Posts tagged ‘Opening Day’

Thanks to Jim in Omaha for sending us a nice email about his Opening Day and a question about Big Z’s performance…it got me to thinking and eventually to writing.

After taking some heat in recent episodes for my confidence in Carlos Zambrano and his ace status, I was really pumped about yesterday’s game before it began. “This is the year that he might win 20,” I was thinking as I drove down near Wrigley to watch the opener on Monday. These moments of Cubs daydreaming aren’t uncommon for me, especially at the beginning of April, but the early innings yesterday (minus Byrd’s awesome debut) felt like my own personal Clockwork Orange experience.

It’s not that I mind being wrong. I’m wrong all the time, and being wrong about Zambrano is well within reach. What’s worse to me right now, the place I’ve chosen to direct some of my frustration, is Exhibit B, the requisite quarterly update from the Cubs beat writers about how Carlos is a changed man and more mature than he used to be. Newsflash: every person walking the earth is more mature than they used to be. Please stop the articles that talk about a grown man’s maturity level. It’s insulting. I’m over it, and so are 99% of Cubs fans. All we want are results on the field. Alright. I just counted to ten, and I feel a little better.

Looking at this year I do wonder if Big Z can harness his ability and his emotions and gut out 18 wins for us. The best metaphor I can come up with is that they’ve been separate horses living in the same stable. Some harm has probably come from his trying to separate the two. If there is a real emotional issue (I don’t think there is, by the way), the Cubs should pay for a shrink to help him harness his tools instead of simply believing the stories their paid employee wrote about his increased maturity. Yes, he is more mature, but why isn’t he a better pitcher now than when he was 24 years old? That’s a more appropriate question for people that love baseball to ask. The answer could be unpleasant. The best answer I can come up with today is “try again soon.”

Carlos Zambrano has an entire season to answer that question for us, so I’m going to give him that without judgement, to the best of my ability. My hope is that he provides a definitive answer by getting back on track and having a good season. For as many times as some fans think he’s not a big game pitcher or whatever, the man has shrugged off injury talk and constant criticism that I know I would have freaked out over if I were in his shoes. He’s a tough guy. He can do it.

The fifth day can’t come soon enough, for me or Zambrano. Go get ‘em, Carlos. And go get ‘em, writers. In the next four days he’ll do nothing but mature.

Dear Everyone,

If I am TiVo-ing the game, leave me the hell alone.

One time Lou got really mad at me because I said “as a friend, if I know you are going to watch today’s game tonight, and I know it is a waste of time, do you want me to tell you?” A moral conundrum, I know. But the simple and obvious answer is “Hell No, Sally!”

Sister, please. If I am TiVo-ing the game, leave me the hell alone.

Here is how my day went today, Opening Day 2008:

9:00 PST – Arrive at work where boss is Cubs fan. Tell him and others in my office that I do not want to know anything about the game. Email same message to brother, dad, friends.

9:24 – receive email from my brother who says Cubs are losing 13-1.

9:27 – receive email from my father who says Cubs are losing 13-0. Original.

11:20 – PST discover there is a rain delay, close browser windows for the rest of the afternoon.

11:20-2:20 – Get bored, re-open browser, sit around trying not to go to ESPN.com, Cubs.com, Cubscast.com, blogs, etc out of sad and pathetic muscle reflex. It’s harder than you think.

2:20 – My boss comes out of his office angry. I run away shouting LALALALALA so he won’t say anything.

2:22 – receive email from friend with subject line CUBS L – ask co-worker to screen email for any game info. There is just a link to a 100 year curse article. Great.

2:23 – Receive the following text message – “I know you don’t wan’t to know anything but if someone is injured do you want to know then?”

2:24 – My boss says “Do you want to know if Zambrano leaves the game due to injury? I mean hypothetically”

2:25 – Hear the 7th inning stretch. Assume Zambrano was good enough to make it into the 7th before getting injured so the Cubs must be winning or at the very least, tied. Leave office before the end of the stretch because if I hear “Let’s get some runs” I will know they are losing.

2:55 – People start to gather in office to watch an exciting finish of some sort. I decide to use the bathroom. For an hour. Now I know there has either been another rain delay or it is extra innings. Plus, single ply toilet paper is not fun, even if your name is not Kaz Matsui.

4:00 – Some kid with a cubs hat randomly walks into my office and shakes his head at my boss and me. I assume this could have to do with Zambrano’s injury. Perhaps he is on the 240 day disabled list.

5:45 – I have made it all day! 15 minutes until the end of work, when I can go home to watch the game. I have to instant message someone for work purposes. I see the following status message on AIM (see picture above. If you can’t read it, it’s an AIM status message that says ‘effing cubs’).

So people, please. Until President Obama makes Opening Day a national holiday (paid, of course) leave me the hell alone for 24 hours. That is all I ask.

As many Cub fans are on their way to Chicago for tomorrow’s opener, there’s no better time than now to answer an e-mail that came in this week. Scott from Fort Myers, FL e-mailed us at hosts@cubscast.com with this question:

My wife and I are taking our first trip to Chicago together (and of drinkin’ age!) at the end of May. I have tickets to the Memorial day game already but I am not sure where to go before the game. Could you please recommend a good pre-game and post itinerary. We are staying downtown near Grant park so please start there!

