Well, I’m a bit late (normal for me really,) but I would like to say a heartfelt goodbye to every single 2008-2009 off-season acquisition that the Cubs made last year.
To Joey Gathright: Keep jumping over those cars man. Maybe if we had put one in the baseline you could have done what you were brought in to do, steal some bases.
To Aaron Heilman: Oh to have faced a ball the size batters seemed to have seen when you were pitching when I was in little league. I might have gotten a hit!
To Aaron Miles: If only you were healthy this season, perhaps you would have hit over .300, or well .200?
To everyone’s favorite closer (well everyone on the other team) Kevin Gregg: I’m so glad that we got rid of one of the most beloved Cubs in a very long time to have someone with such dominate “stuff.” Good luck blowing saves, wait I mean closing ball games. Just remember which uniform you are wearing that day.
And of course this wouldn’t be complete without Milton: Oh so many games so little time… Well Milton you surely sunk our Battleship as Cubs fans, but really you must have been treated unfairly. It truly does Boggle the mind how you could be so anti-team oriented in a team game. You were brought in to be a left-handed bat who could Bop-it. I’m sure it must have felt like being a Crocodile Dentist sometimes having to count all the way to three every inning for nine innings. And of course there was the Don’t Break The Ice feelings in the clubhouse. It sure seemed like the smallest things would make your nose glow red (thats Operation folks.) Sure there was a bit of Risk bringing you in, but who’d of thought that Hendry would have to be playing Twister with other GM’s this off season to trade you. I suppose all that’s left to say is Sorry it didn’t work out.
And now for some real goodbyes:
Jake Fox: Best of luck man. You were the type of player that is really needed. You were willing to play anywhere and you would play hard there. I wish you nothing but luck and a very successful career (but not against the Cubs)
Reed Johnson: Well, it seems as though this will be an official goodbye soon enough. Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to do the blog on the Cubs.com site. It was always entertaining and I could tell that it was a very disappointing season for you being injured. You really are an amazing player to watch in the outfield and I’m sure Dempster will be a bit worried this year anytime he lets something get hit out there and you aren’t there.
Rich Harden: While there were a lot of worries about your arm, when you were on… wow. The magic that you could pull off with just those two pitches was very cool to watch. Good luck in your future.
Chad Fox: I’m not sure what all to say, I hate seeing players have to leave the way it may be for you. I hope that you can leave the game on your own terms.
And of course we need to have some welcomes!
Carlos Silva: Welcome aboard, I hope you can play like you did for Minnesota in 2004. I also hope you can take advantage of the weaker hitting in the National League.
Marlon Byrd: Just stay sane. That is all you will have to do to be liked. Oh and some hits here and there won’t hurt anything either. Also count to 3 and we will be all set.
I think that there is plenty to look forward to, and plenty to worry about as Cubs fan for this next season. So hopefully this will be the year that next year is here.
