Chicago Cubs Start Spring Training With Help From Their Chicago Movers

Chicagoland residents caught the first glimpse of spring when crews from Reebie Storage and Moving showed up at Wrigley Field in mid-February to pack up the Chicago Cubs' equipment and personal gear in preparation for the team's annual migration to their spring training camp in Mesa, Arizona.

Reebie, a Chicago mover based agent of Allied Van Lines, is the Cubs' official mover. The domestic and international relocation company has been shuttling the team back and forth to their spring camp each year since 1997.

This year the coveted job of moving the Cubbies to their 2009 Cactus League digs at Hohokam Stadium went to industry veteran and Master Mover Marek Stachowiak. "Marek's consistently high-quality driver ratings earned him the honor of moving the team south and getting them set up in time for their first game against the Dodgers on February 25th."

The Cubs and Reebie Storage & Moving have a long-standing professional relationship. Both were founded in the late 1800s in the city's Lincoln Park area, and both have a rich history of serving the citizens of Chicago.

As Chicago movers for more than 100 years, Reebie Storage & Moving Company has been serving the Chicagoland area with full-service transportation and storage services. Reebie is trusted by Chicagoland residents for all their relocation needs based on Reebie's outstanding reputation as reliable Chicago movers with a commitment to quality not seen by other moving companies. Reebie is renowned for the highest quality residential and commercial moving and storage services, ranging from domestic and international household relocations to superior records management and storage.

Reebie Storage & Moving Company opened its doors in 1880 and continues to provide the entire Chicagoland area with comprehensive transportation and storage services. Visit ReebieAllied.com for more information about their capabilities as Chicago movers.

Originally Published At: http://www.prweb.com/releases/Chicago-movers/Chicago-Cubs-moving-co/prweb2232614.htm

Chicago Cubs Spring Training

by Travis Lay

Here are some of my brief thoughts from my visit yesterday to Hohokam in Mesa Arizona to watch the Cubs play the Mariners.

* The weather in Arizona this time of year is absolutely perfect. I have now been to Phoenix three times with this being my first to watch Spring Training. All three times have been in February, March or April and maybe that is why I think the weather is always perfect. I have never been down here in August or July when it is 120 or 195 degrees, however hot it gets down here. Yesterday it was a perfect 80 degrees with a slight breeze and not a cloud in the sky.

* Fans came from everywhere to watch the Cubs play. I met two guys from Chicago, of course, and I over heard one guy talking and he was from the Virgin Islands. The guy from the Virgin Islands wasn’t too big of a baseball fan because he was tying to keep score. I say trying because in the bottom of the second when Sam Fuld of the Cubs stole second base and the ball got past the second basemen he wasn’t sure how to score that and ended up giving up.

* The one thing I hope to see while I am down here (going to the Rockies game today) is the pitchers running wind sprints on the warning track during the game. I didn’t get to see that yesterday.

* But I did get to see a Cubbie, number “91” as I called him, play second base. He was the only Cubs player on the field without a name on his jersey. It was a split squad game and maybe they pulled him from the stands before the seventh inning when he was inserted to play second.

* Most of the Cubs regulars were there and most of them started – Derrek Lee, Aramis Ramirez, Alfonso Soriano, Mike Fontenot and Reed Johnson all started and of them had three at bats before being pulled for replacements.

* The best part about the game yesterday was this:

- Top of the first inning Alfonso Soriano takes left field. We were sitting on the law in left field.

- A fan yells “Hey Fonzy!” Soriano then turned around to smile at him and wave. This was during the inning, live game action – albeit Spring Training live game action – in between pitches. Not in between batters, but in between pitches.

- A pitch or two later the same guy yells “Hey Fonzy! They Yankees were crazy to let you go!” Soriano turns around with a big grin on his face and start to tug on his Cubs jersey as if to say “I am with the Cubs now” while his grin was saying “Yep the Yankees should have kept me”. The guy made one more comment about the Yankees and Soriano turned around and gave the “thumbs down” motion. It was classic.

- During the next hitter the same guy says “Fonzy, you look bored!” Soriano then turned around with a bigger grin on his face and almost appeared to chuckle.

- Seeing this sort of interaction right in the middle of a game was so cool.

