General Cubs Chit-Chat

[WrigleyField 22]

Sorry if I am a bit off topic, I am coming in tomorrow from Denver and looking to grab some gear. I assume Wrigleyville will be over priced as usual. Whats a good spot between O'Hare, downtown and Wrigleyville? Thanks guys.

If you want WS gear, anything is going to be overpriced, not sure Wrigleyville will gougue you anymore than elsewhere... are you relying on public transit?

 

Yes, taking the blue line from O'Hare to downtown and meet some friends (that's the best public transportation, correct?). So I will be downtown tomorrow and Wrigleyville on Friday. Thanks!

Yea, I would think Wrigleyville sports by the stadium is your best bet. For reference, the prices they have online right now are the same that I paid at a Dick's Sportimg Goods in the burbs.

 

Theres a few places you can get stuff downtown if you don't want to wait until Friday. Theres a few sports attire stores in the loop on State Street between Lake amd Adams. A Lids, and something else I cant recall. There is a Dicks just outside of the loop near Roosevelt and Canal (just a little south of Union Station). Also at Union Station or Ogilvie train station, there are some temporary tents setup selling stuff, usually during AM and PM commute.

 

And yes Blue line is best and easiest commute to downtown from Ohare.

[UMFan83]

I don't know where to put these white sox quotes...i don't think they deserve their own thread but i cant help but post things that they say about us.

 

I don't think the Cubs are that good. The National League is weak this year with half the league tanking it before the season started and the few contenders to the Cubs having serious flaws. The Giants weren't so different from the White Sox, except for being particularly strong offensively and defensively at catcher and shortstop. The Giants's bullpen was worse than the Sox bullpen and the two offensives were comparable. Yet the Giants very well could have eliminated the Cubs if the billpen hadn't blown every ninth-inning lead it had in the postseason.

 

The Indians have faced stiffer competition to get where they are. I honestly think they may have the better team although their numbers aren't as pretty. There is no Tigers offense, Royals grindiness or even Sox top of rotation the Cubs had to contend with in the NL Central. Not to mention getting through the Jays and Red Sox offenses, both of which are better than the Cubs. Cubs pitchers have had a cakewalk compared to the Indians'. Sox probably would have won 85 games in that division.

 

I hope arrieta gets his nose broken after the game.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

[bbvideo=560,315]https://www.facebook.com/SocialMediaHeadquartersSMH/videos/1227880763915959[/bbvideo]

[hawkeyecub]

I've seen/heard references several times throughout the year that there is much less of a divide between the Latin players and American-born players on this team than normal. This quote was in Mooney's Contreras article:

“We all are like brothers,” Contreras said. “We support each other. Either way, Americans or Latin players, we are one team. We’re able to be ourselves because of that confidence that they give us. Maddon gives you the confidence to go out there and play your baseball and do what you got to do.

 

“That’s important for us — feel freedom.”

 

http://www.csnchicago.com/chicago-cubs/willson-contreras-apologizes-cubs-fans-twitter-and-again-makes-his-presence-felt-world

[Aaron_Kennelly]

I've seen/heard references several times throughout the year that there is much less of a divide between the Latin players and American-born players on this team than normal. This quote was in Mooney's Contreras article:

“We all are like brothers,” Contreras said. “We support each other. Either way, Americans or Latin players, we are one team. We’re able to be ourselves because of that confidence that they give us. Maddon gives you the confidence to go out there and play your baseball and do what you got to do.

 

“That’s important for us — feel freedom.”

 

http://www.csnchicago.com/chicago-cubs/willson-contreras-apologizes-cubs-fans-twitter-and-again-makes-his-presence-felt-world

 

I was listening to the radio after one of our celebrations. (They all blend together at this point.) And Montero was being interviewed and said the same thing about there not being a divide between the American and Latin players.

