Results tagged “majorleaguebaseball”

The New York Times is reporting this afternoon that, "according to lawyers with knowledge of the drug-testing results from that year," Sammy Sosa tested positive for steroids during the 2003 season in which he was playing for the Cubs. According to the story, it seems Sosa's positive test came from the same round that snared Yankees slugger/slapper Alex Rodriguez.

As the Cubs close in on acquiring Padres ace Jake Peavy, the Tribune Company has informed bidders their next round of proposals are due by Thanksgiving Day. And this time, there's an added twist: prove that, in this current economic clusterfuck, you can actually pay for the team. It seems the Trib, like everyone, is in dire financial straits.

On Monday, Tribune reported a net loss of $121.6 million across its operations for the third quarter, compared with a profit of $152.8 million for the same period a year ago. Revenue declined 10.5 percent to $1.04 billion.

Continue reading "Tribune Sets Thanksgiving Deadline for Next Round of Cubs Bids; Cuban Out?"

Initial bids on the Chicago Cubs and Wrigley Field were due Friday and word is slowly getting out now about who seems to have made the cut. Among those who didn't make the cut were Chicago Wolves owner Don Levin and the group led by Madison Dearborn Chairman John Canning. Canning's group was considered the odds-on favorite to win the bidding, in part due to Canning being a part-owner of the Milwaukee Brewers and a friend of Major League Baseball Asshat Commissioner Bud Selig. Up to five of the MLB-approved bidders on the Cubs were invited by the Tribune Co. to continue in the process. All of the approved bids topped $1 billion according to media reports. Only three separate (and cheaper) bids on Wrigley Field alone were allowed to the second round.

A couple weeks ago, we directed you to a site selling the most awesome t-shirts in the world. When we saw our love for Obama combined with our love of the White Sox combined into one and printed on 100% cotton, our credit card came right out. After waiting two agonizing weeks, we got the goods in the mail last week -- a few days ahead of the March 15 expected ship date.

Sam Zell said yesterday that he'd be down with selling the naming rights to Wrigley. Which isn't news exactly. He's been saying that for a while. But he said it again and louder.

Gooden's unique coiffure reminds us of one possible face on the Wooly Willy toy we remember from our childhood. The simple game, with its iron filings under plastic atop a hairless face and a magnet to "draw" with allowed for countless varieties of hairstyles and facial 'dos. But the bald and shaggy beard look is right there on the toy itself, among the suggested looks on the left side.

Cubs third baseman Aramis Remirez finally arrived at Spring Training on Tuesday, but when asked by reporters what he did on his winter vacation, he refused to answer. In fact, he wouldn't even allow for the reporter to finish asking the question.

Since 1940, two Major League Baseball teams have been honored each year with an invitation to play in the Hall of Fame Game -- an in-season exhibition game held in Cooperstown, New York. But because of the increasing complexity of fitting the "off day" game into teams' schedules, the 2008 game will be the final one.

When Chicagoist was in high school, we knew that "Drug Free and Proud" banner hanging above the main entrance was a joke when we could smell the weed classmates had smoked at lunch.

Major League Baseball's annual election results will be announced today, and a couple of former Chicago players hope to cross the magic threshold from paying customers to inductees in Cooperstown. Voted on by the Baseball Writers of America, players become eligible five years after retiring and must receive votes on 75 percent of ballots.

When Carlos Zambrano, Derrek Lee and Kosuke Fokodume receive their first paychecks of the 2008 seasons, there will be a signature on them. Whose it'll be, nobody knows. That's because current Cubs owner Sam Zell vows to close a deal on the sale of the Cubs by Opening Day.

Okay, we had so much fun with yesterday's things that were awesome, we figured we'd bust out another list for today. Plus there's a boatload of terrific stuff. Today in awesome:

Now that baseball fans on both sides of town are officially "waiting until next year," we take great interest in Major League Baseball's tentative 2008 schedule.

Anyone know how to get in contact with the bureau of made-up statistics? 'Cause we want to know how much the Chicago economy is going to be harmed by lost productivity due to the Cubs' first two playoff games.

Major League Baseball announced the rosters for the July 10 All-Star Game being held in San Francisco. Chicago baseball fans will see at least three of our local guys in the game. Given the White Sox sub par season, it's not surprising that they have only one All-Star this year -- the minimum representation any team gets. Closer Bobby Jenks will be the lone Sox player on the Americal League roster this year. Quite a...

We really didn't think the White Sox would be out of the playoff hunt so early -- certainly not before the All Star Break. But Chicagoist has finally realized that this team's not going anywhere this year and GM Kenny Williams is likely laundering that white flag just about now so it's ready when needed. Which could be any day now.

