The Cubs will welcome fans back to Wrigley Field in 2021, the team announced today. They have been approved by the city to fill the stadium to 20 percent capacity, beginning on opening day. “In coordination with MLB, top health experts and local officials, we developed a comprehensive plan that prioritizes the health and safety of our players, staff and fans,” said Cubs President of Business Operations Crane Kenney. “Our goal is to create a safe, clean and friendly environment for everyone to enjoy Cubs baseball beginning Opening Day.” The Cubs will require masks for patrons two-years-old and above while hosting pod-style seating and practicing social distancing.
On the other side of town, the White Sox will be allowed up to 8,122 patrons per game while practicing social distancing, per Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times (via Twitter). The Southsiders home opener will be on April 8th. That means every team except for the Blue Jays will have at least a limited number of fans in the seats this season, notes Bob Nightengale of USA Today. Now, the latest in roster news from the Central…
- The Brewers are facing a roster crunch at the end of the bench. It’s a side effect of the Jackie Bradley Jr. signing, writes MLB.com’s Adam McCalvy. Pablo Reyes and Derek Fisher have impressed manager Craig Counsell so far, notes McCalvy. Manny Pina and Avisail Garcia are locks to be a member of the bench, which probably only leaves two spots. Assuming Travis Shaw makes the roster, that puts one of Shaw, Orlando Arcia, and Luis Urias on the bench as well. Daniel Robertson has been viewed as a favorite to win that final bench spot, in part because the infielder is out of options. Daniel Vogelbach is also out of options and on the 40-man roster. The big first baseman brings a limited, though valuable skill-set as a power bat off the bench. Of those players on the 40-man roster, Fisher, Jace Pederson, and Billy McKinney are also out of options, giving the Brewers much to think about as we inch closer to April 1.
- Milwaukee may have a little bit of extra time to decide on that final roster spot, however. Lorenzo Cain hasn’t played in a week because of a quad issue, and there’s a chance he won’t be ready in time for opening day, per McCalvy (via Twitter). There’s still hope that he’ll be ready from the jump, but if not, the Brewers could roll with Bradley Jr. in center and Garcia in right, while taking the extra time to evaluate someone from their out-of-options pool.
- Pirates manager Derek Shelton won’t spend much time thinking about who might claim the closer role until the last few days of camp, per the Athletic’s Rob Biertempfel. Said Shelton, “We have a guy who we know can go to the back end and do it in Richie (Rodríguez), who did it last year, so I’m really not thinking about it.” That certainly sounds like Richard Rodriguez has the inside track on the job. There will certainly be enough bodies to choose from, as the Pirates plan to break camp with eight or nine relievers, notes Biertempfel. That said, there aren’t a lot of proven late-inning options to immediately wrench the role from Rodríguez. Kyle Crick is the most obvious challenger, with Chris Stratton perhaps snagging an opportunity or two after striking out close to 30 percent of hitters last season.
Don’t think the pirates are going to need their “closer” much lmao.
You guys either ! 4th place is about it for Cubs . Maybe 3rd.
That’s a bet I would take 1st maybe Second if bullpen sucks but I think we will be fine there also but maybe 2nd at worst thanks to Cards finally spending some cash
lmao at Cubs fans who still think the Cubs are a first place team.
You guys should be pissed about trading your ace away for a bag of dirt. Nope, it’s like it never happened. That Jim Jones blue Koolaid is powerful man, I tell ya.
WhiteSux (I did that funny thing again) being able to fill 8000 seats looooooooooooooooool!!!!
Ooh. Creative.
Keep talking troll.
Lmao. I bet your cubbies finish 4th. Lol you loser
Send a screenshot of your betting slip
Not having a closer is a better option than Kimbrel.
Agree!
So it’s the usual amount of fans that show up to the Cell.
Not trolling. Just saying that they’ve always had a hard time filling it. Even when they’ve been good. I was there a few times in ‘05 and was surprised they weren’t sold out.
