On the eve of the Winter Meetings, I had another opportunity to sit down with Cubs Chairman Crane Kenney last Friday afternoon. It was quite a long and wide-ranging session, covering everything from the ticket price increase to the upcoming sale of the team to how he reacted to last October's collapse.

Read the full interview after the jump.

Also, I will be monitoring the Hall of Fame announcement expected at noon today, hoping it's good news for Ron Santo, and either way I'll make a front-page post for discussion.

Continue reading this post »

Photo by Miriam Romain

Many thanks to the Cubs and Troy Tepley of Exponent PR for arranging this interview with Cubs infielder Mike Fontenot.

BCB: You were a number one draft out of LSU with the Orioles. Did being a number one draft put any more pressure on you when you came up out of school to pro ball? How did you feel about that? Did you expect to be a number one pick?

Mike: I don’t know if I expected it. I’m just glad that it happened. I try not to put any undue pressure on myself coming up or whatever… people would always try to be like he should be doing this or that because number one pick… I just try to go out there and play baseball every day and try not to worry myself too much about that.

BCB: What did it feel like when you got traded because a lot of guys say there is an adjustment there. You were traded in the deal for Sammy Sosa. Did you think that was a big deal coming to the Cubs and what kinds of adjustments did you have to make coming to a different organization?

Mike: I was shocked a little bit. A lot of people, the team you get drafted by you think you’re going to play with them for a while, or stay a few years. I was in Florida at the time. I was training, getting ready for Spring Training, actually and like I said, I was shocked a little bit at first but then you know, it’s a good organization to come over to and make a fresh start. Give me a chance to go out, especially in the National League… that was one of the adjustments I had to make. I played third base a lot my first year when I came over and starting to move around, learning the National League game, those types of things. Those are the main adjustments.

BCB: So you got called up for a few games in ’05 and then in ’06 you didn’t play in the major leagues at all. Did that start you wondering when am I going to get back here, how am I going to make it back, what do I have to do to make it back?

Mike: A little bit. Coming up in ’05 got a little taste, a cup of coffee, I guess you can say. And then the next year I got called up at the trading deadline and that’s when they traded for Izturis. They actually called me in and said you’re getting called up and then it didn’t work because they made the trade. Then I pulled my hamstring two weeks later, so who knows what might have happened that year. I might have been called up in September, but I ended up having a decent season. I also always wondered. I wanted to get back, trying to do every little thing I could to get people to notice and try to get back up to the big leagues.

BCB: What’s it like playing for Lou?

Mike: It’s been fun. He’s a good manager. He’s a character, too. He’s got his little quirks. He’ll get on umpires. Everyone knows from all the clips of him over the years. He’s a good dude. He’s intense. He wants to win, as we all do and he’s doing everything he can to do that.

BCB: Does he always let you know what’s expected of you, not just from a day to day basis, but also in general for the whole season, what your role is on the team and do you know what to expect all the time?

Mike: Yeah, most guys do. That’s one of the nice things about this team, everybody kinds of knows where they stand. They know what positions we’re playing, not necessarily positions but the role you’re having on the team. Like going into Spring Training I was just trying to make a utility spot and play a little shortstop in Spring Training and show them I could move around if they had to, even though we have other guys who, we have a very versatile team. I definitely think he lets everyone know, he starts at the beginning at Spring Training what’s expected of you to play for the Cubs, to play for Lou.

BCB: In terms of being a fan I like watching you play and I like the game you bring on the field. What did you know about Cubs fans and about Wrigley Field before you came and is that meeting your expectations or is it different from what you expected? What’s it like for you personally to come play here every day?

Mike: You always hear when you’re other places of how the fans are really passionate about the Cubs and Chicago is and I never really knew until I got here. It’s unbelievable the volume we get. I’ll tell anyone, we’ve been away on trips, Cincinnati, Milwaukee, everywhere. A lot of times there’s more Cubs fans than the home stadium. I was just telling these guys [there were three other people with Mike], we were playing the Marlins on Sunday in the 9th inning and they’re singing "Go Cubs Go" the whole stadium.

BCB: I can tell you from watching the game on TV it sounded like a home game. It must have been incredible.

Mike: Oh, it’s good. The fans are so good. They’re what makes it so good. Anywhere we go they love the Cubs so much that they’re always pulling for us it’s almost like a little boost of energy there for us.

BCB: What’s it like playing with Ryan Theriot who you played with in school?

Mike: It’s fun. We didn’t grow up together, but we knew of each other in high school, Little League. I imagine I played against him coming up through all that too, living in close areas. It’s been good. We got a chance to win a national championship in college together and last year, actually in AAA we got to play a little bit there but then last year we started playing in the big leagues together and it’s been a great experience so far. Just from the standpoint of our families, it’s been so fun just to get together.

BCB: I read an article last year that said you watch his kids sometimes. Is that true?

Mike: I think that was the "Sports Illustrated" where it said I’m more of a kid than his kids. That he came in there and I was jumping on the bed.

BCB: That’s the one. So, is it true?

Mike: Not necessarily. I wouldn’t say that I was jumping on the bed. I mean, I might have done it once or twice but Houston, his son, was the main one jumping on the bed and I’m like hey watch out and he started getting a little crazy. But I’ll go over there, spend time, hang out. And he just had another one, so they have three now. I’ll go over there and hang out every once in a while.

BCB: What’s it like for you preparing for a game every day depending on whether you’re starting, not starting? How do you prepare differently for those two because you have so many different roles and you’re not starting every day.

Mike: Every day I come to the field with the frame of mind that that I’m playing. Some days you know, like I know I don’t play against lefties really ever. So I know if there’s a lefty I probably won’t be playing but I’ll still try to keep the mind frame that at some point during the game I’m going to be going in. I just try to stay mentally prepared that way. Before the game I still take BP, do my stretching, warm up and all that kind of stuff we do before. That’s pretty much my regular routine if I find out I’m starting. But if I ever look at the lineup and I know I’m not playing as the game’s going along, I’m usually, say around the third inning I’ll go in, move around a little bit, stay loose. Go ride on the bike or do the elliptical machine or get stretched out by one of our trainers, hit off the tee in the cage. Or if we’re on the road get in the cage and one of our coaches will throw if we want that. That’s just one way we try to stay loose throughout the game if we’re not playing other than just sitting there watching the game and staying in it as much as you can.

