Cub Tracks

Cub Tracks Gets Mixed Reviews

Opening Night didn't go that well on the field, but the video board received positive reviews in its debut. The bathrooms, not so much. Plus 2015 predictions, previews from the farm, and another cool archaeological find in Tuesday's Cub Tracks.

By Russ La Croix@RustyL27 Apr 7, 2015, 7:00am CDT

Here's the latest from around the web after Opening Night:

From Comcast SportsNet Chicago:

The Cubs weren't able to muster up a hit on Opening Night with runners in scoring position, but Joe Maddon and David Ross were still optimistic about the night as a whole.
The video board also made a lot of positive impressions in its debut on Sunday night.
Patrick Mooney writes that the Cubs should feel a sense of urgency.
Mooney also gives his take on Theo Epstein and his ability to make quick, cold-blooded decisions.
In the wake of Opening Night's bathroom debacle, Julian Green promised to take action to alleviate the issue in the future. No pun intended.

From Cubs.com:

The Opening Night debut didn't go as planned for Jon Lester, but the experience was everything he expected it to be and then some.
Jenifer Langosch gives a preview of what to expect in tonight's game against the Cardinals.
Matt Szczur feels blessed to be part of the Opening Day roster.
Now that Joe Maddon's at Wrigley Field, he doesn't plan on changing the way he does things unless there's a good reason.

From ESPN Chicago:

Jesse Rogers writes that there were a lot of things that were predictable in Sunday night's loss.
Rogers also tackles the final question of his "5 for '15" series: Can the Cubs make the playoffs in 2015?
[AUDIO] Jed Hoyer spoke on ESPN Chicago radio about Wrigley Field, Joe Maddon, Addison Russell and Kris Bryant.
Overall MLB ticket prices went up 3.3 percent this year -- the largest increase since 2009 -- while Cubs ticket prices only increased 1.5 percent since last year.

From CBS Chicago:

Chris Emma reminds Cub fans of an important mantra for the 2015 season: the need to be patient.
Laurence Holmes describes his Opening Night experience as a mixed bag.

From the Chicago Tribune:

The theme for the Cubs in 2015 will be figuring things out as they go, according to Paul Sullivan.
David Haugh writes that with the fanfare of Opening Night out of the way, the real work for Joe Maddon begins.
Opening Night pulled a good ratings draw locally, with a 7.87 rating that was more than five times higher than the 2014 average rating on Comcast SportsNet.
Two of the Waveland rooftops got their first taste of Cubs baseball with the new video board in place.
Steve Rosenbloom writes that the video board was always going to come first as part of the renovations.

From the Chicago Sun-Times:

Of course, there had to be a hot take headline, and here it is: "0-for-$155 million."
[VIDEO] Jon Lester and Joe Maddon discuss Sunday night's opener.
If you're going to talk to Maddon about the Cubs this season, don't talk about hope.
Billy Williams sees shades of the 1984 Cubs when he looks at this year's team.

From the Daily Herald:

Bruce Miles writes that there was so much new and so much to like Sunday night at Wrigley Field.
Barry Rozner says that it won't be long before people see the reconstruction -- both on and off the field -- for what it is: overdue.
Even Mike Imrem saw the video board as a neat distraction and has a message for the traditionalists: Relax, it's fine.

From Cubs Den: