Bleacher Reconstruction Update - March 13

by Al on Mar 13, 2006 8:16 AM CST in 2005-06 Bleacher Reconstruction Project

Three weeks from Friday... this has to be finished, or at least finished enough for people to walk in, sit down, get things to eat and drink... and use the facilities. Looking at photo #7 (third one in the middle), I wonder about the last item in that list.

I'll post a game discussion thread later on today; thought you would enjoy the photos now! Photos taken Sunday morning, March 12.

Top: new stairs, in the LF corner. View looking east, down Waveland; view underneath the new stairs, in the LF corner; view looking east, of the new Waveland exterior. Note part of the original street curb, visible in the lower left corner of the photo; view looking west, of the new Waveland Ave.exterior, toward the new stairs.

Middle: top of the left/center field bleachers. Note the new bleacher extension that rises higher than the level of the new catwalk; another photo for the ballhawks. View from Kenmore; bleacher entrance, viewed from Waveland; bleacher entrance, viewed from across the street.

Bottom: new stairs in the right field corner; view from across the street, of the new stairs, in the right field corner; close-up view of the new stairs, in the right field corner; view of right field, looking north on Sheffield.

Photos by David Sameshima

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Loos like

they definitely have some work to do. Are they behind schedule or something?

"The key to winning baseball games is pitching, fundamentals, and three run homers." - Earl Weaver

by VS on Mar 13, 2006 8:54 AM CST 0 recs

No, I don't think they are...

... here's what remains to be completed:

the entranceway
the restrooms
reinstalling the benches
pouring concrete for the sidewalk
finishing the walls in front of where those new staircases are

That seems like a lot, but at the same time, it doesn't seem like anything that couldn't be done in three weeks.

by Al on Mar 13, 2006 9:08 AM CST up 0 recs

Also...

... its not like these jobs are necessarily going to be done by the same crews. The masons doing the brick work aren't going to be installing the benches and so on, so much of this can happen at the same time. Do we even know if any of the bench installation has begun? Another question, are the same types of benches being used for the bleachers?

DmL

by dmlichte on Mar 13, 2006 10:07 AM CST up 0 recs

I have not seen...

... any evidence of benches being installed yet.

Keep in mind that they claimed that many of the old benches would be reused, though we now know that a lot of them were dumped into dumpsters in October. So who knows? However, the CF bleachers were not touched, so they have to at least use the same TYPE of bench, if not the exact benches.

by Al on Mar 13, 2006 10:28 AM CST up 0 recs

A question

With respect to the tradition of the bleachers, would people be offended if they got to Wrigley on opening day and found bleacher benches in the style of Comiskey or other ballparks that have the seat back?

DmL

by dmlichte on Mar 13, 2006 11:05 AM CST up 0 recs

This won't be a problem...

... since it is my understanding that the benches that are going in, are the same style as the old ones.

by Al on Mar 13, 2006 1:13 PM CST up 0 recs

Meanwhile...

...Mark Prior is going to make another simulated start and the Cubs are "hopeful" he'll be ready to pitch on opening day. Funny that someone who is healthy needs so many simulated games.

From Today's Tribune:
Mark Prior's chances of making his first regular-season start on April 5 at Cincinnati will hinge on whether he's able to throw around 80 pitches by then.

Prior threw about 35 pitches on Sunday in a two-inning simulated game behind closed doors at HoHoKam Park. The Cubs insist he's still on track to be ready for the start of the season because the bullpen should be able to pick up the slack the first week with two scheduled days off.

"It gives us a little more leeway to look at things," pitching coach Larry Rothschild said. "If he can't go six or seven innings, the relievers won't get worn out that first week. We don't have to get him up to that 100-[pitch] benchmark."

Rothschild said he was "pretty positive" Prior can get up to 80 pitches in the next three weeks. With at least one more simulated game slated before a decision is made on his Cactus League debut, Prior may be able to make four spring starts, though three is more likely.

But time is getting short.

"It's not running out yet," manager Dusty Baker said. "He could come very quickly. He's thrown a lot. ... Nothing's wrong with him. Nothing hurts. Nothing. Nothing. It's just a matter of him getting on that mound."

Going on a five-day schedule, Prior would have to start on Thursday against Los Angeles to get four starts in. If he makes only three, his first start could come on March 21 against Milwaukee in Mesa.

Rothschild said three starts would be enough.

"You want to build up innings, where he can jump out there," Rothschild said. "Down here [in games] he can throw one inning and throw 30 pitches and we'd have to get him out of there. I don't know that with four [potential starts] left, you want to do that."

by jolietconvict on Mar 13, 2006 9:19 AM CST 0 recs

Prior..

based on how well Prior started at the beginning of last season, he looks like a guy who doesn't need much of a spring training. He missed one start at the beginning, then pretty much dominated until getting struck on the elbow with that line drive May 27th. He didn't have a ST in 2004 either. Looks like he's one of those guys who simply doesn't need to be in games for a month before the season starts. I'd rather do it this way than have him worn out by October.

by cashcowsquirtingsourmilk on Mar 13, 2006 11:20 AM CST up 0 recs

he also

looks like one of those guys who simply can't pitch a full season in the majors. :)

i don't buy that for a minute. i know it's what rothschild said, but he's lying and has to. everyone -- everyone -- needs to build arm strength to survive the grind. it's what s/t is designed to do. prior has been throwing less than everyone else. that is NOT building arm strength; that's coddling an injury.

by gaius marius on Mar 13, 2006 11:35 AM CST up 0 recs

I agree...

