Last Days at Wrigley 2013

Baseballwise, the best thing that happened to the Cubs in this final home series against the Pirates, was to avoid being swept on Wednesday.  But regardless of the elimination (around May in reality) of the Cubs, and any hopes of a miraculous playoff run, there was of course still great fun to be had at the Wrigley.  6 dollar tickets, final Old Style beers, and meeting internet friends in person seemed to be the order of the final days and nights at the nearly century old ballpark.  

Monday night, I spent the evening sitting next to some Pirate fans, who, I guess I'm rooting for this year.  Even though their long suffering fanbase hasn't really shown up until now, any team with 20 straight years of losing baseball, is worthy of a cheer or two from my mouth.  Behind me sat a Mexican contractor and some of his team (possibly family), sitting with a young white man supplier, who to my ears, had the accent of a first generation American.  They did drunken business all night, discussing materials, costs, and a bit of gossip over numerous cervezas and a little baseball watching.  That game was 1-0 Pirates, and one of the quickest games of the year.  I didn't even go out to smoke until the 6th!

Let's go Bucs?  Sure.  Why not....

The first time the older gentlemen came to Wrigley was in the 1960's.  According to legend, he took a train with a buddy of his from Central Illinois, but was too drunk at the time to remember much of his experience.  He fondly recalled Cubs players from the time like Glenn Beckert and Randy Hundley, in addition to your Ernie Banks's and Billy Williams's.  Remember when the Cubs had stars on the team?They were nice people, and I hope they are still cheering the Bucs deep into October.  Anyone but the Cardinals!

Unfortunately for the Cubs, even the closed circuit TV system has given up on our Cubbies!

Tuesday, I was able to meet up with a Twitter friend Josh, @jmorg17, and his buddy Ryan.  I had seats up in the balcony, but sat with these guys for 4 or 5 innings behind a pole.  

These guys were huge fans, but I still managed to win a dollar off of Ryan by betting him the skyboxes were full operational in the 80's not the 70's.  My sister and I used to run from wherever our seats were to watch Harry Caray moving from the TV booth to radio and back after the 3rd and before the 6th innings, from high up in Terrace Reserved.  Thats was before the skyboxes, and it was definitely the mid 80's.  Either way, I ended up a dollar richer.  The answer was 1989.  I barely squeaked out the victory.

Tuesday night was also my last Old Style at Wrigley, unless of course the online petition works out for them.  You can sign it here if you care.  Old Style is a crappy beer, but it's our crappy beer.  And you know what?  All the beers at Wrigley are relatively crappy.  Major brand beers like Becks and Dos Equis don't even serve up their signature brands, with Dos Equis being the Lager, not their regular brew, and Becks is called Sapphire, which has a malt liquor flavor to it.  The Sapphire is your highest alcohol content for the money, topping 6%, just in case you were looking to get sloppy.  Don't even get me started on Bud and Bud lite.  These beers don't give much of a buzz at all, unless you count diarrhea as a buzz.  

But of course the Rickett's family in their infinite quest for cash had to go with the highest bidder.  I'm fine with it all if they spend money on the team, but that doesn't seem to be their plan.  It's all about savings and trying to make a team work without spending the money.  That's what Money Ball's all about!  I'm doubtful that approach will work in Chicago no matter what kind of beer we're drinking.  Not holding my breath, but hoping the concessions are upgraded next year, especially the beer selection.  There are so many delicious micro brews in the area, couldn't there be one stand somewhere with some Belgian beers like Duvel or how about a Sierra Nevada, or even a real Becks Pilsner!  Additionally, the only food worth eating is the Stanley Burger, the Chicago Dog, and Uncle Dougies pulled pork.  Unfortunately, save the Chicago Dog, you really have to go searching for the other two sandwiches.  

The food and beer at Wrigley are crap.  They could do better, but the almighty dollar speaks louder than the all mighty taste bud.

My final day at Wrigley started with a Champagne brunch with some actor friends from Trapdoor Theatre, at my apartment, a mile north of the ballpark.  I made breakfast burrito's for everyone and we walked down to the bleachers on what proved to be a beautiful day for all of us, including the Cubs who won the game 4-2 on a surprise Darnell McDonald 3 run homer.  I met up with the guy who sold me  his season tickets on Sunday, a Bostonian named Adam Polegreen, and his son, who had a sack full of balls, some of them signed, attained during batting practice.  Adam's a super nice guy, and he loves his Cubbies, and his Red Sox.  I wish I liked another team that was any good, but unfortunately my other adopted team from nearly two decades of living in NYC, is the Mets.  Hell, I could never be a Yankee fan!  

