A blast from Crane Kenney

by aisle209 on May 15, 2008 1:26 PM CDT

Just got a PDF from the Cubs. Here is an exerpt...

The 2008 season is off to a great start. As I write this, the Cubs are in first place in the National League Central and boast the second-best record in baseball. We have a long way to go, but

Manager Lou Piniella is leading a team of veterans and newcomers who are focused on having a

championship season. Since the end of the 2006 season, we’ve made some dramatic changes to

our organization and the results are rewarding for all of us. It’s truly an exciting time to be part of

our team and we thank you for your support.

As part of our effort to continue making our team and ballpark better, I am happy to introduce a

new program open only to Cubs season ticket holders. “Tell it to the Cubs” is a new opportunity

for you to join me and a small group of other season ticket holders for lunch at Wrigley Field to

discuss issues surrounding the club, our ballpark, our neighborhood and beyond.

We will select a small group of season ticket holders each month from among those who express interest.

As an organization, our obligation to you is to field a championship team, maintain the 94-yearold Friendly Confines and preserve the Wrigley Field experience. We can accomplish these goals and believe our decision-making will be improved with input from our fans. We plan to keep each group small so we can have an open and active discussion.

I signed up for a session. Throw out some ideas for discussion.

One of my consortium already complained that if the Cubs go along with the crooks at the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority, we won't be able to afford our seats anymore.

And I I don't care what the new name for Wrigley Field will be. I will just keep calling it Wrigley Field.

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or Al Yellon, managing editor (unless it's a FanPost posted by Al). FanPost opinions are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.

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Comments

Here's a suggestion...

tell them to permanently do away with the blue uniform tops. They look like warm-up tops or spring training tops. White pinstripes only.

"Dad gum right this games gonna be played under protest. . . I guarantee this is gonna be one protest that's upheld." --Hawk Harrelson, 6/24/07

by RynoHoF on May 15, 2008 2:04 PM CDT reply actions

FWIW

This may mean nothing statistically, but for what it’s worth, Zambrano is the chief proponent of the alternate blues, and compare his 2008 so far with his 2007 up to this point. :-)

by John Q Freejazz on May 15, 2008 2:32 PM CDT up reply actions

Zambrano

If Z keeps pitching like this he could ask the team go out in dresses and high heels and parasols as far as I’m concerned.

We are all waiting for that glorious October night when we finally win it all. Until then we will continue to cheer, never do the wave and hope.

by puckishcubsfan on May 15, 2008 2:33 PM CDT up reply actions

I hope they win the WS in that uni

"Hey.....Cubs win!!!" ---Harry
"Swung on belted!!!"---Chip

by Hammer on May 15, 2008 2:48 PM CDT up reply actions

Go Old school

Tell them to have an alternate navy blue/walking bear old school jersey

Okay, just so I understand it... in your wildest fantasy, you are in hell. And you are co-running a bed and breakfast with the devil.

by bren on May 15, 2008 3:13 PM CDT up reply actions

Throwbacks

I too would enjoy a good ol’ throwback uni day every once in a while

by deanosaur on May 15, 2008 4:31 PM CDT up reply actions

I wished they would use the throwback jerseys also

Either the ‘84 or the ‘69 ones, those two are my favorite

"We Are Not Fair Weather But Foul Weather Fans, Brothers In Arms In Streets and The Stands." -Eddie Vedder, Someday We'll Go All The Way

by ryanbrixenivy on May 15, 2008 6:11 PM CDT up reply actions

Also I wished they would just get rid of that walking bear logo, it looks like something my 12 year old nephew would come up with

"We Are Not Fair Weather But Foul Weather Fans, Brothers In Arms In Streets and The Stands." -Eddie Vedder, Someday We'll Go All The Way

by ryanbrixenivy on May 15, 2008 8:14 PM CDT up reply actions

Specifically from the pennant winning teams

Jersey’s, bats, hats, 8×10 pics etc

Another on the throwback would be a historical timeline poster that can be framed. Go back past the West Side grounds and even when they were at near where the Sox play now, back to the orphans, the great Chicago fire and their real start; 1870 in the National Association, 6 years before the start of the National League.

by blackhawk24 on May 15, 2008 8:33 PM CDT up reply actions

Yes...

