SB Nation User Blog: Al

The community ice rink outside Wrigley Field, under construction, the evening of Wednesday 12/9. It...

Al — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 13:42:04 -0000

The community ice rink outside Wrigley Field, under construction, the evening of Wednesday 12/9. It will open to the public on December 15. BCB Photo by David Sameshima

Waiting For ... Something, Anything! Winter Meetings All-Purpose Post Day 4

Al — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 00:28:33 -0000

Three days and over 3000 comments worth of posts here... and the Cubs have made no moves.

It feels almost like a certain existential bit of writing...

As yesterday, use this post for all Winter Meetings discussion. If Milton Bradley is dealt today -- or if the Cubs make any other significant moves -- I'll make a separate post.

Former major league player Tsuyoshi Shinjo wins the jackpot on the Japanese version of "Who Wants...

Al — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 02:09:10 -0000

Former major league player Tsuyoshi Shinjo wins the jackpot on the Japanese version of "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?"

City Of Mesa To Upgrade Fitch Park For Cubs

Al — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 23:29:23 -0000

City Of Mesa To Upgrade Fitch Park For Cubs

$750,000 will be spent for two covered buildings with batting cages, to be ready for 2010 spring training.

Winter Meetings Day 3 Overflow Thread

Al — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 20:56:29 -0000

You asked for it, you got it.

Today May Be The Day Cubs Fans Crash Twitter: All-Purpose Winter Meetings Thread, Day 3

Al — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 23:50:33 -0000

More photos » by Jim Prisching - AP

Browse more photos »

Will today be the day Milton Bradley becomes a former Cub? Rumors were flying all day yesterday involving the Rays, Rangers, Orioles, Mariners and probably several places not even mentionable on a family blog.

Once again, use this post for all Winter Meetings discussion. If Bradley is dealt today -- or if the Cubs make any other significant moves -- I'll make a separate post.

Ryne Sandberg Named Iowa Manager -- Day 2 Winter Meetings All-Purpose Post

Al — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 03:16:05 -0000

More photos » by Darron Cummings - AP

Lou Piniella meets the media on Monday. Looks thinner, too.

Browse more photos »

Rumors flew all day Monday, and all got shot down -- what else would you expect from an event that's as carefully scrutinized as the Winter Meetings?

The only real Cubs news that happened on Monday was the naming of Ryne Sandberg to manage the Iowa Cubs, his third promotion in as many years. Nothing's been said, of course, and probably won't be, but this likely puts Sandberg in line to succeed Lou Piniella as Cubs manager after 2010.

In decades past, naming a popular former player as Cubs manager was almost expected. Phil Cavarretta, Charlie Grimm, Stan Hack, Gabby Hartnett -- all those were Cub greats of the past who served as manager. Since 1960, though, only two former Cub players have managed the team -- Lee Elia (who played only a handful of games as a Cub in 1968) and Don Zimmer, neither of whom distinguished himself as a player.

Sandberg has at least gone about it the right way, learning the craft of managing at the minor league level and working his way up, just as a player would. I'm all for this move.

Use this post for Winter Meetings rumors, posts, comments, etc. today, just as we did yesterday.

And Now For Something Completely Different: The Andre Dawson Hall Of Fame Twitter Blitz

Al — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 19:40:37 -0000

What's this all about? Details after the jump.

The good guys at Cubscast are sponsoring a Twitter blitz tomorrow to promote Andre Dawson's candidacy for the Hall of Fame. You can find out more details here. I've agreed to help them promote this, because I think Dawson belongs in the Hall, and this is an interesting experiment to see if such a Twitter blitz will actually get enough attention to make this a trending topic on Twitter.

So tomorrow, if you have a Twitter account, please tweet something about Andre's candidacy, using the hashtags #Dawson4TheHall, and also include the #cubs and #mlb tags. It starts at 1:20 pm CDT on Tuesday, December 8.

Doug Harvey And Whitey Herzog Elected To Hall Of Fame

Al — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 15:09:41 -0000

Doug Harvey And Whitey Herzog Elected To Hall Of Fame

The Veterans Committee this year was charged with selecting umpires, managers, executives and pioneers (players are next year).

Marvin Miller, who revolutionized the game as head of the players union, failed to get enough votes. Harvey and Herzog will be inducted next summer.

All-Purpose Winter Meetings Post, Day 1

Al — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 03:15:30 -0000

Major league general managers, player agents, media and assorted hangers-on have all arrived in Indianapolis to spend the next four days in climate-controlled comfort and hash out trades and free-agent signings. We'll also see the Rule 5 draft on Thursday, before everyone heads home.

Use this post for discussion of Winter Meetings topics all day today -- please don't post a large number of FanPosts or FanShots on this topic, unless there's a link from some other source that is truly important and should stand out from the rest.

If the Cubs make a trade or signing, I'll put a new front-page post up as soon as possible.

Let the dealing begin!