* After “Cubbie 91” was inserted I took out my binoculars and scanned the dug out – Lou was no where to be found. I know he was there at the start of the game because I was watching him interact with everyone during BP. By the seventh he had either retreated to the club house or made his way to Tempe to see the other half of his team playing the Angels.

* I am guessing there were 12,000 or more fans at the game yesterday. Sitting on the lawn in left field definitely had a bleacher bum feel to it. Lots of people with their shirts off drinking Old Style. Lots of people having a really good time.

* I had always heard that in split squad games, such as this one yesterday, the kids travel while the vets stay behind at the home ballpark. That was certainly true yesterday. I was hoping to see Ken Griffey Jr yesterday, didn’t happen. The only player from the Mariners that figures to be in the lineup on Opening Day that was in the lineup yesterday was Yunieksy Betancourt. No Griff. I should be able to see him today, they are playing the Rockies here in Tucson today and it is not a split squad game - I will definitely get pictures.

* I did take a lot of pictures yesterday and will take a bunch today too. When I get back to Denver I will get them on the computer and put up some slide shows for everyone to view.

My first experience at Spring Training was a blast and I am looking forward to getting over to Hi Corbett in the next hour or so to watch some BP and FP for the Rockies. More details to come on that game and how the players did later tonight when I get back to the hotel.

One more thing – I had In-N-Out late last night, finally. I can’t believe I had been in Arizona for two days and had not had In-N-Out yet. It was oh so good. Tonight I am going again for a double double with fries animal style.

Chicago Cubs spring training recap

Scores: Cubs 8, Mariners 1; Angels 8, Cubs 2.

Spring record: 8-9.

At the plate: Sam Fuld produced a homer, single, stolen base and two runs scored in Mesa. Ryan Theriot raised his average to .444 with a hit and Micah Hoffpauir to .302 with one in Tempe.

On the mound: Sean Marshall allowed one unearned run in 41/3 innings in Mesa, but Chad Gaudin started against the Angels and was torched for six runs in 12/3 innings.

In the field: Marshall's throwing error on a double-play attempt at first base led to the only run he allowed. But he also picked one runner off first base.

Slow starters: Leadoff man Alfonso Soriano is hitting .148 and No. 3 Derrek Lee .182.

Next up: Vs. Angels at 3:05 p.m. Saturday at HoHoKam Park; Aaron Heilman faces Joe Saunders.

Chicago Cubs: Spring Training Is Here! How Long until Opening Day?

There are 38 days and six hours from the posting time of this article until Opening Day for the Cubs against the Houston Astros, and even longer before the Cubs play at Wrigley Field, as their first two series are on the road against the Astros and Milwaukee Brewers.

For now, we have only the first two Spring Training games to talk about, so let's take a look at what we have.

The Cubs were able to take the first Spring Training game against the Dodgers (wonder how that got scheduled) by the final of 5-3. However, pitcher Jeff Samardzija gave up two runs, both in his second and final inning of work.

There are 38 days and six hours from the posting time of this article until Opening Day for the Cubs against the Houston Astros, and even longer before the Cubs play at Wrigley Field, as their first two series are on the road against the Astros and Milwaukee Brewers.

For now, we have only the first two Spring Training games to talk about, so let's take a look at what we have.

The Cubs were able to take the first Spring Training game against the Dodgers (wonder how that got scheduled) by the final of 5-3. However, pitcher Jeff Samardzija gave up two runs, both in his second and final inning of work.

"Actually, I felt a little better in the second inning," Samardzija said. "It's funny how that works. You make some decent pitches and get out of an inning one, two, three, and then you make some good pitches and give up a couple runs."

Also in the game, Micah Hoffpauir hit a grand slam and Cubbie hopeful Mitch Atkins gave up one run and three hits over two innings.

In the Cubs second Spring Training game, they took down the Brew Crew 7-3 in Sean Marshall's first shot to prove that he can handle the fifth starting spot this season.

Marshall gave up one run on four hits in two innings, nothing stellar but not horrible either.

We also had our first Carlos Marmol showing. Marmol pitched one inning, allowing one run and one hit.

Jake Fox, another Cubbie hopeful, started at first base and hit a three-run home run.

Ted Lilly makes his first start today against the Rangers, as the Cubs look to continue their perfect spring (maybe not a good thing based on the Detroit Lions).

Although Spring Training is a nice warm up for the regular season, I look forward to watching the Cubs take on the Astros as the regular season starts in 38 days.