On-Site Observations

Several of my friends had the occasion to attend one of the first two home games at Wrigley, and I’d like to pass along a few of their observations. First though, to complement PMc's post, this is what I think is the most telling statistical trend in the early development stages... one I hope busts up very, very soon:



When the Cubs’ opponent scores first, the team is 0-4.

True, when the Cubs score first, they’re 3-1. But I’m already getting worried because in each of the past couple of seasons, the team has a tendency to swing early at bad pitches – pitcher’s pitches – when they get behind a few runs. They stop working the count, and definitely stop taking walks. In the four games the opponent scores first, the opponent has walked 16 times to the Cubs 10. Figuring that this is enough of a difference – a handicap – to affect a one game shift over 8 or 10, that right there is probably a telling reason as to why the team is 3-5 instead of 4-4. It’s not just the discrepancy in walks, it’s the discrepancy when the team is playing from behind.

Although, I should admit that it's not a perfect statistic, because in games the Cubs score first, they're ahead in walks 10 to 9. They've walked just as little in those games. Just something to be aware of in the coming weeks I guess.

Anyway, onward to some observations.

From KEJ:

Subject: The Jalapeno's aren't as hot this year.

but they do still have Old Style heavy and Light. Went to the Cubs game yesterday. A few observations.. The Under Armor logo on the outfield wall is actually not that intrusive. It looks like a very old school logo that was slapped up with some white pant. Kind of like a white Schlitz logo you would have find painted on the side of a gas station 50 years ago. So it didn’t look annoying at all. Bathroom lines were a mess, worse than I’ve ever seen them before.. which I didn’t understand.. maybe it was the heavier male to female ratio than usually at a game. There were 41, 388 fans there but there were clearly a bunch of open seats.. I think people couldn’t take the cold. There were also at least 3 suites up the 3rd base line that looked empty… Just can’t figure that out either, on opening day…. Other than that, Wrigley was Wrigley as usual, with the snow flurries of course. I think the best part of the game was the Cubs fighting back to tie the game… and it’s not every day you’re going to give up that 2 run homer to Everett. We’ll see how it goes this Saturday.. I think it’s supposed to rain...

I guess I'll hold back irritation at the Under Armor logo until I see it in person... but my instinct is that insofar as it was unnecessary -- how much money is too much? -- if it doesn't add, it can only subtract. I also noticed the crowd thinness though, which surprised me, too. As for Everett's homerun -- the last thing ANY of us expected -- the worst part was that it came after what looked like strike 3 wasn't called. More than most, that one was a game of inches.

From JMI:

Impressions:

Going to the field I took a cab with my buddy Aaron up to Ashland and Addison and hiked the mile to Wrigley. This was a good move. As we walked closer to the stadium, the excitement and the electricity that is always tangible on a visit to the confines slowly manifested itself. We were going to the Home Opener at Wrigley. We were going to see the Cubs again. We were going back to our summer home.

Our seats were fantastic (big props to Lauren to getting these for us). We were ten rows back and right down the third base line, just out from the overhang. It was a gray and overcast day, but we were just happy to see baseball again.

As I was sitting in my seat waiting for things to get started I began thinking about why events like this are so personally gratifying to me. What was it about being here that inspires such happy feelings? Certainly the environment itself contributes; the sound of a ball smacking leather glove or the clank of a hot dog vendor's case. There's the smell of beer and the crunch of peanut shells beneath your feet. Even just the beauty of the field is awe-inspiring, especially in Chicago where we rarely see so much green in one place.

At the end of the day however, I don't think it's these things that make the experience so enjoyable. I could go watch a Gary Railcats game and get to see and hear and taste almost all the same sights and sounds and delicacies. I think the home opener, the beginning of the season, the start of spring are all connected to one thing that's always been a part of the human condition: hope. Whether it's hope for a warm summer, or hope for a pennant at the end of the season, it's the unifying element of this time of year and it's infectious.

Even as I watched Bob Howry give up those two runs in the 7th, and I knew the game was over, I still had hope. Many people think Steve Bartman destroyed Cub's optimism, and Gene Wojciechowski has even written about how bitter things have become at Wrigley, but if you're a Cubs fan you always have hope. You always raise your chin, you look to next season and your convince yourself Jason Marquis can win 15 games.

And so, I think positive about these things. I believe Bob Howry will regain the composure of his last two seasons. I believe Jacques Jones might actually throw someone out. I believe Cesar will learn to field again. I believe Rich Hill is a superstar in the making, and I believe Zambrano will get five years right here in Chicago. It's spring people (although the flurries outside might tell you otherwise), so open your windows, turn up Len and Bob and Ronny and Pat and have hope. Believe one more time.

This year's the year.

Quite optimistic, no? I mean, really -- Jacques Jones throwing someone out? Come on. Thom Brenneman joked in the booth with Jeff Brantley during one of the games against the Reds, "Jacques Jones couldn't throw the ball from you to me." It was funny... because it's true.

Anyway, JMI's optimism was duly countered by JAR:

This email sent from Irish oak.

Same old [effing] cubs. Was cold out there. At least dempster didn't play.

Ahh, the Irish Oak. After a game like that one, on a day like that one, what else can you do? Where else can you go? Brilliant.

For my own part, I have only one other observation: Fan Cam has not been good. Not even close. And the Cubs are struggling a little bit. Coincidence?

Probably. But why chance it.