Tag: Cubs

2008 Cubs Convention: What’s going to happen and who will be there

The official list of players and celebrities who will be attending this year’s Cubs Convention has been released.

From cubs.com:

Ernie Banks Scott Eyre Les Lancaster   Geovany Soto
Glenn Beckert Oneri Fleita Derrek Lee Lou Piniella Tim Stoddard
Bob Brenly Mike Fontenot Ted Lilly Dan Plesac Lester Strode
Bill Buckner Sam Fuld Bill Madlock Mike Quade Rick Sutcliffe
Randy Bush Sean Gallagher Carlos Marmol Rocky Roquet Ryan Theriot
Jose Cardenal Kevin Hart Sean Marshall Larry Rothschild Alan Trammell
Tyler Colvin Jim Hendry Matt Murton Jeff Samardzija Steve Trout
Doug Dascenzo Rich Hill Dave Otto Ryne Sandberg Jerome Walton
Jody Davis Bob Howry Andy Pafko Ron Santo Daryle Ward
Andre Dawson Pat Hughes Milt Pappas Matt Sinatro Tim Wilken
Ivan DeJesus Fergie Jenkins Gerald Perry Dwight Smith Billy Williams
Ryan Dempster Len Kasper Billy Petrick Lee Smith Michael Wuertz
Bob Dernier Crane Kenney Felix Pie Alfonso Soriano Carlos Zambrano
Mark DeRosa Dave Kingman

One thing I noticed right away was that there was no Mark Grace. He showed up in 2007 and it was a big deal that he did. After many years of not coming to the Cubs Convention, he made the decision to attend in 07. And he was warmly greeted for his trouble.  Unfortunately, it looks like it might have been a one-time thing.

A few players I see that weren’t there last year… Dave Kingman, Andre Dawson and of course the new kids, Geovany Soto, Jeff Samardzija, and Sam Fuld.

The signing of Samardzija by the Cubs was actually making big news during the weekend of 2007 Cubs Convention.

Also, the schedule for the weekend came out. Again from Cubs.com:

Schedule of Events

Friday, January 18
5:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. – Opening Ceremonies
6:00 p.m. – 6:45 p.m. – Autograph Treasure Hunt
7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. – WGN Radio’s “SportsCentral Live”
7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. – CUBS BINGO!

Saturday, January 19
9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. – WGN Radio’s “Meet Cubs Baseball Management”
9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. – Injuries, Anatomy and Santo… Oh My!
9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. – Cubs Jeopardy!
10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. – Vine Line Presents Baseball in Latin America
10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. – WGN Radio’s “Not for Women Only”
11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. – Baseball Conditioning Clinic
11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. – Lou and His Crew
11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. – Hitting Clinic
12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. – WGN Radio’s “A Day in the Life of a Major Leaguer”
12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. – Life as a Minor
1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. – Cubs Win, Lose or Draw
1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. – WGN Radio’s “Storytelling with Cubs Legends”
2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. – From the Stretch
2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. – 8-8-88… Or the Day After
3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. – Wheelchair Cubs
3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. – For Kids Only Press Conference
3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. – Cubs Forever: Celebrating 60 Years of WGN-TV and the Cubs
4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. – The Northside Mystique
4:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. – Pitching Clinic
8:00 p.m. – Midnight – Rock ‘n’ Roll Revue

Sunday, January 20
9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. – Meet Cubs Business Management
10:00 a.m. – 12:30 a.m. – Baseball Hall of Fame Exhibit
10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. – Down on the Farm

It’s a packed schedule so I’ll pick and choose. The Baseball in Latin America sounds very interesting.

By the way, I just saw the extended weather forecast for Chicago. Saturday shows a high (yes, a high) of 7 degrees and Windy. So bundle up Cub fans.

Len and Bob Bash- Jan 17

Those of you who get into town for the Cubs Convention a day early (or simply live in Chicago) can party with other Cub fans at the Len and Bob Bash at the House of Blues.  The Bash takes place Thursday Jan 17 and tickets are available at the House of Blues’ website.

It’s sponsored by broadcasters Len Kasper and Bob Brenly and will raise money for Chicago Cubs charities.  Last year, $50,000 was raised. 

This year, alternative-country group Son Volt will perform.  Doors open at 7:30pm.

Len Kasper appeared on the Cubs Closeup podcast yesterday and talked (among other things) about the event. 

Cubs Convention in Two Weeks

Cubsconv1

There’s one more indication that baseball is in the air.  Two weeks from today, the 2008 Cubs Convention begins.  I got my ticket in the mail this afternoon. 

