The Chicago Cubs signed Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White to an honorary Major League contract. “I thank the Chicago Cubs and Chairman Tom Ricketts for their heartfelt gesture today. I am humbled and proud to have signed an honorary major league contract with the Cubs.” pic.twitter.com/6DrhOHkIXQ
It’s tough to be interested in the AAA Iowa Cubs. If I were interested in that type of ball club, I’d subscribe to the “Des Marquee” network that covers the Des Moines ball club not what I’m seeing at Clark and Addison.
True, I am and was an advocate of trading them all. Still am, wondered why they’d still keep Contreras but… it’s not that the Cubs lack talent, they do, the Cubs lack players that can get better by more ABs, outings, or playing time out in the field.
The Sox looked like club in control, poised and confident.
Such a contrast this weekend.
- EssentialStateEmployeeFromChatham - Monday, Aug 9, 21 @ 9:22 am:
The Kane County Cougars are apparently still alive and well and are now playing at Wrigley and wearing “Cubs” uniforms.
- Bruce( no not him) - Monday, Aug 9, 21 @ 9:26 am:
After seeing what the Cubs started doing in the off-season to shed payroll, the recent continuation of that, is no surprise.
here’s to another 108 years. Or until, the Rickets sell the team.
Pretty ugly baseball on the North Side. The Cubs ownership have the resources to turn a page fairly quickly. The real question is do they want to. They certainly cannot put the same product onto the field next year. Not after raising expectations the last five years.
Vaughn is a keeper. The ESPN telecast over ABC last night was abysmal. Meaningless yapping, extended close-ups of the managers’ faces, announcers interviewing each other, historical footage, but rarely bothering to actually call the game. Finally, we muted the TV and listened on the radio to Len and DJ while occasionally being able to catch some important game action presented visually on the TV. It was a little out of sync but at least we knew what pitches were being thrown and other background relevant to the game as it was being played. Memo to broadcasters: just because you think the game is boring doesn’t mean that the fans of the teams that are playing do.
The Ricketts are ecstatic, they got their Sportsbook approved. They will be the 1st mlb club to have one.
It’s all about priorities. The past 4 seasons have seen tremendous improvement in the Cubs’ . . . other lines of business. The Hotel Zachary. The continued buying up off all the rooftops and the larger real estate play. And their own TV station.
The Ricketts know that Cubs fans will support a losing team. They just need to make sure enough of them support the other lines of business.
I just read the Ricketts traded Jesse White for Darren Bailey. Jed Hoyer said “Bailey is the type of prospect ownership wants on their team. Of course, we thank Jesse White for his many contributions to the club. He will always be a Cub.”
Cubs may want to rethink the “honorary” part of Jesse’s contract. He may actually be better than some of the younger guys on the roster.
- Non-AFSCME State Employee - Monday, Aug 9, 21 @ 10:11 am:
==The only question I have left is, will the Cards be able to maintain .500 baseball.==
I actually think Mozeliak did worse than the Cubs in the trade deadline. By doing next to nothing (and no, adding a 38-year old Jon Lester whose past his prime and got rocked last week in his first Cardinal start doesn’t count). Despite the Cubs’ dismantling much of the last vestiges of the 2016 world championship team.
“adding a 38-year old Jon Lester” … but he’s left-handed, that makes him valuable [banned punctuation] I mean, how long did Jamie Moyer make a living out of pitching to one batter in the 6th inning?
I have mainly followed the Sox in the sports pages my whole life - was never one to sit down and watch a whole game on TV or attend a lot of games each season. But the almost complete absence of free TV baseball in Chicago really is a bummer, not only because I had no idea the game was on last night. It was always nice to stop and tune in for an inning or 2 on the local stations. Is there even a game of the week on Fox on Saturdays anymore?
- Joe Bidenopolous - Monday, Aug 9, 21 @ 11:20 am:
===The Ricketts know that Cubs fans will support a losing team.===
This is an increasingly risky proposition as fans watch the Ricketts play into the neighborhood real estate, the rooftops and now a sportbook. The Ricketts bought the club for less than $900M in 2009 and Forbes currently has the value at $3.3B. They’re either gonna spend or lose a lot of folks.
