I'll have more tomorrow, but I have a handful of news-type updates from the early part of the convention:
- Carlos Zambrano is going to have LASIK surgery to improve his vision. He is meeting with his eye doctor tomorrow and may have it before spring training.
- Alfonso Soriano is open to hitting in a different lineup slot. Jim Hendry says it's up to Lou Piniella where Sori hits, but reminded me that the Cubs had an outstanding W-L record when he hit leadoff.
- Both Soriano and Aramis Ramirez are doing baseball-intensive workouts in the Dominican Republic at the academy the Cubs run in that country. Hendry had encouraged them to do that and is pleased that they are, as am I -- it's even more important as a player moves into his 30's.
- Ryan Dempster had a blast playing hockey with his buddies at Wrigley Field. He said they had to turn the lights off to get them to leave. And he's going to repeat his running-up-Camelback-Mountain workouts in Arizona this spring.
More later, and will have some photos tomorrow. Off to evening convention activities.
I am trying to do a fanshot
I am trying to do a fanshot but as of a little while ago there were rooms available tomorrow night.
I am posting this several places and if someone can make a fanshot I’ll be grateful to you as I have to leave for the airport. My plane has been delayed and I live in Park ridge so I can wait.
puckishcubsfan - January 16, 2009
thanks for the info but isn't the convention sold out?
so what good is a room if you can’t get into the convention? or does the Hilton include convention tickets with every room for this weekend?
ballhawk - January 16, 2009
What if you had tickets but no room?
JohnM - January 16, 2009
a ha... the plot thickens...
ballhawk - January 16, 2009
Tickets
were sold out for the Convention, but the Hilton still had rooms. If you have a room, you can get up to four tickets (at $15 each) for the Convention. The Exhibition Halls this year also seem to have a lot more empty vendor spaces than years past.
Hey Al, you sat at the table to my left. When that lady sitting next to you screamed “BINGO”, it scared the sh** out of me.
giddyup - January 17, 2009
Let me preface this...
by saying that I’ve no ties to them past purchasing tickets here and there over the years, but tickets321 had an abundance of tickets available at barely past face as of this afternoon. And from looking around a bit, they didn’t appear to be the only ones.
Damen Jackson - January 17, 2009
FWIW...
… that was a friend of mine who won. She won a Ryne Sandberg ball, one of the flags (I can’t remember which one), and a bunch of Second City stuff.
Despite ticket places having a lot of available passes, the place seems as crowded as ever.
Al Yellon - January 17, 2009
And
And have a good time Al.
I’m off to a bar mitzvah in Pittsburgh. Will rely on you all for info and updates.
puckishcubsfan - January 16, 2009
Uh
“Alfonso Soriano is open to hitting in a different lineup slot. Jim Hendry says it’s up to Lou Piniella where Sori hits, but reminded me that the Cubs had an outstanding W-L record when he hit leadoff.”
Uh, duh. The Cubs had an outstanding W-L record when Derrek Lee batted third. I guess he’s gonna stay there!
Keith - January 16, 2009
Should Zambrano's surgury be a concern?
Good to see the Fonz is willing to move into the lineup and that he and Ramirez are working out. Gotta love Dempster!
Chanman25 - January 16, 2009
If anything on the balance its a minor cause for optimism.
reprisal - January 16, 2009
Soriano has always said he's willing
It’s Lou’s decision, not his.
With the current roster, however, I’d prefer Soriano to lead off again.
JohnM - January 16, 2009
Lots of people conveniently ignore that
Soriano prefers batting leadoff but has never said he must hit leadoff.
rlpete - January 17, 2009
Bat him 8th
derv - January 17, 2009
Seriously?
If we have 7 better hitters than Soriano, we MUST be WS bound.
The Soriano hate is incredible.
Boom Town - January 17, 2009
I hope this is sarcasm
If not, it is rediculous the crap Soriano gets..
Chanman25 - January 17, 2009
Maddux had LASIK
I clearly remember Maddux had LASIK at some point in his career and he commented that it helped him.
jeff_pico - January 16, 2009
I had Lasik
a few years ago. It took at least a few weeks to get used to it. I imagine doing something intense like pitching would take awhile to get accustomed to it. I also have problems seeing in the dark—makes me wonder if Z might hae some trouble picking up balls in the shadows.
tomas21 - January 16, 2009
Thanks for
the updates. Look forward to more.
sue369 - January 16, 2009
This is great Al....
you make us all feel like we are there vicariously… you rock!
Emelie - January 16, 2009
Hyperbole?
I guess he is smarter than all the rest of us combined, right? RIIIGHT?
Boom Town - January 16, 2009
Hyperbole is my middle name
Emelie - January 17, 2009
Lasik?
Z seemed to be seeing the ball just fine as a hitter last year. Good to see he’s looking to gain every possible advantage, though.
Interesting they’re telling Soriano to work out and not rest. Didn’t they stop him playing winter ball the last two off seasons?
JohnM - January 16, 2009
It wasn't just for hitting...
… I’m guessing he thinks he can see the strike zone better, too. Worked for Maddux.
