My son will be shipping out sometime this month after a week at home and he would get a big kick if anyone would stop by and give us (him) a yell. We will be in Aisle 209 Row 14 Seats 8-9-10-11 – right in the middle of the row.

I thought about putting something on the scoreboard, but his mom was sure we would all miss it, and she is probably right.

He doesn’t know I am posting this – and thanks to all the BCBers ahead of time.

Just got a PDF from the Cubs. Here is an exerpt...

The 2008 season is off to a great start. As I write this, the Cubs are in first place in the National League Central and boast the second-best record in baseball. We have a long way to go, but

Manager Lou Piniella is leading a team of veterans and newcomers who are focused on having a

championship season. Since the end of the 2006 season, we’ve made some dramatic changes to

our organization and the results are rewarding for all of us. It’s truly an exciting time to be part of

our team and we thank you for your support.

 

As part of our effort to continue making our team and ballpark better, I am happy to introduce a

new program open only to Cubs season ticket holders. “Tell it to the Cubs” is a new opportunity

for you to join me and a small group of other season ticket holders for lunch at Wrigley Field to

discuss issues surrounding the club, our ballpark, our neighborhood and beyond.

 

We will select a small group of season ticket holders each month from among those who express interest.

 

As an organization, our obligation to you is to field a championship team, maintain the 94-yearold Friendly Confines and preserve the Wrigley Field experience. We can accomplish these goals and believe our decision-making will be improved with input from our fans. We plan to keep each group small so we can have an open and active discussion.

 

I signed up for a session. Throw out some ideas for discussion.

 

One of my consortium already complained that if the Cubs go along with the crooks at the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority, we won't be able to afford our seats anymore.

 

And I I don't care what the new name for Wrigley Field will be. I will just keep calling it Wrigley Field.

See if this works for you...

Go to

http://maps.google.com

and then paste in

1060 w addison, Chicago, IL 60613, USA

and click on MAPS

and then click on the STREET VIEW option

I got a virtual tour of the neighborhood after a day game. When you get around to the bleachers, it's early morning.

I don't know how long this has been up but I thought it was cool.

Then for a laugh, enter

1058 W Addison St‎  and try to see the main gate.

I hope it works for all you BCB members.

I recently got this photo from gaclaudy, one of our servicemen in Iraq and a BCB member. He said it was just fine with him if I posted the photo.

I was able to send him one of my 2007 Cubs World Series tickets that you can see in the frame.

Maybe by the time you read this he will planning his trip back to the states.

I still have a couple more 2007 Playoff tickets to send out - and my empty 2008 Season ticket booklets - if anyone knows any servicemen that would like them.

Side note - My own Marine is going out to his PDS MCAS Miramar next week and if there are any BCB members that can tell us what to expect when he gets there, his mom and I would appreciate it. The 3rd MCAW site just says the Wing is the Rapid Deployment center and to expect anything. My son says, "I just go where they send me."

Ted Cox quotes Bill James on Friday at http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=144098

Alfonso Soriano ranked No. 3 among hitters swinging at pitches outside the strike zone (467 times) in 2007, but he also helped the Cubs get on the scoreboard early.

After watching the way Soriano and Ramirez swung at anything and everything during the playoffs, I am wondering how many hittable pitches they will see this season. I don't have the stats to back it up but it seemed like they were over-anxious and helping out the pitcher by swinging at a lot of off-speed out-of-the-zone junk in October.

A stat like the one above surprises me to think that there is someone out there keeping track of every single pitch and categorizing it over the entire season for every team.

Then there's this...

Yet before you insist on moving Soriano out of the leadoff spot, mull this James nugget: "The Cubs were ahead after the first inning an astonishing 53 times in 2007, best in the National League." Credit Soriano.

James also labels Rich Hill as the NL hard luck pitcher in the article.

What are the membership requirements for the Stadium Club? I would guess one requirement is a season ticket and the other is probably cash.

I have been in both Wrigley and Comiskey and that was some GOOD EATING.

I checked both the Cub site and the Levy site but they only mention membership in passing - no details.

The Starting 9 Ticket Pack

Thanks for choosing The Starting 9 Ticket Pack! We hope you enjoy building your own CUBS package!
 

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With the marathon and everything, I was thinking of taking this to Sunday's game (there WILL be a Sunday game). I live out in the sticks, close by.

Anyone had any experience to share?

Thanks ahead of time for your help.

One-line diaries are prohibited on Bleed Cubbie Blue. Give your diary a bit more thought, then give it another shot. If you have nothing to add to your proposed diary, then it probably belongs as a comment under another appropriate thread.

Here's My House

on Sunday morning.

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