Timing is everything for Kasper

Len Kasper may not have been the Cubs' first choice.

Or even their second.

But he turned out to be the right choice.

The Cubs' broadcaster has settled into the job nicely after three seasons in the chair once occupied by the likes of Jack Brickhouse and Harry Caray, and with two years left on his contract he seems to have a very secure future in Chicago.

If only he felt the same way about partner Bob Brenly, with whom he has developed an entertaining chemistry.

"I just don't see any way that he's not managing a big-league ballclub in the next two years, and I hope I'm wrong about that,'' Kasper said of Brenly, who has a year left on his TV contract.

"I'll be so happy for him, but selfishly, we've become great friends, and he's so unbelievably good at what he does in this booth that he makes me sound better.

"I want him to be here a long time.''

Kasper then chuckled and shook his head as he looked out onto Wrigley Field earlier this week, from a booth that has produced not just Hall of Famers but also some of the biggest stars Chicago has ever known.

"It's funny because I'd been in that booth 15 times,'' Kasper said, pointing to the visiting broadcasters box next door. "But I never felt like I'd been in this one until I came in here and sat down.

"It's quite humbling, and an honor just to sit here, and I never take that for granted.''

You don't doubt for a moment Kasper's sincerity, even if you doubted the choice when the Cubs made the call in November 2004.

"I tried to take it slow because I knew after everything that happened with Chip (Caray) and Steve (Stone) that they were very popular and very well respected and for good reason,'' Kasper said. "I'm a Midwest guy myself (Michigan) and you can't fool people around here.

"I wasn't going to pretend I grew up a Cubs fan when I didn't. I wasn't going to act like I'd been here forever when I hadn't.

"Now, today, I am a huge Cubs fan, and I do want to be here forever, if I'm lucky enough to get that chance.''

Kasper has come so far, so fast, and Cubs fans have taken to him so quickly, that it seems quite probable he will be here for a very long time.

Of course, there are things beyond his control. For example, WGN can exercise an opt-out clause on Kasper this winter, and though that shouldn't be an issue, the team is about to undergo an ownership change, and WGN might even be sold.

Still, none of it is likely to have an impact on the Cubs' play-by-play man.

"When I came here I thought that this could be the best broadcasting job in sports, and it's been better than I could have imagined in my wildest dreams,'' said the 36-year-old Kasper. "I've got the best partner you could possibly have, and it feels like we've been calling postseason baseball for a month already.

"As local broadcasters, this is our playoffs right now. It's incredible. Of course, it's amazing how much better you are as a broadcaster when the team wins, isn't it?''

Muscle maniacs

For those who still believe steroids don't help the freaks hit home runs -- and we've been hearing from the loons about it since 1998 -- a Tufts University (Boston) physicist says his calculations show that steroid use can boost home run production by as much as 100 percent.

By putting on 10 percent more muscle mass -- which can reasonably be expected from steroid use, says Roger Tobin in an upcoming issue of the American Journal of Physics -- a batter can swing about 5 percent faster, increasing the ball's speed off the bat by 4 percent, which could send it home run distance 50-100 percent more often.

He also calculated that a 10 percent boost in muscle mass would increase a pitched ball by about 5 percent, or 4 to 5 mph for a pitcher throwing 90.

Makes you wonder about a few guys who suddenly found their way, doesn't it?

Baseball symmetry

Congrats to Buffalo Grove native Piper Mead, who spent the summer interning with the Cubs and recently was hired by marketing director Jay Blunk as an account exec.

You may remember Mead as an all-conference softball and basketball player for the Bison, and a big part of the BG state hoops title in 2000.

Her father, Pete, worked for the Cubs as public-relations director until the day after the 1982 season, when Dallas Green fired a couple dozen of the old guard in what's still referred to as "Bloody Monday.''

The quote

Cubs manager Lou Piniella on whether Carlos Zambrano needs to dial it in: "Focus shouldn't be a concern for anyone this time of year. This is a pennant race, for goodness' sake.''

Gone fishing

With just 1 start left undecided, don't be surprised if veteran Steve Trachsel gets the ball from Lou Piniella on Thursday in Florida.

Wanna get away?

New York Post's Mike Vaccaro: "The sky isn't falling; the sky has fallen. It lies in pieces on the floor of the Mets' clubhouse.''

Owning up

Mark Cuban to Fox Sports Net, on how long it took him to get over the Mavs' playoff defeat: "About three six-packs."

Best headline

Sportspickle.com: "Gary Bettman murdering a referee in broad daylight fails to net the NHL any publicity.''

And finally …

NBC's Conan O'Brien: "O.J. Simpson was released on bail on the condition that he surrender his passport and that he not leave the United States. O.J. said, 'Let me get this straight: I can only kill people in this country?' ''

brozner@dailyherald.com