1) I love completely random things. ex: at work once Rhonda said, "I got shocked and I threw a bottle of pills at myself!" it was the funniest thing I heard all day
2) I have a missing tendon in my right wrist and I can dislocate my pinky and pop my wrist really loud.
3) I can't spell or do math for crap.
4) When I fry bacon it has to be in the pan going the same direction or I get upset.
5) I listen to music for lyrics, so I like some really bad songs
6) I will not eat liver. I tried it once that was enough
7) My memory is so random that I can recall a conversation from 5 years ago but may not remember what I just said.
8) I can act like an adult when needed.
9) I am fiercely loyal to my friends and family
10) I am a Sci-fi~anime~music~manga~sports nut.
11) I write fan fiction. Yes I am that much of a dork. It's Naruto based hetai. I post it on Adultfanfiction.net and Mediaminer.org.
12) I was diagnosed with mild bipolar disorder 6 years ago and don't take medicine for it. Right now I'm doing okay without it.
13) I have a nasty habit of seeing both side to an arguement and it drives the people around me crazy.
14) I have 3 good friends in real life. Seriously.
15) I'm a biter and it has nothing to do with Twilight. Seriously.
16) I love my husband dearly but I flirt like a madwoman and he's cool with that. :)
17) I love the Cincinnati Reds, Cleveland Indians and Boston Red sox. :)
18) At any given time I have various songs stuck in my head. Most receently it's been "Politics" by Korn.
19) People that say the never lie are LYING. "The truth of the human condition is that everybody lies. The only variable is about what." ~ House M.D.
20) I love meeting new people and if you like something I don't... it's cool, man. To each their own. :) It doesn't change the person you are; it just defines you.
I must say that up until 2007 I hadn't allowed myself to become attached to another Cubs player. I learned my lesson after the Cubs failed to resign Mark Grace and I was heartbroken. You made such a huge impact on me, however, that I not only took you on as my new favorite Cub but also invested in my first-ever Cubs jersey - yours of course. I enjoyed watching you play so much this past season...not only blowing away everyone's expectations but being the glue of that team when it was much needed. I, like everyone, was on pins and needles a few weeks ago when your name was first brought into the 3 way Peavy trade. I breathed an obvious premature sign of relief when Hendry walked away from the deal and assumed that meant you were safe. I heard the news on Wednesday morning and was crushed....I shed actual tears at the news of your trade. You are an amazingly versatile player that ANY club will be lucky to have. This is the dark side of this game....having to say goodbye to a player that you've allowed yourself to become attached to. I know it's all about numbers for the GM, but for the fans it's all about loyalty. You were a big part of making me an even bigger Cubs fan this past season - a feat which I didn't think was possible. I will miss your presence dearly, and I think I can speak on the behalf of many Cubs fans when I say that we will be cheering you on wholeheartedly when the Cubs take on the Indians in June. I wish you nothing but the best - and am glad by the way to see that you and Kerry will get to be teammates....it makes me feel better knowing that you'll get to be together. I know you'll miss Chicago and I am MOST CERTAIN that we will be feeling your loss as well. Best of luck this upcoming season Mark!
I'm so saddened by the trade. Mark was the team MVP in 2008. It was the buzz of the New Years Eve party I attended. There are many many sad Cubs fans today. Thanks for the memories.
It’s been a great regular season for the Cubs. We had our ups and downs but we’ve clinched a berth in the playoffs, we had a no-hitter and we’ve become a mentally tough team heading into the postseason.
It was awesome to be a part of history when Carlos Zambrano threw his no-hitter. I was part of history in a negative way when I was with the Braves when Randy Johnson threw a perfect game against us at Turner Field, so to be on the right side of it was special.
It was really special for three reasons: One, being on the field while a guy is firing a no-hitter really gets your juices flowing. You get ready to dive for anything, try to get yourself in the perfect position in the field. Two, Z was just coming off shoulder tendinitis and you worry about a pitcher, especially your ace, when he gets hurt and you wonder if he’ll be ready when he comes back. That day Z was ready, he was throwing 95 with a dive-bomb split finger. And three, we were playing horrible at the time. For him to take over and allow us to win a game easily was huge.
If you get to be a part of one or two of those games in your entire career, you’re lucky.
We clinched Saturday with Ted Lilly on the hill. The game before, Z was on the mound but he had personal issues, he had flown to Venezuela for a funeral of someone close to him, then come back the night before the game and had to wake up and pitch against the Cards. The game was kind of over in the second inning, that gave Lou a chance to pull the starters and relax us a little bit.
In a long season like this you’re going to have ups and downs. We had a lot of good times early in the year, we won a lot of ballgames, then last month we caught a mini-slump, lost eight of nine, but it just so happens that the Brewers were playing as bad as we were at the time so we didn’t really lose any ground. That helped us relax a little bit and we moved forward and our pitching staff basically carried us.
I scored my 100th run Saturday when we clinched. That’s a milestone that’s not easy to do and it’s really a reflection on my teammates. I didn’t really notice until about two or three weeks ago that I had a legit shot. So many things have to go right to score 100 runs, guys behind you have to hit and you have to be on base quite a bit. I was usually batting sixth or seventh in the lineup, so that speaks volumes about the guys hitting behind me and up and down the order.
There are personal goals each year that you set out to attain, but whether you get them or not, ultimately it comes down to today, moving forward and helping your team get into the postseason.
I never sit down and pencil out goals as far as what numbers I want to achieve, but you always have ideas about what you would like to do. I always say you are who you are, if you’re a 30-homer guy, you’ll probably end the season with between 27 and 33 or 34 homers. If you’re a guy with a 3.00 ERA on the mound, you’ll probably be right around there at the end of the year.
This year has definitely been my best in certain regards and my worst in certain regards. I’ve set career highs in almost everything, good and bad. I’ll take it.
It helps to be on a team like this. This team is very mentally strong, there are very few young guys besides the catcher, who I think is well advanced beyond his years. There are not a lot of young guys on the field, we’ve got a lot of guys who have been in a lot of postseasons, been around the game a long time. We police ourselves. This is not an environment where the coaches have to say too much.
As far as our catcher, Soto, I don’t even see who could battle him for Rookie of the Year. He’s on the team with the best record in the NL, he’s caught every game for that team, he was the first rookie catcher to start an All-Star game in forever and he’s had big hit after big hit. He might win that thing unanimously and he should.
