Bleed Cubbie Blue

Cubs Equipment On Its Way To Arizona

2010-02-09T18:30:15Z

It's a miserable, snowy day today in Chicago. But this colorful truck is now on its way to Mesa, Arizona, with the Cubs' jerseys, caps and other equipment, awaiting the arrival of pitchers and catchers in only nine days.

Click on photo to open a larger version in a new browser window. Photo by Al Yellon

Oh, and today is the fifth anniversary of this site. Truth be told, the date had slipped my mind. More discussion at the link in this paragraph.

2010 BCB Community Projections: Geovany Soto

2010-02-09T14:00:42Z

More photos » Paul Beaty - AP

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With spring training about to begin, let's start our annual projection series. In the comments to this post, post what you think Geovany Soto is going to do this year. Will Geo bounce back to his 2008 ROY level? The photo in this post, compared to this one I took of him at the Cubs Convention, clearly shows how much weight Geo has lost and that he's in much better shape going into the 2010 season.

For Geo, let's do the following categories:

AB, R, H, 2B, 3B, HR, RBI, BB, SO, AVG/OBA/SLG

Make sure your AVG/OBA/SLG numbers match what you've posted for the other numbers. For the purposes of this post, just use BB and H to determine OBA (although other things like SF and HBP will factor into that number in real life).

I'll need a volunteer to compile all the numbers so I can post a full projection when this series is complete.

Thanks to SWL, we now have a spreadsheet into which you can type your projection yourself. Everyone who's already made a pick, please type it into this spreadsheet. If you make your pick after 3:40 pm CST on Monday, you can just do it directly into the spreadsheet. Starting tomorrow we'll have the spreadsheets posted in the morning.

Cubs Single Game Tickets On Sale Friday, February 19

2010-02-08T20:11:50Z

More photos » David Banks - AP

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It's official, announced via press release today. Procedures are the same as recent years; after the jump, see the official procedures. Note that the Cubs ticket pricing page does not yet have 2010 prices listed.

The Chicago Cubs today announced individual game tickets for the 2010 regular season will go on sale Friday, February 19. Tickets will be available for purchase in the following methods (all times listed below are Central Time):

At the Wrigley Field Box Office: Tickets will go on sale at 8:00 a.m. and a random wristband system will be used. There will be no advantage to "camping out" at the ballpark, as initial position in lines will be established by a random drawing of all wristbands distributed prior to 6 a.m. on February 19.

Wristbands will be available at Wrigley Field from 11 a.m. – 10 p.m. on Wednesday, February 17 and from 7 a.m. – 10 p.m. on Thursday, February 18. There is a limit of one wristband per person. You will be required to show two (2) forms of identification, one of which needs to be a government issued photo ID. The wristbands will only be used at Wrigley Field on Friday, February 19.

A random drawing will be held shortly after 6 a.m. on Friday, February 19 to determine the starting number for the ticket lines. The winning number will immediately be announced on WGN Radio (720 AM) and www.cubs.com. All other numbers will follow the selected number.

By Telephone: Tickets can be purchased by telephone through Tickets.com beginning at 10 a.m. The Tickets.com phone number for Illinois callers is 800-The-Cubs (800-843-2827). The phone number for out-of-state callers is 866-652-2827.

Via the Internet: Visitors to www.cubs.com can purchase tickets beginning at 10 a.m.

A virtual waiting room will be used for all Internet orders. The virtual waiting room will begin accepting customers at 9:30 a.m. on Friday, February 19. At 10:00 a.m. customers will be randomly selected from the virtual waiting room to begin purchasing tickets. All internet customers will need a valid cubs.com account. We recommend that customers sign-up for an account prior to February 19.

Outlet ticket sales will begin at 10 a.m. on Monday, February 22 at Chicagoland Tickets.Com Outlets.

Ticket Limits: On February 19, 20 and 21 various ticket limits will be put in place. These limits will be imposed based on various factors including customer name, household, credit card and e-mail address. Internet customers who use computer-based scripting language may have all orders cancelled.

There will be a limit of six tickets per game.

At the Wrigley Field Box Office, fans will be limited to ordering a maximum of 42 tickets.

