The Color Purple

Synonyms for Purple:     amaranthine, amethyst,  bluish-red, burgundy, grape, heliotrope, lavender, lilac, magenta, mauve, mulberry, orchid, periwinkle, perse, plum, pomegranate, puce, reddish-blue, violaceous, violet, wine.

I had to see it in person. For some reason the pictures of the Wrigley Marquee looked more Fuchsia than Purple when I saw Cubs mlb.com reporter, Carrie Muskat's Twitpic.  Any camera or maybe just the wrong lighting can play tricks on you and so can photoshop (tee hee, I rule too!). But in person, sitting in the McDonalds parking lot with my trusty iphone camera and my eyes, there it was...In glorious PURPLE.

Per Wikipedia...

The marquee was installed circa 1934. The sign was BLUE until the 1960s, and originally used changeable letters similar to the scoreboard to announce upcoming games. It originally read "Home of "The Cubs" but was changed to "Home of Chicago Cubs" by 1939. This was also changed during football season to reflect the Chicago Bears. In 1982, the two line announcement board was replaced with an electronic message board and a backlit advertising panel was added below

Of course, the Red Marquee just might be searching for it's Blue Roots.

Tags: 
Purple Wrigley Marquee
Submitted by Dr. Joseph Hecht on Sun, 11/21/2010 - 7:32pm
Return to Homepage

Comments

Submitted by crunch
on Sun, 11/21/2010 - 7:43pm

woo footsballs.

Submitted by jacos
on Sun, 11/21/2010 - 9:15pm

Below the marquee is this more accurate sign-
http://images1.fanpop.com/images/quiz/29859_1...

Submitted by garsky
on Mon, 11/22/2010 - 9:40am

Is Paul Sullivan retarded? He's never had much use for logic or intelligence, but Sunday's column is beyond the pale: http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/sc-spt-1...

It reads like something posted by an 11-year-old on the cubs.com message boards...

Submitted by navigator
on Mon, 11/22/2010 - 9:48am

But, that's Wrongway Phil Rogers' column.

Submitted by Dusty Baylor
on Mon, 11/22/2010 - 10:22am

Also, what a stupid, stupid article...next week:What's better, Unicorns or the Loch Ness Monster....

What an idiot...

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Mon, 11/22/2010 - 11:17am

I thought it was one of his better articles. He messed it up a bit by trying to explain the players part too much, but the bottom line - two teams with no plan, was a good one.

Submitted by garsky
on Mon, 11/22/2010 - 11:25am

D'Oh -- In my state of astonishment I conflated the two ...

Submitted by navigator
on Mon, 11/22/2010 - 11:42am

I do it all the time...

Submitted by jacos
on Mon, 11/22/2010 - 10:27am

The article is from Phil Rogers. Should have said that first before I even bothered to click.

Just from reading the heading looks like old Bourbon Breath has started celebrating the holidays a little early this year.

Submitted by navigator
on Mon, 11/22/2010 - 11:47am

I think the Ricketts should just keep the Wrigley sign lavender, in honor of them being the gayest owners in MLB.

Submitted by Mike Vail
on Mon, 11/22/2010 - 12:49pm

Have no fear: Dick Pole is available. Actually, I would like to have Orel Hersheiser as pitching coach,but it ain't gonna happen, so Mazzone?

Submitted by Tony S.
on Mon, 11/22/2010 - 7:18pm

Dick Pole..... Most threatening name in baseball??

Submitted by Charlie
on Mon, 11/22/2010 - 8:27pm

I want DIck and Orel to announce for Fox together.

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Mon, 11/22/2010 - 1:27pm

Votto almost unaminously wins the MVP - no Cubs to be found.

http://bbwaa.com/

Submitted by crunch
on Mon, 11/22/2010 - 3:51pm

reds sign d(railed)-train to a minor league deal.

Submitted by jacos
on Mon, 11/22/2010 - 4:53pm

If anyone can fix him, Dusty can.

Know what I mean?

Submitted by Tony S.
on Mon, 11/22/2010 - 7:19pm

by fix, do you mean overuse-until-he's-never-heard-from-again??