All I heard about Soto was that he was a .270 lifetime hitter in the minors. Then he started to get on a regimented diet, he dropped 20-something pounds and started to work out for the first time in his career. And he worked out hard, not just getting by. He changed his life and has become an absolute All-Star. I’m one of his biggest fans. It’s not just because of his numbers, but the way he has handled the pitching staff. He’s not intimidated, he trusts his ability to call a game and get into rhythm with the pitcher and he’s not afraid to go to the mound.
The pitchers love him. They don’t want a guy who just throws down fingers, they want a guy who sits in on all the meetings with the pitchers and goes over the game plan. He’s been able to do that all year and very few guys shake him off.
Mark DeRosa is the starting second baseman for the Chicago Cubs. His blog for playerpress.com runs regularly at www.markderosa7.com
Infrared sauna is a sauna powered by the infrared rays. Infrared rays are rays with a high wavelength, greater than the normal red light’s. This leads to a number of benefits including therapeutic, health and beauty advantages.
These saunas come in different models, including small portable ones that you can keep in a tiny corner of a room, till large ones that will occupy a room by itself. And there are intermediate sizes. The small portable sauna is cheap and nice for one person, so cheap compared to its benefits that it is gradually becoming almost a household item in many parts of the USA. The bigger one – the far infrared sauna – retails the benefit, is more expensive, but can fit in anywhere from 1 to 5 persons depending upon the model you select. These are items of ultimate luxury.
The top 5 benefits of an infrared sauna include:
1.Blood quality and circulation improvement: You improve your quality of blood as well as flow of blood tremendously over time; hence your vital organs get a much-desired boost for longevity.
2.Detoxification: Most people believe this is the best benefit of the infrared sauna, be it portable, or a far infrared sauna (FIR). It promotes the elimination of toxins from your muscles and skin, including slow-gathering poisons that manifest long way down the line but let you live peacefully for now, lactic acid, excess sodium associated with hypertension, free fatty acids, subcutaneous fat associated with aging and fatigue, and uric acid which causes pain.
3.Injury and pain removal: The infrared sauna is an excellent pain and injury remover; in particular it can produce amazing results for joint pain removal.
4.Improved metabolism and weight loss: An infrared sauna, portable or FIR, can improve your metabolism by a noticeable degree and produce non-water sweat to remove a lot of your fat. One can gain the effect of running 2-3 miles simply by an hour in the FIR sauna.
5.Skin improvement and beauty: Infrared saunas do deep-cleansing for your skin and remove all the toxic substance just below your skin surface. As a result one feel the inner glow of the skin rise to the surface. The improved blood and skin quality leads to a high improvement in beauty and perception.
The Cubs management really screwed up this year. Just on a NOTION that they MIGHT get a pitcher from the Padres, they traded away Derosa and Wood to the Indians. They shot themselves in the foot, and they traded away the magic. Now, Mark is with the Cards. I hope that all this miserable trade travesty hasn't made these young men lose confidence in themselves. Wherever they are I am watching the game!! I never thought a Cubs fan would be watching the Cards and rooting FOR them! I am, though! I am just not able to get into baseball this year. I don't watch the Cubs this year. All the heart has been stomped out of them, and I don't think their management is finished with them until they see their complete demise. Mark DeRosa has an actual chance to help a promising team win a World Series! I hope he does. He's a wonderful player. Don't lose heart, Mark, your fans are still with you!!
Well, since December 31st I've been holding my tongue...
...not anyore. The Cubs made the biggest mistake ever by getting rid of Mark DeRosa. They should have gotten rid of Jim Hendry way before parting with DeRosa. I realize that trades are part of the game, but never have I heard a trade talked about so negatively and for so long as the Cubs getting rid of DeRosa. I've been hearing rumors of DeRosa being on the trading block again, boy would I love to see him return to Chicago wearing red, white and blue!
The Cubs could really use you right now; in the clubhouse and on the field. You have atleast 10 more RBI's than our leading guy. You were my favorite player and still are. It was the worst move in baseball history to get rid of you. I hope the Cubs will try to get you back before the playoffs.
There is not much to say that others all over Chicago haven't already said. Trading you is possibly the most questionable move Hendry and the Cubs have made since not signing Maddux back in the 90's. You are a leader on and off the field. What you brought to the clubhouse and the fans over the past 2 years is remniscent of the players "of old" who play because they love baseball. Ryne Sandberg comes to mind. I hope you have as many great memories of Chicago as we have of you. I was lucky enough to talk with you at the Cubs conventions. You really connected with the fans because you aren't only a superstar on the field but you are a regular Joe, someone we want to go grab a beer with.
My friends and I plan on driving to Cleveland a few times during the '09 season as well as watching you beat the Sox at Comiskey. And let's not forget when you guys come into town in June to play the Cubs.
I hope the Cleveland fans and the team appreciate you as much as they should.
My friends and I were shocked to hear about the trade. In two short years, you made such a positive impact on this team, both on and off the field. You really were the glue for the '08 team. I always enjoyed hearing your thoughts on the game via press conferences, radio shows and your blogging. I think Hendry is absolutely nuts for trading you. I wish I could look forward to the '09 season, but confess it's feeling dismal. You and Kerry are going to bring so much to Cleveland. I hope those fans realize it.
I have been a Cub fan since my parents would bring us to Wrigley Field in the 60's. We eventually had 13 kids. This was in the days when you could buy tickets on game day. We would go up early on Sunday morning and stand in line at the ticket window. Half of us would go with my dad 2 blocks west on Addison to a Catholic church for mass, while the other half saved our place in line. After we were done, we saved our spot and my mom would take the other half to church. It was a great memory from the 60's. Since we were from Joliet, south of Chicago, everyone thought we should be White Sox fans. No way. Both my parents loved the Cubs. I added my mom's picture with mine to Mark's blog. I will add my late father's picture next. The Cubs leave me breathless. And I love it.
I'm a life-long Cubs fan! Over the past couple of years I have greatly enjoyed watching Mark DeRosa play with the Cubs. He is an all-around great ball player and seems to be a great person. Since taking particular interest in Mark as a player, I've come to learn that we are the same age (just a couple of months apart) and my son was born on his birthday- February 26th. My 8 year-old son got to pick his jersey # for his all-star team and of course he chose #7!
We hope to see Mark playing with the Cubs for many years to come and in a world series or two!!
When I was with the Braves we clinched the division title in many different ways. One year, we clinched while we were flying to another city and found out about it when we landed.
I was just saying to the guys yesterday that if we had won, then waited while Milwaukee lost, it would have been anticlimactic. Ultimately, you like to do it on the field and we’ll have our chance today.