[David]

Stumbled onto this on Mets Refugees...thought I'd share

 

http://www.metsrefugees.com/forum/showthread.php?t=104222

 

resident Brewers fan commenting on our prospects in late 2014

 

(i wasn't even there for schadenfreude...just wanted to see their thread on cespedes)

[Clem Fandango]

Cubs presser is live on Facebook right now:

 

https://www.facebook.com/Cubs/videos/10154426753370659/

[doublebubble]

thousand apologies if this was posted elsewhere but I had no idea where to post it

 

so this was pretty awful.

 

http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/sports/Young-Cubs-Fan-Knocked-Out-During-Game-1-of-World-Series-398776391.html

[snoodmonger]

Interesting article on Sosa. I was wondering if he'd come to a game. Looks like he won't.

 

http://www.wsj.com/articles/the-cubs-icon-in-exile-sammy-sosa-1477584078

[Banedon]

Interesting article on Sosa. I was wondering if he'd come to a game. Looks like he won't.

 

http://www.wsj.com/articles/the-cubs-icon-in-exile-sammy-sosa-1477584078

 

“I haven’t done anything wrong,” said Sosa. “I played almost 13 years in Chicago and the only thing I did was play good, play hard and give everything I had for the fans. If they don’t respect that, if that’s not good enough, hey, so be it.”

[biittner77]

I don't know where to put these white sox quotes...i don't think they deserve their own thread but i cant help but post things that they say about us.

 

The Giants weren't so different from the White Sox, except for being particularly strong offensively and defensively at catcher and shortstop. .

 

 

This deserves the full Fire Joe Morgan treatment but this line is the best:

 

Except for having a better catcher and a better SS, the 2 hardest positions to be better at, the Giants were the same as the Sox.

[Omar]

Stumbled onto this on Mets Refugees...thought I'd share

 

http://www.metsrefugees.com/forum/showthread.php?t=104222

 

resident Brewers fan commenting on our prospects in late 2014

 

(i wasn't even there for schadenfreude...just wanted to see their thread on cespedes)

 

Entered message board --> saw this avatar

 

[image]http://www.metsrefugees.com/forum/image.php?u=21&dateline=1472691658[/image]

 

DONE.

[Tracer Bullet]

Interesting article on Sosa. I was wondering if he'd come to a game. Looks like he won't.

 

http://www.wsj.com/articles/the-cubs-icon-in-exile-sammy-sosa-1477584078

 

“I haven’t done anything wrong,” said Sosa. “I played almost 13 years in Chicago and the only thing I did was play good, play hard and give everything I had for the fans. If they don’t respect that, if that’s not good enough, hey, so be it.”

 

Yeah this isn't a good look for the Cubs. Unless he murdered someone that I don't know about, he should be there.

[UMFan83]

Interesting article on Sosa. I was wondering if he'd come to a game. Looks like he won't.

 

http://www.wsj.com/articles/the-cubs-icon-in-exile-sammy-sosa-1477584078

 

“I haven’t done anything wrong,” said Sosa. “I played almost 13 years in Chicago and the only thing I did was play good, play hard and give everything I had for the fans. If they don’t respect that, if that’s not good enough, hey, so be it.”

 

Yeah this isn't a good look for the Cubs. Unless he murdered someone that I don't know about, he should be there.

 

He must have done something bad that wasn't reported that burned serious bridges. The fans from what I've seen generally either want him welcomed back or are indifferent. He had a lot of warts, but I believe he had a net positive impact on the Cubs organization. He is not the biggest reason, but I think he is a small reason why the Cubs are a nationally relevant team, and an entire generation of fans who are now in their early-30's grew up idolizing Sammy.

[Cubswin11]

 

 

Yeah this isn't a good look for the Cubs. Unless he murdered someone that I don't know about, he should be there.

