Cubs - News, Photos and More on the Windy Citizen

Thousands cheer for 100-year dream at Cubs rally

Wed, 01 Oct 2008 10:14:14 -0500

The Dodgers might not want to come to Chicago if it means facing the Cubs, or rather the thousands of dedicated Cubs fans.

Cubs-Astros to play Sunday, Monday in Milwaukee

Sat, 13 Sep 2008 22:07:31 -0500

The Cubs and Houston will play two of their postponed games at 7:05 p.m. Sunday and 1:05 p.m. Monday at Miller Park in Milwaukee, Major League Baseball announced late Saturday night. The third postponed game will be played only if it affects the postseason situation, and not until the day after the end of the regular season.

Zambrano's MRI reveals good news for Cubs

Fri, 05 Sep 2008 10:58:12 -0500

Carlos Zambrano showed up for his rescheduled MRI, his anti-inflammatory shot and the charter flight to Cincinnati, all in one day.

The Cubs now hope he will show up for a start next weekend in Houston, only two weeks before the beginning of the playoffs.

The MRI on Thursday revealed Zambrano's right shoulder has inflammation and rotator cuff tendinitis, which will take him out of Sunday's start against the Reds and give him as much as 11 days between outings.

Z's season in jeopardy

Thu, 04 Sep 2008 12:18:07 -0500

In the case of Zany Z and the mysterious missing MRI, no news is not good news.

The silence surrounding the pain that is said to be in Carlos Zambrano's valuable right shoulder could speak volumes and the Cubs seemed to be preparing for the worst Wednesday, that Zambrano could be out for a long period, perhaps the rest of the season.

No show Zambrano

Wed, 03 Sep 2008 22:28:15 -0500

Streaking into the post-season, the Chicago Cubs must deal with enigmatic ace starter Carlos Zambrano missing a scheduled MRI exam on his shoulder. While Big Z says the issue is nothing more than arm fatigue, skipper Lou Pinella says nothing is wrong at all.

Cubs pitching staff banged up

Wed, 03 Sep 2008 19:05:16 -0500

Health reports of the Cubs' pitching staff may be going from bad to worse as Lou Piniella admitted today for the first time that right-hander Rich Harden is experiencing "discomfort."

Piniella said Harden, who hasn't pitched since Aug. 29, will next pitch Wednesday against St. Louis. "I've had what you would describe as discomfort," Harden said. "This just seemed like a good time to [skip a start]."

Harden said he could have started if needed and expects to be fine Wednesday and down the stretch.

Cubs want weekend night game ban lifted

Tue, 05 Aug 2008 00:00:05 -0500

The Cubs want the City Council to lift the ban on Friday and Saturday night games at Wrigley Field to minimize player fatigue during the dog days of summer, but it'll be a tough sell in Wrigleyville. The 1988 agreement that paved the way for lights and up to 18 night games at Wrigley -- and the 2004 deal that phased in 12 more -- forbids weekend night games to minimize sanitation, parking, crime and congestion problems associated with night baseball. Now, the Cubs want to lift that weekend ban starting next season and use it a few times-a-year -- whenever the team has a late flight to Chicago after a Thursday or Friday night road game and players could use a few extra hours' sleep.

Cuban-owned Cubbies soon to be a reality?

Mon, 04 Aug 2008 12:10:48 -0500

Billionaire Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban remains the alleged front-runner to by the Chicago Cubs.

Samardzija may get called up

Thu, 24 Jul 2008 15:15:57 -0500

Amid the expected comings and goings on the Cubs' roster Wednesday was the lingering and worrisome issue of closer Kerry Wood's health status.

The blister on his right index finger hasn't come close to healing the way the club expected by now, and Wood could be facing another trip to the disabled list after seeing a specialist in Chicago today. That might open the way for hard-throwing prospect Jeff Samardzija to make his major-league debut.

Considering the level of tenderness in the finger and the fact Wood hasn't pitched in 13 days, the chances seem remote he could return any sooner than next week in Milwaukee -- if not during the first homestand in August.

Wood threw on the side Wednesday to keep his arm active but threw only changeups, without using the index finger.

Five contestants left in bid for the Cubs

Thu, 24 Jul 2008 11:43:18 -0500

The Chicago Cubs have culled the number of bids for the team to five, all at $1 billion or more, and tossed out an offer from a group regarded as the favorite of Major League Baseball, sources said Wednesday.

The Cubs, owned by Tribune Co., have rejected an offer from a large investment group led by John Canning Jr., chairman of Madison Dearborn Partners LLC. Canning, a part owner of the Milwaukee Brewers, is a close associate of baseball Commissioner Bud Selig.

Making the cut as the Cubs winnowed the list of bids from an original 10 respondents was Mark Cuban, owner of basketball’s Dallas Mavericks, said a source familiar with the process. The identity of the other finalists couldn’t be learned.

Canning declined to comment. He represented a group that included Aon Corp. Chairman Patrick Ryan, business leader Andrew McKenna and restaurateurs Richard Melman and Larry Levy, among others.