Hi folks... haven't posted here in a while but I have a few questions for season ticket holders.  I know this was asked before the season and there are a lot of STH's here but I am curious as to how many of you are going to renew next year? 

The crappy product that seems to be going no where + incredibly expensive tickets makes me ask the question.

Anyway, just curious.  I know there are a lot of frustrated Cub fans and a lot have cut back on tickets (including myself) for multiple reasons.  I'm wondering if this is the year the Cubs play will drastically affect the STH's. 

Saw someone post something similar last year, and I hope I'm not beating anyone to it, but I hadn't seen it yet, so I figured, hey, I'll do it.

Twas the night before Opening Day, and all through the North Side and BCB
Not a creature was stirring, not even Cubs manager Mike Quade
Opening Day tickets were held in a desk drawer with care,
In hopes that a Cubs win soon would be there.

The Cubs were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of a World Series danced in their heads.
With the threatening night-time sky overhead, and I in my Cubs cap,
I just settled in for one final winter’s nap.

When out the next morning there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The mid-morning sun, shining with a hopeful glow
Gave the luster of mid-day to objects below.
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a baseball team, with game-time drawing near.

With a middle-aged driver, who has certainly paid his due,
I knew in a moment it must be Q.
More rapid than cardinals his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!

"Now Pena! Now, Sori! Now, Demp, Darwin and Starlin!
On, Rami! On, Dome! On Geo and Marlon!
To the edge of the infield! Out deep by the wall!
Now take the field! Take the field! Take the field all!"

And then, in a twinkling, I heard in the stands
A legendary #10, cheering and clapping his hands.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Away he went, smiling, without a sound.

But they were dressed in blue pinstripes, from their heads to their feet,
Preparing to rise to the top of the division, all quiet and discrete.
A mix of crafty vets and youngsters, Q had flung on his back,
And he looked calm and collected, confidence, he did not lack.

His eyes-how they twinkled! His grin, how merry!
It said to all Cubs fans “hey, this division ain’t that scary!”
The season begins, in hopes it will render,
A charge to the playoffs, like 08’s September.

He sprang to home plate, to his team gave a whistle,
And onto Wrigley they took, like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim as he went to the dugout out of sight,
"Happy Opening Day to all, and to all a good-night!"

'Tis the season.  GO CUBS.

This may sound a little corny and possibly not worthy of a fanpost, but I just wanted to thank all of you for getting me through yet another long off-season.  A special thanks to you, Al, for all of your hard work and giving us breaking news updates, interviews, game recaps and for keeping us sane through what has been quite an interesting off-season; from the hiring of Q, to the passing of Ronnie, to Kerry Wood coming back, to Silva's meltdowns.  Thanks to all BCB-ers for the great discussions and I look forward to continuing them throughout the '11 campaign. 

I know expectations aren't at an all-time high this year, but optimism has been restored for me, at least for now, and I wanted to thank all of you for that.

'Tis the season.  Go Cubs.

Joe Girardi has been tossed into the discussion about possibly becoming the next manager of the 2011 Chicago Cubs.  This would be great, yes, but today's ballgame at Yankee Stadium solidified the argument (for me, at least) that Girardi will be wearing Yankee pinstripes once again next Spring. 

My discussion with a member of the Yankees front office plus pictures from the Yankees' 11-5 win over Detroit after the jump.

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I've seen a lot of posts on here lately regarding the Cubs and how they have not gotten off to the hot start that we had all hoped for.  It looks like some people have given up, which kind of amazes me. 

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Thought some of you might enjoy these.  First Cubs game of the year for me...we had AWESOME seats...too bad the Cubs blew it in the end.  I would have taken more in the end, but I decided it wasn't worth it after the grand slam.  I was hoping to get a few of Marmol and the Cubs shaking hands after a win (sigh, groan).

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http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-spt-0219-cubs-chicago-spring-training-20100218,0,2502657.story

Carlos Zambrano claims that he feels like a rookie again and is done with his old ways.  He even says that he is going to get along with the umpires this year.  Overall he claims he has cleaned up his attitude.  I sure hope he means it this time.  Anyone think he's going to be able to live up to what he says and carry the Cubs until Lilly returns? (although Lilly is eyeing an Opening Day return)