As opposed to Wrigley filled with clueless attendees and tourists? I’ll take true fans instead of yuppie girls posing for their IG likes
Leave it to this troll to make the funniest comment of the day. 8100 at your dump is a full house and half of that number are dogs.
Once a troll AWAYS a fool
I love the Sox as much as the next person but their ballpark is in such a terrible location.
Why? It has plenty of parking, is near multiple highways, and is accessible by multiple train lines. You can even find free parking a few blocks away if you want.
Says the guy who’s never been to a White Sox game.
“Not trolling” but that Cubs “dynasty” has exactly 0000000 playoff wins after 2017! Just saying that the White Sox have more playoffs wins than the Cubs these past 3 seasons. Whatever game I go to I’d rather have some elbow room & not fat drunk people yelling about nonsense right near me anyways!
On a side note, someone or some group would be very smart to relocate White Sox to Nashville after 2029, which I think is year the lease is up at G Rate. I’d build stadium near Nissan Stadium & close to downtown Nashville! That person or group would be very smart doing that IMO
Scary that this might be true. It wasn’t that long ago that Chicago was a thriving metropolis, and the #2 city in the country. Part of the problem is the WS recent history of failure, but Chicago should still be able to support a 2nd team.
9oo murders might be the reason! People don’t walk home after dark they run !
A comment from a person who likely never set foot in Illinois, much less Chicago.
Why would they want to?
I get it. Chicago is scary to people who’ve never left their trailer park, let alone the state they live in. But 8 million people live there. And like every city in America, Chicago has some really bad neighborhoods in low income areas that probably need to be gentrified. But that is America, folks. And there are far worse cities with higher murders per capita that don’t get half the bad press that Chicago gets. (Chicago ranks #29 according to FBI statistics). Most of those are in red states, like St. Louis. Memphis, anyone? Go figure, right? Heck, even NY and Philly have passed Chicago this year in murders. Believe it or not, there are some very happy, very well off people who love living in the Chicagoland area. But how would know that living in a double-wide?
This.
“there are some very happy people who love living in the Chicagoland area”
But they live in the Chicagoland are, so there are legitimate questions about the sanity of those “happy” people.
I like that I also love my Cubs White Sox Bulls & Bears but they most spend money this year Chicago is all in on are City. (4 teams)
There are legitimate questions about the sanity of people living in America, in general. The whole world thinks we’re all bat$hit crazy, and that’s not far from the truth.
Hey momma—google “drunkest baseball fans” and you will find that the White Sox fans rank #1 in all of baseball on the list. This came out last week. ps—the Cubs and Sox do not play in the same division nor the same league, but if you want to measure the Sox success that way, please continue.
Lol. Any person with eyes and ears knows that Cubs fans are among the worst there are when it comes to being annoying drunks, and even my Cubs fan friends would agree with that statement without hesitation.
It’s definitely entertaining watching security kick them out though.
The Sox and Cubs played only AL & NL Central teams last year, remember? Also the White Sox average attendance in 2019 was 21,442 so 8,100 or whatever sounds like much less drunk & trashy people at either park. Cubs will obviously have like 1/5 less people in their park and they don’t sell out every game anyways
Nope, you have it backwards. It’s Wrigley Field and the combination of bleachers bros, trixies and tourists from the great beyond who have a monopoly on drunkards, whereas the Sox draw families and diverse crowds from the city (code for people of color, scary to xenophobic like mike127, and whatever screen names bucknerkingmansutter is using). Also home to some of the most racist fans in baseball. Ask your analyst Doug Glanville, Latroy Hawkins, Kosuke Fukudome, or the legions of visiting players who’ve called out Wrigley. Or just Google Wrigley, Cub fans and racist.
