On the Cubs: Preach on brotha.  Amen!

It’s funny that I still associate Tavarez with his first full season in the majors, when he was an integral part of the ‘95 Indians’ dominating bullpen.  Fourteen years as a journeyman middle reliever certainly isn’t anything to sneeze at, but being that ‘95 was the first year that I followed baseball with any passion, I have a certain unrealistic snapshot burned into my head of a young kid nicknamed “Hawk” who won ten games in relief with an ERA in the mid-twos.  As such, Real Life Tavarez has always seemed like a mediocre forgery to me.

On a side note, one of the last images that I have of the ‘95 season is Tavarez crying on the bench after the Braves wrapped up the series in Game Six.  When the Red Sox came back against the Indians in the ALCS two years ago, then went on to beat up on the Rockies for four games, I did take some solace in seeing him finally get a ring, even if he wasn’t on the Red Sox actual postseason roster.

But don’t mind my reminiscing.  These days, it is easy for an Indians fan to get a bit weepy at the memories of Plunk, Assenmacher, the ‘95 model of Jose Mesa, et al.

On a side note, DeRosa and Wood haven’t exactly turned the Indians around so far this year.  Not that either of them has been the problem.

I propose a trade. Manny Acta straight up for Trey Hillman.

The Royals would finally come out on the plus side of a transaction.

People act like Zambrano pinch-hitting is a new thing.  It happens several times a year under Lou.

As a Cubs fan, I would love nothing more than to have Wood and DeRosa still on the team. However, they were both let go basically for salary purposes. If the ownership deal were already done, perhaps they remain Cubs. Then again, I think Hendry was reluctant to give Wood the multi-year deal he was due and block Marmol for years in the process.