I was up early today, excited to get to the yard and hopefully get this thing over with. All we want to do right now is clinch this thing and move forward.
It feels a lot different from last year. We had dug ourselves such a big hole, we fought so hard to get out of that deficit and get into the playoffs. When we clinched in Cincinnati, instead of joy it felt more like relief. There was a lot of pressure off our shoulders. We were expected to go to the playoffs and for half a season it looked like we weren’t going to make it.
There’s definitely a different tone this year. The guys expected from Day 1 to not just go to the playoffs, but hopefully make a dent in this thing.
I also think you should never take winning a division title for granted. I realize that winning the division is not our ultimate goal, but you should still enjoy, embrace and celebrate. Only a few teams every year get to do it, and you work so hard from Valentine’s Day until a day like today to put yourself in position to make the playoffs and win the World Series. So I definitely think the champagne is going to be flowing when we clinch it.
Getting this thing over with on this homestand is important, especially because of the health of our pitchers, like Z and Harden. If we win it today we can give those guys at least a week to 10 days to rest their arms. Going into a short divisional series, it basically boils down to who pitches better. You’re not going to out-club people 11 games through the course of the playoffs, at least not many teams have been able to do that. I think that while we have the lineup to put runs on the board as quick as anyone, it always comes down to pitching, and when our pitchers are healthy I would put them up against anybody in the league.
About a month ago I would have been worried to face Arizona in a short series, especially with the way Brandon Webb and Dan Haren were pitching. It would be tough to beat Webb twice. But I think we’ve moved past that, we’re ready for the challenge in front of us. We have the horses, pitching-wise, to match up with anybody and we’re maybe a little better.
A five-game series always scares you, because you can run into a hot team and it’s over, like us last year against Arizona.
But we’ve got the pitching that when we go into a series we know we don’t have to worry. It’s the other team that will have to go into a series with us and worry about facing Z, Harden and Dempster.
And don’t think guys don’t think like that, because they do.
Mark DeRosa is the starting right fielder/second baseman for the Chicago Cubs. His blog for playerpress.com runs regularly at www.markderosa7.com
In 2004 the Braves were the first team to give me the chance to play every day, and I’m man enough to admit that I wasn’t ready. Mentally, from an offensive standpoint, I was not ready to be productive every day.
It wasn’t until I went to Texas and began working with hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo that I was able to iron things out. I had always had the tools, but I wasn’t there yet. Rudy helped me come up with a plan.
When I first came up with the Braves there were just guys better than me at my position. I didn’t have a leg to stand on to force my way into the lineup. I just waited for my time, and with the Rangers Rudy changed my entire stance, my approach … I started over again from Square 1 like I was back in Little League.
Rudy was able to show me on video how I was not putting myself in position to be successful at the big-league level. It was a struggle at first; after 29 years it’s tough to break bad habits, but I was willing to make the change to further my career. There were untapped resources that I was not taking advantage of.
One of the big differences between guys who play every day in the big leagues and guys who don’t is being consistent, having a game plan and doing things the right way. There are a lot of guys in Triple A who are very talented and should be in the bigs, but it’s all about when you get that chance you have to make the most of your opportunity and be consistent.
I can’t explain why you go through a whole bad month and then have a great month right after that. I batted .195 with one homer in July and .378 with seven homers and 24 RBI in August. I always say that in this game, you are who you are. If you’re a 30-homer guy, at the end of the season you’re probably going to be right around 30 homers. Ultimately, I’ve been a streaky hitter all through my career. I kept telling myself that at the end of the month things would turn around for me. Maybe I talked myself into a bad month, then into having a good one.
A lot of my success this season has come just from playing more, getting familiar with who I’m playing against, knowing strengths and weaknesses and having a game plan when I go up to hit. This is just my third year of playing every day. When I go up to the plate I’m not trying to do too much, just accomplish the task in front of me.
Mark DeRosa is the starting second baseman for the Chicago Cubs. His blog for playerpress.com runs regularly at www.markderosa7.com
Every team has ups and downs. It’s funny, but it’s not one of those things that you can really put your finger on. If you try to figure out this game, it’ll keep you up at night.
Last month it seemed like every time we were in a clutch situation guys were coming through, but in the last six games we haven’t gotten the big hit early, we’re down 2- or 3-0 and everyone is going up there trying to hit a three-run homer with no one on base.
You go through peaks and valleys during the course of the season. Hopefully this valley will make us stronger. Once we get into the playoffs we’ll be battle-tested and ready to go.
This is definitely not a panic situation. I don’t want to downplay it either, because you never like to lose six in a row, especially with the talent on this team. But it’s part of the game and our remaining schedule is very difficult, there are a lot of games on the road against teams fighting for a playoff spot.
We know we’re a good team, so it’s one of those things that you have to forget about and move on to the next game. We’ve had a few injuries but every team has dealt with that, no team out there is going to feel sorry for us.
Obviously, you’d like to have everybody healthy and going on all cylinders down the stretch, that’s the bottom line. Having everybody healthy would help us, but it’s one of those situations where you want to make sure everyone is right for the stretch drive. It’s a cliché, but someone has got to step up.
That said, when you have a superstar out of your lineup, the guy who replaces him is not a superstar player, so there’s a big difference. It’s tough to replace guys like Alfonso Soriano, Carlos Zambrano or Rich Harden. They’re three of the best in the game.
Fortunately we had a 4½-game lead, and that allows you the opportunity to rest guys who are hurt. But we haven’t been playing good baseball, either, so it’s time to turn things around.
There’s pressure to win a World Series in Chicago, because the Cubs haven’t won in 100 years, but it’s different for the players. Obviously, we’d love to win a world championship for all the fans and people associated with the club who have lived and died with the team’s successes and failures, but at the same time Lou always says this team has to stand on its own merit. We can’t make up for what other teams before us were not able to accomplish; we have to play for ourselves and the guys in this clubhouse.
In doing so, we hope to bring the fans of Chicago a championship.
And 100 percent, this team can get it done.
Mark DeRosa is the starting second baseman for the Chicago Cubs. His blog for playerpress.com runs regularly at www.markderosa7.com
With all the talk of Jeff Samardzija picking baseball over football, I was wondering if you had to choose between the two. Was baseball your clear favorite? I understand you keep a football in your locker and have been throwing to Jeff. Do you wish you would (or could) have played football instead? And by the way, who is your favorite NFL team? Sorry, I guess that was more than one question but it does say "anything":)
MARK: No, I don’t wish I had tried to play professional football, I definitely picked the right profession. There’s no room in the NFL for a 6-1 quarterback with no mobility. And my favorite team is the Dallas Cowboys.
