Thanks to cubs.com-
The temperature topped out at about 60 degrees at Wrigley Field on Friday -- a beautiful day for some yard work.
Two crews this week began tearing up the playing surface at the 93-year-old home of the Cubs for a total renovation of the drainage system and turf. The project, which the club hopes to complete before the end of November, is being overseen by White Sox groundskeeper Roger Bossard, who proudly wears the nickname, "The Sodfather." When it's done, the field will be turned back over to longtime Cubs groundskeeper Roger Baird.
"I'm so happy for Roger. He's got the last old car in the Major Leagues," Bossard said.
In fact, Wrigley was the only Major League ballpark that still employed a "crown" to drain rainwater off the field. Cubs players and coaches sitting on the dugout bench would have to strain to see the first baseman across the field.
That will no longer be the case after Bossard is finished. Crews are removing 7,500 tons of dirt and will lower the playing surface about 14 inches over the coming weeks. Kansas City clay will be laid down and leveled before Bossard installs his trademark system of drains, to be made up of 6,000 feet of piping that can hold 60,000 gallons of water, easing the flow of water into the old neighborhood sewer system.
The sod will come from Colorado or New Jersey, depending on the weather in each spot when Bossard's crews are ready, and will be transported to Chicago in refrigerated trucks. Over the cold and snowy winter months, the grass will remain covered by a specialized geo-textile material that will keep the turf 7-9 degrees warmer than the surrounding air.
Timing is critical. Bossard is hoping to finish the project before the end of November, but even a few days of bad weather could set things back.
"It's a six- to seven-week job and I'm trying to get it done in four weeks," he said.
Bossard is a veteran of 10 field renovations, including the 2004 re-do of Boston's venerable Fenway Park and the 2001 installation of the new Miller Park in Milwaukee. It's been pointed out that four of the last six World Series champs have played on one of his fields.
"Maybe it will be the Cubs' turn next year," he said.
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The Cubs and Rockies could be trading partners this offseason. The Rockies have a young outfield with alot of young talent and not many places to put them. The Rockies might be willing to trade players such as Taveras, Baker, Spilborghs, Hawpe or Sullivan for decent starting pitching. The Rockies confirmed interest in Sean Marshall, J.R. Mathes, and Mark Holliman last year. The Rockies also have alot of young talent in the Minors who mite push the players listed above out of a starting job or make them expendable. Players like Sean Barker and Seth Smith. If Taveras, Spilly, or Hawpe become availiable look for the Cubs to be one of the first to call. Especially a kid like Spilly-
http://colorado.rockies.mlb.com/team/player.jsp?player_id=448676
Here is his minor league stats-
http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?n=Ryan%20Spilborghs&pos=&sid=milb&t=p_pbp&pid=448676
This kid is for real!
1 comment:
I feel like the Rox wont be willing to part with their young OFs. Their young talent is what they built on to get to the WS. I think their offense disappearing in the WS was more of a concern than the pitching, so I see the Rox hanging onto their young talent and letting them continue to grow and get experience. Plus its easier to keep young kids quite from complaining about playing time than vets.
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