Unfortunate Wrigley Field Headlines of the Week

Two news stories came out today about our beloved Wrigley Field.

First they announced that our alderman and the Cubs are pushing for a "Movie Night" sometime in October inside the Friendly Confines. Why, you might ask?

Because: "You’d make money — not from the ticket price, but from the advertisement and concession sales" said Mike Lufrano, Cubs general counsel and executive vice-president of community affairs.

Unfortunately, a second news story also came out about Wrigley Field today: Black Slime Found Among Concessions at Wrigley Field.

Good luck with that one there, Mike.

Wrigley Called A Dump? Well, Allow Us To Retort

If you take a gander at the main title of this here blog. You will find that we run this site to Document Wrigley Field, but lately we feel obligated to Defend her.

You see - darn near like clockwork - when the Cubs are tanking, folks start looking for someone or something to blame. At some point that blame comes to rest on Wrigley Field, and this week there were a couple such stories in the newspapers that did just that.

First you had Dave Eggers' backhanded complement: Who needs winning baseball at the ultimate neighborhood park? This youngster, who you'd think was my age, wrote: "Not that the score mattered much. I grew up with the Cubs, and I don't remember the possibility of winning ever being high among the reasons we went to Wrigley. We went because the park was ragged and crumbling and lived-in, beautiful in an almost accidental way." 

That there is one way folks blame Wrigley Field. You see, they blame her "atmosphere." They say that somehow her beauty or her charm or the fact she's "lived-in" woos fans into not caring about winning.
This is horse manure.

Then you've got baseball "writer" Peter Gammons. He not only insulted Wrigley Field by calling her "A Dump" he also said the Cubs probably can't win in the future because of her. Mr Boston-lover said: “The Ricketts family has a serious issue they’re going to have to understand: It’s not only rebuilding personnel ... they got to make that ballpark livable, it’s a dump. They’re going to have to spend $200-and-something million on renovating Wrigley Field,  And the investment is far greater than, I think, maybe they realize."

That's another argument we hear from folks blaming Wrigley Field. They say she's some sort of dump - that she should be torn down and replaced. Now, I'm no mathematician but it seems to me that building something new - something that would no doubt TRY to be Wrigley Field - for $500 or $600 or $900 million might not be such a great idea compared to fixing what we've got. And what we've got is a damn national treasure. She's not perfect and we all know that at some point she is going to need some renovating. And sure, $200 million dollars is a lot of money. I mean - heck - that's Alfonso Soriano and Kosuke Fukudome's contract added together!

Let me tell ya, we are getting awfully tired of folks blaming this Stadium and saying we've got one of two ways to look at Wrigley Field. Either she's so darn charming that she's prevented us from winning OR she's such a money sucking dump that she is preventing us from winning.

We would simply like to propose a third option: that the Chicago Cubs are preventing us from winning.

Fix the team. Leave Wrigley Field alone.

Summertime

Ah... Summertime.

As the weather heats up, it's hard not to appreciate all the pleasure Summertime brings. My grandson, Phillip and I were just sitting outside last night and he brought up some of his biggest Summertime memories.

You see, him and his younger brother grew up in a small town so their memories may be different than big city folk. He talked of playing hide and go seek with the neighborhood kids, knowing every little covey hole in the bushes or where, if someone was coming, he could run through a yard without getting decapitated by a clothesline. They were fond of alley walking and yelling "Junk It!" to cars just hoping they'd stop and chase after them. It was good clean fun. And, by the way, why is peeing outdoors in the dark - with nobody around - such a great feeling?!

They'd play Whiffle ball everyday as soon as they got up, after watching CHiPs reruns or playing RBI on the Nintendo. Of course, there was watching the beloved Cubs, listening to Harry and eating as many Cool Ranch Doritos as humanly possible... knowing that later on that evening they got to go play baseball, putting on their uni as soon as the paper route was finished.

