Bleacher Reconstruction & Game Update - March 9

by Al Yellon on Mar 9, 2006 5:33 PM CST in 2005-06 Bleacher Reconstruction Project

It was hardly worth the trip to Tucson today -- the Cubs lost to the Rockies 6-2, and no one did much. They managed only four singles and two doubles. Of course, only two of the projected starting eight (Matt Murton and Jacque Jones) played today. Jerome Williams got pounded. That's not good news.

The other interesting thing about today's game was the attendance -- only 3,734, less than half capacity at Hi Corbett Field. When I went to Tucson last March, the game drew a sellout of 8,587. Yes, that was on a weekend, and the Tucson weather (63 and cloudy) wasn't so great today. But I do believe this shows that attendance is down in general for the Cubs in the Cactus League.

Also, Mark Prior faced hitters today and is still in line to start a Cactus League game next week.

Now, what you have been clamoring for -- new photos of the bleacher construction project! You'll note some significant changes in the last week, including a staircase at the western edge of the LF bleachers (last photo in 2nd row). And the reason there wasn't an extra update last weekend was -- David has been sick, and couldn't get his photos to me. He promised to send me some this weekend.

The timeline has also been updated. (If you looked last week, it wasn't -- I forgot! But it is now updated with both last week's and today's photos.)

Top: walkway behind CF & top of new elevator; view of what will be entranceway (note: no work has been done on lower level restrooms yet); wall on Waveland (in background, the restaurant); scoreboard & walkway in LF. This photo is significant because of the clock -- for several months it was stuck on 7:55, but 10:28 is the time this photo was taken, and the clock did move while I was there. This indicates that power has been restored to at least part of the bleachers.

Middle: photo taken from Kenmore at the request of one of the Waveland ballhawks. Note that although the new structure is large, it isn't all that tall. I doubt it will make much difference at all in the number of balls reaching the street, either in BP or during games; LF walkway showing new green/white paint job; this stairway in LF has gone up in the last week. Not sure where it is going to lead to; concrete work on Sheffield

Bottom: more wall work on Sheffield; wide view of entire RF structure; the "knothole" (this view is likely to vanish soon as they complete the wall); the far south end of the structure on Sheffield

Photos by Al

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Williams gave up 6 ER in 3-IP

not good, that is troubling. IIRC last year he would have one good game and one poor game. Rusch also didn't have a good game in his last start, but alas it is spring training and nothing counts.

Dopirak had a hit and the blogger at Trade Rumors says he is deducing that the Nationals would be interested in a 1B prospect as part of a Soriano deal.

Getting Soriano would mean so many changes and possibly moving Murton to the #2 hole as Soriano is a 5th-6th hitter....but that is not defense.

Bill Veeck planted Ivy during 'The Depression', and over time the Ivy Walls has become the most distinct symbol of Wrigley Field.

by Ivy Walls on Mar 9, 2006 5:46 PM CST reply actions

Yeah, but

No walks or strikeouts, just the 8 hits. That sounds to me like Williams was working on a specific pitch, and didn't care if the batters knew it was coming.

I'll wait for a more detailed report before this outing worries me about Jerome.

by cubzfan on Mar 9, 2006 9:03 PM CST up reply actions

Logjams all around

If Soriano played almost any other position except for second, this would be a great trade. Dopirak probably won't see a whole lot of playing time these next few years with DLee at first, and the Cubs most likely could get a good player for him if the deal was good enough. For Soriano the Second basemen, this would just further the Second Base Sweepstakes already going on in camp with Walker, Perez, and Hariston. I think we all know the Cubs weak spots coming into the season and if the Cubs feel the absolute need to trade Dopirak, I'd rather have them fill a hole rather than add to the pile. Until then, let the kid play and let Soriano be selfish in D.C.

"Hello again, everybody. It's a bee-yooo-tiful day for baseball."- Harry Caray

by TkGoUWGB on Mar 9, 2006 10:22 PM CST up reply actions

left field

could the staircase possibly be leading back into the main part of the stadium? It seems strange, but I am sure that all will be revealed in time

AC 00 00 00 - BELIEVE

by mike @ Bleed Cubbie Blue on Mar 9, 2006 5:53 PM CST reply actions

The staircase...

