Spring Training - - off-field highlights

• When the Seattle Mariners walked in from the team bus on Friday, I thought somebody looked familiar. I said, "Jim?" and he turned to me. It was Jim Riggleman, the former Cubs manager who tried to get me to go out with him several years ago. Although I remembered him, I'm quite sure that he had no idea who I was.


• If you didn't already notice the hot car that's pictured somewhere on this blog, check it out! It's a Pontiac Solstice and my choice at the rental facility was either that or - - I'm not kidding - - an SUV! It's probably a good thing that I was traveling alone because there is seriously NO ROOM in that car. I even had to put my 22-inch carry-on in the passenger seat because there wasn't enough room in the itsy-bitsy trunk. And the buttons for the window are perfectly positioned - - if I had fingers attached to my elbow. But it looked good and that's the important thing for a weekend away.


• After Friday's game, I went to Sluggo's, a sports bar about a mile from the ballpark. That's where I met George and the three Joes (no lie, that's how they introduced themselves). George is Nigerian and the Joes were Mexican (and one is a Chicago cop). They were fun to talk to, bought all the beer, and invited me to join them for drinks later that night. All around a good evening that did NOT entail any romantic encounters for me (which was a good thing because I just wasn't feeling it with any of these fellas).


• Saturday's crowd on the hill, at least the crowd in my immediate vicinity, was full of Vancouver boys. The Canadians were in town to golf and hang out, but baseball seemed to be too good a time to pass up. Or maybe it was just the chance to sit on a hill in the sun and drink beer. Oh, did I mention they bought all of my beer that afternoon? It was shaping up to be a pretty budget-friendly weekend, at least where liquor was concerned. Yay me!


• Being the creature of habit that I am, I ended up at Sluggo's again on Saturday and ran into Randy Hundley, the longtime Cubs catcher and father of former Cub Todd Hundley. Somehow I knew he looked familiar and was dressed far too well to be the usual baseball fan, so I asked the waitress to find out his name. I always enjoy talking to former players (I guess I should say former baseball players!)


• I've always felt sorry for people on TV for their lack of anonymity. Everybody knows them, but they don't know everyone back. So I was really embarrassed when "Pat!" came out of my mouth as I recognized Cubs announcer Pat Hughes in the airport bar shortly before my flight home on Sunday. He was kind enough to introduce himself and I did likewise. If the timing had been different (i.e. my flight, actually our flight, was leaving in a few minutes), I would have like nothing more than to talk baseball with Pat. Maybe in Chicago?
• I couldn't go to Spring Training and not stop in Don and Charlies', the Scottsdale restaurant that masquerades as a sports bar. Okay, it has more sports memorabilia either hanging from the ceiling or framed or box on the walls than even Harry Caray's restaurant in Chicago. Anyway, I was sitting in the bar when the (female) bartender said, "You remind me of someone." This happens so often, I'm going to get t-shirt printed up with "I AM NO ONE YOU KNOW" on it. How's this for an obscure moment of glory? I remind her of the actress who played the bride in the Jennifer Lopez/Matthew McConaghey movie "The Wedding Planner." Um, yeah, okay. $10 if you can name her?!

Cubs Spring Training 2008

Alfonso Soriano, the Cubs' gazillion dollar player, actually signed a few autographs after one of the games...and I almost got squashed in the process!


Oh my aching back! Just kidding. I'm pretty sure they feel just fine!

Um, is that regulation baseball equipment? Sorry, but if someone's gonna stick that in my face, I'm definitely taking a picture!

No, he's not practicing his proposals. I believe Matt Murton's already married, but I could be wrong.

Morning calisthenics? Actually, just the beginning of the usual pre-game warm-ups. Don't they look silly?

The front of this lady's shirt has a big "101" with a slash across it. Translated for my Euro friends: 2008 marks the 100th anniversary since the Cubs last won a World Series. We'd rather not see the 101st anniversary.

Some action from Friday's game against the Seattle Mariners, which the Cubs won! Actually, they won all three games that weekend. Maybe I'm a good luck charm?!

The 2008 Chicago Cubs take the field in Mesa, Arizona!

Geovany Soto knocks in one of the 13 runs that the Cubs scored in a rout of the Kansas City Royals on Sunday.

This is the left-field hill at Ho Ho Kam Park in Mesa. The entrance to the hill area (the 'berm') has been open for approximately 2 minutes! Kinda anxious to get out there?!?!

Did I mention that this was my ride for the weekend? No soccer mom minivan for me!

Mark Grudzielanek, the second baseman for the Kansas City Royals, is still a favorite of mine despite his being a former Cub.

This is one of, I think, three times that the Cubs had the bases loaded in Sunday's game against the Royals.

The Royals and the Texas Rangers share the stadium in Surprise, Arizona and it's a very nice stadium. No surprise there.

Ryan Dempster and Geovany Soto share a few minutes of strategizing prior to Sunday's game. Dempster, who's moving from a relief role to the starting rotation, pitched well, giving up just one run on one hit over four innings.

I've met Dempster several times (he actually says hello to me - usually). Before the game that day, I stood near the wall as Dempster walked by. I yelled something at him and he looked over. No smile, no wave. All concentration. Total focus and it showed.