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Question of the day

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Illinois

* What is the world coming to? I mean, really…

Cubs fans, they’re here! Chicago Cubs permanent Illinois license plates. The Cubbie Blue license plates, which feature the Cubs logo, are now available for pre-purchase online and will be sent out March 1. Random number plates will also be available at the Chicago Auto Show beginning Feb. 10.

“For many years I played in the wonderful Chicago Cubs organization as a center fielder,” White said. “I feel a special bond and history with the team. I am not alone. The Chicago Cubs are a legendary franchise and boast of diehard fans throughout the country who will be excited to show their team spirit and support education with these plates.”

Click here to design your own…

Heh.

* The Question: With football season over as far as Illinois is concerned, what are your 2011 baseball season predictions?

Go Sox. (All that Bears rah-rah unity was starting to become annoying anyway.)

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Jan 28, 11 @ 11:47 am

Comments

http://bit.ly/gtHGeL

Comment by TD Friday, Jan 28, 11 @ 11:53 am
My predictions are that the Cubs will continue being the Cubs while the White Sox may compete for first place in their division. I was happy with the Dunn/Konerko/Pierczynski signings.

Comment by Grandson of Man Friday, Jan 28, 11 @ 11:53 am
TD, your year was over a hundred years ago.

Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Jan 28, 11 @ 11:55 am
White Sox 92-70, win the AL Central for the first time since 2008, lose in ALDS in 4 games to Boston.

Cubs 77-85, Ricketts raises ticket prices again next offseason to service his debt.

Comment by Ravenswood Right Winger Friday, Jan 28, 11 @ 11:56 am
I will continue to go to Cubs games and ignore them because I’m there to network with colleagues.

My colleagues will continue to quickly tire of watching because they are still, in fact, the Cubs.

We will continue to leave early and drink excessively at the closest bar with seats.

Comment by Dirt Digger Friday, Jan 28, 11 @ 11:57 am
After a rough start in spring training, the White Sox will go on to win each and every game of the regular season, sweep the play-offs and World Series. The Cubs will focus on trying to improve Wrigley Field.

Comment by Because I say so Friday, Jan 28, 11 @ 12:00 pm
I agree with your Cub plate and disagree with TD’s.
Sox in the World Series. Pitching, Dunn-Konerko, AJ back. It has to be an improvement on last year in which they were not all that bad. Hopefully Thorton becomes the man and saves 40 games.

Back to the Cubs. The thing to look forward to the most will be when I actually will be chearing for the Yankeess when they come to town.

Comment by Anonymous Friday, Jan 28, 11 @ 12:01 pm
The White Sox will be battling the Twins for the top of the AL Central. The Cardinals will be battling the Reds, and maybe darkhorse Brewers, for the top of the NL Central. The Cubs will be battling the Astros and Pirates for draft position and other teams top prospects in trade deals.

Comment by ANON Friday, Jan 28, 11 @ 12:02 pm
I think you’re all missing the impact of the Augie Ojeda and Braden Looper signings.

Comment by piling on Friday, Jan 28, 11 @ 12:03 pm
Delino DeShields joins the list of obscure Cubs returning to the Cubs for Spring Training (Augie Ojeda, Reed Johnson, Todd Wellemeyer). Cubs stuble out of the gate but get a boost with midseason acquisition of Gary Gaetti and win the division. Kerry Wood will be snubbed of the Cy Young after recording a MLB record 52 holds on the season.

Comment by Anonie Friday, Jan 28, 11 @ 12:03 pm
I’m feeling very good vibes about the Sox right now. I like the make up of the team. If everyone on the roster stays relatively healthy and if Peavy comes back even part way, they’re going to win the Division. Can’t wait to get out to Comiskey! Another prediction: Chris Sale jersey sales will go through the roof.

Comment by Responsa Friday, Jan 28, 11 @ 12:06 pm
Everyone’s dream World Series: Cards v. WSox. Cards win in four.

Cubs look forward to 2012.