Unfortunately, I was drinking my last crappy Old Style the night before, as the bleachers ran out of the stuff.  In fact, premium beer after premium beer ran out as the game went on.  I drank Pabst.  It was the perfect day for it all.  A great way to end out my season at the shrine, but somehow, whoever runs the sound at Wrigley managed to louse up Go Cubs Go.  Is this a harbinger of doom for next year?  Or just the final series in St. Louis.  Or as Pat Hughes annoyingly says...."St. Lou".

Listen at 2:20.

As a musician, producer, and engineer, the sound at Wrigley has been run horribly this year.  Feedback, Weird Gary Pressey organ rhythms, and inconsistent volumes throughout the game have me thinking someone's stupid nephew got the job, and not a professional.  This final screw up is just icing on a bad cake.  Maybe it's all on purpose, to have us all accept thundering scoreboard sounds as an upgrade from the mediocre sonic vision that currently flatly falls on the patrons ears of the Friendly Confines.

Well, 3 more games, then the long dark winter.  Makin me feel like this...

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A Cubs Fan Craigslist Story

Well folks, as my first season as a Cubs blogger winds down, I celebrate my 100th post.  Luckily, this year, unlike 2012, the Cubs won't be lamenting their 100th loss.  With only 6 more games left to play, the worst we could do is lose 97.  While this has been a disappointing season for all of us Cubs' fans, and many of the Cubs players, it hasn't been without its small personal victories.  Even yesterday, the Braves division clinching celebration was slightly muted given that they clinched in the 6th inning when the Nationals lost to the lowly Marlins.  The Braves did manage to celebrate, but it wasn't the same as if the moment coincided with a 3rd Cub out.  

The Braves anticlimactic celebration in the shadowed gloaming of Wrigley Field.

Yes, small victory indeed. 

But being a Cubs fan isn't about winning.  That much is obvious.  It's about community.

Yesterday, I bought a 20$ Craigslist bleacher ticket from a season ticket holder named Adam Polegreen.  He lives in Boston, but is completely enamored with Wrigley Field and brings his son to Chicago as much as possible.  On the tickets he doesn't have opportunity to use, he takes a bath on the face value.  My thriftiness doesn't help the matter either, nor does he Cubs mediocre performance this year which has me paying under 10$ average on all games.  

Anyway, I didn't bite at the 28$ Stubhub ticket, and bought on Craigstlist.  Given that every time I mess around with Craigslist I am invited by some Ghanian missionary to transfer 100,000 dollars to my bank account in an effort to separate me from my own dwindling funds, I was skeptical as to the validity of the Bleacher ticket.  But after texting with Mr. Polegreen, I was reassured that my ticket would be valid, or at least this thief only got 20$ and went to great lengths in acting the part of a diehard Cub's fan.  

Cubs' fans all over the world might appreciate our text exchange...so here it is....

All texted like true Cubs' fans.  

Even though we lost the game, and I had to deal with drunken screaming Braves' fan girls who kept urging each other to flash Evan Gattis, who was playing Left Field yesterday....(apparently they were flashing the rooftops earlier), I had a great time sitting in the sun watching baseball.

Stay Classy Atlanta.

So thank you for the ticket Mr. Polegreen.  Whether the Cubs win or lose.  Wrigley Field truly is a worthy addiction.

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A Wrigley Field Guide to a Braves Celebration

Given that the Braves were beaten yesterday by the Cubs, and the Nationals were rained out, the Braves fans who traveled to Chicago to witness an on field celebration by their beloved team, will have to hold off their tomahawk chopping at least until today if they win, or tonight if the Nationals lose. 

 Much ado has been made about the Dodgers recent "pool party" celebration in Arizona.  Even presidential campaign loser and professional grumpy old man, Senator John McCain waded into the critical waters by tweeting....

  

If the Braves win today, how can they top the Dodger celebration at Wrigley?  The Budweiser Russian Baths won't be ready until after the revenue generating pedestrian mall and scoreboard are fully operational.  But there are ways the Braves can be just as disrespectful to our home park, and as a Chicagoan and Wrigley Field enthusiast, I have a few suggestions.