 

He must have done something bad that wasn't reported that burned serious bridges. The fans from what I've seen generally either want him welcomed back or are indifferent. He had a lot of warts, but I believe he had a net positive impact on the Cubs organization. He is not the biggest reason, but I think he is a small reason why the Cubs are a nationally relevant team, and an entire generation of fans who are now in their early-30's grew up idolizing Sammy.

Yeah it makes no sense. He should be brought back and is an important part of the teams history, especially with a ton of current fans. Like you said, something bad/ridiculous must have happened sometime in 2004 that has never gotten out that he's been blacklisted.

[jersey cubs fan]

 

Yeah this isn't a good look for the Cubs. Unless he murdered someone that I don't know about, he should be there.

 

He must have done something bad that wasn't reported that burned serious bridges. The fans from what I've seen generally either want him welcomed back or are indifferent. He had a lot of warts, but I believe he had a net positive impact on the Cubs organization. He is not the biggest reason, but I think he is a small reason why the Cubs are a nationally relevant team, and an entire generation of fans who are now in their early-30's grew up idolizing Sammy.

Yeah it makes no sense. He should be brought back and is an important part of the teams history, especially with a ton of current fans. Like you said, something bad/ridiculous must have happened sometime in 2004 that has never gotten out that he's been blacklisted.

nah

 

the most likely story is they hated him and Ricketts buys into the "shame" of steroids and whatnot. The holdovers still hate him, ricketts sees little upside in bringing him back and the new crew isn't wasting their time pushing for the other side.

[Tracer Bullet]

 

He must have done something bad that wasn't reported that burned serious bridges. The fans from what I've seen generally either want him welcomed back or are indifferent. He had a lot of warts, but I believe he had a net positive impact on the Cubs organization. He is not the biggest reason, but I think he is a small reason why the Cubs are a nationally relevant team, and an entire generation of fans who are now in their early-30's grew up idolizing Sammy.

Yeah it makes no sense. He should be brought back and is an important part of the teams history, especially with a ton of current fans. Like you said, something bad/ridiculous must have happened sometime in 2004 that has never gotten out that he's been blacklisted.

nah

 

the most likely story is they hated him and Ricketts buys into the "shame" of steroids and whatnot. The holdovers still hate him, ricketts sees little upside in bringing him back and the new crew isn't wasting their time pushing for the other side.

 

There's as much or more upside to having Sammy there as almost any non-HOF former player (except Wood and maybe a couple others). I mean, I wish things worked out differently for Prior, but I could give a horsefeathers if he's at Wrigley this weekend. Sosa is a bigger part of the Cubs than Prior ended up being.

 

The reality is there's very little upside or downside to having any of these people there. The story this weekend isn't going to be about any particular former player showing up or not. But why not just be the bigger person and invite back a former star?

 

I mean, just look at this place. Chances are the Bum has snuck back in unannounced and TT hasn't even hunted him down yet (emphasis on yet). It's a forgiving time.

[Cubswin11]

 

He must have done something bad that wasn't reported that burned serious bridges. The fans from what I've seen generally either want him welcomed back or are indifferent. He had a lot of warts, but I believe he had a net positive impact on the Cubs organization. He is not the biggest reason, but I think he is a small reason why the Cubs are a nationally relevant team, and an entire generation of fans who are now in their early-30's grew up idolizing Sammy.

Yeah it makes no sense. He should be brought back and is an important part of the teams history, especially with a ton of current fans. Like you said, something bad/ridiculous must have happened sometime in 2004 that has never gotten out that he's been blacklisted.

nah

 

the most likely story is they hated him and Ricketts buys into the "shame" of steroids and whatnot. The holdovers still hate him, ricketts sees little upside in bringing him back and the new crew isn't wasting their time pushing for the other side.

True. The main holdover in any decision making power is Crane so it has to be some combo of him/Ricketts, you'd think.

[jersey cubs fan]

There's as much or more upside to having Sammy there as almost any non-HOF former player (except Wood and maybe a couple others). I mean, I wish things worked out differently for Prior, but I could give a horsefeathers if he's at Wrigley this weekend. Sosa is a bigger part of the Cubs than Prior ended up being.