Comment by Deep South Friday, Jan 28, 11 @ 12:08 pm
This is the best Sox roster since the World Series team. Reinsdorf went all in holding onto Konerko after signing Dunn — who’s going to love new Cominskey. He’s the lefty power they were missing last year.

The pitching staff is one of the best in the majors with five quality starters if Peavy is healthy and loads of tough lefties in the bullpen to battle the Twins lefty lumber company.

The everyday lineup is solid — is this the year Alexi becomes a superstar? Third base and Quentin are a concern, but maybe Kenny can solve both problems by trading Carlos — 2/3 of one season does not a superstar make.

The Sox will battle the Twins to the end, who will be tough again with Nathan and Morneau back. I’ll pick the Sox, but they need to shake their Twins hex early in the season.

The Cubs are very bad — and they are paying tons of money for that status. I’d keep Marmol, back up the truck and get whatever prospects you can. Odds are, though, the Ricketts will have to burn through those Soriano, Zambrano, Fukudome and Ramirez contracts before they can make any moves at all. Good seats available for day baseball in the sunshine this year.

Comment by wordslinger Friday, Jan 28, 11 @ 12:16 pm
When is Jesse White going to quit talking about playing “A” level baseball for the Cubs in Arkansas as is he were in MLB?

Comment by Honest Abe Friday, Jan 28, 11 @ 12:20 pm
Correction:
When is Jesse White going to quit talking about playing “AAA” level baseball for the Cubs in Arkansas as if he were in MLB?

The Cubs were not noted for their farm system after all.

Comment by Honest Abe Friday, Jan 28, 11 @ 12:23 pm
White Sox issue black and white plates with the word TWEET in the center.

Comment by And I Approved This Message Friday, Jan 28, 11 @ 12:25 pm
I predict that there will be an awesome CapFax night at the Cell where politics will be set aside and we will all get drunk and yell ourselves horse as we crush the opposition.

And the Cubs will surprise by winning a few.

Comment by VanillaMan Friday, Jan 28, 11 @ 12:32 pm
The Cubbies,lovable losers,wait til the next century.We are the Noble White Sox,Champions,South Side Hitmen.GO GO WHITE SOX!

Comment by mokenavince Friday, Jan 28, 11 @ 12:47 pm
White Sox 90-72 Miss the playoffs by one game.

Cubs 88-74 Win a very weak NL Central by a couple games in front of the Brewers.

Comment by anon Friday, Jan 28, 11 @ 12:47 pm
c’mon Rich, you’re just jealous the Sox didn’t get a plate first, although God knows they deserve it more than the Cubs…even though they
disappoint year after year there are Cub fans everywhere, even outside IL…????

Comment by Loop Lady Friday, Jan 28, 11 @ 1:07 pm
The Sox look like the much better team, and I hope they don’t blow it down the stretch. It might help if Ozzie gets his son to move to Venezuela for the season, or somewhere far from the clubhouse. That kid ain’t doing his dad any favors and it’s starting to irk the players.

My Cubs aren’t going anywhere unless the other teams in the NL Central collapse. Stranger things have happened, but it would take career years from almost every player and some moves to get new talent. I don’t see that happening this year.

The Cubs will continue to cut payroll until they get some help renovating Wrigley. A modern Wrigley will help generate additional revenue, but until then, it’s a drag on the team. They’ll muddle along in good old Cubbie fashion until a public handout comes their way eventually, just like the public bailed out every other Chicago sports team.

We’ll get ours. Until then, it’s going to be ugly. We’re about to find out if putting little league baseball in Wrigley can still draw 2.5 million fans. Based on past history, I’d say yes.

Comment by 47th Ward Friday, Jan 28, 11 @ 1:09 pm
White Sox win the division easily. Brewers and Cards make the playoffs. Cubs under 500.

Comment by downstate hack Friday, Jan 28, 11 @ 1:19 pm
I love the White Sox. but I don’t want to see any Cub blue, yes, including with choke. I simply wish to ignore them. and focus on the awesome lineup with Dunn, Q with more dough, the healing Peavy, the reupped Captain Paulie, and the reupped wizard that is Oz. There is only one major league baseball team in Chicago. And that team will win the division.