Let Big Z wear whatever jersey he likes. I personally loved that they came back this year because I know how much he likes them!!!

"I’ll try to do anything to win a game." - My Man....BIG Z

by akbeck98 on May 15, 2008 8:01 PM CDT up reply actions

Yep.

I like the blue jerseys.

by sue369 on May 16, 2008 4:25 PM CDT up reply actions

Agreed.

At the very least, stop wearing them at home.

by Shanghai Badger on May 15, 2008 5:42 PM CDT up reply actions

Amen...the blue softball tops have to go

If you don’t like the road unis, then design new road unis. But for the love of God enough with wearing those softball tops several days a week.

Mr. Towers, tear down this wall (er, I mean give us back Greg Maddux) !

by MDBNIU on May 15, 2008 10:45 PM CDT up reply actions

Im starting to really like this guy

I’m really starting to like Crane Kenney.

We are all waiting for that glorious October night when we finally win it all. Until then we will continue to cheer, never do the wave and hope.

by puckishcubsfan on May 15, 2008 2:33 PM CDT reply actions

I should add

that I am mainly going because the letter contained the Magic Word

LUNCH

There are those who dedicate themselves to a sense of honor, a life of courage, and a commitment to something greater than themselves. The Few. The Proud.

by aisle209 on May 15, 2008 2:43 PM CDT reply actions

You forgot the magic word that caught your attention

FREE lunch!!!

by cubswin on May 15, 2008 5:20 PM CDT up reply actions

for some reason this popped into my head (dont ask why)

from the BBC version of the office (and no i dont have this memorized I found it at tv.com)

Tim: Gareth, are you still in the TAs?
Gareth: Yeah.
Tim: What rank are you?
Gareth: Lieutenant.
Tim: Are you? Because I was thinking, if you ever take an enemy soldier prisoner, right, would you have to search him?
Gareth: Yeah, it’s possible. Yeah.
Tim: Right, so let’s just say you’ve taken him prisoner, you’re doing a full body search, you find something hard, you can feel it, you know what it is. Do you just say to him, “I know you’ve got a big weapon, give it to me now”? Or…?
Gareth: I’m not gonna ask him, I would just get it out myself.
Tim: Right. And what happens – you’re going into battle situation – are up in front with your men, or are you coming up the rear?
Gareth: Well, depends.
Dawn: It’s possible you’d come up the rear?
Gareth: It’s possible, yeah.
Tim: That’s all we wanted to know

---AC 00 00 00 - Believe

by mjk83 on May 15, 2008 3:05 PM CDT reply actions

You didn't sign up for a session...

... you signed up for a chance to be chosen for a session. This was sent to ALL season ticket holders, and as it said in the letter:

We will select a small group of season ticket holders each month from among those who express interest.

Good luck. Hope they choose both of us.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on May 15, 2008 4:13 PM CDT reply actions

Make that 3 of us.

by cubswin on May 15, 2008 5:21 PM CDT up reply actions

make that FOUR of us!!!!!

"next year" is finally HERE!!!!!

by ryno4ever on May 15, 2008 5:42 PM CDT up reply actions

Can one of you propose

Outlawing the “Human Air Raid Siren”? :)

by Shanghai Badger on May 15, 2008 5:44 PM CDT up reply actions

That'll be on my list.

Seriously.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on May 15, 2008 6:01 PM CDT up reply actions

If they throw it to a vote of frequent attendees

You’ll have mine

by Shanghai Badger on May 15, 2008 6:08 PM CDT up reply actions

Maybe they'll chose me too

We got the letter too. Of course we signed up for a chance to be in a session.

Crane Kenney is a keeper so far. Heck Zell aint so bad. He’s been hands off the team.

We are all waiting for that glorious October night when we finally win it all. Until then we will continue to cheer, never do the wave and hope.

by puckishcubsfan on May 15, 2008 6:20 PM CDT up reply actions

I should have made sure to say

That I have been a season ticket holder since 1990. That woulda gotten me in.

Our first seats were two seats away from being out in the street.

