Baseball Zealot Radio Show #8: Cubs Convention, Erstad, LaRoche and MLB Umpires

Show # 8 is out. Chuck and Todd finally find an area of disagreement. And it has nothing to do with Mazeroski (well, maybe not this show it doesn’t), They discuss the role of umpires in player/umpire conflicts and how that has changed. We also hit a couple of the Hot Stove topics: Erstad, JD … Continue reading “Baseball Zealot Radio Show #8: Cubs Convention, Erstad, LaRoche and MLB Umpires”

Show # 8 is out.

Chuck and Todd finally find an area of disagreement. And it has nothing to do with Mazeroski (well, maybe not this show it doesn’t), They discuss the role of umpires in player/umpire conflicts and how that has changed.

We also hit a couple of the Hot Stove topics: Erstad, JD Drew, LaRoche.

Tom is back from last weekend’s Cubs Convention and gives a summary of his trip.

Here is the link to the show. Enjoy!

By the way, comments are enabled on the BZR site so feel free to let us know what you think of any particular episode by submitting a comment. I love feedback!

No tags for this post.

Former Illini Dusty Bensko signs with Frontier League team

Kudos to a reader of the blog who pays a lot of attention to the transaction logs. He noticed that two days ago, former Illini star Dusty Bensko signed with the Windy City Thunderbolts of the Frontier League. Here is the roster for the Thunderbolts team. In 2005, his senior year, Bensko led the Illini … Continue reading “Former Illini Dusty Bensko signs with Frontier League team”

Kudos to a reader of the blog who pays a lot of attention to the transaction logs. He noticed that two days ago, former Illini star Dusty Bensko signed with the Windy City Thunderbolts of the Frontier League. Here is the roster for the Thunderbolts team.

In 2005, his senior year, Bensko led the Illini in homeruns with 15 and rbis with 57 while hitting .317.

Good luck Dusty!

No tags for this post.

Final Thoughts on the Cubs Convention

That photo is for my buddy DonS who I know would appreciate it. All things considered, and considering the fact that the Cubs finished last in 2006 losing 96 games, the tempo at the convention was incredibly upbeat. I’m sure a lot had to do with the new turn the team is taking, spending money, … Continue reading “Final Thoughts on the Cubs Convention”

Old Style

That photo is for my buddy DonS who I know would appreciate it.

All things considered, and considering the fact that the Cubs finished last in 2006 losing 96 games, the tempo at the convention was incredibly upbeat. I’m sure a lot had to do with the new turn the team is taking, spending money, acquiring a new manager.

I was impressed with the diversity of ages of the attendees of the convention. I expected to see a bunch of guys in the 20-50 year old range. Not true. I saw old people (really old people), young kids, middle-aged women, families, teenagers, pretty twenty-somethings, you name it.

One regret… I didn’t meet Carrie Muskat, the beat reporter for the Cubs for mlb.com. I read her stuff a lot and I’ve always wanted to meet her. I dropped by the Cubs.com booth a couple times hoping to catch her. The man there told me she was in attendance and check back later. I chatted him up asking what she was like. He probably thought I was a stalker or something. So Carrie, if you’re reading this, I’m sorry I missed you. Maybe next time.

Total autographs = 9 (Fergie, Madlock, Dascenzo, Lancaster, DeJesus, Jody D, Trout, Hebner, and Dernier)

Total caps bought= 3 (Peoria Chiefs, Iowa Cubs, and a Chicago Cubs cap worn by Gary Mathews Sr)

Total T-shirts bought= 3 (Wrigley Field shirt for my son, a pink (gah!) Cubs shirt for my daughter, and an “In Piniella We Trustiella” shirt from the Cubscast guys for myself)

Big League Baseball Report does Pat Hughes

Cub fans may want to take a listen to Big League Baseball Report’s latest show. They interview Cubs’ radio man Pat Hughes. He is always interesting to listen to. Also, Hughes is plugging his latest effort, Baseball Voices which is a CD collection which commemorates some of the best broadcasters in the business. Cub fans … Continue reading “Big League Baseball Report does Pat Hughes”

Cub fans may want to take a listen to Big League Baseball Report’s latest show. They interview Cubs’ radio man Pat Hughes. He is always interesting to listen to. Also, Hughes is plugging his latest effort, Baseball Voices which is a CD collection which commemorates some of the best broadcasters in the business.

Cub fans should also check out A Cub Fan’s Obsession by Phil Zuber, one half of the BLBR team (Joe Aiello is the other half). It’s a relatively new site and chock full of true blue info on the Cubbies.

Erstad going to Chicago: Should White Sox fans be ecstatic?

Darin Erstad has been picked up by the White Sox. The deal is pending a physical (cross your fingers). I’ve never been a big Erstad fan since the downfall after his big year in 2000. He plays great defense and has playoff experience but his value is limited after that. I can get past the … Continue reading “Erstad going to Chicago: Should White Sox fans be ecstatic?”