2) This is an e-mail from Ashley:
You always seem to be too hard on yourself. Trust me from a fan's point of view, i love everyone on the team,but i prefere to watch you. I think you are amazing and that you are doing a wonderful job. I just wanted to know why in your blogs and on interviews you are so hard on yourself? your number ONE (1) fan, Ashley
MARK: That is something that was instilled in me since I was young. My father was very critical of me in every game I played in. We talked about the good things, but throughout the course of a game there’s always things you could have done better to change the game or just be better. In baseball, you can never be perfect. There’s only one Barry Bonds, only one Albert Pujols, guys who are able to make a major contribution offensively every night. I would just rather stay humble and concentrate on correcting my deficiencies than pump up the things I do well.
3) This is an email from Alex:
1. How do you feel so comfortable playing most baseball positions?
2. Which is your favorite?
MARK: The reason I feel comfortable playing different positions is that I’ve been doing it for nine years. I try not to worry about style points out there, just get the job done, be fundamentally sound at each position. I have a lot of time to work on each position, it’s something that comes second nature and I don’t even worry about it anymore. My favorite position? Anywhere in the infield, shortstop, second base or third base.
4) This is an email from Mike:
Dear Mark, Do you have any pre game rituals or superstitions?
Your Fan, Mike DeRosa (no relation)
MARK: The only superstition I have is that if I go 0-for-4 or don’t get a hit one game, I will change out my batting gloves. Otherwise, not really.
5) This is an email from Joise:
Big bet going...are you Italian or Hispanic?
MARK: Italian.
6) This is an email from Tim:
Hey, Mark, is Derrick Lee still having back trouble? I used to have a bad back and I know something that could help him in a big way. By the way, you and Reed Johnson are those kind of guys that a championship team always needs for chemistry. It's that thing you can't find in the numbers, even though yours are great. It's about that scrappy attitude.
MARK: I’m not aware that Derrick is having any back trouble, but he needs to start having some from hitting homers and carrying this team on his back.
7) This is an email from Warren:
Hey Mark, I saw you on the PTI show and heard about the blog. I am a lifetime Cubby fan and somewhat of a ball player myself. I play in an amateur league here in Indianapolis. Like you, my team has asked me to play multiple positions, but I'm a second baseman by trade. I'm also a grind-it-out player always hustling my ass off. I care so much about the game of baseball. I always have and I always will. I enjoy watching players like you, because you do what is necessary for the team day in and day out no matter what. You've been a tremendous influence. However my production has declined since I joined this new team and I haven't been able to get comfortable at any position. I worry they may cut me because I don't play like Roberto Clemente in Right field. So my playing time has been lessened and my confidence is at an all time low. I get fewer at-bats than all the other every-day players and it just becomes an on-going cycle. And as if that weren't enough, I seem to have forgotten how to throw a baseball, much like Knoblauch, I'm a headcase. But I know if I got just thirty-forty more at bats I could be what I used to be. Oh and I pay the same amount of money to play as everyone else ($300). I'm almost ten years out of high school, never played college ball, I don't have a lot of free time or a lot of money so I've thought about giving it up - something I never thought I would do. DeRo, if anybody could give me some advise its you. Whaddya think? p.s. should I be worried? I mean, six in a row.
MARK: As far as your throwing problems, I would go back to the fundamentals. Point your lead elbow in the direction you want the throw to go, at the first baseman’s head. That’s what I do when I have a bad run of throws. When struggling on offense, keep it simple; the bat head replaces your hands, if you take your hands to the ball the bat head will follow. Talking about playing many different positions, I still feel uncomfortable when I haven’t played a position in a while, so I simplify the game. Catch the ball, hit the cutoff man, do the fundamentals.
8) This is an email from Jason:
Hey Mark! I too am 33 and will be having an ablation later this month at Loyola. I get thousands of Premature Atrial Contractons (PACs) per day which sometimes leads to afib. Over the years it’s gotten so bad that it’s affecting my quality of life. Q- Was it a 100% success? Jason
MARK: Yes, it was 100% successful and I would recommend the procedure highly. Had I known it was available I would have done it years ago.
I’m not an All-Star (like 8 other guys on the Cubs!), but for me, I’ve come a long way. Two years ago I wasn’t even on the ballot, and this year I received over two million votes from fans. I’m very appreciative of that, though I think it’s a reflection of our team’s success... I think fans can relate to a guy like me. There are certain things that the Alfonso Soriano’s, Aramis Ramirez’s and Derek Lee’s of the world can do that fans and normal players just can’t do. They’re such superstars. I think fans can relate to a guy who grinds it out, hustles, sets the table. It reminds them of when they played Babe Ruth ball when they were younger. When you have Chase Utley and Dan Uggla at your position, hitting homers every day, you don’t really expect to go to the All-Star Game. The Cubs lead the league in runs, so I’m getting to hit with a lot of guys on base. There were some things about the first half of the season that I didn’t like, like I struck out 70 times. I don’t think I’ve ever struck out that many times that quick. It sounds cliché, but winning hides a lot of flaws in your stats and accentuates the good things you’ve done. I’ll be spending the all-star break not far from Yankee Stadium, but in a much different environment. I’ll be at the Jersey Shore with my family, I’ll get to see my brother, my mom and dad and my brother’s kids. It takes me back to summer days growing up in New Jersey, going to the boardwalk and hanging out at the beach… I’ll probably get a couple rounds of golf in. I’d much prefer to be sitting on the bench at the All-Star Game, though. Mark DeRosa is a second baseman/outfielder for the Chicago Cubs. His blog runs regularly at www.playerpress.com. ALL-STAR COMPARISON *Dan Uggla, 2B, Florida: .289, 23 HR, 59 RBIMark DeRosa, 2B, Chicago: .283, 11 HR, 50 RBI*Cristian Guzman, SS, Wash.: .313, 5 HR, 30 RBI*Miguel Tejada, SS, Houston: .275, 10 HR, 44 RBI *--Chosen for All-Star Game, NOT voted in by fans
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20 random, wonderful things ab
1) I love completely random things. ex: at work once Rhonda said, "I got shocked and I threw a bottle of pills at myself!" it was the funniest thing I heard all day
2) I have a missing tendon in my right wrist and I can dislocate my pinky and pop my wrist really loud.
3) I can't spell or do math for crap.
4) When I fry bacon it has to be in the pan going the same direction or I get upset.
