Chicago Cubs Get Visit From Real Bear Cubs at Spring Training

Chicago Cubs manager, Joe Maddon has always been known for bringing many different people and activities into his team's clubhouse to help keep things loose. In the past, he has arranged visits from penguins, hired a DJ to play in the clubhouse, mimes, motivational speakers and even had a magician perform for his players. His latest antic this morning was bringing real life bear cubs from Bearizona Wildlife Park to Cubs Spring Training workouts. Cubs players and coaches got to interact with the 3-5 month old cubs and have been given the opportunity to name them. This is just the kind of thing you would expect from Maddon. With the Cubs being a young team with a manager who likes to keep things light and fun, I personally can't wait to see how they contend this year.

    

Photos:
Jesse Rogers- twitter
Carrie Muskat- twitter
Jon Greenberg- twitter

Waxdell Stephen Curry

Yesterday, Madame Tussauds of San Francisco unveiled a new wax figure of Golden State Warriors MVP, Steph Curry that will be displayed at their Fisherman's Wharf museum in a weeks time. The unveiling took place in Oakland with the whole Curry clan in attendance. The wax figure looks so much like the real Steph, I don't think Riley Curry could tell the difference. She proudly held on to Wax Steph's arm and looked at it with admiration. His figure is wearing the Warriors home white uniform, complete with Curry Ones with his signature "I Can Do All Things..." quote in his own handwriting. Steph also decided to use snapchat filters with his wax figure. The snapchat face swap filter between he and his figure was especially unsettling, yet awesome. Steph has made such an impact on the people of the Bay Area and around the world, whether it be on the court or off of it; it is only fitting that he be eternalized by Madame Tussauds.

At least Steph's figure actually looks like him, because One Direction's wax figures at Fisherman's Wharf? Not so much....

Photos:

SF Gate

Julie Phayer- twitter

Cork Gaines- twitter

SB Nation

Orlando Tourist Blog

Nick McSwisher - The Breakfast Giver

What's better than McDonalds breakfast in the morning? Apparently this is a mantra Nick Swisher likes to live by. Yesterday morning, before Spring Training workouts, the Braves veteran decided to spoil the fans who had come to watch. He had bought several McMuffins at McDonalds and proceeded to throw them to fans. Considering his charisma and kind heart, this did not come as a surprise to fans; but was a reminder to us all that such a small gesture really can brighten someone's day. In addition to gifting the fans McDonalds, he also signed their McMuffin wrappers. In my opinion, an autograph is way better than any Happy Meal toy McDonalds has ever offered. Fans who received a sandwich from Swisher, expressed their gratitude over twitter and Swish responded, "My pleasure! @McDonalds for everyone." Looks like Ronald McDonald has some competition. Spring Training... We're lovin it.

Photo: Twitter- @NickSwisher 

Video of Swish delivering the McDonalds to fans:
http://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nflvideos/swisher-gives-out-mcdonalds/vp-BBq8mkb

Major London Baseball

Major League Baseball is in talks with London, England officials, considering a regular season series being hosted there in 2017. Baseball is the only large American sport that hasn't had a series played across the pond in the past few years; the NFL and NBA have had games played there recently. If the plan were to fall in place, the games would most likely take place at Olympic Stadium in London. This stadium was originally built to house the 2012 Summer Games and is now being converted to the home of the West Ham Football Club. While there are other cities/countries that are more immersed in the game of baseball that could host the series, I think London is a great choice for the MLB to seek out. I know that the people of London love their sports, and I think introducing them to baseball firsthand would be wonderful. If MLB and London do strike a deal, I would personally love to see the games in London live in person. London is at the top of my list of places I want to visit and adding baseball to the itinerary only makes me want to go more. Some say that playing regular season games in another country is unfair to players, because of jet lag and unfamiliarity with the venue, but I feel that the fact that another country will be introduced to baseball is important to acknowledge as well. It also helps baseball fans in the U.S. to discover other stadiums and places around the world. We don't know for sure yet if MLB and London will come to an agreement, but I truly hope they do.

I guess I better start saving up for my 2017 trip to London now...
(if I'm not living there already by then... hint hint Niall Horan)

By the way, I may be a little biased considering my favorite band performed at the Closing Ceremonies for the Summer Games at Olympic Stadium in 2012... Maybe. ;)


Photos: BBC
             The Mirror UK

600 Chris Denorfia Bobbleheads Mysteriously Left on San Diego Resident's Doorstep

If I woke up to 600 bobbleheads on my doorstep, I wouldn't question it, I would just add them to my
collection. Yet I know, this would not be the case for everyone, including Philip Jia. When he and his roommates walked outside to hundreds of mysterious boxes piled along their doorstep, they immediately contacted police. Turns out it was only 600 Chris Denorfia Padres bobbleheads. The SDPD said it was definitely the strangest call they had ever received. Nobody knows who dropped off the bobbleheads or why. Jia and his roommates had never even heard of Chris Denorfia, but they are now his biggest fans. They are now using the bobbleheads for dog toys, stacking them along their condo walls, gifting them as Halloween party favors, and giving them away to friends. They have considered selling them, but they don't go for much on eBay, considering Denorfia now plays for the Chicago Cubs.

I am curious about Chris Denorfia's thoughts on this whole debacle. Hey, maybe he was the one who dropped them off? Maybe he was cleaning out his garage and thought that perhaps having 600 of his own bobblehead was a bit excessive? Who knows... We may never know who Bobblehead Santa is... My only peeve about this whole situation--- Why do I have to wait in line for two/three hours for ONE bobblehead, yet these people who don't even like baseball get 600 DELIVERED RIGHT TO THEIR DOORSTEP?! Life can be so unfair sometimes...

