Pitchers And Catchers Work Out One Month From Today!

by Al on Jan 14, 2009 8:52 AM CST in News Comment 85 comments

If your street looks like this today:

photo via jjprzy.envy.nu

... there's light at the end of that snowy tunnel. The first voluntary reporting date for pitchers & catchers is February 13, and the first pitcher/catcher workouts will be February 14. The rest of the team can report on February 16, and the first full-squad workout is February 17. And on February 25, baseball returns to Ho Ho Kam Park:

photo via www.mesaunitedway.org

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There is really a lot of snow in Chicago right now

by gocubsgo22 on Jan 14, 2009 9:04 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

oh yeah

WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 PM CST THIS AFTERNOON, WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY NOW IN EFFECT FROM 4 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO MIDNIGHT CST TONIGHT, WIND CHILL WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 12 PM CST FRIDAY

Here’s to Valentine’s Day and pitcher/catcher work outs. How sweet.

"Truth does not do as much good in the world as the semblance of truth does evil," - Duc de La Rochefoucauld, Maxims, 64.

by Emelie on Jan 14, 2009 9:07 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

There's a lot

of snow where I live in Iowa too. Our kids haven’t had school yet this week. I’m sick of it.

by sue369 on Jan 14, 2009 1:23 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Chicago Public Schools

Open all Week!

by gocubsgo22 on Jan 14, 2009 3:39 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Des Moines Public

schools did too I think but the smaller towns with rural students it was a no go.

by sue369 on Jan 14, 2009 4:52 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Kids home today

McHenry Cty pretty much everything is closed for the schools. -15F air temp this AM with a WC approaching -30F. Not quite Winnipeg yesterday but pretty cold none the less.

My middle-schooler’s trumpet would have frozen by the time she got to the bus stop and she absolutely refuses to let someone drive her – my tough little kiddie.

Sweet Lou for Mayor in '11.

by blackhawk24 on Jan 15, 2009 6:46 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I can't believe Des Moines

cancelled classes today because of the horrible temps. It’s just not worth having kids out in this weather. As of today our kids have missed their 4th day of school this week.

by sue369 on Jan 15, 2009 9:15 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I'm sure we'll be at 2 days this week as of tomorrow

Tonight’s low is expected to be even lower than last night’s.

Sweet Lou for Mayor in '11.

by blackhawk24 on Jan 15, 2009 9:47 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I'll be there!!

in sunny Mesa 3/16 to cheer on the 2009 World Champs

by Clutche on Jan 14, 2009 9:17 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

It was -51 C this morning in Winnipeg. Can anyone attest to anything close to that?

Los Cachorros!

by Laven on Jan 14, 2009 9:24 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Just -30 Wind Chill

Here in Iowa. That’s cold enough. The Mrs. doesn’t understand my clinging onto the MLB network through all of this. Bring on spring!

by NWIowaCubFan on Jan 14, 2009 9:29 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Hear, hear.

Brrr. Not supposed to get above zero in Chicago tomorrow.

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

by Al on Jan 14, 2009 9:33 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Hell No. It is cold here but NOTHING like that.

by gocubsgo22 on Jan 14, 2009 9:34 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I just

went through three weeks of those temperatures here in Fairbanks, Alaska. Good luck. Of course it never lasts anywhere near that long once it gets as far south as Winnipeg.

"I lof to hit de home ron!"

by Tekboy on Jan 14, 2009 9:41 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Y'know whenever it gets this cold here in Chicagoland...

…I think of places like Alaska, Minnesota, Canada, etc. and tell myself that life goes on there no matter how cold it gets. And, like you said, we typically have to deal with it for only a day or two. Tom Skilling’s predicting it’ll be a balmy 27 here on Sunday.

RIP Ron Asheton (1948-2009)

by dat cubfan daver on Jan 14, 2009 11:56 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

WC, not air temp...right

http://www.winnipegweather.com/

Coldest place I’ve ever been is in Edmonton at temps Winnipeg is seeing right now, about 40 below. I was with a large group of fans following the Blackhawks on one of their long road trips many years ago. We left Northlands Coliseum that night with so many warnings from all the locals before heading outdoors. I had never seen so many engine block heater plug-ins before.