Internet and Phone customers will be limited to one game per order of up to six tickets. Internet and Phone customers will be limited to a maximum of 42 tickets for the weekend. All customers who order more than this limit may have all orders cancelled.

All Bud Light bleacher tickets sold at Wrigley Field on February 19 will be by credit card only — Visa, Mastercard, Discover or American Express. Credit Cards used during the on-sale must be in the name of the ticket purchaser.

In an effort to provide the best ticket availability for Cubs fans, all customers when receiving a wristband on February 17 or 18 and while purchasing tickets at Wrigley Field on February 19 will be required to show two (2) forms of identification, one of which needs to be a government issued photo ID.

For updated ticket pricing, please visit www.cubs.com.

For more information, please contact the Cubs at 773-404-CUBS.

White Sox And Diamondbacks Complain About Cubs Spring Training Deal. Here's The Truth.

2010-02-08T14:00:22Z

Photo courtesy Mesa Convention and Visitors Bureau

Within the last few days, we've been treated to comments from White Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf and Diamondbacks president Derrick Hall, grumbling about the deal that the Cubs and the city of Mesa have made for a new spring training complex:

Reinsdorf told the Phoenix Business Journal the Sox were opposed to a plan to institute a surcharge on all Cactus League tickets to help fund the Cubs' proposed $84 million spring training complex in Mesa.

Remember, Reinsdorf threatened to move his team to Florida if he didn't get the state of Illinois to build him a new stadium in Chicago -- which the team occupies virtually rent-free -- and further, says Mesa Mayor Scott Smith:

"We're not affecting the current revenue streams" for other Cactus League teams, Smith said. He leveled a broadside at Reinsdorf, whose team practiced for years in Tucson Electric Park before leaving last year to join the Los Angeles Dodgers in a new sports authority-funded complex in the Valley.

"Is this the same Jerry Reinsdorf that skipped out on Pima County taxpayers who had spent tens of millions of dollars to provide him with a taxpayer-funded stadium, to come to Glendale, where Maricopa County taxpayers provided him a Taj Mahal spring-training facility?" Smith said.

Meanwhile, Derrick Hall says "all 13 other Cactus League teams back him" and the Cubs shouldn't use public money:

Diamondbacks President Derrick Hall says that a new field for the Cubs should be funded through private funds, the same way the new stadiums for the Diamondbacks and Colorado Rockies was funded.

Right, Derrick, except for the $30 million of federal stimulus money being used by the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community to help build your new spring training facility. That's public money, isn't it, Derrick? These funds are characterized as a loan, but it's still taxpayer dollars and the complex likely doesn't get built without it. Further, since this complex is located on tribal land, the Diamondbacks (and Rockies) would likely be exempt from any ticket surcharge -- which, in any case, is likely to be less than $1 (one estimate has it at 75 cents -- hardly a deal-breaker for anyone coming to a Cactus League game).

This East Valley Tribune article reminds us that the truth is that nothing is set in stone yet; there may be a surcharge placed on Cactus League tickets, but if so, there's some justification -- according to one study, Cubs fans account for 22% of Cactus League attendance -- and if not, the East Valley Tribune link goes on to say:

As officials announced Friday they will introduce legislation on Monday to provide part of the funding, they acknowledged they haven’t settled on tax rates or certain funding formulas.

"Exactly what those will be is yet to be determined," said House Majority Leader John McComish, R-Ahwatukee Foothills.

McComish will sponsor the bill, which he said will be written with several blank lines where the key financial details will later be filled in. Lawmakers still need to figure out how much money will come from a car-rental tax and from a ticket surcharge on Cactus League games.

Because of resistance from some that people across Maricopa County would pay for a Mesa facility, some lawmakers want the taxes to raise additional money for improvements to other spring training complexes in the Valley. Lawmakers are talking with tourism industry and baseball officials to see what they would or would not support before they set tax rates in the bill, he said.

Under the current tax structure to pay for spring training facilities, all Cactus League teams benefit -- including the White Sox, who used a portion of this tax to help finance Camelback Ranch. There is currently $12 million in the fund earmarked for improvements to HoHoKam Park, which may not occur until and unless another team moves into the facility once it is vacated by the Cubs (there are already exploratory talks underway with several teams, including the Twins). The money raised by the additional rental car taxes and ticket surcharges would go to this fund, not exclusively to the Cubs.

