WELCOME TO THE MARCH ISSUE OF CUBS WORLD CHATTER! EXCITING THINGS ARE AHEAD! GO CUBBIES!
There is an electricity in the air whenever a new season begins. Experts are saying this should be a good year for us. I have seen some very nice things happening at Spring training. However, I am a bit concerned about the trip to Japan. I can't imagine the jet lag that they will experience. (Note to ball players...avoid the fugu!) I don't want anyone placed on the disabled list due to a poison fish!
カブスが日本に旋風を巻き起こしますように！
Kabusu ga Nihon ni senpū o makiokoshimasu yō ni!
(MAY THE CUBS TAKE JAPAN BY STORM!)
HERE IS YOUR APRIL SCHEDULE OF EVENTS!
MONDAY APRIL 7TH
Colony Cottage with guest speaker CODY HILLS (6 pm.)
WEDNESDAY APRIL 2ND
Game Watch at Gators
Cubs vs A's 3:35 game time
SAT APRIL 19TH
Game watch at Gators
Diamondbacks at Cubs 1:30
(Come by an hour early for the usual games and fun...not to mention the great food!)
MONDAY APRIL 7TH
Colony Cottage with guest speaker CODY HILLS (6 pm.)
WEDNESDAY APRIL 2ND
Game Watch at Gators
Cubs vs A's 3:35 game time
SAT APRIL 19TH
Game watch at Gators
Diamondbacks at Cubs 1:30
(Come by an hour early for the usual games and fun...not to mention the great food!)
COME SAY HELLO TO A GREAT CUBS WORLD FRIEND
by Wayne Richards
As Cubs World returns home to Colony Cottage on Monday, April 7th, one of our favorite individuals will be joining us that evening. The one and only Cody Hills!
Its not often that one gets to have dinner with a writer who was a finalist for a Pulitzer prize! This was for the fine work he once did for our local home town publication, the DAILY SUN.
He is now into his second year serving as the sports information director for the VILLAGES HIGH SCHOOL. He is excited about returning for a visit. Don't miss this opportunity. Register as soon as possible!
by Wayne Richards
As Cubs World returns home to Colony Cottage on Monday, April 7th, one of our favorite individuals will be joining us that evening. The one and only Cody Hills!
Its not often that one gets to have dinner with a writer who was a finalist for a Pulitzer prize! This was for the fine work he once did for our local home town publication, the DAILY SUN.
He is now into his second year serving as the sports information director for the VILLAGES HIGH SCHOOL. He is excited about returning for a visit. Don't miss this opportunity. Register as soon as possible!
BLEACHER BUM REPORT
by JACK HERBON
(The man with the crystal ball!)
Won't be long now before our Cubs begin their 2025 season. Anything short of a making the playoffs will be a disappointment for this fan and I'm sure many others. The crystal ball I'm using was purchased at E J Korvetts back in 1967. The last time I used it was in 2016 and we all know what happened that year! So here we go. Fingers crossed!
1/ Leading off and playing in the outfield will be Ian Happ. He must cut down his strikeouts this year if were going to make the playoffs.
2/ Batting second and hopefully a good bunter is Kyle Tucker who is also playing in the outfield.
3/ Up next and batting in the important third spot is our DH Seiya Suzuki. We need more power from him this year.
4/ Batting cleanup will be Michael Busch. This power hitter is the key to our lineup this year. No injuries please!
5/ Up next in the fifth spot is shortstop Dansby Swanson. He's great with the glove and now I believe this year he will become a superstar in the National League. All Star bound? We shall see!
6/ Second baseman Nico Hoerner sort of reminds me of old timer Glenn Beckert. Not much power might hit 7 home runs this year but he is a great base runner and good with the glove. He won't hurt the team as long as he stays healthy.
7/ Batting late in this lineup is Pete Crow Armstrong the centerfielder. Glad his middle name is NOT Cardinal.
8/ Matt Shaw is the rising star with the Cubs! He will be playing the hot corner at third base. He has a strong arm but this position requires a someone to hit the ball over the fence. We will need power late in the lineup to succeed.
9/ Our catcher Miguel Amaya fills out the lineup and he usually put the ball in play. He doesn't strike out much compared to other players at this position. Look for him to get a few game winning hits late in the season.
My crystal ball has a .789 batting average. Maybe I'll put it on display at a future Cubs World meeting. Let's go CUBS!
by JACK HERBON
(The man with the crystal ball!)
