November Baseball

November is typically a slow time for Chicago baseball. We don't have parades to schedule, or trophy tours to arrange, and about the only thing worth paying attention to is the Hot Stove league. This year feels strangely different, and although the excitement of the Theo hiring, Dale Sveum and Robin Ventura hirings have worn off a bit, there seems to be an emptiness that fans feel.

The emptiness might be attributed to the fact that the Bears Quarter Back Jay Cutler will be out for what looks like the rest of the regular season, or it could be there is no basketball just yet. It might even be that even though the Blackhawks, Chicago's most successful sports franchise, just haven't captured the hearts of the casual fan just yet.


It could be any number of things, but I am pointing to the lack of free agent activity. An offseason which was rumored to have Albert Pujols or Prince Fielder coming to the North Side, or Kenny Williams finding a cunning way to trade Carlos Quentin while bolstering the farm system with valuable talent. None of this has really raised much more than a small tick on some hot stove rumor sites, and to this point hasn't really gained any real merit.


I hear that the Cubs want to improve their teams game play philosophy, really shake things up at its core. They want to get players to start playing the game hard, and the right way, yet will they play innocent bystander to Pujols signing elsewhere? If there were ever a player that does everything right on the field he is the guy. He hustles on offense and defense, runs out ground balls, plays smart, and will demand other players to follow suit. Why do we only hear that they are the 3rd or 4th team privately interested? The same holds true about Prince Fielder. Here is a guy, who I believe is better suited for the Cubs, a left handed bat, that is young and could carry this team for the next 8 years. He is a hustle guy, might not carry the leadership of a Pujols, but will give your team a chance to win everyday at a discount of what you will pay Albert.


On the South side of town the biggest news you hear is, the Sox underestimated the interest one of the leagues most reliable starters would have this offseason and Kenny Williams house was broken into. Just how will this team improve on its disappointing 2010 finish? What insurance policies are they taking to ensure Adam Dunn doesn't sink their team again? What about Quentin? I am sure there is a market for a 30 hr 100 RBI guy, in fact I could name probably 15 teams that would like to have him in their outfield come Opening Day. What about Mark Buehrle? Here is arguably your best pitcher in the last 40 years (or longer) and he was allowed to hit the open market. Then when he draws intereest from half the league it appears the team will back off of him and allow him to sign elsewhere. Even if the Sox do plan on bringing him back, they better do it before CJ Wilson signs, otherwise his already expensive price tag will multiply out some more making him very hard to bring back.


I know that both teams in town have smarter people in charge than I am, but is it too much to ask for some activity? The landscape of Chicago baseball may have been changed forever, but the fans want to see how the new leaders will mold the future and what tools they will have to make those changes with. I guess until there are more answers, I'll keep watching Twitter and MLB Trade Rumors, hoping, wishin, wanting...