Then yes, Dusty's your man, and yes, we know what you mean...

Submitted by crunch
on Mon, 11/22/2010 - 7:52pm

dusty once killed a man just to watch him die...made his dog watch, too.

Submitted by Jackstraw
on Mon, 11/22/2010 - 9:21pm

That was in Reno, I think.

Submitted by Paul Noce
on Mon, 11/22/2010 - 10:00pm

I'm confused...did Dusty make his own dog watch or the dying man's dog watch? Because if he made the dying man's dog watch, then Dusty's an a-hole.

Submitted by Paul Noce
on Mon, 11/22/2010 - 9:57pm

Cubs re-signed Bobby Scales.

http://twitter.com/eddymk/status/690226898089...

Maybe he's our 2011 1st baseman? :)

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Mon, 11/22/2010 - 11:22pm

Bobby Scales - patron saint of the slow twitch African American athlete.

Submitted by crunch
on Mon, 11/22/2010 - 11:35pm

FREE BOBBY SCALES!

Submitted by QuietMan
on Mon, 11/22/2010 - 10:37pm

Phillies land another ex Cub. Well, for Class A ball.

http://www.chicagobreakingsports.com/2010/11/...

Submitted by Cubster
on Mon, 11/22/2010 - 11:24pm

I'm thinkin' Dickie Noles gets the AA managerial job

Submitted by Arizona Phil
on Mon, 11/22/2010 - 11:58pm

Tampa Bay Rays have signed 1B Russ Canzler to a minor league contract. Canzler is the second Cub Rule 55 minor league FA to sign with a new organization (RHP Mitch Atkins signed with the Baltimore Orioles last week).

The Cubs have signed two minor league FA from outside the organization so far (ex-BAL IF-OF Scott Moore and ex-COL LHP Scott Rice), and have re-signed James Adduci, Angel Guzman, Bryan Lahair, J. R. Mathes, Jonathan Mota, Mike Parisi, and Bobby Scales to 2011 minor league contracts.

Adduci, Guzman, Lahair, Moore, Rice, and Scales (and presumably Mathes, although it hasn't been confirmed) got NRIs to Spring Training.

Pitcher Jeff Gray, catchers Mark Johnson, Mario Mercedes and Mark Reed, 3B Scott McClain, and outfielders Jason Dubois and Brad Snyder remain free-agents.

Submitted by Jumbo
on Tue, 11/23/2010 - 4:12am

Phil
Based on the minor league contracts and players moving up through the system, who do you think are locks for Iowa? Are the Cubs far enough along in the farm rebuilding to not have to fill out the AAA roster with a bunch of "professional" minor leaguers?

Submitted by Arizona Phil
on Tue, 11/23/2010 - 11:08am

Submitted by Jumbo on Tue, 11/23/2010 - 4:12am.
Phil
Based on the minor league contracts and players moving up through the system, who do you think are locks for Iowa? Are the Cubs far enough along in the farm rebuilding to not have to fill out the AAA roster with a bunch of "professional" minor leaguers?

========================================================

JUMBO: The Cubs are deep enough in their minor league system that they really don't need any minor league free-agents to fill out the Iowa roster. However, one of the functions of a club's AAA roster is to have at least one player at every position (plus several pitchers) who can, if needed, be promoted to the big leagues during the course of the season to replace an injured player or pitcher.

Because the exact make-up of the Cubs 2011 MLB Opening Day roster is unknown at this time, I would say that as of right now, very much subject to change, that the 2011 Iowa Opening Day roster will probably look something like this:

STARTING PITCHERS:
Casey Coleman
Jay Jackson,
Chris Carpenter (unless he is moved to bullpen)
Thomas Diamond
J. R. Mathes

RELIEF PITCHERS:
Jeff Stevens
Esmailin Caridad
Brian Schlitter
James Russell
Justin Berg
David Cales
Austin Bibens-Dirkx (starting pitcher if Carpenter in bullpen)
NOTE: This presumes Cubs MLB pitching staff is Dempster, Zambrano, Gorzelanny, Wells, and Silva as the starters, and Marmol, Marshall, Cashner, Grabow, Mateo, Maine, and Samardzija in the bullpen, but that will change if (as expected) Cubs sign FA starting pitcher and/or FA RH reliever

