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The Chicago Cubs have announced a press conference for Friday to introduce new owner Tom Ricketts. But allow me to provide an early glimpse into what type of owner he is likely to be.
First off, just who is this guy who plunked down an estimated $642 million (out of the total bid of around $900 million) to buy the Cubs?
Ricketts, 43, is the CEO of Incapital LLC, a Chicago investment bank that packages corporate bonds for retail investors. He is also a director of TD Ameritrade Holding Corp. as well as the son of Ameritrade founder J. Joseph Ricketts.
But heck, ...
This off season, the Cubs have a lot of problems to take care of. They need a second basemen, an outfield, some pitching, and some hitters. In relation to the holiday spirit, I thought I might as well create my wish list for the Cubs for this 2009-2010 off season.
In this list, I will highlight the players I wish the Cubs will add and the players I wish they will get rid of. Take a look.
NOTE: I name multiple people at the same position. I know that. I'm not saying sign every single person on this list. I'm ...
This is the worst news I have heard in a long time as a Cubs fan. Yes, worse then Aramis Ramirez out with an injury or when D-Lee got hurt a couple years ago. Milton Bradley could be back as a Cub in 2010.
Why?
Former Texas Rangers hitting "guru," Rudy Jamarillo is going to be the new Cubs swing coach in 2010. Apparently, he has a good standing relationship with Bradley, so this can't hurt right?
Wrong. I could care less about Jamarillo's relationship with Bradley.
If the Ricketts family wants to make 2010 like 2006, so be it. I will boycott Cubs ...
Milton Bradley and his contract didn't work out for the Chicago Cubs. Gee, who didn't see that coming?
The Cubs want to get out from under Bradley's contract, and pick up something useful in return. They have very little payroll flexibility and need a lot of things, including talent (zing).
The best-case scenario for the Bradley saga to end on the north side, while adding a needed piece, exists. Yes, it does, and it exists north of the border.
Vernon Wells.
Okay, I'll give you a second to get back up off of the floor, either from falling out of your chair in a ...
Two weeks ago, I begged other Cubs fans to watch John Lackey pitch this October.
After his performance both on the mound and leaving it Thursday night, I again step before Cubs Nation at large and submit that Lackey should be Cubs' GM Jim Hendry's top target in free agency this winter.
Lackey showed, yet again, that he's a big game pitcher. He came out dealing and battled through more miserable "work" from umpires to keep the Angels in the lead into the seventh inning.
In that seventh, after a fourth ball call for Jorge Posada that was (as least) questionable and then ...
Sigh. After the lost season for the Cubs, I could have easily stayed away until the organizational meetings next month. But when someone delivers you a gift, such as the Cubs in signing Rudy Jaramillo to serve as the new hitting instructor, you're obligated to say "Thank you!"
Say it with me now. A hitting coach is now a panacea. A hitting coach is not a savior. A hitting coach is often only as good as the talent that he has to work with.
Okay, now that we have gotten this out of the way, here's what signing Jaramillo is though, in ...
It's official. The quick courtship of Rudy Jaramillo by the Chicago Cubs added up to a three-year deal worth reportedly $800,000 per season on Wednesday morning.
The salary makes Jaramillo the highest paid coach in baseball.
Jaramillo comes to Chicago with an impressive resume, having coached 17 Silver Slugger Award winners in 10 seasons. He is considered one of the most respected coaches in the game.
Unfortunately for the Cubs, the hitting coach can't keep the team healthy or prescribe something to diffuse Milton Bradley. Those were the issues that plagued the Cubs in 2009, when they fired two hitting coaches as scapegoats ...
It's official. The quick courtship of Rudy Jaramillo by the Chicago Cubs added up to a three-year deal worth reportedly $800,000 per season on Wednesday morning.
The salary makes Jaramillo the highest paid coach in baseball.
Jaramillo comes to Chicago with an impressive resume, having coached 17 Silver Slugger Award winners in 10 seasons. He is considered one of the most respected coaches in the game.
Unfortunately for the Cubs, the hitting coach can't keep the team healthy or prescribe something to diffuse Milton Bradley. Those were the issues that plagued the Cubs in 2009, when they fired two hitting coaches as scapegoats ...
It's the middle October, which means fans of the Chicago Cubs have followed their annual calendar and started investing their time in football and hockey about three weeks ago. But this year, there's some baseball of interest being played.
In Arizona.
The Arizona Fall League is under way, and Cubs fans should at least check in to see how the "future" of the franchise is doing. Third base prospect Josh Vitters, regarded by many as the jewel of the Cubs' system, is playing for the Mesa Solar Sox.
It's hard to get excited about Vitters right now for many Cubs fans for a ...
Phil Rogers of the Chicago Tribune , who seldom has a lucid baseball thought, has openly lobbied for longtime Texas Rangers hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo to come to town.
The former Rangers beat writer wrote this in a recent article:
"Jaramillo is the absolute perfect man for the Cubs' situation. He has worked successfully in the past with both Alfonso Soriano and Milton Bradley, the latter of whom is no guarantee to be eliminated over the off-season (unless general manager Jim Hendry releases him at a cost of $21 million). And he is well acquainted with manager Lou Piniella from the years ...
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