News Video of Bobbleheadgate:
http://bcove.me/30x79njn

http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/Why-Did-600-Padres-Bobbleheads-Appear-Near-a-Residents-Doorstep-347279632.html

Photo: NBC San Diego

Mark Kotsay Returns to A's as Bench Coach

I remember Mark Kotsay being one of my favorite A's players back when I was in elementary school. Such a great player, with a great baseball mentality, and fantastic leadership skills. I always predicted that he would become a coach in the MLB someday. It was announced yesterday that he will be Bob Melvin's bench coach next season. He spent last year as the San Diego Padres hitting coach, so this will be an important promotion in Kotsay's career. He and Bob Melvin simply had lunch in Jack London Square last week, talked about their philosophies and approaches (which were similar) and decided Kotsay would be a good fit to come back to Oakland. 

This last season for the A's was disappointing to say the least, especially after the past few years they have had, winning the AL West and Wild Card. The only way they are going to improve is if some positive changes are made. The World Series just finished recently, so the hot stove is just getting warm, but I think bringing back Kotsay to improve the coaching staff is the first step in the right direction for the A's. 

I am personally very excited to see Kotsay in the bench coach role for the A's. The changes to the coaching staff were kind of a shock when Mike Gallego and Tye Waller were fired, but at least the front office and Bob Melvin are trying to get the team back to their winning ways. I feel confident with the decision to move Mike Aldrete from bench coach to first, and love Ron Washington at third, like I always have. Between Wash on third, Curt Young as pitching coach, and Kotsay back in the dugout, the 2016 season is going to feel like I'm watching my beloved 2006 A's team all over again.... That means 2016 is 10 years since the 2006 A's won the division and made it to the ALCS... I am getting old. 

My hope is that Kotsay's fun spirit, baseball knowledge, and leadership skills can lead the A's to be just as good, if not better than that 2006 team. 

Photos: SF Gate

P.S. Quick shameless plug... One Direction's new album "Made In The AM" came out today! (Which I listened to the entire time I wrote this). Highly recommend that you check it out. If you don't think you like One Direction's music, listen to this album & I guarantee you will change your mind. Their vocals on this album are the best out of the 5, & the songs the boys wrote are absolutely phenomenal.

https://open.spotify.com/album/1gMxiQQSg5zeu4htBosASY

https://itun.es/us/S-7_9

A Big Threeunion

Today was a important and memorable day for Bay Area baseball fans. September 26, 2015 was marked as the first and only time pitchers, Barry Zito and Tim Hudson would start against each other. The Battle of the Bay is always exciting, but the fact that Zito and Hudson have both played for the A's and the Giants gave this game an even more memorable storyline. Both Zito and Hudson were a part of the A's "Big Three" back in the early 2000s with their former teammate, Mark Mulder. My most early memories of A's baseball included these three and their amazing pitching capabilities. (That Zito curveball still makes me as giddy as it did back in the day). Considering they were in their prime several years ago, it is understandable why today was an important goodbye for fans as well as Zito and Hudson.

Zito and Hudson both walked out to the bullpen mounds for their warm up pitches to standing ovations from A's and Giants fans alike. The A's (thanks to a mass text by Jesse Chavez) made a sweet gesture by having all players wear high socks in honor of Barry Zito's favored uniform look. I was disappointed that the Giants didn't shave their heads bald and grow soul patches in honor of Huddy, though.

Klay Thompson of the NBA Champion Golden State Warriors threw out the ceremonial first pitch, then Zito took the Coliseum mound for his (most likely) last start in the Majors. Mulder watched from his suite in the outfield. He, along with Zito and Hudson will throw out the ceremonial first pitches prior to tomorrow's contest. Seeing Mulder watch his former teammates and the emotions he had that came with that made me feel for him. His attempted comeback with the Angels last season fell short due to a torn achilles. Even though he will be remembered by A's and baseball fans for years to come, I know his love for the game makes him wish he could have gotten back on the mound last year.

When the first half inning was over, Tim Hudson took the mound, accompanied by his walk-out song, Sweet Home Alabama. It is very abnormal for an opposing pitcher to get walk-out music on the road, but this gesture shows how much respect the A's still have for Huddy and his accomplishments with them years ago.

#ZitovsHudson did not end up being the storybook matchup we were all hoping for. Hudson was lifted in the second inning with 1.1 IP and 2 ER. Zito was lifted by Bob Melvin in high socks in the third inning with 2.0 IP and 4 ER. Both left to standing ovations and came out inbetween innings to tip their caps to the Bay Area crowd.

Seeing Zito start for the A's for the first time since Game 1 of the 2006 ALCS gave me serious nostalgia. Back then, I was in middle school and had the biggest crush on Eric Chavez. A lot has changed in those 9 years, for example, I'm now in college and have the biggest crush on a boyband member. Well, I guess not that much has changed, I mean Chavy is still pretty darn cute.

A's and Giants fans rarely come together for something, but both fanbases can agree that Zito and Hudson both meant something to the team they care about most. Although A's fans weren't happy with the outcome, it was a great game to help us look back on the past. Remembering those great A's teams from the early 2000s helps gives me hope for the future after an extremely rough season.

Congrats to Barry Zito, Tim Hudson, and Mark Mulder. Thank you for showcasing your talents in the Bay.
Happy Retirement, Big Three... Thanks for making me feel so old. <3

Images:
Oakland Athletics