Results tagged “chicagocubs”

This weekend, the web was abuzz when pictures of former Cubs slugger Sammy Sosa from a recent Vegas event surfaced that showed him looking a bit paler than usual, raising speculation as to its cause, including it being a result of alleged steroid use. A former Cubs employee defended Sosa, saying he'd recently undergone some skin treatment. Appearing on Univisions's "Primer Impacto" program, Sosa himself has addressed the uproar by explaining, "It's a cream that I have, that I use to soften [my skin], but has bleached me some." He then inexplicably said, "I'm not a racist, I live my life happily." So to recap, Sosa's just trying to keep his skin soft and that's why he looks white, not because he wants to be white.

Take a look at the photo on the left -- a recent photo of former Cubs slugger Sammy Sosa we first came across on Deadspin the other day. It was shot at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas when the slugger attended the Latin Grammys 2009 Person Of The Year Event Honoring singer Juan Gabriel. In addition to the ghostly skin, it also looks like Sosa's had some eye work done, too. The nose still looks to be stock, but we guess each starts their rebuilding process differently. Nobody can deny he looks very, very different from how he did even a couple years ago, as seen in photo on the right, taken when he testified to Congress about performance enhancing drugs. Some speculate that Sosa may be suffering from vitiligo like Michael Jackson but, in this case, caused by years of alleged steroid use.

With last week's announcement of the Cubbies' new ownership - the Ricketts family - came a historic, gay caveat. One of the four new sibling owners, out lesbian Laura Ricketts, is the first openly gay owner of a professional sports team.

In a move that was expected, the Chicago Cubs have filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The filing means the tam's new owners - the Ricketts family - will be protected from the Tribune Company's creditors stemming from the company's own bankruptcy filing in December 2008 (the Cubs were not included in that filing). Last week, Major League Baseball owners approved the sale of the team to the Ricketts.

Last season, both our baseball teams reached the playoffs. This time around, both the Cubs and White Sox cleaned out their lockers. This was not unexpected for the Sox, but many truly thought this was going to be the Cubs' year. And yet fans on both sides of town are left to "wait until next year."

Embattled Cubs outfielder Milton Bradley tried to improve a very bad situation on Wednesday, by issuing a formal apology through his agents. Bradley also dropped his union grievance over the suspension on Wednesday, when the Cubs agreed to suspend him with pay -- meaning he'll earn about $400,000 while sitting at home (waaaaaaaaaaaaay more than what Marcus makes by blogging in his underwear from a basement).

Don't want to say "we told you so," but we suspected the Cubs would be sorry when they signed Milton Bradkey to a three year, $30 million free agent contract during the off-season. Seems management has finally reached their breaking point with the outfielder before he finished even one season in Chicago, suspending him for the remainder of the season.

A pair of former Cubs have made the news recently. Here are their strange tales

We all know there are some jerks in the Wrigley Field bleachers. And while some hurl beers at the opponents' outfielders, others have been known to hurl insults at an under performing Cubs outfielder or two -- just ask Corey Patterson, Jacque Jones, or Juan Pierre. So does it surprise anybody that Milton Bradley, the Cubs' current waste of $10 million, is whining that Cubs fans say mean things? "I'm talking about hatred, period. I'm talking about when I go to eat at a restaurant, I have to listen to the waiters bad-mouthing me at another table, sitting in a restaurant, that's what I'm talking about -- everything, " explained Bradley when asked on Wednesday to clarify comments made the day before.

The subject of a city-wide manhunt, the young man caught on tape tossing a beer from the Wrigley Field bleachers on to Phillies outfielder Shane Victorino turned himself in to Chicago police on Thursday. Johnny Macchione, a 21-year old college student from suburban Bartlett, turned himself in and spent a few hours being questioned by detectives before being booked at the Belmont Area police precinct. He was charged with two misdemeanors -- battery and illegal conduct in a sports facility. Macchione was released on bond on Thursday evening.

During last night's debacle at Wrigley, one bleacher bum decided it was a good idea to toss his beer on Phillies outfielder Shane Victorino, who had just caught a fly ball hit by Jake Fox in left-center field. Another fan. who began taunting Victorino, was ejected by security becuse they thought he was the brew hurler. In fact, he was not but by the time Cubs security could view tape of the situation, the offender has slipped away. The Cubs hope to identify the fan and prosecute him to the fullest extent of the law. The team hopes other Cubs fans will help to identify the culprit.

