And The Winner Is... (The 2010-11 Offseason IT'S HAPPENING!!!??? Contest)

by ballhawk on Oct 19, 2011 11:32 PM CDT

File this under "Better Late Than Never". Yep, I'm finally getting around to posting the results to the
Last Out to First Pitch – The 2010-11 Offseason IT'S HAPPENING!!!??? Contest.

What took me so long? Well, I could trot out the usual litany of excuses - new job, Cubs sucking, summertime fun, Cubs sucking, family health issues, Cubs sucking, general indifference, Cubs sucking, etc. And to a certain extent, those all were indeed factors, but insignificant ones at best.

Truth is, I did try a few times to tally the results and write something up. But every time I got to this event/prediction from the original list...

H ..... Cubs announce a reduced broadcasting role for Ron Santo.

...it felt like somebody had just punched me in the stomach.

(sigh...)

Here were the 15 possible events:

THE FIFTEEN BIGGEST EVENTS THAT MAY (or may not) HAPPEN THIS OFF-SEASON:

A ..... Ryne Sandberg agrees to a coaching or managing job in the majors.
B ..... Cubs sign Kerry Wood.
C ..... Starlin Castro finishes higher than Jaime Garcia in the ROY voting.
D ..... Cubs new bench coach will have had some MLB managing experience.
E ..... MLB adds more teams to the postseason mix, i.e. more wildcards.
F ..... Cubs sign Adam Dunn.
G ..... Tyler Colvin is the starting right-fielder for Cubs on Opening Day.
H ..... Cubs announce a reduced broadcasting role for Ron Santo.
I ..... Kosuke Fukudome is traded and/or returns to Japan.
J ..... Northwestern beats Illinois on November 20 at Wrigley Field.
K ..... Jeff Baker is on the Cubs 25-man roster on Opening Day.
L ..... Cubs offer arbitration to Koyie Hill.
M ..... Carlos Zambrano is the Cubs starting pitcher on Opening Day.
N ..... Cubs hire top-level executive, e.g. a "baseball guy", to oversee Hendry.
O ..... MLB further expands instant replay capabilities.

Turns out, only three of these events actually happened - Cubs sign Wood; Baker on OD roster; Cubs offer arbitration to Hill - so it didn't take long to add up the points:

Tied for 3rd with 31 points each were eths and Dcr18.
Coming in 2nd with 33 points was Endrick.
And leading the way with a grand total of 34 points, and winner of an official ML baseball hit out of Wrigley Field, is cubsalw2009.

And on the other end of the spectrum, bringing up the rear with a total of 14 points is the winner of one severely grass-stained scuffed up minor league baseball, Fonzie2178. Heyyyyyyyyyyy........

Winners can send me an e-mail (check my profile for address) for instructions on how to get your hands on your balls.

TWSS

Greg Maddux

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or Al Yellon, managing editor (unless it's a FanPost posted by Al). FanPost opinions are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.

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Comments

and yes, there will be a 2011-12 offseason contest - look for another fanpost soon.

I’ve got most of the events already identified, but thought I’d leave a slot or two open for BCB input, if anyone feels like leaving a suggestion here. Sorry, “Soup Club re-opening” is not a viable option…

Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."

by ballhawk on Oct 19, 2011 11:45 PM CDT reply actions

Rudy Jamarillo returns as hitting coach.

Where have you gone, Kiko Calero. A nation turns its lonely eyes to you.

by elgato on Oct 20, 2011 8:35 AM CDT up reply actions

I like this one

Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."

by ballhawk on Oct 20, 2011 4:15 PM CDT up reply actions

Ryne Sandberg is named Cubs manager.

Jim Riggleman (or another man with MLB managing experience) is named bench coach.

The Cubs trade Carlos Zambrano and eat less than half his salary.

The Cubs trade Alfonso Soriano and eat less than 3/4 of his salary.