Comment by amalia Friday, Jan 28, 11 @ 1:25 pm
Cubs plate 1908 is issued to Rich Miller.

Comment by Excessively Rabid Friday, Jan 28, 11 @ 1:34 pm
That 1908 Cubs team was awesome. Both Kaiser Wilhelm and Czar Nicholas II said it was the best baseball team they had ever seen.

Comment by wordslinger Friday, Jan 28, 11 @ 1:42 pm
Holds aren’t an official stat.

Comment by Aaron Friday, Jan 28, 11 @ 2:23 pm
I predict Cubs fans will place more emphasis on the Cross Town Classic than the Pennant.

Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Friday, Jan 28, 11 @ 2:39 pm
Pitchers and catchers report in about two weeks. Surely spring can’t be too far behind!

Comment by Nearly Normal Friday, Jan 28, 11 @ 2:40 pm
This may be Illinois, but football is football….

Go Packers!

Comment by Christine Kaplan Friday, Jan 28, 11 @ 2:47 pm
Sorry Cubs fans, but I see Joey Votto’s chiseled jaw leading the Cincinnati Reds to another division title.

Comment by Cincinnatus Friday, Jan 28, 11 @ 2:53 pm
Sox Win Division and hopefully get to and win WS.

Cubs finish a surprising 2nd place.

Comment by Concerned Voter Friday, Jan 28, 11 @ 2:53 pm
–I predict Cubs fans will place more emphasis on the Cross Town Classic than the Pennant.–

So that’s what Tom Cross has been doing.

Comment by wordslinger Friday, Jan 28, 11 @ 2:58 pm
Seems like Sale will close, not Thornton.

It should be neck and neck with the Twins yet again, but I think the Sox have enough this time to overtake them.

Comment by aaronsinger Friday, Jan 28, 11 @ 3:01 pm
Oh, you doubters and naysayers! The Cubs win the division by 10 games over the Cardinals, then sweep the NL playoffs and beat the Yankees 4 games to 1 in the World Series. And while I’m on a roll, that very same week Gov. Quinn and Illinois legislative leaders from both parties join together to pass a comprehensive and meaningful fiscal and tax reform package that enables Illinois to pay off its debts, fully fund its pensions and meet its obligations on education.
Um, OK… actually, I’ll go with the White Sox over the Cards in the World Series.

Comment by OldSmoky2 Friday, Jan 28, 11 @ 3:09 pm
How many digits fit on a plate? Seven? That will be the year the Cubs “finally win it all”. I would have put “infinity”, not the word but the actual end of numbers….

Comment by Knome Sane Friday, Jan 28, 11 @ 3:19 pm
Reds take the division on final day over the Cards while Cubs finish at least a dozeen back. Sox make the playoffs as wild card but lose in the ALCS.

Comment by Bluefish Friday, Jan 28, 11 @ 3:22 pm
I love Sox fans walking around like they’re Ron Jeremy because of 2005. In the grand scheme of things, we both suck. Yes, Cubs suck more. 103 years versus 87 years. Yankees and Cardinals, the City of Chicago we are not.

Still love that the fact more Marlin gear was sold on the South Side in 2003 than all of Miami. You won the Championship and you STILL care more about the Cubs losing than the Sox winning.

That being said, the Sox should win the division this year.

Comment by Anonymous Friday, Jan 28, 11 @ 3:25 pm
@Anonymous

=103 years versus 87 years=

I am sorry, sir, but that’s 103 years versus 5 years.

Comment by Knome Sane Friday, Jan 28, 11 @ 4:14 pm
so who is gonna get the plate NXT YEAR ????

Comment by Todd Friday, Jan 28, 11 @ 4:15 pm
Go Cubs, they’ll do better than expected, while the White Sox will do worse.

Comment by Wensicia Friday, Jan 28, 11 @ 4:57 pm