Archive for April, 2010

John Dewan’s Stat of the Week™

A Couple of Alternatives to ERA
For years and years and years, and to this day, the standard stats to quote when talking about a player are home runs, RBI and batting average for hitters, and wins, losses and ERA for pitchers. Here are a couple of examples. From MLB.com’s Player of the Month section [...]

April 30, 2010  Tags: , , , ,   Posted in: John Dewan, Stat of the Week, stats  One Comment

Cubs game parking in Wrigleyville

With the City of Chicago’s privatization of parking meter street parking, and the longtime restrictions of permit-based night game parking in Wrigleyville, it is advisable to plan your Cubs game parking in advance.  
Make no mistake, if you park illegally, there is a city tow truck waiting nearby to ruin your game day experience. They [...]

April 24, 2010  Tags: , , ,   Posted in: Chicago, Wrigley Field, game day  One Comment

John Dewan’s Stat of the Week™

The $91-Million Set-up Man
Chicago Cubs manager, Lou Piniella, has asked his $91-million pitcher, Carlos Zambrano, to become an eighth-inning set-up man. How do the Cubs get to the point where they are sending their Opening Day starter to the bullpen three weeks into the season? Here are the key facts:

Ted Lilly, the Cubs best pitcher [...]

April 22, 2010  Tags: , , , , , , ,   Posted in: John Dewan, Stat of the Week, observations, stats  No Comments

Pat Hughes tells his favorite Ron Santo story

Last spring Pat Hughes, the Voice of the Chicago Cubs sat down for an exclusive interview with CubHub.net. I asked him to share his favorite Ron Santo story. Of course it is about the the early April road trip to New York to play the Mets at old Shea Stadium – a place Ronnie despises. [...]

April 19, 2010  Tags: , , , , , , , , ,   Posted in: interview, oddities, the media  3 Comments

Cubs.com or Powerball.com?

I went to Cubs.com, the official website of the Chicago Cubs yesterday and was surprised by the page that loaded. Gone was the Cubs-branded backgound, replaced by the Illinois Lottery’s Powerball game advertising. What is up with THAT?  I mean, sponsorship is a necessary element of MLB and of course the Ricketts family are certainly [...]

April 13, 2010  Tags: , , , ,   Posted in: Ricketts family, biz of baseball, observations, oddities, other Cubs sites, the media  No Comments

New Cubs Video for Opening Day

In celebration of today’s Chicago Cubs home opener at Wrigley Field, here is a video I put together using photos I’ve taken and posted throughout the blog here on CubHub.net.
There are lots of player shots, various views of beautiful Wrigley Field – what Mike & Mike from ESPN Radio call one of five “Sports Cathedrals” [...]

April 12, 2010  Tags: , , , , , , , ,   Posted in: Chicago, CubHub.net Site Update, Wrigley Field, game day, photo of the day, players, tradition  2 Comments

Fallout from the Cubs opening day blowout

Yes, it’s just one game, and no it was not lost due to the horrendously blown call on the trap by Nate McClouth on Marlon Byrd. Today’s 2010 season opener against the Braves in Atlanta was a lousy game from top to bottom.
Cubs were twice doubled off base, committed 2 errors, pitchers walked 8 batters, [...]

April 5, 2010  Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,   Posted in: Lou Piniella, game day, game recap, game strategy, lineup, players, roster  No Comments

It’s GO Time for Your 2010 Chicago Cubs

It’s GO time for your 2010 Chicago Cubs. The off season has ended, spring training is over, the team is assembled, and hope springs eternal. With all the hope and anticipation of a 7-year old kid on Christmas eve, I await the first pitch, first game, first Cubs homer, and first win of the new [...]

April 5, 2010  Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , ,   Posted in: game day, observations, players, playoffs, rivalries, schedule, spring training  One Comment

The Pat Hughes Interview revisited

Last spring, Pat Hughes was kind enough to do an interview with me for CubHub.net. With opening day looming, I think it’s worth re-visiting the interview again this year…

Just as the Cubs opened spring training camp 2009, Pat Hughes, the Voice of the Chicago Cubs on WGN Radio was kind enough to take some time [...]

April 1, 2010  Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , ,   Posted in: game of baseball, interview, observations, the media, tradition  No Comments