BCB: I noticed on Sunday when Aramis Ramirez hit the double that broke the tie, they took a shot of all you guys in the dugout and everybody was right off the bench cheering for everybody. That really shows how tight you are as a team.

Mike: It’s a really close-knit team I think. Last year with the new manager and new faces and everybody didn’t know what to expect but as the season went along everybody started to gel a little bit, really get to know each other. And we had a good run last year. And coming into spring this year we had pretty much the same team, we had a couple new faces but not as many and we all kind of knew what to expect of our manager and knew how he did things, how to stay prepared because you know what kind of moves he might make. And that’s just one of the things that I think shows what a good team we are. We’ve got a lot of versatility. We have guys who can come off the bench and step right in and get big hits like Daryle did the other night, the big home run he hit. It speaks volumes of how the team goes.

BCB: You know one of the broadcasters calls you Little Babe Ruth.

Mike: Santo.

BCB: You’ve hit more home runs, honestly, than maybe a guy your size may be expected to hit. What do you do that allows you to hit for that kind of power?

Mike: I don’t know. All I’ll say is I stay in the weight room. I’ve always been good at that through the season. That helps. I think I’ve just been blessed with, I have pretty good bat speed over the years, I have the ability to hit the ball out. Growing up I’ve always hit a fair number of home runs in Little League and high school, college, though the ranks I’ve always hit at least a number of home runs so I’ve always had that. So for me personally, it wasn’t a big deal to hit however many number of home runs I’ll hit. I just accredit it to those types of things.

BCB: Are you surprised at how well the Cubs have done this year? You guys knew you had a good team, or felt you had a good team but as a fan, it’s way beyond my expectations. Are you surprised at how well it’s been going so far?

Mike: I’m not going to say I’m surprised. Like I said, I knew we were going to have a good team going into this season. Jim Hendry and Lou and everyone got together and they put a good team together. There are a lot of guys who really care about winning and want to got o the playoffs and want to go deep in the playoffs. That’s our mind frame to go as far as we can. We’re going to try to do it for Chicago this year. So I won’t say that I’m surprised. I’m very happy where we stand going into the last month of the season.

BCB: Let’s turn this to the reason that Troy got in touch with me, yes, it's a commercial deal. You deal with AcuVue. Tell us a little bit of what that’s about.

Mike: In 2003 I knew my vision wasn’t too good; I knew I needed to get contacts. I finally went in, got some contacts. Actually had the AcuVue 2 contacts, that’s one of the first ones they got to me and there was an immediate turnaround. I’d put the contacts in and go out on the field and I could actually see the spin of the ball, all kinds of things like that, I could see it. It made a world of difference when I was hitting. Toward the end of the year, I ended up hitting .325 that year so I turned that around. Actually a couple of years ago I started getting a little fuzziness again so I went to the eye doctor and I tried on a few different contacts and I tried on the AcuVue Advanced for Astigmatism and that’s the one I wear now and that one was a world of difference. I got all my clarity – it was clear, real crisp and from then on it was even that much more…

BCB: It sounds like such a simple thing –- see the ball, hit the ball.

Mike: That’s the main thing. That’s our livelihood. Baseball players, if you can’t see, especially at this level, every level it makes a world of difference but especially when you get up here and guys are throwing 98 with a slider at 90 and things like that, the better you can see is really going to make a difference. It has really made a difference for me over the years. I make sure every year I have to go get an eye check up. I’ve got to make sure my eyes are where I want them to be so I’ll be able to play at my top level that I want to.

BCB: So this isn’t just an endorsement. It’s something you use and it has helped you.

Mike: Oh definitely. It has definitely helped me. For a lot of people, they don’t ever go get checked or they don’t know until they put the contacts in and they can see and it’s like wow. I do a lot of hunting in the off season. If I can’t see the duck going by…

BCB: Do you have any predictions for the rest of the season?

Mike: Yeah, we’re probably going to play real hard the rest of the season. That’s going to be my prediction.

BCB: You’ve seen the enthusiasm of the fans and people on road games and there’s only going to be more as time goes on.

Mike: It’s exciting It’s very exciting. Everywhere we go, anything that has anything to do with Cubs baseball right now is very exciting. The old cliché, we’re taking it a day at a time. But we’re really looking forward to as the season goes on.

BCB: You guys were lucky to get out of Miami Sunday night. There’s a tropical storm coming in.

Mike: I was looking at the sky when we were at the airport…

BCB: Was it weird when they had that rain delay when it wasn’t raining? That was kind of strange.

Mike: It was. Down in Florida it will pour for 20 minutes and then it’ll be fine. I guess they thought it was going to rain. They actually told us around 12:40 that it may rain so they pushed the game back to 1:30 just in case. And nothing came and we had a good day there.

BCB: I imagine it’s much more fun coming to the ballpark when you’re winning like this.

Mike: It’s a lot easier. It’s a lot of fun.

Last Tuesday, I was fortunate enough to be invited into the office of Cubs Chairman Crane Kenney. Over the course of an hour he granted me a wide-ranging interview covering subjects from naming rights to the team sale to possible changes in the ballpark.

I think many of you have an image of Kenney, who is 45, as a "stuffed shirt", just another Tribune Company suit. I didn't find him that way at all -- he grew up in Boston as a Red Sox fan, and so suffered through failures just as we have. He's seen the successes of the Red Sox and how they've been built and wants the Cubs to emulate that. He wants the Cubs to win as badly as any of us do.

Thanks to Crane for his time and his candid answers to my questions. We began by discussing what was then the upcoming Sports Illustrated cover story on Kosuke Fukudome.

Continue reading this post »

Thanks to Cubs broadcaster Bob Brenly for answering nearly all the questions you all posted a couple of weeks ago. I'll continue the player projection series this afternoon.

