25th Annual Cubs Convention

by TheGrinch13 on Nov 22, 2009 3:37 PM CST

As everyone knows, the 25th Annual Cubs Convention is scheduled for this coming January 15-17, 2010. I was wondering, does anyone know of anything special that is being planned or that is in the works, such as extra special guests or events? I have my passes already but I'm curious to know something before they post the usual list of participants in early January.

That being said, I'd like to see them bring someone like Mark Grace to the event one year, and the 25th Annual event would be the perfect time to do so. Unfortunately, since he's associated with the D-Backs he'll probably be unable to come.

On a side note, I'd also like to see them monitor the autograph/photo lines better. Last year I watched people constantly cutting in lines in front of people who had waited for hours. These people usually had bags of balls that they are just going to get signed so that they can sell them on EBAY. It'd be nice if they actually kept the cutting to a minimum for once, on behalf of the real fans who are there.

Can anyone else think of any events, attractions, or special guests that you'd like to see at the Convention this year (try to keep them serious please)?

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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Mark Grace was at the convention in 2007.

That was right after he and John McDonough publicly made up for the bridges burned when Grace left the Cubs.

That said, I doubt he’ll come any time in the near future.

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

by Al Yellon on Nov 22, 2009 3:50 PM CST reply actions

Sorry to hear that.

Thanks for the info though.

by TheGrinch13 on Nov 22, 2009 3:52 PM CST up reply actions

It would be really great if Maddux came

but I am not holding my breath. He only came once (2005) and he hated cold weather. I don’t think Kessinger who is one of my favorites has been for a few years.

"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry
Me either Jim

by Doggie Stalker on Nov 22, 2009 3:58 PM CST reply actions

How about some least favorite for the 25th

Players, coaches, GM’s

a partial list

Bradley
Alexander
Alou
Perez
Merker
Prior
McGriff
Wavin’ Wendell
Quade
Himes
Lynch
McPhail
Baker
Essian
Treblehorn
Riggleman
Baylor
G. Michael

This isn’t even close to being the entire list

Any thoughts?

by TJ11 on Nov 22, 2009 4:42 PM CST reply actions

I would say that list is incomplete

if it doesn’t include Todd Hundley.

"Criticism may not be agreeable, but it is necessary. It fulfills the same function as pain in the human body. It calls attention to an unhealthy state of things." ~Winston Churchill

by Goodie1969 on Nov 22, 2009 5:40 PM CST up reply actions

Jose Macias and Neifi should also be added

And Dusty too, why not

"If I were playing third base and my mother were rounding third with the run that was going to beat us, I'd trip her. Oh, I'd pick her up and brush her off and say, 'Sorry, Mom,' but nobody beats me." ~ Leo Durocher

by Musicdude10 on Nov 23, 2009 12:06 PM CST up reply actions

Dusty and Neifi are on there

Macias is a good addition

by TJ11 on Nov 23, 2009 3:08 PM CST up reply actions

i would remove Riggleman

it wasnt his fault he had a team over achieve in 98 then flop in 99. He was always a class act, and I for one liked him

baseball is a game of outs......pop out, ground out, line out, pitch out, strike out, fly out, and Fox and Bud's favorite black out

by Cubbie-Tim on Nov 22, 2009 8:28 PM CST up reply actions

Which "Alexander" is that?

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

by Al Yellon on Nov 22, 2009 8:58 PM CST up reply actions

Manny-very low baseball IQ. Hard to believe he was once considered a replacement for Ripken.

I also forgot Hawkins….

Good catch on Hundley, Goodie!

Riggleman seemed kind of snooty to me, but you are probably right. Plus he won a wild card with that terrible bullpen Lynch put together. Mullholland and Beck and NOTHING else….

by TJ11 on Nov 22, 2009 9:31 PM CST up reply actions

not exactly a line up that scared anyone then or now

Pitchers

51 Terry Adams
47 Rod Beck
54 Mark Clark
44 Tony Fossas
31 Kevin Foster
30 Jeremi Gonzalez
44 Chris Haney
49 Felix Heredia
52 Matt Karchner
53 Kurt Miller
38 Mike Morgan
45 Terry Mulholland
59 Rodney Myers
35 Bob Patterson
41 Marc Pisciotta
56 Justin Speier
49 Kennie Steenstra
48 Dave Stevens
36 Kevin Tapani
44 Amaury Telemaco
46 Steve Trachsel
58 Ben Van Ryn
33 Don Wengert
34 Kerry Wood
Catchers
7 Tyler Houston
8,15 Sandy Martinez
9 Scott Servais

Infielders

24 Manny Alexander
4 Jeff Blauser
8,15 Gary Gaetti
17 Mark Grace
19 Jason Hardtke
18 José Hernández
50 Jason Maxwell
12 Mickey Morandini
11 Jose Nieves
15 Kevin Orie

Outfielders

37 Brant Brown
6 Glenallen Hill
1 Lance Johnson
10 Terrell Lowery
25 Orlando Merced
20 Matt Mieske
40 Henry Rodriguez
21 Sammy Sosa
28 Pedro Valdes
25 Derrick White
Manager
5 Jim Riggleman

