pinch run for Manny Trillo." - Harry Caray
best one since
hendry trading himself to florida or japan.
Just now picked myself up off the floor
and kept reading. Nice job Al. A real trickster. I couldn’t believe it and wondered how I missed it. Going to change my name to mrgulliblecubsfan.
This is only the beginning....Lou Pinella end of '07 season and Chicago Transit Authority (the band when they were really good).
yeah, I too
was half hoping it was true.
"I won't be like A-Rod" - Z, 3/17/09
by Ihatethecards on Apr 1, 2009 8:32 AM CDT up reply actions
April fools or not, that would be a good deal
Okay, just so I understand it... in your wildest fantasy, you are in hell. And you are co-running a bed and breakfast with the devil.
If only
Love D-Lee but he needs to go while there is still some trade value. Maybe him and Gameboard for Rich Hill.
Time flies like an arrow, fruit flies like a banana
For the record...
…as one of "the most adamant Hoffpauir supporters " on BCB (as you put it), I’ve never said the Cubs should replace DLee with him. I’ve always said he’ll be a nice bat off the bench.
Jeez Al, I’ve got my BCB reputation to maintain.
"Pounding sand since 1982...."
Not bad...
You might have gotten more people to buy it if you’d used Fukudome.
“Fukudome gives up! Accepts buy-out and returns to Japan!”
There is no such thing as an ugly female breast
Haha
This gave me a good laugh to start my day here. Thanks!
by Craig in South Bend on Apr 1, 2009 9:05 AM CDT reply actions
fool me once, shame on you...fool, fool fo fool me twice......we won't get fooled again
Funny how loneliness sounds so good, until you hear the echoes of your soul burning a hole in your shirt. -DJM
And don't mess with Texas!
"That little kid at second base - he is after a job, isn't he?" ~ Lou Piniella, 3/9/09
MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!!!!
Funny how loneliness sounds so good, until you hear the echoes of your soul burning a hole in your shirt. -DJM
No fool like an April Fool
>ballhawk said he’d miss Lee and all the balls he hit onto Waveland during batting practice<
Bwah! Good one, Al.
if I had gone to my comp before my run you may have gotten me.
but i just paid the credit card bill and noted that it was april 1st.
well played sir….well played.
---AC 00 00 00 - Believe
what original pictures are those?
my guess: dave roberts and rich hill?
Randy Winn and Dan Plesac?
Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! --Homer J. Simpson
by Shanghai Badger on Apr 1, 2009 9:32 AM CDT up reply actions
Nope.
Plesac? That’d have to be a pretty old picture. Plesac’s last year as a Cub was 1994.
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
The face kind of looked like him, though
Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! --Homer J. Simpson
by Shanghai Badger on Apr 1, 2009 9:50 AM CDT up reply actions
That's my bad Photoshop skills.
That’s actually Matt Cain’s face.
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
No $10 for me, then....
Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! --Homer J. Simpson
by Shanghai Badger on Apr 1, 2009 10:32 AM CDT up reply actions
Yay!
April Fools. If anyone reads Digg go check out the joke on the top list. I kind of fell for that last night hahaha oops.
Opening Day 2009 can't come soon enough!
Uh, Al- Given some of the ledge jumpers who frequent this site
you “may have some ‘splainin’ to do LUCY” if they just read the headline and take a flier. Then again, it could be considered an assist to Darwinism (or Darwin Barney-ism, if you prefer).
Well done. You DID actually have me for a moment.
Shame on you. ;)
Go Green! Go White! GO STATE! Every 4 year player in Tom Izzo's MSU basketball program has gone to a Final Four. 'Nuf said Coach K. (I'm now only #12,966 on the Cubs season ticket waiting list- UP from 13,031...WHOO HOO!)
Very nice.
It's 4 in the morning. Too much to drink. All the girls look hot. So, the Nationals are Jennifer Lopez to me. —Julian Tavarez
My heart skipped a beat
and I almost picked up Hoffpauir for my fantasy team.
and ea for your
sideline reporters fantasy team
probably not the best EA picture ive seen
Funny how loneliness sounds so good, until you hear the echoes of your soul burning a hole in your shirt. -DJM
Nope, file that one away.