Won't be long now before our Cubs begin their 2025 season. Anything short of a making the playoffs will be a disappointment for this fan and I'm sure many others. The crystal ball I'm using was purchased at E J Korvetts back in 1967. The last time I used it was in 2016 and we all know what happened that year! So here we go. Fingers crossed!
1/ Leading off and playing in the outfield will be Ian Happ. He must cut down his strikeouts this year if were going to make the playoffs.
2/ Batting second and hopefully a good bunter is Kyle Tucker who is also playing in the outfield.
3/ Up next and batting in the important third spot is our DH Seiya Suzuki. We need more power from him this year.
4/ Batting cleanup will be Michael Busch. This power hitter is the key to our lineup this year. No injuries please!
5/ Up next in the fifth spot is shortstop Dansby Swanson. He's great with the glove and now I believe this year he will become a superstar in the National League. All Star bound? We shall see!
6/ Second baseman Nico Hoerner sort of reminds me of old timer Glenn Beckert. Not much power might hit 7 home runs this year but he is a great base runner and good with the glove. He won't hurt the team as long as he stays healthy.
7/ Batting late in this lineup is Pete Crow Armstrong the centerfielder. Glad his middle name is NOT Cardinal.
8/ Matt Shaw is the rising star with the Cubs! He will be playing the hot corner at third base. He has a strong arm but this position requires a someone to hit the ball over the fence. We will need power late in the lineup to succeed.
9/ Our catcher Miguel Amaya fills out the lineup and he usually put the ball in play. He doesn't strike out much compared to other players at this position. Look for him to get a few game winning hits late in the season.
My crystal ball has a .789 batting average. Maybe I'll put it on display at a future Cubs World meeting. Let's go CUBS!
PLAYERS AND PROJECTIONS
BY DAN MARX
I have always been a statistic freak. Some of you may also be. But here is what CBS sports projects for our starters. Do with it what you like. I think it bodes well for our boys. Only one guy projected with over 20 homers, so we could definitely use more power. Maybe at the trade deadline.
Yes, for $40 million a year we could have had Bregman and his 24 projected homers. No thanks.
CBS PROJECTIONS....
Here’s what CBS projects for our players this season.
Amaya 314 AB. 9 HR 35 R 0 SB . 242 BA
Busch 408 AB 19 HR 63 R 2 SB .267 BA
Hoerner 411 AB 5 HR 50 R 24 SB .277 AB
Shaw 460 AB 16 HR 63 R 7 SbB .259 BA
Swanson 529 AB 18 HR 78 R 16 SB .248 BA
Tucker 515 AB 30 HR 96 R 23 SB .266 BA
Suzuki 474 AB 19 HR 66 R 12 SB . 295 BA
Happ 463 AB 19 HR 70R 11 SB .253 BA.PCA 407 AB 13 HR 55 R 23 SB . 251 BA
Pitchers
Steele 173 innings. 11-5 168 k. 3.07 era
Imanaga 175 inn. 11-7 162 k 2.88 era
Taillon 168 inn. 13-7 136 k 3.54 era
Boyd 128 inn. 6-8 144 k 3.59 era
Assad 124 inn. 6-4 105 k 3,48 era
Closer
Pressly 64 inn. 2-3 66k 3.38 era 33 saves 10 blown saves ( have to take the bad with the good)
Hodge 70 inn. 4-1 84 k 1.93 era 8 saves 2 blown saves.
BY DAN MARX
I have always been a statistic freak. Some of you may also be. But here is what CBS sports projects for our starters. Do with it what you like. I think it bodes well for our boys. Only one guy projected with over 20 homers, so we could definitely use more power. Maybe at the trade deadline.
Yes, for $40 million a year we could have had Bregman and his 24 projected homers. No thanks.
CBS PROJECTIONS....
Here’s what CBS projects for our players this season.
Amaya 314 AB. 9 HR 35 R 0 SB . 242 BA
Busch 408 AB 19 HR 63 R 2 SB .267 BA
Hoerner 411 AB 5 HR 50 R 24 SB .277 AB
Shaw 460 AB 16 HR 63 R 7 SbB .259 BA
Swanson 529 AB 18 HR 78 R 16 SB .248 BA
Tucker 515 AB 30 HR 96 R 23 SB .266 BA
Suzuki 474 AB 19 HR 66 R 12 SB . 295 BA
Happ 463 AB 19 HR 70R 11 SB .253 BA.PCA 407 AB 13 HR 55 R 23 SB . 251 BA
Pitchers
Steele 173 innings. 11-5 168 k. 3.07 era
Imanaga 175 inn. 11-7 162 k 2.88 era
Taillon 168 inn. 13-7 136 k 3.54 era
Boyd 128 inn. 6-8 144 k 3.59 era
Assad 124 inn. 6-4 105 k 3,48 era
Closer
Pressly 64 inn. 2-3 66k 3.38 era 33 saves 10 blown saves ( have to take the bad with the good)
Hodge 70 inn. 4-1 84 k 1.93 era 8 saves 2 blown saves.