I also want to stock up on Cubs gear since I can only get Marlins, Rays, or Red Sox crap here. Where can I get the best stuff without spending my whole economic stimulus package?

Thanks

Based on a little experience, a little research, and some advice from friends, I’ve put together a draft itinerary (with directions for walking). The good people at Out of the Ballpark have done an awesome job at compiling some good info, too, including a great map of the neighborhood around Wrigley and some destinations in walking distance. Anyway, here’s the itinerary:

Early a.m.

If you’re staying right near Grant Park, be sure to stop by the Hilton at 720 S. Michigan, since it’s where the Cubs Convention is every year. Enter near Kitty O’Shea’s on the south end of the block and you can walk the length of the block indoors. There is a breakfast option (The Pavilion) right off the lobby, but it’s not very interesting. Exit the hotel on Balbo and get ready to walk a bit. Look right and you’ll be at the corner of Balbo and Michigan Avenue. Start walking north up Michigan Ave, and you’ll cross Jackson, Adams, and Monroe. Optional depending on how hungry you are: Cross over Madison and then walk across Michigan Ave, and you’ll have arrived at Millennium Park. Enjoy out the water-shooting video screens, “The Bean,” and more. Take some pictures of people taking pictures.

Breakfast

Keep walking north up Michigan and cross back over to the west side of the street at Randolph. Keep walking west on Randolph until you get to Wabash and take a right. I recommend South Water Kitchen for a good breakfast. This week the patio probably isn’t open…in May it should be and on a nice day it is perfect.

Mid-morning

After breakfast be sure to head back over to Millennium Park if you skipped it on the way there. Otherwise get back to Michigan Avenue and take a left, checking out some of the historic buildings. You might notice your legs getting tired as you walk…it’s because the sidewalk goes up at a low grade. Soon it’ll pay off as you’ll catch a glimpse of the river when you get to Wacker. Cross and be sure to wave at the people in the WGN 720 studio at the bottom of the Trib Tower when you arrive (on the right side of the street). Also check out that cool white building with all the flags…it bears some importance. From there navigate your way to the Red Line and take it North (towards Howard). Exit at Addison and you’ll be thrust into a moving crowd of Cubs fans.

Wrigley Admiration/Lunch

Once you’re down the stairs and out of the station, follow the crowd towards the park, which will immediately be straight ahead and on your right. Check out Wrigleyville Sports, across the street from the train exit, if you want to get some Cubs swag without breaking the bank. I’d also highly recommend a certain Cubscast Store. After your wallet is lightened you’ll be able to walk faster as you head west on Addison. If you have time, do a full circle around the park. At the halfway point, stop for lunch at the Full Shilling (North of the Park on Clark St.) or at Murphy’s Bleachers (corner of Waveland and Sheffield). Burgers are recommended at the Full Shilling, brats are recommended at Murphy’s. Be sure to count how many times you are asked if you need tickets and/or have extra tickets on your way around the park.

If you’ve got time before heading into the park (or even before getting a bite), get a drink at the Cubby Bear, directly across from the red Wrigley Field sign. Do not give in to McDonald’s or Taco Bell for lunch. You want to enjoy the game, don’t you?

The Game

If the temperature is below 75, you might consider bringing a jacket or wearing an extra layer. It’s seriously not called the Windy City because of the wind, but Wrigley can be chilly and I’ve had many games cut short on account of someone I’m with (see: wife) being cold. This can happen into June and starting again in September. Anyway, enter the park back on Addison (unless you have bleacher seats, with which you’d enter on Waveland and Sheffield). Get an official scorecard once you’re in the park (the grandkids won’t want that $3 newspaper one). Find your seats and then if you’re not in the bleachers, walk down by the third base side and ask an usher if you can take a picture in the Bartman seat. The nice folks in that section are never asked to help, so I’m sure they’ll be happy to indulge such an original request.

Head back towards your seats and grab a few cold ones. Make friendly with the people on the aisle. Make unfriendly with fans of the opposing team by calling their slugger a ‘roider. Duck.

Enjoy the game. Keep score.

Post Party

Depending on the closeness of the game, be aware that all the area bars fill up like crazy after the game…especially Murphy’s and the Cubby Bear. I would never suggest leaving before the end of the 9th…but…you know. If you don’t mind the crowds and a little shoving, those places I just mentioned are fine choices. A better option might be a DIY pub crawl starting on Clark Street south of the park. Be sure to stop by Goose Island and sample some of their beers and I’d also recommend Red Ivy, which has good pizza that not nearly enough people talk about. There are a bunch of other bars right there on Clark, and if you keep walking south you’ll also pass several dining options before you hit Belmont. At Belmont you can take a right and hitch a ride on the el back downtown, or there are some fun things to do, including the Brew and View just south of Belmont on Sheffield.

Post Post Party

If you’re still in Wrigleyville at this point, it is permissible to go to Taco Bell or McDonald’s. Be forewarned that everyone at Taco Bell after 8 pm is absolutely tanked. Keep your receipt, it could be evidence.

That’s it. Have fun, use crosswalks, and if anybody else has some ideas or comments to add please do.