Cubs Convention Tidbits Thread

[KingCubsFan]

Things I tried to remember from today.

 

I was surprised that Theo referenced Torreyes as a 2nd baseman until I got home and looked it up and saw that's what he was. He and Jed say all the right things.

 

I was very impressed with the coaching staff's comments on how they'll prepare. Bosio and Quirk both elaborated on video, Quirk saying that a video library is going to be a must for the catchers(if Soto isn't already doing something like that), and Bosio talked about how he's very big on scouting opposing hitters, and talked about how he started a makeshift system as a player by taping east coast games to VHS when he played for the Mariners.

 

Other things the coaching staff said were....less than impressive. It's hard to tell how much they were pandering to the audience(who REALLLY do not like Soriano), but they talked a good bit about hustling(Quirk and McKay went out of their way to interject "We WILL" do those things). On the other hand, Sveum gave a pretty diplomatic answer about it, and Theo himself mentioned running out groundballs in his session, so it might be more pandering than anything. However, I'm getting the impression all the talk about aggression on the basepaths, hit and runs, and even safety squeezes was not pandering, and a big part of Sveum's identity. Coincidentally, I get the feeling I'm going to be aggravated by Sveum while the Cubs are hitting. I felt bad for Randy Bush and Rudy, they hardly got any questions asked of them, and the few they did have to answer were littered with extra strength crazy, it seemed.

 

Travis Wood needs a haircut, he and Clevenger both have noticeable country drawls. Welington Castillo sounds like someone doing an unfunny Sosa impersonation, I'm amazed he wasn't talking through an interpreter.

 

Saw Vitters and Szczur in person. Vitters is not tall, Szczur is shorter, and neither give off the muscular vibe you typically associate with hitters of that height.

 

Chris Volstad however, is very tall, and has the pitcher's physique you'd expect from a 6-8 guy.

 

I should've gotten in line to ask a question in the McLeod/Fleita/Wilken/Bohringer session. My favorite was the girl asking if they scout the Little League World Series. McLeod is a good bit taller than I would've guessed. Fleita almost signed Liriano for 18k, but he refused to throw off a mound and be considered a pitcher. A couple months later he caved for some other team and ended up signing for 200k+.

 

 

And lastly, here's the associations I made to identify various panel members when my mind started to wander.

 

Sveum: Lost Pelini brother raised in Minnesota

Bosio: Love child of Bill Murray and Clark's boss from Christmas vacation

Strode: Marlon Byrd's dad

Wilken: Love child of Lou Holtz and this guy

Bohringer: Albino Seth Green

Fleita: Love child of Wallace Shawn and Sasquatch

 

I'll add more if I think of anything else.

I asked Bush a question (about Hendry's use of park factors and biometric analysis) but the moderator cut him off

[Guest]

That was a good one. I was more referring to Randy having to field the crazy guy's question about the team riding the bus, and then Rudy getting a couple "Hypothetically let's say we have a lazy player who tries to pull everything and strikes out a lot and makes a lot of money and his name rhymes with Salfonso Moriano. What do you do?" questions.

[Bryants Disco Ball]

Bosio: Love child of Bill Murray and Clark's boss from Christmas vacation

 

A did you know: Clark's boss is Bill Murray's brother. If you combined those two without knowing, that's some impressive stuff.

[Sammy Sofa]

Does Soriano show up for these things? How does he restrain himself from kicking many, many nuts?

[Guest]

Does Soriano show up for these things? How does he restrain himself from kicking many, many nuts?

 

He was in the "only kids 16 and under" autograph line.

[Guest]

Bosio: Love child of Bill Murray and Clark's boss from Christmas vacation

 

A did you know: Clark's boss is Bill Murray's brother. If you combined those two without knowing, that's some impressive stuff.

 

I'm pretty sure I've heard that, but was not thinking of it when making that comparison. So Bosio is the missing Murray brother then, that rolls off the tongue easier.

[Cubswin11]

So does it appear that Campana has a pretty firm grasp on the 4/5th OF spot? That's disappointing. Also did Theo/Jed/McCleod/Sveum/Anyone of importance in management mention anything about the plans for B. Jackson to start the year? Other than the token "he'll get a look in ST" line?

[jersey cubs fan]

Bosio: Love child of Bill Murray and Clark's boss from Christmas vacation

 

A did you know: Clark's boss is Bill Murray's brother. If you combined those two without knowing, that's some impressive stuff.

 

I'm pretty sure I've heard that, but was not thinking of it when making that comparison. So Bosio is the missing Murray brother then, that rolls off the tongue easier.

Brian Doyle Murray he was in vacation as well, at the campground.

