1 Happy St

Every Tuesday, Emmy award-winning commentator Joe Morgan of ESPN has a live question and answer chat with his fans. For your enjoyment, I have included a few highlights of today's session.

Shawn C. (Terre Haute, IN): Hey Joe great work! My question is, do you think more blame should be put on Jim Hendry rather Dusty Baker in Chicago? After all he's the one who didn't reinforce this team in the offseason! i.e. starting pitching and bench help
Joe Morgan: It sounds like you're a smart guy. This is what I say about the Cubs' situation: It's everybody's help. Hendry should have known more than to rely on Wood and Prior. But then Dusty should have pushed more to get more pitching.

First of all Joe, I can only assume that Shawn was being sarcastic when he said "great work". Second, it's everybody's help? What does that mean? Third, I don't think you're qualified to comment on someone else's smarts.

Sandro (miami via boston): Morning Joe! In light of last nights early exit by Tim Wakefield, is is finally time for Theo to turn up the trade talks and stop relying on old/injured veterans and young prospects?
Joe Morgan: I believe that they've been trying to get pitching. But remember, there are 26 teams looking for pitching. And there are only certain teams that have pitching. No one has extra starting pitching. It's not that easy to go out and sign guys.

NOTE: This answer from Joe comes 2 questions after he implied that it's Hendry's fault for not reinforcing the Cubs starting pitching.

Rob (Alpharetta, GA): Hi Joe. What miracle, if any, do you expect John Schuerholz to pull off this year? Is there a move out there to be made like last year's Kyle Farnsworth deal? And I feel a Met's collapse coming on...
Joe Morgan: Again, there are so many people looking for what he's looking for. He doesn't have a close. I don't know if he's going to pull it off because of that in that way.

I didn't edit that. That was his answer. He makes this too easy on me.

victor alexandria,la: joe what is this sunday,s game like?
Joe Morgan: Atlanta at Philadelphia.

This quick dialogue between Victor from Louisiana and Joe could be an indication that some of Joe's readers are just as dumb as he is. Let's assume that Joe gets upwards of 5000 questions during one of these live chats and answers maybe 15 of them (I don't know this to be accurate, but these figures seem reasonable). Victor decides that he's going to use this chat as an opportunity to ask a question in which he could easily look up the answer on his own using probably 100 different forums. Joe of course recognizes this to be a question worthy of everyone's time. Meanwhile, 4985 other questions are ignored, including mine in which I ask Joe why he sucks (a question that in my opinion, is infinitely more important than which teams will be playing next Sunday night). Stay tuned for next week when Joe responds to someone asking him what time it is.