The bottom line here, then, is that Reinsdorf and Hall are just blustering and posturing -- Reinsdorf, apparently, taking the lead from his manager and general manager, who will stop at nothing to diss the Cubs, and Hall, likely taking the lead from his fanbase, who are still, apparently, unforgiving of Cubs fans for filling their park during the 2007 NLDS (geez, wasn't winning the series enough revenge?). Here's a take from our SBN Diamondbacks site which is, unfortunately, filled with comments on the old you-haven't-won-in-a-century thing that, you know, we've never heard less than 1,375,359,311 times before, as well as some misinformation. Jim, you're a good guy and I've enjoyed meeting you and the lovely Mrs. Snakepit, but that post -- well, read this one for the truth.

Finally, when this topic was posted in a FanShot on Saturday, the discussion devolved into pointless namecalling, so much so that I had to close comments. Please keep the discussion civil on this issue (and everything else here, for that matter). Thanks.

Wrigley Field Offseason Rehab Work Update

2010-02-07T15:00:32Z

This may look like just a dull photo of the Addison St. side of Wrigley Field (taken Saturday, February 6), but there's plenty of history and information here. First, based on this ESPNChicago.com post from Bruce Levine, the removal of the concrete panels has a purpose:

The team also is building a mirrored opening on the back end of the right-field wall with the intention of allowing fans outside of the park to watch Cubs players take batting practice under the right-field stands.

I'm not quite sure how that would work -- but that's apparently what this project is going to accomplish. The concrete panels, according to Ed Hartig, were first installed in 1958, to reduce noise. Not noise from inside the park disturbing the neighborhood, but to reduce outside noise from coming in. (Not sure why that would have been an problem!) According to an article that appeared in the Chicago Tribune article on January 10, 1960, the panels were eventually supposed to cover the entire exterior of the park, but the work was never completed. (Can you imagine how ugly the exterior would be if they had finished?) Now, it's time to get rid of the ugly panels. The same 1960 article, incidentally, says that the seating bowl between the dugouts was completely removed so that new concrete and steel could be laid at that time -- so that area is only 50 years old, not 95.

After the jump, more photos of the scoreboard work, including closeups where you can see the backs of the numbered and team panels and the interior stairways inside the board.

Click on photos to open larger versions in new browser windows. All photos by David Sameshima

Cubs Historic Photos: 25th In A Series

2010-02-06T14:00:07Z

With spring training approaching, I thought I'd post this photo -- this was a drill done in spring training on Catalina Island in 1934.

Click on photo to open a larger version in a new browser window

Wrigley Field Scoreboard Renovation Photo Update #2

2010-02-05T18:04:26Z

The back of the scoreboard has now been completely removed, presumably for repainting and reinstallation soon. Three more photos after the jump -- look closely and you'll be able to see the "0"s that are on the back of the blank panels, and some of the city names that are hidden during the winter.

Click on photos to open larger versions in new browser windows. All photos by Al Yellon, taken at 10:30 am Friday, February 5

2010 Cubs By The Numbers/Haiti Donation Update

2010-02-05T14:00:39Z

Thanks to everyone who ordered a copy of "Cubs By The Numbers" directly from me over the last couple of weeks.

I haven't forgotten my pledge to send a donation to Haiti earthquake relief from sales of the book. 40 books were sold through these posts; I pledged $1 per book. Several people gave me additional money to donate, and I added some additional money of my own and yesterday made a $150 donation to Doctors Without Borders, an organization now working to help in Haiti that was highly recommended to me by several people, on behalf of BCB. Just so you know, between the price I paid the publisher for the books, postage to send them to you, Paypal fees, and the money I spent on various mailing materials, this was a break-even effort for me.

Thanks again for buying "Cubs By The Numbers" and helping out the people of Haiti with your generosity. After the jump I have a couple more uniform number changes for 2010.