"Hats for bats.....keep bats warm." - Pedro Cerrano
"Hey bartender, Jobu needs a refill !!!!!!!" - Eddie Harris
by willie mays hayes' gloves on Apr 1, 2009 11:50 AM CDT up reply actions
There's a much better one IMO at the 'bottom' of this thread
Funny how loneliness sounds so good, until you hear the echoes of your soul burning a hole in your shirt. -DJM
100% better. Trust me.
"Hats for bats.....keep bats warm." - Pedro Cerrano
"Hey bartender, Jobu needs a refill !!!!!!!" - Eddie Harris
by willie mays hayes' gloves on Apr 1, 2009 11:54 AM CDT up reply actions
hey I've got eyes too
I trust you, me, and everyone else that agrees
Funny how loneliness sounds so good, until you hear the echoes of your soul burning a hole in your shirt. -DJM
However
There’s no such thing as a “bad” EA picture – just different shades of good.
by jerry morales rules on Apr 1, 2009 12:55 PM CDT up reply actions
Truth
it’s like DMB songs
Funny how loneliness sounds so good, until you hear the echoes of your soul burning a hole in your shirt. -DJM
Got me! Nice Al.
nm
"The 12 second rule is how long it takes Carlos Lee to hear, turn around, run over, find and eat a hot dog dropped by a fan in the Crawford Boxes at Minute Maid park" - ballhawk
That's correct.
But who is it?
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
Spare time your hands, Al?
Nice work.
AlaskaFan
"Year after year after year after year . . . . . after year after year after year . . ." - Steve Goodman, "Dying Cub Fan's Last Request"
Why did I get so much crap?!
Remember when I posted an April fool’s joke post last year? I was pummeled mercilessly by a couple of BCB’ers. Sure, I didn’t have at the end that it was an April fool’s joke, but still.
I almost made a post last night stating that Tom Ricketts was in talks to tear down Wrigley following once Chicago was announced to host the 2016 Olympics. But these guys beat me to it. Its actually pretty funny but also sort of makes sense.
"Prince Fielder Dies Of Inside-The-Park Homerun" - The Onion
damn it....
Funny how loneliness sounds so good, until you hear the echoes of your soul burning a hole in your shirt. -DJM
Wow, just went back and looked....
TOUGH CROWD…… haha that’s actually funny. People took real offense to it.
"It's hard to win 97 games, it's hard to win the division. Our attitude is if you get in every year, you get in most of the time, sooner or later you are going to knock that door down." -- Jim Hendry
Hey, I had your back.
A few other people really overreacted, though. Pretty funny.
"That little kid at second base - he is after a job, isn't he?" ~ Lou Piniella, 3/9/09
LMAO
almost spit water on my desk at work
Friendship is like peeing on yourself: everyone can see it, but only you get the warm feeling that it brings.
Good one Al
Had me through the whole headline.
Wonder what the response would be if the deal was actually made.
"Have You heard of the Boom on Mizar 5?"
Thanks for the one second shock
and then the 5 minute chuckle as I read the article.
A baseball game is simply a nervous breakdown divided into nine innings. ~Earl Wilson
I woke up thinking about it being April Fools Day
So I wasn’t fooled. :)
"That's what you live for. You live for the opportunity and when that day comes, you better be ready," Soto said. "I tried to make sure that whenever they gave me a chance, I was ready and I knew I had to take advantage of the opportunity."
by Madison Cub Fan on Apr 1, 2009 10:55 AM CDT reply actions
OMG Espn mentions this story
I hope this link works…..
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?entryID=4033120&name=Neyer_Rob
"That's what you live for. You live for the opportunity and when that day comes, you better be ready," Soto said. "I tried to make sure that whenever they gave me a chance, I was ready and I knew I had to take advantage of the opportunity."
by Madison Cub Fan on Apr 1, 2009 11:02 AM CDT reply actions
Hey, that's really cool
and at least we know Rob Neyer read the blog. Congrats Al
"Prince Fielder Dies Of Inside-The-Park Homerun" - The Onion
If you go to Google news and scroll down to sports it's one of the top 3 articles.
"That's what you live for. You live for the opportunity and when that day comes, you better be ready," Soto said. "I tried to make sure that whenever they gave me a chance, I was ready and I knew I had to take advantage of the opportunity."
by Madison Cub Fan on Apr 1, 2009 11:07 AM CDT up reply actions
Big win for Al!