BCB: How do you prepare for games and what kind of preparation do you do? Do you have any superstitions?

BB: Most of my prep work is done during batting practice. The Cub coaches graciously allow me access to the stats and scouting reports on the opposition before BP. During BP I stand around the cage and listen to what the players and coaches are talking about. (corrections, changes, opposing pitchers, etc.) I'm not really superstitious now. I did enough of that when I was managing.

BCB: Can you compare what it was like calling a Cubs game and a game on TBS? At times, viewing the TBS playoff broadcasts, it felt as if they weren't quite "ready for prime time". How did it feel inside the announcers booth?

BB: National games are completely different from local games. Even though I don't consider myself a "homer" I think it's obvious I want the Cubs to win. Every day. Every game. On a national broadcast you really have to play it right down the middle. No favorites, just a good game. National shows are more of an event, lots of bells and whistles. Our Cub telecasts are more about the ebb and flow of a long season and even if this game happens to stink, we'll be back to do it again tomorrow. TBS did have some real challenges putting together the post-season crews on short notice. I know I enjoyed working with Chip Caray and Tony Gwynn and our crew from TBS.

BCB: From your previous stint in Chicago as a radio announcer, what's your favorite Harry Caray memory?

BB: On getaway days on the road, Harry had a limo to take him from the ballpark to the airport. Everyone else rode the team bus. On occasion, Harry would come by the radio booth after the game and say, "You're going with me, kid." We would make at least one to three stops on our way to the plane and the stops weren't at museums. I always looked forward to that ride to the airport.

BCB: Who's your favorite broadcaster of all-time? Besides Len, of course.

BB: There are a lot of current broadcasters I think are really good. All-time it's hard to beat Vin Scully.

BCB: To what do you attribute the great chemistry you seem to have with Len, and how long do you think it took to develop?

BB: We both have a tremendous love and respect for the game and the players who play it the right way. The rest is just timing. Getting to know one another's non-verbal language really helps.

BCB: It's been rumored that you were being pursued by several organizations regarding a managerial position. Would you rather be sitting in the booth calling the game or would you rather be sitting on the bench managing the game?

BB: I really enjoyed managing the teams we had in AZ. The 2001 team was truly special. That being said, the lows seemed lower than the highs seemed high if that makes any sense.

BCB: You are paid to explain your expertise in baseball to average fans. What part of the game itself do you think fans know the least about? (Don't worry, we can take the criticism)

BB: I'm not sure if fans realize how truly random this game can be. The only things you can really control are effort and preparation. That is really the only time I'm critical of players and managers -- when they aren't physically and mentally prepared to play or when there is a lack of effort. No excuse.

BCB: Give us some examples of times when you really have to bite your tongue about on field play. What type of things have you wanted to say on the air but as a professional employed by the club you really have to back off about? Also, what kinds of things would you feel comfortable criticizing from the bench but not from the booth, if any?

BB: Nobody has ever censored or warned me what to say or not say. On occasion the 7th inning stretch singers cause me to cover my ears, but not bite my tongue.

BCB: What do you think of Len's use of sabermetric stats and concepts? On the air, you seem open-minded but a bit skeptical. Is that accurate?

BB: Len is very open minded when it comes to thinking outside the box. I definitely think there is a place for new statistical analysis of the game, but I place great value on intangibles and instinct. It's hard to quantify those things.

BCB: Besides Wrigley, what is your favorite stadium to call a Cubs game and why?

BB: Besides Wrigley, I would have to say Busch Stadium is one of my favorites because it's so much fun to watch Cardinal fans cry in their beer when the Cubs win there.

BCB: If you could make only one improvement to Wrigley Field, what would it be? (meaning the structure itself)

BB: Dome it with a see through retractable dome. Like one of those snow globes. Only if the weather is bad.

BCB: Will you and Len be doing your podcast for WGN again this season? And, if so, will the shows be any longer? They were really short last year!

BB: I think we are doing the podcast again. The length of shows depends on when the podcast studios are completed.

BCB: How often are the messages and questions left for them through WGN and CSN checked? About how many are you allowed to respond to during a game?

BB: The guys in the truck go through all the messages we get during a game and suggest some to read on the air. We could spend entire games responding to messages we get.

BCB: How did you develop your on-air sense of humor? What are your inspirations for your broadcast style?

BB: I learned from 6 seasons in the minor leagues that there is definitely a place for humor in the game and that includes the booth. Over the course of spring training and a regular season you will see some things that you can't help laughing at. Some of the stories that you hear on a daily basis would make for a great sitcom or stand-up routine. Of course, we can't repeat much of it, but you get the idea. I don't think I really had an inspiration for my style -- I don't even know what my style is. I just look for things, some obvious, some not so obvious, that I think people may be interested in. I try to anticipate what might (not should) happen.

BCB: How do you honestly feel about interviewing the guest conductor in the bottom of the 7th inning? And, would you ever consider leading the seventh-inning stretch by playing "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" on your guitar?

BB: Fortunately, Len is so good with the 7th inning guests I don't feel I have to pipe in unless I have a question I think fans may want to have asked. I've never tried to play "Take me out to the ball game" on my guitar. I would do it only if I thought I could do it justice.

BCB: What four current umpires would you pick to form the best officiating crew? Which of the four would you choose to be behind the plate?

BB: Are you really going to ask me about umpires? I will admit baseball umpires are far superior to football and basketball officials at the same level. That's about as good as I can do.

BCB: Does 2007 stick out in your head as an odd/strange year? If not, were you ever around a team that had as crazy a year as last year was for the Cubs?

BB: 2007 sure had its share of odd occurrences. Maybe more than its share. Every year and every team has weird stuff happen. The fact is you only hear about a small percentage of the oddities that go on. In the Cubs case, so much of their dirty laundry was aired in very public ways, it just seemed like every day was a soap opera. I played for a Giants team that was so dysfunctional that by the end of the year we had a player who was so far in the doghouse he wore white Stan Smith tennis shoes during the game. (he knew he had no chance of ever getting into a game) During one game our manager wanted to use a guy to pinch hit. He was out in the players lot washing his car. It happens all the time, everywhere.

