To mix sports metaphors, the Cubs are putting on the full-court press for a revamped spring training facility in Mesa, Arizona. There have been several different, impassioned videos endorsing the Cubs, and Tom Ricketts, Billy Williams, and now Ernie Banks have campaigned for the site. The plans basically call for Wrigleyville West — the blueprints include restaurants, hotels, bars, and more. But Arizona voters needs to pass Proposition 420 (no, not that 420) and allow almost $100 million in public funds for it to become a reality. Will it pass? We'll find out Nov. 2.

ESPN Chicago: Cubs, Ricketts make push for Spring home
East Valley Tribune: Keeping the Cubs in Mesa is our only option
Tales from Aisle 424: Tom & Ernie go to Arizona

Southbound and Down
Could Sandberg End up at the Cell?
In a completely unsurprising move, Ryne Sandberg will not be joining the Cubs' coaching staff. (That would be like going to prom with the girl who dumped you a week before.) So where will he go? Some say he could drive south and end up as the White Sox bench coach. "Sandberg is a great baseball man and I don't know him personally, but you need to hire a coach to help you win games," Ozzie Guillen told the Score's Mully & Hanley Show. Just wear a Hazmat suit and you'll be fine, Ryno.

ESPN Chicago: Source: Sandberg not on Quade's staff
Chicago Breaking Sports: Odd couple: Could Ryno join Ozzie on South Side?

The Price Is Wrong
Blog: The Bleachers Are Now Far Too Expensive
There's something timeless about the Wrigley Field bleachers: The open field, the hot sun, the cold beers... (we'll just ignore the bro-fisting d-bags). But those seats are now too expensive, says Bleed Cubbie Blue. The site notes that, in 1997, the most expensive bleacher seat cost $12 and season tickets cost $876. For next year, the highest-priced bleacher ticket will be $81, and season tickets cost $3,983. Wow. "The bottom line is this: Cubs bleacher prices have outpaced both economic conditions and the performance of the team," the blog writes.

Bleed Cubbie Blue: Why the Cubs have priced their bleacher tickets too high

Home Improvement
How Will Cubs Pay for Wrigley Renovations?
It's no secret Wrigley Field needs some TLC. There's one tiny question, though: Who's going to pay? Tom Ricketts may have a few dollars, but we're talking HUGE bucks. The blog Cubbie Doctor's Examiner, who recently wrote about improvements needed at the Friendly Confines, theorizes the team could sell the stadium or the naming rights. The former seems unlikely, and while changing the name from Wrigley Field seems hard to swallow, "in the end, [it's] free advertising for the chewing gum company anyway."

Cubbie Doctor's Examiner: Options for Wrigley

If Not for Lou
Bochy Would Have Gotten Cubs Job if Piniella Refused It
It seems the Cubs were never that high on Joe Girardi to begin with. If Lou Piniella hadn't taken the Cubs job in 2006, the team would have hired Bruce Bochy, the Sun-Times says. Bochy, the current Giants (and former Padres) manager, impressed GM Jim Hendry's by competing with semi-talented teams. "'[The Padres] always did a great job of contending with what most experts thought weren't contending-type clubs," Hendry said. With the Giants ahead in the World Series, well, maybe that wouldn't have been such a bad move.

Chicago Sun-Times: Giants' Bochy was Hendry's guy had Lou fallen through

Alan Trammell is leaving the Cubs to become Kirk Gibson's bench coach in Arizona, and special assistant Matt Sinatro is also bailing... Tickets for the Cubs' Convention, which will be Jan. 14-16, go on sale on November 3... The episode of CBS' "Undercover Boss" where Todd Ricketts works as a Wrigley groundskeeper airs on Sunday, Nov. 7 — apparently, he got fired (?!?!)... The Yankees didn't pick up Kerry Wood's option (let the speculation begin!).

Submit your Rant on Facebook
*Don't be a Sox fan... be clever. If it's smart enough, we'll publish it here.
What's this?