2016

Dear CandidCubbers,


My life has changed in 2015, so I have not been able to write here as much as I would like. I love my Cubs and I LOVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVED this season just as much as you guys have.


2016 will be different. I hope to be more vocal and start discussion on the Cubs. Candid Cubs to me has always been a place for me to jot down thoughts on my favorite sport and team. That being said, I am so very blessed to have a large amount of followers. This leads me to this question: What would you like to see from my blog? In modern media, so much of what we see is rehashed news and retweets. I would like to be more than that, just looking to you to find out how.


Happy New Year to you all! And as always, GO CUBS!

Fan Safety - 140 Characters are not enough

Hello CandidCubbers,


After reading Jayson Starks excellent column on fan safety, Click Here to See it, I was inspired to think about this issue a little bit more. Why are things different? What have I noticed? Unfortunately, Twitter has only 140 characters, so this seemed to be the best forum.


I do not remember injuries to fans being as prominent as they are now. This leads me to think that there has been a change in fan activity or mentality. This leads me to believe there is one thing that has changed that could impact safety: Technology and our attention span.


I will admit, I love my smartphone. I love using it at baseball games to get up to the second information and stats that may not be provided by video boards or by watching the game. However, being a DIEHARD baseball/Cubs fan, it is really hard to get me to look away from the field when I am at a game. I used to not fill out a score card as a kid in fear of missing a second of the action.


Modern day society is very different. Rob Manfred has discussed the issues facing baseball, including an aging fan base. The current generation has not known a world in which Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, Vine etc. have not exist. They constantly are checking these outlets for random updates from friends and entertainment. These programs even understand the lack of attention we having, limiting characters and time of posts to short intervals.  Additionally, with better phones, we have the ability to go ANYWHERE on the internet at any time. I'll admit, baseball is not the fastest moving sport, but the intricate strategy of every at bat is beautiful to us baseball nuts. The game is designed around the idea of failure (Maybe a little pessimistic). The heroes we raise up and enshrine in our Hall see success 28%-33% of the time at the plate.


This ability to be constantly entertained has diminished our patience and tolerance for things that take any time. These are not issues that face Hockey, Basketball, or Football since even in losing efforts, scoring happens regularly. Us Millennials demand constant attention and gratification that can be provided by these other sports. Additionally, more constant movement makes it easier for us not to look away. Manfred with be tasked with creating constant entertainment while also maintaining the game us traditional fans. Good luck.


Every Cub game I am at now, I see fans busying themselves with selfies, snaps and other things and getting loud at a somewhat delay. I yearn for the days of old in which it felt that the moment something special happened, the crowd was instantly elated. Nothing is more magical to me than an energized, attentive crowd. However, you can't be engaged and a snapchat wizard at the same time. You have to choose, and our society's choice is endangering them. #Yikes

Something Special.

Quickly, I want to comment on today's win. The Cubs did not want to take a easy 4 run win. They much preferred to stage a game -winning rally to beat one of the MLB's elite closers.
But, that is not why I decided to take the time to write this.


The sexy topic for the Cubs, Kris Bryant, is what takes me out of hiding behind smiles from another April win.


Kris took a tough debut at the plate to heart and seemed to make adjustments. Let's take a second to think about that sentence. The 25 YEAR OLD ROOKIE adjusted after looking overmatched in just 24 hours.


Now, before I just lose my mind with over-zealous excitement, it is probable Bryant was pressing trying to do something special his first day. However, it is hard to deny how outmatched he looked on Shields' patented change-up.


I give it to Bud Black and his team to challenge Bryant with Tyson Ross' mast sliders low in the zone. (Ask our other rookie, Soler how nasty that pitch is.) Bryant turned today to show the league that you have to pitch to him. Bryant saw nearly 40 pitches in a day that featured 3 BBs, 1 RBI and 2 hits.


What does this mean? It means that Bryant has the know-how to make adaptations. He had two hits, and he has yet to make solid contact.


Maturity. Discipline. Patience. Don't worry, Cub fans, the best is still to come.


Stay Candid. Stay Cubs.

At 3B for the Chicago Cubs...

It is finally here. The day we all have been waiting for since the 1st round of the 2013 Amateur Draft. Kris Bryant is here.


The Cubs are off to a solid start with out the star 3B, sitting a top the standings early in April. I will argue that this is coming sooner than what Theo and gang had planned, but the need was to great to avoid it. With the Cubs struggling to create offense from the hot corner, Bryant is the logical choice.


Beyond the hype, per ESPN, Cubs 3B were hitting an atrocious .148, good for worst in baseball. The presence of Bryant in this lineup changes the dynamic astronomically. Time will tell where the Maddon-Scientist will place him, but his power translates to the 4 or 5 hole.


As a Cubs fan, it is hard to not think of other hyped prospects in the past (Bobby Hill, He-Seop Choi, Corey Patterson, etc.) and not feel worry. The beauty of the house that Jed and Theo built is there is not just one prospect to get excited about. There are 20. Bryant feels like a safe bet, considering he is the top prospect on everyone who has a pen's list.


Bryant has a great approach and wonderful baseball instincts, but I preach patience if he were to struggle. The transition for some is hard, and I remind people to take small sample size in account before jumping to conclusion. Additionally, it will be interesting to watch his defense as the weeks go on, as he will have a full opportunity to win over the skeptics as the every day starter due to the injuries on the team.


