Cubs Convention Report: Day 1
by Al Yellon on Jan 16, 2010 7:00 AM CST
in News
98 comments
One thing the Cubs almost have to do once they get the Triangle Building designed and built is to make enough meeting space to hold the convention there. It has so far outgrown the Hilton & Towers -- probably ten years past when it should have been moved to a larger venue -- and it's gotten more ridiculous each year. Today, there was nearly an hour wait to get passes for people who already had checked into rooms. Then there were waits to get into sessions and waits to get out of sessions -- people could barely move around 8:30 last night after "Cubs Bingo" ended.
This isn't the most important thing, obviously, but something they'll no doubt have to address, as the convention has become a very important promotional tool for the team. There's more advertising around -- the photos Zeke posted last night advertising a fantasy camp are of banners they have put on the elevator doors in the main lobby.
More important to the future of this team is this photo:
Geovany Soto showed up looking slim and trim and ready to go, having reportedly lost almost 40 pounds. This is outstanding news and shows that Geo has indeed devoted his offseason to getting into better shape. Further, rumors have it that Jim Hendry is working on an acquisition that might be announced as soon as next week. No, I don't have any inside info, just a rumor heard. You probably heard today about the delay the Cubs board asked for regarding the spring training decision, and I hope more information will be given in the sessions tomorrow with management.
Other news generated today:- Ted Lilly played catch for the first time since surgery with no problems
- Marlon Byrd said he's ready for the cold weather in April and said of new batting coach Rudy Jaramillo: "He tells you things about hitting that make you think, 'Wow! I never thought of that!'" Byrd couldn't say enough good things about Jaramillo.
- All eight arbitration-eligible Cubs filed today; I wouldn't expect any of the cases to actually get to an arbitrator.
- Loudest and longest cheer at the opening ceremony was given to new Hall of Famer Andre Dawson, and well-deserved.
- The Cubs opened a donation site at the convention for victims of the earthquake in Haiti, and said that not only would Cubs Care match every dollar given but that the Ricketts family personally would also match every dollar donated.
Follow me past the jump for more photos of this year's team.
Carlos Zambrano, looking trim and in shape
New Cubs CF Marlon Byrd, also looking slimmed-down from his 2009 shape
The Cubs will need a repeat of 2009 from Randy Wells
Carlos Marmol, ready to start the season as closer
The 2010 second base tandem: Mike Fontenot & Jeff Baker
Our own Doggie Stalker's favorite, backup OF Sam Fuld
All photos by Al Yellon
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Such handsome young men
I’m going to enjoy the eye candy this season. If their skills match their looks we’re all in for a treat.
you can’t get much by that #$%@ ballhawk -- LT
by Emelie on Jan 16, 2010 7:06 AM CST reply actions 1 recs
That Sam Fuld and Geo Soto are so dreamy!
"But it doesn't matter what I do, what I choose. I'm what's wrong. This is fate" - Dexter season 4....I mean Lovie season 6.
Further details on the Cubs and Ricketts donations to Haiti earthquake relief
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
I had no doubt that Geo would come back motivated...
…to lose weight and be in shape this spring.
Now, maybe the weed jokes can stop?
Nobody cares about your fantasy baseball team
by carmen_fanzone on Jan 16, 2010 7:24 AM CST reply actions 1 recs
Photo of Marlon Byrd from last year
He’s lost weight, too.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
Of course, according to
our resident expert in the medical field, this is all because of steroids.
I tend to think these players, especially Geo and “Z”, were not to happy with there performance last year and would like to redeem themselves.
Good for them. I hope this is weight loss turns into about 10 more wins.
Listening to Baseball tonight, Sheets is going to throw on Tuesday in front of about 10 teams.
Me personally I want the Cubs to sign him.
According to about half the board....
….Geo hadn’t gained any weight at all, and it was all in our minds.
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
Who claimed that?
Dum spiro spero... | Follow me on twitter or else: @andrewjstone.
by AndrewJStone on Jan 16, 2010 10:21 AM CST up reply actions
i'd thought he'd gained..
but 37 pounds is a lot.
There is no infinity button for failing in sports. At some point, things turn. They always do. - Bill Simmons
Gross exaggeration.
Ten-yard penalty.
Catch my act on Twitter as @dat_cubfan_dave.
by dat cubfan daver on Jan 16, 2010 5:58 PM CST via mobile up reply actions
He doesn't look heavy to me in this photo
Just muscular. I know he was a little heavier than usual last year, but this photo makes his midsection look positively svelte. He’s more of free safety than a wide receiver.