Troll
I don’t mind either park personally. I remember going to a Sox/Twins game with the in-laws and their were people in the stands commenting about the Cubs randomly. I get it, both teams share the same city, but it’s hardly a rivalry considering they play each other at most 4-6 times a year. This isn’t bashing Sox fans because I’m sure there are Cubs fans who can’t stop talking about the Sox, but for me personally, I see the entertainment of playing your own city for the crosstown cup or whatever, but I don’t see the rivalry.
That being said, Guaranteed Rate has amazing food and good fans. Wrigley has a great ambiance so I wouldn’t say no to a game at either stadium.
The rivalry is from growing up in the state and going to school with kids all your life or having relatives all your life or coworkers or friends that are fans of the other side. Some are cool to the other side and some are in person trolls.
Not debating that. I’m sure everyone has their reasons, I grew up in Arlington Heights and moved to Elk Grove Village when I was older so I’m familiar with it. It’s just lost on me I guess lol .
Wrigley Field reminds me of an old outhouse covered with overgrowth. It is top 5 among the worst stadiums in professional sports, along with Soldier’s Field.
TC is at it again! It’s not Jace “Pederson”, he spells his last name Peterson.
You should ask for a refund.
Fantasy baseball sleeper alert; Pittsburgh native Dave Bednar will be the Pirates’ closer by Memorial Day (Of course, he’ll only have about 5 save opportunities through Labor Day)
Sounds like your on coke again!
Bednar actually has looked very good this spring.
The Pirates are gonna have Rodriguez as the closer to give him as many opportunities to up his trade value
And then decide the offers are not high enough, and hold onto him for another season.
You forget that Neal Huntington is no longer the GM. Cherington already has shown that he will pull the trigger when he gets a fair offer on a player he wants to trade.
That “crunch” at the end of the Brewers’ bench is a decision among the best of the non-swimmers.
Pod style seating. So just like spring training games, fans will have to purchase multiple tickets in groups of 6? to attend a game at 40-50 per seat plus wear a mask at all times even when you are socially distanced.
As much as I enjoy going to a ball game, I’ll watch it on TV instead.
I think the Jays are planning to sell tickets for the Dunedin games.
Cubs 2016, cute comment about Sox attendance. The average actual statistic is about 25,000 per game, not 8,000 as you alluded to. So tell me why are the Cubs counting pennies and not spending on the field like the Sox have been?
No Cubs fan can answer that question, so they usually try redirecting the conversation to attendance. They actually take pride in being mindless drones. They prefer to leave the thinking to the “geniuses” in their front office.
Cubs are in cost saving due to ballpark upgrades and neighborhood upgrades for their team. Cubs also need to sign their players and have been trying to figure out how to do that. Are the Sox spending more than the Cubs? This year maybe. But not the previous 5-6 years. It all depends on competitive balance. Sox will do well and spend the next 3-4 years. Then they will need to trade and let some guys go. It is the nature of the beast in baseball.
Also, Cubs are making their players prove their worth this year and I believe that is a great strategy.
Cubs fans better hope Crane Kenney himself had nothing to do with the “plan” lol.
Peterson is a NRI
Can’t be the only guy who found the safe clean environment comment funny right?
Pirates are going to be better than you think. I hope they don’t screw themselves out of top pick.
I agree. Two three guys step up they could be. They could have a strong pen. Also think there will a lot of starts for several different pitchers. If a couple of
those hit !? I can maybe see a 4th place finish. Reds and Cubs aren’t going anywhere they stink !
I can’t wrap my head around this comment “they are GOING to be BETTER than you think”. The ball isn’t juiced this year and Hayes WILL come back down to earth this year. His offense will be below average like Newman’s. Defensively, Hayes will be a gold glove candidate with some solid defensive remarks this year.
Offense is going to be nonexistent for the Pirates this year. There is way too many “soft contact” hitters in that lineup. Polanco (only potential hard hitter) will be on the IR by May with some sort of Strain injury. Moran will be Moran that drops balls in for singles and occasionally a double. Frazier and Newman will send soft hits to the infield. Stallings will have plenty of pop ups for defenders to catch. Overall, the OF of opposing teams will being moving in 20 feet and nearly playing the infield with this lineup. We will be watching the guys hitting like it was a waffle ball game. It’s going to be a long, gruesome year.