"That little kid at second base - he is after a job, isn't he?" ~ Lou Piniella, 3/9/09
by daver on Apr 1, 2009 11:11 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
That's really cool.
I met Rob at the BlogWorld convention in November 2007, he’s a real cool guy.
I take his point about Hoffpauir. If he can learn plate discipline, he’ll be a good bench player. I’ll be happy to say I was wrong about him.
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
Yeah, I've made peace with Hoffpauir, too.
Let’s face it, he’s earned his shot – even if it is in a role he may not be suited for. To be honest, I’d like to see Micah get a start a week at first base, too. DLee has been a little bit gimpy already, and he’s not getting any younger. Plus, Hoffpauir looks reasonably sound defensively.
"That little kid at second base - he is after a job, isn't he?" ~ Lou Piniella, 3/9/09
I agree 100%
Whether or not you agree with jumping on the bandwagon or not, the fact remains the dude can flat out hit. He’s earned, I’m behind him 149%, but im not gonna be buying a Hoff jersey anytime soon
Funny how loneliness sounds so good, until you hear the echoes of your soul burning a hole in your shirt. -DJM
I was fooled
My heart stopped for a second.
by Don't Fear the Reaper on Apr 1, 2009 11:05 AM CDT reply actions
Saw the artical on ESPN.com
Rob Neyer wrote the post.
"That little kid at second base - he is after a job, isn't he?" ~ Lou Piniella, 3/9/09
by daver on Apr 1, 2009 11:12 AM CDT reply actions 1 recs
you can LOL all you want and I don't care how big your biceps are...
…you’re never going to be able to reach high enough and touch our beloved Erin…
Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."
Apparently, Skeletor is an ass man.
"That little kid at second base - he is after a job, isn't he?" ~ Lou Piniella, 3/9/09
Hey! It's the ASSMAN!
"Hats for bats.....keep bats warm." - Pedro Cerrano
"Hey bartender, Jobu needs a refill !!!!!!!" - Eddie Harris
by willie mays hayes' gloves on Apr 1, 2009 12:19 PM CDT up reply actions
You got that right!
"That little kid at second base - he is after a job, isn't he?" ~ Lou Piniella, 3/9/09
No VPL. I say again, is EA going commando?
Go Green! Go White! GO STATE! Every 4 year player in Tom Izzo's MSU basketball program has gone to a Final Four. 'Nuf said Coach K. (I'm now only #12,966 on the Cubs season ticket waiting list- UP from 13,031...WHOO HOO!)
She is in my world.
"Hats for bats.....keep bats warm." - Pedro Cerrano
"Hey bartender, Jobu needs a refill !!!!!!!" - Eddie Harris
by willie mays hayes' gloves on Apr 1, 2009 2:07 PM CDT up reply actions
The eyes do not lie.
"That little kid at second base - he is after a job, isn't he?" ~ Lou Piniella, 3/9/09
or thong?
Friendship is like peeing on yourself: everyone can see it, but only you get the warm feeling that it brings.
No, I'm pretty sure he's right.
"That little kid at second base - he is after a job, isn't he?" ~ Lou Piniella, 3/9/09
Damn! I was hoping it was true...
Matt Cain’s 19 HR allowed shows promise indeed – almost like the demonic offspring of Steve Trachsel and Bob Howry…
Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."
Even though I knew it was Aprl 1, right away, it was still a delight to read.
I just can’t believe you didn’t work an EA reference into the article. Great work.
How of much Kosuke’s salary will we have to eat when we send him to Bal-T-more (today) for Pie? :-)
"If it's obvious, it's obviously wrong." - a well known stock market guru
My dream come true
If you had to choose just one characteristic that would get you through life, choose a sense of humor.
Here are the photos I used
The biggest problem was finding photos with matching head sizes — Guzman’s was the closest I could find for Cain, which is why Cain’s face looks so grainy in the Photoshop.
All of those pics are from the new SBN player pages, which you should check out — here’s Derrek Lee’s page, for example.
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
Nicely done
How did I miss this earlier! :-)
The shortest distance between two points is under construction.
by halfblindcubbiegirl on Apr 1, 2009 6:44 PM CDT reply actions
Too funny.
Skimming the article was my bad! Thanks for the laugh.
"Only lazy minds think baseball is dull" - Bernie Lincicome
by alwayshappy2bacubsfan on Apr 1, 2009 11:16 PM CDT reply actions
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