For that trip Winnipeg didn’t happen to be that cold (we lucked out there).

A couple days later in Calgary, air temperature was above freezing.

And at the end of the trip in StL, we saw the upper 40’s, Fahrenheit that is.

Sweet Lou for Mayor in '11.

by blackhawk24 on Jan 14, 2009 9:42 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Yes, Windchill

I also don’t live IN Winnipeg, but south east of it. Colder, more wide open.

I have to start my car twenty minutes before work (for a five minute drive to work) and my engine heat is still below the line.

I say, bring on global warming! Yesterday I left my car running for 5 hours of non-driving time. I’m doing my part

Los Cachorros!

by Laven on Jan 14, 2009 1:37 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

It's still cold, damned cold

I hope your block heater keeps doing its job.

We won’t get that bad but tomorrow night may see -15 to -18 in the surrounding areas of the city where I live (40+ miles NW of the loop).

Sweet Lou for Mayor in '11.

by blackhawk24 on Jan 14, 2009 1:42 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

so if you just throw a bucket of water outside?

will it freeze in midflight haha?

Erm, well if we are going to call Milton Bradley nicknames, mine is Fischer Price: yes, you heard it here first..

by Chanman25 on Jan 14, 2009 10:11 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

It almost got to that in Fargo (well, it was -31 C)

when I was up there yesterday – cold enough to freeze the water pipes on our plane and cause some travel headaches.

I love to play baseball. I'm a baseball player. I've always been a baseball player. I'm still a baseball player. That's who I am. - Ryne Sandberg

by Trey2317 on Jan 14, 2009 10:41 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I used to live in Fargo

and I’ll tell you what, I’m dang glad engine-block heaters were standard equipment in new cars. The locals say the cold keeps out the riff-raff. Probably keeps out a lot more than that.

by Not Bruce Froemming on Jan 14, 2009 3:42 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

A frigid

82 degrees in Palm Springs this afternoon… sorry, but come baseball season it’s 120, so I have to brag now!

by socalicubsfan on Jan 14, 2009 9:32 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

nice...

a buck-twenty, eh? That ain’t fun either. Is it as dry there as PHX/Tucson?

Sweet Lou for Mayor in '11.

by blackhawk24 on Jan 14, 2009 1:17 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Definately not

120 in Phoenix is cake. Why do you think old people are crazy? It’s all that time in Florida that melts their brains.

by dr stabbingworth on Jan 14, 2009 2:46 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I left the house at 05:15

so it wasn’t as bad as it is now. That, and the fact I drive from near Crystal Lake to Schaumburg also helps a lot.

Sweet Lou for Mayor in '11.

by blackhawk24 on Jan 14, 2009 9:43 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

2/14 can't come soon enough

The streets in River North are fine, but the sidewalks are real bad. My 8-minute walk to work took about 15 minutes today; the snow is piled high and the wind is starting to pick up.
I’m calling in sick tomorrow.

One day I hope to come up with something worthy of this space.

by chilango2 on Jan 14, 2009 9:54 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Working from home ftw

Gotta save those sick days for prime dates

by dr stabbingworth on Jan 14, 2009 10:58 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Good time for a business trip ...

in Las Vegas. It was 65 here yesterday, with a forecast high of 65 again today. Tough duty … while the family freezes in Illinois.

Ya gotta love a team with a shortstop named TheRiot ...

by StampMe on Jan 14, 2009 9:55 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

My bud that lives in PHX

tweeks us a lot about the weather, even to the point of emailing the 10-day forecast comparison of PHX & CHI. At least we get to head out there each ST. This year it’s the 5th-9th of March.

Sweet Lou for Mayor in '11.

by blackhawk24 on Jan 14, 2009 1:19 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Sorry Al, if I have to look at snow-covered city scenes...

…I’d rather it’d be something like this

From Wrigley Field – Misc Shots

Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."

by ballhawk on Jan 14, 2009 10:21 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

It was nice to be in the ballpark

with all the snow around the area on New Years Day for the Winter Classic.

