Dale Sveum Meets Early Arrivals At Camp Buss

Tim Sheridan, who is the PA announcer at HoHoKam Park and runs the "Boys of Spring" site, stopped by Fitch Park on Monday and heard new Cubs manager Dale Sveum give a talk to 15 players who were working out with Tim Buss. A number of photos are on the page, too.

4 months ago Al Yellon 50 comments 3 recs |

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Wow, that was pretty cool.

I love the work ethic under this regime!

就是今年！

by CubFanInChina on Jan 31, 2012 7:49 AM CST reply actions

Justin Bour

Seeing big Justin there makes me just a little sad for him. Within 8 months, he’s been bumped way down the food chain.

Good to see Zeke at camp. He’s one guy I’m really excited about.

-- Jerome Horwitz

by KO Stradivarius on Jan 31, 2012 7:59 AM CST via mobile reply actions

Agreed.

Hopefully he’s been working on his defense enough to stick at 2nd.

Also good to see Geiger there. He’s a guy I like.

by Ryno G on Jan 31, 2012 9:02 AM CST up reply actions

Wow... when you wrote that I thought you meant Bour's defense at 2nd and I threw up in my mouth a little bit.

Glad I went back and reread that!

Also, really like DeVoss as a little bit of a sleeper this year. He’s a little older, but his patience and speed are really impressive. He seems to have some really good instincts and has good potential if he can stick at 2nd.

by bdlugz on Jan 31, 2012 9:56 AM CST up reply actions

Even if he can't stick, he's an interesting OF prospect.

He’d be Campana with slightly less speed and a Brett Jackson-type BB rate. Could be a nice top of the order guy.

by Dcr18 on Jan 31, 2012 7:09 PM CST up reply actions

What a great article

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by shoemile on Oct 21, 2011 10:10 PM CDT

by Madison Cub Fan on Jan 31, 2012 8:18 AM CST reply actions

Tim Sheridan's site doesn't get nearly the attention it deserves

And I’m really looking forward to his completed documentary.

Chicago. Enough said.

by BeerCub on Jan 31, 2012 8:22 AM CST reply actions

Agreed.

His blog is must-read Internet during spring training.

"[The Cubs] have a very famous tradition in baseball, and it will be nice to be part of turning it around." ~ Jamie Quirk, Bench Coach

by daver on Jan 31, 2012 1:25 PM CST up reply actions

I love this already.

At least makes the team more watchable this season even if they aren’t too good.

by Ryno G on Jan 31, 2012 9:03 AM CST reply actions

Well it'd be hard to be less watchable

Does anyone know how many other major league teams do something like this?

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by shoemile on Oct 21, 2011 10:10 PM CDT

by Madison Cub Fan on Jan 31, 2012 9:09 AM CST up reply actions

Just the look alone from Sveum

looks business. Nice read.

by Grockcubs on Jan 31, 2012 9:09 AM CST reply actions

It's 50 degrees and sunny in Chicago

Can someone bottle today up and then let it out for Opening Day?

"Just shut up and play" - Matt Garza
"Pain is inevitable, suffering is an option." - Dale Sveum

by RiskyBusiness on Jan 31, 2012 9:31 AM CST reply actions

Seriously.

It might even touch 60 today. We have had many colder Aprils.

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by Al Yellon on Jan 31, 2012 9:32 AM CST up reply actions

Nothing like Cubs Opener, 1997

29 degrees and it felt like 4. I’m glad that I was sitting in the bleachers that day for the few warm moments of sun during the game.

"Just shut up and play" - Matt Garza
"Pain is inevitable, suffering is an option." - Dale Sveum

by RiskyBusiness on Jan 31, 2012 10:31 AM CST up reply actions

I went to the second home game that year.

Just as cold, only the game was worse to watch because Alex Fernandez threw a 1 hitter. After the Marlins scored in the first, no other runs were pushed across by either team the whole game. Ryno went 0-4 with 4 K’s, including a strikeout to end the game with the tying runner on 2nd. That was probably the most miserable I can remember being at a regular season Cubs game.

by Orval Overall on Jan 31, 2012 10:41 AM CST up reply actions

I remember both those days.