Join us for complete MLB coverage at SB Nation's Baseball Nation

by Al Yellon on Oct 20, 2011 8:58 AM CDT up reply actions

Carlos Zambrano eats Alfonso Soriano

follow me on twitter for fantasy sports analysis @http://twitter.com/DrewDinkmeyer or get the full analysis at www.fantistics.com

by DartmouthCubsFan on Oct 20, 2011 1:44 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs

Yep, the Ryno one was a no-brainer

And I have an interesting twist on the Z/Soriano situation

Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."

by ballhawk on Oct 20, 2011 4:16 PM CDT up reply actions

Cubs sign Pujols/Fielder

and Cubs sign a FA pitcher to a deal of at least three years.

by Dcr18 on Oct 20, 2011 9:20 AM CDT up reply actions

Should be separate items for Pujols and Fielder

Make it more interesting

"Wait, are you saying I'm a sunshine-pumping, koolaid-drinking, Soriano-loving, rainbow-rising, unicorn-riding, double-clutching, Sweet Lou-backing, Hendry-supporting, hey hey whaddya saying, Cubs are going all the waying, glass is overflowing, Rothschild is all-knowing, Cubs fan? - ballhawk

by vonde6 on Oct 21, 2011 6:40 PM CDT up reply actions

The Epstein deal will close in time for the Cubs Convention.

Dear Great Pumpkin, I am looking forward to your arrival on Halloween Night. I hope you will bring me lots of presents.

by katie casey on Oct 20, 2011 2:10 PM CDT up reply actions

At this rate, can we be sure of that?

Join us for complete MLB coverage at SB Nation's Baseball Nation

by Al Yellon on Oct 20, 2011 2:40 PM CDT up reply actions

Katie didn't mention the year, as you may have noticed.

If the Cubs still have a chance, no matter how small, it’s still Go Cubs, damn the math and pass the KoolAid.

by eths on Oct 20, 2011 4:14 PM CDT up reply actions

Zambrano leaves game frustrated, breaks arm over knee.

(stolen from the Onion Sports Page)

by El Borto on Oct 21, 2011 1:05 PM CDT up reply actions

Hi Ballhawk.

Missed you.

Dear Great Pumpkin, I am looking forward to your arrival on Halloween Night. I hope you will bring me lots of presents.

by katie casey on Oct 20, 2011 9:04 AM CDT reply actions

right back atcha, sweetie... :-)

Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."

by ballhawk on Oct 20, 2011 4:17 PM CDT up reply actions

Happy with third,

and ready to bring home the top spot next year!

by Dcr18 on Oct 20, 2011 9:19 AM CDT reply actions

Does this make me an apprentice baseball guru?

Thank you for doing these fun contests!

If the Cubs still have a chance, no matter how small, it’s still Go Cubs, damn the math and pass the KoolAid.

by eths on Oct 20, 2011 9:34 AM CDT reply actions

Ballhawk!

Glad to see you back.

Step Two: Develop an organizational plan

by Shanghai Badger on Oct 20, 2011 9:39 AM CDT reply actions

yeah, I was pretty busy all summer, coming up with a new OSU playbook for this season.

Looks like I did a helluva job, huh?

Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."

by ballhawk on Oct 20, 2011 4:20 PM CDT up reply actions

Hey, they should've beaten Nebraska

So I’d say you’re doing ok. Go ahead and win out – except for October 29. Do not win October 29!

Step Two: Develop an organizational plan

by Shanghai Badger on Oct 20, 2011 6:33 PM CDT up reply actions

Damn

Only had 29 points.

That’ll teach me to pencil in Colvin over Fukudome!

"We push bunt, we squeeze bunt, we hit and run, we steal home!" - Larry Cox (I think...) on the 1989 NL East Champion Chicago Cubs

by PacificCub on Oct 20, 2011 11:12 AM CDT reply actions

As one who won...

er lost, last year, I’d like to take this opportunity to officially pass the torch to Fonzie2178. Your selections were horrendous. I hope every time you look at your “severely grass-stained scuffed up minor league baseball” it brings you all the joy that mine brought me this year. :)

"Dad gum right this games gonna be played under protest. . . I guarantee this is gonna be one protest that's upheld." --Hawk Harrelson, 6/24/07

by RynoHoF on Oct 20, 2011 11:25 AM CDT reply actions