Sweet Lou for Mayor in '11.

by blackhawk24 on Jan 14, 2009 1:20 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Yes, it was, but...

… all the snow in Wrigley that day was manmade.

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

by Al on Jan 14, 2009 1:40 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

most of my family

is in disney right now cause my brother and one of my uncles were doing the goofy challenge (1/2 marathon saturday, full marathon sunday)

Needless to say I have been busy clearing snow.

---AC 00 00 00 - Believe

by mjk83 on Jan 14, 2009 10:36 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

WOW!

Back-to-back? That is AWESOME! As someone who has run a half-marathon and 30K before (but never a full), I wish them the best of luck…that is insane…

Brian McRae's 5 o'clock shadow

by PurpleLineToWrigley on Jan 14, 2009 10:43 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

it was last weekend actually

and while they certainly were sore, both runners made it

---AC 00 00 00 - Believe

by mjk83 on Jan 14, 2009 1:37 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Anybody registering for Grandma's Marathon in Duluth, MN?

Registration is tomorrow. It will be my third time running Grandma’s full marathon. Congrats to your brother and uncle!

Dan

Evey Hammond: Vi Veri Veniversum Vivus Vici. V: By the power of truth, I, while living, have conquered the universe.

by dtpollitt on Jan 14, 2009 3:12 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Come on Al,

Show the true absurdity of Chicago and post a pic with everybody’s crap saving their parking spot!

"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 Jan 14, 2009 10:54 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Here you go.

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

by Al on Jan 14, 2009 11:16 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Ugh, how I hated that when I lived in the city.

I have a driveway of my own now. Of course, the downside is I have to shovel it and it’s a lot longer than a parking space. (Feel free to TWSS the last eight words of the preceding sentence.)

RIP Ron Asheton (1948-2009)

by dat cubfan daver on Jan 14, 2009 11:51 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

"Of course, the downside is I have to".

Not very TWSS there.

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

by Al on Jan 14, 2009 11:57 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

No, no...the LAST eight words.

On second thought, however, it should probably be a “TWHS.”

RIP Ron Asheton (1948-2009)

by dat cubfan daver on Jan 14, 2009 12:05 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

That's pretty long.

Brian McRae's 5 o'clock shadow

by PurpleLineToWrigley on Jan 14, 2009 12:48 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Now...

…TWSS.

RIP Ron Asheton (1948-2009)

by dat cubfan daver on Jan 14, 2009 1:05 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

and so now goes...

NTWSS

Sweet Lou for Mayor in '11.

by blackhawk24 on Jan 14, 2009 1:05 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I used to do that.

Now I have my own driveway. Still gotta shovel it…

"That’s the great thing about baseball, you never know what’s going to happen till you get the final out." — Lou Piniella

by drewishdrewid on Jan 14, 2009 2:21 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Nice.

Thank you. I personally don’t believe in doing that and I don’t mind shoveling so I’ve shoveled 5 spots on my street so far. I keep waiting for some jerk to take a shoveled spot and try and save it. Hasn’t happened yet.

"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 Jan 14, 2009 2:34 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I've heard my parents talk about this...

But I’ve got to know (having never lived in Chicago), what’s the process/etiquette that goes on here with the space saving?

by dorf on Jan 14, 2009 3:35 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I live in Chicago

And I still have no idea. Everyone has a different opinion which is what is so confusing.

by gocubsgo22 on Jan 14, 2009 3:42 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

If you shovel it, it's yours

and first-come, first-served. Cut-throat neighborly pleasantness at its best.

One day I hope to come up with something worthy of this space.

by chilango2 on Jan 14, 2009 3:48 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Yabbut...

…. after a few days, you’re supposed to let it go, not keep it all winter.

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

by Al on Jan 14, 2009 4:18 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

PRAISE THE LORD!

I can’t wait for baseball to start back up again. I can’t stand the NBA, the drowning of NLF coverage, etc. At least we can start talking about actual baseball events, not hypothetical BR-for-7 players or Peavy-for-the-farm. w00t!