1.  Ride goats around the outfield in a victory lap.  Allowing the goats to stop and nibble on our beloved ivy.  

2.  Hit home runs to each other, and keep the ball.

3.  Put ketchup on their victory hot dogs.

4.  Sing root root root for the White Sox during the 7th inning stretch.

5.  Eat NY Style slices off of home plate.

6.  Install electronics in our beloved manually operated scoreboard.

7.  Cover our beloved Harry Caray statue in snow, reminding Chicagoans what a hard, cold winter we have ahead of us.

8.  Buy a rooftop on Waveland and let the fans in free. (17% of 0 is 0)

(This is the sign that's up there now, I took this pic yesterday....ugh)

9.  Let Greg Maddux pitch the 9th against us for the save.

10.  Install seat backs on the bleachers.

Of course, I hope the Braves lose today.  In fact, I always hope the Braves lose unless they're playing the Cardinals.  

Being the helpful Cubs' fans you are, I'm sure you have plenty more suggestions. Let's hear em!

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In Defense of Kevin Gregg (Or Why I Hate Yuppies)

It's a little tough for me to defend Kevin Gregg after sitting in Wrigley Field during the 9th inning and watching him blow the game by giving up 4 runs to the cocky Braves, who's racist fans were tomahawk chopping their way to yet another successful year.  Sure, I guess it's Gregg's fault we lost the game yesterday, but he's been infinitely better than any of us would have imagined when we heard he was signed off the scrap heap in April.  He's notched 32 saves and, until yesterday, had a sub 3 ERA.  These stats for a last place team, that often times puts him into the game in "non-save" situations, such as yesterday's tie game.  This year, he's taken the ball professionally, and not only saved half our wins, even though he didn't even join the team until the 3rd week of the season, and he "saved" us from  watching a year of Marmol meltdowns and closer by committee.  

Now to call what Gregg said yesterday a "rant" or a "blast" of Cubs management is overstating the matter considerably.  All he said was that after a conversation with Dale Sveum a few days ago, Gregg felt he was out as closer, and not part of the Cubs' future plans.  Apparently they want to try out Strop in the closers role.  The worst thing Gregg said was "I expected to be treated a little bit better than this. They can treat their players how they want. Unfortunately we are under their control. It is not necessarily how I would have done it, but they have to do things the way they want it."  He said this all calmly and articulately, and seemed only disappointed in managements decision to "move forward" or "go in a different direction".  He wasn't angry or shouting.  This was by no means a rant.  

Anyone that's ever heard the Dale Sveum show with Keith Moreland pre game on WGN, knows that Dale is not the most articulate man on the planet.  He may have a decent baseball brain, (though you'd be hard pressed to find an example demonstrating that over the last two seasons), but listening to Keith and Dale talk reminds me of Hank Hill and his cronies leaning up against a pickup talking about propane in Fox's King of the Hill.  Dale says "ya know", and much as Lou Piniella said "Look" during press conferences.  *On a side note, if I hear Keith say "innersting" one more time, I may just jump out onto the field dressed as Morganna the Kissing bandit at the final home game, having been driven mad by his poor diction.  (sorry, needed to get that off my chest).  

Dale has a knack for stating the obvious, like if Rizzo strikes out with the bases loaded and 1 out, Dale will say something like, "well, we've got to get better in those situations".  Duh!!!  You can barely hear him at his press conferences because he mumbles, and his general Hokey-Do "Aww shucks" demeanor may keep the clubhouse calm, but it certainly doesn't result in an aura of success, or confidence that this is the mastermind who will "win it all" for the long suffering Cubs' fans.  Nor, do I think Dale is a particularly impactful man, given that Robin Yount once mistook him for a duck and shot him in the head.

Given Gregg's post "rant" apology, where Dale and Theo explained the situation more clearly to him, it becomes obvious that the "situation" was not explained to Gregg well in the first place.  In other words, Dale Sveum led Kevin Gregg to believe that he was not a part of the Cubs organization's plans, even though he had a really good comeback year.  This is probably true, and perfectly fine with me, but why this couldn't wait until after the season is beyond me.  When you define a guys job as "closer" and then take it away from him, thus diminishing his value both as a free agent and from a personal human standpoint, well, don't be surprised when there's a bit of blowback.  And it was just a bit.  Imagine your boss coming up to you and saying, listen, you've been great, but you're fired, and only 9 days before vacation!  Add to that, Sveum's mumbling, unmasterful command of the English language, and you've got yourself a misunderstanding!