that Prior seems to be, for a lack of a better term, a baby, weak, whatever, and I hate it. I would have made the trade for Tejada if the O's wanted it, but we're stuck. He might be injured yes, but I don't agree that every pitcher needs spring training to pitch well for a full season. There are too many examples of a pitcher starting in May, doing well, finishing strong. He missed the last 2 springs and did very well the last 2 years. All I'm saying is that it's very possible that he can still have a full season with a 3.50 ERA. You seem to think it's IMpossible. that's what I find unreal.

by cashcowsquirtingsourmilk on Mar 13, 2006 1:16 PM CST up 0 recs

not impossible, just unlikely

i don't have the gift of prophecy, thankfully. :)

fwiw, i don't know that it's a mental thing with prior. it could very well be that he's in a significant amount of real pain that would bench any person. his arm was all but thrown off by dusty in 2003, and he hasn't been right since, imo -- which is all but confirmed by the way they're handling him now.

by gaius marius on Mar 13, 2006 1:44 PM CST up 0 recs

This is baseless

and in fact, this is contrary to what has been coming out of Mesa. According to reports, Prior's velocity is not where the Cubs want it to be. They were less than impressed with his velocity during various throwing sessions. However, they feel that this is simply a matter of him not having enough work. Apparently, his history, even in college, is that as his arm gets more work, his velocity increases. So your hypothesis does not seem to be consistent with what the Cubs are saying. He needs spring training.

DmL

by dmlichte on Mar 13, 2006 11:51 AM CST up 0 recs

ok

So then why isnt he getting spring training? Its like he has moundaphobia. This is one of the most ridiculous stories in my entire life as far as baseball goes. Unreal.

by Slaky311 on Mar 13, 2006 1:03 PM CST up 0 recs

the only reason

that makes this make sense -- this need for ubercontrol and secrecy -- is that they're rehabbing an injury. every other pitcher i've ever heard of pitching simulated games in spring is coming back from an injury. all the couching of when exactly he might be able to pitch and limitations on how much all feed into that.

they're not going to tell us about it. fine. at least do a responsible job of it, then, and don't try to get him ready for opening week. give him an extra three or four and hope he can pitch the rest of the year.

by gaius marius on Mar 13, 2006 11:28 AM CST up 0 recs

Bleachers...

I went by there yesterday and was really struck how big they are going to be. As for finishing in time? No problem. They have 3 weeks and these days they could work wonders. I think it's looking good...I curious to see what it looks like finished...

by cubbiechris on Mar 13, 2006 9:44 AM CST 0 recs

Al...

Do you know what was up with those random posts that appeared last night? Were they placed by a bot? They were really odd...

The Cubs will thrive in twenty-oh-five... or sometime thereafter!

by shawndgoldman on Mar 13, 2006 10:15 AM CST 0 recs

You know...

... I made a mistake. I deleted the diaries, of course. I should have taken a look at the username first. They appeared to come from Korea, based on the content. They did appear to come from a bot, which isn't supposed to happen on these sites.

I'll keep an eye out to see if they reoccur.

by Al on Mar 13, 2006 10:29 AM CST up 0 recs

Bleachers

So Al, once the season starts, how are you going to get pictures of the bleachers from the inside?

I mean, you spend most of your games in the bleachers, and it seems to me you could get pictures of left field as seen from right and right field as seen from left, but how are you going to picture it as a whole?

Are you going to have agents in the grandstand, or are you going to check it out yourself from there?

I ask because you have a great series going...but it's all from the outside.

Just curious.

Probably a stupid question anyway.

by drone1047 on Mar 13, 2006 11:52 AM CST 0 recs

Well...

... I'll have to figure this out once the season starts!

by Al on Mar 13, 2006 1:12 PM CST up 0 recs

bleachers to grandstands

Aren't the Cubs making it so that fans in the bleachers can walk into the grandstand this year? I thought I read that somewhere.

I bet the bleachers won't look THAT different from behind the plate. Just the "luxury box" or whatever it is in center field instead of the bushes.

"At the end of the day, don't tell me how rough the waters are... just get the ship into port." - Stoney

by BCurt10 on Mar 13, 2006 1:15 PM CST up 0 recs

All of that is true...

... the Cubs have specifically claimed that they did the redesign so that it wouldn't look any different from the grandstand.

We shall see.

And yes, bleacher ticket holders will be allowed in the other part of the park -- but NOT vice versa.

by Al on Mar 13, 2006 1:17 PM CST up 0 recs

I guess I'll have to

have someone save my seat, when I leave the bleachers, to go into the grandstands with my camera. I too am curious how the new bleachers will look, from the rest of the ballpark. I'll make sure to forward photos, for posting here.

by holy mackerel on Mar 13, 2006 2:33 PM CST up 0 recs

What about the bricks?

Obviously, the Cubs opted not to use the old bricks in rebuilding the outside wall since it looks like nothing but new bricks were used. Am I right Al?

It makes you wonder. I guess the Cubs are going to start marketing those bricks any day now. How much you want to bet they charge at least $100 for small piece of "original Wrigley Field brick?"

Just a thought.

by cubfanindy on Mar 13, 2006 4:34 PM CST up 0 recs

You may be right...

... it doesn't APPEAR that they reused any bricks, though it's impossible to tell for sure.

by Al on Mar 13, 2006 8:04 PM CST up 0 recs

I agree...

but does it really look bad?
From the last 2 pics in the first row, the bleachers look almost the same as before except for the new concrete of the underside of the seats. I am a little worried that the concrete base is to high up at the base of the brick wall. Will the sidewalk be that high or will we see concrete if the ivy doesn't grow?

by stadiumguru on Mar 13, 2006 10:21 PM CST up 0 recs