Two Days at Wrigley Field

Cubs vs Marlins on July 16, 2011

For many years I have traveled to Chicago's Wrigley Field and have seen all different types of baseball played by the home team Chicago Cubs. I feel I've seen the best - 1984 against storied rival St. Louis where Ryne Sandberg hit two home runs in his last two at bats to extend the game until the Cubs could win it in the 11th -  but following a game against the Marlins last Saturday, I think I've seen the worst.

Not many expected great things out of the Cubs entering the 2011 season, and the team has lived up to those expectations. Until today the Cubs had not won three straight game. And a week ago it was the third of a four-game series with another team destined for last place in their division. And it was one of the most boring days I've experienced at the Friendly Confines.

To begin with, a pattern that is occurring in many major league ballparks is the omission of music when the opposing batter reaches the plate. I'm sure it is to avoid "psyching up" that batter, but this has got to come to an end.. Baseball is a "pace" game. A slow pace and fans lose their interest. The quicker the pace and the fans remain attentive. But in this older ballpark where there is no replay board, no booming sound system and it is very reminiscent of how the game was played in the early 20th century, but with a bad ball team, fans of the North Side team could use a jolt in a game which finds their home town heroes down three after one inning and go onto lose 11-3.

The Cubs are a hard team to like right now. And it is for little things they do between and outside the lines. One example is shown in the above photo. Against the Fish, everyone from Florida was out of the dugout and at attention during the National Anthem. The Cubs were not fully represented. Not a reason they lost the game, but a sign that some things aren't expected out of them.

Aside from former Cub and current front office member of the Florida Marlins, Andre Dawson throwing out the first pitch and singing "Take Me Out to The Ballgame," the day would have been miserable.

Cubs v Phillies on July 18, 2011

Two nights later I may have been treated to the best Cubs home game. With your favorite team twenty games under 500, playing the best in the National League and facing the best pitcher in the game, my attention turns from cheering on the Cubs to appreciating the talent they will be facing. But on this night and in this series the feeling was more of an intra-divisional game with the Cardinals and not a team that comes to Chicago once a year. Early in the night the fans from Pennsylvania outnumbered the home team's. The size of the opponent's crowd was more like that when the Cardinals come to town, and not the fan base of a team outside of the NL Central.

Groups, families and interested fans wearing red streamed into the ballpark. The chant of "Let's Go Phillies" at times was stronger than that of "Let's Go Cubs." For every Philadelphia hit, a loud roar eminated from the stands.

And these fans have every right to follow and strongly support their team. Philadelphia Manager, Charlie Manuel has this team playing the right way. Above first baseman, Ryan Howard shows why he is among the best at his position. Every hit, Howard hustled to first, took the throw and wrapped both hands around his glove. This is a drastic difference from Cubs left fielder, Alfonso Soriano. On the same night Soriano was charged with an error after a lack of hustle caused him to charge a foul ball which found his bobbling the pop fly which he dropped.

Later in the game with the Phillies again in the field, the Cubs had runners in scoring position. Without having to meet at the mound, the infielders of Chase Utley, Michael Martinez, Jimmy Rollins and Howard each communicated through hand signals and were ready to position themselves for the next batter. The only communication with the Cubs infielders came with second baseman, Darwin Barney and Shortstop, Starlin Castro.

There are reasons a team finishes so far out of first place. These are only a few. Until the likes of Soriano and Ramirez find another place to play, Cub fans can have little to look forward to.

How an All Star Uses Video

The use of video can be found in all of sports. In order to improve oneself as well as their team combined, video is the best tool to teach from and make an athlete better. Below is an example of how an all-star continues to improve themself every day. Chase Utley plays second base for the Philadelphia Phillies and was instrumental to winning the Wolrd Series in 2008.

Opening Night!

Fenway Park 2000 prior to a game with Toronto.

The start of the 2010 Major League Baseball Season gives hope to every fan, young and old. Whether you cheer for the defending champions New York Yankees or the Chicago Cubs who haven't won a World Title since 1908, today all fans can say, "this will be the year." From Kansas City to Pittsburgh Spring brings hope.

