DesMoinesCub

We actually saved the strippers for when we got back. Bus took us somewhere...don't remember much. As for "the other side of the river"...don't want to offend anyone, but WOW, worst town ever. River Queen...don't get me started.

Yeah...I kind of reached on some of the people, but in order to lower the price of the charter bus, we tried to get around 50. By the time I got my family (dad, brothers,uncles and cousins are all huge Cubs fans) and friends we were around 35 people. We then branched out and had a few friends of friends come too. We had a charter bus in and back and rooftop for $125. 25 for the bus and 100 for the rooftop. What we talked about after the thing was over is that for $125 bucks it was a relatively cheap bachelor party. No hotels, flights, etc.

I personally enjoyed it. We rented one for my bachelor party. We took a charter bus from the Dubuque, Iowa area into Chicago, went to Murphy's, and then went up a half hour before the game. That is the earlies we could go up there. We had about 50 people, so the majority of the people where from our group. I don't know how much fun the other people had, but my group had a great time. The view isn't the greatest from the rooftop, but the atmosphere was a blast. Might be different if it was only a couple of people. We went in April, so it was chilly, but all the food and drinks were included, so that warmed me up right away...not to mention it was my bachelor party, so I really wasn't feeling much of anything by the 3rd inning. Overall, I enjoyed the one time I was there. The company my brother went through to get it is posted below. http://www.ivyleaguebaseballclub.com/

How does the NFL determine who is or is not invited to the camp? Isn't it the top so many players at each position? *Rant* I think if the people they invite to the NFL don't want to participate in ALL of the different drills, they should not be allowed to come. I understand why they don't want to, but I just don't think it is right. Give someone else the chance to make an impact. No disrespect to any people who are fans of people that choose not to participate in certain activities at the NFL combine.

Heard a report on the radio (don't know if the guy was serious or not) that Clemens son took him yard today. The next pitch, Clemens put one up and in on him. Love him or hate him, Clemens reminds me of someone that could have pitched in the 40's - 60's when pitching high in tight didn't get you suspended.

Enough already! Would you FIB's and People with relations to your cows start talking baseball. I feel I can say these things since there was a thread in the Minor League forum about names to call the Iowa Cubs. Isn't it great that a person can make fun of Illinois, Wisconsin and Iowa and still know we are better then anything in Minnesota.

I think all of the things mentioned has helped baseball, but the thing that saved it was baseball itself. How many of us have attended a baseball game between two teams (high school,college, minors) that we have no connection to. I have many times. Baseball is baseball. The "true" fans would have come back because it is the sport they played when they were kids. It is the sport they played with their dad in the backyard. Maybe I am in the minority, but if replacement players would have played the following year, I would have been there cheering on the Cubs. I might not have known any of the guys playing, but players come and go all the time. The Cubs still would have been the Cubs. I guess, what I am trying to say, is that nothing had to happen to "save" baseball. The game has saved itself to the real fans of the game.

I do remember both Reagan and Murray doing games. I think they were the only two who did a decent job. Reagan was a huge baseball fan, and Murray was a huge Cub fan.

Do a lot of people think Montanez lost "value" when he moved from SS to the OF?

My greatest Harry moment happened at Wrigley as well. I was around 10 years old, and being from small town Iowa was told to stay close to my parents at Wrigley. I huge crowd formed around Harry, and as he was going up to the both stopped and talked to my family, who was not a part of the crowd. He had the security people who escorted him up stop and he made sure to talk for awhile. It was really neat. I also remember thinking that while he was in the hospital during his stroke how horrible some of the "guest" announcers were. For some reason, Harry always ended his last broadcast of every year with something along the lines of "...and God willing, I look forward to seeing you all next year." I also remember watching the first game the Cubs played at home the following year and having them play "Amazing Grace" during the 7th inning stretch. I was watching it with my dad and it was one of those uncomfortable silences. Listening to Ron kind of reminds me of Harry. Just how passionate he is towards the Cubs.

Until May, we could have a rotation of: Prior/Z/Maddux/Williams/Rusch After May, we could have a rotation of: Prior/Z/Wood/Miller/Maddux or Z/Maddux/Williams/Rusch/Hill/Guzman (insert other name here) Hopefully not, but with our past history, Prior/Wood/Miller are reserving their plane tickets to Iowa/West Tenn/Daytona. I wish there was more to it then one year. With Wood being a FA next year, an option would have been nice, but oh well.

Any mention of a club/mutual/player option?

If around, let me know.

Tim and others- Let me know if and when you are going to be in the area (Des Moines). I'll see what I can work out with my busy teacher schedule in the summer. As for the Tennessee trip...doubtful. Any interest in an I-Cubs trip?

So if you are Zisk, do you take that as a promotion or demotion to go from manager to hitting instructor at the same level?

Your right it wasn't off the field problems, but like K-Town has mentioned, where do you stop?

I know Mac wasn't asked about it at the hearings, but he did admit to taking it, correct?