BCB: Who do you see as legitimate NL contenders this year, and why?

BB: In no particular order: L.A. -- great pitching, if healthy. Col. -- young players who should only get better. Mets -- loaded everywhere. Az. -- same as Col., Haren will help. Cubs -- as talented as any team in the NL.

BCB: Which current Cub player reminds you the most of how you approached the game and how you addressed those opportunities each game could present? And, which of your peers, in your own baseball generation, did you admire the most?

BB: It's no secret that I'm a huge Theriot fan. The "Riot" is a max effort grinder that just finds ways to help you win a game. Mark DeRosa is such an important part of this team because of his unselfishness and versatility. During my playing days I liked Pete Rose for the way he approached every game. Ryno for his high level of consistency. Tony Gwynn for how great a hitter he was. Mike Krukow for being a great teammate.

BCB: As a former catcher, what is your analysis of Geovany Soto's defense and pitch calling skills?

BB: Too early to tell. I like his take charge attitude. He got in Zambrano's face a couple times late last year.

BCB: Lou Piniella has mentioned that he feels there is an advantage to going into spring training knowing the personnel already, as opposed to last year. Speaking as a former manager, how much of a difference will that make? Is it quantifiable?

BB: Lou's familiarity with the players is important but I think it is more important that the players now know better what to expect from Lou. As a manager, it is easier to make decisions knowing what your players are capable of doing, even based on one year's experience.

BCB: How much interaction do you have with the team? Are you able to give advice -- is it encouraged or discouraged? Do the players ask?

BB: I have daily access to the players and coaches. A few guys have asked, "what do you see?" when talking about their swing. I've talked to a few pitchers about pitch selection in general. I don't volunteer advice because I know no one knows better than the coaches what is going on with their own guys. I would never step on those toes.

BCB: Which current Cubs players would you say have the highest "baseball IQ"s?

BB: Baseball IQ? Isn't that an oxymoron? DeRosa seems to have a great handle on the subtleties of the game. I've heard Fukudome is a well-schooled player. Of course, any catchers on the roster.

BCB: If you could bring back some missing element of the game from the past, what would it be?

BB: I liked it better when every one wasn't best friends. We used to get fined for fraternizing with the other team before a game. Now, it looks like a family reunion around the cage during BP.

BCB: Your son plays ball; does he ask for your opinion often or do you offer suggestions to him?

BB: I probably offer more suggestions than he wants to hear. When I go to one of his games I take pictures with a high speed camera or a video recorder and we analyze his swings. He is so much more advanced than I was at his age it's ridiculous.

BCB: When are you and Len going to release your debut CD?

BB: We joked about that at this year's Bash. At this rate (2 songs per year) it will take about 6 years to have enough tunes for a CD.

BCB: From an OU grad... got any good stories from your days playing baseball at Ohio University? What was your favorite bar to frequent on Court Street?

BB: Ohio University was an awesome place to attend when I was there. It's a beautiful campus, the Halloween spectacular was just beginning, there were more bars than classroom buildings, great friends, oh yeah, and I got my degree. (still not sure how) We used to hang out at the Cat's Den. Several upperclass ballplayers tended bar there. We hit them all though. I still remember $1.50 pitchers of malt liquor on Thursday nights at the student union. Cheap was good! I also remember road trips to Parkersburg, W. Va. to load up for the weekends. (W. Va. drinking age at the time was 18)

Photo courtesy Len Kasper

The Top 20 HR series will resume tomorrow. Yesterday, I received the replies to the questions that all of us put to Cubs TV play-by-play announcer Len Kasper. You should recognize most of your questions here.

BCB: How do you prepare for the broadcasts? What's a typical day, both at home and on the road? What's your favorite part of your job?

LEN: I can say this honestly (and my wife will attest!), I do baseball homework every day of the year. There isn't one day when I'm not on-line reading up and checking on what's new with the Cubs and MLB in general. I have a vast database of info on players and teams that I have compiled and updated for years and it's a pretty huge undertaking. And it's one that I love. I spend a few hours a day on my computer away from the show up at the park already set to go on the air. I view it this way--if I get stuck in traffic or whatever, could I do that day's game without any other material? The stuff I get at the park just supplements what I've already done. Don't get me wrong, my ballpark prep is HUGE and without it, I wouldn't be nearly as prepared. I just like to feel like I've done everything possible to know what's going on before I even step foot in the ballpark. I take my job very, very seriously and I would never want to show up unprepared.

BCB: You often start conversations with Bob about things that are on the blogs. Do you use the Internet as a way to pick up on what the fans are interested in? What other sources do you use for inspiration?

LEN: Sure, all the time. I like to keep up with what Cub fans are saying and writing about.  It's weird, but I'm "inspired" by a lot of different things, many of which have nothing to do with baseball! You can never have too much B material just in case...

BCB: Your call of the Ramirez walk-off against the Brewers can be heard every week during "Best of" segments on just about every channel. Did you ever imagine your voice would be used for that segment on a weekly basis? How does that game/moment rank among all the games you've ever called?

LEN: It's funny, that call has become my signature call, but that's only because the moment was so great. I really don't view that moment as having anything to do with me per se.  It was a thrill to be in the ballpark when it happened and I just happened to have the honor of screaming at the top of my lungs into the mic when it transpired. The highlight show stuff is neat, but again, it didn't make those shows because of my call. It's because of the drama of that particular moment. And yes, that was my favorite broadcast moment because of the drama of it.

BCB: Do you and Bob feel at all pressured (either real or perceived) to toe the company line rather than express any true criticism of the way the Cubs are playing or of questionable moves that Lou makes during the course of a game?

