One of the most heartwarming parts of being a big time Cubs blogger is when college kids e-mail me, stop me on the street or knock on the door seeking advice about how they too can become big time Cubs bloggers.

Since we have tens of readers and unparalleled knowledge of the use of a comma, we always take the time to kindly say, "Mind your own damn business."

But with some down time before the winter meetings and months before spring training, here is - once and for all - your guide to seven strategies to becoming a big time Cubs blogger:

Strategy 1: Fill a niche. This is easier said than done. There are, according to the latest Census, 1,473 Cubs blogs. Dozens die every month from neglect (or abuse), but the number continues to grow as more and more people are convinced the Cubs fan experience will not be complete without their insight. Anyway, there are well established blogs that are "communities" of Cubs fans, many of whom take themselves much too seriously.

Some believe you should root, root, root for the Cubbies much as you did for your high school basketball team. In the offseason, they spend a lot of time putting together elaborate trade scenarios that will never come to be (think: Ramirez, Soriano and Zambrano for Darrin Erstad). With each visit to such a site you will be 1.3 percent dumber.

Others aren't so bad. Just be careful.

On the other hand, there are quality blogs that preview and recap each game while giving fans a chance to chat during said games. The Cubs blog world doesn't need any more of those.

There are blogs dedicated to individual players. Many of these die a pitiful death as the player craps out or is traded. Some endure, in spite of the aforementioned crapping out or tradedness. That's the sign of a strong blog.

There is a blog largely written in the voice of Lou Piniella. Another one of those is not needed, as you won't do it as well.

There are stat-y blogs. I rarely understand what they're talking about, but they seem like nice people. (See the column at left for a semi-comprehensive of longstanding Cubs blogs.)

Our niche? Good grammar. No day-to-day coverage. Media criticism. And the defense of the team's best players against the barbarians at the gate.

Strategy 2: Find A Decent Name. Wrigleyville23 isn't that good, but it's home. waxpaperbeercup is my new favorite name for a blog, for example. The Other Fifteen was a good one, but that's been largely abandoned. Shame. Goat Riders is an excellent example of this strategy, as well.

Strategy 3: Say something mind-blowingly stupid. It's good for traffic, because people will link to you and say, "Look how stupid this guy is." Some might even come back to see if you're still being stupid. And if you're not stupid, you can use it to your advantage. So go forth and be stupid.

Strategy 4: Criticize Barack Obama - or drop Sarah Palin's name in without calling her a disgrace to humanity. That drives people nuts and - again - drives traffic. This applies to non-Cubs blogs as well.

Strategy 5: Post pictures of pretty girls. It is the InterWeb after all.

Strategy 6: Post every day, if not many times a day. You're not Fire Joe Morgan, so whatever it is you're saying isn't interesting enough to get people to come back if you go more than a day or two without posting. There are plenty of other places to go on the InterWeb.

Strategy 7: Pick a fight. Either with another Cubs blog or a blog for a different team. Don't be an ass, but you don't have to be nice, either. In our experience, posting pictures of Prince Fielder and calling him fat works very well.

With that, you should be on your way. Good luck.