Imagine the stories he could tell….if he wanted to share the secrets from the field, the locker rooms, the PONY league and the manager’s office.  For the past forty five years, Lou Piniella has lived Major League Baseball. As a star player, motivating coach, jump-to-your defense manager.  When the Cubs signed him, it took me about all of a single game to get over my “there’s a Yankee in the dugout” disdain and welcome Sweet Lou. His temper matches his passion for winning.  What’s not to like?

So, if you had a once-in-a-lifetime to lunch with the Skipper, what would you ask him?  My list is long….

• I’d start on a topic that’s haunted me since the Cubs traded Michael Barrett ON his bobble head day.   What really happened between Z and Barrett? How I wished for a reconciliation.

• Baseball superstitions fascinate me.  What was the meaning behind the numbers that graced his uniforms? Did his luck change with different numbers? What’s the wildest superstition he’s seen in action? Will he admit to any of his own?

• One he’d never answer.  Make it two.  Favorite ump?  And the worst?

• Who is the mayor of Wrigley Field on Four Square? Does he follow Ozzie on Twitter?

• He seems like much more than a manager to some of the talent he’s developed.  What’s the best advice he’s ever given A-Rod?

• What DO he and Tony talk about at dinner and does the outcome of the game ever spoil the meal or the friendship?

• Favorite ballpark (as player and manager) and why? (It won’t be the Kingdome, right?)

• Let’s talk rings. How does he compare the first as a manager to the second as a player?

• Fiery reputation: real or rumor?  How does he balance motivation and fear?

• And I have countless about the current staff. How did he recognize Theriot had the stuff for the bigs? How did Geo respond to his “too much rice and beans” comment?  How is Z adjusting to the pen? What impact is Maddux having?

And finally, the question the that burns in the heart of every Cubs believer.  Could this be the year?

Friday night felt great for many reasons.

Dempster delivered from the mound. The bats were swinging. No annoying slide ride from Bernie the Brewer. I raised a W flag {in my mind} at the end of the evening’s efforts.

But it was hearing Ron Santo’s return to the airwaves that really lit up my spirits. Ronny skipped last week’s bleak trip to New York City dealing with health issues. And I hadn’t listened in on a spring game with him in the booth yet.

Ron Santo’s booming cheers, unrestrained laments and spirited hurrahs capture the true emotion of Cubs fans from coast to coast: enthusiastic optimism.

Yes, he is legend from his dedicated years of play on the Northside. Yes, I believe he deserves to be in the Hall (c’mon veterans). Yes, he’s a hero on behalf of the cause he supports (JDRF).

But I love Ronny for his passion. The true joy and agony communicated with each play. Much more than a color guy, he operates in Technicolor. And no matter what, he loves the Cubs.

Welcome back Ron. And Cubbies, let’s give him reason to belt out his unabashed cheers.

Honored at Wrigley for being the heart and soul of the Cubs.

Chef Michael and me

I’ve never considered the Friendly Confines a destination for fine cuisine.  While other ballparks have experimented with tofu dogs, sushi, crab cakes and pork tacos, Wrigley delivers standard stadium fare.  Don’t get me wrong, I have no culinary complaints.  They know how to grill a great dog; the beer is cold and the peanuts are fresh.

But I recently toured Wrigley with a new point of view. Rather than simply heading to Section 409 for a night of Cub’s action, I sampled the Wrigley Field offerings with an expert.  My friend Michael Wehman is a Le Cordon Bleu trained chef and consummate foodie.  The following is his take on the food scene.  (Bonus, he’s got an excellent palate for pairings.  So in addition to reviewing the dining options, he’s suggested a drink of choice, available in stadium, of course.)  Bon appetit!

Greek Salad: Greek salad???  Yes, Greek salad. Who knew you could get your veggies at the game. The salad was done well; crisp greens and surprisingly good feta: firm and salty.  A red wine vinaigrette was offered, a bit too sweet but not out of a packet.  Kalamata olives, not simply black.  A missing touch? An anchovy, but that would have been really surprising.

Rating: 3 balls (out of 5)

Chef Michael’s drink pairing: Bud Light Lime (While lemon is the traditional Greek accompaniment, lime will do in a pinch.)

Buffalo Blue Cheese Fries: Thrilling!  We were about to order conventional chili cheese fries when we saw a basket loaded with blue cheese go by.  Culinary innovation from the vendor stand!  Tangy hot sauce. Excellent blue; crumbly and pungent. The fries themselves? A touch lacking, but held up well under the savory toppings.  Naked, they might disappoint.