Don’t watch then ! Negative sh….t !!
I probably won’t be. Just the standings and box score 😉
Since most people think the Pirates will lose 100 plus games, losing only 95 WOULD mean they are better than they think.
Still don’t mean they’re good.
I agree. Two three guys step up they could be. They could have a strong pen. Also think there will a lot of starts for several different pitchers. If a couple of
those hit !? I can maybe see a 4th place finish. Reds and Cubs aren’t going anywhere they stink !
White Sox still won’t sell out home games unless they are playing the Cubs . Is it odd or even years they sell their stadium name ?
The White Sox average 2M+ when they are competitive. See, unlike mindless Cubs fans, Sox fans pay attention to the rosters. We are an informed and discerning fanbase when it comes to talent.
Another way to put that would be “fair weather fans…”
It’s way more complex than that. All Chicagoans are passionate about the teams in that city. The owner of the White Sox has a history of teasing the fanbase—never fully committing to a championship roster, a.k.a. a cheapskate. We just know when to stay away and not fall for the okidoke. Cubs fans just want to sit in the bleachers, get drunk and chase tail.
And yet the Cubs are the ones cutting costs and crying poor every year. Funny how that works.
Yep. The Cubs have been doing this for decades.
Mikel, it changed names for the 2017 season, so it was an odd year.
Vogelbach on an NL roster is a square peg in a round hole situation. No DH, terrible defense, and needs regular AB’s to be productive. Maybe the Brewers will luck out and Vogelbach will be the next Lenny Harris or John Vander Wal off the bench but i doubt it
Travis Shaw, Billy McKinney, Derek Fisher and Dan Vogelbach. Is it just me or is the brewers bench now just the jays bench from last September?
Yes. Yes it is…
The City is blaming our Cubs 8,000 attendance estimate based on Covid. In reality, Ricketts with his payroll dump, will be lucky to bring in enough fans to equal those weak teams of 1965-66. Those attendance figures were around 7,800. Come on man…
But but but…
What is so weak about the team? Arrieta for Lester = wash, Davies for Darvish = a down grade, but with upside, Alzolay for Quintana = ? Williams for Chatwood = wash, The starting rotation is “down, but Chatwood, Lester, Quintana were not elite they were just place holders. Hendricks and Davies are both above average and honestly I would take Davies above Darvish when look at those contracts. The Cubs had Darvish for 3 years and did nothing with him. Definition of overrated IMO.
Petersen for Schwarber is basically the same guy, but 3 million cheaper.
Bullpen is going to be better too. It is strange to me how the cubs are automatically going to suck. Their rotation has just as many questions as the Cards and Brewers.
I’ll wait and see…. I think the starting rotation is weak… Hendricks, perhaps Davies and then we need three more to fill out the staff… Arietta, to me, is a worn number five starter who we hope will go five innings per outing.. this three starter need puts huge pressure on the bullpen.. I think Joc is an improvement over Schwarbs in left. Happ, mediocre and slow for centerfield, while showing well above average contact strength, exhibited his propensity to K toward the end of covid 2020. We still have no leadoff hitter. Based on this limited Spring we’ve seen both Happ and Rizzo at leadoff…please not that…second base is still a work in progress..the team needs time together to build cohesiveness, like three seasons..KB, Baez and Heyward are really going to have to consistently produce (can they?) lots of questions.. the team is not even close yet..yes I agree, the Division is needy..
how is that any different from last year when they won the division?
Well…yes they won the 2020 Division during a covid determined close to home incomplete schedule. They finished the pseudo partial season by going 3-7 in their last ten; got blown out by the Redbirds before that; and several players chronically underperformed before getting finished off by small market Miami no less. To me 2020 was a mess that should have been cancelled all together.