Jesse Rogers, the new guy who took over the Cubs beat at ESPN Chicago, is still getting his feet wet but is very active on Twitter and good with updates even if the analysis is a bit shaky at times. You can follow him at @ESPNChiCubs and it’ll be worth it.
Earlier today, Rogers got a tour of the new Mesa facility that should open by next spring training. He posted a bunch of pictures via Twitter. The first one is of the layout of the entire facility. You can see a bunch of Wrigley cookie-cutter fields including the main stadium where Cactus League games are played.
There is a fishing pond that is open to the public and to players at the top of the map.
After the schematic, Rogers posted a video showing the area under construction. Hopefully they keep on schedule as the finished product should be spectacular.
Inside training facility going to be 9000 sq ft. Largest in all of baseball cubs say.
— Jesse Rogers (@ESPNChiCubs) March 14, 2013
That’s big, and it’s wonderful that the Ricketts are investing so much to ensure that their players and staff have the biggest and best (I hope) facilities possible for the Cubs. Here’s a rendering of what the new Cubs clubhouse would look like:
It looks nicer than the one in Chicago. Click to embiggen.
I’ll just list the other tweets so you guys can look at the construction process. It’s pretty bare now, but maybe AZ Phil or someone who lives in Arizona or a newspaper down yonder can update us every now and then.
This will be a 120 person “theater” for team meetings etc.lockerz.com/s/286971809
— Jesse Rogers (@ESPNChiCubs) March 14, 2013
New clubhouse nowlockerz.com/s/286972119
— Jesse Rogers (@ESPNChiCubs) March 14, 2013
28 ft deep lake/pond to be filled in June.Fishing part of it for public/players.lockerz.com/s/286973006
— Jesse Rogers (@ESPNChiCubs) March 14, 2013
Looks like they’re chugging along just fine in Mesa. Now if the Chicago city folk would stop being dicks, maybe we can get some renovation pictures at Wrigley this coming offseason.