Coaches

43 Dave Bialas (bullpen)
39 Tom Gamboa (third base)
2 Jeff Pentland (hitting)
3 Dan Radison (first base)
27 Phil Regan (pitching)
26 Billy Williams (bench)

baseball is a game of outs......pop out, ground out, line out, pitch out, strike out, fly out, and Fox and Bud's favorite black out

by Cubbie-Tim on Nov 22, 2009 11:26 PM CST up reply actions

Karchner and Heredia also sucked

OK I officially appologize to Riggleman. It was Ed Lynch who saddled him with all this crap. He didn’t have much to work with.

by TJ11 on Nov 23, 2009 3:17 PM CST up reply actions

Alou doesn't belong on that list

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

by ballhawk on Nov 23, 2009 1:05 AM CST up reply actions

For being more worried about what Steve Stone said, yelling at bartman like a baby, pissing on his hands, and being unable to run the bases correctly (left early with less then 2 outs several times, which is what Stone was talking about.)

He needs to be there…..He was a huge baby.

by TJ11 on Nov 23, 2009 6:54 AM CST up reply actions

awww... did Big Bad Moises hurt your little feelings?

did you even bother to look at his numbers while playing for the Cubs? linky

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

by ballhawk on Nov 23, 2009 10:07 AM CST up reply actions

I am not talking just about stats

You must have loved the 2004 Cubs. A lot of people had good stats that year, but most people really hated the way these guys acted. Plus they choked massively.

by TJ11 on Nov 23, 2009 3:10 PM CST up reply actions

I was one of those that

hated the way they acted and the way they choked massively.

"Fasten those seatbelts"-Pat Hughes

by katie casey on Nov 23, 2009 6:47 PM CST up reply actions

He's the baby, eh?

Catch my act on Twitter as @dat_cubfan_dave.

by daver on Nov 23, 2009 12:22 PM CST up reply actions

You thought Alou fighting with the announcers was OK?

When they pointed out he ran the bases like a 7 year old. He worried about Stone with Dusty while they gave away the division…..impressive.

Bet you like Bradley as well.

by TJ11 on Nov 23, 2009 3:13 PM CST up reply actions

If a player puts up...

…an OPS north of .900 (.388 wOBA) and plays good defense at his position (both of which Alou did in 2004), I can forgive a pissy attitude and some silly baserunning. For you to be whining about Moises five years out makes you look more babyish than him.

Catch my act on Twitter as @dat_cubfan_dave.

by daver on Nov 23, 2009 4:01 PM CST up reply actions

It was for the list, Alou wasn't a stand alone subject.

He hit well when healthy…..plus he was taken out for defense quite a bit. Maybe it was due to his many health issues, but by the time he reached the Cubs he was not a good fielder…..He sure, along with Baker did a lot of whining about Carey and Stone.

Answer the question…..How do you feel about Bradley. Are you going to forgive a VERY pissy attitude and some horid fielding to make up for his possible hitting?

by TJ11 on Nov 23, 2009 4:09 PM CST up reply actions

Taken out for defense, eh?

Moises played in 155 games as a Cub in 2004. He played 1,338.1 innings in left field with above-league-average UZR numbers. Doesn’t sound to me like he was taken out for a defense replacement all that often, nor did have too many health problems that year. His defense was just fine.

You never asked me a question Bradley, so I had nothing to answer. How do I feel about him? I feel he’s a very talented baseball player who’s in a protracted employment dispute. I fully expect him to be traded but, if he’s not, I’ll sit back and watch the circus unfold and hope he has a better season.

Catch my act on Twitter as @dat_cubfan_dave.

by daver on Nov 23, 2009 4:33 PM CST up reply actions

It will be quite the circus leading the Cubs to another shit season.

At least it will end Lou and Jim’s time with the Cubs. Possibly by mid season…..

by TJ11 on Nov 23, 2009 4:42 PM CST up reply actions

He's been a "protracted employment dispute" with almost every team he has been with.

How did Hendry not see this coming? Then Bid VS himself for the jackass?

by TJ11 on Nov 23, 2009 4:44 PM CST up reply actions

How could I forget Miles.....

by TJ11 on Nov 22, 2009 4:44 PM CST reply actions

On an announcer list, how about Joe Carter????

He could barely talk….

by TJ11 on Nov 22, 2009 9:32 PM CST reply actions

It was great seeing Grace there a couple of years ago.

Problem was, he was too much of a distraction with the women in the audience at every session he was at. Women were going to the microphone and instead of asking a question, they were asking if it was OK to come up the stage to kiss him, take his picture, that sort of thing. One session in particular, women were getting booed like crazy. To be fair, men probably would have done the same thing if, say, Erin Andrews had been there on stage, but a couple of sessions I went to that year were completely ruined by the women in the audience, one of which was a Q&A with members of the 1989 team. Sorry to any ladies reading this, but anyone who was there will know what I’m talking about. It was very frustrating. Even other players that the women loved like DeRosa never got that kind of response. Or at least the great response DeRo always got was baseball-related.

"Don't complain to me about the stormy weather, boys. Just bring the ship into port." --Steve Stone, September 2004

by ctcoff99 on Nov 24, 2009 1:45 PM CST reply actions