Fontenot (fon-te-no): Cajun for "scrappy"
That photo might be from 2008.
It was dated “12/31/2009” where I found it, but it could have been from a previous year. I have seen other photos of Byrd from 2009 where he looked heavier. He now looks like he did in that pic.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
I agree the
jokes need to stop. I never found them funny.
OK I don't know shit about basketball.
by SoulEater7 on Nov. 5, 2009 9:51 PM CST
Holy cow.
Fontenot and Baker have the exact same jaw!
"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
It looks more pronounced on Jeff.
He looks like Dudley Do-Right.
"Only a mediocre person is always at his best." ~W. Somerset Maugham
He looks like a cartoon character
"But it doesn't matter what I do, what I choose. I'm what's wrong. This is fate" - Dexter season 4....I mean Lovie season 6.
I was going to say...
I
Catch my act on Twitter as @dat_cubfan_dave.
by dat cubfan daver on Jan 16, 2010 6:00 PM CST via mobile up reply actions
I was going to say...
…T1000 from Terminator 2.
Catch my act on Twitter as @dat_cubfan_dave.
by dat cubfan daver on Jan 16, 2010 6:01 PM CST via mobile up reply actions
Fontenot looks pretty smart in those glasses
mabye they’ll help him figure out why he regressed so much last year. Also, apparently Fontenot is a midget.
Dare I give the Cubs my heart again?
by digitalbenjamin on Jan 16, 2010 9:13 AM CST up reply actions
Who got engaged in the off season.
OK I don't know shit about basketball.
by SoulEater7 on Nov. 5, 2009 9:51 PM CST
Maybe he should wear the glasses...
…for his ABs. (Just kidding, LBR, I still believe in you!)
Catch my act on Twitter as @dat_cubfan_dave.
by dat cubfan daver on Jan 16, 2010 6:05 PM CST via mobile up reply actions
That picture of Fuld makes me wonder....
…if he works as an stand in for Ryan Howard (BJ Novak) on The Office during the off season…
Nobody cares about your fantasy baseball team
When BJ's not plotting to get Jim Halpert Fired, he's get sacked.
by Rhymenoceros on Jan 16, 2010 10:29 AM CST up reply actions
But he's watching Chicago lose to Green Bay.
"People ask me what I do in winter when there’s no baseball. I’ll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring."
-Rogers Hornsby-
by Vermont Cubs Fan on Jan 16, 2010 3:02 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs
Can't resist...
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by Schwa on Jan 16, 2010 3:30 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs
And if you have that, you also need this...
"People ask me what I do in winter when there’s no baseball. I’ll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring."
-Rogers Hornsby-
by Vermont Cubs Fan on Jan 16, 2010 3:35 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs
Marlon Byrd has some big ol' shoulders.
Looks like he should’ve signed with the Bears. If he runs into the wall, I’d be almost more afraid for the wall.
"Only a mediocre person is always at his best." ~W. Somerset Maugham
Soto losing weight
I knew he would probably get in better shape but 37 pounds?? Wow, that is unreal!
This is only the beginning....Lou Pinella end of '07 season and Chicago Transit Authority (the band when they were really good).
Absolutely outstanding news...
that Geo lost so much weight. That shows so much dedication. Losing 40 pounds in just a few months? That’s amazing, good for him!
This news makes me VERY confident that we’re going to see someone similar to (or better than) the 2008 version of Soto.
Thanks for the pics
Nice to see this bus rolling toward spring. Seeing the pics of the guys makes all the offseason crap not seem so bad and reminds one that men play ball not stats.. Also, a smiling Marmol is a good Marmol. Here is to hoping Carlos can keep that grin on all season like he did prior to last season.
There goes one over the fence...a Tru-Link fence.
Fantasy Camp
Any idea who’s running it? Is Hundley involved? Considering he originated the idea way back when, I’d like to think he is or at least had the opportunity to participate.
"When they signed Fukudome, I knew they were trying to get me fired". - Ron Santo, January, 2008
On Hundley's
spring fantasy camp website he references the summer camp, so I think he’s involved.
DEJESUS!!!
He's done small camps at Wrigley before during the year....
… which is what he references on his site. What concerns me is that the advertisement said “First Annual”, which suggests to me the Cubs might be taking over. I’m likely too vested in the thing, because having done 2008 and 2009 camps, I’ve seen firsthand how much work he putsin and how much he cares that people enjoy themselves. I’d hate to see him screwed out of it by his own team, so to speak. So many others have co-opted the idea as it is.