... it has to be leading there; I can't imagine it would end up on the sidewalk as it appears to be from that photo.

by Al Yellon on Mar 9, 2006 5:55 PM CST up reply actions

escape route

I think it's for us poor, neglected bleacher bums to enter the real world and get decent food. The outer wall will cover the stairs, I hope.

Looking forward to eating something besides hot dogs and pizza puffs.

by bh714 on Mar 9, 2006 6:47 PM CST up reply actions

Looking at that photo again...

... it does appear that the staircase is going to be behind the wall, which will obviously be extended to the west of where it is now.

by Al Yellon on Mar 9, 2006 7:21 PM CST up reply actions

Stairway

Yeah, it looks like they are preparing to build a wall that will curve around to the main concourse

Between genius and madness, lies Conrad

by conrad on Mar 9, 2006 6:01 PM CST up reply actions

New stairway

I take it as being a replacement for the ramp that used to slope behind the left field corner wall, and I would guess there will be a gate of some kind there, flush with the brick wall and at the level of the sidewalk, which slopes up toward the northeast corner of the block, just as do the various sections of concrete base for the new wall. The handicapped will be able to use the new elevator (hurrah to the Cubs for doing that), so they don't need the ramp in that corner any more. Also, this stairway should keep the bleacher and grandstand sections separate. Ya don't want dose rowdies in da box seats invading da bleaching-boards, ya know? >:)

by Wahkeenah on Mar 9, 2006 10:17 PM CST up reply actions

Short wall

I'm a little surprised that the outside wall doesn't extend all the way to the bottom of the bleachers. It would be hard to get over it especially with 24 hour security but it still looks possible.

Also, while they have done a lot of work it looks like I still wonder if they feel like they are pushing the home opener date yet.

by JonH on Mar 9, 2006 6:31 PM CST reply actions

The old outside wall...

... was exactly the same; there was a gap between it and the bottom of the bleachers. I doubt there's a security issue.

It's true, the home opener is four weeks from tomorrow and it does seem like a lot must be done. I still think they'll make it.

by Al Yellon on Mar 9, 2006 7:24 PM CST up reply actions

Gap atop wall

Nothing a little electrified razor wire wouldn't solve. >:) There was a gap above the old wall, yes, because it was there first. They extended the top of the 1914 wall as a backing to the old-old field-level bleachers in the 1920s, presumably to keep overly-jolly fans from falling into the streets, and they left it pretty much as it was when the new-old bleachers were built in 1937. The planes of the walls and the new 1937 seating area were not at right angles, and a gap was mathematically inevitable, but the wall was pretty high and presumably well guarded. Now, of course, they have security cameras 24 x 7 (an early 1970s P.K. innovation) so I wouldn't think there is much likelihood of al-Qaeda or emboldened bar patrons successfully scaling the bricks.

by Wahkeenah on Mar 9, 2006 10:23 PM CST up reply actions

It looks like...

...there is to much concrete below the new brick wall. Will the sidewalk really be up that high? From the pictures, I can't tell how much below street level the dirt is, so maybe the concrete will be covered up.

Great photos as always Al!

by stadiumguru on Mar 9, 2006 6:49 PM CST reply actions

They dug the old sidewalks out...

... pretty deep, and I suspect they will be at the same level as the old ones.

by Al Yellon on Mar 9, 2006 7:20 PM CST up reply actions

Question Al

Second row of pictures, first one. There appears to be two fences. One for the back of the walkway and another which appears to be on the back row of the seats. Is this true, will there be a fence to stop me from faling off the top row of bleachers onto the walkway?

by mrcubsfan on Mar 9, 2006 7:21 PM CST reply actions

Yes.

There are two fences, and will be, all the way around... one behind the last row of bleacher benches, the other behind the walkway.

by Al Yellon on Mar 9, 2006 7:22 PM CST up reply actions

And . . .

it looks like the back fence is going to be painted green.
What's going on with the "speaker poles"?
(THANKS for the pics, Al! I hope David feels better!)

"Respect the game above all else." - Ryne Sandberg, July 31, 2005, Cooperstown, NY

by Tom @ Bleed Cubbie Blue on Mar 9, 2006 7:52 PM CST up reply actions