Probably the two coldest days I have ever spent at Wrigley.

It was warmer for the Winter Classic on 1/1/09.

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by Al Yellon on Jan 31, 2012 11:27 AM CST up reply actions

A true commitment to winning!

"You win because of the quarterback. We have to get that position stabilized. We're fixated on that." -- Jerry Angelo (12.30.2008)

Jerry Angelo trades for Jay Cutler! (4.2.2009)

by SackMan on Jan 31, 2012 9:46 AM CST reply actions

Nice article

What struck me was that, to most of the players there, Tony Campana must look like The Man.

Maybe Aducci, too, but TC’s actually on the 40-man roster. He’s lived that dream and may well live it again.

by Limey Cub Fan Jay on Jan 31, 2012 10:31 AM CST via mobile reply actions

They realize there's more chances there than previously.

Yes, realistically there may only be one or two bench spots open at most, but they know that working hard here will get them noticed by the manager of the major league ballclub and they may end up with a call if needed. I would hope they all work hard for that outside shot.

[...]when Giants coach Steve Owen, a certified defensive genius, was asked how he planned to stop Nagurski, he said: "With a shotgun, as he’s leaving the dressing room."

by NobodySpecial on Jan 31, 2012 11:18 AM CST up reply actions

I didn't mean in the sense that he has the inside track

Although realistically, he probably does.

I was thinking that all these guys start out dreaming of The Show and – even among this group, who are closer to it than most will ever get – most probably won’t make it. And there’s Tony Campana, who has made it. And even though he’s a marginal Major Leaguer, he’s got what they all dream of, because his name’s in the record books for good.

by Limey Cub Fan Jay on Jan 31, 2012 11:53 AM CST via mobile up reply actions

My husband played at both Fitch and HoHoKam!

A few of the minor leaguers told stories to the group, he got to met Tony Campana and he got taken care of by some of the trainers. How cool is that!? You guys are never going to get me to shut up about it.

The best husband in the world was on the Championship team at the 2012 Randy Hundley Cubs Fantasy camp!

by katie casey on Jan 31, 2012 11:28 AM CST reply actions

You know that make an interesting fanpost

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by shoemile on Oct 21, 2011 10:10 PM CDT

by Madison Cub Fan on Jan 31, 2012 7:51 PM CST up reply actions

The story? Or us trying to get her to shut up about it?

"You win because of the quarterback. We have to get that position stabilized. We're fixated on that." -- Jerry Angelo (12.30.2008)

Jerry Angelo trades for Jay Cutler! (4.2.2009)

by SackMan on Feb 1, 2012 3:43 PM CST up reply actions

No the story

Why would I want her to shut up about that? Way more interesting than if the cubs are interested in Todd Coffey or yet another fanpost on Cespedes.

The Stat Pack

by shoemile on Oct 21, 2011 10:10 PM CDT

by Madison Cub Fan on Feb 1, 2012 4:21 PM CST up reply actions

Agreed...fanpost needed...

…I wanna hear all about it. Pictures and everything. Off season sucks.

by Easy Ed on Feb 1, 2012 4:38 PM CST up reply actions

I'm pretty sure that SM was joking

Step Three: Patience. The plan is in place.

by Shanghai Badger on Feb 2, 2012 10:58 AM CST up reply actions

Again with the new manager saying the right things in spring training?

Let’s hope this time this one keeps it up and DOES the right things too.

There will be no excuses for not doing something the right way. - Dale Sveum

by santoswoodenlegs on Jan 31, 2012 11:48 AM CST reply actions

I would agree with that.

I will say, though, that Mike Quade didn’t say the kinds of things about accountability and “no excuses” that Sveum has said.

