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* I was at DH Brown’s last night and a White Sox spring training game was on TV. Everybody in the stands was wearing short sleeves, with many wearing short pants. It was most definitely summertime gear. I so badly wanted to hop on a plane yesterday and get myself to Arizona for some baseball. If I can find some good deals, I may do that yet. Tired of this weather.

Instead of a question, this is a 2015 Major League Baseball open thread.

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Mar 27, 15 @ 1:54 pm

Comments

1) First time I’ve been excited about teh WHite sox in a while. If everyone stays healthy, they will contend for a wild card.

2) As for the Cubs, why does Crane Kenney still have a job?

Comment by Belly Up Friday, Mar 27, 15 @ 1:57 pm
Cubs are still saying wait til next year lol

Comment by foster brooks Friday, Mar 27, 15 @ 1:58 pm
Cards-Cubs rivalry! Go Redbirds!

Comment by Ray del Camino Friday, Mar 27, 15 @ 1:59 pm
No Cub discussion Rich said major league.

Comment by HL Friday, Mar 27, 15 @ 2:00 pm
2015 is next year! Go Cubs!!!

Comment by Watcher Friday, Mar 27, 15 @ 2:00 pm
I’m confident the Cubs are going to be respectable and fun this year. But Edwin Jackson’s debacle this week - driving to the wrong stadium, missing his start, coming in as a reliever and giving up 8 runs - ranks right up there with the Cubbiest of Cubdom that ever Cubbed. And I say that with affection.

Comment by Anders Lindall Friday, Mar 27, 15 @ 2:02 pm
The excitement of a Cubs -vs- White Sox World Series ends the gridlock in Springfield. In early November 2015 Governor Rauner finally signs the annual budget.

This follows after the Cubs defeat the Cardinals in the NLCS.

Comment by Shell Answer Man Friday, Mar 27, 15 @ 2:03 pm
I went there last week for family and baseball. It is great
Check direct airfare from Peoria IL to Mesa AZ on Allegiant. There may be some good prices

Comment by Anonymous Friday, Mar 27, 15 @ 2:06 pm
I just want to continue the streak of mentioning the Cubs in every comment.

Comment by Jack Handy Friday, Mar 27, 15 @ 2:07 pm
Well shoot

Comment by Jack Handy Friday, Mar 27, 15 @ 2:07 pm
Can someone please tell Matheny Waino does not need to throw 100 pitches a game from April-June and Yadi needs some rest from time-to-time.

Comment by Give Me A Break Friday, Mar 27, 15 @ 2:08 pm
After being a fair weather Cub fan for the last 5 or 6 years I think I may watch a few games this year. Now what radio station will they be on this year? It’s hard to believe the Cub games will not be broadcast on WGN radio this year.

Comment by No Longer A Lurker Friday, Mar 27, 15 @ 2:10 pm
The Cubs will win the Worls Series in 2030.

The White Sox will win the World Series in 2016, 2018, 2019, 2021, and they will win in 2022 against the Cubs.

The Cubs will win against the White Sox in 2030 and go on to win the most World Series in the next 70 years after that and then have another drought until 2200.

Comment by Anonymous Friday, Mar 27, 15 @ 2:10 pm
I have a question, if the Cubs ever do win a World Series will their fans start saying Wait Till Last Year?

Comment by exbricklayer Friday, Mar 27, 15 @ 2:12 pm
A young man told this dejected Cubs fan, “But the Cubs have the best farm system in both leagues!”

I responded, “When they start giving World Series Trophies for the best farm system, I’ll get excited.”

Comment by Downstate Friday, Mar 27, 15 @ 2:17 pm
Regardless of my allegiance to the STL Cards I seriously like the direction the Cubs are taking. New manager with fresh outlook and very different personal approach with players and a move to develop young players who appear to have real promise. It would not be the end of the world for this Cards fan to see the Cubs do well. But winning the Series will end a lot of fun times for everyone !

Comment by nadia Friday, Mar 27, 15 @ 2:17 pm
= As for the Cubs, why does Crane Kenney still have a job? =

Eggzactly.

Dempster made a joke this winter about the bleachers not being done on time. He said something to the extent of, “We asked ourselves what it will be like playing with no one in the bleacher so we watched some old White Sox home games.”

Comment by Dirty Red Friday, Mar 27, 15 @ 2:18 pm
According to Marty McFly, it’s the Cubs year. We shall see. I will say I cannot wait for the real sweet science to return all while enjoying a cold beer after a long day on my way to comfortable couch.

Comment by Jorge Friday, Mar 27, 15 @ 2:19 pm
Sox fan, but I do like the Cubs starting lineup in’15. The bench and relief pitching will be their downfall. Sox - will lose in the 1 game playoff this year. And I hate to say but Sloan Park is terrific - too bad it’s named for a toilet valve.

Comment by Bogey Golfer Friday, Mar 27, 15 @ 2:24 pm
===There may be some good prices ===

There are. Thanks!

Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Mar 27, 15 @ 2:25 pm
My daughter said “Dad have you heard the Cubs and their bleachers will both be finished by late May”?

Comment by Give Me A Break Friday, Mar 27, 15 @ 2:27 pm
https://www.google.com/flights/

Comment by bored now Friday, Mar 27, 15 @ 2:28 pm
I often wonder why MLB does not adopt a schedule to have its teams open the season in warm weather cities or at domed stadiums and then work the teams North once the temperature and weather improve? With teams based in Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia and Texas, plus the domed stadiums, it should be possible to do this.

In many Northern cities, Opening Day was a big draw and then the attendance would plummet until mid-May in open air stadiums.