You just can't beat Summertime, and for those who are fortunate enough to experience Wrigley Field, there just isn't anything better than watching a ballgame on a hot Summer day. It brings back so many memories and every time I go to Wrigley it's hard not to allow the field to take you back in time.

My grandson said his biggest worry back then was how to fit it all in each and every day... that and why his little brother couldn't throw strikes on RBI.

Wrigley vs Fenway. Why Wrigley Wins

Why? Because we said so.

I mean honestly, did you think we were going to say Fenway was better?

Wrigley Field Photos of the Year

Well sir, the year began with many improvements to the old ballpark and that ever eternal hope for our team. But, 2010 was marked more by marketing gimmicks than by victories, and - once again, we are left to wait til next year.

From the player banners of Opening Day, to a stadium - half-filled - witnessing another lose. From a football field that didn't quite fit, to the passing of a Cubs legend... I tell ya - it sure was memorable.

Here are our photographs of the year 2010.

Our 2010 MVP

Now that the 2010 baseball season has come to an end, we here at The Wrigley Blog put our collective heads together to decide our MVP.

Well I'll tell you one thing - the Cubs didn't play worth a hoot this year. So, we decided not to give it to a Cub. Harold voiced an opinion for Mike Fontenot - after-all he was the only Cub on the World Series winning team. And I could see Sloop's point that Marlon Byrd should get the nod - seeings as how his stellar play during the All Star Game gave the Giants home field advantage in that series.

But after some heated exchanges around the card-table we decided to give this years MVP to:
The FBI.

You see, it was the FBI who foiled a plot to detonate a bomb right near Wrigley Field. A fella by the name of Sami Samir Hassoun put what he thought was enough TNT to blow up a city block in a trash can less than a block from Clark and Addison.


This here trash can would have been the epicenter of the explosion

Now, I can't tell you how life would have changed around these parts if the long arm of the law hadn't prevented this tragedy. I can tell you that whining about how we haven't fielded a World Series team for over 100 years would have seemed a tad less important.



And even if the damage wouldn't have reached the glorious red marquee that proudly hangs on our beloved Stadium - the innocence of heading to watch a baseball game would have never been the same. I can't even imagine how security in and around would have changed. You'd have heavily armed police patrolling the aisles with bomb sniffing dogs. You'd have idiots calling in bomb threats clearing the stands mid-game. Who knows if people would even show to watch. One way or the other, this event would have spelled the end of something special or just maybe it would have been the very end of Wrigley Field herself.

So from all of us at The Wrigley Blog - Thank you FBI for catching this hooligan. We owe you a cold one.

Brewer Fan Guarding Wrigley

Grandpa has sent me out recently to try and snag some photos of the work going on inside of Wrigley for the upcoming Northwestern football game. They have this opening in the outfield wall off of Sheffield that works like a charm... but you have to be willing to stand there like a tool and take shots while security stares you down.

Well guess what I happened to notice last time I was there... one of the security dudes was wearing a mother-trucking Milwaukee Brewers hat!

WTF??

Let's go Ricketts; Clean this situation up!

Milking Wrigley

Anyone who strolls by the stadium while the Cubs are out of town knows there is still some goings-on inside. In years past that has included maintenence, cleaning as well guided tours. My nephew Phillip was in town this week and went on one of them Wrigley Field Tours. He found out that this year there is even more going on to milk Wrigley Field.

Yesterday they hosted the "HP Field of Dreams, Sponsored by Intel" Basically it was a corporate outing - letting employees get dressed up in full Cub uniforms and play ball. They played four games on a fully chalked field - had umpires - and put each players name up on the scoreboard while up to bat. Heck, they even had Gary Pressy there tickling the ivory on the organ. I kid you not.

Cubs tour guide told my nephew that Intel and HP paid over a million dollars for the use of the field - more than that Toyota Sign brings in yearly.  I tell ya, this thing is probably just the tip of the milking iceberg.

Combo Deal

You know what? Maybe I'm missing something.

Maybe the Ricketts' braintrust really is onto something.

