Cubs Baseball In Vegas... Stays In Vegas

by Al Yellon on Nov 10, 2009 2:09 PM CST in Chicago Cubs News

While the entire Cubs' spring training schedule has not yet been made public, today the Cubs announced that again in 2010, they and the White Sox will travel to Las Vegas during the spring campaign to play a pair of exhibition games. From the press release:

The Chicago Cubs and Chicago White Sox will play two exhibition games in Las Vegas next March for the 2010 Big League Weekend at Cashman Field, home of the Las Vegas 51s. The clubs will play on Friday, March 12, 2010 and Saturday, March 13, 2010. Games times are to be determined. The Cubs and White Sox will both feature split squads.

Ticket information is available by calling the Las Vegas 51s at 702-798-7825 or visiting www.lv51.com. The Cubs and White Sox will play a pair of spring training games in Las Vegas for the second year in a row.

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Las Vegas

I assume that this means that the Cubs will not be ending their exhibition schedule in Las Vegas, as they had done to end their spring schedules for several years, prior to playing the exhibition games at Yankee Stadium this past season. The Twins will open Target Field with two exhibition games against the Cardinals. Any word on where the Cubs will go when they break camp in Mesa?

by dmlichte on Nov 10, 2009 2:13 PM CST reply actions

Have not heard anything yet.

Wow, those are going to be two really cold days in Minneapolis.

The Cubs open the season in Atlanta. They could go somewhere “en route” to Atlanta, or maybe stay in Phoenix to play the Diamondbacks at Chase Field, as they did in 2003.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al Yellon on Nov 10, 2009 2:15 PM CST up reply actions

Yup... cold indeed

The exhibition games are a necessity for any new ballpark. They host two games, see what goes right and goes wrong, then they have a week or so to fix anything ahead of the regular season opener. The Twins have the two games, then play at the Angels and White Sox before their regular season opener.

by dmlichte on Nov 10, 2009 2:25 PM CST up reply actions

True on the necessity.

But fans will need to bring blankets. Lots of ’em.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al Yellon on Nov 10, 2009 2:38 PM CST up reply actions

blankets...

… will be in order for most of the first month of the season at Target Field. I still cannot believe how much money was laid out for an outdoor only stadium in Minneapolis.

I do wonder if we may see the Cubs play two games in Florida before going to Atlanta to open the 2010 campaign. If Ricketts and Co are seriously interested in moving spring training to the Grapefruit League, this would be one serious indication. Cubs take on the Devil Rays at The Trop or some other Grapefruit League team at their home park.

by dmlichte on Nov 10, 2009 4:09 PM CST up reply actions

Hmmm.

Possible, I suppose, but that’s a looooong flight from Phoenix. Then again, so was the flight to NYC last year.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al Yellon on Nov 10, 2009 4:43 PM CST up reply actions

from Phoenix, ya...

… but if they’re opening the season in Atlanta, it makes some sense.

by dmlichte on Nov 10, 2009 5:05 PM CST up reply actions

one of the Cubs' minor league affiliates could be "en route"

Tennessee or Daytona seems most likely.

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

by ballhawk on Nov 10, 2009 6:20 PM CST up reply actions

They haven't played one of the minor league affiliates since 2001.

Unlikely.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al Yellon on Nov 10, 2009 8:52 PM CST up reply actions

With new ownership, anything's possible

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

by ballhawk on Nov 10, 2009 11:33 PM CST up reply actions

Hopefully...

Poo-holes plays in those exhibition games…and pulls a hamstring.

by doc_blume on Nov 10, 2009 2:40 PM CST reply actions

What is this

The 3rd grade?

"Ask Dad. He'll know. And on the off chance he doesn't, he'll make something up"

by StevenABQ on Nov 10, 2009 5:15 PM CST up reply actions

Is not. Is TOO. Is NOT! IS TOO!

So there…

(Somethings it feels that way…)

Now only 12,859 on the "Cubs Season Tickets Waiting List"...

by Zeke on Nov 11, 2009 7:14 AM CST up reply actions

Wedgies all around!

Dum spiro spero…
Follow me on twitter or else: @andrewjstone.

by AndrewJStone on Nov 11, 2009 11:00 AM CST up reply actions

OT on the 51s ballpark: I found it strange that there isn't any mass transit there from the strip (or even the old downtown area)...

To get to the 51s’ park, you basically have to drive, cab there ($$$) there OR be willing to walk about a mile from the closest bus stop (in a pretty crappy section of town under a freeway). The park itself is nice, but if you don’t have a car to get to the game, you may not feel it’s worth the trip.

Now only 12,859 on the "Cubs Season Tickets Waiting List"...

by Zeke on Nov 10, 2009 2:46 PM CST reply actions

I have never been there.

Haven’t heard a lot of good things about Cashman Field, either.

FWIW, although it says “times to be determined”, it’s likely to be a Friday night/Saturday afternoon thing.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al Yellon on Nov 10, 2009 2:49 PM CST up reply actions

The field and immediate grounds of the ballpark are fine Al. Pretty nice by minor league standards.

It’s the surrounding area adjacent to the ballpark that is crappy.

