Cubs Conventions are usually a melding of the previous with the long run.
Fans converge at a downtown resort to have fun Cubs gamers and groups from the great outdated days — and even days that weren’t superb in any respect — whereas present gamers and administration present causes to imagine that this 12 months will probably be higher than the final.
The system has labored since former Cubs government John McDonough launched it 37 years in the past and has been copied by organizations in each sport.
Of the 36 conventions held by the Cubs since 1986, just one — in 2017 — turned a celebration of a championship season.
But that seldom has deterred followers from turning out, and after the pandemic compelled the cancellation of the conference the final two years, they got here out once more this weekend on the Sheraton Grand Chicago to kick off the brand new 12 months, get a couple of autographs, take heed to some Cubs administration spin, vent over slights each actual and imagined and customarily begin daydreaming of 80-degree afternoons at Wrigley Field with the wind blowing out and Dansby Swanson on the plate.
The Chicago Tribune didn’t cowl the primary one, which was held at a Hyatt Regency Chicago and referred to in press releases as “the Cubs Die Hard Fan Convention.”
As the low man on the Tribune totem pole, I used to be drafted by an editor to report on the second in 1987, earlier than all the present Cubs gamers have been born.
The ‘87 conference was a memorable one. Outfielder Gary “Sarge” Matthews pleaded for basic supervisor Dallas Green to signal “my good friend Andre (Dawson).” Keith Moreland urged followers to write down to President Ronald Reagan to get lights put in at Wrigley. Ryne Sandberg shocked everybody by sporting a brand new mustache. And announcer Harry Caray carted round a plaque with {a photograph} of a fired ball woman, with the inscription: “Marla Collins, 1982-1986, Gone But Not Forgotten.”
I’ve coated a few dozen since, after good years and unhealthy. I’ve heard all the guarantees, from Green to present President Jed Hoyer, and one million pronouncements on modifications in retailer for the approaching season. I miss the times when Caray drank with everybody within the resort bar and Ron Santo assured us the brand new Cubs supervisor would get the fellows taking part in onerous (”Believe me!”) after which requested the beat writers for a bit of extra optimism.
Cubs Conventions are likely to blur collectively after three-plus many years, however there’s normally an enormous reveal that will get the gang on its ft and roaring like Game 7 of the World Series.
In 2012 it was the announcement throughout participant introductions that pitcher Kerry Wood had been re-signed that very afternoon.
On Saturday, on the finish of the panel that includes co-owners Tom and Laura Ricketts, it was introduced {that a} Sandberg statue can be added to Statue Row at Gallagher Way together with these of Ernie Banks, Billy Williams, Ron Santo and Fergie Jenkins.
Sandberg clearly was shocked and emotional over the information, which his giant household someway managed to maintain a secret. He has been a daily at these affairs through the years and mentioned that after sharing warfare tales with new Cubs Hall of Fame inductees Mark Grace and Shawon Dunston on Friday night time, it already was his favourite conference ever.
“I know that the young players that experience it for the first time, talking with them afterwards, they’re just blown away at the whole idea,” Sandberg mentioned. “And the brand new gamers coming over, just like the Swansons and the (Cody) Bellingers, they have been like in awe of the entire thing.
“This time of the year and the Cubs Convention really gets everybody’s juices flowing and fired up. And the next stop is Arizona.”
That can be Feb. 15, the day pitchers and catchers report back to Cubs camp in Mesa, Ariz.
But first, the Rickettses and Hoyer had some explaining to do to curious Cubs followers, who on Saturday have been allowed to ask questions in separate panel classes. Unfortunately, not as many fan questions have been requested as in earlier years due to Marquee Sports Network’s determination to televise the occasion and let their staff, Cole Wright and Jon “Boog“ Sciambi, dominate with interviews of the Rickettses and Hoyer.
It was a superb approach to keep away from subjects such because the gaudy new sportsbook being wedged into the right-field nook at Wrigley Field, the annual complaints about Sammy Sosa’s exile and the explanations for the departures of widespread stars Willson Contreras, Anthony Rizzo, Kris Bryant and Javier Baez.
Some followers nonetheless managed to sneak in questions of their briefly allotted time, and multiple talked about Sosa, who stays persona non grata.
One fan requested in regards to the “out-of-place addition (of a sportsbook) being built inside (a ballpark) with such a distinct character as Wrigley Field.” Tom Ricketts gave his patented reply about each greenback of income going into “making the team better on the field,” saying the sportsbook annex was “trade-off.”
As for the departed stars, Laura Ricketts informed followers she cried when Rizzo was traded however that “ultimately it was the right thing to do.” Hoyer defined the sell-off by saying, “I feel like we’re on the front edge of something special,” including that the workforce needed to “evolve” to have the ability to “play October baseball year in and year out.” GM Carter Hawkins talked about how onerous it’s to let gamers depart.
The solutions didn’t appear to alter anybody’s minds. No one is extra beloved in Chicago than an ex-Cub despatched packing.
After the panel dialogue, Hoyer informed reporters he was glad to get Ian Happ signed to keep away from arbitration, and that extensions for Happ, a free agent in November, and Nico Hoerner stay attainable.
“Whether it happens or not, I don’t know,” Hoyer mentioned. “But there is a desire. Both guys have been great here, they want to be here and want to be part of what we’re building.”
Thanks partly to shedding the roster of a number of heroes from the 2016 champions, Hoyer has had a tough time filling the footwear of Theo Epstein, the Tom Brady of Cubs executives. Saturday was Hoyer’s first alternative to be the lead canine at a Cubs Convention after taking on for Epstein following the 2020 season, whereas Hawkins assumed Hoyer’s outdated function because the “potted plant,” the Cubs government no fan had any questions for.
“Listen, I do a way better job getting him involved in the answers than Theo (did with me),” Hoyer mentioned of sharing the stage.
Whether Hoyer made any headway with Cubs followers is debatable, however no less than he wasn’t booed.
Optimism was the thematic motif Saturday, identical to each Cubs Convention of the previous.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com