Pitchers and Catchers Report - Official ST Pic/News Thread

[Roast]

Tomorrow is the big day - pitchers and Catchers (according to cubs.com) report to Arizona at 1pm Central time. We've had a thread like this for pictures and news about who has arrived and such each of the past couple years so I figured I'd start it off this year. Welcome back, baseball.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

it's about damn time

[inari]

I'm so excited to see Jon Lieber in Cubs garb!

[Roast]

I'm so excited to see Jon Lieber in Cubs garb!

http://espn-att.starwave.com/media/mlb/2000/0529/photo/a_lieber.jpg

http://www.stu-man.com/vintage/212lieber.jpg

:grin:

 

I'm really not too excited about him, though. The only reason this is cool is because the Autographed picture I have of him hanging on my wall makes a lot more sense now.

[UMFan83]

When do Brian Roberts and the rest of the Cubs position players report?

[David]

Daryle Ward is already there.

[Outshined_One]

When do Brian Roberts and the rest of the Cubs position players report?

 

Next offseason.

[daske17]

Paul Sullivan posted his first report of spring training.

 

For the record, his first line of the report added to my already irrational hatred of his stories. We Chicagoans get it. It's been exceptionally cold and snowy here all winter. And yes, there are warmer places than where we currently reside.

[Post Count Padder]

Woooooo

[vj9999]

I was watching WCIU yesterday (yes I have a weak spot for People's Court :) ) and the graphic popped up "Next: Cubs vs. Pirates". I'm ready for some baseball!

[Sammy Sofa]

I was watching WCIU yesterday (yes I have a weak spot for People's Court :) ) and the graphic popped up "Next: Cubs vs. Pirates". I'm ready for some baseball!

 

I wish Comcast would start a "Cubs channel" where they could just replay a bunch of the games they've broadcast over the years.

 

Tomorrow is like Xmas.

[moorecg]

Tomorrow is the big day - pitchers and Catchers (according to cubs.com) report to Arizona at 1pm Central time. We've had a thread like this for pictures and news about who has arrived and such each of the past couple years so I figured I'd start it off this year. Welcome back, baseball.

 

Damn you Roast...I always start this thread on the first official day of spring training !! :D :D

 

And I always include this quote to start it off with....

 

Today is my favorite day of the year...the start of Spring Training. Today, all across Florida and Arizona, Pitchers and catchers are reporting.

 

Every year on this day, I like to send out this quote, it describes the game better than I ever could.

 

"Ray, people will come Ray. They'll come to Iowa for reasons they can't even fathom. They'll turn up your driveway not knowing for sure why they're doing it. They'll arrive at your door as innocent as children, longing for the past. Of course, we won't mind if you look around, you'll say. It's only $20 per person. They'll pass over the money without even thinking about it: for it is money they have and peace they lack. And they'll walk out to the bleachers; sit in shirtsleeves on a perfect afternoon. They'll find they have reserved seats somewhere along one of the baselines, where they sat when they were children and cheered their heroes. And they'll watch the game and it'll be as if they dipped themselves in magic waters. The memories will be so thick they'll have to brush them away from their faces. People will come Ray. The one constant through all the years, Ray, has been baseball. America has rolled by like an army of steamrollers. It has been erased like a blackboard, rebuilt and erased again. But baseball has marked the time. This field, this game: it's a part of our past, Ray. It reminds of us of all that once was good and it could be again. Oh... people will come Ray. People will most definitely come."

 

Thunder stealer.....

[mdwilla]

Anyone making the trip this year?

[wekse]

Tomorrow is the big day - pitchers and Catchers (according to cubs.com) report to Arizona at 1pm Central time. We've had a thread like this for pictures and news about who has arrived and such each of the past couple years so I figured I'd start it off this year. Welcome back, baseball.

 

Damn you Roast...I always start this thread on the first official day of spring training !! :D :D

 

And I always include this quote to start it off with....

 

Today is my favorite day of the year...the start of Spring Training. Today, all across Florida and Arizona, Pitchers and catchers are reporting.

 

Every year on this day, I like to send out this quote, it describes the game better than I ever could.

 

"Ray, people will come Ray. They'll come to Iowa for reasons they can't even fathom. They'll turn up your driveway not knowing for sure why they're doing it. They'll arrive at your door as innocent as children, longing for the past. Of course, we won't mind if you look around, you'll say. It's only $20 per person. They'll pass over the money without even thinking about it: for it is money they have and peace they lack. And they'll walk out to the bleachers; sit in shirtsleeves on a perfect afternoon. They'll find they have reserved seats somewhere along one of the baselines, where they sat when they were children and cheered their heroes. And they'll watch the game and it'll be as if they dipped themselves in magic waters. The memories will be so thick they'll have to brush them away from their faces. People will come Ray. The one constant through all the years, Ray, has been baseball. America has rolled by like an army of steamrollers. It has been erased like a blackboard, rebuilt and erased again. But baseball has marked the time. This field, this game: it's a part of our past, Ray. It reminds of us of all that once was good and it could be again. Oh... people will come Ray. People will most definitely come."

 

Thunder stealer.....

 

if it makes you feel any better...your post is better than roast's

[UMFan83]

Anyone making the trip this year?

 

I'll probably be out there in a couple of weeks, but I'm not 100% yet. My mom lives out there, so it makes for a convenient excuse to go out there every March. :D

[Sweet Swinging Billy]

Anyone making the trip this year?

 

Yeah, I'm meeting up with a buddy of mine in Arizona and also another friend of mine is flying in from Maryland Sun. March 23rd (Easter Sunday) and the three of us have tickets for the 24th, when the Cubs play the Rangers. We'll also be watching the Cubs against the Brewers on Thurs. (March 27th?). Go Cubs!