Rating: 4.5 balls

Chef Michael’s drink pairing: LaBatt’s (sticking with the blue theme).

Foot Long Hot Dog: We selected a fully dressed, Chicago-style wiener. So mustard, onion, sport peppers, pickles, tomato and neon-colored relish.  (The relish color had a high creep out factor).  We noted good grill marks and a flavorful dog. And suddenly the so-so frozen margarita tasted better.

Rating: 3.5 balls

Chef Michael’s drink pairing: Margarita (to cut the heat in the pepper).

Pretzel Bites: Another scrumptious snack.  We’d sampled feta and then real blue before discovering a stadium staple: liquid cheese.  The processed cheese was melted over a basket of crispy pretzel bits and ends.  The pieces could stand up to the cheesy goodness of the sauce, which had a hint of jalapeno kick.  Michael is a pretzel purist, but even he enjoyed this deviation from the norm.

Rating: 4 balls

Chef Michael’s drink pairing: Old Style

Kettlecorn: The aroma has captivated me all season.  The product? A sweet-salty seesaw that did neither flavor justice.  The night’s (first) disappointment.

Rating: 1.5 balls

Chef Michael’s drink pairing: water (to cleanse the palate).

Brat: The patio at Wrigley greets guests with a rush of charcoal scent. And the grill team knows how to satisfy.  Michael’s mom is from Sheboygan, which makes him something of a brat connoisseur. He gives the Wrigley brat high marks for taste, appearance and temperature.  The warm kraut and grilled onions finished the flavor.  All that’s missing? The beer and butter preparation found in Wisconsin.

Rating: 4 balls

Chef Michael’s drink pairing: Heineken

Pulled Pork Sandwich: This sandwich looked like a winner.  But it was the evening’s second disappointment.   The sauce: one-dimensional; the meat: too uniform (bordering on mushy). To the food staff at Wrigley we have a message: stick to meat in casings.

Rating: 1 ball

Chef Michael’s drink pairing: Vodka lemonade (one of those new flavors, if you can find them).

Fannie May Pixie Ice Cream Cup: So ends our edible tour of the park…the vanilla ice cream was rich and full-flavored but the mix-ins were a bit sparse.  We were expecting decadent from Fannie May and got simply yummy.  On the plus side, no wooden paddle for a spoon.

Rating: 3 balls

A highlight of our culinary adventure at Clark and Addison

I’d planned to write this week about my favorite beer vendor in Section 409, Glen. But the enthusiastic crowd at Saturday’s game kept him busy dispensing Bud and with no time to chat with a fan like me. So stay tuned for that piece. (And by the way, could we please play the Pirates more often?)

With my story idea squashed, I’ve decided to bring back a favorite: the language of baseball. Even though I shared some of my favorite terms back in May, we could fill a complete dictionary with the quirky terms players, fans and Ron Santo use to describe America’s past time. Sometimes I think it’s like a code. If you can carry on a conversation without consulting the enigma machine, you are in the club. To get through your next game, try dropping a few of these into the conversation…

Ducks on a pond: I just heard this one for the first time but love the image it brings to mind. Runners on base; especially when the bases are loaded.

Friendly Confines: The home ballpark.Obviously, those of us who bleed Cubby blue think there is only one place deserving of the name: Wrigley Field. And today, the phrase is synonymous with our grand ballpark. Ernie Banks took ownership of the phrase for us with him famous quote “Ahh, the friendly confines of beautiful, ivy-covered Wrigley Field, where you play under the world’s best lights, the solar system.” But before Mr. Cub connected the term indelibly with Wrigley, it was used to describe many home parks.

Pow wow: A mid-game meeting of players and coaches on the mound to discuss strategy. Why does it take so long and what are they really talking about?  To quote Crash Davis, “We’re dealing with a lot of shit here.” The reply: “Candlesticks are always nice.”

Golden sombrero: I just learned this one, too.  To strike out four times in a single game. The reference is based on hockey’s hat trick (scoring three) but in this case, a dubious honor. Wikipedia says the platinum sombrero applies to five strikes outs in one game, but I’ve never heard it used.

Table setter: A hitter who’s role is to get on base for other players to drive him in. We’ve got these, how about some runs? (We’re clocking the third lowest team average with RISP.)