Darin Erstad has been picked up by the White Sox. The deal is pending a physical (cross your fingers).

I’ve never been a big Erstad fan since the downfall after his big year in 2000. He plays great defense and has playoff experience but his value is limited after that. I can get past the fact that he doesn’t hit for power. But his OBP has been declining in the last few years and he tends to be rather injury prone. Forty games in 2006 and 67 in 2003 (though he did manage a 153 game season in 2005),

For me, Erstad falls in that category of player that I really WANT to like but gosh darn it, he just won’t fit my team. And by my team, I mean the Cubs. If the Sox want him, have at him.

I’ll certainly give him this. He can’t be any worse than Brian Anderson.

Escalator to a Different Dimension

Sunday around 12:30pm, the Cubs convention was winding down and with the Bears playoff game just an hour and a half away, I figured it was time to go. I took one look around at the friendly fans in blue and stepped on the escalator up to the main level… … to a different dimension. … Continue reading “Escalator to a Different Dimension”

Sunday around 12:30pm, the Cubs convention was winding down and with the Bears playoff game just an hour and a half away, I figured it was time to go. I took one look around at the friendly fans in blue and stepped on the escalator up to the main level…

… to a different dimension.

Something was wrong. What I saw was not right. I didn’t see friendly Cub fans on their way home from the convention. No, what I saw was loud, people dressed in black… and gold.. and they were wearing loud, garishly colored necklaces. Did I take the magic escalator to an eternal Mardi Gras?

Apparently, not. Apparently, all the New Orleans Saints fans who had come up for Sunday’s game had come to the Chicago Hilton. Or it just seemed that way. There was rhyme to their reason. We at the convention had heard that the Chicago Bears were staying at the Hilton. I’m sure that this wasn’t lost on the Saints fans.

saints

They were yelling and screaming. One even even had a teddy bear and would set it down on the sidewalk and would tackle it,

Others would pretend-block Bears fans that would pass by… in a good natured way.

saints

The one place I was in Chicago and it was right in the middle of a pack of Saints fans.

Oh, well…

Sorry you made the trip for nothing

I actually was on the train during the second half having watched the first half at the train station. The conductor announced the score over the PA. In this day and age, I wonder if those with Tivo would just as soon not know the score.

I was picked up by my family and my six-year-old daughter dutifully informed me of the score. The Bears had 39 and “New Zealand” scored 14.

 

 

2007 Cubs Convention Blogging: Some photos

I’m back in Urbana, resting up after a wild weekend of Cub fun. Let’s start with some pictures. HOFer Fergie Jenkins was signing autographs at his booth. He did this for a donation towards his foundation which is supposed to help research diabetes. Fergie did his stint during the weekend signing autographs for free, too. … Continue reading “2007 Cubs Convention Blogging: Some photos”

I’m back in Urbana, resting up after a wild weekend of Cub fun. Let’s start with some pictures.

Jenkins

HOFer Fergie Jenkins was signing autographs at his booth. He did this for a donation towards his foundation which is supposed to help research diabetes. Fergie did his stint during the weekend signing autographs for free, too.

autographs

This is a slice of the hall of the room they used for the autograph queues. At the very far end was where the baseball celebs would sit and us plebes would be queued around ropes. Needless to say, when players like Carlos Zambrano were up, these lines would fill quickly then go out the door, down the hallway, around the corner, then down THAT hall.

As you can see, they had television displays all around showing Cubs highlights. Which is all well and good. But it seems every time I looked up, I’d see the clip of Derrek Lee injuring his wrist. I wondered if they could have edited that out. Not good for Cub Nation morale.

Jody Davis

Jody Davis signing autographs. I waited longest to get Jody’s autograph. That’s not to say there were longer lines. It’s just to say that I was willing to put up with Jody’s line enough to get his.

If by the photo you think that Jody appears pretty likable, I don’t think you would be too far off the mark. He seemed to have a friendly demeanor towards the fans. I tend to not hold too much against the players if they don’t get all gushy and personable during these appearances. They get shuffled from autograph signings to speeches to photo shoots so I’m sure it’s hard to maintain friendliness for the thousands of people they see.

But when they do, it’s pretty cool.

boys of zimmer

I apologize for the quality of the photo (damn camera). This was at the Boys of Zimmer talk. (L toR, Dwight Smith, Jerome Walton, Mike Bilecki, and Mark Grace). Also appearing in the session was Les Lancaster, Ryne Sandberg, and Doug Dascenzo. Hosted by Wayne Messmer,

This was very enjoyable. Essentially, it relived the year the Cubbies made the playoffs under Don Zimmer in 1989. This year’s convention was big because it was Grace’s first one since 2001.

Dwight Smith, in my opinion, was the most interesting. He was funny and had the most stories to tell.

DeJesus

There was this man sitting at a table with a pen in his hand but not signing anything. I nudged a fellow Cub fan and asked, “Who’s that?”

“That’s Ivan DeJesus!”

