Wrigley Season Ticket 2008

by Al Yellon on Jan 21, 2008 9:35 AM CST in Chicago Cubs News

At least one sharp-eyed BCB reader (Chris) found the flyers that were left at the convention, so it's time to spill about the project I've been working on all winter.

Wrigley Season Ticket 2008 is a 112-page season preview for our favorite team (with no advertising, and filled with great color photos). I've written two articles and edited the others for this book, which contains not only previews for the Cubs, but a look at the rest of the NL Central, a look into the minor league system (with detailed profiles of Tyler Colvin and Alex Maestri), and some looks back into Cub history.

The link above will tell you more and also has a complete list of all the articles and authors -- several of whom are regular posters at this site.

You can pre-order it now through Maple Street Press' website (click the link above); if you do, you should have your book by February 20, just about the time the full squad reports to Mesa for workouts. It will be in bookstores and on other newsstands at places like Target by March 4. Most of the distribution in stores will be in Illinois, Iowa and the Phoenix area, so if you live somewhere else, ordering online is the best way to go. We'll also have a table set up at Ho Ho Kam Park on a couple of days during spring training and you can get one there.

It's good stuff, and I'm not just saying so because I'm the editor -- I'm saying so because 15 different writers, including Bruce Miles, have worked hard to make a really good season preview for our favorite team. Hope you'll buy it.

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Comments

very cool

nothing like the season to order all your baseball books, i still need to get shandler and prospectus, ill add this to the list.

Bill James Felix Pie 2008 Projection: .283/.333/.456 16 HR 21 SB

by kylejo on Jan 21, 2008 11:08 AM CST reply actions

That's the Ticket...

I plugged the guide on our NL Central Blog ("Six Degrees of Mediocrity -- Where the Wildcard is Never an Option") and we'll be ordering a copy right away.

One thing, though...as the phrase "Turning Japanese" is slang for masturbation I hope the title to your piece on Fukudome does not turn out to be metaphorically prophetic!

by DonGerard on Jan 21, 2008 11:15 AM CST reply actions

Thanks for the plug.

Didn't know of the double meaning -- oh, well!

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Jan 21, 2008 11:26 AM CST up reply actions

myth?

wikipedia tells me that this is a myth, ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Vapors )though if enough people believe it i suppose that would make it true anyway.....

by anormal on Jan 21, 2008 11:45 AM CST up reply actions

Thanks for that link.

I feel better now.

I should also point out (on an entirely different topic related to this book) that a number of people here responded to this diary posted last December and several people who did reply were quoted in the article, so that's even more BCB people who are in this book.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Jan 21, 2008 12:43 PM CST up reply actions

sorry, but

if Liz Phair covered it, it's about sex!

by johnnywishbone on Jan 21, 2008 2:49 PM CST up reply actions

Wrigley Ticket Numbers

Didn't know if this deserved a diary or not, but i was wondering when buying tickets the numbers sometimes say 226-2. If anyone could expand upon what the -2 is i would really appreciate it.

by moneymike1120 on Jan 21, 2008 12:48 PM CST reply actions

I wondered the same thing...

This is our Year!

by This is our year on Jan 21, 2008 3:19 PM CST up reply actions

I wonder as well

I only see this for the terrace seats so the only thing that I could come up with is that there could be a number that goes with each of the terrace sections: Terrace Box(IF), Terrace Box(OF), Terrace Reserved (IF), Terrace Reserved (OF). The highest I have ever seen was a -3 so maybe one section doesn't get a - number and the other 3 do. Anyway, that's the best I could come up with.

by 1060 W Addison on Jan 21, 2008 6:03 PM CST up reply actions

Just gotta say

the guy who wrote the minor league profiles is a moron. :-)

It's a girl! Born 1-18-08. 2246 PST. 8lbs. 1 oz.

by Josh Timmers on Jan 21, 2008 1:54 PM CST reply actions

Just have to ask...

...Alex Maestri? Really?

I would suggest you learn to truly interrupt all stats before using any selective stats. -- cubswin

by cwyers on Jan 21, 2008 1:56 PM CST up reply actions

Yes, really.

This isn't just a case of "let's get a kid from the Italian league". He's got real talent.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Jan 21, 2008 1:57 PM CST up reply actions

I met Maestri.

and I have his autograph, so he better turn out well. He was very nice to us.

"I don't talk. I just let what I do talk for myself." -Johan Santana

by sparkles721 on Jan 21, 2008 2:13 PM CST up reply actions

Where did you meet him?

n/t

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Jan 21, 2008 2:18 PM CST up reply actions

I don't really remember...

but I think it was at the Minor League all-star game. I also have an insane amount of pictures of them meaning him and Jason something.

