Must Reads

Billy Williams, Fergie Jenkins, Ryne Sandberg, Ernie Banks.

The Chicago Cubs have had some of the all-time greats run out onto Wrigley Field.

While they haven't been to the World Series since 1945, there is more than enough talent in the Cubs' history to fill out a dream team twice over. From Rogers Hornsby to Derrek Lee, the Cubs have had incredible depth and production throughout their lineup.

One question remains. Which Chicago Cub had the greatest ever offensive season at his position?

There are lots of worldly occurrences that make absolutely no sense to me. For instance, popular American culture is apparently obsessed with vampires at the moment.

Vampires? Really? Who signed off on this?

My faith in a benevolent Higher Power has me convinced there's a bunch of television executives somewhere laughing themselves silly at the gag. The phenomenon has to be a perverse bet between suits a la the Duke Brothers in Trading Places—"I'll bet you a dollar we can get the masses to go crazy about anything if we throw enough production behind it."

For the second time in the history of Major League Baseball, the World Series was being played in November.

After an exciting Game Three that saw the bats come alive, the Yankees were facing the Phillies in Game Four of the 2009 World Series.

Coming into the game, the Phillies fans were excited and some were present earlier in the day to watch the Philadelphia Eagles rip apart the New York Giants just across the street at Lincoln Financial Field, so for some of the fans at Citizens Bank Park, it was going to be a long night, but one filled with excitement and drama.

You would think after getting swept by the Dodgers in the NLDS, St. Louis Manager Tony LaRussa, who will come back for at least one more year, would be concerned with how the Cardinals can improve. Instead, he seems dead-set on creating a circus-like atmosphere for his 2010 squad.

If you haven't heard, Mark "I'm not here to talk about the past" McGwire will serve as the Cardinals hitting coach next season. And I thought we were heading towards our first Spring Training this decade free of steroid talk.

Like many baseball fans, I have spent a good number of hours watching TBS over the past couple weeks. TBS' coverage has been jam-packed with colorful commentary and insight from the brightest baseball minds in the world. Given that the next game TBS will air could be their last of the season, I thought it would be nice to reflect on some of the most memorable things that I have learned.

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An objective observer of our two-party political system would be shocked by the exclusionary nature of the United States government.

Many liberals are quite disappointed with the way President Obama has governed so far. They are frustrated by his perpetuation of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, his lackluster environmental policies, and his complete abandonment of Single-Payer health insurance, and rightfully so (though if they had read the fine print during the campaign, this would not have come as a surprise).

Anybody who has ever watched baseball with any conviction at all knows that debating over who should win Major League Baseball's annual awards is almost as fun as watching what unfolds during the postseason. With those awards, however, occasionally comes winners who make the baseball viewing public scratch their heads, and wonder what the baseball writers of America were thinking (i.e. MVPs Albert Belle in 1995, Willie Mays in 1962).

It's no secret that the Texas Rangers are for sale. Owner Tom Hicks is ready to hand the reins of the franchise to someone else. Like many sports fans, I was taken aback by the rumors that Rush Limbaugh was in contention to purchase the St. Louis Rams. I was not surprised that a rich celebrity with no connection to professional sports would want to purchase an NFL team. I was confused about why such expenditures are relatively uncommon for wealthy idiots. The only interesting person currently in the running to buy the Rangers is Nolan Ryan. And let's face it, he's no Limbaugh.

Take that finger off the panic button, Dodger fans.  The division race is over.

Finally.

After dragging their victory champagne from Pittsburgh to San Diego, the Los Angeles Dodgers were able to pop bottles on the second-to-last day of the season.