"When they signed Fukudome, I knew they were trying to get me fired". - Ron Santo, January, 2008
Well, Randy can still do his in Arizona, right?
Nothing stopping those players from doing both, I’d imagine, since they at different times of year, and the Cubs’ appears to be only a two-day event.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
Yeah, so far as I know
I’m not going this year because my wife is having surgery tomorrow and her recuperation time with be at least a month. (Hysterectomy.) I’d be curious to hear from others who go what the turn out is for this year, because last year he had just enough for the requisite eight teams. Apparently there were a lot of late cancellations last year.
"When they signed Fukudome, I knew they were trying to get me fired". - Ron Santo, January, 2008
Jeff Baker is one odd-looking dude.
And Soto’s eyebrows… David Beckham and Cristiano Ronaldo would be proud.
They are a little disturbing to me.
OK I don't know shit about basketball.
by SoulEater7 on Nov. 5, 2009 9:51 PM CST
well, just focus your eyes... ahem.... elsewhere... ;-)
Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."
Baker must love standing next to Fontenot
I know Baker isn’t small, but there, he looks like a giant.
Thanks for the picture
of Geo Al. He does look great and gives me hope he’ll play like he did in 2008. Can’t wait to hear what else Hendry has going on for the team.
OK I don't know shit about basketball.
by SoulEater7 on Nov. 5, 2009 9:51 PM CST
Convention Site
I’ve wondered why the Cubs don’t move the convention to a larger venue. There are many, many wonderful and large hotel/convention facilities in Chicago. It makes more sense than committing a substantial portion of the Triangle Building to be its own convention center.
Ya gotta love a team with a shortstop named TheRiot ...
by StampMe on Jan 16, 2010 1:16 PM CST via mobile reply actions
what i learned from these photos
- zambrano needs to give randy wells some fashion advice
- jeff baker would win the 2B job over LBR if they had to fight for it
- marmols ears really are that big
- sam fuld looks exactly like someone..who I can’t put a finger on..help me out? (not BJ Novak per earlier comment though I see the likeness)
- zambrano needs to give randy wells some fashion advice
thats how they dress in cardinal country
by jesus christos on Jan 16, 2010 2:01 PM CST up reply actions
Sam Fuld (at least in that photo)
From the top down, i.e. the hair and the eyes, he kinda looks like Frodo Baggins from the LOTR movies
If you just focus on the facial features, I see some Martin Short in him.
Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."
“Who will take this baseball to Wrigley?”
“I will!”
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Jan 16, 2010 5:57 PM CST up reply actions
I'm sure
if he had Big Z’s money his style would improve.
"But it doesn't matter what I do, what I choose. I'm what's wrong. This is fate" - Dexter season 4....I mean Lovie season 6.
Looks like a great time.
No pictures of Ted Lilly? I’ve got one, but that was of me and him last August in Los Angeles.
And it’s great to hear that Geovany Soto has lost weight, but 37 pounds??? I guess, Blue Mike, you’re wrong again! He will be better next year.
Also, it would be great to go to the Cubs Convention at some point. Maybe next year.
I suppose it is needless to say that, aside from Z and Soto, I did have a little trouble recognizing the players in the pictures until I saw the captions. Al, thanks for the pictures, and hope you have a great time at what’s left of the convention.
"People ask me what I do in winter when there’s no baseball. I’ll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring."
-Rogers Hornsby-
by Vermont Cubs Fan on Jan 16, 2010 3:07 PM CST reply actions
And it’s great to hear that Geovany Soto has lost weight, but 37 pounds??? I guess, Blue Mike, you’re wrong again! He will be better next year.
because of roids, according to him
by jesus christos on Jan 16, 2010 3:31 PM CST up reply actions
Blue Mike has hemorrhoids?
OK I don't know shit about basketball.
by SoulEater7 on Nov. 5, 2009 9:51 PM CST
Wasn't able to get Lilly as he arrived very late at the media event.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
It's okay.
Thanks for the pictures!
"People ask me what I do in winter when there’s no baseball. I’ll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring."
-Rogers Hornsby-
by Vermont Cubs Fan on Jan 16, 2010 9:43 PM CST up reply actions
An interesting note:
At the Opening Ceremony, two players turned and walked the wrong way. Lilly and Gorzelany.
Goofy lefthanders…
Now only 12,859 on the "Cubs Season Tickets Waiting List"...