Comment by Under Further Review Friday, Mar 27, 15 @ 2:30 pm
Back to the Future 2 and the sports trivia book Biff stole promises 2015 for the Cubbies. Just once before I die, that’s all I ask

Comment by Former Merit Comp Slave Friday, Mar 27, 15 @ 2:41 pm
Baseball makes perfect sense. Always.

Comment by A guy Friday, Mar 27, 15 @ 2:42 pm
The arrow is finally pointing up for both the Sox and Cubs. I’m predicting the each team wins 85 games.

Comment by Stones Friday, Mar 27, 15 @ 2:44 pm
== open the season in warm weather cities ==

Because then those warm weather teams will complain that their end of season schedule is backloaded with road games down the stretch.

Comment by Lost in Chicago Friday, Mar 27, 15 @ 2:44 pm
It may be the only thing people agree to disagree on and keep the agreement by disagreeing. Sox.

Comment by A guy Friday, Mar 27, 15 @ 2:45 pm
Kris Bryant

2015 Spring Training:

Avg: .406
RBI: 15
HR: 9
OBP: .472
OPS: 1.785

Just some food for thought Rich!

Comment by Try-4-Truth Friday, Mar 27, 15 @ 2:48 pm
I was watching some hoops at the tavern last night and scored bleacher tickets for Cubs opening day against the Cards. You won’t believe the price I got.

So I got that going for me.

Some real optimism on both sides of town. Bryant and Soler can really mash. Little concerned about Sales (always am the way he abuses that arm), but if he’s good the Sox have a top five rotation.

No predictions here til June 1, except I don’t think it can be a Chicago baseball disaster like last year.

Comment by Wordslinger Friday, Mar 27, 15 @ 2:52 pm
I prefer to keep expectations on the low side. Yes, the Cubs have some young talent and Joe Maddon, but they’re still the Cubs. Magic 8-ball says “Ask again later.”

By the way, the new jumbotron scoreboard is gi-normous. That whole block of Waveland Avenue will be in perpetual shade. No grass will grown on those lawns. Cars will need to turn on the headlights. This things might affect the weather on the North Side.

Comment by 47th Ward Friday, Mar 27, 15 @ 2:59 pm
I hope you get there. A friend of mine is there now - her son is an umpire. I crave summer.

Comment by Archiesmom Friday, Mar 27, 15 @ 3:01 pm
“open the season in warm weather cities” They used to. I remember the Tigers always started out in DC (back when the Senators existed), and of course Cincinnati had the first game of the year. But as Lost in Chi said, then the northern teams get the home games elsewhere in the season, and have to wait weeks before their home opener.

Comment by Skeptic Friday, Mar 27, 15 @ 3:05 pm
Cubs and Sox just started playing a Spring Training against against one another. Hammel versus Shark. Dig it.

Comment by Dirty Red Friday, Mar 27, 15 @ 3:09 pm
Cubs?

http://deadspin.com/heres-what-the-massive-construction-at-wrigley-looked-l-1694072586

LOL!

– MrJM

Comment by MrJM Friday, Mar 27, 15 @ 3:17 pm
Seven deep in the starting rotation. Seven deep in the outfield. As long as Yadi stays healthy we’ll be there in the end. Go Cardinals!

Comment by Big R. Ph Friday, Mar 27, 15 @ 3:22 pm
My baseball buddies and I are psyched for Sox opening day even though we’ll be watching in a sports bar. The pitching additions make me think that maybe we won’t be losing so many games in the 8th and 9th innings like we did last year. This article by an east coast sports guy seems to suggest we got a very good deal with Robertson–and that Robertson was more than happy to leave the big apple.

http://nypost.com/2015/03/21/how-a-robertson-motive-for-bolting-explains-yankees-demise/

Comment by Responsa Friday, Mar 27, 15 @ 3:26 pm
For the first time in years, there is some real buzz behind Chicago baseball. From the off-season deals to Wrigley’s construction going array, there is finally something to talk about besides “we stink.”

Rich, get on that plane. You deserve it!

Comment by The Muse Friday, Mar 27, 15 @ 3:41 pm
Every single vehicle left on any street in all of Cook County turned onto its roof and set ablaze is a small price to pay for a game 7, extra-inning win in a crosstown World Series, regardless of which team actually wins.

Comment by Springfieldish Friday, Mar 27, 15 @ 3:51 pm
I am so looking forward to Opening Night! Can’t wait.

I heard Maddon on ESPN1000 yesterday and I got pumped just hearing him.

Maddon also gave an awesome recipe for a Bloody Mary he makes, gotta get on the podcast to make sure I got it right.

I miss baseball. Miss it. And it’s Cubs-Cards to boot!

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Mar 27, 15 @ 3:58 pm
Last Saturday Vegas odds were 5/1 that the Cubs would win the world series. Bet $100.

Comment by flea Friday, Mar 27, 15 @ 4:36 pm
If Cole and Polanco can take a step forward and if Alvarez can fit at first base, I think this will be the year my Pirates will win the Central.

Comment by G'Kar Friday, Mar 27, 15 @ 4:55 pm
Just went to my fourth Cardinal spring training game this week. Wonderful atmosphere, fun and great setting to see the players interact with the fans. You HAVE to go Rich you’d love spring training.

Comment by Redbirds fan Friday, Mar 27, 15 @ 5:39 pm
I am in Phoenix right now. It’s nuts here. Hotels are over priced. Traffic insane. I’m leaving tomorrow for Colorado. I hope to bot come back to Phoenix until spring training and spring break are over.

Comment by FormerParatrooper Friday, Mar 27, 15 @ 6:16 pm
=== you’d love spring training. ===

I did it four years ago. Loved it.

Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Mar 27, 15 @ 6:43 pm