If I buy tickets to the NLCS with my lucky password win and they don't make it how much will I get back?  What is my best course of action to negate the money loss?  Will call?  I'm new at this so any help would be greatly appreciated.  I still have enough faith/hope to buy them, but I ain't a rich man.  Man, the high of winning the chance to buy tickets to the low of last night was about the biggest mood swing I've ever gone through!!

Thanks for any thoughts!

So I am poor.  But I love going to Wrigley, as we all do.  But how to do this on a buget? 

Here are my limited tips, but I would love to have a few more.

1.  Buy crappy seats.  This one sucks, but it must be done.  On the "cheap days" you can get 10 buck "upper deck reserved outfield seats." Which of course is another name for nose bleed, but unless you are behind an obstruction of some sort there really are no horrible seats at Wrigley, in my opinion at least.  These are usually shaded and in April and May can be extra frigid, so the heart of summer is the best time for these seats (edit -- but there are no "value days" in the heart of the summer! So you'll have to pay 16-20 dollars for the cheapest tickets) . Be sure to check Cubs.com before going to any of the other ticket agencies.  I'm sure everyone knows this on this site, but you can get tickets on there for most games even in the middle of the season.  My second choice is usually Craigslist.  Sometimes you can get tickets near face value.  And of course there is waiting until after the game has started and seeing what you can find at a curbside ticket agency.

2. Take the L.  This is a no-brainer.  Why spend gas money, parking money, and the energy of road rage when 3.50 will get you there and back. If you don't live near a stop you may have to, gasp, take the bus or just drive closer to a stop, but it's worth it. And I think  everyone should experience the crush of blue and red at the Addison stop.  --edit from cwyers -- For out of towners...the best parking for night and weekend games is at DeVry University. $6 to park, with free shuttle service to and from the game.

3.  Bring your own food and drinks.  This is a huge money saver.  There are no rules against this.  I fry up some dogs then wrap them in tin foil and put them in a soft cooler with the buns and condiments and put some cold drinks in plastic bottles (no glass bottles or hard coolers) and I'm ready to go.  And since there are no veggie dogs at Wrigley this is a must for me anyway.  I know it's sacrilege but the beer prices at Wrigley (and ball parks in general) are set by the Devil himself so I just abstain and drink my dollar Goose Islands in front of the TV instead of five dollar Old Styles at the park. 

I would add that you can start your drinking before you go inside, but early drinking adds to excessive spending so I don't recommend this possible money saver!

4. I'm not sure about this one, but I've heard that buying memorabilia outside the park after the game is best?  I usually grab a cheap tee or cap at a big box store so I would like to know more about where to find cheap Cubs stuff. Anyone?

My other ballpark tip doesn't save money, but enhances my visit.  And that is listening to Pat and Ron on the radio.  I remember these old guys at Wichita Pilots games (where I used to live!) huddled in their own worlds with their headphones on while I was running all over the place making mischief and trying to grab foul balls and now I'm that old guy with the headphones! 

So this may not be useful to ya'll with deep pockets.  If I had the extra money I'd be sitting close to the field and pounding the nachos and cotton candy, but sadly I have to live within my means.

If anyone has any other tips I would love to hear them.  Especially on tickets!  They just keep going up!  I need to get a second job so I can go to games!

Hi all,

I didn't get in on the BCB Fantasy League so I set a league up over at Sporting News.com called "Cubs Make Right!"  It's free to play.  It's a ten team 5x5 Roto league and the draft is 4pm this Friday. 

Sign up here -- http://www.sportingnews.com/splash/view/dnt  and then join "Cubs Make Right."

Hope some of you can make it!  I'm itching for some BASEBALL!!!!!

Go Cubs Go!

Sorry if this was posted elsewhere. Not sure who wrote this, but it has been circulating via email. This originated from Ivy Chat here -- http://ivychat.blogspot.com/  I'm a huge fan of A Few Good Men so I couldn't stop laughing.

Clemens: You want answers?

Congressman: I think I'm entitled to them.

Clemens: You want answers?

Congressman: I want the truth!

Clemens: You can't handle the truth! Son, we live in a world that has baseballs. And those balls have to be hit by men with bats. Who's gonna do it? You? You, Congressman? I have a greater responsibility than you can possibly fathom. You weep for steroids and you curse HGH. You have that luxury. You have the luxury of not knowing what I know: that HGH, while illegal, probably sells tickets. And my existence, while grotesque and incomprehensible to you, sells tickets...You don't want the truth. Because deep down, in places you don't talk about at parties, you want me on that mound. You need me on that mound. We use words like fastall, slider, splitfinger...we use these words as the backbone to a life spent playing a sport. You use 'em as a punchline. I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and falls asleep to the Sportscenter clips I provide, and then questions the manner in which I provide it! I'd rather you just said thank you and went on your way. Otherwise, I suggest you pick up a bat and dig in. Either way, I don't give a damn what you think you are entitled to!

Congressman: Did you order the HGH?

Clemens: (quietly) I did the job you sent me to do.

Congressman: Did you order the HGH?

Clemens: You're goddamn right I did!!