Joe Bidenopolous is right, even said on the telecast last night, that the fans come no matter what. but I wonder, as fans are increasingly away of the Tricketts…Trump and right wing supporting Ricketts family…and their money grubbing ways if fans will support with the sell off of the team. (you would think with the talent they off loaded that they would be better but they have Ross as a manger, what about that.) Despite the fact that I loved the Sox action, omg Anderson on the first pitch, I hate being in that stadium, even virtually watching from after. Just cannot stand anything about them. Ozzie and his rats comment will always be how I feel about that place.
Listening to the Score at 2:30 was pretty hilarious. they trolled their baseball team (cub station) with a replay of the Sox weekend highlights and then they whined about all the LaRussa love on ESPN. how’s it feel to have the media loving another team, Cubsverse?
- H-W - Monday, Aug 9, 21 @ 9:07 am:
The only question I have left is, will the Cards be able to maintain .500 baseball.
- JS Mill - Monday, Aug 9, 21 @ 9:11 am:
Vaughn has been a extra pleasant surprise in the field.
- Gohawks123 - Monday, Aug 9, 21 @ 9:12 am:
THANKS CUBS
- Keyrock - Monday, Aug 9, 21 @ 9:17 am:
CUBS TANK
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Aug 9, 21 @ 9:19 am:
It’s tough to be interested in the AAA Iowa Cubs. If I were interested in that type of ball club, I’d subscribe to the “Des Marquee” network that covers the Des Moines ball club not what I’m seeing at Clark and Addison.
True, I am and was an advocate of trading them all. Still am, wondered why they’d still keep Contreras but… it’s not that the Cubs lack talent, they do, the Cubs lack players that can get better by more ABs, outings, or playing time out in the field.
The Sox looked like club in control, poised and confident.
Such a contrast this weekend.
- EssentialStateEmployeeFromChatham - Monday, Aug 9, 21 @ 9:22 am:
The Kane County Cougars are apparently still alive and well and are now playing at Wrigley and wearing “Cubs” uniforms.
- Bruce( no not him) - Monday, Aug 9, 21 @ 9:26 am:
After seeing what the Cubs started doing in the off-season to shed payroll, the recent continuation of that, is no surprise.
here’s to another 108 years. Or until, the Rickets sell the team.
- Nagidam - Monday, Aug 9, 21 @ 9:35 am:
Pretty ugly baseball on the North Side. The Cubs ownership have the resources to turn a page fairly quickly. The real question is do they want to. They certainly cannot put the same product onto the field next year. Not after raising expectations the last five years.
- Responsa - Monday, Aug 9, 21 @ 9:38 am:
Vaughn is a keeper. The ESPN telecast over ABC last night was abysmal. Meaningless yapping, extended close-ups of the managers’ faces, announcers interviewing each other, historical footage, but rarely bothering to actually call the game. Finally, we muted the TV and listened on the radio to Len and DJ while occasionally being able to catch some important game action presented visually on the TV. It was a little out of sync but at least we knew what pitches were being thrown and other background relevant to the game as it was being played. Memo to broadcasters: just because you think the game is boring doesn’t mean that the fans of the teams that are playing do.
- Tommydanger - Monday, Aug 9, 21 @ 9:43 am:
Jesse would have had as good a chance to make contact with a baseball as this version of Cub players did this past weekend. 45 strikeouts; ugggly.
- Cannon649 - Monday, Aug 9, 21 @ 9:44 am:
Very long time Cub fan and so thankful for the 2016 champs.
Now, since I have seen too many fire sales the question how rich do have be too keep the Cubs competitive ?
- Henry Francis - Monday, Aug 9, 21 @ 9:45 am:
The Ricketts are ecstatic, they got their Sportsbook approved. They will be the 1st mlb club to have one.
It’s all about priorities. The past 4 seasons have seen tremendous improvement in the Cubs’ . . . other lines of business. The Hotel Zachary. The continued buying up off all the rooftops and the larger real estate play. And their own TV station.
The Ricketts know that Cubs fans will support a losing team. They just need to make sure enough of them support the other lines of business.
- Mark F - Monday, Aug 9, 21 @ 9:46 am:
Did they subsequently trade him?
- Keyrock - Monday, Aug 9, 21 @ 9:53 am:
I just read the Ricketts traded Jesse White for Darren Bailey. Jed Hoyer said “Bailey is the type of prospect ownership wants on their team. Of course, we thank Jesse White for his many contributions to the club. He will always be a Cub.”