CATCHERS:
Welington Castillo
Robinson Chirinos (C-1B-3B)
Steve Clevenger (C-1B-3B) or Chris Robinson (other to AA)
NOTE: This presumes Koyie Hill is Cubs back-up catcher (TBD)

INFIELDERS:
Matt Camp (SS-2B-3B-CF)
Bryan Lahair (1B)
Nate Samson (SS) or minor league FA SS
Marquez Smith (3B)
Tony Thomas (2B)

OUTFIELDERS:
James Adduci or Matt Spencer (other to AA)
Tony Campana (CF)
Brandon Guyer (RF-CF-LF)
Ty Wright (LF)

Bobby Scales could replace Mark Johnson as I-Cubs player-coach, starting the season on the Disabled List with some vague injury, and then getting reactivated for short periods whenever a position player goes on the 7-day DL.

Mark Johnson (who was player-coach at Iowa in 2009-10) served as an Instructor and Game Manager at Instructs post-2010, and I suspect he will be named the new Cubs Minor League Catching Instructor (with Marty Pevey going back to being a manager), unless he is named manager at Peoria, Boise, or Mesa (this presumes Casey Kopitzke will be promoted to Daytona or Tennessee).

Submitted by Arizona Phil
on Tue, 11/23/2010 - 11:20am

One thing to keep in mind about the Cubs 2011 MLB roster is that Geovany Soto had shoulder surgery post-2010, and it's possible that he will not be able to throw well enough to be a #1 catcher next season (at least at the start of the season).

But Soto is also probably the Cubs best hitter, so do you just sit him on the bench and use him as a PH until he is healthy enough to handle the #1 catching job, or do you move him to a position where he can hit without having to throw much? And then even if he is healthy enough to catch 110-120 games, do you want your best hitter to sit on the bench 40-50 games, or would you rather have him in the lineup 150+ games by moving him to another position on days he's not catching? Because Soto (even if healthy) is NOT going to catch 150 games.

The only other position Soto can play is 1B (he played there quite a bit at Iowa in 2007 when he had a sore shoulder), and that may be one of the reasons (cost being the other) the Cubs are looking at first-basemen like Nick Johnson and Chris Davis, so that Soto will be able to play 1B whenever necessary without being blocked by an Adam Dunn.

But whether Soto plays 150+ games (at catcher and 1B) or just 110-120 games (max) at catcher (only), the Cubs back-up catcher is still going to start 40-50 games.

Also, remember that Tyler Colvin didn't say he would not play 1B, just that he didn't want to move there during the season. So look for Colvin to play 1B (in addition to RF-CF-LF) in Spring Training if the Cubs don't acquire another LH 1st baseman during the off-season, with Soto also getting some reps there.

Submitted by Jumbo
on Tue, 11/23/2010 - 11:54am

Thanks for both comments, Phil. I understand that arguments that Soto at 1B is less valuable than at C, but if there is no money to be spent outside the organization I would be all for a one year rental like LaRoche or an untested type like Davis. Between Soriano, Byrd, Fukudome, Colvin, and another 4th/5th outfielder type, I don't see why Colvin, Soto, and potentially one additional player couldn't hold down 1B. I'd rather do that than make a big commitment to a free agent like Dunn.

With the existing roster, how would you construct the Cubs lineup? There's no great leadoff option. Fukudome could do it against RHP in the first half, but I don't think that's the way to go. What do you think of Castro leading off instead of staying in the second slot? Even if he's not a prototypical leadoff man I think he's the best choice for an everyday lineup. Not a lot of other options?

Submitted by Arizona Phil
on Tue, 11/23/2010 - 12:15pm

Submitted by Jumbo on Tue, 11/23/2010 - 11:54am.
Thanks for both comments, Phil. I understand that arguments that Soto at 1B is less valuable than at C, but if there is no money to be spent outside the organization I would be all for a one year rental like LaRoche or an untested type like Davis. Between Soriano, Byrd, Fukudome, Colvin, and another 4th/5th outfielder type, I don't see why Colvin, Soto, and potentially one additional player couldn't hold down 1B. I'd rather do that than make a big commitment to a free agent like Dunn.

