I don't see what the big deal is about the naming rights of Wrigley. I myself am negotiating the sponsorship of my own name. T-Mobile Scott Baker sounds ok but I'm leaning towards Scott Baker brought to you by Bank One, it just rolls off the tounge a little more fluidly.

I really don't see the big deal with the name change. I read somewhere that a possibility would be Wrigley Field in (insert corporate sponser here) Plaza. This would make a lot of sense with the proposed parking and retail structure.

I really don't understand purists and preservationists. Doesn't anyone else see the irony of using new technology, such as the internet, to start a petition to keep things the way they are?

Cubs make first cuts of spring

The Cubs made their first cuts of spring training Friday, with the roster falling from 59 to 50 as players like pitcher Billy Petrick and outfielder Tyler Colvin didn't make it.

Patrick, a 6-foot-6-inch, 240-pound right-hander from Morris High School who pitched in eight games for the Cubs last July, was optioned to Triple-A Iowa.

Colvin, the Cubs first-round pick in the 2006 draft, was one of eight non-roster invitees who were sent back to the minor league camp. The others were right-handed pitchers Esmailin Caridad and Jose Ceda, left-handed pitcher Geoff Jones, outfielder Andres Torres, infielder Bobby Scales and catchers Wellington Castillo and Josh Donaldson.

http://blogs.chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports_hardball/2008/03/cubs-makes-firs.html

The Wrigley Co. didn't pay for the naming rights all these years. If they want it to stay, then pony up the cash. Would I be saddened to see it changed from Wrigley? Definitely. Do I completely understand how someone would sell the naming rights for 400 million or more? Without a doubt. Bottom line is that as long as the park is there without major changes, it will still be the same place. I'm guessing the new owners of the name will keep part of the "Wrigley" name anyway for business purposes.

Unrelated, but I read on mlbtraderumors that the Mets may have interest in Murton due to the Alou surgery. Any idea what Mets player would come back in return in that situation?

Am I the only one who doesn't give a rip? Well, let me rephrase that... I would gladly play at Starbucks Field or whatever if I had a WS championship for the Cubs... If you go to the ball game in order to see Wrigley Field, you're there for the wrong reason... It's for the baseball, not the stadium...If selling the naming rights meant fielding a consistent contender... I'm all for it. Step right up MasterCard, United Airlines, Waste Managment Int'l, whoever... give me trophies, not seats!

Dave those people in Crap Louis are rotting you. The people are so dumb they completly close down the main highway for repairs. It would be like completly closing down 94 but just in the city.

Dave, I agree that if selling the naming rights would help field an annual WS contender then it wouldn't be such a bad thing. However, the fact of the matter remains that the $400 million or so would go directly to Sam Zell's bank account and the Cubs wouldn't benefit whatsoever.

How many World Series seasons has Wrigley Field enjoyed? No big loss if they change the name.

How on earth can anyone who calls themselves a Cubs fan not be completely pissed off at the re-naming of Wrigley? I just don't get the level of apathy towards the subject in the previous posts. I mean, how far are we willing to sell out just to get a championship? I want a WS just as much if not more than the rest of the Faithful. Am I willing to sell the naming rights to Wrigley to do it? Hell no. BAscially Sam Zell is spitting on 4 generations of my family for the sake of his own wallet. I will never be able to take my own son to Wrigley and have his picture taken with the WRigley Marquis sign behind him just like my grandfather did in 1935, or my dad in 1960 or me in 1983.

What if that dosen't get it done in the next 5 seasons? Tear down to ivy and put advertising all the way across the outfield? Even the Tribune company never stooped this low. Crane Kennys BS about how it will translate into chapionships is a pack of lies. Did anybody here or anywhere else for that matter even consider this before Zell brought it up. NO. THE ONLY REASON its being done is an attempt by Zell to pad his own wallet. Nothing more, nothing less.

I'm sorry if I've pissed people off on here, but honestly I don't care. I'm simply not willing to compromise the history and legend of the field or the ballclub to sell out to win a WS. Does no one relize that the fact that in its 70+ years of existence part of the reason for its mystique is that a WS banner has never flown from the flag poles. That part of the reason people keep going back year after year is because its still called Wrigley Field just like it was when their grandfather went to his first game? That when we do win the WS it will be that much sweeter because we didn't sell out an re-name the ballpark?

I don't care what they put on the front, it is and will always be Wrigley field and calling it anything else in my presence is fightin words.

*note:

The 6 ice cold beers after my 14 hour day may have contributed to the length and/or violent tone in this message. Stay Faithful Cubs fans

I've only been to Wrigley a handful of times, so...

But I am apathetic toward the naming rights. If it were called something like Cubs Park or Ernie Banks Field or even Chicago Stadium, I would be outraged. But Wrigley Field already sounded like a corporate name. Most of my kids in my high school classes thought it was.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought that the marquis, the ivy and the scoreboard were historical landmarks that could not be changed without consent from the city of Chicago.

I've heard the Cubs ownership is concerned about the bloodshed a combination of work day fatigue and too much beer might cause in Wrigleyville--so the name of the field will remain as it was--Weeghman Park. From about 1913 to 1927 Lucky Jack Weeghman called the shots for the Cubs, and that was the name of the ball yard.. Management is also heading toward $70 bleecher seats and $15 beers to limit attendance of rowdies as another step to keep casualties down.

Next week the Cubs play 7 games, and it's time for several of our starters in the field and on the mound to get out of first gear and show that they can be ready for combat. Some of the talked about trade prospects better have an enema too or the Robert's deal will drag on way too long.

In the end, we will probably have something like Wrigley Field at Nacho Mamma's Plaza. The latter is a rapidly growing chain of Hispanic and Soul Food fast food restaurants owned by Agustin and my acquaintance, HOF'er Bob Gibson. Chi Chi R is Agustin's silent partner, and Chi Chi could end up playing second base.

After commenting on the Roberts deal above, I checked the Baltimore Sun. At 7:37 p.m. the Sun reported that both teams have put the Roberts deal
on hold--possibly until after the start of the season--because the teams can't agree on the Cubs package of players. That's enough to p... off the good humor man! Look aroung JH! There may be another way to take a giant step forward.