- ChuckIL - Monday, Aug 9, 21 @ 9:54 am:
It was nice to see baseball on primetime network television. I hope it becomes a habit.
- Debbie - Monday, Aug 9, 21 @ 9:57 am:
Horrible job by the sportcasters. Limited acknowledgement of what was happening on the field.
- Three Dimensional Checkers - Monday, Aug 9, 21 @ 9:57 am:
Go Sox! I think Sox and Cubs fan can agree that the ESPN broadcast was atrocious.
- The Captain - Monday, Aug 9, 21 @ 10:07 am:
What’s that sound? Oh, just Luis Robert coming back tonight. It’s starting to come together.
- up2now - Monday, Aug 9, 21 @ 10:07 am:
Cubs may want to rethink the “honorary” part of Jesse’s contract. He may actually be better than some of the younger guys on the roster.
- Non-AFSCME State Employee - Monday, Aug 9, 21 @ 10:11 am:
==The only question I have left is, will the Cards be able to maintain .500 baseball.==
I actually think Mozeliak did worse than the Cubs in the trade deadline. By doing next to nothing (and no, adding a 38-year old Jon Lester whose past his prime and got rocked last week in his first Cardinal start doesn’t count). Despite the Cubs’ dismantling much of the last vestiges of the 2016 world championship team.
- Skeptic - Monday, Aug 9, 21 @ 10:36 am:
“adding a 38-year old Jon Lester” … but he’s left-handed, that makes him valuable [banned punctuation] I mean, how long did Jamie Moyer make a living out of pitching to one batter in the 6th inning?
- Lefty Lefty - Monday, Aug 9, 21 @ 11:07 am:
I have mainly followed the Sox in the sports pages my whole life - was never one to sit down and watch a whole game on TV or attend a lot of games each season. But the almost complete absence of free TV baseball in Chicago really is a bummer, not only because I had no idea the game was on last night. It was always nice to stop and tune in for an inning or 2 on the local stations. Is there even a game of the week on Fox on Saturdays anymore?
- Joe Bidenopolous - Monday, Aug 9, 21 @ 11:20 am:
===The Ricketts know that Cubs fans will support a losing team.===
This is an increasingly risky proposition as fans watch the Ricketts play into the neighborhood real estate, the rooftops and now a sportbook. The Ricketts bought the club for less than $900M in 2009 and Forbes currently has the value at $3.3B. They’re either gonna spend or lose a lot of folks.
- Huh? - Monday, Aug 9, 21 @ 11:37 am:
31 mph, slowest pitch ever to be called a strike -
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9875093/Texas-Rangers-infielder-lobs-slowest-pitch-called-strike-recorded.html
- Amalia - Monday, Aug 9, 21 @ 11:43 am:
Joe Bidenopolous is right, even said on the telecast last night, that the fans come no matter what. but I wonder, as fans are increasingly away of the Tricketts…Trump and right wing supporting Ricketts family…and their money grubbing ways if fans will support with the sell off of the team. (you would think with the talent they off loaded that they would be better but they have Ross as a manger, what about that.) Despite the fact that I loved the Sox action, omg Anderson on the first pitch, I hate being in that stadium, even virtually watching from after. Just cannot stand anything about them. Ozzie and his rats comment will always be how I feel about that place.
- Lurker - Monday, Aug 9, 21 @ 12:04 pm:
Thank you Mark F. I cannot stop laughing. great post.
- Chicago Cynic - Monday, Aug 9, 21 @ 12:05 pm:
“They coulda used him yesterday for sure…”
Gee, I don’t know. You didn’t see his ceremonial first pitch
Yes, we could have. And it was nice to honor Jesse. Given the AA quality of the team the Ricketts fielded, Jesse would have been an upgrade.
- Out of Illinois - Monday, Aug 9, 21 @ 2:39 pm:
Probably do better than some of the folks they are penciling into the lineup these days.
- Amalia - Monday, Aug 9, 21 @ 4:02 pm:
Listening to the Score at 2:30 was pretty hilarious. they trolled their baseball team (cub station) with a replay of the Sox weekend highlights and then they whined about all the LaRussa love on ESPN. how’s it feel to have the media loving another team, Cubsverse?