Did anyone else notice Soriano is missing from the player picture line-up at the bottom of the email for the Cubs 2011 Holiday Card?
Marmol, Dempster and Garza are "representing" the pitchers. Castro, Barney and Stewart represent the infielders and Byrd, Campana, and DeJesus represent the outfielders.

I'm short of the 75 words, so to all members of Bleed Cubbie Blue: Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukah, and Happy New Year. May 2012 bring a .500 season! It is sad that is where my expections fall. I will actually be "satisfied" (not happy, merely satisfied) with an 81-81 season.

I've been an avid "Criminal Minds" fan for just over a year, and tonight I noticed a strategically placed Cubs hat in David Rossi's office. For those of you who do not watch this show, David Rossi is played by Chicago native, Joe Mantegna. I knew he was a Cubs fan, but I was thrilled to see his character is too!

Just a silly little observation and "tidbit" as I sit and watch the countdown on BCB's home page slowly tick away until Spring Training 2011! 

Although I am sure there are BCB members who have sat in the 1st Row right behind Home Plate, I will have my first opportunity on Thursday when the Diamondbacks get into town. Unfortunately my husband cannot attend with me, but that didn't stop me from jumping on the invite! Anyway, because I am the photographer for the Rotary Club I belong to, I have a pretty sweet camera. Is it possible for me to post some of the pictures I take on BCB? And yes, I know the Umpires bum may be directly in front of me, but I should be able to get some nice close up shots of the players - and their bums... hahaha! Honestly, I should get some great shots.

This will be 1 of 4 games I am attending during the season, and each seat is in a different location. I will be sitting in the bleachers for the first time during the Jun 19th game vs the Angels, and on Aug 8th a group of Cedar Rapids Fire Fighters and their wives are renting out the rooftop on Sheffield. I am anxious to experience games from so many different perspectives! Hopefully the game will be more like the series against the Brewers last weekend and less like the series against the Mets/Astros/Reds!

If I can share my pictures on BCB I certainly will!

I am just curious what BCB readers think about Theriot and the pending arbitration. Who will win? What does Theriot deserve? Why neither side will settle on $3M... this is pure curiosity on my part. I know the Cubs have not gone into arbitration for 17 years and I am sure the hearings are not pleasant. I imagine going to aritration can certainly create some bad blood between the player and the organization. I know Theriot isn't your prototypical SS and he really is playing out of position, but he has been a 2-1/2 - 3 year starter (right?) and fairly consistent. I'm interested in what BCB readers think - and I apologize if this has been discussed in other threads. I sustained a concussion a few weeks ago - that is my excuse if this has been discussed before!

I need some information / advice....

I told my husband I wanted to go to the Cubs Convention for my Christmas gift. I gave him the dates, ticket prices, location, etc - natually he asked questions I did not have an answer for "what exactly happens at the Convention?", "are their players there or just avid Cub fans like you?", "is there entertainment", "how hard is it to get tickets?"

Any information, advice, suggestions would be great!

Thank you in advance!!

(I noticed a typo and I feel like a dork...I corrected it, all is well now!)

As the weather rapidly deteriorates in the Midwest (yet another reminder the regular season has come to end), I contemplated about which player I would like to have a conversation with. I still have not narrowed it down, so for my first (and rather brief) FanPost, I thought I would throw the question out to anyone who is so inclined to answer -

Which player on the 2009 roster would you like to have an in-depth (off the record) conversation with?