The Cubs have two more spring training invitees who had not had numbers assigned the last time I posted about this. Chad Tracy will wear #9 and Kevin Millar #15. Bobby Scales, who had originally been assigned #15, will switch to #19. That leaves #5 as the only unassigned number lower than #40.

Here's the updated complete numerical roster list, which is also permanently on the left sidebar.

Cubs Sign Marmol And Millar

2010-02-04T16:39:17Z

More photos » Gene J. Puskar - AP

Throw strikes this year, Carlos.

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The Cubs signed Carlos Marmol today, avoiding an arbitration hearing. Via tweet from ESPNChicago, it's for $2.125 million. That leaves only Ryan Theriot unsigned for this season. Also:

The Chicago Cubs have agreed to terms with infielder Kevin Millar on a minor league contract. The deal includes an invite to major league spring training. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Cubs 2010 Television Broadcast Schedule

2010-02-04T15:56:07Z

Yesterday, we learned of the Cubs' Fox broadcast schedule (see front-page fanshot below for more information).

Today, the Cubs announced the rest of their broadcast schedule. Strangely, Opening Day at Atlanta will be broadcast only locally in Chicago on WCIU -- although I would guess, given the 3:10 CDT starting time, it will probably also be picked up nationally by ESPN.

Complete schedule after the jump. All times listed are CDT. This schedule will also be permanently on the left sidebar for easy reference.