There is even a “neon boneyard” next to the park where you can peer inside a cyclone fenced off area and see old Las Vegas business signs from buildings that have been torn down. Kind of interesting actually to see what passed for zoning approved “advertising” from years past. They are all just sitting there rusting away, but it is a slice of Americana I guess…

Now only 12,859 on the "Cubs Season Tickets Waiting List"...

by Zeke on Nov 10, 2009 3:44 PM CST up reply actions

Cashman is a great place for baseball

the only reason people bag on it is it is about 25 years old. Hmmm..some other fields are pretty old and seem to be doing ok.

Kevin Gregg is the Mother F'n Anti-christ!

by VegasCubFan on Nov 11, 2009 12:52 AM CST up reply actions

Have you visited the neon boneyard?

Kinda cool

Now only 12,859 on the "Cubs Season Tickets Waiting List"...

by Zeke on Nov 11, 2009 7:09 AM CST up reply actions

you should come to Vegas for the games

I'm going to Randy Hundley's fantast camp in 2010.

by VegasCubFan on Nov 11, 2009 12:55 AM CST up reply actions

MAYBE VEGAS COULD

use a People Mover like Motown ???? Gotta agree very poor set up to get around …

by cubs north on Nov 10, 2009 8:19 PM CST up reply actions

no doubt

getting to Cashman from any tourist spots in Vegas is not pleasant. It is one sketchy neighborhood between Cashman and downtown LV.

Kevin Gregg is the Mother F'n Anti-christ!

by VegasCubFan on Nov 11, 2009 12:53 AM CST up reply actions

I walked it twice for games from old downtown while I was in town for a convention. Sketchy is a good word for it.

Shows how much I love to sit in casinos. I’d rather go to a ballgame in the fresh air and drink beer thank you very much.

Now only 12,859 on the "Cubs Season Tickets Waiting List"...

by Zeke on Nov 11, 2009 7:12 AM CST up reply actions

Actually they DO have a people mover from one end of the strip to the other.

The problem is it runs from the MGM Grand to the Hilton Convention Center only. It doesn’t even do downtown. Shuttle busses run along the strip and go into the old downtown part of Vegas, but the end of the shuttle run is still a mile or more short of Cashman Field.

Now only 12,859 on the "Cubs Season Tickets Waiting List"...

by Zeke on Nov 11, 2009 7:18 AM CST up reply actions

Cubs Spring Training Schedule

Even though the Cubs and several other teams (D’Backs, Rangers, etc.) have not announced their Spring Training schedules yet, one can fill in some of the schedule based on what dates have been announced by other teams. Here is a compilation:

MARCH 6 White Sox @ Cubs Mesa
MARCH 7 Dodgers @ Cubs (ss) Mesa
MARCH 8 Cubs @ A’s Phoenix
MARCH 9 Brewers @ Cubs Mesa
MARCH 10 Giants @ Cubs Mesa
MARCH 12 Cubs (ss) @ Brewers Maryvale
MARCH 12 White Sox (ss) @ Cubs (ss) Las Vegas
MARCH 13 Reds @ Cubs (ss) Mesa
MARCH 12 Cubs (ss) @ White Sox (ss) Las Vegas
MARCH 14 Cubs (ss) @ Angels Tempe
MARCH 15 Cubs @ Rockies Tucson
MARCH 18 Cubs @ Dodgers Glendale
MARCH 19 Cubs @ White Sox Glendale
MARCH 20 Cubs (ss) @ A’s Phoenix
MARCH 21 Cubs (ss) @ Reds Goodyear
MARCH 22 Indians @ Cubs Mesa
MARCH 28 Cubs @ Mariners Peoria
MARCH 29 Reds @ Cubs Mesa
MARCH 30 Cubs @ Giants Scottsdale
MARCH 31 Cubs @ Brewers Maryvale

by azjazzman on Nov 10, 2009 3:27 PM CST reply actions

That's what I have so far.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al Yellon on Nov 10, 2009 3:28 PM CST up reply actions

Here is more info.

From the Las Vegas 51s website. That site includes this photo:

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al Yellon on Nov 10, 2009 3:43 PM CST reply actions

There as SOOOOOO many jokes I could post from this picture...

Now only 12,859 on the "Cubs Season Tickets Waiting List"...

by Zeke on Nov 10, 2009 3:46 PM CST up reply actions

Go ahead.

That’s kind of why I posted it.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al Yellon on Nov 10, 2009 3:47 PM CST up reply actions

"I'm a dancer. I can dance."

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

by ballhawk on Nov 10, 2009 6:16 PM CST up reply actions

Baseball in an alternative universe

Well, I never heard it before, but it sounds uncommon nonsense.
- The Mock Turtle, Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll -

by eths on Nov 10, 2009 6:53 PM CST up reply actions

LOL....

…. I love that commercial.

"When I was younger, I could remember anything, whether it had happened or not." --Mark Twain

by cooliogirl47 on Nov 10, 2009 6:26 PM CST reply actions

I know....

….reply is my friend

"When I was younger, I could remember anything, whether it had happened or not." --Mark Twain

by cooliogirl47 on Nov 10, 2009 6:28 PM CST up reply actions

Al, a question about the games in Vegas:

Since I land in Phoenix early on the 12th, I wonder if the majority of the Split Squad, i.e. better players, will go to Vegas or stay home to avoid the travel. When I get off the plane I want to sit in the sun and see some baseball, just wondered what you thought on who would be left to play at Maryvale and against the Reds. Thanks!

This is only the beginning....Lou Pinella end of '07 season and Chicago Transit Authority (the band when they were really good).

by mrcubsfan on Nov 10, 2009 7:29 PM CST reply actions