What Can I Say About Kyle Orton? He's Just A Winner

Pardon my snicker upon finding out that Kyle Orton threw a game-winning 87-yard touchdown pass to beat the Cincinnati Bengals.

OK, so he didn't throw it the length of the field, but hey, a win is a win, right?

Sources: Chicago Baseball Pronounced Dead

Sources tell The Big Dead Sidebar that the Chicago baseball scene was found dead at approximately 12:01 p.m. today.

Ryan Theriot's September Swoon Should Remind Cubs Fans You Must Be 'This' Tall To Play Shortstop

Despite all the Cubs' shortcomings, the one that stands out to me is one that won't stand out even if he stands up.

Ryan Theriot, who enters his third straight September sulking and slumping, has done a serviceable job as Chicago's everyday shortstop since coming out from behind the shadows of infielders such as Dusty Baker favorites such as Neifi Perez, Cesar Izturis and Jose Macias, who earned playing time in front of the upstart spark-plug.

Theriot shined in the No. 2 spot in the order in 2008, as hitting between Alfonso Soriano and Derrek Lee allowed the diminutive second sacker to get some good pitches to drive through holes in the infield.  He hit .307 with a .387 OBP and .745 OPS.  The Riot has already set career highs in home runs, runs batted in so far in 2009.  That's the good news.

The bad news is that he has also set career highs in strikeouts while seeing the number of walks he's drawn tip from 73 to 36.  And let the record show that the much-maligned Alfonso Soriano has drawn exactly four more walks than Theriot -- the guy that everyone in Cubbie blue seemingly wants to anoint as the team's lead-off man.

And I doubt Mark DeRosa's bat is going to help him any.

But if it was up to me, I'd hold off and see if the team could get a real shortstop.  Once upon a time, you could get buy with a no-hit, all-glove shortstop.  Not anymore.  The Cubs could (and should) move Theriot to second base, a position the Cubs have received little-to-no offensive production from and a position that would be easier for him as a defender.

Miguel Tejada (.300/.331/.760, 10 HR, 72 RBI) help strengthen the middle of the Cubs' order, while Marco Scutaro (.280/.380/.787, 11 HR, 57 RBI, 12 SB) could provide a stable force at the very unstable lead-off spot.  Hanley Ramirez and Jose Reyes could be trade bait, and would be welcome with open arms.  But that's unlikely, especially if Jim Hendry is still in charge.

The only way I can justify Theriot's return to the team's starting shortstop is if the Cubs sign free-agent-to-be Chone Figgins to play second base.

But that's a different blog for a different day.

Maybe It's Just Me, But...

Carlos Marmol seems to be settling into that closers role.

The Weekender: Michael Jordan Edition

When the Daily Dosage was in full swing, I used to put a picture of a pretty girl to lure you into the content.  Not today.  Not when Michael Jordan is going into the Hall of Fame.  Pretty girl after the jump?

The No. 23 & The Things I'll Always Remember About Michael Jordan

There are no ifs and or buts about it. Michael Jordan is the greatest basketball player in the history of the game.

Years from now, there will be a generation of youngsters that will try to make a case for Kobe Bryant or LeBron James.  When that argument is made, I will laugh and pop in some footage of Jordan making Creg Ehlo his personal whipping boy en route to one of the six NBA titles he won with the Bulls.

While the generation older than me makes the Bill Russell argument, note that Russell played with a dozen Hall of Famers.  Jordan played with one future HOFer and a bunch of guys who rode his coattails to greatness.

So, what else will I always remember about His Airness?

Pardon The Interruption For Some Stuff About Jose Valverde's Age & What It Could Mean For The Cubs

Numbers must not be the best friends of the Houston Astros, and no, I'm not talking about the team's 61-78 record.

Thinking they had put age discrepancies in the past when they finally figured out Miguel Tejada's real age, it must have come as a shock to GM Ed Wade when Jose Valverde came into the mix in regards to that same scenario.

Cubs, Cards & Aces From A(dam) to (Big) Z

Chicago Tribune blogumnist Steve Rosenbloom is absolutely correct.  Adam Wainwright, not Carlos Zambrano, is pitching like someone worth $18 million per year.

However, Rosenbloom is completely off base with his comparison.

Comparing Wainwright and Big Z is like comparing the a street baller and a prep school player.

Consider this.

Pardon The Interruption For A Dwyane Wade Quote About The Greatest City In The World

If not for Jay Cutler, I would be counting down the days until July 1, 2010, thus bypassing the football, basketball, hockey and nearly half of the baseball seasons.

OK, I wouldn't ignore the Chicago sports scene that much, but there is something to be said when Chicago basketball fans are more excited about the potential about the prospects of Summer 2010 than they are of the prospects of the entire 2009 season.  I guess that's what happens when you lose your leading scorer to a division rival and replace him with Jannero Pargo.

And while most people will have their eye on LeBron James, Bulls fans will have their attention squarely on Dwyane Wade in hopes to land the all-Chicago backcourt of D-Wade and D-Rose.

Chicago Sun-Times Sports Prose has a nice piece on the guard and his foundation.  It's a good read you should check out after you read the whole pull quote thing and my reactions.  Wade currently collects paychecks from the Miami Heat, but by the sound of this quote, this might be the last year Pat Riley will be signing his paycheck.

NFL Predictions

Only hours away from the season's opening kick, I realize I haven't come correct with my NFL picks.

Here they are.