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TV or Not TV?
Cubs Fans Tuning Out This Year's Team
Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images
As you've undoubtedly noticed, attendance is down this year at Wrigley Field. That's not a surprise given the team's performance, but here's a shocker: Comcast SportsNet's ratings are down almost 40 percent from last year, the biggest drop of any baseball team. Wow. An average of 94,877 tuned into Comcast's first 33 games, which is still good enough for ninth-best in the league, but last year's number was 155,791. Some teams ahead of the Cubs include the Cardinals, both New York teams, and... the Twins? So are you still watching?
Chicago Business: Cubs taking a beating off the field, too — in TV ratings
Wax Paper Beer Cup: Cubs TV ratings in free fall
That's the Ticket
Want Playoff Tix? It's a Gamble.
To get tickets for the playoffs, it used to be you'd have to be either a season-ticket holder or Vince Vaughn. But Tales from Aisle 424 and the blog And Counting found that MLB is now selling reservations for playoff games for $20 a seat. So if you reserve two tickets to "Home Game 1" in the playoffs, and if — clearly a huge "if" — the Cubs make it, you're in! (After you also pay the the ticket's full price, of course.) We don't recommend wasting your money this year, but maybe next year....
Tales from Aisle 424: MLB gives me another reason to not buy Cubs season...
And Counting: Reserve your Cubs World Series tickets now!
Please, Mr. Postman
Do Cubs Know Already Know Next Year's First Baseman?
Trib Cubs Reporter Paul Sullivan always drops some good tidbits in his mailbag, and the latest is no exception. For starters, he says Adam Dunn is the "logical choice" to replace Derrek Lee at first base next year. He also seems to think Bob Brenly is probably not destined to manage the Cubs, noting he wasn't in the running at the end of the 2006 managerial search. He also points out an obvious idea: The Cubs should honor Andre Dawson at Wrigley Field this year. Definitely.
Chicago Tribune: Ask Paul: Paul Sullivan's Mailbag
A Little Patience
Wait 'til Next Year the Year After That
Yesterday, Another Cubs Blog speculated on what the Cubs might do in 2011 if they went a little crazy in free agency. But if they play it cool next year then shoot for 2012, that's when things get interesting. Using players currently under contract, the blog suggests a record of 73 wins — but picking up players like Adrian Gonzalez, Dan Uggla, and Zach Greinke brings the team to 88 wins. The blog acknowledges this is a total crap shoot, but hey, it takes our mind off this year.
Another Cubs Blog: Is there hope for 2012?
Dear John
The Unforgettable Story of an Almost-Star
Man does not live by Cubs news alone. So every now and then, we'll run a story that's worth reading on its own. Maybe it's about the Cubs, maybe not. Today's Good Read is a Sports Illustrated look at former Yankee John Malangone by Gary Smith. We're not going to tell you who Malangone is, we'll just say this: You won't be able to stop reading once you start. And you'll be glad you started.
SI: Damned Yankee
Carlos Zambrano makes his return to the roster and the Cubs' bullpen this evening... The ESPN documentary on You Know Who, "Steve Bartman: Catching Hell," will air on Oct. 26, the night before Game 1 of the World Series...Want to meet Ron Santo? Here's your chance.
"If I could bring one Cub out of retirement, it would be José Cardenal. He's the only guy who could still make it fun to watch a team that's ten games under .500."
-John Bourjaily
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