WE'D LIKE TO WELCOME OUR NEW MEMBERS ...
TOM POLONUS
and
JEANNE WEBER
TOM POLONUS
and
JEANNE WEBER
WHERE DID THE RED WORD GO?
(a temporary switch to red, white and blue)
by Wayne Richards
The process is pretty simple. Read through the Chatter, find a word printed in red, write it down, bring it to the next membership and place in a special jar for a chance to win a Publix gift card!
However, in the last edition, the intended red word was nowhere to be found. This was due to a computer glitch that we are attempting to fix.
In the meantime, here's what you can do. Look for the words red, white and blue. NOTE....They will NOT be presented in color. Just the words. Good luck!
(a temporary switch to red, white and blue)
by Wayne Richards
The process is pretty simple. Read through the Chatter, find a word printed in red, write it down, bring it to the next membership and place in a special jar for a chance to win a Publix gift card!
However, in the last edition, the intended red word was nowhere to be found. This was due to a computer glitch that we are attempting to fix.
In the meantime, here's what you can do. Look for the words red, white and blue. NOTE....They will NOT be presented in color. Just the words. Good luck!
THE BOB AND TONY SHOW
by Dan Marx
(with special gratitude to Eisenhower for taking good care of us!)
We were bursting at the seams at our meeting room at Eisenhower rec center for our March meeting. Bob Ibach and Tony Garofolo are always a big draw as speakers, and they did not disappoint this time either. After the red word drawing , Dan Marx presented to Dave Gran in absentia the very first Founders Award. Dave is a founder of the club who has moved to South Carolina for health purposes about 4 years ago, and was honored for his many contributions to the club.
Jim Guleserian did Lets Play Too and then had a very touching moment when he talked about his experiences watching his boys grow up and through them , experience all of their joys of this wonderful sport of baseball. Jim then opened up the floor to the members, and many of them related their experiences with their kids playing baseball at all ages.
by Dan Marx
(with special gratitude to Eisenhower for taking good care of us!)
We were bursting at the seams at our meeting room at Eisenhower rec center for our March meeting. Bob Ibach and Tony Garofolo are always a big draw as speakers, and they did not disappoint this time either. After the red word drawing , Dan Marx presented to Dave Gran in absentia the very first Founders Award. Dave is a founder of the club who has moved to South Carolina for health purposes about 4 years ago, and was honored for his many contributions to the club.
Jim Guleserian did Lets Play Too and then had a very touching moment when he talked about his experiences watching his boys grow up and through them , experience all of their joys of this wonderful sport of baseball. Jim then opened up the floor to the members, and many of them related their experiences with their kids playing baseball at all ages.
Bob Ibach was back for his third time as a speaker. He reminded us that he started his career as a journalist. He started in baseball when he worked for the Philadelphia Journal and met Dallas Green. Dallas brought him over to Chicago to become the Public Relations director for the Cubs in the early 1980s . The 1984 Cubs were the first Cub team to go to the playoffs in 39 years. In fact, during the offseason Bob and Tony both went to the 1984 reunion and were there for the unveiling of the Sandberg statue. Interesting family fact about Ibach is that his son, Kevin, is the assistant general manager of the Tampa Bay Rays. Bob did go through a typical day for him as the pr director and his constant contact with the media.
Tony Garofolo came on board with the Cubs when Bob Kennedy was GM, and went through a period when the Cubs had 10 managers in 10 years. Tony also ran us through a day in the life of being an athletic trainer for the Cubs. He told us a funny story about manager Herman Franks and bench coach Peanuts Lowry. Franks was deaf in his left ear and Lowry was deaf in his right ear. So when Lowry was trying to tell Franks what he thought a sign should be, he would yell into Franks left ear, and Franks would yell back “what ” into Lowry’s right ear.
After the meeting, I told Bob Ibach that he is the speaker that I would most want to sit next to on a bar stool to listen to baseball stories with. He greatly appreciated that. Thanks, guys, for a fun, nostalgic evening.
