everythingcubs

Today’s big news on the Cubs front, as all Cubs fans are certainly aware by now, is that it the Ricketts family has won the right to bid for the team. The sale, reportedly worth $900 million, includes the team Wrigley field and the stake in ComcastSports.net. I see this as a great deal for the Cubs and Cubs fans. The family has
Chicago ties, they are Cubs fans and they understand what it means to be a Cubs fan.

Details have to be worked out, but as Crane Kenney has been saying for a while now, he hopes details are hammered out and the deal approved quickly. Whether it will be before Opening Day remains to be seen, but it could be close.

It has been snowing here in Chicago all day. Enough already. I want to be in Mesa at spring training where the sun shines, the temperatures are high enough to wear shorts and tank tops and the Cubs are playing.

With baseball and Mesa on my mind, I started looking for information about next weekend’s Cubs Convention. This will be my first convention. I lived in Atlanta when this annual convention started and did not travel back to Chicago in the winter because of days like today! Last year I could have gotten a pass, but I had much needed knee replacement surgery the day the convention started, so that nixed last year. But this year I’m going.

I found a copy of the schedule for the weekend on www.bleedcubbieblue.com. Now I’m sitting here trying to figure out which sessions to attend. I’m going back to study that a bit more. It’s more fun that watching the snow.  

According to cubs.com and other new sources, Tribune Co. is close to a final deal with to sell the Cubs. A few weeks ago Crane Kenney told me there were at least three contenders. Today’s cubs.com page names them – the Ricketts family, founders of TD Ameritrade Holding Corp., Hersch Klaff, a
Chicagoreal estate investor, and New York-based private equity investor Mark Utay and his group. As Kenney told me in the interview, the deal could be done by the end of Spring Training.

Out of the running is Mark Cuban, who wrote about it extensively in his blog yesterday. He cited, among other things, finances.

Ex-Cubs pitcher Sergio Mitre has been suspended 50 games for substance abuse. According to mlb.com, Mitre claims he tested positive for the banned substance androstenedione, a nation steroid that was present in an over-the-counter supplement he bought at GNC while rehabbing his right elbow after Tommy John surgery in July. The test was conducted in August. Although testing positive and being suspended, he still supports drug testing.

In other Cubs news, we are still awaiting the official word from the Cubs on the Milton Bradley trade. In the meantime, Jason Marquis was traded to the Colorado Rockies for Luis Vizcaino I will miss Marquis. He was versatile – coming in to pinch run many times last season.

Rumors late today have Milton Bradley coming to the Cubs from the Rangers. Bradley, 30, is a left hander. The Cubs have been looking for a left hander this off-season. Bradley would play in right, moving Kosuke Fududome to center, making him a platoon player.

I see this as good and bad for the Cubs. It’s good because Bradley is a lefty, which the Cubs need. It’s bad because Bradley has a history of run-ins with management and even fans. What the Cubs need is his on-base percentage, .321 last year with
Texas, but not his attitude.

According to ESPN and cubs.com, the Cubs and Bradley are working through some “language problems” with the contract. He also needs to pass a physical.

If completed, the deal according to the two sources could be worth $30 million over three years.

So, the hockey Winter Classic happens once a year now. This year’s was at Wrigley Field – my summer home. I was there, though not in my regular seats. But what happens to the rink once the Classic is over? Well, at Wrigley they allowed a handful of people from nearby neighborhoods to have a chance to skate on the ice. Cost? $10 per ticket. The proceeds all went to Cubs Care.

I was one of the lucky ones. I was at the noon skate. I hadn’t worn skates in about 30 years, but I wasn’t going to pass up the opportunity to get on that ice. It was awesome. I was on the field able to look at the seat I occupy all summer and see it from the players’ viewpoint. And on top of that, I was skating on the ice where history was made just a few days ago.

This most likely will never happen again in my lifetime, but I’m keeping my skates just in case.

I think I’ve seen it all now. The other day I actually saw a hockey game at Wrigley Field! I never would have guessed in a million years that I would have seen hockey in my ballpark, yet there they were – the Chicago Blackhawks and Detroit Redwings playing on New Year’s Day in the Winter Classic!

Wrigley was magically transformed into a hockey venue complete with two Jumbotrons. I’m not sure I want Jumbotrons for baseball games, but for the hockey game, they came in handy to see replays of goals.

Cubs Hall of Famers Billy William, Ryne Sandberg and Fergie Jenkins were on hand, and I know Ryan Dempster was in the stands – a friend of mine got a photo taken with Demp.

There’s one other Once in a Lifetime event for me tomorrow – I’m going skating on that same ice surface. Can’t wait to report back about that!

The Cubs have been very busy today. First they signed Aaron Miles to a two year contract. The draw for Miles was that he has played every position in the infield but first and catcher. He has also made a relief appearance on the mound.  Miles also is a switch hitter.

As soon as I saw that, I saw the handwriting on the wall for Mark DeRosa. An hour after hearing about Miles, I heard that DeRo had been traded to the Indians for three pitching prospects. This really breaks my heart. I’ve been a DeRosa fan since his days with the Atlanta Braves. At least he’ll have one friend on the team – Kerry Wood should be there to greet him when they start Spring Training.

Even though it’s winter and we’ve had a lot of snow, things are hopping in Wrigleyville in anticipation of Thursday’s Winter Classic. The last report I heard was that the ice had been laid but because of our warm weather, storms and tornado watches, painting of the ice was put off until today. Once the ice is painted it will take a few hours to dry, another layer of ice will be applied over that and then the lines and logos will be painted on. Officials say they are on schedule for Thursday’s game. I’ll be there. It’ll be interesting seeing a hockey game in my favorite baseball venue.

The Cubs Single-A Peoria Chiefs no longer have Ryne Sandberg to use as a draw, but they do have something unique. It was announced today that the Chiefs will have two “Senate Seats” up for action throughout the season. The two seats, located in Section 108, row two, directly behind the plate usually sell for $10 each. This coming season, the two seats will be up for auction beginning February 1. Auctions will end 24 hours prior to the start of each home game. Bidding begins at $20. All proceeds from the “Senate Seat Auctions” will go to local charities at the end of the season.

For more information or to place a bid, go to www.peoriachiefs.com.