Now Theo Epstein, who reportedly was hopping mad after learning of Gregg's "tirade", immediately called Gregg and Sveum together for a meeting, at which Gregg was "scared straight" into toeing the company line.  Gregg ran to to the press room and immediately apologized publicly for his comments.  Epstein is young and successful, or at least he was successful until he came to Chicago.  He's the kind of guy I'd probably dislike if I met him because he thinks he's so damned smart.  He just looks like a wall street hot shot who got rich on a penny stock once and now thinks he's Warren Buffet.  My punk rock heritage has carried me into midlife with a healthy skepticism and "Die Yuppie Scum" still lingering on the tip of my tongue, so take what I say with a grain of salt.  

Of course I hope the new "Cubs Way" results in a championship for the Northsiders, but I am not one of the faithful who will drink the Kool-aid until I see results on the field.  No player does or should play this game in order for the front office to get higher draft picks.  And though the Cubs farm system definitely seems juiced after dumping every player anybodies ever heard of by the trade deadline, I need to see at least a .500 season before I can declare the "Boy Wonder" Epstein anything but a guy who happened to catch the timing right in Boston.  "The Cubs Way" has ruined Starlin Castro's natural talent, signed the weak hitting Rizzo until the end of the decade, and called Jeff Samar249ry2ifu their ace, despite an 8-12 record and a 4.42 ERA.  Yes, the core of the "2016 World Champion Chicago Cubs" seems to be lacking in well....a core....

This situation with Kevin Gregg reinforces my perception that Theo is nothing more than a sniveling rich kid who can't be criticized by his underlings with out getting his underpants in a knot.  He wasn't even criticized!  Or at least barely criticized.  Gregg only said he wished the situation had been handled better.  But Theo immediately knee jerked and talked about releasing Gregg, just to prove a point.  What point is that?  Obviously, it's I own you, and if you say anything against me, no matter how trifling, you're out.  Epstein can't even muster the same respect he demands of his players, publicly musing about the fate of Kevin Gregg's job, while Gregg himself must stay quiet and run "tail between legs" back to the press in order to save his own hide.  I find Theo's actions even less professional than Gregg's!   Theo said he'd "sleep on it" as to whether Gregg would face disciplinary action.  So great!  If Gregg IS still on the team this afternoon, and not DFA'd, he will have to do it without any sleep.  Not that he would have slept anyway given his horrible performance yesterday.  But to have this yuppie wonderboy "sleeping on it" (on a 25,000 canopy sleigh bed no doubt) as to whether you have a job tomorrow is indicative as to the cultural stranglehold Epstein hopes to have over this organization.  Who does he think he is?  George Steinbrenner?  In other Epstein news, the press has been a a titter this week about the future of Dale Sveum, which Theo telegraphed at least an indifference to Dale's performance and future as the Cubs' manager, then quickly backtracked in order to instill confidence in the manager who has led us to two basement finishes.  As I see it, Mr Loose Lips Epstein is demanding something of his players he can't even do himself.  That is the definition of poor management.

I don't pretend to know what goes on behind closed doors.  It's easy to forget that these are human beings with real emotions, goals, and dreams.  I'm certain Kevin Gregg felt as if he was being demoted, and it hurt his feelings.  He blamed his performance yesterday on it, and I'm not sure he's wrong.  Team culture is hard to put your finger on, and it seems the best teams have a healthy mix of stars, vets, and hotshot rookies.  The Cubs currently have none of those elements.  The best thing I've seen Theo and company do, besides beef up the minor league teams, is get good production out of a platooned third base position, and successfully pick up "watchable" players off of the Major League scrap heap.  I personally don't think an inexperienced and inarticulate manager is the answer for inexperienced players.  But who am I but a knowledgeable fan at best? If Gregg didn't understand the situation, that's on Sveum.  He's the manager. And as far as Theo goes, practice what you preach.  In sports you're only as good as the last thing you did, and the last thing the Cubs are going to do this year, is play two teams who are going to clinch the playoffs against them.  The Braves, likely today or tomorrow, and The Cardinals in the last series of the season.  It's been a frustrating year for Cubs' fans, to state the obvious, and it's going to to be a long, cold, dark off-season in Chicago.  Unfortunately for Kevin Gregg, the off season might have just gotten a little longer and darker.  

Update: Kevin Gregg on the team until next Sunday.  Guess Scrooge McDuck got the Christmas spirit....