After the meeting, I told Bob Ibach that he is the speaker that I would most want to sit next to on a bar stool to listen to baseball stories with. He greatly appreciated that. Thanks, guys, for a fun, nostalgic evening.
WELCOME BACK
Dan Marx
Ok Cubs World, the season is only a few days away and it’s time to get out your crystal ball and give us your win loss prediction for the season.
Wayne said that he would give the lucky winning person a trip to Hawaii if they would predict the score of every Cub game before the games are played. ( Anybody a Back to the Future fan?)
We would love to see every member participate. Let’s see what Cody predicts in April.
Lets hear some chatter in the Chatter!
Dan Marx
Ok Cubs World, the season is only a few days away and it’s time to get out your crystal ball and give us your win loss prediction for the season.
Wayne said that he would give the lucky winning person a trip to Hawaii if they would predict the score of every Cub game before the games are played. ( Anybody a Back to the Future fan?)
We would love to see every member participate. Let’s see what Cody predicts in April.
Lets hear some chatter in the Chatter!
ANYBODY KNOW THESE GUYS?
A GREAT BOOK DISCOVERY
By WAYNE RICHARDS
My esteemed editor on the CUBS WORLD CHATTER, Dan Marx, has been enthusiastically inviting everyone to read and enjoy a great publication entitled, WHY WE LOVE BASEBALL by Joe Posnanski. Good stuff!
But there's another book that has caught my attention. A talk show host on WOCA in Central Florida has also displayed an interest in a book written by Kevin Cook.
Cubs Chatter presents for you a wonderful interview that should bring back memories for many of us.
After you listen, it would be wonderful to hear some responses to the following question. What was the WILDEST Cub game you've ever seen?
Please enjoy this interview.
CLICK HERE
By WAYNE RICHARDS
My esteemed editor on the CUBS WORLD CHATTER, Dan Marx, has been enthusiastically inviting everyone to read and enjoy a great publication entitled, WHY WE LOVE BASEBALL by Joe Posnanski. Good stuff!
But there's another book that has caught my attention. A talk show host on WOCA in Central Florida has also displayed an interest in a book written by Kevin Cook.
Cubs Chatter presents for you a wonderful interview that should bring back memories for many of us.
After you listen, it would be wonderful to hear some responses to the following question. What was the WILDEST Cub game you've ever seen?
Please enjoy this interview.
CLICK HERE
THESE BASEBALL RULES ACTUALLY EXISTED!
by Wayne Richards
In my lifetime, there have been many changes in the great game of baseball. I don't remember closers back in the day. I never saw a pitch clock. I'm sure it's the same for my fellow CUBS WORLD members.
But, if you think some of the rules are strange now, baseball was absolutely crazy back in the 1800's! So ladies put on your knickers and gentlemen please wax your mustaches. (Actually, you can wax my car if you have time.)
Did you know that batters stepping up to a plate had the right to REQUEST a low or high pitch? Low was your knee to your belt and high was belt to the shoulder.
Fly balls and foul balls could be caught after one bounce because, for a short time, it was deemed dangerous to catch hard balls directly! I wish they had this rule when I played in Little League.
Until 1883, pitchers were required to throw underhanded! Thinking back to earlier Cub days, I used to love watching Abernathy pitch!
There was a time when bats had flat faces. This is probably an offshoot of cricket. They stopped this practice when wood shattered on a regular basis.
For one year, walks were scored as hits. I would not want to be a record keeper during this time.
Finally, this one blows me away! Umpires were treated like royalty in the 1800's.
For comfort, umpires stood behind the plate. They did NOT crouch! In fact, they were afforded every comfort during a game. They were provided easy chairs near home plate along with fans on very hot days. They also were provided great food and larger beers than anyone else watching the game. WHERE DO I SIGN UP?
by Wayne Richards
In my lifetime, there have been many changes in the great game of baseball. I don't remember closers back in the day. I never saw a pitch clock. I'm sure it's the same for my fellow CUBS WORLD members.
But, if you think some of the rules are strange now, baseball was absolutely crazy back in the 1800's! So ladies put on your knickers and gentlemen please wax your mustaches. (Actually, you can wax my car if you have time.)
Did you know that batters stepping up to a plate had the right to REQUEST a low or high pitch? Low was your knee to your belt and high was belt to the shoulder.
Fly balls and foul balls could be caught after one bounce because, for a short time, it was deemed dangerous to catch hard balls directly! I wish they had this rule when I played in Little League.