 

The reality is there's very little upside or downside to having any of these people there. The story this weekend isn't going to be about any particular former player showing up or not. But why not just be the bigger person and invite back a former star?

 

I mean, just look at this place. Chances are the Bum has snuck back in unannounced and TT hasn't even hunted him down yet (emphasis on yet). It's a forgiving time.

 

its' not like they are hurting for alumni to drive interest and if/when it ever happens it will require PR work that they probably have no interest in dealing with right now.

[biittner77]

There's as much or more upside to having Sammy there as almost any non-HOF former player (except Wood and maybe a couple others). I mean, I wish things worked out differently for Prior, but I could give a horsefeathers if he's at Wrigley this weekend. Sosa is a bigger part of the Cubs than Prior ended up being.

 

The reality is there's very little upside or downside to having any of these people there. The story this weekend isn't going to be about any particular former player showing up or not. But why not just be the bigger person and invite back a former star?

 

I mean, just look at this place. Chances are the Bum has snuck back in unannounced and TT hasn't even hunted him down yet (emphasis on yet). It's a forgiving time.

 

its' not like they are hurting for alumni to drive interest and if/when it ever happens it will require PR work that they probably have no interest in dealing with right now.

 

How much PR work? All they have to do is have Kerry Wood say "Sammy is welcome to come back whenever he wants." If they get the guy that smashed his boom box to welcome him back, I don't see who's going to question the motives or particularly care that it hasn't happened already.

[jersey cubs fan]

There's as much or more upside to having Sammy there as almost any non-HOF former player (except Wood and maybe a couple others). I mean, I wish things worked out differently for Prior, but I could give a horsefeathers if he's at Wrigley this weekend. Sosa is a bigger part of the Cubs than Prior ended up being.

 

The reality is there's very little upside or downside to having any of these people there. The story this weekend isn't going to be about any particular former player showing up or not. But why not just be the bigger person and invite back a former star?

 

I mean, just look at this place. Chances are the Bum has snuck back in unannounced and TT hasn't even hunted him down yet (emphasis on yet). It's a forgiving time.

 

its' not like they are hurting for alumni to drive interest and if/when it ever happens it will require PR work that they probably have no interest in dealing with right now.

 

How much PR work? All they have to do is have Kerry Wood say "Sammy is welcome to come back whenever he wants." If they get the guy that smashed his boom box to welcome him back, I don't see who's going to question the motives or particularly care that it hasn't happened already.

I doubt Kerry Wood signed up for such a job.

[WrigleyField 22]

Yea if I had to guess, Kerry is one of the biggest reasons hes not back in good graces.

[David]

alcohol issues aside, i am a little more surprised that grace seems to have gotten the blackball treatment too. seems like exactly the type of player they'd bring back for this crap (to say nothing about how i personally feel about grace and sammy)

[jersey cubs fan]

alcohol issues aside, i am a little more surprised that grace seems to have gotten the blackball treatment too. seems like exactly the type of player they'd bring back for this crap (to say nothing about how i personally feel about grace and sammy)

grace actively blacked his own balls

[Aaron_Kennelly]

The 2016 Fielding Bible Award winners are:

 

First Base – Anthony Rizzo, Chicago Cubs

 

Second Base – Dustin Pedroia, Boston Red Sox

 

Third Base – Nolan Arenado, Colorado Rockies

 

Shortstop – Andrelton Simmons, Atlanta Braves

 

Left Field – Starling Marte, Pittsburgh Pirates

 

Center Field - Kevin Pillar, Toronto Blue Jays

 

Right Field – Mookie Betts, Boston Red Sox

 

Catcher – Buster Posey, San Francisco Giants

 

Pitcher – Dallas Keuchel, Houston Astros

 

Multi-Position – Javier Baez, Chicago Cubs