Classy, and Smart, Move for the Cubs

The Chicago Cubs recently re-signed Ryan Dempster to a 4-year, 52 million dollar deal locking up the 2008 All-Star and 17 game winner and solidifying the rotation for at least a couple more years.

Dempster, who lives in Wrigleyville, can now guarantee a walk to the stadium for the next four years and I couldn't be happier. Not only did Dempster make a successful transition from the bullpen to a starter, but he won 17 games, went 10-0 at home during the regular season, and produced one of the best starting rotations in the Majors last year.

Critics of Dempster would say that he isn't worth the money, and he only had one good year in him. I categorically disagree.

Since joining the Cubs, Dempster has won 26 games, saved 87, and produced a 3.27 ERA for the bullpen and starting rotation. He loves being a Cub and lives within walking distance of the friendly confines. With this new deal, Dempster will be able to focus on pitching and possibly be the work-horse for a rotation that has some injury problems in Rich Harden and Carlos Zambrano.

The Cubs expressed interest in a trade for Jake Peavy this off-season, and now critics of the deal believe that this resigning mean the former Cy Young winner will never see their home dugout. I wouldn't jump to conclusions.

Jim Hendry, general manager for the Cubs, still believes there is a chance to sign Peavy and the threat of a rotation of Zambrano, Dempster, Harden, Peavy, and Lilly has to be daunting for the Brewers, Cardinals, and Astros' fans of the world.

Dempster deserved this 4-year deal, and I believe that it will pay off for the Cubs organization. After the humiliating sweep in the NLDS, the Cubs need to believe that they can win with the talent that they have around the club. Obviously, they have the talent to win (2 straight division championships). With the signing of Dempster, the Cubs can focus on finally breaking through the barrier.

Eli is the better Manning....Really?

There is a phenomenon going around the NFL and ESPN that is causing analysts, commentators, and broadcasters alike to believe that Eli Manning, that's right, Peyton's little brother, could have possibly snuck up on his older brother, succeeded in planting a wet willie like in the commercial, and overtook the standing of family's best quarterback. Something must be in the water in Bristol.

Now I do not deny that the newly remodeled Eli Manning has most definitely improved since leading his team on a miracle run through the playoffs, winning the Super Bowl, and becoming the MVP of the Super Bowl. He also has led the Strahan-less Giants to a 9-1 record where it looks as if no team in the NFC East will even be able to compete with the G-Men. That, coupled with the fact that Peyton's Colts started poorly, could cause anyone to jump to conclusions. However, if I may use the infamous quote of ESPN analyst Lee Corso, "Not so fast my friend!"

How dare the Eli bandwagon jumpers fill the media with these lies that Eli has eclipsed his older brother. The Colts started the season poorly because of injuries, poor timing, and the fact that the entire league has been spoiled with the Colts and Peyton the last couple of years assuming that they will always start the season 9-0 or 10-0.

The injury bug strikes all teams in the NFL. I cannot place all the blame on the Colts' early woes on bumps and bruises; however, when perennial pro-bowlers sit on the sidelines during crucial preseason practices (not every player is a Michael Strahan where they don't need preseason) it is hard to start the season off against 4 straight teams with an over .500 record at this point in the season.

The timing of the injuries also caused the slow start. Peyton is used to leading his team throughout the entire year, and despite the assurances of Manning, it was too hard for the Colts to capture the glory of the old days quickly (just look at the drops and missed hookups between the most prolific passing attack in NFL history).

The fact that the Colts have started, and continued, to possess a undefeated record well into October and November the last couple of years has caused this recent struggle to magnify. Instead of jumping to irrational conclusions that Peyton Manning finally has leveled out, and the Colts are dead, critics should have realized it is only a matter of time before the NFL's greatest passing combination got on track.

The Giants are a great team; there is no denying that. But with a combined 1st place running attack of Jacobs and Ward and a defense that sacks a quarterback everytime the unfortunate soul drops back would cause a Grossman-led Bears team to win games.

Peyton has rallied his team from the depths of the AFC South and now charges ahead trying to reach the playoffs. The last 4 games he has thrown 9 TD's and 2 Int's. Also, in the last 3 games he has led the league in QB rating and despite, Eli's "MVP year," Peyton still has thrown more TD's.

The season is far from over, but to the doubters and the critics stating that Peyton Manning has finally been usurped by his younger brother Eli, please watch closely to the roars coming out of Lucas Oil Stadium. The Colts have woken up and their leader is ready for a race.

