Milton Bradley signs with Cubs January 5, 2009
Posted by wpbc in chicago cubs.Tags: 08-09 offseason, chicago cubs, milton bradley
add a comment
One of the worst kept secrets of the 08-09 Cubs offseason was the Cubs interest in DH/OF Milton Bradley. Today the Cubs made it official…Another domino has fallen as the Cubs head toward 2009. According to ESPN 1000’s Bruce Levine, Milton Bradley has signed a 3 year/$30 million deal. Bradley becomes the Cubs everyday rightfielder. He comes to Cubs coming off a great season with the Rangers. He brings some baggage as well. Now the debate amongst Cub fans will begin.
FOXSports.com’s Ken Rosenthal on how the Cubs plan to use Bradley:
The Cubs, who plan to use Bradley in right field, are mindful of his injury history. They plan to occasionally spell him with Kosuke Fukudome, and Fukudome also will alternate with Reed Johnson in center field.
The Milton Bradley era begins
2009 Cubs roster no where near a simmer January 5, 2009
Posted by wpbc in chicago cubs.Tags: chicago cubs
add a comment
Following a flurry of activity on New Years Eve, Cubs fans had a long weekend to ponder what their team will look like come April of 2009. Most realize that the team is not complete and the upcoming sale and announcement of has left a big ball in the air.
This morning ESPN 1000’s Bruce Levine gave an update on the Cubs situation. Levine reports that the Marquis/Vizcaino tade will be complete as early as Tuesday when Marquis takes a physical. The next domino that would fall would be the signing of Free Agent OF Milton Bradley toward the end of the week, possibly Friday. So there is really no news on either of these transactions they are moving along as anticipated. Barring no unknown injuries or medical conditions these deals will happen.
Now the big ball that is still in the air — San Diego Padre ace Jake Peavy. On the Peavy front, Levine said that any trade for Peavy will have to be approved by the new owner(s). Jim Hendry made the move with DeRosa to clear payroll and to put himself in position to make a deal for Peavy.
Of course the Jake Peavy sweepstakes may be nothing but a pipe dream when one considers the fact that Padres could be sold and sold very quickly. I cannot imagine a new owner taking over the Padres and not making keeping Jake Peavy priority #1. He’s under contract, so if the Padres sale is completed in the first quarter which is expected, I don’t see Peavy going anywhere, regardless of what Cub ownership has to say.
At this point I think it is more likely that we see the sale of the Padres completed before the Cubs. Keep in mind the Padres went on the market at the winter meetings in December. The Cubs are nearing 2 years with the ‘For Sale’ sign in front of the corner of Clark and Addison. What do you expect from a franchise that has perfected futility.
Happy New Year January 1, 2009
Posted by wpbc in beer.Tags: classic commercials
add a comment
thanks to Uncle Dave for the link!
Cubs 2009 roster dominoes start to fall? DeRosa dealt, Miles added, more moves to follow… December 31, 2008
Posted by wpbc in chicago cubs.Tags: 08-09 offseason, aaron miles, jake peavy, jason marquis, jim hendry, luis vizcaino, mark derosa, milton bradley, sean marshall
5 comments
This morning the Chicago Cubs signed free agent switch hitting 2B Aaron Miles to a two year $4.9 million deal. This deal has been made because of other moves that are in the process of happening as we speak…
Rumors are swirling that a Cubs/Rockies deal that will send Jason Marquis to Denver for reliever Luis Vizcaino will be the next domino to fall in a string of deals by Cubs GM Jim Hendry which will change the look of the Chicago Cubs from the end of 2008 to 2009. That deal would free up salary so Hendry can sign free agent OF Milton Bradley.
Somewhere in all of this the Cubs will send DeRosa to Cleveland for prospects (that’s why they added Miles). The DeRosa deal will free up his payroll and give the Cubs the prospects that will be teamed with Sean Marshall and others in a trade to the Padres that brings Jake Peavy to the Northside.
Wow! Jim Hendry has alot of balls in the air right now. If this works out as reported he will have retooled the Cubs without adding significant payroll.
UPDATE: ESPN 1000’s Bruce Levine is reporting the DeRosa deal is done. DeRosa dealt to Cleveland for three pitching prospects Jeff Stevens, Chris Archer, & John Gaub.
RIP: Sports Corner December 29, 2008
Posted by wpbc in chicago.Tags: chicago, old style beer, wrigleyville bars
11 comments
They all fall down eventually.
Vehere sent me a text this morning that informed me that the Sports Corner over at the corner of Addison and Sheffield has been tore down. Maybe they are making way for another ‘Mega-bar’ in the neighborhood. (I can’t imagine that corner without some sort of tavern).
So I found this writeup on a blog called A Beef Sandwich w/ Sweet and Hot Peppers. (Mmmmmm, a beef sandwich that just made my lunch choice easy.)
If you never had been, The Sports Corner was just a small joint compared to the mega bars that now surround Wrigley (Cubby Bear, Moran’s, Harry Caray’s). There is only one way to describe the Sports Corner, when you wanted a drink, a bartender would walk by, if you made eye contact, they would stop and take your order. That’s a rare thing these days.
I found out today that the little tavern that could was demolished on December 24th. Another piece of the neighborhood taken to make way for progress and better monetary use for the land.
As one who was kicked out of the Sports Corner at least twice (both times stone sober btw). I have to say that a part of me will miss that bar. That was the bar where the famous PITP story was first told to me just hours after Sammy Sosa had been told the tale of woe. The place also had Special Export, which always made for a fun time out. I wasn’t a regular by any stretch, but it will be missed. Long live the mega bar!