5) I listen to music for lyrics, so I like some really bad songs
6) I will not eat liver. I tried it once that was enough
7) My memory is so random that I can recall a conversation from 5 years ago but may not remember what I just said.
8) I can act like an adult when needed.
9) I am fiercely loyal to my friends and family
10) I am a Sci-fi~anime~music~manga~sports nut.
11) I write fan fiction. Yes I am that much of a dork. It's Naruto based hetai. I post it on Adultfanfiction.net and Mediaminer.org.
12) I was diagnosed with mild bipolar disorder 6 years ago and don't take medicine for it. Right now I'm doing okay without it.
13) I have a nasty habit of seeing both side to an arguement and it drives the people around me crazy.
14) I have 3 good friends in real life. Seriously.
15) I'm a biter and it has nothing to do with Twilight. Seriously.
16) I love my husband dearly but I flirt like a madwoman and he's cool with that. :)
19) People that say the never lie are LYING. "The truth of the human condition is that everybody lies. The only variable is about what." ~ House M.D.
20) I love meeting new people and if you like something I don't... it's cool, man. To each their own. :) It doesn't change the person you are; it just defines you.
You will be sorely missed..
I must say that up until 2007 I hadn't allowed myself to become attached to another Cubs player. I learned my lesson after the Cubs failed to resign Mark Grace and I was heartbroken. You made such a huge impact on me, however, that I not only took you on as my new favorite Cub but also invested in my first-ever Cubs jersey - yours of course. I enjoyed watching you play so much this past season...not only blowing away everyone's expectations but being the glue of that team when it was much needed. I, like everyone, was on pins and needles a few weeks ago when your name was first brought into the 3 way Peavy trade. I breathed an obvious premature sign of relief when Hendry walked away from the deal and assumed that meant you were safe. I heard the news on Wednesday morning and was crushed....I shed actual tears at the news of your trade. You are an amazingly versatile player that ANY club will be lucky to have. This is the dark side of this game....having to say goodbye to a player that you've allowed yourself to become attached to. I know it's all about numbers for the GM, but for the fans it's all about loyalty. You were a big part of making me an even bigger Cubs fan this past season - a feat which I didn't think was possible. I will miss your presence dearly, and I think I can speak on the behalf of many Cubs fans when I say that we will be cheering you on wholeheartedly when the Cubs take on the Indians in June. I wish you nothing but the best - and am glad by the way to see that you and Kerry will get to be teammates....it makes me feel better knowing that you'll get to be together. I know you'll miss Chicago and I am MOST CERTAIN that we will be feeling your loss as well. Best of luck this upcoming season Mark!
So Saaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaad
I'm so saddened by the trade. Mark was the team MVP in 2008. It was the buzz of the New Years Eve party I attended. There are many many sad Cubs fans today. Thanks for the memories.
Thoughts on the Regular Season
It’s been a great regular season for the Cubs. We had our ups and downs but we’ve clinched a berth in the playoffs, we had a no-hitter and we’ve become a mentally tough team heading into the postseason.
It was awesome to be a part of history when Carlos Zambrano threw his no-hitter. I was part of history in a negative way when I was with the Braves when Randy Johnson threw a perfect game against us at Turner Field, so to be on the right side of it was special.
It was really special for three reasons: One, being on the field while a guy is firing a no-hitter really gets your juices flowing. You get ready to dive for anything, try to get yourself in the perfect position in the field. Two, Z was just coming off shoulder tendinitis and you worry about a pitcher, especially your ace, when he gets hurt and you wonder if he’ll be ready when he comes back. That day Z was ready, he was throwing 95 with a dive-bomb split finger. And three, we were playing horrible at the time. For him to take over and allow us to win a game easily was huge.
If you get to be a part of one or two of those games in your entire career, you’re lucky.
We clinched Saturday with Ted Lilly on the hill. The game before, Z was on the mound but he had personal issues, he had flown to Venezuela for a funeral of someone close to him, then come back the night before the game and had to wake up and pitch against the Cards. The game was kind of over in the second inning, that gave Lou a chance to pull the starters and relax us a little bit.
In a long season like this you’re going to have ups and downs. We had a lot of good times early in the year, we won a lot of ballgames, then last month we caught a mini-slump, lost eight of nine, but it just so happens that the Brewers were playing as bad as we were at the time so we didn’t really lose any ground. That helped us relax a little bit and we moved forward and our pitching staff basically carried us.
I scored my 100th run Saturday when we clinched. That’s a milestone that’s not easy to do and it’s really a reflection on my teammates. I didn’t really notice until about two or three weeks ago that I had a legit shot. So many things have to go right to score 100 runs, guys behind you have to hit and you have to be on base quite a bit. I was usually batting sixth or seventh in the lineup, so that speaks volumes about the guys hitting behind me and up and down the order.
There are personal goals each year that you set out to attain, but whether you get them or not, ultimately it comes down to today, moving forward and helping your team get into the postseason.
I never sit down and pencil out goals as far as what numbers I want to achieve, but you always have ideas about what you would like to do. I always say you are who you are, if you’re a 30-homer guy, you’ll probably end the season with between 27 and 33 or 34 homers. If you’re a guy with a 3.00 ERA on the mound, you’ll probably be right around there at the end of the year.
This year has definitely been my best in certain regards and my worst in certain regards. I’ve set career highs in almost everything, good and bad. I’ll take it.
It helps to be on a team like this. This team is very mentally strong, there are very few young guys besides the catcher, who I think is well advanced beyond his years. There are not a lot of young guys on the field, we’ve got a lot of guys who have been in a lot of postseasons, been around the game a long time. We police ourselves. This is not an environment where the coaches have to say too much.
As far as our catcher, Soto, I don’t even see who could battle him for Rookie of the Year. He’s on the team with the best record in the NL, he’s caught every game for that team, he was the first rookie catcher to start an All-Star game in forever and he’s had big hit after big hit. He might win that thing unanimously and he should.
All I heard about Soto was that he was a .270 lifetime hitter in the minors. Then he started to get on a regimented diet, he dropped 20-something pounds and started to work out for the first time in his career. And he worked out hard, not just getting by. He changed his life and has become an absolute All-Star. I’m one of his biggest fans. It’s not just because of his numbers, but the way he has handled the pitching staff. He’s not intimidated, he trusts his ability to call a game and get into rhythm with the pitcher and he’s not afraid to go to the mound.
The pitchers love him. They don’t want a guy who just throws down fingers, they want a guy who sits in on all the meetings with the pitchers and goes over the game plan. He’s been able to do that all year and very few guys shake him off.