Day Date Opponent First Pitch Channel Mon 4/5 @ Atlanta 3:10 PM WCIU Tue 4/6 OFF DAY Wed 4/7 @ Atlanta 6:10 PM CSN+ Thu 4/8 @ Atlanta 6:10 PM CSN Fri 4/9 @ Cincinnati 6:10 PM WGN Sat 4/10 @ Cincinnati 12:10 PM WGN Sun 4/11 @ Cincinnati 12:10 PM CSN+ Mon 4/12 vs. Milwaukee 1:20 PM WGN Tue 4/13 OFF DAY Wed 4/14 vs. Milwaukee 1:20 PM CSN Thu 4/15 vs. Milwaukee 1:20 PM CSN Fri 4/16 vs. Houston 1:20 PM CSN Sat 4/17 vs. Houston 12:05 PM CSN Sun 4/18 vs. Houston 1:20 PM WGN Mon 4/19 @ NY Mets 6:10 PM CSN Tue 4/20 @ NY Mets 6:10 PM WGN Wed 4/21 @ NY Mets 6:10 PM CSN Thu 4/22 @ NY Mets 6:10 PM WCIU Fri 4/23 @ Milwaukee 7:10 PM WGN Sat 4/24 @ Milwaukee 6:10 PM WGN Sun 4/25 @ Milwaukee 1:10 PM CSN Mon 4/26 vs. Washington 7:05 PM CSN Tue 4/27 vs. Washington 7:05 PM WCIU Wed 4/28 vs. Washington 1:20 PM CSN Thu 4/29 vs. Arizona 1:20 PM WGN Fri 4/30 vs. Arizona 1:20 PM CSN Sat 5/1 vs. Arizona 12:05 PM WGN Sun 5/2 vs. Arizona 1:20 PM WGN Mon 5/3 OFF DAY Tue 5/4 @ Pittsburgh 6:05 PM WGN Wed 5/5 @ Pittsburgh 6:05 PM CSN Thu 5/6 @ Pittsburgh 6:05 PM WGN Fri 5/7 @ Cincinnati 6:10 PM CSN+ Sat 5/8 @ Cincinnati 6:10 PM CSN Sun 5/9 @ Cincinnati 12:10 PM WGN Mon 5/10 vs. Florida 7:05 PM CSN Tue 5/11 vs. Florida 7:05 PM CSN Wed 5/12 vs. Florida 1:20 PM WGN Thu 5/13 OFF DAY Fri 5/14 vs. Pittsburgh 1:20 PM WGN Sat 5/15 vs. Pittsburgh 12:05 PM WGN Sun 5/16 vs. Pittsburgh 1:20 PM WGN Mon 5/17 vs. Colorado 7:05 PM CSN Tue 5/18 vs. Colorado 7:05 PM CSN Wed 5/19 @ Philadelphia 6:05 PM CSN Thu 5/20 @ Philadelphia 12:05 PM WGN Fri 5/21 @ Texas 7:05 PM CSN Sat 5/22 @ Texas 6:10 PM FOX Sun 5/23 @ Texas 1:05 PM WGN Mon 5/24 OFF DAY Tue 5/25 vs. LA Dodgers 7:05 PM CSN Wed 5/26 vs. LA Dodgers 7:05 PM WGN Thu 5/27 vs. LA Dodgers 1:20 PM CSN Fri 5/28 vs. St. Louis 1:20 PM WGN Sat 5/29 vs. St. Louis 3:10 PM FOX Sun 5/30 vs. St. Louis 1:20 PM CSN Mon 5/31 @ Pittsburgh 12:35 PM WGN Tue 6/1 @ Pittsburgh 6:05 PM CSN+ Wed 6/2 @ Pittsburgh 6:05 PM CSN Thu 6/3 OFF DAY Fri 6/4 @ Houston 7:05 PM WGN Sat 6/5 @ Houston 6:05 PM CSN Sun 6/6 @ Houston 1:05 PM WGN Mon 6/7 OFF DAY Tue 6/8 @ Milwaukee 7:10 PM CSN+ Wed 6/9 @ Milwaukee 7:10 PM CSN Thu 6/10 @ Milwaukee 1:10 PM WGN Fri 6/11 vs. White Sox 1:20 PM CSN Sat 6/12 vs. White Sox 3:10 PM FOX Sun 6/13 vs. White Sox TBD WGN or ESPN Mon 6/14 OFF DAY Tue 6/15 vs. Oakland 7:05 PM CSN Wed 6/16 vs. Oakland 7:05 PM WGN Thu 6/17 vs. Oakland 1:20 PM CSN Fri 6/18 vs. LA Angels 1:20 PM CSN Sat 6/19 vs. LA Angels 12:05 PM WGN Sun 6/20 vs. LA Angels TBD WGN or ESPN Mon 6/21 OFF DAY Tue 6/22 @ Seattle 9:10 PM CSN+ Wed 6/23 @ Seattle 9:10 PM WGN Thu 6/24 @ Seattle 2:40 PM CSN Fri 6/25 @ White Sox 3:05 PM CSN Sat 6/26 @ White Sox 6:10 PM FOX Sun 6/27 @ White Sox 1:05 PM WGN Mon 6/28 vs. Pittsburgh 7:05 PM CSN Tue 6/29 vs. Pittsburgh 7:05 PM WGN Wed 6/30 vs. Pittsburgh 1:20 PM WGN Thu 7/1 vs. Cincinnati 1:20 PM CSN Fri 7/2 vs. Cincinnati 1:20 PM WGN Sat 7/3 vs. Cincinnati 12:05 PM CSN Sun 7/4 vs. Cincinnati 1:20 PM WGN Mon 7/5 @ Arizona 3:10 PM CSN Tue 7/6 @ Arizona 8:40 PM CSN Wed 7/7 @ Arizona 8:40 PM WGN Thu 7/8 @ LA Dodgers 9:10 PM WGN Fri 7/9 @ LA Dodgers 9:10 PM CSN+ Sat 7/10 @ LA Dodgers 3:10 PM FOX Sun 7/11 @ LA Dodgers 7:05 PM ESPN 7/12 - 14 All-Star break Thu 7/15 vs. Phila. 