Ivan DeJesus ready to sign autographs and no one taking?? So I looked for something for him to sign. Not finding anything, I just had him sign my convention badge,

It took a long while for people to realize that the man we traded for Sandberg (and an All-Star shortstop in his own right) was sitting there with no line,

Maddux

Back to the Locker Room where the day before, Zambrano’s shoes brought $375 in an auction for Cubscare. I walked by the room and heard “3300!” I went in and asked one of the staff members what was going on. This time it was Greg Maddux’ signed and worn jersey. It ultimately went for $4000.

Cubs Quintet

This is the Cubs Quintet. They’ve been together for some 35 years.

Banks

Banks is a class act. Despite the fact it was late, and everyone (especially the staff) wanted to finish up, he broke the rules and allowed this lady to get her sister’s photo taken with him. She apparently has cancer. -2 points to person in line who shouted, “Hey, I have cancer, too!”

You can’t see it but those are tears on her face.

 

 

2007 Cubs Convention Blogging: Saturday Morning

7:17am Saturday Morning: Oh yeah, 16 degrees too. Two words… overwhelmingly crowded and Blue. Ok, that’s three words but you get my drift. I’m borderline claustrophobic so it took a while to get acclimated. I learned my lesson last night. If you want to get in the main room to see the big guy speak, … Continue reading “2007 Cubs Convention Blogging: Saturday Morning”

7:17am Saturday Morning:

Oh yeah, 16 degrees too.

cubs conv 045

Two words… overwhelmingly crowded and Blue. Ok, that’s three words but you get my drift. I’m borderline claustrophobic so it took a while to get acclimated.

I learned my lesson last night. If you want to get in the main room to see the big guy speak, you need to get there at least an hour early. I thought I was doing well to get there 30 minutes earlier but no go. Chicago’s finest kept telling us to “push” on into this hallway. Something in the back of my mind was telling me, “I hope there isn’t a fire”.

Those of us who didn’t get into the main ballroom ended up seeing Piniella speak not live but on a series of wide-screen displays in the hallway. What we in the hallway did see that the folks already sitting did not was the Cubs players and celebs running the gauntlet on their way in. Crowd reaction ranged from “Who was that” to hoots and hollers. When Lou Piniella came through, all you could hear was “LLOOOOOUUUU!

Who can remember during Piniella’s playing days when the broadcasters would always remind the novice fans that “They’re not booing, they’re saying Loooouu.”?

cubs conv 054

Eric Patterson signing autograghs

There are two huge exhibition halls filled to the brim of organizations and vendors who are selling their selling their wares. One high point was meeting was meeting Lou, Sheps, and Sneetch from Cubcast.com. They seem like pretty nice guys. See the previous post for a photo of the group.

I got a chance to shake Billy Williams hand and get my picture taken with him (it’s on Tyler’s camera right now so I’ll post it later). Bill Madlock signed my APBA card, too.

Morandini

Mickey Morandini

By the way, the Cub fans have quite a fascination with Mickey Morandini. Earlier, when Morandini walked through the “gauntlet”, it was “hey, look! it’s Mickey Morandini!” And the lines for his autograph go out the door. Don’t get it.

I bought a hat that belonged to “Sarge” and wore last year. He has a pretty small head.

Time for me to get dressed and get going for Saturday’s events.

 

2007 Cubs Convention Blogging: Friday night

11:45 Friday night: Just time enough for a few pics…   Not for those who are claustrophobic. Zambrano’s worn shoes went for $375 in an auction for charity.   Tyler and I met the Cubscast guys     The “Shooter”, Rod Beck.   More tomorrow. Tags: Cubs, cubs convention

11:45 Friday night:

Just time enough for a few pics…

 

Not for those who are claustrophobic.

Zambrano’s worn shoes went for $375 in an auction for charity.

 

Tyler and I met the Cubscast guys

 

 

The “Shooter”, Rod Beck.

 

More tomorrow.

2007 Cubs Convention Blogging: Friday Afternoon

12:54pm Friday- Arrived in town by train where I was met by my friend Tyler. He’s putting me up for the weekend and will be attending the convention as well. Not only that, he’s giving me free reign of his place as he’s staying at his girlfriend’s place. His place has all I need… a … Continue reading “2007 Cubs Convention Blogging: Friday Afternoon”

12:54pm Friday-

Arrived in town by train where I was met by my friend Tyler. He’s putting me up for the weekend and will be attending the convention as well. Not only that, he’s giving me free reign of his place as he’s staying at his girlfriend’s place. His place has all I need… a bed and an Internet connection.

Convention headquarters are conveniently located about eight blocks away at the Chicago Hilton. A good walk or if I’m lazy or don’t want to bear the cold, a short bus ride.

The Ticket (click the link for picture of mentioned ticket, it’s one of those badges you wear around your neck) says that things start around 3pm though I may head down early to see what I can see. Rumors are that events are light on Friday.

More later…