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Anew tv show that I will avoid like the plague called “Baseball Wives” premieres this week. And even though that piece of VH1 crapola is guaranteed to dumb you down, I feel this week deserved a post in that vein.
The Chicago Cubs signed former Oakland Athletics OF David DeJesus yesterday, which means Kimberly DeJesus, Kim DeJesus, previously known as Kim Iliff is now in Chicago. And if she was on that stupid reality show she’d blow all the other baseball wives out of the water.
Observe.
It’s more than just rumors at this point. It’s very close to becoming a done deal. The Chicago Cubs are sending outfielder, and former MLB All-Star Marlon Byrd to the Boston Red Sox. Presumably, for a left-handed pitcher. Rumored to be one of the reliever variety.
Welcome to the first ever edition of Chicago Sports Media Watch, the newest and soon to be greatest blog on Chicago Now. What are we about? I think this link can give you a great synopsis. When I was asked to do this blog by CN Director Jimmy Greenfield, I immediately thought of the old Chicago Tribune column “Inside Media” I loved reading as a teen/college student.
This blog will aim to pick up where that column left off, but we’ll also have an emphasis on the media (tweets, blog reviews, message board evaluations, fun with Facebook Statuses, relevant mobile apps etc.) that didn’t exist when Teddy Greenstein and Ed Sherman penned it for the Trib.
So we open with an exclusive from Mr. Greenstein himself. And we’ll look to have Mr. Sherman on very soon.
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After staring at a blank computer screen for quite some time trying to find the words to describe this season thus far, I realized that a blank piece of paper sums up the Chicago Cubs’ first 13 games better than anything else.
Seriously though, the team is bad. I have just one question. Did any of you think something else was going to happen? We all knew this team was the opposite of good. So those acting surprised or complaining at no end are insinuating they expected different. No one did. We might as well just have fun with it.
So let’s do some rambling:
The Chicago Cubs set their Opening Day 25-man roster in advance of the 2012 season opener versus the Washington Nationals at Wrigley Field today. The Cubs have selected the contracts of right-handed pitcher Shawn Camp, infielder Blake DeWitt and outfielder Joe Mather. Outfielder Tony Campana and right-handed pitcher Casey Coleman have been optioned to Triple-A Iowa. Left-handed pitcher John Gaub was claimed off waivers by Tampa Bay.
It’s Friday, cuts have been made, dreams have been shattered, veterans have been shocked and all signs point to the Shark.
Opening day is less than a week away, the roster has taken shape and it’s time to play some meaningful baseball games, for a few months, at least.
So, let’s get to some rambling …
The Chicago Cubs cut nine players today and sent them to minor league camp, reducing the Cactus League roster from 40 to 31.
Another lovely picture of Mrs. David DeJesus welcomes us to another installment of Cubs related fun. Andy Sonnastine ain’t in the sun no more, real baseball is about two weeks away, the Shark has finally earned his chance and Soriano is still fooling us all.
With that said, let’s get to what the Cubs and Fridays are all about.
Ramble on …
Gerardo Concepcion has agreed to terms with the Chicago Cubs on a five-year major league contract. Terms are not official but it’s allegedly for about $7 million. This has been known for over a month already, but it’s only been made official in the past five minutes. And that means…the Cubs look like the winners of the Jorge Soler derby. They’ve been the front-runners for awhile, but this makes that position even stronger.
This signing has greater purpose as it’s supposed to be a conduit to bigger things, like $27 million for Soler, a 19 year-old-centerfielder, who’s coveted by the White Sox and New York Yankees, among other teams.
I will say it is much better talking about actual games than rambling about talk and preparation for the actual games that don’t count. What a rush it is to turn on the radio and hear the best seven words in the world,
“Chicago Cubs baseball is on the air.”
Just drink it in; it always goes down smooth.
The games are underway, the battles have begun and the team is, even if just a little, starting to take shape.
So let’s get rambling …
Last season, ticket sales got so slow for the Chicago Cubs that they were giving tickets away, literally. Not of course for the big games versus the New York Yankees, Chicago White Sox and St. Louis Cardinals- but for many contests during the season you could easily find free tickets on the street.
Now you may ask yourself why would the Cubs offer free tickets to fans? Why give away what you’re selling? Well, first and foremost an ugly ballpark looks bad on television, but the real reason=further lost money on beer and concession sales. You may take a loss on the ducat, but at least you have people back in the seats buying drinks, food, souvenirs and crap. (oh wait, the Cubs baseball was actually free, so the genuine “crap” they didn’t have to pay for).
Anyways, you’d think these attendance issues would inspire the front office to lower prices; or at the very least keep ‘em the same.
No, not so much.
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