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by Al Yellon on Jan 31, 2012 12:50 PM CST up reply actions

Hmmm

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/nl/2011-02-26-500869007_x.htm

“It goes back to trying to create environments where everybody’s happy, and there’s no excuses,” Quade said.

For some fans, Kerry Wood is that dollap of pumpkin paste.

by Nunyabidness on Jan 31, 2012 7:54 PM CST up reply actions

Hrm.

Well, obviously that didn’t work.

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by Al Yellon on Feb 1, 2012 6:55 AM CST up reply actions

Make sure everyone is happy

This isn’t little league. Working hard might not always make one happy. That is why is it called going to work, not going to fun.

Yet another reason for me to be happy that he is no longer around

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by shoemile on Oct 21, 2011 10:10 PM CDT

by Madison Cub Fan on Feb 1, 2012 8:33 AM CST up reply actions

You know what makes work fun? WINNING.

If the manager simply forced hard work and strong fundamentals, it would bring about more winning would would in turn increase the happiness. Trying to make everyone happy and THEN worrying about winning is a recipe for 2011.

by bdlugz on Feb 1, 2012 9:19 AM CST up reply actions

Col. Saito would disagree - his motto was "Be happy in your work"

Then again, things didn’t turn out so well for him…

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

by ballhawk on Feb 1, 2012 9:59 AM CST up reply actions

OTOH, Willie Stargell once said "It's supposed to be fun, the man says 'Play Ball' not 'Work Ball' you know."

But regardless of work vs fun semantics, I’m just as happy as you that Quade is no longer the Cubs manager. I just want the Cubs to work/play hard so I can watch/cheer hard.

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

by ballhawk on Feb 1, 2012 10:03 AM CST up reply actions

I'm not against them having fun

They get to go out every day and play baseball, many people who kill for just an AB or inning of it. That is a lot more fun than most jobs.

Even getting to a WS, is going to take a lot of hard work & maybe a kick in the ass to a few players. Not to mention the countless hours that we will know of the Cubs management get that point.

The Stat Pack

by shoemile on Oct 21, 2011 10:10 PM CDT

by Madison Cub Fan on Feb 1, 2012 10:34 AM CST up reply actions

More importantly

Theo and Jed agree.

by Grockcubs on Jan 31, 2012 1:41 PM CST up reply actions

Really awesome stuff

It’s pretty cool to have a manager who puts coaching in front of just showing up and expecting players to kowtow to him. It’s also cool to have a manager who looks looks comfortable on a baseball field.

While Ron Washington is no strategic genius, I’ve always like that he is hands on and gets out on the field with the players. He hits fungoes and works on base running with them. There may be no such thing as a good strategic manager, but it’s nice to have somebody in Chicago who wants to at least try to do the little things to improve the team.

by subtle on Jan 31, 2012 4:34 PM CST reply actions

I’ve always like that he is hands on and gets out on the field with the players. He hits fungoes and works on base running with them.

Mike Quade did this. Didn’t help.

FWIW, Sveum lives in the Phoenix area, so he’s local and could easily stop by Mesa whenever he wants.

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by Al Yellon on Jan 31, 2012 4:42 PM CST up reply actions

I love Sheridan's blog, I read it everyday once ST starts.

by Dcr18 on Jan 31, 2012 7:12 PM CST reply actions

And I loved your comment on that page Al!

Agreed 100%!

by Dcr18 on Jan 31, 2012 7:41 PM CST reply actions

I did not post that comment.

Someone is impersonating me. I’ll have it removed.

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by Al Yellon on Feb 1, 2012 6:56 AM CST up reply actions

by Al Yellon on Feb 1, 2012 3:49 PM CST up reply actions

by cooliogirl47 on Feb 1, 2012 9:08 AM CST reply actions

I like this

An atmosphere of competition, no excuses and accountability and a refreshing change of atmosphere such as this cannot help but achieve some improvement, imho.

Go Cubs!

"I lof to hit de home ron!"

by Tekboy on Feb 1, 2012 4:31 PM CST reply actions