Force fed to us by ESPN comes a long-time rivalry to open the season in Fenway Park, the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox. And as the curtain opens on the season here comes my prediction for the 2010 season:

Amercian League:                                 National League

• East--New York Yankees              East--Philadelphia Phillies
• Central--Chicago White Sox           Central--St. Louis Cardinals
• West--L.A. Angels of Anaheim       West--San Francisco Giants
• WCard--Detroit Tigers                    WCard--Chicago Cubs

ALCS: Yankees over Tigers                      NLCS: Cardinals over Cubs
World Series Champion: St. Louis Cardinals

General thoughts: The Yankees will continue their championship ways. I don't feel the Red Sox have done enough to win the East, or win the Wild Card. Look for the Rays to finish second in the division. Since the Twins have lost their closer, Joe Nathan, for the year, they will lose close games down the stretch. The White Sox have the talent to win the division, it will come down to whether or not they have the winning mentality to take it. Jim Leyland will find a way for the Tigers to be successful. In the West, the Angels may have obstacles along the way, but will find themselves atop the division at the end of the year. As long as the Mariners have Milton Bradley, success will escape them.
In the National League East, the Phillies continue to be the dominant team. Bobby Cox's Atlanta Braves team will play hard for him in his last year, but they don't have the talent to match up with the Phillies. The Mets will struggle along with the Marlins and Nationals. The Cardinals will be tough to beat in the Central, but this Cubs team will be better than many expect. It will be a two team race down the stretch, with the Cardinals winning it in the last five days. The San Francisco Giants have a underrated manager and played strong down the stretch in 2009.
The Yankees are the best in the American League while the best playoff series will be in the National League. The Cubs finally find a way to win a post-season series, but will lose to the Cardinals in six. In what will be one of the better World Series in years, the Cardinals will win it at home in 7.

View of the Green Monster from RF.

 

Cubs - Phillies

The last full days of vacation found us taking in another baseball game, and of course it involved the Chicago Cubs. This was our first trip to Citizen Bank Park, the home of the Philadelphia Phillies. A beautiful ballpark, and one of the best designed of the newer MLB fields.

This is the gate at third base. The glass enclosed room is a restaurant open before and after games with a large outdoor patio and live music. Upon entering and leaving the stadium, this area was full.

Colin was still a tad bit grumpy from not being able to take the train to the game. SEPTA does run within walking distance of the stadium, but the transfer point is in one of the lower income parts of town.

It was a warm and humid day. Our seats were the second row from the top of the stadium . As many of you remember Colin and I had seats in the top row at Wrigley earlier in the season and found the wind to be blowing quite hard. Today these seats provided necessary shade and an occasional breeze. Colin, as you can see is still toubled by the train and is quite warm.

This park has many advantages. One is a small playground on the top level. Colin was able to play on this slide and didn't have to wait in many lines or travel to a much larger play area on the stadium's lowest level.

Also, food was a plenty on this upper concourse. Many different options to choose from and lines moved along quicker than that of the National's park. Our seats may have been too high for the beer and water vendors as we didn't see many here, either.

And there was a stand for fans to purchase ticket for future Phillie games. Many of the lower level conveniences were also found in this uncommon area.

Colin did make it down the rather enormous shoe. Contrary to local lore, the shoe did not belong to Phillie first baseman, Ryan Howard.

A fan favorite is the Phillie Phanatic. Here he is seen riding around on his ATV prior to the start of the game after having some fun with those Chicago Cub players on the field.

The view from our seats. For being up so high, we could see almost every inch of the playing field.

And beyond center field is the Philadelphia Skyline. An electric replica of the Liberty Bell is seen off center here. It will light up when a Phillie hits a home run. On this day, it did not light up.

The crew that attended the day's game. Colin, Dana and me in the back with Heidi, Elizabeth and Julia in the front. The Cubs were victorius over the home town team.