Dan

Evey Hammond: Vi Veri Veniversum Vivus Vici. V: By the power of truth, I, while living, have conquered the universe.

by dtpollitt on Jan 14, 2009 11:01 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

The problem with all those warm places in the southwest is

there won’t be enough water in the next twenty-five years. And don’t come sniffing around the Great Lakes when you’re thirsty.

by the nth on Jan 14, 2009 11:08 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Not to get all political...

…my buddy is a water engineer and showed me this graph about a month or two ago. I thought it was really interesting. Shows the distribution of the world’s water. Here.

Dan

PS – New window, as always

Evey Hammond: Vi Veri Veniversum Vivus Vici. V: By the power of truth, I, while living, have conquered the universe.

by dtpollitt on Jan 14, 2009 11:25 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Kinda puts all the freshwater from the Great Lakes

in perspective, doesn’t it? Likely less than one tenth of one percent of all water worldwide.

It sure LOOKS bigger up close! ;)

Go Green! Go White! GO STATE! (Now #12,966 on the Cubs season ticket waiting list- UP from 13,031...WHOO HOO!)

by Zeke on Jan 14, 2009 11:44 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Looks like the difference really lies in accessability.

Glaciers and groundwater are much more difficult to tap.

by N Oakley on Jan 14, 2009 11:53 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

no worries - global warming and "drill baby drill" will solve all our problems...

Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."

by ballhawk on Jan 14, 2009 4:38 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I'm thirsty

* 97.5% of all water on Earth is salt water, leaving only 2.5% as fresh water

* Nearly 70% of that fresh water is frozen in the icecaps of Antarctica and Greenland; most of the remainder is present as soil moisture, or lies in deep underground aquifers as groundwater not accessible to human use.

* < 1% of the world’s fresh water (~0.007% of all water on earth) is accessible for direct human uses. This is the water found in lakes, rivers, reservoirs and those underground sources that are shallow enough to be tapped at an affordable cost. Only this amount is regularly renewed by rain and snowfall, and is therefore available on a sustainable basis.

by Clutche on Jan 14, 2009 11:53 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Which means that...

… the first person to invent a cheap and efficient way to desalinate salt water will be rich beyond his/her wildest dreams.

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

by Al on Jan 14, 2009 11:58 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I thought Kevin Costner solved that in Waterworld, no?

I’ve always heard “All the water that has been is all the water that is and all the water that there will be”. Sure makes you think about consumption!

Dan

Evey Hammond: Vi Veri Veniversum Vivus Vici. V: By the power of truth, I, while living, have conquered the universe.

by dtpollitt on Jan 14, 2009 12:10 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Yes it does...and Pneumonia and Leprosy...

Worms, Gout, Jaundice, Typhus, Distended scalp…

As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.

by santoswoodenlegs on Jan 14, 2009 12:19 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Damnit, Chad.

Evey Hammond: Vi Veri Veniversum Vivus Vici. V: By the power of truth, I, while living, have conquered the universe.

by dtpollitt on Jan 14, 2009 3:13 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Desalinatng water

Cruise ships desalinate water for drinking water quite efficiently, but it’s not cheap for municipalities. Besides, you still have a higher sodium content in the water, which leads to bloating!

"I'm a Cubs fan. I'm very, very patient." -- from a Shoe cartoon.

by No Southern Belle on Jan 14, 2009 1:19 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Plus there's the transfer/transportation cost

when considering desalination of ocean water. Imagine a water pipeline coming from the Atlantic instead of an oil pipeline coming from ANWR.

Sweet Lou for Mayor in '11.

by blackhawk24 on Jan 14, 2009 1:22 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

TWSS

n/t

by TORCO on Jan 14, 2009 3:59 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

But the Great Lakes hold 20%

of the world’s fresh surface water. That’s why folks in Arizona and New Mexico have floated the idea of a fresh water pipeline from the Great Lakes to their states which continue to grow in population but won’t be able to sustain a water supply too much farther into the future. The Great Lakes states and Canada have signed an agreement that should stop anything like that from happening but… who knows.

by the nth on Jan 14, 2009 5:50 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Won't happen, NFW, not for generations

We can’t even get lake water into McHenry County…McHenry! One county from the lake! Only 20-25 miles separates McHenry County and Lake Michigan.