LEN: No, we just do the games to the best of our ability. I think the holding back part is simply having a sense of decorum and understanding that 1) it's a very difficult game to play and 2) we're broadcasting baseball, not doing an over-opinionated talk show. We don't shy away from pointing out what's going on. I do it mostly by saying, "The Cubs are 0-for-their-last-20 in these situations" or "The Cubs have lost 9 in a row" or whatever. I treat the audience as thinking human beings who can form their own opinions. Yes, I have opinions, and they come out at times, but if I simply spouted them for 3 hours, I guarantee you, it wouldn't be a very enjoyable broadcast. Bob has his opinions too and I enjoy bringing those out, and he's not afraid to be critical at all. It's just that we don't normally scream those opinions.I think we do a thinking-person's broadcast and I'm proud of that. The biggest key for me is that we don't miss stuff. That's a huge goal of mine.  I don't ever want to ignore something just because it goes against the Cubs or might not be a positive. We owe that to the viewers.

BCB: You often work some statistical analysis into your broadcasts. Can we expect more of this in 2008? You've used advanced metrics from Baseball Prospectus before. How did you get introduced to BP? How do you weigh that against, say, more "traditional" statistics and what you hear from scouts and managers?

LEN: Yes, I'm always looking for ways to blend in some of the lesser-known, yet important, stats. It's a fine line though ... I can't drop VORP and OPS+ in too often because not enough people understand what those terms mean. I'd love to replace BA with OBP, but at least we're now putting both stats on the batter graphic, which is a step in the right direction. I was indoctrinated into sabermetrics by my good friend Jon Sciambi, with whom I worked in Florida. And then I read the Holy Grail of modern baseball books, Moneyball, and I was hooked.

BCB: Have you and Bob dicussed the possibility of Bob leaving to become a major league manager? What would you think about working with someone else, and would you have any say in who was chosen IF this happened?

LEN: I would be shocked if a team doesn't come after Bob at some point to manage again. His track record with Arizona speaks for itself. As a friend, I want what's best for him, but selfishly, I hope we're together in the Cubs booth for a long, long time to come.

BCB: Not only is Wrigley full of history and tradition, but the press box is as well. Does it feel to you, sitting in a place where Harry Caray once called games, like the Holy Grail of broadcasting jobs? Do you ever sit there and think "My God, this is where an icon and legend once roamed!" If you weren't calling games for the Cubs, what else would you be doing?

LEN: No doubt about it. It is the pinnacle of broadcasting jobs. I can't think of a better job in sports. I often think about how special that broadcast booth is and how fortunate I am to sit in a chair once occupied by Jack and Harry and Chip. If I weren't broadcasting, I have no idea what I'd be doing.Maybe a college history professor? Or as David St. Hubbins once said in Spinal Tap, "I'd be a full-time dreamer."

BCB: Talk a little about the evolution of the play-by-play voice. Specifically, it seems that guys like Vin Scully, Harry Caray, Dave Niehaus and Jack Buck are a dying breed, only to be replaced by a very specific type of voice. Do play-by-play men have the ability to develop their own unique style these days? Or, do they have to conform to what seems to have become a very pre-packaged and formulaic announcing style? Also, why do you think that the networks go for the "Big Name" announcers/analysts in guys like Joe Morgan, Tim McCarver, Chris Berman, and even Mark Grace instead of a "lesser-known" announcer who might do a "better" job?

LEN: Wow, that's a lot to contemplate! I can't speak for anyone else, but I'm simply trying to do the best job I can and to be as genuine as I can. I grew up listening to all the broadcasters you mentioned and my hero is the great Ernie Harwell, who has influenced my style more than anyone. I think there are many terrific young broadcasters working today, each with his/her own style. I know of no particular formula that I'm trying to conform to. I'm just trying to improve every day as a play-by-play announcer and that will never change.

BCB: Question from a Marquette grad: What, if any, ties do you still have with Marquette University?

LEN: I still keep in touch with friends whom I attended Marquette with and I've gone to a couple basketball games over the past few years.  It's a great college and I am forever indebted to MU for helping me get to where I am today.

BCB: About the team: how much pressure do you think Cub players put on themselves to be the first Cubs team to win a World Series in 100 years? Also, are there any players that you feel seem "overwhelmed" with everything that comes with playing for the Cubs and playing for the most fanatical fanbase in pro sports? What would be one positive and one negative resulting from the upcoming sale of the team?

LEN: Honestly, we (you and I) think about the 100 years thing much, much more than the players. In fact, while the players are aware of it, I don't think it affects anything they do. They're simply trying to win every game and get to the World Series, PERIOD. Whether it's here or somewhere else, players simply play to win and to be the best they can be. I will say this -- if I were a player, I'd want to play here.The ballpark is packed every day, the fans are amazing. There's pressure to do well, but it's good pressure. You are rewarded if you play well. I think most players love the environment of Wrigley Field.

BCB: How close are you to the players? Do they tell you things about injuries, for example? And are there thus things about this that you feel you can't say on the air because then opponents would find out? Do you ever make suggestions to players on things that you observe from the booth?

LEN: It depends on the player. Some tell me things that aren't for "air" as they say. A lot of it comes down to the trust factor. If you build trust, players feel comfortable that they can tell you things and you'll use your best judgment in using that information. It's hard to put into words because it comes down to experience, but you tend to learn what's on the record and what's not. And if I ever have a question about that, I simply ask, "Can I use that on the air?" Some may be shocked to learn that I don't use all that info, but any good reporter or journalist will tell you that in order to build strong professional relationships, you need to make people feel comfortable that you're not going to simply repeat everything you hear in a clubhouse. There's a sense of decorum in there. If every player felt like everything they tell you from the second you say "Hello" is going to make that day's broadcast, it wouldn't be very comfortable, you know? I mean, even though we're in there working, I respect their space. On the last question, I ask all kinds of questions based on what I see from the booth. I never give pointers of course!! But for instance, I'll see Aramis Ramirez react a certain way to a pitch and the next day, I'll ask him, "On that 2-1 fastball in the 3rd inning, why didn't you swing?" Or to Derrek Lee, "Why did you look frustrated on the 3-1? Did you think it was a ball or were you upset at yourself that you didn't swing?" That stuff helps me gain the perspective of the player on the field. It's not something I would necessarily use on the air, but it gives me an idea of their approach. And I've never asked, but my guess is that players (most anyway) appreciate the fact that you're paying attention. I really pride myself on asking questions. I've asked some dumb ones, believe me, but I think it's really important in my job to always seek knowledge (why did you swing at that? ... why did you throw that pitch in that spot? ... would you have pinch hit this guy if that guy had come into pitch? ... why didn't you send the runners on the 3-1? ... etc.). The "why" questions are the big ones. And again, that comes with trust. I never ask to second-guess. I always ask to LEARN. Big difference. If people think you're always criticizing or saying, "If you had done this instead, it would have worked better," you tend to put people on the defensive. It takes time, but if you ask questions in a certain way and if you gain people's trust, it gives you a lot of leeway in asking what some would view as tough questions.