Maybe they are simply looking for just the right combination of oversized japanese car ads and clownish cheese noodles with less of those pesky "traditions" the rest of us Wrigley Field fans have come to love.

Maybe if they fiddle with this thing long enough they can figure out a way to turn the season around. Hell, burn down the ivy and we might just win the World Series!!!

Or maybe. . . this some sorta sick joke.

HANK

2014 All-Star Game At Wrigley?

I was like 2 the last time the All-Star game was at Wrigley so don't remember it. But, last night's game got me to thinkin': it shouldn't be long til the festivities return. I mean, it's been 20 years and there are only like 30 different stadiums, so...
I did a search and it turns out that there is a plan already in the works. Supposedly the Cubs are going to push to host the 2014 game because it will be the 100th anniversary of Wrigley. 4 more years Yo! Sluggers is gonna be off the chain!!

Cubs And Wrigley Field At The Break

This season has been an absolute joke. You've got so-called fans doing The Wave while Toyota Signs and Giant Noodles are popping up. It is a circus. And, I don't know if you noticed, but the Cubs are a joke as well.

I don't think it takes a statistician to tell me the Cubs stink, but I was curious to see a few things so I had Wayne's grandkid work me up some figures.

The Cubs were only One game under .500 when "fans" decided to do The Wave. They responded by losing 9 of their next 12.

They were Six games under when they installed the Toyota Sign and then lost 3 of the next 4.

I guess things weren't bad enough then so they put in a Giant Noodle. The Cubs are 10 - 14 since that monstrosity showed up and now they sit at Eleven games under at the break.

Say what you will, but none of this crap is helping.

HANK

Attendence At Wrigley: Bad

We already discussed this a few weeks back, but I see in the paper here that other have started to notice. They say that "attendance is down sharply" Oh my!

In 2009, there was only 1 game that had less than 38,000 - this season: 11. Also at this point in the season last year - there had been 21 games watched by 40,000 or more. This season there have been only 11 have topped that mark. Seems to me that there isn't any which way that the Cubs are going to top their coveted 3 million mark for the season.

I'll have my grandson Jeremy get on the google and rustle up some numbers. I'm betting it has been awhile since attendance has drastically gone down for a season.

PNC Sign Shows Priorities

This here is just like that saying about rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic.

While the Cubs where busy disappointing the faithful with bad baseball - the braintrust in charge of Wrigley Field was busy worrying about advertisement.
One of them geniuses must've decided that the location of the neon sign for a luxury skybox just wasn't good enough. I guess they thought us have-nots might miss who is sponsoring the thing.

So, they moved the sign.
Nice work boys!

So now that you've got this taken care of - how's about you start worrying about this disappointing team.

Poor Ol Gary Pressy

This might be "last weeks news" but I wanted to go over the last 70 years of history first before discussing what has recently occurred inside of Wrigley Field. You probably didn't know that the first Major League ballpark to use an organ was right down the street here.
That beautiful sound has been an integral part of the experience at Wrigley Field almost ever since.

While every other Major League ballpark went to taped music, organist Gary Pressy has kept tickling the ivory for the millions of fans who pay good money to see something special inside of the Friendly Confines. Well sir, like a lot of things lately, that has changed this year. Now Wrigley Field is just like every other ballpark; playing taped "jams" and "groves" for players as they walk up to the plate. Poor ol' Gary Pressy is left to play his sweet, sweet music only during commercial breaks.

Just One Old Man's Opinion

In the early 80's when the Tribune took over the Cubs I wasn't sure what they were going to do to our beloved Wrigley Field. They added the message board and did some minor things like building the gift shop etc but for the most part they left Wrigley as it was, which to me is perfect.

Now as I stroll by the field and see this ridiculous red Toyota sign I am filled with anger, disgust and am ashamed of our ownership. Do they not understand that Wrigley is beloved by so many for other reasons besides winning pennants? We love Wrigley because it is pure, it is baseball as it was meant to be. Now we have this sign and I wonder about the future of our field. And it is our field. We have sat through years of mediocrity, years of thinking wait til' next year. And for this new owner to come in and allow a car company to put up a sign really scares the heck out of me.

