BCVM22

No sir, though I did just resubmit my resume on Monday, and as a reapplicant, it's entirely possible they remember me and said "oh lord, not this guy again." Hopefully the latter isn't a factor. Round 1 was fairly simple. If it's anything like last year, prepare to surrender your identity, as you will be known simply as your assigned number for the duration. You'll be herded into the fancy club where they hold the press conferences and you'll essentially be plying your wares to assorted members of the non-baseball departments of the front office, including Jahaan Blake, the director of fan experiences whom they hired to start programs like this last season. I recommend studying this list and specifically work on matching names to positions in the Human Resources, Legal/Community Affairs, Marketing and Event Operations/Security sections. Numerous individuals from those departments will be scattered around the club floor and it'll be up to you to talk to as many of them as possible, a task made difficult at times by the fact that you will likely be competing with another hundred or so individuals for their attention and lines will often form at each person as everyone waits to get their chance to sell themselves. The club officials will ask you assorted questions about your first memories as a fan, your experiences at Wrigley, why you're applying for this job, that sort of thing. They'll write down your number as having spoken to you and I imagine that once the first round is concluded, they get together and compare numbers, i.e. "I liked what 567 had to say about this, did anyone else talk to them?" Round 2 is completely different. Fewer people, obviously, and a longer session. But this is where I felt things got a little... I dunno, odd? 5-6 people were assigned to each table as groups for the day, and we began by competitively building a tower out of marshmallows and toothpicks. No part of that is a typo. Assessments were based on the height and stability of your group's structure and one group declared the winner. Throughout the rest of the morning, other activities included brainstorming lists of 10 things you would do to improve the fan experience with a limited/unlimited budget and presenting them to the assembly, and acting out a brief skit with your group on the wrong way and the right way to handle a situation or fan request you might come across in your capacity if hired. I got no further than that with nary a word, so that's all I have. This was all a year ago and the program's first year, of course, so consider this a standard disclaimer that I'm not (yet?) privy to any changes in the hiring process. I don't know that everyone who applies is invited to the first stage, but it's easily 500-600 total; where Round 1 is concerned, keep in mind that your meet-and-greet is only one of several identical sessions, as they work to pare down that several hundred into a smaller number. I don't know what their target number is by the start of Round 2, but I do know that my Round 2 session was also only one of multiple such sessions, though I don't know how many exactly.

I interviewed last year. Made it two rounds and no further. The second round of interviews seemed... I don't know, sort of frivolous? I can go into detail on either round if someone wants, it's just where Round 1 was pretty straightforward, most of the stuff they had us do in Round 2 didn't seem all that relevant to the interview process. Clearly wasn't enough to deter me, though, given that I reapplied for this season.

When Chicago sports fans - or any city's sports fans, really, I suppose it's unfair to single out our fair city - get an idea in their head, it's a futile and almost Sisyphean task to try and convince them otherwise. I'm sure you can name all the players that I can who were unfairly be hit with an reputation unwarranted at least to some degree. Grossman. Prior. Cutler. Sosa. The list goes on. Perception becomes reality all too easy, particularly when you've got an entire city looking to funnel their pain into anger at someone and you've got meatheads like Dilfer and Schlereth and other NFL players and whoever else in the national media wanted attention yesterday and today all spouting off. I had someone tell me today "I've played pro hockey, and I've had 12 surgeries. Cutler was hurt; he was not injured. He's a loser and they need to cut bait with him immediately."

http://twitter.com/#!/ESPNChiHawks/status/28934999495409664

The notion that Rose hates Rondo and vice versa entertains and pleases me.

In the shuffle: Only $14.5 million committed for next season? Not bad.

I would consider desperation a plausible explanation, yes.

http://twitter.com/#!/keithlaw/status/28634533892984833 Keith Law says the same. I wonder what it is we don't know that has the Angels paying the entire remainder of Wells' salary.

...claims Jon Heyman. http://twitter.com/#!/SI_JonHeyman/status/28619139346079744 http://twitter.com/#!/SI_JonHeyman/status/28619336784551937

Angels will get cash in the deal as well.

1 year, $5.95 mil is indeed the correct amount for Garza's contract.

Korver's three: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=glrGYxXq7ng

http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r71/bcvm22/sigzeon/quade_scruffy.png There's definitely a resemblance.

Jersey patch for him too this season, though I don't imagine that's a surprise to anyone. EDIT: And here is the first look at that patch: http://media.trb.com/media/alternatethumbnails/story/2011-01/58813739-15091623-400225.jpg

Word from Olney and a few others is that Cashman was overruled by ownership in this particular matter, draft pick be damned.

http://twitter.com/#!/CarrieMuskat/status/26088588324114433

Cubs.com says "keep waiting" http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20110112&content_id=16425168&vkey=news_chc&c_id=chc&partnerId=rss_chc

Assuming that proves accurate, he'll be the first Cubs pitcher to wear no. 17 since Dave LaRoche in 1974. *cricket* *cricket*

"You know who the ****'s coming out now!" Thanks, random Brewers fan, not sure I would have figured it out on my own. :-s

Don't know if I strictly agree with that, but you could do a hell of a lot worse than a Ryan Doumit on your roster in a reserve capacity.

For those of you chomping at the bit to order your Garza jerseys (all none of you), Cubs.com and the MLB Shop engine suddenly have him listed as wearing no. 17.

Taj is just in awe there.

Oops. That's why you should never type faster than you can think, kids.

Has anyone heard anything about a press conference this week?

One does not read Uni Watch because Paul Lukas is a terrific interviewer.