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Bull Balls at the Ballpark (A Pictorial)

For those of you who watch Cubs games on TV, one of the highlights of the road games has been when Len Kasper and Bob Brenly or, now Jim Deshaies, apprehensively sample the "Rocky Mountain Oysters" at Coors Field in Denver.  Yes. Fried Bull Balls cost $7.50, and are served with an unfinishable mound of freedom fries and horseradish cocktail sauce.  I'm an adventurous eater, and have eaten everything from cow brains to razor clams wiggling on my fork, but Bull Balls had never touched my nicotine stained lips until last night.  

I had chickened out the night before, telling myself the game was too tight, (2-1 Cubs through 7) to trek all the way from my 300 level seat in the Right Field Corner, down to the concessions in section 144 in the Left Field Corner, but last night, I had a 100 level seat close to the food stand where they sell battered and fried bull testicles.  So with a hesitant rumble in my stomach, I ordered.

Notice the smaller font for the Oysters.  Almost like they really don't want you to eat them.  Or more likely, they couldn't fit the words, "Rocky Mountain Oysters" on the sign.  They should just call is what it is, "Bull Balls", and the word would be shorter than "Rockie Dog".  

Nothing to it but to chew it.

If you think I look bad, you should see the bull!

Hmmm....crunchy.....horseradishy....

There's the bull ball flavor!

Now, I love eating sweet breads, glands, livers, intestines, and cheeks.  Wasn't crazy about brains, hearts. or fish eyes.  But these Bull Balls....this is something new.  My mouth says, fried oysters from the sea, but my brain says bull balls.   

Another bite.

Hmmm...I guess it's someones job to slice up these balls for frying...

Wanna try?

Yup...I'm still thinking about a bull's balls.....

Stupid brain is ruining the flavor, which truly isn't bad.  Mostly tastes fried, which is always good. And Hell! If I was l was in a situation like accused cannibal and Coloradan Alferd Packer, who famously was stranded in the Rocky Mountains during the winter of 1874, and was the only one of 6 men to stumble out of the mountains well fed off the flesh of the others, I'd be happy to be eating anything, let alone bull balls!  

Me and a bust of cannibal Alferd Packer outside of the Alferd Packer Restaurant and Grill on the campus of the University of Colorado.  He was convicted of killing the 5 men on his expedition.  He also confessed to eating them.

The restaurant was unfortunately closed, but I found it appropriate that Alferd Packer's image was trapped behind bars.  A place he spent most of his life.  Folksinger Phil Ochs wrote a pretty funny song about him in the 60's....

If I had to resort to cannibalism, like Packer, I would at least try to bread and fry the guy, but the whole time I'd be eating the poor sap, even if he was fried and tasted decent, would be how he was a dead body.  Which in and of it self grosses me out, and certainly isn't appetizing.  Bull Balls are similar in that, sure they're fried and edible, but I don't look at Bull's balls and think....mmmmmm....I could sure go for a bite of those!  But, when I see a healthy fat pig, chicken, or cow, I DO think about eating them, but not ALL of them...ya know?  

And I never think about eating people.  Apparently, neither did Alferd Packer who was rumored to be a vegetarian when he died of "senility" at age 65.

OK....a little freedom fry palate cleanser...

The "Rocky Mountain Oysters" are, in reality, processed and fried rubber mush, and some of the balls seemed to be mostly breading anyway.  What I had pictured in my head the day before in the upper deck, was a straight up fried Bull's Ball.  These aren't that. And if you told me it was fried oysters, I wouldn't have noticed the difference, except to say, "these are pretty crappy fried oysters".  The best comparison I can muster is how Burger King's Onion Rings don't really resemble an onion inside, and the filling of these so called "Rocky Mountain Oysters", also is not reminiscent of a testicle.  Thank Jeebus!

I guess I can't quite separate the flavor, from the thought of an actual bull's testicle.  This must be how vegans feel when they look at all of the living parts of an animal.  I was a vegetarian once to impress a girl for a few weeks in high school, but I was at a BBQ one afternoon, and famished from eating only carrots and chips, while smelling delicious grilled meat, so I caved and ate a burger.  The girl and I broke up shortly after.  That was 26 years ago, and I haven't looked back.  Now, If I had a choice between a burger and some bull balls, I'd take the burger everyday.  Except yesterday.  Yesterday I went balls. 