7:05 PM WCIU Fri 7/16 vs. Phila. 1:20 PM CSN Sat 7/17 vs. Phila. 12:05 PM CSN Sun 7/18 vs. Phila. 5:05 PM ESPN Mon 7/19 vs. Houston 7:05 PM WCIU Tue 7/20 vs. Houston 7:05 PM CSN Wed 7/21 vs. Houston 1:20 PM WGN Thur 7/22 OFF DAY Fri 7/23 vs. St. Louis 1:20 PM WGN Sat 7/24 vs. St. Louis 12:05 PM CSN Sun 7/25 vs. St. Louis TBD WGN or ESPN Mon 7/26 @ Houston 7:05 PM CSN Tue 7/27 @ Houston 7:05 PM WGN Wed 7/28 @ Houston 1:05 PM CSN Thu 7/29 OFF DAY Fri 7/30 @ Colorado 8:10 PM WGN Sat 7/31 @ Colorado 7:10 PM WGN Sun 8/1 @ Colorado 2:10 PM CSN Mon 8/2 vs. Milwaukee 7:05 PM WCIU Tue 8/3 vs. Milwaukee 7:05 PM CSN Wed 8/4 vs. Milwaukee 1:20 PM CSN Thu 8/5 OFF DAY Fri 8/6 vs. Cincinnati 1:20 PM CSN Sat 8/7 vs. Cincinnati 12:05 PM CSN Sun 8/8 vs. Cincinnati 1:20 PM WGN Mon 8/9 @ SF Giants 9:15 PM CSN+ Tue 8/10 @ SF Giants 9:15 PM WGN Wed 8/11 @ SF Giants 9:15 PM CSN Thu 8/12 @ SF Giants 2:45 PM WGN Fri 8/13 @ St. Louis 7:15 PM CSN Sat 8/14 @ St. Louis 3:10 PM FOX Sun 8/15 @ St. Louis 1:15 PM WGN Mon 8/16 vs. San Diego 7:05 PM WGN Tue 8/17 vs. San Diego 7:05 PM CSN Wed 8/18 vs. San Diego 1:20 PM CSN Thu 8/19 vs. San Diego 1:20 PM WGN Fri 8/20 vs. Atlanta 1:20 PM CSN Sat 8/21 vs. Atlanta 3:10 PM FOX Sun 8/22 vs. Atlanta TBD WGN or ESPN Mon 8/23 @ Washington 6:05 PM CSN Tue 8/24 @ Washington 6:05 PM WGN Wed 8/25 @ Washington 6:05 PM CSN Thu 8/26 OFF DAY Fri 8/27 @ Cincinnati 6:10 PM WGN Sat 8/28 @ Cincinnati 6:10 PM CSN Sun 8/29 @ Cincinnati 12:10 PM WGN Mon 8/30 vs. Pittsburgh 7:05 PM CSN Tue 8/31 vs. Pittsburgh 7:05 PM CSN+ Wed 9/1 vs. Pittsburgh 1:20 PM WGN Thu 9/2 OFF DAY Fri 9/3 vs. NY Mets 1:20 PM CSN Sat 9/4 vs. NY Mets 3:10 PM FOX Sun 9/5 vs. NY Mets 1:20 PM WGN Mon 9/6 vs. Houston 1:20 PM WGN Tue 9/7 vs. Houston 7:05 PM CSN Wed 9/8 vs. Houston 7:05 PM CSN Thu 9/9 OFF DAY Fri 9/10 @ Milwaukee 7:10 PM WGN Sat 9/11 @ Milwaukee 6:10 PM CSN Sun 9/12 @ Milwaukee 1:10 PM WGN Mon 9/13 @ St. Louis 7:15 PM CSN Tue 9/14 @ St. Louis 7:15 PM WCIU Wed 9/15 @ St. Louis 7:15 PM CSN Thu 9/16 OFF DAY Fri 9/17 @ Florida 6:10 PM CSN Sat 9/18 @ Florida 6:10 PM WGN Sun 9/19 @ Florida 12:10 PM WGN Mon 9/20 OFF DAY Tue 9/21 vs. SF Giants 7:05 PM CSN Wed 9/22 vs. SF Giants 7:05 PM WCIU Thu 9/23 vs. SF Giants 6:05 PM CSN Fri 9/24 vs. St. Louis 1:20 PM CSN Sat 9/25 vs. St. Louis TBD WGN or FOX Sun 9/26 vs. St. Louis TBD WGN or ESPN Mon 9/27 @ San Diego 9:05 PM WGN Tue 9/28 @ San Diego 9:05 PM WGN Wed 9/29 @ San Diego 9:05 PM CSN Thu 9/30 @ San Diego 5:35 PM CSN Fri 10/1 @ Houston 7:05 PM CSN Sat 10/2 @ Houston 6:05 PM WGN Sun 10/3 @ Houston 1:05 PM CSN