"I don't talk. I just let what I do talk for myself." -Johan Santana

by sparkles721 on Jan 21, 2008 6:17 PM CST up reply actions

Probably was

in his blog, he (jokingly) complained about signing a ton of autographs at the Midwest League All-Star game, saying that (if my translation is correct) "I've got no practice at this. In Peoria, the only autograph anyone wants is Sandberg's."

It's a girl! Born 1-18-08. 2246 PST. 8lbs. 1 oz.

by Josh Timmers on Jan 21, 2008 11:01 PM CST up reply actions

Is he moving up?

Or will I get to see him some more while he's at Peoria? If my memory isn't wrong, I think he didn't do so well at the all-star game. I felt bad for him.

I think this year I will try to be more prepared for minor league games. It's very annoying not knowing who the players are that I'm paying to watch.

"I don't talk. I just let what I do talk for myself." -Johan Santana

by sparkles721 on Jan 22, 2008 9:02 AM CST up reply actions

He almost certainly

will start the year in Daytona at least. Tennessee is even a possibility, depending upon roster numbers. But most likely Daytona. (And you can see his All-star game appearance on YouTube. He didn't get any favors from his defense--although some of that was his own glove.)

It's a girl! Born 1-18-08. 2246 PST. 8lbs. 1 oz.

by Josh Timmers on Jan 22, 2008 9:35 AM CST up reply actions

Oh well.

At least I got to see it. Is Josh Vitters going to Peoria? Maybe? That would be interesting to see.

"I don't talk. I just let what I do talk for myself." -Johan Santana

by sparkles721 on Jan 22, 2008 10:51 AM CST up reply actions

Vitters...

... will likely start the season in Peoria, I'd guess, unless they really feel he needs a short-season stint, meaning they might keep him at extended spring training till the Boise season begins.

We shall see.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Jan 22, 2008 1:11 PM CST up reply actions

I'm hearing

that they may start Vitters in Peoria and then move him down to Boise when they start if he struggles, much like the Padres planned to do with Kyler Burke last season. (As it happened, they just traded Burke to the Cubs and the Cubs moved him down to the Northwest League.)

It's a girl! Born 1-18-08. 2246 PST. 8lbs. 1 oz.

by Josh Timmers on Jan 22, 2008 5:37 PM CST up reply actions

He's a great combo

of story and talent. Don't forget, Baseball America listed him as the best slider in the organization. Combined with his great story, he was a natural to write about.

It's a girl! Born 1-18-08. 2246 PST. 8lbs. 1 oz.

by Josh Timmers on Jan 21, 2008 4:22 PM CST up reply actions

good control too

and depending on what part of italy he's from, he might be decent on Dusty Baker's spectrum of players' abilities to withstand the sun.

by Thelonious on Jan 21, 2008 5:06 PM CST up reply actions

Does the Tyler Colvin profile have a good picture?

I saw a picture online of him at the Cubs convention and he looked cute, so now I'm very intrigued.

"I don't talk. I just let what I do talk for myself." -Johan Santana

by sparkles721 on Jan 21, 2008 6:19 PM CST up reply actions

Yes...

... there will be some pix of Colvin with the article.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Jan 21, 2008 7:26 PM CST up reply actions

Good Stuff

I'd love to read it. Any review copies going out to fellow bloggers?

Be sure to check out The View From The Bleachers

by viewfromthebleachers on Jan 21, 2008 5:27 PM CST reply actions

Let me check into that.

n/t

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Jan 21, 2008 7:26 PM CST up reply actions

Hey Al! - Jody Gerut news

Hey Al - looks like your guy is getting a chance with the "second chance specialists" on the West Coast - The Padres...

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/7704390

Wait 'til next year. And the next. And the Next. And the next after that too.

by TheEman on Jan 21, 2008 7:49 PM CST reply actions

Since...

... the Cubs signed Fukudome, they really had no slot for Gerut, even on a minor league deal.

But I'm glad to see him getting another chance.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Jan 22, 2008 4:14 AM CST up reply actions

I just ordered a copy

Always glad to support a project with no advertising and good writers such as Miles and yes, even you Al :)

If it doesn't meet expectations though, I'm placing the blame completely on you though!!!

There is no place like Nebraska - Go Huskers!

by sanantonecub on Jan 21, 2008 8:04 PM CST reply actions

Thanks Al

I will be getting my copy.

by gocubs40 on Jan 22, 2008 12:48 AM CST reply actions

Just ordered mine!

Congrats, Al. This looks really cool. As fate would have it, I was going to order the 2007 edition last year but never got around to it. It'll be nice to get something cool in the mail for once.

Ladies and gentlemen, your 2008 Chicago Cubs starting outfield: Soriano-Pie-Fukudome. Let it be.

by daver on Jan 22, 2008 12:34 PM CST reply actions