Mark DeRosa is the starting second baseman for the Chicago Cubs. His blog for playerpress.com runs regularly at www.markderosa7.com
The benefits of an infrared sa
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Infrared sauna is a sauna powered by the infrared rays. Infrared rays are rays with a high wavelength, greater than the normal red light’s. This leads to a number of benefits including therapeutic, health and beauty advantages.
These saunas come in different models, including small portable ones that you can keep in a tiny corner of a room, till large ones that will occupy a room by itself. And there are intermediate sizes. The small portable sauna is cheap and nice for one person, so cheap compared to its benefits that it is gradually becoming almost a household item in many parts of the USA. The bigger one – the far infrared sauna – retails the benefit, is more expensive, but can fit in anywhere from 1 to 5 persons depending upon the model you select. These are items of ultimate luxury.
The top 5 benefits of an infrared sauna include:
1. Blood quality and circulation improvement: You improve your quality of blood as well as flow of blood tremendously over time; hence your vital organs get a much-desired boost for longevity.
2. Detoxification: Most people believe this is the best benefit of the infrared sauna, be it portable, or a far infrared sauna (FIR). It promotes the elimination of toxins from your muscles and skin, including slow-gathering poisons that manifest long way down the line but let you live peacefully for now, lactic acid, excess sodium associated with hypertension, free fatty acids, subcutaneous fat associated with aging and fatigue, and uric acid which causes pain.
3. Injury and pain removal: The infrared sauna is an excellent pain and injury remover; in particular it can produce amazing results for joint pain removal.
4. Improved metabolism and weight loss: An infrared sauna, portable or FIR, can improve your metabolism by a noticeable degree and produce non-water sweat to remove a lot of your fat. One can gain the effect of running 2-3 miles simply by an hour in the FIR sauna.
5. Skin improvement and beauty: Infrared saunas do deep-cleansing for your skin and remove all the toxic substance just below your skin surface. As a result one feel the inner glow of the skin rise to the surface. The improved blood and skin quality leads to a high improvement in beauty and perception.
Mark is Now a Cardinal
The Cubs management really screwed up this year. Just on a NOTION that they MIGHT get a pitcher from the Padres, they traded away Derosa and Wood to the Indians. They shot themselves in the foot, and they traded away the magic. Now, Mark is with the Cards. I hope that all this miserable trade travesty hasn't made these young men lose confidence in themselves. Wherever they are I am watching the game!! I never thought a Cubs fan would be watching the Cards and rooting FOR them! I am, though! I am just not able to get into baseball this year. I don't watch the Cubs this year. All the heart has been stomped out of them, and I don't think their management is finished with them until they see their complete demise. Mark DeRosa has an actual chance to help a promising team win a World Series! I hope he does. He's a wonderful player. Don't lose heart, Mark, your fans are still with you!!
Missing DeRo!
Well, since December 31st I've been holding my tongue...
...not anyore. The Cubs made the biggest mistake ever by getting rid of Mark DeRosa. They should have gotten rid of Jim Hendry way before parting with DeRosa. I realize that trades are part of the game, but never have I heard a trade talked about so negatively and for so long as the Cubs getting rid of DeRosa. I've been hearing rumors of DeRosa being on the trading block again, boy would I love to see him return to Chicago wearing red, white and blue!
Wake up Cubs!
~Carrie
We could use you
Mark,
The Cubs could really use you right now; in the clubhouse and on the field. You have atleast 10 more RBI's than our leading guy. You were my favorite player and still are. It was the worst move in baseball history to get rid of you. I hope the Cubs will try to get you back before the playoffs.
WBC: USA vs Venezuela
Game still on (6th), but GREAT game for Mark so far.
The downside? I really want to throttle Hendry right about now. WHAT WAS HE THINKING TRADING MARK?!?!
Good Luck. You will be missed!
There is not much to say that others all over Chicago haven't already said. Trading you is possibly the most questionable move Hendry and the Cubs have made since not signing Maddux back in the 90's. You are a leader on and off the field. What you brought to the clubhouse and the fans over the past 2 years is remniscent of the players "of old" who play because they love baseball. Ryne Sandberg comes to mind. I hope you have as many great memories of Chicago as we have of you. I was lucky enough to talk with you at the Cubs conventions. You really connected with the fans because you aren't only a superstar on the field but you are a regular Joe, someone we want to go grab a beer with.
My friends and I plan on driving to Cleveland a few times during the '09 season as well as watching you beat the Sox at Comiskey. And let's not forget when you guys come into town in June to play the Cubs.
I hope the Cleveland fans and the team appreciate you as much as they should.
Sarah
Good Luck, We're Gonna Miss Yo
Mark,
My friends and I were shocked to hear about the trade. In two short years, you made such a positive impact on this team, both on and off the field. You really were the glue for the '08 team. I always enjoyed hearing your thoughts on the game via press conferences, radio shows and your blogging. I think Hendry is absolutely nuts for trading you. I wish I could look forward to the '09 season, but confess it's feeling dismal. You and Kerry are going to bring so much to Cleveland. I hope those fans realize it.
I've Always Loved Those Cubs
I have been a Cub fan since my parents would bring us to Wrigley Field in the 60's. We eventually had 13 kids. This was in the days when you could buy tickets on game day. We would go up early on Sunday morning and stand in line at the ticket window. Half of us would go with my dad 2 blocks west on Addison to a Catholic church for mass, while the other half saved our place in line. After we were done, we saved our spot and my mom would take the other half to church. It was a great memory from the 60's. Since we were from Joliet, south of Chicago, everyone thought we should be White Sox fans. No way. Both my parents loved the Cubs. I added my mom's picture with mine to Mark's blog. I will add my late father's picture next. The Cubs leave me breathless. And I love it.
Go Cubs!
I'm a life-long Cubs fan! Over the past couple of years I have greatly enjoyed watching Mark DeRosa play with the Cubs. He is an all-around great ball player and seems to be a great person. Since taking particular interest in Mark as a player, I've come to learn that we are the same age (just a couple of months apart) and my son was born on his birthday- February 26th. My 8 year-old son got to pick his jersey # for his all-star team and of course he chose #7!
We hope to see Mark playing with the Cubs for many years to come and in a world series or two!!
We Want to Clinch Today
When I was with the Braves we clinched the division title in many different ways. One year, we clinched while we were flying to another city and found out about it when we landed.
I was just saying to the guys yesterday that if we had won, then waited while Milwaukee lost, it would have been anticlimactic. Ultimately, you like to do it on the field and we’ll have our chance today.
