SB Nation User Blog: CaughtInTheVines

OK, fess up - is someone here this person?

CaughtInTheVines — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 03:20:53 -0000

OK, fess up - is someone here this person?

The Onion (note: a satirical newspaper) runs another Cub-related story, and raises the question: who is this man? It sure seems like they could be a member of Bleed Cubbie Blue!

Parody: There never really was a "Roy Halladay"

CaughtInTheVines — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 20:01:24 -0000

Parody: There never really was a "Roy Halladay"

Fun on a slow day - the always-authoritative Onion has the inside poop:

"Responding to criticism that the team should have done more to deal star pitcher Roy Halladay by the trade deadline, Blue Jays general manager J.P. Ricciardi revealed at a press conference Monday that there was no such person as the alleged six-time All-Star."

Favorite MLB radio announcers?

CaughtInTheVines — Thu, 28 May 2009 23:59:55 -0000

So I've been home with the flu the last couple of days, and listening to ballgames via my iPhone to distract myself.

In the interest of offering a little change of pace, and because a number of folks here have access to all the MLB radio broadcasts via the iPhone app and Gameday Audio, I thought it would be interesting to ask what baseball radio broadcasters people enjoy listening to.

I haven't done exhaustive research, but so far I've enjoyed:

- Jim Price for the Tigers, especially with Al Kaline filling in doing color - Price has a great, old-fashioned radio voice and knows the game, and Kaline adds a lot of knowledge of his own.

- Uecker and old WGN pal Cory Provus for the Brewers do a good job (despite having to talk about the Brewers all the time)

- Joe Castiglione for the Red Sox is pretty great, too - New England deadpan

I really think Pat Hughes on WGN holds up well by comparison - he's exceptionally good at giving you a sense of what happens when the ball is hit, and keeping you posted on runners, the count, etc. He really paints a picture of the scene.

We all know that Santo doesn't add a ton of actual information to the broadcast, but from what I've heard, he DOES add the most honest emotion of any broadcaster I've heard. And by doing what he does, he creates a certain unique sense of engagement and intensity. So on balance, I'd say the Cubs are doing well with their radio team.

Anyway, I'd be interested in other people's comments - have at it!

Let's get Hanley and let him grow his hair!

CaughtInTheVines — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 21:02:49 -0000

Let's get Hanley and let him grow his hair!

The Marlins made Hanley Ramirez cut his hair and he says he wants to be traded.....I'm sure it'll blow over, but jeez, he'd made a nice addition to the infield, whatever 'do he happened to have!

Cubs Exhibition Game Tickets?

CaughtInTheVines — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 15:36:26 -0000

Hey, Pinstripers - I'm a visitor from the Bleed Cubbie Blue blog, but do have some Yankee background, having spent most of the 70s in the NYC area rooting for Munson, Hunter, Nettles, Jackson and that great gang. After spending my early youth in Chicago it was big fun to watch a championship team!

Anyway, I wanted to see if anyone has any info on tickets for the Cubs-Yankees preseason exhibition games (especially the Saturday, April 4 game) at the new Stadium - I've been checking yankees.com and it just keeps saying "check back later." Sounds like it would be a pretty cool experience and I figured someone here might have inside knowledge - if so, thanks for sharing.

AP's Bartman Story Appears

CaughtInTheVines — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 03:16:39 -0000

AP's Bartman Story Appears

There was some discussion a week or so ago about the AP reporter who was working on a story about how the Cub community feels about Steve Bartman. Here it is, and it looks like our hopes were realized - it's pretty much 100% about how no one is holding a grudge against him!

oGsbuCoG

CaughtInTheVines — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 03:29:28 -0000

oGsbuCoG

Per the suggestion of TheTruth11, and in line with tonight's apparently successful policy of doing things backwards, here's an MP3 of the last minute or so of "Go Cubs Go" played in reverse.

It all sounds pretty weird, except that "do it Huey Lewis" comes out kinda similar to the frontwards version....go figure!

!oGsbuSoG

Best food to bring in to Wrigley?

CaughtInTheVines — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 02:52:43 -0000

So this weekend I will be coming into Chicago and making my first trip to the Friendly Confines since the Sandberg era (intense excitement).

I've heard mixed reviews about the food at Wrigley and was thinking my wife and I might prefer to get something outside the park and bring it in with us....but I have no clue about the offerings in the neighborhood. Anyone have any tips for, say, a high-quality sandwich place?

If it makes any difference, we'll be walking west down Addison to get to the ballpark.

Many thanks in advance - and can't wait to be in the house!

Comments from my buddy the A's fan

CaughtInTheVines — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 02:40:44 -0000

Wanted to pass along these encouraging observations from a friend of mine out in the Bay Area, who's a very good observer of the game (he plays some ball himself so he knows what he's talking about).

Hope it helps us both, but it's "hard" to lose Harden. Basically, if he's

healthy (and that's the big wildcard) he's unhittable. He had a slight

meltdown in his last start, but that was a real anomaly. He has this

deceptively easy delivery style -- yet tops out in the high 90s.

I think this is the longest stretch he's been healthy, so hopefully he'll

last the rest of the season (and many more). He's really fun to watch pitch,

because he doesn't look like he's working at all, and batters are off

balance cuz they can't figure him out. Gaudin is good, too. His numbers

aren't that good this year, but he's a solid guy to have in the pen.

This should be a real shot in the arm to the Cubbies.

We shall see.....I'm thinking good thoughts about Harden-san's health and well-being.

Help me pick the right seat location

CaughtInTheVines — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 22:15:54 -0000

My wife and I will be making the trip to my old home town in August, with a day game at Wrigley at the top of the agenda (along with some family visiting, of course).

I haven't been to the ballyard since the Sandberg era, and not regularly since the Banks/Williams/Jenkins/Santo era, so my knowledge of the seating chart is pretty sketchy.

After looking over what's available on StubHub (I hate using them, but I don't want to have to do the day-of-game scalping thing with my wife), it looks like I could afford something in the infield part of the Terrace (boxes or front part of the reserved section) or something in the front row or two of the upper deck (which I recall is a pretty nice perspective, and one I think my wife would enjoy).

Are there any sections that are especially good or bad? We don't want to be in the direct sun; am I right in remembering that the 3d base side would be shady (the game we're looking at is a 1:20 start)? And are the first couple rows of the upper deck under the roof (not that it's going to rain - no, no, no)?

Thanks in advance for the BCB advice - and man, I can't wait to see the ivy again!