Spring Training Thread

[treebird]

If I ever had to [expletive] a dude, it would be Theo. Or Michael Fassbender.

 

just think how much confidence it must take to stand there looking so cool while beholding the lameass 68-win monster you've created

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

If I ever had to [expletive] a dude, it would be Theo. Or Michael Fassbender.

 

just think how much confidence it must take to stand there looking so cool while beholding the lameass 68-win monster you've created

 

He is truly a man of greatness.

[davell]

I demand someone do the 'sunglasses drop, deal with it' thing on that Theo pic, despite his already wearing sunglasses.

 

http://i.imgur.com/C1pwhem.gif

 

At first glance, I thought you put Villanueva's stache over Theo's eyes.

[Elwood]

http://www.trbimg.com/img-1392592249/turbine/chi-cubs-spring-training-photos-20140216-009/1024

 

Rizzo's looking swole.

[Clem Fandango]

Rizzo kinda looks like one of those guys who you could tell used to be fat, but then he got his [expletive] together

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

Rizzo cut out Pepsi and starting a workout regimen.

[Guest]

Rizzo cut out Pepsi and starting a workout regimen.

 

Did I miss a spring training fluff piece?

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

The caffeine from Pepsi was not letting him track pitches in the zone long enough.

[Sammy Sofa]

Rizzo looks like he thinks fire bad.

[Guest]

Laurence Holmes talked to Theo about the new facility

 

One of the first things I noticed walking around Cubs Park is that it has a "Footbally" feel to it. They have a new 7,000 sq-ft weight room (the biggest in the Cactus League) that is two levels. When I saw it, I didn't think baseball. The clubhouse is football shaped to eliminate corners and there's half of a football field in a the back of the practice diamonds.

 

As a "football guy" I was interested in if any inspiration came from the NFL. I was a little surprised when Theo Epstein said it was.

 

We talked for a few minutes after today's press conference and he laid out how the weight room was based on NFL facilities. The idea is that you want players to be happiest in the places they spend the most time and while in Mesa, they'll be in the weight room quite a bit.

 

Epstein also told me the Cubs are mimicking the NFL with their meeting styles. While in Mesa, Epstein wants to make sure Cubs players time is being used as efficiently as possible. In an NFL daily schedule, players time is pretty much accounted for to the minute. Epstein wants that type of organization here too. The team put in a 120-seat theater, not unlike the Bears, to help in that process. It was make it easier to relay the same message to everyone and keep the entire organization on the same page.

 

They aren't holding scrimmages on the football field. It has a baseball use (3 feet to a yard and whatnot), but Epstein told me plenty of the pitchers are throwing footballs around as part of their training and he encourages that. So it won't be surprising to see guys running button-hooks in the next few weeks.

 

http://sulia.com/channel/chicago-sports/f/1fc37ec9-0768-47d6-b174-e89dbca4a43f/?action=prop&source=tw&form_factor=desktop

[Guest]

Mooney throws Sveum right under the buss's front tire.

 

http://www.csnchicago.com/cubs/cubs-brett-jackson-trying-put-his-game-back-together-again

 

You'd think Jackson didn't have any trouble with Ks before 2011. Anyway, I'm glad Sveum is gone.

[jersey cubs fan]

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article/chc/theo-epstein-says-cubs-moving-in-the-right-direction-after-two-last-place-finishes?content_id=67771652&partnerId=as_chc_20140218_18765264&vkey=news_chc&ymd=20140217

 

Am I late to realizing Phil Rogers was writing for mlb.com? The Cubs tweeted out a Q&A he did with Theo. Althought the story itself looks to be a day old.

Epstein says there is "a tremendous amount of talent'' in the Cubs' system.

 

"We believe the Cubs are a special organization, that we're all going to be part of building something special,'' he said. "We're all here because we think we're part of something special.''

 

MLB.com: Where do you see the organization now as opposed to this time two years ago?

 

Epstein: I think we've made tremendous progress. …

[Guest]

I feel like I had seen him write some things for BP before, but I don't recall MLB.com prior to that one.

[Guest]

I feel like I had seen him write some things for BP before, but I don't recall MLB.com prior to that one.

 

BA, not BP.

[Guest]

I feel like I had seen him write some things for BP before, but I don't recall MLB.com prior to that one.

 

BA, not BP.

That's right.

[Guest]

Carrie Muskat ‏@CarrieMuskat 2m

FYI Baez much better long range shooter than Rizzo but it's early. #Cubs

[Guest]

@ESPNChiCubs Baez, Rizzo and Sweeney playing horse

[MWV]

Who's the clown with the neck tat? By default I can't like him because I bitched about Yadi's neck tat forever.

Is it OK if it's on the back of the neck?

 

http://binaryapi.ap.org/42fae806d29d477ab80a5f72d53eedee/512x.jpg

 

[Guest]

 

http://mit.zenfs.com/216/2011/06/javierbaeznecktattoo.jpg

 

 

You can see it better here...it's kinda weird how the MLB guy's helmet doesn't have a bill...and then the edge of the logo sort of protrudes on the left edge at about the same height the bill should be.

 

 

Either way, a mistake on a tattoo like that would drive me nuts. Part of the myriad reasons I should never get one.

[MWV]

http://mit.zenfs.com/216/2011/06/javierbaeznecktattoo.jpg

 

 

You can see it better here...it's kinda weird how the MLB guy's helmet doesn't have a bill...and then the edge of the logo sort of protrudes on the left edge at about the same height the bill should be.

 

 

Either way, a mistake on a tattoo like that would drive me nuts. Part of the myriad reasons I should never get one.

I guess if your going to have a fucked up tattoo, it's best to put it somewhere you can't clearly see without a system of mirrors.

[RynoRules]

I demand someone do the 'sunglasses drop, deal with it' thing on that Theo pic, despite his already wearing sunglasses.

 

http://i.imgur.com/C1pwhem.gif

 

At first glance, I thought you put Villanueva's stache over Theo's eyes.

 

 

"Listen up! You may not look like a winning team...."

 

[PREGNANT PAUSE]

 

"....pass the beer nuts!"

[Sammy Sofa]

OH GOD WHERE'S CASTRO HE DOESN'T CARE HE'S LAZY; BROWN

[mul21]

Who's the clown with the neck tat? By default I can't like him because I bitched about Yadi's neck tat forever.

Is it OK if it's on the back of the neck?

 

http://binaryapi.ap.org/42fae806d29d477ab80a5f72d53eedee/512x.jpg

 

That's not nearly as awful, though I'm still not a fan. At least it's fairly inconspicuous and can easily be hidden by wearing a collared shirt. I have no problem with tattoos in general, but I really think they should be in places that can be covered up if the occasion requires.

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

Baez can get a neck tattoo of Yadier Molina's face for all I care, as long as he turns out to be a badass.

[WrigleyField 22]

Baez can get a neck tattoo of Yadier Molina's face for all I care, as long as he turns out to be a badass.

As long as it doesn't show Yadier's neck. Dude has a neck tat, yuck!