All in all, being a fan at this time, with this team, has been a treat. And as Adidas has said about Bryant, it has been worth the wait.


Until next time, stay candid. STAY Cubs.

Opening Night is here!

Cubs roster is finalized.

Lester Vs. Wainright.

Old rivals face-off.

Banks will be remembered.

New memories will be made. 

Summary
Not a great night for our heroes. 0 for in RISP. Some sloppy play. But divisions are not won on April 5th. The team plays a better brand of baseball than in the past. It has been fun watching the creative musings of Joe Maddon. This is 161 games more of that brilliance. I am concerned with the fact of teams running on Lester. I was not aware of his lack of a pick off move. So let us talk about the positives. The Cubs got leadoff men on a few times and had situational hitting to move them over. The Cubs will not go 0 for every night. The bullpen thew 4 shut out innings. Lastly, the Cardinals a re a top tier team in the NL. The Cubs are as advertised. With a young team, there will be frustration and celebration. It is about enjoying the ride. 161 to go, it is not the end of the world.

Check back later for live comments on tonight's game!!

4/5/15, 7:11PM
* I am way too excited Curt Schilling is a commentator tonight.
* Anthony commenting on talented roster. Love his optimism.
* They hit the field for the first time. I love this feeling. A moment watching John Lester take the mound. Remember when we were all pessimistic about him coming here?
* First pitch: Painted strike....Love at first Strike
* I was so jealous of the acquisition of Heyward for the Cardinals.
* Stroked the double. If he is healthy in this lineup, the are dangerous.
* 1-0 after one. Sloppy play by Soler. Let's scratch that off as nerves.


Bottom 1
* Respect 90. Way to run hard for that double.
* Moves him over. Rizzo with RISP
* Rizzo out looking...on a questionable but well framed game.
* Leave our first man on third this year.
*AN INNING OF BASEBALL UNDER OUR BELTS :)

2nd Inning

* K of Molina
* BB of Wong
* Not a pick off move since '13....WHAT?!?
* So....let us hope a lot of PFP and pick offs were a priorty of Lester's this off season.
* Jon Jay loops a single
* 4th K for Lester
* Not real hard contact. Lester not super sharp at this point.

Down 2 -0 after 1 1/2.

* Mike Olt should have run to first. Man on 2nd still.
* Runner moves over on the flyout.
* This is getting old already. 2 men left on 3rd already.


3rd Inning

* I believe that should be Castro's ball. He is sometimes frustrating to watch. Lack of communication there.
* Castro's lack of detail did not come back and haunt us.
* Lester's line: 5H, 2ER, 1BB, 5K
* Another leadoff hit. Love this pitcher in the 8 hole. Now a few contact guys to get us going.
* Bad swing by Soler on an out
* Great 3-1 pitch by Wainright. Just as good 3-2.
* You don't win the division in one night.

4th Inning

* I did not seem much of this inning... I was making hot dogs for my guests. Baseball games without hot dogs is not a baseball game.

5th Inning

* Matt Carpenter is a great lead off hitter. Another solid hit.
* Another solid hit.
* Why did he not come in on that ball....and late throw...
* Starlin Castro runs hard at the ball when LaStella calls for it...
* Was a big pick up for the Cubs this veteran.
* Motte warming - up..
*4TH LEAD OFF HIT OF THE GAME.
* And the Maddon-ing begins. Montero pinch hits for Coke.
*0-9 with RISP
*0-10 with RISP
*0-11 with RISP

6th Inning

* Motte is in now throwing bullets
* I love Curt Schilling. One of my favorite pitchers of my childhood. Brought such memories as the 2001 Diamondbacks and the blood sock Red Sox.
* Soler = Robbed.
*A seeing eye single for Castro
* ugh.. what a tease ESPN

7th Inning

* LaStella. Da Da Da!
* As a musician, this 7th inning stretch is scary. As a baseball fan, its a special moment.
* Come on Mike Olt....Or not.
* Alcantara sighting here to pinch hit for Ramirez
*  Wonder if we will see a double switch here...Alcantara to 2nd with LaStella to 3B. The Maddoning continues :)
* Pretty two-seamer by Martinez gets Montero.
*0-13 with RISP. Only one game, but frustrating...

8th Inning

*Pedro Strop is in. Loved his work out of the pen last year.
* Soler has looked like a rookie in Right Field. Very frustrating.
* Strop fired up. Let 's seem some runs.
* What,. The,. Hell. is this wind-up. Jordan Walden is filthy
* Starlin Ks. frustrating.

9th Inning

*Rondon is getting some work.
*Montero has a cannon...another stolen base by the Cards. Is this the start of the something for our opponents?

So exciting it is Maddoning

The Chicago Cubs are on the AIR!!!

I personally cannot wait for those beautiful words to be said by Pat Hughes on Sunday night. It feels like it has been an eternity since I last saw my boys in Blue pinstripe play meaningful baseball.

And I meant 100% of the last sentence. MEANINGFUL. With varying levels of optimism among us Cub fans, it has been widely agreed upon that the Cubs will be fun and competitive. A new manager. Development of more promising youngsters. A pretty elite pitching staff. A new video board for all in the park to enjoy replays. It is truly wonderful to be a Cubs fan.

So buckle the seat belts. Wash (or don't wash) those lucky underpants. It is time for us to begin this insane journey us die-hards do every year. When April comes along, everyone is a playoff team. When October comes along, we might be one too.

I am Maddon-ly in love with the Cubs. Let's Go.


CC