Cubs Historic Photos: 24th In A Series

2010-02-04T14:00:30Z

With pitchers and catchers due to report and have their first workout two weeks from today (hooray!), I thought I'd post this photo of a Cubs workout on Catalina Island during spring training of 1939.

Click on photo to open a larger version in a new browser window

Remember, you can buy this and many other Cubs and Chicago-related photos on eBay; search for seller "suntimesphotoarchive".

Fox announces Saturday Broadcast schedule

2010-02-04T00:41:30Z

Fox announces Saturday Broadcast schedule

The Cubs are going to be on eight times, including two Saturday Night inter-league games at the Cell and at Texas.

I'm sure those Saturday night blackouts are going to go over well.

Wrigley Field Offseason Rehab Work Update

2010-02-03T20:22:44Z

After the discussion of the photos I posted yesterday (taken on Saturday) of the work going on at Wrigley, I decided to head on over there today to take a look at what was going on and take some more photos.

The scoreboard looks the same as it did the last time I was there -- thus, no new photos. As you can see by this photo, many more of the concrete panels have been removed. They are nowhere to be seen. The removal of the panels doesn't seem to have been done to bring equipment inside; after the fold you'll see that the work is being done on the structure itself, behind where the panels were attached.

Shot through the knothole (thus, the poor visibility through the fences), you can see the wall behind the LF bullpen is being repaired or replaced (based on some looks from the Wrigley webcams last fall, which are now offline, it's "replaced").

Click on photos to open larger versions in new browser windows. Photos by Al Yellon

Cubs Historic Photo: 23rd In A Series

2010-02-03T14:00:50Z

Once again, you may not think there are enough clues to figure out when this was taken. Your hint: the uniforms of all three principals in this photo are a clue, as well as the crowd.

Your first clue is the Phillies road uniform. Though the Phillies wore this numbering style from 1970-1991, the only years they wore it on a gray road uniform (rather than light blue) were 1970-71-72 and 1989-90-91. The Cubs uniform doesn't match their early 1970's style, nor 1989, so it has to be either 1990 or 1991.

It's obviously a cold day -- look at the coats on the fans in the seats. So it's likely an early-April game.

But the clue that gives it away is the identity of the umpire. That's Harry Wendelstedt, who was an NL umpire from 1966-1998. There is only one Phillies/Cubs game in 1990 or 1991 where Wendelstedt was the plate umpire. That was Opening Day, April 10, 1990. (If you're wondering why only 7,791 showed up at Opening Day for a defending division champion, the scheduled opener on April 9 had been rained out -- this was a hastily rescheduled makeup game on an off day, and before 1993 the NL announced only turnstile count, not tickets sold.)

The play in question is in the bottom of the eighth. With Mark Grace on first and Ryne Sandberg on second with one out in a 1-1 tie, Luis Salazar singled. Sandberg tried to score and was thrown out -- that's what you see here. Grace took third on the play. The next hitter, Marvell Wynne, singled him in with the eventual winning run in a 2-1 Cubs win.

That was about as good as it got in 1990. The Cubs fell under .500 at 6-7 and never had a winning record that year after that. They finished 77-85, fourth in the NL East, but Sandberg had arguably his best year, hitting 40 homers to lead the NL and driving in 100 runs, posting a .913 OPS (best of his career, and fourth in the league). He finished fourth in MVP voting.

Groundhog Day Funnies

2010-02-02T14:00:25Z

Click on image to open a larger version in a new browser window. Depending on the size of your display and browser, it may require some scrolling. If you find it to be too large, click here for a smaller version.

Cubs Will Sign Kevin Millar To Minor-League Deal

2010-02-01T19:32:49Z

More photos » Jim Mone - AP

Kevin Millar. Marlin. Red Sox. Oriole. Blue Jay. And now, Cub? He was pretty bad last year.

Browse more photos »

Via tweet from ESPN's Jerry Crasnick:

Kevin Millar is signing a minor league deal with the Cubs, with an invite to big league camp. Will be official later this week.

Well. I would have loved this a couple years ago, but now? I guess on a minor league deal, can't hurt.

Wrigley Field Offseason Rehab Work Photos

2010-02-01T14:00:37Z

Could it be? Could the ugly concrete panels that have been on the Wrigley Field exterior since the 1950's finally be coming down?

