Results tagged “friendlyconfines”

The fireworks continued to fly this past weekend at the again-not-so-Friendly Confines. Derrek Lee became the latest member of the Cubs to throw a punch, when he went after San Diego Padres pitcher Chris Young in the fourth inning after being plunked on the hand by a pitch. The altercation led to a bench-clearing brawl. In addition to Young and Lee, Padres pitcher Jake Peavy and Cubs hitting coach Gerald Perry were also tossed from...

While neither team made the playoffs this year, the White Sox's 2005 World Series title and contention for a playoff spot until the last weeks of the season this year allowed the Sox to edge the Cubs in TV ratings for the 2006 season.

Baseball's regular season concluded yesterday, and as expected, the Cubs and Dusty Baker have parted ways. With his 4-year deal expiring, the Cubs chose not to retain his sevices.

Hasbro has created a new, modernized version of Monopoly called "Here and Now" featuring popular destinations from around the country, and Chicago scored two spots on the board. O'Hare is available for just $2 million, as four airports replace the railroads. Wrigley Field also made the cut, landing in the green district right between the White House and the Las Vegas Strip. The Friendly Confines cost $3 million in funny money, which, ironically, is just about what the Cubs' roster is worth this year. Houses cost another $2 million each, a little pricey for that neighborhood, what with the congestion and everyone peeing on your lawn after the games. But maybe the Monopoly Wrigley is just like the real life one: when visitors play there, they almost always win!

Thing just aren't going right for the Cubs lately. Looking like a playoff contender heading into the Cubs-Sox series, the Cubs remain winless in July and have fallen 4 games under .500. Hoping to shake things up, the Cubs sent both Corey Patterson and Jason Dubois down to the minors, where they'll join the AAA Iowa Cubs. Don't worry guys, they've even got an Olive Garden in Des Moines now!

Do Chicago baseball fans put more emphasis on this rivalry than fans in other areas with multiple teams? Is that because neither team has won a World Series for so long? Or is that because the stereotypes about each teams' fans run so deep? Or the geographic divide defining "North Siders" and "South Siders?" There's a lot at stake in terms of bragging rights throughout the city -- at least until next month's rematch at the Cell. But is that all that's at stake this weekend?

The park enhancements will add 1,790 bleacher seats, a 100-seat restaurant overlooking center field and a five-story building and parking garage next to the ballpark. That building will include retail space, a restaurant and 400 parking spaces.

As Chicagoist mentioned here a while back, there had been some discussions about holding concerts at Wrigley Field this summer. It's now sounding like it's a likely to happen. Having received an OK from the stadium grounds crew and having worked out a deal with the neighbors, Jimmy Buffet could be playing two Labor Day weekend at Wrigley. The city still needs to approve the plan and the contract with Buffet needs to be finalized,...

The Cubs may have gained an extra little advantage going into the last stretch of the race for the NL wild card. Due to Hurricane Frances, the Cubs-Marlins series this past weekend got washed out. And they'll need any extra help, with 4 teams hotly contesting for the lone wild card spot and the surging Astros taking the lead on Wednesday.

This may sound like a familiar battle between the Cubs and the rooftop businesses surrounding the Friendly Confines. Prior to the start of the season, the team squared off with the Skybox on Waveland -- the lone business refusing to sign the 17% profit-sharing agreement. Ultimately, the two sides reached a deal and the Cubs never had to roll out their view-obstructing screen.