[moorecg]

if it makes you feel any better...your post is better than roast's

 

 

A little :D Thanks!

[UMFan83]

Anyone making the trip this year?

 

Yeah, I'm meeting up with a buddy of mine in Arizona and also another friend of mine is flying in from Maryland Sun. March 23rd (Easter Sunday) and the three of us have tickets for the 24th, when the Cubs play the Rangers. We'll also be watching the Cubs against the Brewers on Thurs. (March 27th?). Go Cubs!

 

Kinda weird that they play the Brewers on the 27th, with those 2 teams set to face off on the 31st at Wrigley.

[fromthestretch]

Anyone making the trip this year?

 

I'm going to the games March 13-14 in Mesa and then the one on the 15th in Tucson.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

I believe in the Church of Baseball. I've tried all the major religions, and most of the minor ones. I've worshipped Buddha, Allah, Brahma, Vishnu, Siva, trees, mushrooms, and Isadora Duncan. I know things. For instance, there are 108 beads in a Catholic rosary and there are 108 stitches in a baseball. When I heard that, I gave Jesus a chance. But it just didn't work out between us. The Lord laid too much guilt on me. I prefer metaphysics to theology. You see, there's no guilt in baseball, and it's never boring... which makes it like sex. There's never been a ballplayer slept with me who didn't have the best year of his career. Making love is like hitting a baseball: you just gotta relax and concentrate. Besides, I'd never sleep with a player hitting under .250... not unless he had a lot of RBIs and was a great glove man up the middle. You see, there's a certain amount of life wisdom I give these boys. I can expand their minds. Sometimes when I've got a ballplayer alone, I'll just read Emily Dickinson or Walt Whitman to him, and the guys are so sweet, they always stay and listen. 'Course, a guy'll listen to anything if he thinks it's foreplay. I make them feel confident, and they make me feel safe, and pretty. 'Course, what I give them lasts a lifetime; what they give me lasts 142 games. Sometimes it seems like a bad trade. But bad trades are part of baseball - now who can forget Frank Robinson for Milt Pappas, for God's sake? It's a long season and you gotta trust. I've tried 'em all, I really have, and the only church that truly feeds the soul, day in, day out, is the Church of Baseball.

[mdwilla]

anyone recommend any good deals on hotels in the area?

[forbez18]

I will be down there the 14th as well....

[Evers2Tinker2Chance]

I believe in the Church of Baseball. I've tried all the major religions, and most of the minor ones. I've worshipped Buddha, Allah, Brahma, Vishnu, Siva, trees, mushrooms, and Isadora Duncan. I know things. For instance, there are 108 beads in a Catholic rosary and there are 108 stitches in a baseball. When I heard that, I gave Jesus a chance. But it just didn't work out between us. The Lord laid too much guilt on me. I prefer metaphysics to theology. You see, there's no guilt in baseball, and it's never boring... which makes it like sex. There's never been a ballplayer slept with me who didn't have the best year of his career. Making love is like hitting a baseball: you just gotta relax and concentrate. Besides, I'd never sleep with a player hitting under .250... not unless he had a lot of RBIs and was a great glove man up the middle. You see, there's a certain amount of life wisdom I give these boys. I can expand their minds. Sometimes when I've got a ballplayer alone, I'll just read Emily Dickinson or Walt Whitman to him, and the guys are so sweet, they always stay and listen. 'Course, a guy'll listen to anything if he thinks it's foreplay. I make them feel confident, and they make me feel safe, and pretty. 'Course, what I give them lasts a lifetime; what they give me lasts 142 games. Sometimes it seems like a bad trade. But bad trades are part of baseball - now who can forget Frank Robinson for Milt Pappas, for God's sake? It's a long season and you gotta trust. I've tried 'em all, I really have, and the only church that truly feeds the soul, day in, day out, is the Church of Baseball.

:amen:

[killthegoat06]

Thank God, baseball's back! (well, kinda...)

[RedFlash]

I believe in the Church of Baseball. I've tried all the major religions, and most of the minor ones. I've worshipped Buddha, Allah, Brahma, Vishnu, Siva, trees, mushrooms, and Isadora Duncan. I know things. For instance, there are 108 beads in a Catholic rosary and there are 108 stitches in a baseball. When I heard that, I gave Jesus a chance. But it just didn't work out between us. The Lord laid too much guilt on me. I prefer metaphysics to theology. You see, there's no guilt in baseball, and it's never boring... which makes it like sex. There's never been a ballplayer slept with me who didn't have the best year of his career. Making love is like hitting a baseball: you just gotta relax and concentrate. Besides, I'd never sleep with a player hitting under .250... not unless he had a lot of RBIs and was a great glove man up the middle. You see, there's a certain amount of life wisdom I give these boys. I can expand their minds. Sometimes when I've got a ballplayer alone, I'll just read Emily Dickinson or Walt Whitman to him, and the guys are so sweet, they always stay and listen. 'Course, a guy'll listen to anything if he thinks it's foreplay. I make them feel confident, and they make me feel safe, and pretty. 'Course, what I give them lasts a lifetime; what they give me lasts 142 games. Sometimes it seems like a bad trade. But bad trades are part of baseball - now who can forget Frank Robinson for Milt Pappas, for God's sake? It's a long season and you gotta trust. I've tried 'em all, I really have, and the only church that truly feeds the soul, day in, day out, is the Church of Baseball.

 

Now if we can get Carlosa Zambrano to pitch like the "Nuke" did in the 2nd half, and get Geovany Soto to hit like Crash, then the Cubs will somethin'.