"we like to send out a mailer"

[Epsteenie]

So does it appear that Campana has a pretty firm grasp on the 4/5th OF spot? That's disappointing. Also did Theo/Jed/McCleod/Sveum/Anyone of importance in management mention anything about the plans for B. Jackson to start the year? Other than the token "he'll get a look in ST" line?

 

Campana was mentioned by Sveum when he was talking about leadoff hitters. Sveum said his speed can change a game and is very valuable. So sounds to me like he's 4th OF. McCleod answered a question about how the front office knows when a player is ready and he talked about Jackson. Said he still has a few things to work on, but also said he has the potential to be a rare centerfielder with multiple tools. Said they make sure to sit down with the players and let them know exactly what they want them to work on.

[abuck1220]

i kinda want soriano traded solely because i'm really interested in who would take his place as the player racist, stupid morons hate.

[jersey cubs fan]

i kinda want soriano traded solely because i'm really interested in who would take his place as the player racist, stupid morons hate.

Rapey McRapenstein has to be the odd on favorite.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

i kinda want soriano traded solely because i'm really interested in who would take his place as the player racist, stupid morons hate.

Rapey McRapenstein has to be the odd on favorite.

 

Soto is a nice dark horse.

[Vanilla Ice]

i kinda want soriano traded solely because i'm really interested in who would take his place as the player racist, stupid morons hate.

Rapey McRapenstein has to be the odd on favorite.

 

Soto is a nice dark horse.

He might not be dark enough

[rocket]

i kinda want soriano traded solely because i'm really interested in who would take his place as the player racist, stupid morons hate.

 

dejesus sounds ethnic

[javy knows my name]

i kinda want soriano traded solely because i'm really interested in who would take his place as the player racist, stupid morons hate.

Rapey McRapenstein has to be the odd on favorite.

 

Soto is a nice dark horse.

He might not be dark enough

 

Awesome

[Brian]

Here's a tidbit, Mrs. Wood still looks good

 

http://www.chicagotribune.com/media/photo/2012-01/67380017.jpg

[SouthSideRyan]

Bad picture.

[MidoreX]

Bosio: Love child of Bill Murray and Clark's boss from Christmas vacation

 

A did you know: Clark's boss is Bill Murray's brother. If you combined those two without knowing, that's some impressive stuff.

 

I'm pretty sure I've heard that, but was not thinking of it when making that comparison. So Bosio is the missing Murray brother then, that rolls off the tongue easier.

Brian Doyle Murray he was in vacation as well, at the campground.

"we like to send out a mailer"

 

Also... He blows goats. I have proof.

 

Maybe he can help with the curse?

[Old Style]

Bosio: Love child of Bill Murray and Clark's boss from Christmas vacation

 

A did you know: Clark's boss is Bill Murray's brother. If you combined those two without knowing, that's some impressive stuff.

 

I'm pretty sure I've heard that, but was not thinking of it when making that comparison. So Bosio is the missing Murray brother then, that rolls off the tongue easier.

Brian Doyle Murray he was in vacation as well, at the campground.

"we like to send out a mailer"

He was Lou the guy that was in charge of the caddies in Caddyshack and also Noah Vanderhoff the arcade owner in Wayne's World that sponsored their TV show once Rob Lowe signed them to the big deal.

[dfnowak]

Did anyone who attended the convention notice if there are a lot of attractive women who hang out at this thing? I was listening to B&B on the Score last week and they more or less called it a Sex Fest for the players with the convenience of it being held in a hotel. I've never been to the Cubs Convention before.

[dfnowak]

Does Soriano show up for these things? How does he restrain himself from kicking many, many nuts?

Seriously, people want to blame him for the previous Cubs management offering him that ridiculous contract. And by all accounts I've heard, he's supposed to be a really nice guy.

[Beer Kaese]

Things I tried to remember from today.

 

I was surprised that Theo referenced Torreyes as a 2nd baseman until I got home and looked it up and saw that's what he was. He and Jed say all the right things.

 

I was very impressed with the coaching staff's comments on how they'll prepare. Bosio and Quirk both elaborated on video, Quirk saying that a video library is going to be a must for the catchers(if Soto isn't already doing something like that), and Bosio talked about how he's very big on scouting opposing hitters, and talked about how he started a makeshift system as a player by taping east coast games to VHS when he played for the Mariners.