There are those who dedicate themselves to a sense of honor, a life of courage, and a commitment to something greater than themselves. The Few. The Proud.

by aisle209 on May 15, 2008 9:38 PM CDT up reply actions

I also heard

There were rumblings among the season ticket holders that if they were to win the world series season ticket holders over a certain number of years would get some sort of recognition a plaque or something.

We are all waiting for that glorious October night when we finally win it all. Until then we will continue to cheer, never do the wave and hope.

by puckishcubsfan on May 15, 2008 5:50 PM CDT reply actions

Knowing my luck

Knowing my luck we’ll get chosen for the forum while we’re in Europe.

We are all waiting for that glorious October night when we finally win it all. Until then we will continue to cheer, never do the wave and hope.

by puckishcubsfan on May 15, 2008 6:23 PM CDT reply actions

I'd be delighted to serve as a proxy, and you'll find my fees (free) VERY reasonable.

Also skilled in communication. I’m your guy!

(silence)

(falls on knees) OH PLEASE PICK ME!!!!!! PLEASE! I’LL DO ANYTHING!! haha

Alan Trammell: Assistant (to the) Manager

by northsider on May 15, 2008 7:56 PM CDT up reply actions

This is a great idea that Crane kenney has

It should be interesting. This is a far better idea than the one discussed here earlier in the week . The one brilliant idea proposed by someone, that season ticketholders shouldn’t get post season tickets.
http://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2008/5/13/508964/season-tickets-questions#comments

by cubswin on May 15, 2008 8:32 PM CDT reply actions

What was the point of bringing that up again

It was a dumb idea, but there’s no reason to search back and rehash it. Grow up.

my owner buys me the expensive cat food, but i'll just eat this dvd shrinkwrap and that bug over there

by dr stabbingworth on May 16, 2008 8:16 AM CDT up reply actions

thanks for the advice

but I felt like pointing out a stupid idea again.

by cubswin on May 16, 2008 8:30 AM CDT up reply actions

Not necessary.

Thankfully, everyone except the person who posted it realized what a dumb idea it was and said so. There really ISN’T any need to rehash it.

Thanks. Let it be.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on May 16, 2008 8:58 AM CDT up reply actions

no problem

by cubswin on May 16, 2008 9:06 AM CDT up reply actions

Here's one that's probably already on Al's list

If Kerry Wood doesn’t want a “theme song”, honor the request!

by Shanghai Badger on May 15, 2008 9:08 PM CDT reply actions

Ask him why the Cubs do not hesitate...

...to put their seats up for auction to the highest bidder and bankroll their affiliate scalper, but they want nothing to do with an auction for their staidum to the highest bidder and instead prefer that the taxpayers of this State subsidize the construction costs and over runs?

by DudeVf11 on May 16, 2008 12:32 AM CDT reply actions

Here's one

I posted on “Cubs Entrance Music” diary. I understand Woody doesn’t want any entrance music but its played anyway. Discuss how the players don’t want it, don’t do it. Apparently the marketeers are doing what they want to do anyway.

Personally, I don’t want Wrigley to ever develop into a ‘sensory overload’ venue. If people want that, they can go to PHX and after a few games, walk out of there with a migrane.

Subtle changes….don’t turn the place into a rock concert. It’s the last bastion of baseball the way it was meant to be played.

by blackhawk24 on May 16, 2008 10:00 AM CDT reply actions

IF I get picked to go...

and that’s a big if – This is what I am going to bring up. It was a year or two ago when the DBacks were in town near the end of July and the temp was over 100 for a night game. The Cubs looked like they had to truck in emergency generators for the game.

I am not completley clear on all of the details, but I think there was no music blasting between innings. I don’t think they even had enough juice to do announcements or run the electronic scoreboards.

It was heaven.

Someone with a better memory than me, please help me out with the details so that if I go to the fan meeting, I can give accurate details.

There are those who dedicate themselves to a sense of honor, a life of courage, and a commitment to something greater than themselves. The Few. The Proud.

by aisle209 on May 16, 2008 11:03 AM CDT up reply actions

I think what we should do...

... is that if any one (or more than one) BCB reader is picked for this meeting, I’ll make a post where people can post suggested questions/comments that we can bring to the lunch. Can’t guarantee that all of them will get mentioned, but at least we can come armed with some good ideas.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on May 16, 2008 5:02 PM CDT up reply actions