Mark Prior last appeared in a major league game almost three years ago -- on August 10, 2006, for the Cubs. That may end up being the last time the former phenom ever toes the mound in the big leagues. After days of speculation, the San Diego Padres officially released Prior, who has been rehabbing in the minor leagues following multiple surgeries. Will any other team take a flier on the once future superstar? With a lifetime record of 42-29 with a 3.51 ERA before the injury bug derailed his career, somebody will likely sign him to another minor league deal in the hopes he can return to "the show." However, we're in the camp who think he's finished.

There is a time and a place for everything. Cubs fans watching the interview between Len & Bob and Erik Estrada last night learned that a 7th inning interview might not be the best place for a conversation about seeing "a lot of child pornography" as well as bringing up - in a complimentary manner - the best known part of Ron Jeremy.

Despite the fact White Sox fans outnumber Cubs fans on this site (though a Cubs fan is in charge), we have to take time to acknowledge a historic game played within the Friendly Confines 25 years ago today. It was on June 23rd, 1984 that the baseball world saw what a young player with the goofily-spelled first name of "Ryne" could do.

Our two beloved baseball teams face off this week for the first time this season, and as usual the hoopla and hype over the series begins well in advance of the first pitch. Never one to shy away from taking the first shot, White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen let his true feelings for the Friendly Confines be known on Sunday: "One thing about Wrigley Field, I puke every time I go there." He continued, "That's just to be honest. And if Cub fans don't like the way I talk about Wrigley Field, it's just Wrigley Field. I don't say anything about the fans or anything now. But Wrigley Field, they got to respect my opinion. That's the way I feel."

Curses sure are a hard thing to shake, and the one hanging over the Cubs may have reared its ugly head again this weekend [Ed's Note: Benjy, I've told you that curses aren't real! - M.G.]. The Cubs have lost their ace for a while, with word coming Monday afternoon that Carlos Zambrano is headed to the 15-Day DL for an injury suffered on the basepaths. This trip to the disabled list comes after Zambrano injured his hamstring trying to beat out a bunt on Sunday. He'll likely miss his next three scheduled starts.

Despite prior beliefs that baseball season would bring with it rainbows and clear skies and flocks of birds and 60+ temps and spring cleavage and all the majesty and glory that goes along with baseball, here we sit in dismal Chicago greyness and chill. No matter! The Chicagoist Podcast Series has the joy of springtime in its heart, and you can hear it in our voices as we sing zip-a-dee freaking doo-dah into today's (and tomorrow's) games.

The Chicago Cubs firmed up their bullpen with today's announcement that Kevin Gregg will start the season as the team's closer instead of Carlos Marmol. Gregg, acquired during the offseason from the Florida Marlins, was 7-8 with a 3.41 ERA and 29 saves in 38 save opportunities last year while Marmol, primarily a set-up man behind then-closer Kerry Wood, was 2-4 with a 2.86 ERA and 7 saves in 9 save opportunities, though he did look shaky at times compared to his stellar 2007 run as the Cubs' set-up man. Besides more major league experience, Gregg's better statistics throughout Spring Training seem to have given him the edge. Though as the Trib's Paul Sullivan points out, the closer position shouldn't be an issue as between Gregg's experience and Marmol's potential, the team should be fine; it's the middle relief men that's causing some worries with only one left-hander (Neal Cotts) in the bullpen. [Tribune]

Safely away from Chicago, Cubs Chairman Crane Kenney mentioned the team's desire to play a total of 50 night games, an increase over the current 30 allowed in an agreement between the club, the city and the local Wrigleyville residents. Speaking to the Marco Island (FL) Sunrise Rotary Club, Kenney explained, "Players like a routine," and that additional night games would relieve the players of playing day games after arriving from road trips in the early-morning hours. In 2009, the Cubs have just one game that falls into that category -- their home opener on April 12 following a night game in Milwaukee.

The Cubs announced this week that on May 3, they will retire jersey #31. And while they will be increasing the number of numbers from four to five, the club of honorees will be increasing by 50%. This retirement ceremony will be unique, in that two players will be having the number retired in their honor. Fergie Jenkins and Greg Maddux -- perhaps the best two pitchers ever to wear Cubs pinstripes -- both wore the number during their days in Chicago and will see it hung at Wrigley in their honors.