However, as a Taurus, I truly did think of the bull, and what he sacrificed to give me, at the very least, an esculent experience.  (Esculent means edible...I just wanted to be fancy).  I mean.  The poor bull! There exists a moral dilemma in caring about the bull and his nuts in my brain, but totally happy to eat a cow's loin, lamb's leg, or duck's liver!  What is the point of drawing culinary lines in my mental palate, when one of four people in the world eat insects.  Ultimately, I can't say whether I think "Rocky Mountain Oysters" taste good or not.  My damned brain was in the way.  Always in the way....

I followed up the whole testicle eating experience with a meat I am intimately more familiar with.  Famous Dave's Chocolate Covered Bacon.  3 strips for 2$!!!  Great deal!  Sweet and salty deliciousness.  If I ever go back to Coors Field, I think I'll opt for their Ribs or the Todd Helton Burger.  (Yes, the Helton Burger is a real thing).  Can't wait to eat the Rizzo Style Pizza, or Starlin Castro's famous Mofongo, after the Wrigley renovations.  Sharkburgers anyone?  

What could be Chicago's version of "Rocky Mountain Oysters"?  How about "Cubby Burgers" made of real baby bear meat? Or Montrose Harbor caught fish and chips?  Hey!  It's local!  That's good right?  My neighborhood, Uptown, is full of rabbits during baseball season, and rabbit is super tasty!  Maybe the Cubs could serve specialty dishes like Cardinal wings when St. louis hits Chicago, or communion wafers and wine when the Padres come to town.  Sure.  We have the Chicago dog, a delicious classic, but these Wrigley renovations should not only bring our beloved ballpark into the modern age, but also advance our collective palates into the modern word...you know...the one where a quarter of the people eat insects.... 

Bacon Chaser!!!!

Worst Cubs Game Ever...Great Times

So, I had a bet going yesterday at the end of the bottom of the 5th, when the score was Angels 11, Cubs 1, what the final would be.  I said 12-2, she said 13-3.  We were both wrong, Cubs ended up losing 13-2.  Shark Samarskdjbfer298r said it best after the game.  "They kicked my ass today".  It's true, they did.  Scoring 5 in the 1st, 6 in the 5th, (pouring it on), while the Cubs only scored 2 runs on 5 hits.  Yeah.  Ass kicked.  But you know what else kicks ass?!  Sweet Baby Rays BBQ restaurant on Clark!  A tender and juicy half slab of ribs smothered with Sweet Baby Ray's competition sauce.  Some meaty wings, poblano infused Mac and Cheese, all washed down with 3.50 cent Revolution Ale pints?!  Yes Please!!!  My server Missy said she's worked at another BBQ restaurant in the past, and Sweet Baby Rays makes the freshest food.  Where as at the other BBQ joint, they made the stuff the night before.  All this BBQ is prepared day of.  And let me tell you, the food is awesome, decently priced, (2 people ate and drank heartily for 50$ tip included), and they have dozens of delicious tap beers, local brews, and fried pickles!  Go there and pregame!!!!

Notice how I'm wearing a red shirt in this pic.  Well, I didn't have time to go home for my Cubs shirt, and I certainly didn't want to look like an Angels fan, even though last nights blowout would have been an appropriate night to switch allegiances.  But I had seen a 5$ T-Shirt stand just North of McDonald's on Clark.  I decided to root through their "Spring Training 2012 shirts, and expiring unseasonal Blackhawks t's, to finally settle on a Harry Caray shirt that says "Holy Crap! Sox Still Suck".  Given my recent experience of getting kicked out of Busch Stadium for defending Cards fans wearing a "Cubs Suck shirt" I found it appropriate that I would join in the "your team Sucks" festivities, and see what kind of trouble I can get into in this shirt in the future...

The game sucked, but the beer was flowing.  Did you know that Becks Saphire, sold at select stands, is a 6% alcohol beer?  Yeah...that's the way to do it folks.... Anyway...these guys were there....watching it all unfold...

Is that they're last name?  Cause those two little men look like they're on a Boycation.

Ahh....the Coveted Paul Maholm Jersey!

Ahh...the coveted Doug Dascenzo jersey....classic.

Had a twitter conversation with someone after posting this pic, about how she was born 3 years after Dascenzo played for the Cubs....ugh...I'm old....

But it was a beautiful night.  Bumped into Katelyn Kelley, one of the fan photo employees of the Cubs.  We also chat on twitter.  

For the first few innings, before I went down to smoke...I actually sat in my seat!  Not a usual for me...

And it all looked like this from my coveted fence leaning seats in right field.

And finally, it looked like this....

Beating traffic eh?

I think my friend Katelyn Kelley said it best in her Twitter Post from last night...

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