I would hope that IF Mac makes the HOF, that the people covering it would have the class to not say anything. Unfortunately, you know that someone will try to make a name for themself and ask. Let him have his day where his baseball moments are treasured, and the off field problems left behind.

You are right, it was nothing more then propoganda. However, I don't believe baseball would have changed anything if not pressured by Congress. It was a chance for some big named politician to make a bigger name for themselves, but it helped clean up the game. I also understand that Andro was legal during this time. Mac openly admitted to using it. Then why wouldn't he come out and say that he didn't take steroids and that the muscle was gained from Andro. I think Mac deserves to be in the HOF. Depending on if he used steroids would determine if he is a first ballet or not. I just wish that he would end any speculation by coming out and saying I didn't do it. Unfortunately, many people (sportswriters/fans/baseball people) are looking at Mac as a steroid user by his testimony at the Congressional hearings and won't change their opinion until something is said or done to prove otherwise. The reason Sosa's name gets mentioned is because Sosa and Mac are in the same boat. Sosa said he never took steroids, Mac didn't say anything. Nobody believes Sosa, nobody believes Mac. I personally feel if Mac doesn't make the Hall, the Sosa will have a hard time as well. Really sad since Sosa and Mac brought a lot of fans back to baseball.

You honestly think Ripken and Gwynn MAY have taken steroids? Gwynn looks like he may have taken on a couple of things, but steroids? Ripken, the man who didn't sit out a game and steroids which may cause muscle tears, pulls, etc. Neither Ripken or Gwynn suddenly turned into a freak of nature like McGwire or Caminitti. Throw Sosa, Palmeiro, Pudge in this category as well. It doesn't matter to me if they play for the Cubs or Cards, they are still accused juicers. Was it right that they only called certain members of MLB to testify? Probably not, but if you are investigating a murder in a city, do you question everyone in the city, or people who were "close" to the crime. Congress went after the people they believed to be "close" to the crime. McGwire had his chance to tell them what happened, and he didn't do it for whatever reason. If you think Mac was playing the game with Congress and didn't want to answer their questions out of spite, then shame on him. He did nothing to help baseball with the problems they (Congress) were trying to get rid of. If not for Congress, baseball would be exactly where it was before the hearings. Call me a tradionalist, call me old fashioned, call me an idiot, but anyone who "cheats" the game should not be allowed in the Hall. Pete Rose isn't in, but he never "admitted" to betting on the Reds. Shoeless Joe isn't in, and by looking at his numbers the only thing he was guilty of doing in the Series is taking money, but not "blowing" the game. Mac had his opportunity to come out and say he didn't do steroids, and he didn't do it. He could have cleared his name from it, but chose not to. It is not just Mac either, the same could be said when Bonds or Sosa are up for the Hall. However, that won't be for at least 5 more years. Mac set the bar it terms of power hitters when he played and I think he'll set the bar in terms of alleged steroid users and the Hall of Fame as well.

No... As a Cub fan, the only place I can remember the Cubs playing ST at is Ho Ho Kam. Now, granted I may not be old enough (mid 20's) to remember anything differently, but when I hear Spring Training, I think of Ho Ho Kam and Arizona. Call me a traditionalist, but I wouldn't do it. Let's hope that the pitchers you mention do really well in ST and can prove they can handle the air/sun/etc. If they can, then they should be able to handle Wrigley.

IMO-the Cubs always have money to spend. When have they not been able to add payroll during the season to complete a trade? I think the Cubs could go after Huff and still be able to add someone during the season if they are in the playoff race.

Sorry if you took my comments as insulting BBB. I didn't mean them to be. My point was what if Hendry called and said I will offer this much and the Giles camp responded by saying that it will cost this amount of money because other teams offered more. Hendry then makes a comment about not getting into a bidding war and then Mr. Miles (who I enjoy reading on this board) writes about the lack of interest that Hendry has. The lack of interest could be from age, money, etc. Hendry had to know what the market was for Giles and many here would agree Giles to be the one player to overpay, but for whatever reason Hendry didn't. Had Hendry overpaid could he have had Giles, maybe. I believe that Hendry had a price and years that he would not go over. Similar to the Furcal situation. Hendry may have realized that his price was not going to match early in the process and then focused his attention to Furcal. I am assuming Hendry was in contact early with the Giles camp and realized that he had no chance because he wasn't going to pay the amount they were going to get. Many hear, including myself, would have loved Giles, and would have paid a lot more then what he got in SD but it wasn't in Hendry's plan. I don't bye the "West Coast" thing either, but also think if money was equal he would have stayed in SD. Again, didn't mean to attack anyone or insult anyone, but I think my belief is a mix of the two. Again, doesn't matter because Giles is in SD, and I will cheer Jones to be everything Giles could have been in a Cubs uniform

I was thinking the same thing about his rookie season.

Do you think his Congressional Hearing made his chances even slimmer to be a first ballot HOF'er or do you think he was "doomed" before that.