BLUE = COMMISH
BLACK = CUBS
Welcome to our first press conference in ages. Today our guest is the manager of the Chicago Cubs. JASON THE SENSATION...welcome Jason
Thanks for having me dave
Jason your team was touted by many to take on the White Sox in the second reality series, but for both sides it didn't work out that way. So why didn't the Cubs live up to the hype this year?
Well for one I think my bullpen fell apart kyle farnsworth had a melt down flash gordon was hurt most of the year and my pen was pretty much a 3 man gang . And also players being hurt has something to do with it at playoff time Austin kerns Mark Prior John Leiber and many outher key players were not playing.And i think not making any major moves at the tradeing deadline had something to do with it
In the off season you added Francisco Cordero, Vernon Wells, Adrian Beltre, and Vincent Padilla....Can you tell us why you chose these players?
I chose Cordero because i need bullpen help and he is either going to be a closer or a set up guy so it was a win-win for me Wells i added because with ken girffey jr always hurt and corey patterson still leaning the game Wells give me great offence out of a spot where i did not have a lot of it last year. Beltre i took because he was cheap and he puts up solid stats and if Aramis ramerez does not return back to form i have a great back up and if he does i have some good trade bait Padilla i chose because i felt i needed some more pitching and a young very good sp will help he was very good for the phills this year and should only get better and he rounds out a nice rotation of Mark Prior ,Kerry Wood,Vincent Padilla,Ben Sheets, Jake pevaly
Who were some major losses in the off season for your club, and all in all why do you feel you will be better in 2003?
Well i felt Tim worrel was my bigest FA because my pen was never that good to start with. Tony bastia was not that big of loss because he will not play SS on yahoo next year so i replaced him with beltre and james baldwin was just trash the last 2 mounths of the year. I feel i will be better because I added damin miller as my C which is not a lot but will be 100% better then hunley i should get everyday stats from 1B this year i expect Aramis Ramerez to have a better year for me Vernon Wells was add a lot of offence to my OF which i will have geoff jinkins and austin kerns both back for full season's and on the pitching side I think my young pitchers will take the next step to be come even better pitchers then they are now
No one is disputing your great young pitching staff, but don't you think for a contender like the Cubs, and major competition in the Marlins and Red Sox, your putting a little too much faith in youngsters that are unproven such as Geoff Jenkins and Austin Kearns?
Yes i probably am But kearns put up great number is his rookie season so i am hopeing that carries over and jenkins is a little more proven then kerns i think if he can get him self 500 at bats he will put up solid numbers as a LF or possible back up LF
Your probably in the toughest division in the Reality World, how does that make you feel, and do you think it will stay that way this coming season?
It really does not bother me i fell the red sox are my main team i have to battle i still feel the marlins are a step below the red sox and myself but he very well could be right there in the thick of things. Red sox,Cubs,marlins,navagators,round rock is how i think it will finish up
Well Round Rock is really in the AL East, that is just a typo, who has most impressed you through the expansion draft thus far?
I really like the way the Cincinatti Superstars drafted they took some picks that could be huge pick up's this year Jose Conteras,Jesse Foppert,Hideki "Godzilla" Matsui just to name a few But then again if one or two of the guys to not pan out his team could be in trouble this year but if he makes it past this year ( the two worst team thing) he has a bright future i think with the way he drafted
Well it's not for sure that the 2 worse teams will be banished, we will see in time. If they stay active, and build responsibly they will still be around. Now Jason let's play the REALITY WORD ASSOCIATION
Arch Rival
Boston redsox
Sammy Sosa
a monster
Homosexuals
i hate fags like john
Spiderman
makes a good video game
Marlins
needs everything to be perfect for him to win
Athletics
will go as far as there pitching takes them
Mariners
Godd team even better GM has a chance to 3 peat
Big Tits or Small Tits?
some where in the middle
'03 AL East Champs
Maui D-Backs
Shit or piss?
piss
Biggest Reality Bitch?
Well Besides Dave, Cujo!
On that note I would like to say thank you for your time, and let you close out the show with any closing comments
an All Chicago WS in Reality town this year And Avril Lavigne is my Future wife