Archive for October, 2009
Castro on fast track to Wrigley
Close your eyes, Cubs fans, and dream of a young Alfonso Soriano.
Not the current model, with the balky knee and untradable contract. Dream of the Soriano of a decade ago, the lithe, speedy infielder. Now open your eyes and look west to the Arizona Fall League, where 6-foot-1-inch, 160-pound Starlin Castro is prompting such comparisons — the sinewy athleticism, the leg kick, even the high socks. At 19, he’s the youngest player in the league, yet he ranks second with a .419 batting average after going 1-for-3 Thursday in Mesa’s 3-2 loss to the Peoria Javelinas.
“He has put himself on the fast track to Wrigley Field,” Oneri Fleita, the Cubs’ vice president of personnel, said by phone from Chicago.
Popularity: 13% [?]
Cubs to bid for 2014 All-Star Game
In a one-on-one interview with new Chicago Cubs owner Tom Ricketts, he confirmed an earlier report that a business plan will be implemented soon to put the Cubs on track to remodel Wrigley Field and to host the 2014 All-Star Game. These events would coincide with the 100th birthday of Wrigley Field, erected as Whales Park in 1914. The Federal League Chicago Whales, not the Cubs, played in the park in 1914-15.
“It would be off the charts,” Ricketts said of an All-Star Game at Wrigley. “It would be magical. Hopefully, we’ll have that opportunity.”
Popularity: 10% [?]
Changes coming
Josh Beekman replacing Frank Omiyale at left guard is not the only personnel change made this week by Bears coach Lovie Smith. A league source confirmed Hunter Hillenmeyer will replace Nick Roach at middle linebacker, with Roach moving back over to the strong side linebacker spot.
Hillenmeyer, in his seventh NFL season, is believed to have a better grip on the mental aspects of playing in the middle. Roach struggled at times making proper checks on the field, although the coaching staff also played a role in the on-field confusion, habitually sending in calls late from the sidelines. With more experience under his belt, Hillenmeyer may be better suited to improvise in those difficult and fast-paced situations.
Jeff Dickerson-ESPN Chicago.com
Popularity: 8% [?]
Ticket prices up? Vernon Wells, Pat Burrell on table?
The news is almost all good for Chicago Cubs fans with the team now in possession of new owner and chairman of the board Tom Ricketts.
Ricketts will start the process of revealing his long-term and short-term plans on Friday with a news conference at Wrigley Field, where he’ll begin his one-on-one interviews with the press followed by a full day of TV and radio one-on-ones. A slight raise in ticket prices can not be avoided as built-in costs and spending projections continue to mount. Over the past two seasons under Sam Zell and tribune Co., ticket prices increased over 30 percent across the board. That amount included a 23 percent raise after the 2008 season.
According to major league sources, the Cubs’ payroll will be locked in at close to $140 million, the same that was spent in 2009.
In order for the team’s baseball operations department to have flexibility with this payroll, the Cubs will have to be creative and make trades that ware in the framework of the $140 million figure.
Popularity: 10% [?]
Splitsville?
Harris, once a model citizen and defensive cornerstone, has now officially become an overpaid, overrated pain in the hind end.
Coach Lovie Smith sent as strong a message to Harris as the soft-spoken coach is ever known to do when he benched Harris Sunday, then told reporters Monday, “There isn’t anything wrong with Tommie. Tommie didn’t play this week. It was more a coaches’ decision as much as anything. He has had some soreness. He didn’t practice all week. I thought we had better options.”
(Harris is making comments) like a player either itching for another suspension or someone who wants out of his contract. And the Bears seem to be acting more and more like a team that might just be considering it, as wild as that may have once sounded. The Bears paid Harris a $40 million extension two offseasons ago, and a $6.67 million roster bonus last February, in the hopes that his career would return to form under new defensive line coach Rod Marinelli . Another $2.5 million roster bonus is not due until June 1.
But not only is Harris not helping the team — and hasn’t since the Super Bowl season — he now appears to be hindering it.
Does it make sense to cut loose a 26-year-old three-time Pro Bowler who still has more raw talent than most, even though we rarely see it anymore? It does when the player becomes a source of division. It does when the head coach chooses to sit him for a key game while admitting he could have played. It does when the evolution of his position, the key spot in Smith’s Tampa 2, is held up while everyone stands around and tries to figure out if he is ever going to return to form again.
Melissa Isaacson-ESPN Chicago.com
Popularity: 8% [?]
Haugh: Lovie safe
As a public service to save the next fed-up Bears fan from picking up the phone or clicking “Send,” please remember that Lovie Smith has two years and about $11 million left on his contract after this season.
Popularity: 9% [?]
‘Healthy’ Tommie Harris out
Bears general manager Jerry Angelo said Thursday morning on WSCR-AM (670) that defensive tackle Tommie Harris ”is healthy.”
Popularity: 9% [?]
Zook still safe?
Although Illinois athletic director Ron Guenther remains silent publicly on the status of football coach Ron Zook, Guenther has “strongly indicated” he will not make a coaching change next season, according to Illinois spokesman Kent Brown.
Popularity: 5% [?]
Time for Tom
The Chicago Cubs will be owned by the Ricketts family and run by Tom Ricketts by early next week, according to Major League Baseball sources.
Popularity: 8% [?]
Shocking interest in Bradley?
Multiple teams are in contact the Cubs about outfielder Milton Bradley, with one source saying, “You would be shocked at the level of interest.”
Popularity: 8% [?]
Bulls waive Richard
The Bulls announced today that the team has waived forward Chris Richard.
Popularity: 5% [?]
Omiyale’s job safe
Frank Omiyale will not lose his starting left guard job for the Chicago Bears.
Popularity: 8% [?]