It's hard enough to watch certain members of our team play with no heart, no love for the logo on their jersey (not saying any names but 3rd and LF!). Now we have this stinking red sign to look at? I pray the our owner will take down the sign and realize he owns sacred ground, treat it that way.

The Cubs Are The Red Sox: Flawed Logic

When discussing adding advertisement to Wrigley Field, Cubs Chairman Tom Ricketts likes to bring up Fenway Park in Boston. "As you know, Major League ballparks have historically relied on in-park signage to generate revenue. Legendary Fenway Park, older than Wrigley Field, has added significant signage throughout its outfield - and two World Series championships - in the last six years."

So, The Red Sox added some ads and next thing you know:
World Series Champions!
Can I tell you a couple of other things the Boston Red Sox added that the Cubs don't currently have, besides that all important signage. They added a guy who could pick up a stolen base when the entire season depended on it. They added a pitcher who could get a win when you could not lose and do it with blood coming out from his ankle. They added set-up men that could set-up and a closer who could close. They added roll players who stepped up in the clutch and star players who played beyond their giant salaries. These, and signage, are things the Cubs do not currently have.

Purdy Shot of the Week 3

I call this immense beauty: Wind - Blowing In

Just tremendous


Sloop Purdy

Toyota Sign One Step Closer

That there giant advertisement - The Toyota Sign - looks to be on the way. An article from a day or two back says the City Council's Building Committee approved the permit after my local Alderman, Tom Tunney changed his mind. Now originally, Mr. Tunney said that he didn't support putting up the sign "as it is not in keeping with the character of the neighborhood or with the spirit of the city's landmarks ordinance."

Now three week later: nothing has changed with the sign, and nothing has changed with the character of this neighborhood, but something has apparently changed with Mr. Tunney. He now supports the sign. He gave his support on the condition that the Cubs promise not to put up any more giant signs for the next four years. Now to you youngsters out there - four years may sound like a long time - but let me tell ya, that is a blink of an eye compared to the long history of this stadium. The only piece of mind that four year hiatus can bring me is knowing that I might not be around to see what they come up with next after it is over.

Lights Go Out at Wrigley Field

Last night as I was listening to the game - all of our lights went out. Now I am smart enough to have a radio that doesn't require a plug so I was able to hear that the same thing was happening down the street at Wrigley Field. Says here in the paper that a tree branch up on Racine took down a power line and took with it the electricity of me, my neighbors about about 35,000 fans in the Stadium - second lowest attended game this year, by the way.

Also says here that the last time the lights went out was during the 2003 season. I think we all remember what happened that year. Time to get your season tickets back Steve Bartman.

Plenty of Tickets Still Available

Now I tell you what, I don't recall a time over the last few years where they have advertised this much about having tickets available to Cubs games. And it isn't just mid-week day games - we are talking about every single game. Even in the ever-popular bleachers - only Friday and Saturday games are sold out.

Now I think one reason for less folks attending these games is that the Cubs currently stink. But, I can tell you for certain that they have been much, much worse over the years and not had these problems this early in the season.

I think the main reason attendance is heading south is that times are tough for a lot of folks - but at the same time ticket prices keep going up. These tickets are very pricey and getting pricier every year. The Cubs are going to find themselves what they call a tipping point pretty soon if they continue to jack up the prices.

Now I do not consider myself a Nostradamus type, but I think the Cubs better watch themselves if they don't want it to get worse. I think the powers that be better stop focusing so much on adding advertisement and jumbotrons and all of that. Unless they plan on using that income to help keep ticket prices in check - which I seriously doubt they will - they could sure well find themselves in a world of hurt.



UPDATE: Tuesday nights game had an announced attendance of 34,749. That is 2,000 less than any other game so far this season - including so called "bronze" games - mid week - in the cold.
I'm telling ya: something is going on here.