BCB: There were quite a few BCB readers who said, "You're doing a great job!" Do you think, after three years, that Cub fans have now accepted you?

LEN: You always hope people like what you do. I think it's a process of people getting used to your style, your voice, your personality, the chemistry you have with your partner. And it never hurts to call games for a winning ballclub. I think 2007 was great for Bob and me because the team was so fun to watch. Let's face it, when we're giving you good news, it's easier to like us than when we're giving you bad news! Seriously though, it means a lot that so many people have welcomed me into the Cubs family. I appreciate all the feedback, positive or negative.

BCB: And finally, a little fun: Does Bob Brenly really get that excited about floppy hat day?

LEN: Ahhhhhh, yes, he actually does.

On Friday, September 21, Cubs PA announcer Mike Terson stopped out in the bleachers to talk to me -- about his job, how he got to where he is, and a number of other subjects. I had meant to post this soon afterwards, but the playoffs, and several trips I took, got in the way of getting this posted sooner. Now that the season's over, here's a look at the guy who mans the microphone at Wrigley Field for all weekend home games.

BCB: Explain a little bit about your background, where you're from, what you do, how you got this job.

Mike Terson: I am originally from the Chicagoland area. I've lived in Chicago my whole life - city and suburbs. When I was four years old I lived on Wilton and Addison and learned how to ride my bike on Wilton - took the training wheels off and my early memories were sitting in my living room hearing the crowd.

Eventually I grew up in Des Plaines, and then Buffalo Grove. So I've been a Cub fan, but first, my dad was a Sox fan and my grandfather and my uncle were all Sox fans. But because my parents were divorced I lived on Wilton and Addison with my mom, for convenience sake the first baseball game he took me to was a day game at Wrigley Field. So I jokingly blamed him for me being a Cub fan after that because it was his doing.

So, I've been a Cub fan my whole life.

In high school I was on the speech team. I was interested in radio and I was the emcee for the school assemblies and stuff like that - this was in Buffalo Grove. And I was a drummer for the Show Choir. And Wayne Messmer's daughter, Stephanie, was in the group with me. So way back in the `80s I met Wayne and picked his brain and do you have any advice.

I got into radio after college. I went to Harper and then I went to Northern, and worked for a station out there, 92.5.

When I was in college I was a DJ at Walter Payton's nightclubs. And we would give away a lot of Cub tickets as bar prizes back then. So we had a lot of tickets on hand and so I'd come to a lot of games but I worked nights so I'd ride my motorcycle down here during the day. So I made a point of it every time to say hi to Wayne and tell him what I was doing.

I had sort of settled into my first PA job, which was the Chicago Cheetahs. They were a roller hockey team that played at the Odeum [in Villa Park]. They went defunct after that. But I had sent Wayne a letter letting him know I was doing that and I expressed an interest in doing the Wolves. And at the time I got a very, very nice rejection letter. They weren't looking. Then a few years later I was at a Cub game, I was sitting right around section 230, 240, nice and covered on a rainy day, my brother was with me. My brother says to me "Don't you always go say hi to Wayne Messmer when he's singing the anthem and you're here?" I said, "Yeah, I do, but it's raining and I'm just going to stay dry today." I sat there for another 10 seconds and I said, "All right, I'm going to go say hi to him, you talked me into it." So I went to say hi to him and he said, "I need to talk to you about something." So he went to sing the anthem and I stood there - the longest kind of two minutes of my existence, waiting for him to finish. He came off the field and we went under the tunnel to talk. And he said, "I remember you sent me the letter and the Wolves are looking for a PA guy, would you be interested?" Absolutely! So that's kind of how all that started. I was just persistent enough to keep on his radar screen.

This is now my 9th season with the Wolves. And this is my 3rd season with the Cubs. And when the opportunity first came about, the way I was told was ... Paul Friedman, the night PA guy, he had been doing the nights and weekends and I'm sure you know the story when Wayne got shot and he used to do all the games and that's when Paul came in. But because of ... he has a wife and kid and he wanted to cut back; he didn't want to do the weekends anymore and so I think Wayne got my name thrown in there and that's kind of how it all happened.

BCB: This isn't your fulltime job. What do you do?

MT: I am the public relations and marketing manager for the Buffalo Grove Park District. And as a sports fan, someone who has loyalty to a team for as long as I have, it's kind of cool to be able to be able to carry it over to my professional life, to give back to the community in which I kind of grew up and went to high school, and one of my first part time jobs was at the park district. So it's really kind of neat to be to have that area of my life as well.

BCB: Tell me a little bit about what you do to prepare for each game.

MT: I arrive 3 hours before the game. And you wouldn't believe how long the script really is. If you ever just took a day and sat and logged everything I say from start to finish you'd be amazed.

Most of my work is before the game. I'm literally talking for a full hour before the game. I stop in the marketing office. I get the timetable for the day -- who's doing the ceremonial pitch or two, who are the Walgreens bat kids, any of those types of pregame things you'll see out on the field. Sometimes a player is getting recognized by a sponsor with an award or Major League Baseball is presenting an award -- Player of the Month. No two games are the same. Every game there's something different going on. So I get all that. I kind of get my script in order, get the lineups so I have everything pretty much in order, ready to go before the chaos of the pregame begins.

