SB Nation User Blog: john62

Chiefs vs. Cougars Tickets

john62 — Fri, 02 May 2008 14:59:40 -0000

As a huge Cubs and Wrigley fan, I thought the Chiefs vs. Cougars game might give me and the kids a chance to see a game with great seats that we could afford. A few minutes ago (9:45 am) I tried to get 4 tickets. According to Ticket Master, the "Best Available" was Section 4, why down the Left Field line.

Now, these are good seats and for the Cubs would take them, but I was hoping for much better (near home plate) for the minor league game.

It appears that this game will be very popular and another great success for the Cubs marketing department.

Cubs Caravan Lunch

john62 — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 20:32:13 -0000

I just returned from the lunch that was part of the Cubs Caravan, held at Harry Carey's. It was fabulous! There were about 140 people, plus the player, staff and coaches. Each table of 8-9 people had someone from the Cubs that attended:
Lou Piniella
Bob Brenly
Len Kasper
Oneri Fleita
Matt Sinatro
Rich Hill
Kevin Hart
Jeff Samardzija
Ryan Theriot
Jim Hendry
Randy Bush
Pat Hughes
Cory Provus
Larry Rothschild
Alan Trammell
Tyler Colvin
Rocky Roquet
Geovany Soto

There was more interaction with the players, because there was substanially less people than at the convention. My daughters and I were able to get some autographs and photos.

Jim Hendry took questions and seems very honest and funny. Of course, he said he could not get specific on players. Some answers:

He confirmed the Jon Lieber signing and was excited to bring him back to the Cubs.

Matt Murton does not fit into the Cubs plans (please no flames, I am only reporting). They feel that he is a much better Left fielder than Right and when Soriano was moved, there was no plan for Matt. Hendy wants to do what is right for the Cubs first, but Matt second. He is trying to find him an everyday job with another club.

The Cubs were not in the Santana talks because 150 million is too much money, when the club is being sold. Hendry said he has gone over the budget before, but not 150 million.

They are still looking at Roberts (it seems) and when someone asked about combining Roberts and Berdard, Henry joked, "We hadn't thought of that, I will get on it this afternoon." (He was at ease and somewhat funny.)

The best part was that as we were leaving Harry Carey's, Ryne Sandburg was walking in and I got his autograph, and it is mine not my daugthers.

If you have other questions, I will try to answer.

Cubs Players Lunch - Jan 16

john62 — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 16:23:10 -0000

UPDATE [2007-12-3 10:20:03 by Al]: Not sure where this info came from originally, but the original diary read like a copy/paste from another site. *****REMINDER****** This is a copyright violation and could get me and BCB in legal hot water. Here's the cubs.com press release announcing this event.

See the link above for the information that was in this diary - about a lunch with Lou and various players on January 16. Tix on sale today.

Strength of Schedule

john62 — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 16:58:18 -0000

After the comments in the summary thread of the schedule, I decided to do a little research into the Cubs and Brewers remaining schedule. They are remarkable similar; it seems there has been a mirror image all year and that continues. For example, after this weekend, we go to Washington and Pittsburgh. The Brewers go to Pittsburgh and THEN Washington. This happens MOST of the rest of the year.

Outside of the 2 remaining series with the Cubs/Brewers - BOTH at Wrigley; the teams are well balanced.

Cubs Brewers

Remaing Series 26 26
Home Series 13 12
Away Series 13 14 Note 2 at Wrigley
Teams with Winning 7 6
Teams with Winning 5 6
EXCLUDING Cubs/Brewers
Home/Winning 6 4
Home/Non-Winning 7 8
Away/Winning 1 2
Away/Non-Winning 12 12

Non-Common Opps Hou H Col H Mirror from last series
LA H SD H
Fla A Atl A

As you can see, pretty even. The only Cubs advantage seems to be the last month. The final 6 series we play are all vs. non-winning teams (Pit, Hou, StL, Cin, Pit, Fla, Cin) while two of the three last Brewers series are against winning teams (Atl, StL, SD). We both play many games against the poor NL Central- StL (3), Pit (3), Hou (4 Cubs 3 Mil) and Cin (4); or 18 out of 26.

While I was doing this, I looked at the Wild Card race schedule. As we all know, we are 7.5 out of the Central, but 6 out of the WC. The teams ahead of us in the WC are Phi, Atl, Ari, LA with NY and SD leading their divisions. Each of these teams play most of THEIR games against division foes, so they will be beating up on each other. It MAY be easier to get into the playoffs via the WC.

Opening Day Tickets

john62 — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 18:59:31 -0000

I have 4 tickets available for Opening Day, if anyone wants them.

They are Section 237 Row 22 Face Value $30.00 plus the Cubs fees. I purchased them directly from Cubs.com and they are not Limited View.

If anyone is interested please email me at jphillips at systemparking period com.

I know there is a Ticket Exchange Diary, but I posted these a few days ago and no responded. I asked Al and he said it was OK to post a new diary, since it is Opening Day. If no one is interested, I will have to sell them to a scalper.

Thanks.

Obtaining Autographs

john62 — Wed, 27 Sep 2006 14:04:44 -0000

I am taking my daughters to Saturday's game (3:05). In the past we have arrived two hours early and lined up by the bullpen/tarps; they have been able to get quite a few autographs.

There are certain players, that come over and sign autographs regularly (Murton, Marshall, relief pitchers) but there are several that do not. My daugters would like to get autographs from Zambrano, Jones, Pierre, and Theroit.

I heard that prior to the game, there is a chance to get autographs outside the park by the players parking lot. Has anyone done this? Do the above players sign here? What time would we have to be there and where exactly should we go?

Thank you for your assistance.

Rookie Pitchers - 2007 Rotation

john62 — Thu, 17 Aug 2006 16:33:21 -0000

Since this is an off-day I would like to start a discussion of which rookies YOU would have in the 2007 rotation. I would like the discussion to ONLY be about the rookies.

First, a few parameters: 1. Carlos Zambrano will be back and lead the rotation. 2. We have two veterans starters. These could be Prior, Wood, Miller, Zito, or anyone else. (Please do NOT turn this diary into WHO we should have or IF Prior/Wood come back; assume there are two vererans.. 3. There are TWO rookies in the 2007 rotation.

The question is which TWO rookies would YOU put in the rotation. The follow up question is would YOU be willing to trade any of the others for say a 2B/LF from Washington?

Each of the following are the names, number of games started this year for the Cubs, record and ERA:

Angel Guzman 5 0/3 6.68
Rich Hill 8 3/5 6.90
Carlos Marmol 12 5/5 5.50
Sean Marshall 19 5/8 4.98
Juan Mateo 2 1/0 3.00
Ryan O'Malley 1 1/0 0.00
Jae Kuk Ryu 1 0/0 27.00

My choices would be Mateo and Marmol based on performance so far. I wouold be willing to trade Guzman, Hill and Ryu.

Poll

Which rookies start next year?

Ryu

1 votes

Another Rookie, if there are any left

1 votes

Guzman

3 votes

Hill

25 votes

Marmol

5 votes

Marshall

39 votes

Mateo

2 votes

O'Malley

2 votes

78 votes | Poll has closed