Al Yellon - January 16, 2009
He said on CSN
that he just couldn’t see as well as he use to. He didn’t want glasses or contacts so the surgery is the route he chose.
sue369 - January 17, 2009
Good updates
The update I do want to hear is on Fukudome…what is he doing to improve for 2009? If he could play center and hit like he did for the first 2 months of the season, I think on paper this 2009 team might be the best of my lifetime yet.
My only worry is bullpen depth, but there are lots of guys that could emerge or be acquired, so too early to panic with that.
jeff_pico - January 16, 2009
amen. he should be playing softball, little league, and pick-up games in Naperville
derv - January 17, 2009
no sports central broadcast
what kind of crap is that ?
Cubbinstrongsince86 - January 16, 2009
It was taped because of the Blackhawks game,
don’t worry, you can listen tomorrow from 4 PM to 6 PM .
Link
cowsarecool220 - January 16, 2009
awesome
I was going to say how can you have the convention and not sports covering it.
Cubbinstrongsince86 - January 16, 2009
This is always the signal
that baseball is going to be coming soon. Nothing better than Chicago in the summer.
slocs55 - January 16, 2009
Aramis...
I’m glad he’s still working out hard in the offseason. He looked great last year physically; he looked like he lost some weight and his legs were stronger and he was able to avoid the DL. Good to hear.
CubsBullsBears - January 16, 2009
WRIGLEYVILLE........
The place to be when the team is in town…can’t wait ….Lets hope they can all stay healthy..
cubs north - January 16, 2009
Who dressed Santo?
Yikes
dmlichte - January 16, 2009
Obviously you missed his episode on Queer Eye for the Straight Guy
Bricks and Ivy - January 16, 2009
Wow that shirt is f-ing awesome.
I love it.
dtpollitt - January 16, 2009
Actually...
It’s a great shirt — I think I own something similar — just not on a 60-something year-old man.
Damen Jackson - January 17, 2009
consider the alternative...
you don’t really want him to take it off, do you? I mean, it’s not like he’s Lou Piniella or anything… ;-)
ballhawk - January 17, 2009
Actually...
I think I would actually pay to never see Ron Santo shirtless.
Damen Jackson - January 17, 2009
from your keyboard to JDRF's ears - I smell a fundraiser for Ron's favorite charity! ;-)
ballhawk - January 17, 2009
That is a Robert Graham shirt.
Robbie Gould wears them too. I like it.
http://www.metropolitanoutfitters.com/xcart/home.php?cat=801
sue369 - January 17, 2009
I want to win a date with Ryan Dempster.
I may have a man-crush on the guy, but he sounds like a helluva fun. Playing hockey @ Wrigley Field and forcing the crew to turn the lights out…kinda like mom flashing the house lights telling you to come in for supper. Canadians rule.
dtpollitt - January 16, 2009
LASIK
Big Z is in for a great experience.
I had LASIK yesterday and less than 24 hours later I see 20/20.
I had a choice on flying to Chicago for convention or the surgery and picked surgery because it made the most sense (by a big margin).
ak123 - January 16, 2009
Which is why...
… he could have it next week and easily be ready for spring training.
Al Yellon - January 17, 2009
Hopefully
Big Z will have to adjust to night vision for a couple months. While I can see 20/20 I get halos with lights at night. Depending on how quickly he gets used to that I would not be surprised if Cubs pitched him specifically during day games for the first few months.
ak123 - January 17, 2009
I never had problems with halos.
It’s possible he won’t have any problems with that. Also, I’d think his cap would keep the lights out of his eyes.
Al Yellon - January 17, 2009
Do caps have regulations?
Maybe he can get a bigger bill or wear a fishing hat, like my mother-in-law has.
chilango2 - January 17, 2009
Maybe something like this would work?
DamonBerryhillsMitt - January 17, 2009
Ugh!
The dreaded red x.
DamonBerryhillsMitt - January 17, 2009
Why would uniforms have regulations??
A fishing hat? Like, on the mound?! Maybe he could just sport a beer helmet with gatorade on each side.
Boom Town - January 17, 2009
I'm curious also
has anything been said about Fukudme?
iowacubfan69 - January 17, 2009
I'll post more later today about the management session...
… but basically, they’re simply repeating that they’re hopeful he’ll be what he was in the first half last year. He is currently working out in Hawaii.
Al Yellon - January 17, 2009
Hi Al
Have fun. Take photos. Share juicy gossip.
chilango2 - January 17, 2009
he wont share
he will hold out on us less fortunate.
cubsluver22 - January 17, 2009
Leadoff man
Seems to me that Lou PIniella sees two options. One, stick with Alfonso Soriano, which he seems perfectly comfort doing. Two, go with Aaron Miles, which I won’t be surprised to see happen.
BLou - January 17, 2009
No Ramirez?
Why is Aramis not there? Seems like nearly every other starter is.
kanderber - January 17, 2009
Aramis almost never comes to the convention.
Al Yellon - January 17, 2009
I know.
Why is that? He seems to have a very introverted personality; I’m hoping that’s the reason.
kanderber - January 17, 2009
read somewhere (maybe BMiles blog?) that ARam doesn't like to fly
so he only flies when he has to. obviously during the season he has to, so no problems there. but off-season is the off-season, so unless it were something really special and/or emergency, I don’t think he flies much.
ballhawk - January 17, 2009
That makes sense.
Al Yellon - January 18, 2009
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