With the Cubs' season rapidly spiraling out of control, all hell broke lose at the formerly "friendly confines," beginning with Friday's matinee. Unable to beat their opponents of late -- and perhaps too used to beating themselves on the field -- the Cubs began beating on each other instead. Television cameras captured for all to see, a fight between pitcher Carlos Zambrano and catcher Michael Barrett in the Cubs dugout following a rough inning that...

In light of the death of St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Josh Hancock, who was driving drunk at the time of his fatal accident, many baseball teams have re-addressed their alcohol policies for players. The Cards were the first team to ban alcohol from their clubhouse in the wake of this tragedy, with the Nationals following suit. The Yankees, who already banned alcohol in the home locker room, have now banned it in the visitors' locker...

While we've been busy enjoying the nice weather over the weekend, and trying to get back in the groove this week, lots of other newsworthy stuff has happened here in the City by the Lake. Let's take a look back at everything that's happened so far this week: Daley Picks a New Chief of Staff; Local Press Makes Bad Sports Jokes. As Daley promoted Ron Huberman to try and save the CTA's ass, he's tapped...

Chicago resident David Dright, was charged by the Lake County state's attorney with identity theft after finding financial records in his west side home. Included in the stacks of stolen info were financial records for 80 major league baseball players, including the White Sox's Jim Thome and former Cub Juan Pierre.

The -ists this week had politics on the brain. And what goes better with politics? Partying-- that's two great tastes in one. Oh, and Kevin Federline...can't forget about Kevin Federline. That's three great tastes in one. -Bostonist discussed two big state issues-- what sort of math constitutes a marriage and what kind of alcohol can be sold in most grocery stores. And the politically minded Curt Schilling went on "Jeopardy!". -Chicagoist celebrated the election...

Last year at this time, Juan Uribe was busy gunning out Red Sox, Angels and Astros at first base as the White Sox plowed through the playoffs on their way to the World Series title. With no playoffs this year, Uribe's home in the Dominican Republic and apparently up to no good as he's accused of having a role in a shooting that took place on Friday.

Major League Baseball's latest fan interaction gimmick is having fans vote for their favorite Hometown Hero, voting for the one player who best personifies each franshise over the course of its history. Either teams or a panel of baseball experts selected the 5 finalists, based on the "criteria of leadership, character, and on-field performance." The full list of teams' nominees can be seen here.

In a lot of ways, the Ballpark Formerly Known as Comiskey has it over Wrigley Field hands down. There are urinals, instead of troughs, in the men's rooms, so you can pee in relative privacy (not that Chicagoist has anything to be ashamed of); the sight lines are wonderful from the concourse; walkways and aisles are wide to facilitate easy entry to, and exit from, the ball park, and to your seat; and the ballpark actually fields a major league baseball team.

Major League Baseball announced the rosters for next week's All Star Game yesterday, and 6 members of the White Sox were selected, along with one Cub -- Carlos Zambrano.

Chicagoist is as old school as anyone when it comes to baseball. We like the Wrigley Field scoreboard manual, don't eat any ballpark entree that doesn't belong to the hot dog family, and we miss the days when players wore stirrups. But we've never been a fan of the often childish "unwritten rules" that baseball players and teams follow.

We were a bit surprised at the length of time it took for the Major League Baseball to respond, but the league office finally issued their punishments Friday, for last weekend's brawl between the Cubs and White Sox. As expected, Cubs catcher Michael Barrett received the strongest punishment -- a 10-day suspension. White Sox centerfielder Brian Anderson will sit 5 games and Sox third base coach Joey Cora got two games. A.J. Pierzynski was fined,...

Well, at least the Cubs are number one in something. Dusty Baker has moved from second to first place on Maxim's list of Major League Baseball's Worst Baseball Managers this year. Dusty's job has been safe until recently due to his early success with the Cubs. He guided them to back-to-back winning seasons in 2003 and 2004 something; that had not happened in the previous 30 years. But as the Cubs continue to struggle and...

Chicagoist hasn't been to Six Flags Great America for years, but we used to love to go and remember the last time we went (1999?) we thought it was really expensive. Great America opened for the season on Saturday, and we were shocked to read that the price for a single adult admission (anyone over 54 inches) is now $54.99. For one day! Holy shit! And that doesn't include the cost of gas to get up there or soda or anything to eat or a wacky souvenir Bugs Bunny tshirt. Not to mention that the price of parking also went up this season. It's now $15 to park for the day.