I was up early today, excited to get to the yard and hopefully get this thing over with. All we want to do right now is clinch this thing and move forward.
It feels a lot different from last year. We had dug ourselves such a big hole, we fought so hard to get out of that deficit and get into the playoffs. When we clinched in Cincinnati, instead of joy it felt more like relief. There was a lot of pressure off our shoulders. We were expected to go to the playoffs and for half a season it looked like we weren’t going to make it.
There’s definitely a different tone this year. The guys expected from Day 1 to not just go to the playoffs, but hopefully make a dent in this thing.
I also think you should never take winning a division title for granted. I realize that winning the division is not our ultimate goal, but you should still enjoy, embrace and celebrate. Only a few teams every year get to do it, and you work so hard from Valentine’s Day until a day like today to put yourself in position to make the playoffs and win the World Series. So I definitely think the champagne is going to be flowing when we clinch it.
Getting this thing over with on this homestand is important, especially because of the health of our pitchers, like Z and Harden. If we win it today we can give those guys at least a week to 10 days to rest their arms. Going into a short divisional series, it basically boils down to who pitches better. You’re not going to out-club people 11 games through the course of the playoffs, at least not many teams have been able to do that. I think that while we have the lineup to put runs on the board as quick as anyone, it always comes down to pitching, and when our pitchers are healthy I would put them up against anybody in the league.
About a month ago I would have been worried to face Arizona in a short series, especially with the way Brandon Webb and Dan Haren were pitching. It would be tough to beat Webb twice. But I think we’ve moved past that, we’re ready for the challenge in front of us. We have the horses, pitching-wise, to match up with anybody and we’re maybe a little better.
A five-game series always scares you, because you can run into a hot team and it’s over, like us last year against Arizona.
But we’ve got the pitching that when we go into a series we know we don’t have to worry. It’s the other team that will have to go into a series with us and worry about facing Z, Harden and Dempster.
And don’t think guys don’t think like that, because they do.
Mark DeRosa is the starting right fielder/second baseman for the Chicago Cubs. His blog for playerpress.com runs regularly at www.markderosa7.com
My Best Season
In 2004 the Braves were the first team to give me the chance to play every day, and I’m man enough to admit that I wasn’t ready. Mentally, from an offensive standpoint, I was not ready to be productive every day.
It wasn’t until I went to Texas and began working with hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo that I was able to iron things out. I had always had the tools, but I wasn’t there yet. Rudy helped me come up with a plan.
When I first came up with the Braves there were just guys better than me at my position. I didn’t have a leg to stand on to force my way into the lineup. I just waited for my time, and with the Rangers Rudy changed my entire stance, my approach … I started over again from Square 1 like I was back in Little League.
Rudy was able to show me on video how I was not putting myself in position to be successful at the big-league level. It was a struggle at first; after 29 years it’s tough to break bad habits, but I was willing to make the change to further my career. There were untapped resources that I was not taking advantage of.
One of the big differences between guys who play every day in the big leagues and guys who don’t is being consistent, having a game plan and doing things the right way. There are a lot of guys in Triple A who are very talented and should be in the bigs, but it’s all about when you get that chance you have to make the most of your opportunity and be consistent.
I can’t explain why you go through a whole bad month and then have a great month right after that. I batted .195 with one homer in July and .378 with seven homers and 24 RBI in August. I always say that in this game, you are who you are. If you’re a 30-homer guy, at the end of the season you’re probably going to be right around 30 homers. Ultimately, I’ve been a streaky hitter all through my career. I kept telling myself that at the end of the month things would turn around for me. Maybe I talked myself into a bad month, then into having a good one.
A lot of my success this season has come just from playing more, getting familiar with who I’m playing against, knowing strengths and weaknesses and having a game plan when I go up to hit. This is just my third year of playing every day. When I go up to the plate I’m not trying to do too much, just accomplish the task in front of me.
Mark DeRosa is the starting second baseman for the Chicago Cubs. His blog for playerpress.com runs regularly at www.markderosa7.com
We're Down, But Ready for Stre
Every team has ups and downs. It’s funny, but it’s not one of those things that you can really put your finger on. If you try to figure out this game, it’ll keep you up at night.
Last month it seemed like every time we were in a clutch situation guys were coming through, but in the last six games we haven’t gotten the big hit early, we’re down 2- or 3-0 and everyone is going up there trying to hit a three-run homer with no one on base.
You go through peaks and valleys during the course of the season. Hopefully this valley will make us stronger. Once we get into the playoffs we’ll be battle-tested and ready to go.
This is definitely not a panic situation. I don’t want to downplay it either, because you never like to lose six in a row, especially with the talent on this team. But it’s part of the game and our remaining schedule is very difficult, there are a lot of games on the road against teams fighting for a playoff spot.
We know we’re a good team, so it’s one of those things that you have to forget about and move on to the next game. We’ve had a few injuries but every team has dealt with that, no team out there is going to feel sorry for us.
Obviously, you’d like to have everybody healthy and going on all cylinders down the stretch, that’s the bottom line. Having everybody healthy would help us, but it’s one of those situations where you want to make sure everyone is right for the stretch drive. It’s a cliché, but someone has got to step up.
That said, when you have a superstar out of your lineup, the guy who replaces him is not a superstar player, so there’s a big difference. It’s tough to replace guys like Alfonso Soriano, Carlos Zambrano or Rich Harden. They’re three of the best in the game.
Fortunately we had a 4½-game lead, and that allows you the opportunity to rest guys who are hurt. But we haven’t been playing good baseball, either, so it’s time to turn things around.
There’s pressure to win a World Series in Chicago, because the Cubs haven’t won in 100 years, but it’s different for the players. Obviously, we’d love to win a world championship for all the fans and people associated with the club who have lived and died with the team’s successes and failures, but at the same time Lou always says this team has to stand on its own merit. We can’t make up for what other teams before us were not able to accomplish; we have to play for ourselves and the guys in this clubhouse.
In doing so, we hope to bring the fans of Chicago a championship.
And 100 percent, this team can get it done.
Mark DeRosa is the starting second baseman for the Chicago Cubs. His blog for playerpress.com runs regularly at www.markderosa7.com
Mark Answers Your Questions
1) This is an e-mail from Sharon:
With all the talk of Jeff Samardzija picking baseball over football, I was
wondering if you had to choose between the two. Was baseball your clear
favorite? I understand you keep a football in your locker and have been
throwing to Jeff. Do you wish you would (or could) have played football
instead? And by the way, who is your favorite NFL team? Sorry, I guess
that was more than one question but it does say "anything":)
MARK: No, I don’t wish I had tried to play professional football, I definitely picked the right profession. There’s no room in the NFL for a 6-1 quarterback with no mobility. And my favorite team is the Dallas Cowboys.
