A few of us are actually dreading Opening Night at Wrigley Field.
We know why ESPN decided to have it as the first national marquee game: a) the rivalry; and b) the promise of the debut of the New Wrigley Field. A + B = Ratings.
But we will be shown a construction site instead.
And as I have predicted, a pretty wicked backlash from out-of-town traditionalists who may not have realized that "landmark restoration" means "compete overhaul" in the Ricketts playbook. There will be hues and cries about the destruction of the cathedral of baseball with its huge electronic scoreboards, signage and pure commercialism.
The bleachers won't be done.
The new bathrooms won't be done.
The triangle improvements won't be done.
The Cubs brashly thought the city would exempt them from construction hours because of the delays.
A property so important as Wrigley should get allowed 24/7 construction noise, pollution, debris and traffic. The mayor and building department told the Cubs bluntly, twice, no!
Then Crane Kenney had the bruised ego to sigh that "they'd have to live with the decision." There was no decision! The law is the law. If the Cubs did not know the law, or think they are above the law, then management is delusional. And to think that a winter construction plan would go smoothly in Chicago is also delusional.
Instead of ESPN giving the nation a public relations golden tour of a new Wrigley Field experience, the pregame will be filled with incomplete structures, piles of work debris, and comments from angry neighbors. We still do not know how the 2,000 bleacher season ticket holders will like their exile from their seats (probably to the upper deck if they want to see the games in person).
The tenure from Clark and Addison has been one of raised nose arrogance; that management is "smarter than the rest of us." This same management team has put the Cubs in the playoffs with greater than normal expectations, even though the actual baseball club is not significantly different than last year's team. If Baez can't stop striking out, who takes his place? Journeyman LaStella? If the Cubs want to keep Bryant for an extra contract year of control, that means bust Olt mans third base for a third of a season? And what if Soler gets hurt? The outfield depth is worse than soggy corn flakes.
This spring is not going to be the showcase that anyone could have imagined last September.