The rubber match: Describes the deciding game of a series when the teams enter the game tied. So the third, fifth or seventh game of a series. Originally a card-playing term.

Dying quail: A batted ball that drops suddenly and unexpectedly. Also known as a blooper. You get the hunting reference I am sure.

Fireman: A team’s closer or late inning reliever. As in, “Lou thinks we could really use a new fireman.” C’mon Gregg!

The tools of ignorance

My (lucky!) hat’s off to Koyie Hill, who’s displayed stamina and grace since the Summer Classic and Geo Soto’s stint on the DL.  Catchers are a tough bunch by nature, but Koyie has managed the daily grind through extra-innings and more.  I realize he’s hovering near the Mendoza line, but appreciate his handling of the staff and iron man attitude.  (And the triple yesterday!)

(I have a soft spot for Koyie and other players coming out of the Wichita State University program.  The Shockers are my dad’s team; perennial Missouri Valley leaders.  They’ve sent many players to the majors in addition to Koyie, including Doug Mirabelli, Eric Wedge, Braden Looper, Mike Pelfrey and my childhood neighbor Darren Dreifort.)

Go Shocks! Baseball Wu

And what of the bullpen catcher?

Most clubs only want to carry two catchers (with another fielder being the “emergency” catcher.) The bullpen catcher allows the manager to keep his rostered staff available to pinch hit and pinch run.

I’ve often wondered about those anonymous, nearly invisible guys who seem to serve double duty – warming up the relief pitchers and protecting the bullpen from stray balls.

Are they aspiring Major Leaguers who are THISCLOSE to the show?  Wanna be coaches?  The New Jersey Star Ledger recently said “Bullpen catchers aren’t drafted, they aren’t developed and they don’t undergo much training. Most of them just fall into the job one way or another.”  I asked Carrie Muskat for scoop on the Cubs guys. She told me “the Cubs’ two catchers both have baseball backgrounds…they also both have connections to the players, and were recommended for the job. A lot of it is who you know.”

As we near the trading deadline, who knows what’s in Lou’s heart for behind-the-plate service. But meantime, I will keep cheering for Koyie.

No question. The first half was not easy and optimism is scarce in Wrigleyville.  But reflecting on the last 101 days, Cubs fans should have some pretty good memories and a few reasons to be thankful.

Starting with…

A gift from the weather gods: It did not snow on Opening Day at Wrigley. While the Sox had to postpone their debut due to inclement weather, the Cubs faithful poured into Wrigley full of hope on April 13. (I also took this as a good omen as April 13th is my personal luckiest day of the year.)  Freezing? Check.  Aramis in his ski mask on the field? I can’t recall, but imagine so.  But it did not snow.

Piniella’s passion: “The goal is to win the division. That’s our goal. There’s no other goal.”

Bud Light Lime comes to the Upper Deck: Yum. Nice way to mix things up on a sweltering Saturday.  I find it ironic that it’s classified with the “imports,” however.

Honoring 31 (times two):One is a Hall of Famer; the other will be. They share the uniform number, the elite 3,000 strikeout record and absolute class. Now dueling flagpoles honor Maddux and Jenkins.

Killer rookie performance: by Randy Wells.  Randy’s emerged as a proficient master of the mound. He leads rookie pitchers in the MLB  and has matched Kid K’s record four-straight wins.

Ted. Ted. Ted.: Love, love, love!

Gift from the disco gods: I missed Erik Estrada’s rendition of the seventh inning stretch.

Yes we can! Not slam the other hometown team: Obama’s All-Star classic quote for me: “I’m not a Cubs hater like some White Sox fans.”

Give him the bat: Zambrano ties the club’s home run record for pitchers.

I think I’m a lucky charm: Live attendance record for me? .600. Clearly, more time in Section 409 is needed.

Cubs 40s style

I’ve long been mildly obsessed with the uniforms worn by the boys of summer. I notice every special-edition cap, commemorative patch or throw-back jersey.  Perhaps it’s the fashionista in me, searching for style on the diamond. A few of my favorite fashion facts from the game:

Pinstripes:  Long-associated with the evil empire known as the New York Yankees, baseball legend had it that the stripes were adopted to make Babe Ruth appear well, slimmer. (This is a myth as the Yanks began wearing the pinstripes before the dynasty-creating trade with the Red Sox.) It is believed that the Cubs introduced the pinstripe.