Congrats Dustin

I would first like to extend out congratulations to Dustin Pedrioa, the "little" second baseman and slugger for the Boston Red Sox after being named the AL MVP for the 2008 season. His numbers definitely warrant MVP recognition. He hit .326 with 17 dingers and 83 RBI. Also, he accomplished this in between the Big Poppi and Mike Lowell injuries, Josh Beckett returning to human-like figure, and "Manny being Manny."

Not since the great Ryne Sandberg has a second baseman captured the hearts of a city the way Pedrioa has thrilled the Fenway faithful. The "little man" takes a hearty swing on every pitch and has slugged so many doubles off the Green Monster he might be paying for a new paint job next season. I think its time to jump aboard the Pedrioa bandwagon.

Last year, he won the AL Rookie of the Year, after batting once again well over .300 for a team that won the World Series. He was the constant stable force for a team that had the talent to go all the way this year but suffered from a Manny Ramirez debacle and key injuries to people protecting Pedrioa in the lineup. Imagine the numbers Pedrioa could have had if Manny had decided to play in Boston the way he did in Los Angeles, and Big Poppi would have been healthy all year. This kid is for real.

Mark Cuban Say it Isn' So

Well Cubs fans, you can pretty much count out Mark Cuban in the sweepstakes for future ownership of your beloved ball club. Straight out of ESPN.com, Mark Cuban has the SEC (much more serious than the football conference) filing suit against him for insider trading in which he allegedly participated in, in order to avoid $750,000 in stock losses.

We'll come back to the Cubs later, but first let's discuss the situation at hand with the NBA's most controversial owner. If recent history tells us anything, cases of rich celebrities accused of insider trading haven't ended altogether in favor of the celebrity (i.e. Martha Stewart). We have to remember this is America, so Mark will be considered innocent until proven guilty, but my question is why?

And my question of why is not concerning Mark Cuban.

Mark Cuban ranks as the 161st wealthiest American. I am not going to go and say that $750,000 is a trivial amount, and he shouldn't have worried about losing it because look at the facts. If anyone comes up to you and tells you that you are going to lose money and before it actually occurs, the obvious human instinct is to protect your investment. If Cuban is guilty, why did somebody give him the information knowing that it could lead to a lawsuit. It just seems a little fishy to me.

Now back to those "loveable losers." Major League Baseball was already questioning the decision to allow Mark Cuban the opportunity to bid for the ownership of the Cubs; now its an almost certainty that the North Siders will never experience the glory of working under a Cuban run organization. This is a perfect cap to the season that "should have been." They win one of the toughest divisions easily, lock up homefield advantage, and then the baseball gods strike back with enough karma to last until the 2010 season.

Dempster loses at home in Game 1, Big Z gives up more runs than he has all season, the Cubs get the clean sweep in Los Angeles, Ramirez and Peavy are out of reach in negotiations, and if Cubs fans weren't already on the ledge of their Sheffield Ave. apartment roofs, their savior of soon-to-be owner not only gets denied by MLB but then gets a suit filed against him by the SEC.

What a great decision at 5 to be a Cubs fan. If only I had been born in the Bronx.

Welcome to the Show

Hello internet readers, I-phone users, or anyone else out there capable of interpreting this text.

I would like to formally welcome you to Rocky's Rants, the new and original blog of me, Brett Boyer. I am a sophomore at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire majoring in business finance with Pre-law as a declared minor. Although my career will eventually lead me to dominance in the courtroom, I might as well share my sporting knowledge prowess with the wonderful world wide web.

Each individual has their own opinions and ideas when it comes to sports. This is one of the greatest things about sports. We let the players play the games; however, for the people who are either "athletically-challenged" or less fortunate when receiving the gifts from God we can use whatever tools we wish to add our insight.

As for me, I set up this blog to share my insights with anyone willing to read and listen. Any sport will be up for discussion if its deemed of importance; however, if you are a fan of badminton or water polo I wouldn't hold out for too long waiting for a post. I will mostly focus on basketball, baseball, and football; you know, the sports Americans set their cell phone alarms clocks to.

Also, if any comedians are reading this blog, I will probably be quoting the more popular and funny using anything that connects with the topic.

I would say that is enough from me, but hey, that's the great thing about Rocky's Rants. It's all me all the time.

Hope you enjoy.