This year’s pass, seen above, contrasts greatly from the one from last year.  The one from 2007 was a cautiously optimistic photo of new manager Lou Piniella (so new, I thought that they didn’t have a photo of him with a Cubs cap).

This year’s has a jubilant Alfonso Soriano almost leaping across the pass.  A very cool photo. 

Near as I can tell, there has been no announcement of who will be attending this year’s convention.  If I remember correctly, they usually announce this kind of stuff the week of the event.  So we have to make do with the lists of players from last year and hope that this year’s event will be similar. 

But alas, no Rod Beck.  He was pretty popular with the fans in 2007.

Check out my notes and photos from the 2007 Cubs Convention.  It was my first ever and I had a blast. 

Sandberg back as Peoria skipper… Cubs also get leftovers from the Pirates

This is relatively old news but Ryno is back as manager of the Peoria Chiefs, the Cubs Class A team.  Ryno didn’t do half bad his first year as a manager going 71-68 with the Chiefs.  And one of my New Year’s resolutions is to make it to at least one Peoria Chiefs game this year.

Also mentioned in Carrie Muskat’s article about Sandberg is that the Cubs have brought on former Bucs GM Dave Littlefield to join the scouting staff.  I did a double take when I read that then drew a deep sigh of resignation.  Todd, our resident Pirate fan, has gone on numerous rants on Littlefield on our podcast.  Find any episode that Todd is co-hosting and I’ll guarantee that he spends a few minutes on the topic. 

So we’ll see.

Padres take chance on Prior

The San Diego Padres have signed local product Mark Prior to a one-year contract worth $1 million plus incentives. 

Sure, I’d love to say that the Padres are crazy for signing the oft-injured right-hander who hasn’t given the Cubs any good output since 2003 but in reality the deal looks solid for both parties involved. 

One million dollars is chump change and the Padres won’t miss that.  If the incentives factor in (I don’t think the details are out) and they have to pony up, well, then Prior must have done something right.  Money aside, the most valuable thing that the Pads are giving up is a roster spot.  Assuming, they are lucky enough to use him. 

From Prior’s perspective, San Diego is the place to go.  He’s going to his boyhood home.  He pitched at University of San Diego High School.  Also, he’s going to pitch along with the best including former teammate Greg Maddux not to mention 2007 Cy Young unam Jake Peavy. 

That all said, I  don’t foresee another breakout year by him. The percentages are too much against him.  It’s said that he won’t be ready till May.  My bet is that it will be later than that. 

By the way, Baseball Musings’ David Pinto wrote an article for The Sporting News on the Prior acquisition by the Padres putting a historical spin on the signing.

Prior Interest

markprior

(Photo:Simmons/News)

While the Cubs may have given up on Mark Prior (not a difficult decision, but an “unfortunate” one, Hendry says) other teams might be willing to take the bait.  As many as twelve teams have expressed some sort of interest in the oft-injured, once-phenom. 

The Houston Astros have made an undisclosed offer.  In addition, the Nationals, Cardinals, Padres and even the Yankees and Mets have shown interest. 

I think this shows the state of good quality pitching in the majors.  Prior isn’t even throwing yet and probably won’t be ready for prime time till May. 

Mariotti on Fukodome

The Chicago Sun-Times’ Jay Mariotti pulls no punches against the White Sox front office in his analysis of the Cubs’ acquisition of Kosuke Fukudome.

"On the South Side, Fukudome is Japanese for brush-off. And when you add him to an earlier rejection by Torii Hunter, a failure to acquire Miguel Cabrera and a final knife in the back Wednesday from one of their old reliables — Aaron Rowand, who signed with San Francisco after telling Williams to shove his fewer-years offer — maybe the Sox should realize players in the industry aren’t real fond of their franchise, their plan or their way of doing business. In the spirit of the season, the Sox are Fred Claus, bitter and second-rate as the Cubs prepare to dominate another local summer and contend for a playoff berth again."

Bet that plays well on the South Side.

Prior, Cubs part ways

The Chicago Cubs released Mark Prior today.   Prior, who was eligible for arbitration, now becomes a free agent.  Talks with the Cubs have been stalled lately mostly over the option for a second year. 

I’ll be honest, I’ve never been a huge Mark Prior fan.  Throughout his five and half years (and 42 wins) here, the Cubs have marketed him to us as someone for us to rely on.  When I look at him, I see a pitcher who came into this league with tremendous potential but only had one solid (maybe two, if you want to call 27 starts and 11 wins solid) season.

So I’m not crying too many tears for Prior though I wish him the best of luck.  In hindsight, I wish the Cubs would have taken advantage of his market value… when he had market value.