It took DuPage County years and years to get lake water and that didn’t happen to what, the mid-late 80’s??

Sweet Lou for Mayor in '11.

by blackhawk24 on Jan 15, 2009 6:50 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Sorry guys, but here is my drive to work...

by HawaiiCubFan on Jan 14, 2009 12:57 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

No linky...

Sweet Lou for Mayor in '11.

by blackhawk24 on Jan 14, 2009 12:58 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

No likey no linky.

RIP Ron Asheton (1948-2009)

by dat cubfan daver on Jan 14, 2009 1:05 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Tommy wike wingies

Sweet Lou for Mayor in '11.

by blackhawk24 on Jan 14, 2009 1:06 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Just guessing what you are trying to post and I'm happy it failed.

by N Oakley on Jan 14, 2009 12:58 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Probably for the best

I like reading this site and don’t want to be outcast for living in paradise

by HawaiiCubFan on Jan 14, 2009 2:05 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Why??

It gives me at least a chance to see something warm.

Sweet Lou for Mayor in '11.

by blackhawk24 on Jan 14, 2009 2:55 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I can't...I can't see the picture.

Damn all this lake-effect snow!

RIP Ron Asheton (1948-2009)

by dat cubfan daver on Jan 14, 2009 1:06 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Game On !!!

Its hockey season.

Pond is frozen lets lace them up.

I dont think about baseball till the pond thaws

I've been bleeding double blue Cubbies & NY Rangers

by parrotinct on Jan 14, 2009 1:22 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

I used to play outside on days like this when I was a kid

I can’t imagine doing it now. Oh, the pain.

Guess I’ll have to settle going to the BLACKHAWKS game tonight.

Sweet Lou for Mayor in '11.

by blackhawk24 on Jan 14, 2009 1:39 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

ah childhood

just this morning I reminisced about wool long johns and snow suits. Used to take a half an hour to bundle and another half hour to unbundle but we were always eager to go out. Today you couldn’t blast me out.

"Truth does not do as much good in the world as the semblance of truth does evil," - Duc de La Rochefoucauld, Maxims, 64.

by Emelie on Jan 14, 2009 2:28 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

It's funny to walk around the loop and see the looks on people

Brian McRae's 5 o'clock shadow

by PurpleLineToWrigley on Jan 14, 2009 2:49 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

I'll try this again...

It’s funny to walk around the loop and see the looks on people’s faces and try to guess how long they have been outside…

Brian McRae's 5 o'clock shadow

by PurpleLineToWrigley on Jan 14, 2009 2:49 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Thank you for reminding me

how grateful I am that my Mom and Dad had the good sense to leave Chicago for a warmer winter.

How do you guys manage?

"I've never complained about it. I'm thankful to have a jersey." Mark DeRosa, 22 Aug 2007

by DeRoMyHero on Jan 14, 2009 9:48 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

It's not easy.

This is the worst winter we have had in maybe 10-12 years, with the combination of cold and snow.

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

by Al on Jan 15, 2009 4:21 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

2/3/96

The last day in Chicago where the temperature never went above 0F. As of tomorrow, 1/15/09 will be the last day…..

Sweet Lou for Mayor in '11.

by blackhawk24 on Jan 15, 2009 9:46 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Yep, I knew we were in trouble...

…when we got our first snowstorm on December FIRST.

RIP Ron Asheton (1948-2009)

by dat cubfan daver on Jan 15, 2009 4:08 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

It's part of life here

Hope for the best but prepare for the worst.

Sweet Lou for Mayor in '11.

by blackhawk24 on Jan 15, 2009 6:52 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Don't know about all this water talk

I live in NM most my life. Was born in Chicago but we moved out west when I was young. We’re careful to manage our water, but I’ve heard nothing about a major crisis in 25 years……

I’ve had to go to the field when I was in Kansas and Colorado in the middle of winter, and it was damn cold. We had one time that we had to work indoors because it was so cold that if you touched the tanks with bare skin, it would freeze to the tank. I sure don’t miss that.

by nmcubsfan on Jan 15, 2009 7:31 AM CST reply actions 0 recs