One of the things I'll do is either I'll call the other team prior to them being here, call their media department or I'll find a media person before - if there's any tricky pronunciation with a player, especially the end of the season with the minor league call-ups, you're not familiar with their name and how it's pronounced. I'll grab a bite to eat before the game. There's not a lot of time to do that during the game. That's pretty much the routine.

BCB: Who gives you all the various lineup changes and pitching changes? Where do you get those?

MT: If you listen to the TV and radio broadcast a lot of times you'll hear a voice, a mystery voice in the background. And when Sharon Pannozzo was the media director her volume was higher so you'd really hear her in the background. Peter Chase [the new media relations person in 2007] is a little lighter so you don't always hear him in the background. But that will come from the media director. Every broadcast booth up there has a speaker so you'll get the - I get those changes as Len and Bob get them, as Pat and Ron get them. That's where it comes from.

And when things are happening on the fly like that sometimes you might notice a correction. Sometimes it came over there incorrectly. He's got to read hand signals from the umpire so he may have interpreted the signals wrong and announced it over our PA system wrong so it gets announced wrong and then that's where you'll get corrections and we'll see who it really is.

BCB: Are you looking to do this on more of a full time basis?

MT: You know, I'll tell you, Al, to be honest with you, I feel like I've got the keys to Disney World. One of the things my dad said to me when I was interviewing for the job with John McDonough was: did you show him a picture of your basement? He wanted me to convey my loyalty to the Cubs. I had a pool table with a royal blue felt. A Cubs stained glass light that I had custom made. All this Cubs memorabilia, and Bears. Working for Walter Payton ...

BCB: A lot of us have places like that.

MT: Sure! But before all this happened, I was really kind of a super fan. So it's and here I am 3 years into it and every day is like a dream come true. It is such a dream job and it is such an honor to work at this level for any team let alone the team you grew up watching and rooting for and I don't know what the future holds. I don't know what Paul's aspirations are. I don't know what Wayne's plans are. I've made it clear to the Cubs that I'm available for all of the 81 games that they have at home at any time and, but I also, I have such a sense of loyalty to Wayne not only for the opportunities that he's helped me to get, but you know he's mentored me over the years. I'd like to think that if I were to be compared to anyone's style, I don't try to sound exactly like Wayne, but I like to think I have my own style.

BCB: You all three have different styles.

MT: I agree. I think so too. But I would say I was probably most influenced by Wayne. Ironically when I was a kid, my dad had DePaul tickets at the Rosemont Horizon, so it's kind of interesting to be working in that building as an adult. But I grew up listening to Jim Reibandt [the Bears' public address announcer] because he did the DePaul games when I was a kid and I always thought that he was really one of the greatest PA voices in the city and ... so I would say a combination of him and Wayne would be who I try to emulate.

As far as down the road. I don't know what would happen. I would never ... I like Paul and I like Wayne so much I would hope to see them there long-term as well.

BCB: Where is your spot in the press box?

MT: I am the very last booth on the third base site so I have a window next to me. Paul and I, we all sit there. Andi, who runs the message board under the scoreboard, she sits directly next to me and then behind me is Gary Pressy, the organist.

BCB: How do you work with your voice coming back to you on the PA speakers?

MT: It's not only that, but there's a lot going on. People come in and out of the booth. There's a lot of distractions. You wouldn't believe how surprisingly distracting it can be at times. I think just focusing sometimes I'll plug one ear when I'm talking to try and block out some of the side noise. I don't wear headphones. I know a lot of the stadiums I notice the PA does wear headphones. I don't know; my guess is that Wrigley is just it's an old ballpark and some of those amenities that you would see in a newer ballpark are not here. So whatever reason, I never asked and that's just how it is. And at Wolves games I don't wear headphones either so I'm used to announcing without headphones.

BCB: Are you in a similar spot at the Wolves games in a press box area?

MT: For Wolves games I'm at the west end of the ice kind of where the players come out. It's a big - it looks like a fish tank really, it's a big Plexiglas box and fortunately the speaker column is right above me so there's not a lot of delay whereas here there's a little more of a delay. It's actually more difficult to announce from the field. Occasionally like last year on Ryne Sandberg Day I announced from the field during the pregame. Occasionally there's something going on where they need me out on the field to do the pregame and the speakers are further away. You've gotta find the right spot near the dugout where you get the least amount of bounce-back or bounce-back from two different speakers. It's challenging sometimes but you just kind of concentrate and focus.

BCB: I see you're wearing your Wolves Championship ring. That's pretty cool.

MT: Yeah. I've got two of these. My first season they won the Turner Cup in 2000 and this is the Calder Cup ring from '02. And I've gotta tell you... I'm a Jewish kid from Buffalo Grove with not a ton of athletic ability. To walk around with a championship ring it is a thrill. And I think that one of the reasons I love doing this, and the reason I got into doing this -- I've always been not only a Cubs fan, I'm a sports fan. I was a Blackhawks fan growing up. Bears fan, Bulls, huge DePaul. I love college basketball. And I always wanted to be the guy on the court. I wanted to be Ryne Sandberg. And to be able to be a part of the production, not having the ability to play the game at that level but to still be a part of it on some level, to be able to be a part of it in some way, in this way, is just great. I was at a wedding once and there was a ticket guy from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and he had a Super Bowl ring and man, I thought my ring was big.

BCB: I was once on the same airplane flight as Billy Williams and he was sitting in the chair in the gate area right in front of me and I could see his Hall of Fame ring. It was very cool.

MT: I remember looking at Walter's Super Bowl ring and Hall of Fame ring and it is, it really is cool.

BCB: How do you separate being such a big fan and doing your job?

MT: Because if I don't I won't get to do my job any more is the best way to describe it. You have to be professional. You have to separate yourself from that because you have to.

BCB: As the home team announcer you are supposed to show more enthusiasm towards Cubs players than the visiting players, right?

MT: My style is not to. I know Paul does a little bit. I can ask you. If you were a tourist and you had never been here before, would you be able to tell if the home team was batting or the visitors based on my inflection?

BCB: No I can't. As a hometown fan I kind of would like to hear more for the home team because you're here in theory with most the people here. Granted, you get visiting people here all the time but most of the people are rooting for the Cubs.