Olney: Cubs maxed out December 28, 2008
Posted by wpbc in chicago cubs.Tags: 08-09 offseason, cubs, jim hendry
12 comments
There was a little nugget buried in Buster Olney’s writing today on Manny Ramirez over on the 4-letter’s website.
The Cubs have maxed out their spending for the winter and in any event couldn’t consider an outfield of Ramirez and Alfonso Soriano.
Now I never expected the Cubs to go after Manny, so that isn’t news worthy. What surprised me was the idea that the Cubs are maxed out. Maxed out as far as what? Now there is no proof to any of this, this is just Olney’s report. So this should all be taken with a HUGE GRAIN OF SALT. If true, this would mean there are some real concerns regarding the Cubs adding any sort of payroll at this point. We can speculate on the reasons. Lord knows, I’ve done so in the recent past. Still, the Cubs being maxed out at this point is news to me. I had not heard that before today and am kind of surprised to hear it in the msm. I struggle with that being the case, but who really knows at this point what is happening behind the curtain at Clark and Addison.
Cubs look to far east for relief help December 27, 2008
Posted by wpbc in chicago cubs.Tags: 2008-9 offseason, chicago cubs, jim hendry
7 comments
I have wondered what the Cubs were planning on doing with their bullpen for sometime. The Cubs have lost veterans Kerry Wood and Bob Howry along with prospect Jose Ceda. They added Kevin Gregg, but if bullpens are a numbers game…Jim Hendry has to do some adding. Today in the Tribune, Paul Sullivan gives us a peak at what the Cubs might do. They may look to Japan for veteran help:
The pitcher they’re most interested in is Ken Kadokura, a 35-year-old right-hander, and they also had a tryout for 34-year-old left-hander Shigeki Noguchi. The Yomiuri Giants released both veterans after the 2008 season.
Kadokura, who spent most of ‘08 in the minors, has a career record of 76-82, with 10 saves and a 4.36 ERA.
He throws a fastball, a splitter and a slider and could get a look as a middle reliever, with Jeff Samardzija getting an opportunity to start in spring training games.
“He hasn’t pitched on the mound lately, but he is in great condition and has great command,” Cubs Pacific Rim scout Steve Wilson told Nikkan Sports News. “We need some experienced pitchers for the bullpen.
“I will suggest [general manager] Jim Hendry consider signing him, at least as a spring training invitee.”
The Cubs believe having another Japanese-speaking player around will help Fukudome feel more comfortable.
So, from the sounds of this, Samadzija will start in the Cactus League, and Kadokura if signed has a real chance to land a spot in the Cubs pen. I wish I could tell you more on Kadokura, but I don’t know.
PM UPDATE–the rototimes chimes in with this:
Considering Kadokura is 35, was released by the Yomuri Giants and spent a lot of the season in the minor leagues, it seems odd that the Cubs would be interested in acquiring his services. Kadokura has a career record of 76-82, with 10 saves and a 4.36 ERA.
So after years of going after other big league teams released players, the latest resurrection project comes from Japan. YeeeeeeeeHaw!
Cubs tier their fanclub December 22, 2008
Posted by wpbc in chicago cubs.Tags: chicago cubs, crane kenney, cubs fans, tribune
14 comments
Well it worked for ticket sales several years ago. Now the Cubs are tiering their fan club to different levels. Ed Sherman from his blog on Crain’s Chicago Business explains:
For a fee of $249, the Cubs Club Marquee level gives the member a chance to purchase up to 12 tickets in a special Marquee level pre-sale.
For $129, the Cubs Club Ivy Membership levels allow fans to purchase up to four seats in a special Ivy pre-sale.Â
Do you think there might be a few fans who will sign up for the first crack at tickets for the White Sox and St. Louis games? It sure beats freezing your tail off or paying premium prices for a ticket broker.
The Cubs easily could sell out their entire season with an unlimited Cubs Club membership, but they are going to set limits to ensure tickets still are available to the general public. Matthew Wszolek, Cubs director for sales and promotions, said the cap would be from 4,000 to 5,000 members at the Ivy and Marquee levels.
“We’re not talking about just games in April,” Mr. Wszolek said. “You can get a Cubs-Sox ticket through Cubs Club. The value on that alone is considerable.”
Yes, it is. It isn’t difficult to imagine a number of Cubs Club members will be ticket brokers and/or fans looking to sell tickets to premium games to those brokers and make a quick profit.
“We’re aware that possibility exists, but we truly feel this is something that Cubs fans desire, and it’s an opportunity we want to provide,” Mr. Wszolek said.
There is a cheaper option to join the club if buying tickets isn’t a priority. For $19.95, you could receive the standard membership that includes the e-mails and other stuff.
At $129, in addition to being able to buy tickets in advance, Ivy members will have a special gate entrance at Wrigley Field.
If you go for the whole enchilada at $249, you’ll get all the goodies plus a special non-game, on-field event for all Marquee members.
At some point this goose will stop laying golden eggs. I wonder when that will be. Cubs management continues to come up with new cash generating ideas.
So we get a wpbc poll question:
Blago speaks December 19, 2008
Posted by wpbc in chicago.Tags: blagojevich arrested, chicago politics
3 comments
Chicago and Illinois politics are never boring and always entertaining. Nearly 10 days since his arrest, Governor Blagojevich decided to tell his story…
…or not. He’ll tell it when the time is right. In the meantime this guy is going to run up legal fees that he and his foul mouthed wife will never be able to pay.
SIDENOTE: I love at the beginning how Blago throws out another Elvis with: “Thank you very much”. That’s two Elvis references from the Elvis obsessed Guv this week. LMAO. Not only is the guy a crook, but he’s strange.
