Baseball is Back! Cubs Convention Preview

    This weekend, Cubs fans will be gathering for the 30th year in a row to be with other fans, learn about the new season, and hope that this year may just be the year(of course, if Back To The Future Part 2 is to be believed, 2015 really IS the year). The convention returns to the Sheraton on North Water Street for the third year in a row. Along with the traditional sessions on Management, the farm system, and the ever popular Cubs Bingo, this year has several special sessions, including a look back at the 07-08 teams, a panel on 30 years of Convention memories, and a Friday night Evening with Ryan Dempster. But for all the new panels, possibly the two most highly anticipated sessions are the Meet the New Cubs slot, where both Joe Maddon and Jon Lester will be given Chicago style welcomes(no word yet on whether Maddon will buy brewskis for the house at Billy Goat Tavern), and then the Owner's panel should also be a must-watch, featuring the Ricketts family, updates on the 1060 Project, and much hand-wringing over the relationship(or lack thereof) with the rooftop owners. Then of course, you have the autograph sessions, the dealer's room, and the relentless crush of fans crowding the table after each panel. I will be at the Convention this weekend, and giving all of you the tale of the tape after each day on Chicago 365, your source for all breaking Cubs news on this Convention Weekend.