 

Other things the coaching staff said were....less than impressive. It's hard to tell how much they were pandering to the audience(who REALLLY do not like Soriano), but they talked a good bit about hustling(Quirk and McKay went out of their way to interject "We WILL" do those things). On the other hand, Sveum gave a pretty diplomatic answer about it, and Theo himself mentioned running out groundballs in his session, so it might be more pandering than anything. However, I'm getting the impression all the talk about aggression on the basepaths, hit and runs, and even safety squeezes was not pandering, and a big part of Sveum's identity. Coincidentally, I get the feeling I'm going to be aggravated by Sveum while the Cubs are hitting. I felt bad for Randy Bush and Rudy, they hardly got any questions asked of them, and the few they did have to answer were littered with extra strength crazy, it seemed.

 

 

I just watched a video of Sveum answering some questions and one of the first things he said really made me cringe.

 

Someone asked who the leadoff hitter was...he responded that he couldn't really say yet, although DeJesus was probably the leading candidate...sweet....then he dropped Barney's name. UGH.

 

In what conceivable way is it a good idea to give our worst everyday hitter the most PAs on the team? For [expletive]'s sake.

The other thing that bothered me about that answer was that he said he'd also take spring training performance into consideration. This came after both Epstein and Hoyer pretty firmly stated that spring training means nothing to them. I'm sure it's something they talked about during the interview, but it was one of the few disconnects I saw between management and Sveum. That and Sveum saying Campana's speed could be worth 5 wins this year.

 

I think ST performance means something to a manager. Who's leaving AZ in the rotation? Sveum's choices will be, largely, performance based. While, unless some performs way outside of expectations, I can't see why Hoyer would need to take some action based on ST performances. I don't see the conflict.

[KingCubsFan]

Things I tried to remember from today.

 

I was surprised that Theo referenced Torreyes as a 2nd baseman until I got home and looked it up and saw that's what he was. He and Jed say all the right things.

 

I was very impressed with the coaching staff's comments on how they'll prepare. Bosio and Quirk both elaborated on video, Quirk saying that a video library is going to be a must for the catchers(if Soto isn't already doing something like that), and Bosio talked about how he's very big on scouting opposing hitters, and talked about how he started a makeshift system as a player by taping east coast games to VHS when he played for the Mariners.

 

Other things the coaching staff said were....less than impressive. It's hard to tell how much they were pandering to the audience(who REALLLY do not like Soriano), but they talked a good bit about hustling(Quirk and McKay went out of their way to interject "We WILL" do those things). On the other hand, Sveum gave a pretty diplomatic answer about it, and Theo himself mentioned running out groundballs in his session, so it might be more pandering than anything. However, I'm getting the impression all the talk about aggression on the basepaths, hit and runs, and even safety squeezes was not pandering, and a big part of Sveum's identity. Coincidentally, I get the feeling I'm going to be aggravated by Sveum while the Cubs are hitting. I felt bad for Randy Bush and Rudy, they hardly got any questions asked of them, and the few they did have to answer were littered with extra strength crazy, it seemed.

 

 

I just watched a video of Sveum answering some questions and one of the first things he said really made me cringe.

 

Someone asked who the leadoff hitter was...he responded that he couldn't really say yet, although DeJesus was probably the leading candidate...sweet....then he dropped Barney's name. UGH.

 

In what conceivable way is it a good idea to give our worst everyday hitter the most PAs on the team? For [expletive]'s sake.

The other thing that bothered me about that answer was that he said he'd also take spring training performance into consideration. This came after both Epstein and Hoyer pretty firmly stated that spring training means nothing to them. I'm sure it's something they talked about during the interview, but it was one of the few disconnects I saw between management and Sveum. That and Sveum saying Campana's speed could be worth 5 wins this year.

 

I think ST performance means something to a manager. Who's leaving AZ in the rotation? Sveum's choices will be, largely, performance based. While, unless some performs way outside of expectations, I can't see why Hoyer would need to take some action based on ST performances. I don't see the conflict.

As of now, the rotation is Garza, Dempster, Maholm Wood and Volstad. Outside of an injury, there really shouldn't be much of a debate. The same goes with position players. I agree that spring training performance means something to a manager. Luckily, our management realizes the truth and hopefully just ignores the manager when he tries to get this year's version of David Patton on the Cubs.

[Guest]

Wells v. Volstad certainly isn't a black and white decision.

[Guest]

Did anyone who attended the convention notice if there are a lot of attractive women who hang out at this thing? I was listening to B&B on the Score last week and they more or less called it a Sex Fest for the players with the convenience of it being held in a hotel. I've never been to the Cubs Convention before.

 

Bleacher Nation's recap of the event did mention something about the VIP section at the bar or the party (can't remember which) being filled with every 20-something female in a cocktail dress.

 

No wonder some of these dudes who look like they have no interest in being there show up.