What are /r/Cubs' favorite Products & Services?

From 3.5 billion Reddit comments

MLB TV is the way to go.

I know, everyone wants a free ride, but with a full season the games still average out to less than $2 each and you'll get full radio feeds with Pat and Ron (worth the price, IMHO).

If you're in the bullshit Cubs blackout area, Unlocator is a cheap and reliable spoof.

I am not sure this is allowed (If it isn't then I will delete it) but this book goes over the Cubs history decade by decade.

https://www.amazon.com/Chicago-Tribune-Book-Decade-Decade/

I use VyprVPN ($99 a year), and route my connection through Brazil. They have a great, really easy to use interface, and even have iOS/Android apps. The close proximity to the US means great connection quality. I do this for Gamecenter/NFL Game Pass/NBA League Pass. Works perfectly. Fuck the cable companies.

And if you are feeling really ambitious, I set up a Raspberry Pi as a wireless router that connects through my VPN account. Then I connected my Apple TV to the router and I can watch everything blackout free on my Apple TV (besides NFL Game Pass which doesn't have an Apple TV app). This should also apply to Chromecast/PS4/etc.

I would recommend subscribing to SlingTV (or playstation Vue):

https://www.sling.com/

If you get the sling blue package you get TBS and FS1 (but not ESPN) and Im pretty sure they air every FS1 mlb game (NL teams this year) which would allow you to watch the cubs. For the world series your best bet is to setup an antenna. Although now that I think about it, I think FOX local is actually available if you live in the right market.

edit: I just realized you said free. Well at least sling gets you a free 7 day trial. If you start on the 7th, that will get you at least through the NLDS and I suppose you could always singup with a different account/credit card for one more week (which may or may not get you through the NLCS depending on how it shakes out). The World Series is free over the air. Playstation vue also has a free trial so you can bounce between them!

Sling.TV is $20-25 a month and includes all of ESPN's channels. You could also just do the 7 day free trial and cancel after the game I suppose.

https://www.sling.com/?mkwid=sC8AN8imC|pcrid|57058501097|pkw|sling%20tv|pmt|e|pdv|c&cvosrc=ppc.google.sling%20tv&cvo_crid=57058501097&matchtype=e&gclid=CjwKEAjwoZ-oBRCAjZqs96qCmzgSJADnWCv8pptygZ1yLQSuuw6cCt8UvkrGUIX66ZXuQIn6U7CEwho...

Smart DNS! Do you happen to know anything about computers? You don't have to VPN or anything but you do have to point whatever device you are watching on to a new DNS server.

I'm slightly more technical than everyone else. So it was easy for me. I just added my Roku's mac address as an entry into my dhcp server, so that it gets a different DNS record.

VPN is kind of intrusive to sidestep blackouts.

I use unlocator. They have setup steps here: https://unlocator.com/setup/

You do have to pay. I think its like $4/month. There are cheaper ones out there and they come with 7 day free trials so you can test them out.

Chicago Cubs Yesterday & Today this might be what you are looking for. There are pictures on every page and it is a complete history from 1876 until 2008. Its fun easy to read to others and the type is a decent size for people who can't see well.

But how are you posting on the internet?

It is only on TBS. So unless you have TBS. Your only chance is a stream. The best way is to pay the paltry $10 to for the rest of the season deal, and then use a Smart DNS service like Unlocator.

I have a special dhcp entry for the mac address of my Roku. It hands out a dhcp address along with Unlocator's DNS server address. That way I get passed blackouts without having to use VPN.

Its the most inobtrusive way networking wise for the highest quality stream.

Get a VPN where you can choose the location, I use ExpressVPN. It changes the location of your IP address, so you can choose where MLB or whatever you're watching the game on "sees" your located. If it doesn't work at a certain location keep switching until you're in an area where the game isn't blacked out.

What it means to ba a Cub

It has a bunch of essays from Cubs players going back to the Forties. Ernie Banks, Ron Santo, Andre Dawson, Ryne Sandberg, and a bunch of others. The essays are relatively short and easy to read.

https://tunein.com/ app available in App Store, Google Play and Microsoft store. Free subscription limited on radio games to be able to listen to. Premium subscription $9.99/M I believe gets you all the Cubs games you want.

I had my VPN set to go through my router but it was too slow, replaced the Fire TV with a full blown PC running Private Internet Access. Was ok until the playoffs. To move playoff games to TBS and not give them to people paying $129 or whatever it was is insane.

Here is a great DVD box set of legendary Cubs games: https://www.amazon.com/Chicago-Cubs-Legends-Great-Collectors/dp/B000NO23ZS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1494623994&sr=8-1&keywords=cubs+legends+dvd

The current price on amazon is way too high, don't be spending more than 30-40 bucks on this item. I would check eBay to see if there are listings in this price range.

Also - if he hasn't already, check out the new book "The Cubs Way" by Tom Verducci. It's a must-read for any fan/follower of the Cubs! Hope this helps.

If it's the white with blue stripes 'Home' jersey, you're going to be very disappointed. The large 'Cubs' logo on the front is a printed piece of vinyl printed to look like it's embroidered. I have a few of the grey or blue jerseys that I ordered off Amazon that came shipped from China that I think are counterfeit, but are of much better quality and only cost ~$50-$70. Here's a link. Just orer it a size larger then you normally wear, as they tend to run a bit small. I have seen good quality white home jerseys, but I'm not willing to take a chance again.

It's his free agent year again. A pretty good read: http://www.amazon.com/Psychology-Baseball-Inside-Mental-League/dp/1592402755

TL;DR: Players have statistically better seasons the year before, and two years after free agency.

Capri Sun inspired, and with options based on how many games out of first we are

And, when you want to completely confuse the security man

Amazon had most sizes of authentic Cubs hats for like $18 or something for most of the summer.

Edit: Here ya go. Price depends on hat size, but I could grab a 7 3/8 for $16 + shipping. http://www.amazon.com/Chicago-Authentic-Field-59FIFTY-Royal/dp/B002TIE7IC

Have you thought about an aftermarket AM Antenna-- I don't know how it would work in your environment, but a good antenna can sometimes make a remarkable difference-- I haven't had to do that in a long time, but something like this might make it work

I trust you've got this book? http://www.amazon.com/Out-Blue-Remarkable-Story-Chicago/dp/1572436336

You can get it used for $3.99.

Everyone's focusing on the playoffs, but you said your project deals with the season, so am guessing you would want to include things like beating Roger Clemens when he tried to get his 300th win, winning 4 out of 5 from the Cardinals (imo we didn't look back from that), Prior's great 10-1 second half, Sammy's corked bat, Santo's burned hairpiece, In Dusty we Trusty (he managed the Giants in the WS the year before whereas the Cubs were brutal in 02)... I'll post more as I think of it.

this is a bit of a tangent, but i believe the way it's told that it happened. i got this, which has CDs that contain famous sports calls (and is really really cool for a fan of that kind of thing.) it even has the radio call from that game, in which the announcer says something along the lines of "now he's point out towards the right field, he's saying the next one is going out there" ... the guy, live in the moment, interpretted his action that way. so i take it. either way, he hit a homer in that spot.