At the very least, they've been removed for some work that's being done this offseason. I hope that in the future, the Ricketts will consider taking them off for good and restoring the wrought iron that was part of the park's original design.

Another photo after the jump. These were taken on Saturday afternoon, January 30.

Click on photo to open a larger version in a new browser window. BCB photo by David Sameshima

2010 Cubs By The Numbers Update

2010-01-31T14:00:28Z

Thanks to everyone who ordered a copy of "Cubs By The Numbers" directly from me for $10, with $1 from every book purchased going to Haiti earthquake relief. In addition to the books purchased, a couple of buyers gave me extra money to donate and I'll throw in some of my own. By suggestion from one of the buyers, our donation will go to Doctors Without Borders, one of the best-run organizations now giving needed assistance in Haiti.

I still have books left so if you'd like one for $10, email me using the link on the left sidebar for details. I hope to get the donation out by the end of this week, so if you'd like to participate, order now!

This post is not just for the book; after the jump I have some updated information on some uniform number changes for 2010.

Xavier Nady, who wore #22 for the Pirates, will be taking over #22 this season. Tom Gorzelanny, who wore #22 last season, will switch to #32, and John Gaub, who had been assigned #32, will instead wear #48. Still to be determined is a number for non-roster invitee Chad Tracy; I'll post it and update the BCB 2010 Cubs spring training numerical roster (which is always on the left sidebar) when I get the info.

If you're wondering why Marlon Byrd, who wore #22 for the Rangers last year, didn't have first call for that number before Nady, Byrd apparently specifically requested #24.

Cubs Historic Photos: 22nd In A Series

2010-01-30T14:30:15Z

At first glance, you might think there aren't enough clues in this photo to figure out when it was taken. Think about it again and you'll realize it's actually fairly simple. (And yes, unlike a couple of recent photos, this time I'm 100% certain.)

Click on photo to open a larger version in a new browser window

The key to figuring this one out is the identity of the third baseman. If you know your 1980's Cubs history (and this has to be the 1980's, given the Cubs uniform style and the Atlanta road uniform), you'll recognize Keith Moreland. Moreland played 195 games at 3B as a Cub, 150 of them in 1987 as the regular 3B. As a third baseman, Moreland was a much better outfielder, but he had to move from RF to 3B in '87 to make room for Andre Dawson.

So that makes 1987 the likely year of this photo -- and the proof of that is the Atlanta road uniform; Moreland was traded to the Padres after the 1987 season and 1987 was also the first year that the Braves wore those road uniforms after many years of wearing powder-blue road uni's.

If you followed baseball closely in the 80's, you'll recognize Dale Murphy as the sliding baserunner. The Braves played five games at Wrigley Field in 1987 -- the sixth scheduled one was postponed and not rescheduled. So which game was it?

The size of the crowd is your next clue. The first Cubs/Braves series in 1987 took place on a weekend -- May 22, May 23 and May 24. Attendance at those games was, in order: 28,667, 33,225 and 37,259 -- all far too large to have as many empty seats as you see in the photo.

So it has to be the one other date -- August 27, when the teams played a doubleheader in front of 19,006. There are several possibilities given the game logs for game one and game two -- Murphy was on base several times. But the only one that truly makes sense would be a play in the fourth inning of game one. Murphy was on second base and retired at 3B on an attempted sacrifice; that's the only reason Moreland would have been facing toward the plate on the play.

The teams split the doubleheader. After winning game two the Cubs were at .500 -- 63-63. In somewhat typical fashion for that era, they then collapsed and went 13-22 the rest of the way to finish last in Andre's MVP season.

Reminder: you can buy this and other historic Cubs and Chicago photos on eBay from seller "suntimesphotoarchive".

Xavier Nady Now Officially A Cub

2010-01-29T17:04:52Z

Via Twittermyer:

Nady passes physical, deal as 4th OF final. $3.3M, 1yr plus playing time incentives to $2M more.

Further information from Cubs official press release:

Nady, his wife Meredith and their son, Xavier IV, reside in San Diego, Calif. He is the first player in Cubs history to have his first name begin with the letter X.