Folinazzo

We Cubs fans knew it would probably happen and today, at the trading deadline, it did happen. Greg Maddux was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers for infielder Cesar Izturis. I am once again sad to see Mad Dog go. Best of luck to you, Greg. You will always be a class act and one of baseball’s best.

I would also like to bid a fond farewell to second baseman Todd Walker. He was dealt to the San Diego Padres today for minor league pitcher Jose Ceda. There were trade rumors surrounding Walker even before this season began and I could never understand why. He plays hard every game, he comes through in the clutch more than our so-called superstar Aramis Ramirez, and he did a fantastic job filling in at first base for the injured Derrek Lee. Such is baseball, I guess. Best of luck to you as well, Walk.

One last thought: with Izturis coming to the Cubs - an infielder who primarily plays shortstop - what does this mean for Ronny Cedeno? I think, defensively, Ronny’s right up there with other big league shortstops and lately his bat has been brought back to life. I’d hate to see Ronny go, too.

Where were you living 10 years ago? Back in 1996, Frankie was living in Ann Arbor, Michigan playing AAA hockey and attending high school. I was back in Chicago after my freshman year at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. October of 1996 saw my 19th birthday and my 16-year-old brother sent me birthday wishes via the below typed letter. Read on as it is proven that distance does make the heart grow fonder. Oh yeah, and be prepared to laugh. I sure did…and still do.