Until 1883, pitchers were required to throw underhanded! Thinking back to earlier Cub days, I used to love watching Abernathy pitch!
There was a time when bats had flat faces. This is probably an offshoot of cricket. They stopped this practice when wood shattered on a regular basis.
For one year, walks were scored as hits. I would not want to be a record keeper during this time.
Finally, this one blows me away! Umpires were treated like royalty in the 1800's.
For comfort, umpires stood behind the plate. They did NOT crouch! In fact, they were afforded every comfort during a game. They were provided easy chairs near home plate along with fans on very hot days. They also were provided great food and larger beers than anyone else watching the game. WHERE DO I SIGN UP?
HERE ARE SOME GENTLEMEN WHO HAVE THEIR SHIRT TOGETHER!
FROM THE DESK OF THE PREZ
by Wayne Richards
I was sitting in my presidential office the other day staring out the window at the planets lining up. I was quite relaxed.
This is the kind of solitude I desire whenever working on this newsletter. I do my best work when things are still and quiet.
My editor, Dan Marx, has become a very good writer and the two of us have reached a point where we actually find ourselves editing each other.
Our friend Sylaisha, from the Daily Sun, has edited both of us! I have no idea who edits her.
In any case, for yours truly, getting the CHATTER prepared in time for publication can sometimes be very challenging. It feels very much like a news office in here.
But, I enjoy that rush of getting the story done on time! Actually, unbeknownst to most people, I am a card carrying journalist. It's expired...but I'm holding on to it.
I wrote for two Chicago area publications. One was called NITE LIFE. It was one of those area entertainment magazines one might find on top of cigarette machines at your local watering hole. The other was the EXAMINER... a little newspaper distributed throughout the north and Northwest suburbs. This particular publication holds the record for the most vehicles driving over it on driveways.
My editor on that paper taught me quite a bit about preparing a story. She had me doing everything from covering city counsel meetings to dog shows and even very deep probing investigative efforts. It was a great education.
Contributing to the Chatter and working with Dan Marx, my current editor, has expanded my desire to write more. In fact, I'm working on a book (as if I never have anything to do.)
Dan and I take great care to ensure that the Chatter is entertaining and informative. We also strongly encourage people to contribute! Our membership consists of a collection of highly talented and expressive individuals and we invite you to contribute with your thoughts, stories...etc.
If you have a story and do not wish to write, I love interviewing folks! I promise my interviewing style is painless and fun! I'll even buy coffee! Or we could chat on the phone.
In the meantime, let's enjoy a great season of Cubs baseball! GO CUBBIES!!!!!
by Wayne Richards
I was sitting in my presidential office the other day staring out the window at the planets lining up. I was quite relaxed.
This is the kind of solitude I desire whenever working on this newsletter. I do my best work when things are still and quiet.
My editor, Dan Marx, has become a very good writer and the two of us have reached a point where we actually find ourselves editing each other.
Our friend Sylaisha, from the Daily Sun, has edited both of us! I have no idea who edits her.
In any case, for yours truly, getting the CHATTER prepared in time for publication can sometimes be very challenging. It feels very much like a news office in here.
But, I enjoy that rush of getting the story done on time! Actually, unbeknownst to most people, I am a card carrying journalist. It's expired...but I'm holding on to it.
I wrote for two Chicago area publications. One was called NITE LIFE. It was one of those area entertainment magazines one might find on top of cigarette machines at your local watering hole. The other was the EXAMINER... a little newspaper distributed throughout the north and Northwest suburbs. This particular publication holds the record for the most vehicles driving over it on driveways.
My editor on that paper taught me quite a bit about preparing a story. She had me doing everything from covering city counsel meetings to dog shows and even very deep probing investigative efforts. It was a great education.
Contributing to the Chatter and working with Dan Marx, my current editor, has expanded my desire to write more. In fact, I'm working on a book (as if I never have anything to do.)
Dan and I take great care to ensure that the Chatter is entertaining and informative. We also strongly encourage people to contribute! Our membership consists of a collection of highly talented and expressive individuals and we invite you to contribute with your thoughts, stories...etc.
If you have a story and do not wish to write, I love interviewing folks! I promise my interviewing style is painless and fun! I'll even buy coffee! Or we could chat on the phone.
In the meantime, let's enjoy a great season of Cubs baseball! GO CUBBIES!!!!!
COMMENTS? SUGGESTIONS? JOKES? RECIPES? SEND US A LINE!!! WE'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU! Go Cubbies!
