Rehab Time

The Crumbling Confines (if has Mariotti used this line, please disregard) are still in lousy shape, at least structurally. The Cubs submitted their latest fix-it plan for the stadium to the city, so reports the Trib. Well, with Mayor Daley's friend Jim Duff pleading guilty to RICO charges that arose due to a Trib investigative story, yeah, I'm sure those plans will be approved. It seems that the concrete's integrity is still unstable to the point that the netting will be left in place. The concrete can be replaced in spots, but not everywhere. And that would make the stadium workable for a while.

But the bigger issue is, "How long can Wrigley go without a true renovation?"

Pretty soon, the stadium is going to need to be shut down and all but gutted, much like Yankee Stadium was back in the 70's. How long can Trib Corp. let one of their most valuable assets deteriorate (don't kid yourselves - Wrigley is by far the most valuable piece of the Cubs' franchise)? Do they wait unti some 8 year old is injured by falling concrete?

Would the Cubs actually play in Comiskey for a year? This may be a big story before the year is out.