Cubs Predictions for 2006

Note that these are predictions, not necessarily my preferences.

- Dusty will be the opening day manager
- Hendry will be the opening day GM
- Corey Patterson will be the opening day CF
- Nomar will be the opening day SS
- Neither Matt Murton nor Ronny Cedeno will be on the opening day 25 man roster
- Ditto for Rich Hill
- On the other hand T-rex lookalike, Roberto Novoa, will be on the opening day roster and will be used regularly in high leverage situations because Dusty thinks he physically resembles a "young Armando Benitez". No word whether Dusty actually thinks he pitches like a "young Armando Benitez".
- If Glendon Rusch opts to stay with the Cubs, he will again start the season in the pen.
- Kerry Wood will be in the starting rotation to begin the season. He will only be removed when his arm flies off during a simulated game.
- The bullpen will start the season 7 men strong and will never be reduced to 6 (possible exception: short term, day or two, roster shuffle between the minors and the big club).

I'll try to remember to pull this post back up early next season, so we can have some laughs.

And the Tribsters shrugged...

It comes as no surprise to this Cub fan that the Northsiders TV ratings are down. Ed Sherman reports in today's Tribune that the Cubs local tv ratings have fallen nearly 30%:

The Cubs are off nearly 30 percent on WGN and WCIU, dropping from a 9.1 to a 6.3, and they have slid from a 6.5 on Fox Sports Net in 2004 to a 4.1 on CSN in 2005.

Well, if you can't hurt the team at the box office (seats were sold back in February), you can vote with your remote. It looks to me like this past year, full of bullshit on and off the field, is finally taking a toll on this franchise.

Talking to Cub fans throughout Chicago and the midwest I have heard more indifference than I have in years. Die-Hard fans, that were pissed off last year, are now just chalking up another bad year. They were ready for football season weeks ago.

BUFFETT AT WRIGLEY -- I had a fun time at the ballpark on Saturday night watching Jimmy Buffett. Buffet put on his normal show -- with a Cubbie spin. The ballpark was a fun venue to watch the concert. Hopefully the the neighborhood will allow the Trib to hold a few more concerts at the ballpark in the future.

And the ca$h register rings on...

Since the Cubs are just playing out the string this September...NOW WHAT? Cub tickets have been in such high demand the past few years that they sell out in February, when snow is flying. As fans we take a leap of faith, whether we buy season tickets or single tickets to games in August and September. So what should we do if we are stuck with September tickets?

1. Use the tickets and enjoy your time at the ballpark.
2. Use the tickets and be miserable. This is a great opportunity to boo and heckle the players you cannot stand (I took this approach with Mo Alou last season.)
3. Try and sell these tickets for whatever you can get at this point.
4. Give the tickets to someone who will appreciate them, and may not have a chance to go otherwise.
5. Give the tickets to a homeless guy and walk him to the gate to make sure he uses them.
6. Burn the tickets in a bizzarre End-of-Cubs-Season-Ritual.

I am not sure what the best approach to this situation is. The shame is that these tickets ain't cheap.

What are you gonna do with your remaining tickets?