MT: As am I. I was mentored by Wayne Messmer, John McDonough and Jay Blunk. If you listen to me do a Wolves game it is a little different. I am probably one of the most straight forward PA guys in minor league hockey as well. When the Wolves score a goal I do a little more volume but for penalties, same for either team. But as much as I think I had my own style developed when I came in, the Cubs are such an established brand, such an historic brand, for lack of a better term, that I was trained this is what we're looking for. And I think that one of the reasons they selected me for the job was because I fit with what they were looking for. And the game production that Mr. McDonough has...

You know it's funny, Al. I listen to you make that comment and I can remember John saying to me once he wanted me to even tone it back even a little more. But ...

BCB: But Paul doesn't do that.

MT: I think that Paul has been here longer. He's more established and for whatever reason that's his style, they're comfortable with that and it's one of those things I guess I don't ask. I'm so thankful to have the job and that I'm doing well enough that they continue to ask me back to do it. They're happy with what I'm doing and they've made it very clear that that's they style they're looking for.

I will tell you that I alluded to this when I first emailed you. I feel like I'm the in between generation, I got out of college before the Internet. I typed papers on a typewriter so sometimes I think I missed out on some of the things technology has to offer and we're in this age of people like you have this forum, self created, where it used to be if a fan was a passionate fan like you other than the people in your inner circle you had no voice or forum and I think it's interesting in this day and age of technology that you were covered by the Chicago Tribune and there's a link I believe on the ESPN site to your site.

BCB: I can remember in 1984 when there was a similar pennant race to this year's, dialing Sportsphone 100 times a night trying to find out the scores of the other teams. Now I can go home with Extra Innings and watch the other games. It's so different.

MT: And even if you don't have the package you can go on the Internet and get each pitch.

BCB: Or watch it on your phone.

MT: Yeah. I really is amazing. And the earlier question you asked me about separating myself as a fan and checking that at the door. That's not always easy to do when you're a passionate fan and I don't when I first started with the Wolves, they have a message board on their site and they made it very clear they don't want employees responding. They have a person who does that.

When you're talking about professionalism there are certain things you do and you don't do. It comes with the territory, but the one thing I'll say is I love the territory. And sometimes it is difficult to check my hat at the door when I hear a fan... like I'll be at a McDonald's or a Culver's ordering a burger and I'll hear a Sox fan and a Cubs fan in some nice debate about baseball and someone makes a comment about something you just want to jump in there and kind of throw your two cents in and it's not always easy not to do that. I do have to remember that I do represent the organization and I can't just be a fan and say whatever is on my mind. And it's human nature to get defensive even when you hear things about yourself or read things. So it's not always easy to do that but as a fan I also really think that is so wonderful that that medium is there. There is nothing that I enjoy more than having a baseball conversation with an educated fan or a passionate fan. Or reading some of the great posts that really good baseball fans, doesn't even have to be a Cubs fan, someone who's really knowledgeable about the game has to say.

BCB: I'm a television director and there was a time when I thought I wanted Arne Harris's job. Then I thought -- if I get into sports TV being a fan, it would be like work and I don't want it to be work, I like it this way. I have a different job in TV and then I come out here and enjoy it as a fan instead of sitting in a production truck.

MT: I think if I would have had to sit in a production truck I would feel the way you do, as well. Wrigley Field is, I've always kind of referred to it as my religion, my place of worship. I'm not a religious person,  I was raised Jewish but I don't really celebrate holidays. My wife is Christian. I never was a very religious person. I kind of jokingly said this is my religious experience.

BCB: I understand that.

MT: I get to come to the game and work in a capacity where I have a very good seat, where I can see all the action and I'm so grateful to have the privilege of calling a game in this ballpark.

BCB: Do you subscribe to the no cheering in the press box theory or are you allowed to cheer up there?

MT: Technically I'm not in the press box but I guarantee you that when a game like there was Monday night (September 17), when something like that happens at the end where the place goes nuts. I'm fist pumping. I've had some conversations with fans who sit near my window on a regular basis. I'll see them after a game and they'll chat with me and they'll say oh I saw you calling a strike on that something...

I've had a fan look at me at a close play knowing I have a TV monitor ask me safe? Out? And I'll signal back to them - he was safe; it was a good call. I don't necessarily cheer yell or loud but I'll do a fist pump. Gary gets into it too. So we do have a good time up there in the booth.

BCB: Were you ever a little nervous up there?

MT: I've gotta tell you it's funny that you say that, because I've called a lot of games at Allstate Arena with big crowds but all of a sudden that first game [at Wrigley Field] was like turning the microphone on for the first time. There was something about it. It did take a little getting used to. And you would think hockey is a tougher sport to call and in a lot of ways it is but in hockey I can talk over a play. In baseball you only have a short window to get some of that stuff in and when you're not getting the information quickly and you're not getting it out, I mean it can be a little nerve wracking.

BCB: I don't know about you, but my first team in this town is the Cubs. So if you're a Cub fan above all the other teams, maybe that played a factor too. Your passion is more for baseball than for other sports.

MT: Absolutely, without a doubt. If someone said to me you can only go to one sporting event the rest of your life what is it going to be? It wouldn't even be a hesitation. It would be right here. This would be it.

Whenever you do a job like that, and you being in television can appreciate this, there's a part of you that you're an entertainer. You want people to appreciate your work and you want them to like the product you're putting out. So as a true fan you want other true fans to like your work too. It's a natural thing.

I gave a short interview to this online show this morning... the interview is posted here. They asked questions about Alfonso Soriano, Jason Marquis, Z, and more.

Note: I have tried to open this link myself and was unable to do so, on two different computers and trying both IE and Firefox. The producer of the segment assures me that it's there. Hope you have better luck than I did.

Rick from the Ohio-based blog Stiles Points emailed me several Cub-related questions over the weekend; you can read my replies to them here.

He also asked me how I feel about what seems to be the inevitable, Barry Bonds hitting his 756th career HR. Just in case you wanted to start a firestorm today.