2) This is an e-mail from Ashley:
You always seem to be too hard on yourself. Trust me from a fan's point of
view, i love everyone on the team,but i prefere to watch you. I think you
are amazing and that you are doing a wonderful job. I just wanted to know
why in your blogs and on interviews you are so hard on yourself?
your number ONE (1) fan, Ashley
MARK: That is something that was instilled in me since I was young. My father was very critical of me in every game I played in. We talked about the good things, but throughout the course of a game there’s always things you could have done better to change the game or just be better. In baseball, you can never be perfect. There’s only one Barry Bonds, only one Albert Pujols, guys who are able to make a major contribution offensively every night. I would just rather stay humble and concentrate on correcting my deficiencies than pump up the things I do well.
3) This is an email from Alex:
1. How do you feel so comfortable playing most baseball positions?
2. Which is your favorite?
MARK: The reason I feel comfortable playing different positions is that I’ve been doing it for nine years. I try not to worry about style points out there, just get the job done, be fundamentally sound at each position. I have a lot of time to work on each position, it’s something that comes second nature and I don’t even worry about it anymore. My favorite position? Anywhere in the infield, shortstop, second base or third base.
4) This is an email from Mike:
Dear Mark,
Do you have any pre game rituals or superstitions?
Your Fan,
Mike DeRosa (no relation)
MARK: The only superstition I have is that if I go 0-for-4 or don’t get a hit one game, I will change out my batting gloves. Otherwise, not really.
5) This is an email from Joise:
Big bet going...are you Italian or Hispanic?
MARK: Italian.
6) This is an email from Tim:
Hey, Mark, is Derrick Lee still
having back trouble? I used to
have a bad back and I know something
that could help him in a big way.
By the way, you and Reed Johnson are
those kind of guys that a championship
team always needs for chemistry.
It's that thing you can't find in the
numbers, even though yours are great.
It's about that scrappy attitude.
MARK: I’m not aware that Derrick is having any back trouble, but he needs to start having some from hitting homers and carrying this team on his back.
7) This is an email from Warren:
Hey Mark, I saw you on the PTI show and heard about the blog. I am a
lifetime Cubby fan and somewhat of a ball player myself. I play in an
amateur league here in Indianapolis. Like you, my team has asked me to play
multiple positions, but I'm a second baseman by trade. I'm also a
grind-it-out player always hustling my ass off. I care so much about the
game of baseball. I always have and I always will. I enjoy watching players
like you, because you do what is necessary for the team day in and day out
no matter what. You've been a tremendous influence.
However my production has declined since I joined this new team and I
haven't been able to get comfortable at any position. I worry they may cut
me because I don't play like Roberto Clemente in Right field. So my playing
time has been lessened and my confidence is at an all time low. I get fewer
at-bats than all the other every-day players and it just becomes an on-going
cycle. And as if that weren't enough, I seem to have forgotten how to throw
a baseball, much like Knoblauch, I'm a headcase. But I know if I got just
thirty-forty more at bats I could be what I used to be. Oh and I pay the
same amount of money to play as everyone else ($300).
I'm almost ten years out of high school, never played college ball, I don't
have a lot of free time or a lot of money so I've thought about giving it up
- something I never thought I would do. DeRo, if anybody could give me some
advise its you. Whaddya think?
p.s. should I be worried? I mean, six in a row.
MARK: As far as your throwing problems, I would go back to the fundamentals. Point your lead elbow in the direction you want the throw to go, at the first baseman’s head. That’s what I do when I have a bad run of throws. When struggling on offense, keep it simple; the bat head replaces your hands, if you take your hands to the ball the bat head will follow. Talking about playing many different positions, I still feel uncomfortable when I haven’t played a position in a while, so I simplify the game. Catch the ball, hit the cutoff man, do the fundamentals.
8) This is an email from Jason:
Hey Mark! I too am 33 and will be having an ablation later this month at
Loyola. I get thousands of Premature Atrial Contractons (PACs) per day which
sometimes leads to afib. Over the years it’s gotten so bad that it’s affecting
my quality of life.
Q- Was it a 100% success?
Jason
MARK: Yes, it was 100% successful and I would recommend the procedure highly. Had I known it was available I would have done it years ago.
All-Star Break: I'll Be in NJ,
I’m not an All-Star (like 8 other guys on the Cubs!), but for me, I’ve come a long way. Two years ago I wasn’t even on the ballot, and this year I received over two million votes from fans. I’m very appreciative of that, though I think it’s a reflection of our team’s success... I think fans can relate to a guy like me. There are certain things that the Alfonso Soriano’s, Aramis Ramirez’s and Derek Lee’s of the world can do that fans and normal players just can’t do. They’re such superstars. I think fans can relate to a guy who grinds it out, hustles, sets the table. It reminds them of when they played Babe Ruth ball when they were younger. When you have Chase Utley and Dan Uggla at your position, hitting homers every day, you don’t really expect to go to the All-Star Game. The Cubs lead the league in runs, so I’m getting to hit with a lot of guys on base. There were some things about the first half of the season that I didn’t like, like I struck out 70 times. I don’t think I’ve ever struck out that many times that quick. It sounds cliché, but winning hides a lot of flaws in your stats and accentuates the good things you’ve done. I’ll be spending the all-star break not far from Yankee Stadium, but in a much different environment. I’ll be at the Jersey Shore with my family, I’ll get to see my brother, my mom and dad and my brother’s kids. It takes me back to summer days growing up in New Jersey, going to the boardwalk and hanging out at the beach… I’ll probably get a couple rounds of golf in. I’d much prefer to be sitting on the bench at the All-Star Game, though. Mark DeRosa is a second baseman/outfielder for the Chicago Cubs. His blog runs regularly at www.playerpress.com. ALL-STAR COMPARISON *Dan Uggla, 2B, Florida: .289, 23 HR, 59 RBIMark DeRosa, 2B, Chicago: .283, 11 HR, 50 RBI*Cristian Guzman, SS, Wash.: .313, 5 HR, 30 RBI*Miguel Tejada, SS, Houston: .275, 10 HR, 44 RBI *--Chosen for All-Star Game, NOT voted in by fans
Geo
Good job geo on nl rookie of the year!! I thought for sure you would win it.
PTI
Nice showing on PTI-- Wilbons' pants freak me out