Random Tidbits from the Convention

OK having recovered from another horrible performance from American Airlines that got me home at 2.30 AM on Monday (I am switching back to United after 12 years) I will give my semi stream of conscience info from the Convention. I go to as many sessions as possible and only get autographs if nothing else is going on or I find some hapless guy surrounded int the lobby (this years victim was Randy Wells). I went to all or parts of the management session, pitching evolution,battery mates, kids press conference, remembering Santo, 25 ( 4 Cub players who are 25) & Down on the Farm. All but Down on the Farm were fun. Farm was dominated by the Vine Line guy and when I left 5 minutes before it was supposed to end they had not ope ned the floor to questions.

Larry Rothschild. I did not see this mentioned but Hendry was asked about allowing Rothschild more or less at the last minute and he (Hendry) made it clear that Larry had a personal issue that made it important for him to go to Tampa ( Yankees ST site) and he would never have stood in his way. He noted Rothschild had turned down many opportunities in the past to stay with the Cubs.

Lou Vs Quade. Well someone finally asked the players about this and it was a 10 year old. Byrd took the question and was very diplomatic about how both were great & smart managers, but he said a couple of times that Quade was more "energetic" than Lou. Code for awake in the dugout?

One kid asked DeWitt how he could get his mother to switch from being a Dodger fan to being a Cub fan. DeWitt suggested taking her to a game, but he also recounted that he was pretty shocked when he got traded having been with the Dodgers since 04, then he walked into the lobby of the hotel the Cubs were staying at and was stunned to see over 200 fans. He said he had never seen anything like that as a Dodger.

Theriot eating dirt. This was reported in at least one paper, but when asked if there would be "fireworks" when Theriot faced the Cubs, Hill was not shy about saying he would eat dirt for a while. Also worth noting that the pitchers went out of their way to praise Hill in several sessions, so yes they really like him.

I really love some of questions the kids ask. One wanted to know if the players practice getting hit? Byrd explained it was not really something you practiced and it hurt, the kid responded by asking why they couldn't use the automatic pitching machines to practice getting hit.

Another wanted to know why HWSNBN "woo wooed". Byrd said he had no idea ( but unfortunately for Al had earlier spoken fondly of HWSNBN) and the Cubs PR guy Peter Chase chimed in  that "I doubt we will ever know"

I wish I could do a better job of communicating how informative and fun these sessions really are. I remember walking in on the pitching one as someone was talking in great detail on pitching strategy and I was trying to figure out who it was, it turned out to be Mark Riggins. While I am sure players are on their best behavior, you would be surprised how funny and smart they can be. You really can learn things and in some cases they really do answer questions.