With the existing roster, how would you construct the Cubs lineup? There's no great leadoff option. Fukudome could do it against RHP in the first half, but I don't think that's the way to go. What do you think of Castro leading off instead of staying in the second slot? Even if he's not a prototypical leadoff man I think he's the best choice for an everyday lineup. Not a lot of other options?

=======================================================

JUMBO:

I'd go with...

Fukudome, RF or DeWitt, 2B
Castro, SS
Byrd, CF
Ramirez, 3B
Soto, 1B-C
Colvin, 1B-RF
Soriano, LF
DeWitt, 2B or W. Castillo, C

and then Baker (3B-2B-1B), Barney (SS-2B-3B), Chirinos (C-1B-3B), Fuld (LF-CF-RF), and either Fukudome or W. Castillo on the bench. However, If it's Hendry making the call, then Koyie Hill probably is on the roster, replacing Chirinos or Castillo.

If the Cubs acquire a LH 1B like Chris Davis or Nick Johnson, Colvin would probably play RF full-time and Fukudome would be the 4th OF instead of Fuld (presuming Fukudome is not traded). I would think that the Cubs would probably be willing to eat as much as 2/3 of Fukudome's $13.5M 2011 salary ($9M) if they can find a taker (and I think they probably can, as long as it isn't a team Fukudome has on his "no trade" list), and then they would use the $4.5M in 2011 payroll saved by trading Fukudome to pay for the RH set-up guy.

If Fukudome is traded, I could see Marlon Byrd hitting lead-off (at least for a while). He has hit there before.

Eventually Brett Jackson will probably be the lead-off hitter, and Hak-Ju Lee projects as either a lead-off hitter or #8 hitter if he reaches MLB.

Submitted by Cubster
on Tue, 11/23/2010 - 6:48am

Marquee, 24x7:

http://www.cubworld.com/category/a_cubworld_cam/

Submitted by Rob Richardson
on Tue, 11/23/2010 - 8:55am

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/story?c...

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Tue, 11/23/2010 - 9:56am

Glanville had an .850 OPS against the Cubs (.695 for his career). Let's hope Sandberg doesn't wind up in the NL Central...

Submitted by Paul Noce
on Tue, 11/23/2010 - 11:13am

Tigers sign C/1b/DH Victor Martinez for 4 years, $50 million. Reportedly turned down 3 yr/$48 mil from White Sox.

Giants re-signed 1b/OF Aubrey Huff for 2 years, $22 million. Crazy numbers.

Submitted by Dr. aaron b
on Tue, 11/23/2010 - 11:18am

Adam Dunn at 3/36 looks totally in that neighborhood.

Submitted by crunch
on Tue, 11/23/2010 - 11:20am

too bad the cubs aren't an AL team looking to sign a DH for 3-5 years.

Submitted by Paul Noce
on Tue, 11/23/2010 - 11:30am

Dunn demanded a 4 year deal at $15 mil per from the Nats, who offered a 3 year deal last summer.

Money wise, Dunn getting $12-13-14 mil per doesn't seem so crazy now, but still, he's a DH who refuses to accept he has fielding disease.

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Tue, 11/23/2010 - 12:04pm

I don't know, given more time he may become a competent first basemen, but I agree you shouldn't count or or expect that.

Submitted by Dr. aaron b
on Mon, 11/29/2010 - 12:26pm

According to fangraphs Metric ratings. Dunn was 16th out of 22 qualifying First Basemen. I'd figure with time he will be at least average.

http://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=1b&...

Submitted by Rob G.
on Mon, 11/29/2010 - 4:18pm

if anyone cares, Glanville's manager in Iowa was Ron Clark that he speaks so glowingly about...

Submitted by Old and Blue
on Sun, 11/28/2010 - 6:38pm

Ok so this Bears game might actually be worth writing about.

X
You may login with either your assigned username or your e-mail address.
The password field is case sensitive.
Loading