It’s the most highly anticipated Chicago Cubs season in a generation. Believe it or not, the beginning of spring training is here. Below you’ll find everything you need to know to get ready.
The “Lovable Losers” no more. That’s a moniker as passé as “Clemsoning” these days.
2016 Chicago Cubs Spring Training Key dates:
Cubs pitchers and catchers are invited to report to camp on Friday, February 19 and will hold their first formal workout on Saturday, February 20. Position players are invited to report on Tuesday, February 23 with the first full-squad workout scheduled for Wednesday, February 24.
Cubs pre-spring training to do list: I summarized the pre-preseason agenda for the denizens of 1060 W. Addison, via the Chicago Tribune Red Eye edition. Read that here.
-2016 Cubs Full Regular Season Broadcast Schedule and info can be found at this link.
Major Spring Training Storyline off the field: Bandwagon Overflowing
The upcoming season brings a new way for millennials, and everybody else attached to their smartphone, to watch the team play. Yes, you’ll be able to stream Cubs games on your phone for the first time ever! Coming off a 97 win season, being a Chicago Cubs fans has never been trendier.
In the 31-year-old history of the Cubs Convention, this January’s was by far the most hyped and over-crowded.
Last year, Wrigley Field concourse congestion became unbearable at times. Expect even bigger crowds this season. As the team continues to progress on the 1060 Project, they’ll be adding a new western gate to alleviate some of the bottlenecks and gridlock.
“One of the downsides of a 100 year old facility is that it wasn’t made to handle 40,000 people coming in and out everyday,” said Cubs President Crane Kenney.
New Additions: Jason Heyward, Ben Zobrist, Adam Warren, John Lackey
Fans are especially fired up for Heyward and Lackey, because both defected from the Red Menace down 1-55 on the other side of the Mississippi River. Warren was part of the Starlin Castro trade, and he brings that New York Yankees aura with him to the Friendly Confines. However, he only got to the postseason once with the Yanks, and it was a loss in the play-in game.
Major Spring Training Storyline: Jake Arrieta
Last year, the Cubs were like George Orwell, re-writing 1984. That season was the first to see three Cubs claim major National League awards (Ryne Sandberg- MVP, Jim Frey- Manager of the Year, Rick Sutcliffe- Cy Young). 2015 brought the team’s second trifecta (Kris Bryant- Rookie of the Year, Joe Maddon- Manager of the Year, and Cy Young Award winner Jake Arrieta). The Cubs and Arrieta’s agent, Scott Boras, are about $5.5 million apart.
“There’s not too many certainties about pitching in general, so we’ll be smart about it, how he goes about his spring training, how he manages his workload,” said Chicago Cubs President Theo Epstein at Cubs Con.
Chicago Cubs Spring Training Schedule
All games start at 1:05 p.m. Arizona time unless otherwise noted. Chicago is one hour ahead of Arizona through Saturday, March 12 before moving to two hours ahead on Sunday, March 13.
Thursday, March 3 Milwaukee Brewers Maryvale
Friday, March 4 Los Angeles Angels SLOAN PARK
Saturday, March 5 Cincinnati Reds SLOAN PARK
Sunday, March 6 Arizona Diamondbacks Scottsdale (1:10 p.m.)
Monday, March 7 Kansas City Royals (ss) SLOAN PARK
Colorado Rockies (ss) Scottsdale (1:10 p.m.)
Tuesday, March 8 Los Angeles Dodgers SLOAN PARK
Wednesday, March 9 Cleveland Indians SLOAN PARK
Thursday, March 10 Seattle Mariners Peoria
Friday, March 11 Cincinnati Reds SLOAN PARK
Saturday, March 12 Chicago White Sox (ss) SLOAN PARK
Los Angeles Dodgers (ss) Glendale (7:05 p.m.)
Sunday, March 13 Oakland Athletics Mesa
Monday, March 14 San Diego Padres SLOAN PARK
Tuesday, March 15 San Diego Padres Peoria
Wednesday, March 16 Kansas City Royals Surprise
Thursday, March 17 Arizona Diamondbacks SLOAN PARK (4:05 p.m.)
Friday, March 18 Chicago White Sox Glendale
Saturday, March 19 Cleveland Indians Goodyear (7:05 p.m.)
Sunday, March 20 Kansas City Royals SLOAN PARK
Tuesday, March 22 Cincinnati Reds Goodyear
Wednesday, March 23 Texas Rangers Surprise
Thursday, March 24 San Francisco Giants Scottsdale (4:05 p.m.)
Friday, March 25 Milwaukee Brewers SLOAN PARK
Saturday, March 26 San Francisco Giants SLOAN PARK
Sunday, March 27 Seattle Mariners SLOAN PARK
Monday, March 28 Los Angeles Angels Tempe (1:10 p.m.)
Tuesday, March 29 Oakland Athletics SLOAN PARK
Wednesday, March 30 Colorado Rockies SLOAN PARK
Thursday, March 31 New York Mets Las Vegas (5:05 p.m. local)
Friday, April 1 New York Mets Las Vegas (1:05 p.m. local)
Sunday, April 3 Los Angeles Angels Angel Stadium (12:05 p.m. local)
Paul M. Banks owns, operates and sometimes writes The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with FOX Sports Engage Network. The website is also featured on News Now.
Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, currently contributes to the Chicago Tribune RedEye. He also appears regularly on numerous talk shows all across the country. Catch him Tuesdays on KOZN 1620 The Zone.
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