I would have thought being Ted Lilly is Ted Lilly
he would be able to heal himself to be ready for the start of the season. Him not starting until May, might prove he is human after all
by Madison Cub Fan on Jan 16, 2010 3:23 PM CST up reply actions
he just wants to give the other teams a chance
before his pure awesomeness takes over
Just because you talk a lot doesn't mean you're saying anything. dtpollitt 1-7-10
They def need him in the rotation this season so hopefully he will prove to be super human :)
by Madison Cub Fan on Jan 16, 2010 3:57 PM CST up reply actions
they need him to be better than the average Lilly IMHO
with the late start for him this season.
Just because you talk a lot doesn't mean you're saying anything. dtpollitt 1-7-10
he is super human in normal mode i thought?
Just because you talk a lot doesn't mean you're saying anything. dtpollitt 1-7-10
fortunately lilly seems to be taking cashner under his wing
“It was a nice, moderate day of catch,” Lilly said. “I played catch with [prospect] Andrew Cashner. His arm definitely looks healthier than mine.”
the legend continues…
by jesus christos on Jan 16, 2010 4:04 PM CST up reply actions
Didn't you know?
On a daily basis, Ted Lilly declares which way is left and which way is right.
by jdb-44 on Jan 16, 2010 3:32 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs
he also declares that neither are wrong
Just because you talk a lot doesn't mean you're saying anything. dtpollitt 1-7-10
Jeff Baker looks like...
someone had a little too much fun with the ‘liquify’ filter in Photoshop.
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After receiving my Aaron miles ball yesterday...
…I was redeemed today with a pic with Ernie and his sig
"Pounding sand since 1982...."
by cubswynn on Jan 16, 2010 3:35 PM CST via mobile reply actions
Cubs moving spring training to Florida
If the Cubs move to Florida I shall never follow.
plumbob hath spoken
Catch my act on Twitter as @dat_cubfan_dave.
by dat cubfan daver on Jan 16, 2010 6:10 PM CST via mobile up reply actions
Hopefully their team on the field
can create as much hype as it does off the field. I’ve got to say I’m not a real big fan of these love fests (money raised is the best part). Just play baby!
"But it doesn't matter what I do, what I choose. I'm what's wrong. This is fate" - Dexter season 4....I mean Lovie season 6.
Hendry sounded pretty confident
about adding a 4th OF and a reliever in the next couple of weeks. You can forget about Sheets though, he said they are not in the market for SP.
Dallas Green!
Great pics, Al.
And I really appreciate the convention coverage as I haven’t had much luck catching the radio stuff.
Catch my act on Twitter as @dat_cubfan_dave.
by dat cubfan daver on Jan 16, 2010 6:14 PM CST via mobile reply actions
Great pics, Al.
And I really appreciate the convention coverage as I haven’t had much luck catching the radio stuff.
Catch my act on Twitter as @dat_cubfan_dave.
by dat cubfan daver on Jan 16, 2010 6:14 PM CST via mobile reply actions
Dang, this mobile posting ain't easy.
Catch my act on Twitter as @dat_cubfan_dave.
by dat cubfan daver on Jan 16, 2010 6:16 PM CST via mobile up reply actions
Randy Wells has THE WORST...
…shirt / tie combo I’ve seen in a long time! I still like him though!
"I always tell the truth -- Even when I lie" -- Tony Montana
i like it
its got that fun “career day” vibe.
There is no infinity button for failing in sports. At some point, things turn. They always do. - Bill Simmons
Without question, Big Z!
Byrd’s shirt doesn’t work with that suit, IMO.
Sorry, but I’m a retail suit buyer — I can’t help but notice
"I always tell the truth -- Even when I lie" -- Tony Montana
Incidentally, Ryan Dempster was very well-dressed.
Unfortunately, my photo of him from Friday — when he was wearing a suit — got blurred.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
Yes, thank you!
I didn’t want to be all WNTW about it, but that peach-colored shirt should really only be worn with a darker suit to add that splash of color. With a lighter suit, it just looks washed out. Spot on!
"Only a mediocre person is always at his best." ~W. Somerset Maugham
career day...good for a laugh
Time to dig out the old church clothes..
There goes one over the fence...a Tru-Link fence.
by truelinkfence on Jan 17, 2010 8:48 AM CST up reply actions
I thought he looked fine too Allie.
OK I don't know shit about basketball.
by SoulEater7 on Nov. 5, 2009 9:51 PM CST
If he wears that out to the mound...
…he’ll have another great season.
Catch my act on Twitter as @dat_cubfan_dave.
by dat cubfan daver on Jan 18, 2010 11:54 AM CST up reply actions
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