The worst uniforms ever:Were selected by the Go-Go White Sox of the 70s, who thought that short shorts belonged on grown men playing ball. (See photo to really absorb this infamous fashion faux pas.) Luckily, it was only a one-day “don’t.”

Pitcher’s choice: I love that the starting pitcher gets to select how the entire team dresses for the game. Lilly goes for the classic look; Big Z always chooses the alternate blue. And the other 24 men follow suit.

Short or long?Your choice.  Unlike any other sport, players can select different styles for their apparel. Both full-length and knee-length (see Alfonso Soriano) pants might appear on the field at the same time. And I always wonder about the “switch-pantsers” who go back and forth. Is it for comfort, the temperature or respecting the streak? (don’t get me started on superstitions).

The throw-back:Just this week the Reds and White Sox players honored the Civil Rights movement by returning to uniforms designed for the 1964 season. Very cool.

Thinking about St. Paddy’s day:In Chicago we love the Irish (though we don’t seem to be enjoying their luck yet this season.) The Brooklyn Dodgers swapped “Dodger Blue” trim to green in the 30s; many teams have followed suit with kelly green uniforms and merchandise.

Name and number:The first numbered jerseys reflected the player’s position in the batting order (so Ruth three, Gehrig four).  I’m partial to 13, so happy to see Andres Blanco embracing the tabooed number.

Cool bears: As fashion evolved over the past century, so did the Cubs bear logo. Walking bear, batting bear, fighting bear and the one I affectionately call crazy bear.

Fan fashion:Cubs fans wear their hearts on their sleeves, and heads and feet.  I’ve seen logo’d purses, jewelry, golf shoes, ski masks (purchased in April, hopefully need again in October), dresses, bowling shirts, socks, gloves, swimsuits.  One of our long-time neighbors in Section 409 used to wear a crowd-stopping fez hat.  And I recently succumbed and purchased the Cubs jeans. Loyalty in denim.

Denim display of loyalty

Fashion emergency at Comiskey Park

What is it about White Sox or Cardinals fans that makes the (Cubby blue) blood boil?

A good reason to hate the Yankees

 Wikipedia defines rivalries with an elegant turn-of-phrase that almost made me laugh out loud:  “A sports rivalry is intense competition between athletic teams or athletes. This pressure of competition is felt by players, coaches, and management, but is perhaps felt strongest by the fans. The intensity of the rivalry varies from a friendly competition on one end to serious violence on the other that, in one case (the Football War), was suggested to have led to military conflict….But a rivalry that gets out of control can lead to fighting, hooliganism and rioting.  (Hear that South Siders?)  Often the topic of sports rivalries is as heated and controversial as politics and religion.”  True, true, true!

Well, I don’t think any actual wars have erupted from on- or off-the-field antics at Wrigley, but it wouldn’t surprise me if they did. Even Ozzie Guillen can’t control his distaste (or is it fear???) for Wrigley Field as the Windy City Series approaches. But is there a good reason why we feel such hostility?

Cubs Vs. Sox:  Though we’ve only been facing each other in modern times for 10+ years, the rivalry dates to the turn of the century. Charles Comisky decided to move his minor league team to Chicago in 1900, something the Cubs owners tried to stop via a law suit.  The teams have only faced off in the Series once, 1906.   Sadly, the Cubs lost in six games to the White Sox. Is that enough to lead to years of passionate animosity? 

A couple rivalries that make sense to me…

Cubs Vs. Cards:  What a difference a few (hundred) miles on I-55 make.  Cubs lead the all-time series, but the Cardinals clearly have the rings we’ve been craving for 100 years.  Why are we rivals?  We’ve taken the field on opposing sides more than 2,00o times and battle for the pennant dozens of summers.

Red Sox Vs. Yankees: Current AL East leaders with a long history of animosity and injury.  Remember this: the Red Sox were the American League’s dominant franchise until selling Babe Ruth to the Yankees. Red Sox fans have yet to fully recover.

Side note…are the Minnesota Twins rivals? Until this weekend I’d never given their fans a second thought, but as their faithful streamed into Wrigley and bellowed from one side of the outfield to the other, I decided I didn’t like them very much. I’ll give them credit for boisterous and uproarious cheering.  Maybe it’s from being cooped up in a dome all these years; they had to let loose in the sunshine. 

Bring on rivalry week! Welcome to the Friendly Confines South Siders!

Who says the Cubs can't hit?