Despite the fact the Tribune Company has picked a buyer for the Chicago Cubs, it doesn't look like they'll be rid of the team by Opening Day as had been originally hoped. Cubs chairman Crane Kenney said talks to hammer out an official deal continue and that the negotiations will likely continue even as the Cubs' April 6th Opening Day comes and goes.

Some think they're a key element of Wrigley's "ballpark in a neighborhood" charm. Others hold them in disdain for the way they turned a quirky fringe benefit of living near Wrigley into a business, making money hand-over-fist from a stolen product. Sure, the rooftops surrounding Wrigley Field now pay a fee to the Cubs. But they still howl over any proposed enhancements to the ballpark that might limit their sight lines even if it might improve the cash flow for the team that's actually paying the players' salaries.

He may be known as "Sweet Lou" to Cubs fans, but Lou Piniella sure doesn't feel that way towards EPSN's baseball analyst Steve Phillips after his recent comments on Chet Coppack's radio show. Appearing on ESPN 1000 with Coppack, Phillips accused the Cubs skipper of lacking patience with Japanese import Kosuke Fukudome last season.

At this year's much-discussed NHL Winter Classic at Wrigley Field, two jumbotrons were erected in the outfield bleachers to give fans with questionable sight lines a chance to see some of the action. But now one rooftop owner, furious over the fact that the video screens blocked the view of the ice for his customers, is refusing to pay the Cubs a 2008 profit-sharing payment out of protest. The owner is Anthony Racky, who owns Lakeview Baseball Club (3633 N. Sheffield). Per the Sun-Times:

Single game tickets for the 2009 season go on sale this Friday, but if you want to get seats from the Wrigley Field box office, you'll first need a numbered wrist band. Wrist bands will be distributed at at Wrigley Field from 11:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m. on Wednesday and from 7:00 .a.m - 10:00 p.m. on Thursday. The starting number will be randomly drawn and announced on WGN (720AM) shortly after 6:00 a.m. on Friday and tickets will be sold starting at 8:00 a.m. at the box office (10 a.m. online).

We don't care what that rodent in Pennsylvania says, spring starts as soon as pitchers and catchers report. That means spring is here because the Cubs pitchers and catchers arrive in camp later today, while the White Sox battery mates arrive on Sunday.

Continuing to re-work their roster ahead of the start of Spring Training in two weeks, the Cubs traded away two once promising pitchers in separate deals on Monday. The team announced that they traded the once promising lefty Rich Hill to Baltimore in return for a player to be named later. And to think it was only two years ago, the Cubs considered Hill to be one of their few untouchable pieces after he went 11-8 with a 3.92 ERA in '07. But then he lost his ability to throw strikes, which is apparently important when one's a pitcher, and spent the bulk of 2008 in the minors.

Following a search that has taken almost two years, the Cubs may finally have their new owners. The Tribune Co. selected the bid from the Ricketts family as their favored bid yesterday. It's by no means a done deal, however, as the Ricketts will have to secure financing and pass hurdles with MLB and other team owners. But hopes are to have the deal closed by Opening Day.

With 2009 rolling around, many of us made New Years resolutions -- go to bed earlier, save more money, eat better. For the Cubs, apparently, their resolution was giving up Pie. The North Siders traded Felix Pie, their onetime center fielder of the future, to the Baltimore Orioles over the weekend in return for two pitchers. In return for Pie - who will perhaps be best remembered for his twisted testicle - the Cubs landed left-handed pitcher Garrett Olson and Class A right-hander Henry Williamson. Olson was just 9-10 with a 6.65 ERA in 26 starts for Baltimore last season.

Coinciding with the start of 2007 baseball season began, Sam Zell purchased the Tribune Co. and announced that he was putting the Cubs up for sale to help pay down the company's debt. Two full seasons later, the team remains part of his now bankrupt media empire. But this seemingly endless process of determining the winning bidder may be over soon. From an initial pool of at least 10 interested parties, the Cubs have asked three bidders to polish up their bids as the team decides which to accept. The three finalists are: Tom Ricketts, Marc Utay and Hersch Klaff.