Cubs star runs into Charles Barkley at Target

Pitcher Kerry Wood ran into NBA broadcaster Charles Barkley while shopping at Target Continue reading…

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February 28, 2011, 6:00 pm

Fans audition to be Cubs PA announcer

Wrigley Field’s current PA announcer has decided to take a new job that won’t let work day games. With the job now open, a Cubs fan will get the chance to become the new public address announcer, according to the CHICAGO TRIBUNE.

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February 28, 2011, 5:18 pm

Cubs player takes blame for end of 69 year old tradition

Marlon Byrd has taken responsibility for the end of a 69 year tradition of organ music at Wrigley Field Continue reading…

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February 26, 2011, 6:21 pm

MLB player drops close to 20 lbs on “Warrior Diet”

Cubs OF Marlon Byrd has dropped 19 pounds this off-season on something called the “Warrior Diet.” What the heck is it? Continue reading…

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February 24, 2011, 9:28 am

MLB pitcher making $18 million learns knuckleball

Cubs pitcher Carlos Zambrano has been messing around with a knuckleball this spring Continue reading…

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February 24, 2011, 7:17 am

MLB’s Lucky Charm

Cleveland Indians SS Orlando Cabrera is Major League Baseball’s version of a lucky rabbit’s foot. Continue reading…

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February 23, 2011, 9:02 am

MLB star says he’s been “cured” of anger management issues

Cubs pitcher Carlos Zambrano has been “cured” of his anger management issues Continue reading…

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February 23, 2011, 6:29 am

Cubs ownership open to adding Cards Albert Pujols

If the St. Louis Cardinals don’t want to get anything done with slugger Albert Pujols’ contract, Cubs ownership Saturday didn’t rule out the possibility of getting involved. Continue reading…

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February 19, 2011, 11:02 pm

Cubs outfielder gets Bears Brian Urlacher-signed photo at silent auction

At the CSN Sports Award dinner silent auction benefiting the March of Dimes, Cubs outfielder Continue reading…

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February 17, 2011, 4:07 am

Zambrano claims he’ll stay out of trouble with Cubs

Can Carlos Zambrano stay out of trouble in 2011? “What do you think?” he replied. Doubtful. “Yeah,” he said. “I want to do more than in the field than what I talk. I don’t want to talk this year. I don’t want to say anything. I just want to talk with my numbers. That’s what I want to do.” Continue reading…

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February 14, 2011, 12:05 pm

Cubs getting lots of TV exposure

At least nine Chicago Cubs games will air nationally as part of Fox’s “Game of the Week” lineup, including three consecutive Saturdays in May and three in June Continue reading…

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February 11, 2011, 6:52 am

Cubs spending big on Dominican Republic

While the Cubs major league payroll has decreased, that does not mean that the amount of money being spent by the Ricketts family has decreased. We have learned that the Ricketts family is looking to buy a large parcel of land in the Dominican Republic to build a new Cubs Academy to develop prospects. On a recent trip to the D.R., which included attending the funeral of Alfonso Soriano’s mother, Tom Ricketts scouted potential sites. The plan would give the Cubs one of the best developmental academies in all of Latin America. — Chicago Tribune

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February 9, 2011, 5:46 am

Ferris Bueller’s Day Off filmed during Expos-Cubs game?

The movie “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” was released on June 11, 1986. The ballgame then must have been filmed either real early in the 1986 season or sometime during 1985. Continue reading…

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February 8, 2011, 10:22 pm

Former Cubs player breaks Japanese league record

Matt Murton, 29, moved to Japan last offseason hoping to advance his pursuit of an everyday job in the majors. Rather than return to the minor leagues, Murton, a five-year big-league veteran and a 2003 first-round draft choice, secured his release from the Colorado Rockies and signed with the Hanshin Tigers in Osaka. Murton ended up breaking the Japanese league record for hits in a season. … Murton received interest from major league clubs, though it was virtually impossible to get out of his Japanese contract. Murton hopes another strong season will give him a chance to earn a full-time job in the major leagues. — Atlanta Journal-Constitution

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February 7, 2011, 8:57 am

Harry Caray statue outside Wrigley defaced

The statue of Hall of Fame broadcaster Harry Caray outside Wrigley Field was defaced. Even more elusive was what the graffiti tagger might have been trying to say. Someone spray painted the words READ MORE…

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February 7, 2011, 5:15 am

Cubs giving pitcher long-term deal?

Baseball sources tell us that Cubs GM Jim Hendry is close to finalizing a long-term deal with READ MORE

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February 4, 2011, 9:03 am

Former Red Sox, Cubs pitcher works seafood counter at supermarket

Here’s something you probably won’t find in any other grocery store outside the Bristol Farms in Newport Beach: a former major league pitcher manning the seafood counter. And it’s no publicity stunt. Continue to read about this former Cubs and Red Sox pitcher who’s now serving up fish

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January 31, 2011, 8:30 am

HBO star helps MLB icon complete planned backwards fall at 80th birthday party

Even at age 80, Ernie Banks seems a young man. And now he wants to be a Youngman. As in Henny Youngman, the comedian who used a violin in his act. Liz Stein provided the violin, and David Yonan provided a virtuoso performance of ‘‘Happy Birthday’’ and ‘‘Take Me Out to the Ball Game’’ at the Cubs icon’s 80th birthday party Saturday at Harry Caray’s Italian Steakhouse, where Banks’ family and friends and celebrities gathered. ‘‘We are so honored that Ernie Banks is going to be our next Jascha Heifetz,’’ Stein told the audience. ‘‘Jascha Heifetz should only want to be Ernie Banks, but he’s not living anymore.’’ There was concern about Banks’ welfare after he fell backward and hit the ground with actor/comedian Jeff Garlin at the microphone. ‘‘That was planned,’’ Garlin told the stunned crowd. ‘‘Ernie said, ‘I’m going to do a big fall. Stay out of my way.’ Are you cool, Ernie?’’ ‘‘I’m great,’’ Banks said. – Chicago Sun-Times

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January 31, 2011, 8:22 am

Cubs legend to have 80th birthday bash

That 80th birthday celebration for Ernie Banks on Saturday at Harry Caray’s on Kinzie will be quite the bash — including Gov. Quinn personally declaring it “Ernie Banks Day” and toasts to “Mr. Cub” from the team’s owners Laura and Todd Ricketts and Dutchie Caray, plus funnyman Jeff Garlin leading the crowd in “Happy Birthday,” before they slice-up a giant, Cubs-themed Eli’s cheesecake. — Chicago Sun-Times

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January 28, 2011, 8:57 am

Cardinals Albert Pujols might end up with Cubs in 2012?

Would the Cardinals’ refusal to guarantee Albert Pujols a nine- or 10-year contract be tested next winter by the Chicago Cubs’ entry into the sweepstakes? Continue to read for details on the Cubs

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January 26, 2011, 9:30 am

MLB team spending $61 million on outfielders

In picking up Vernon Wells, whose contract calls for a $23 million salary in 2011, the Angels have guaranteed themselves baseball’s most expensive outfield—one that actually costs more than the entire payroll of several teams. The outfielders on the Angels payroll cost 43% more than the next priciest group

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January 26, 2011, 9:26 am

Ernie Banks serves as reverend at Cubs pitchers wedding

Cubs pitcher Sean Marshall was married this winter and one of the two ministers who officiated at his wedding was Ernie Banks. Banks is a reverend who loves wedding, this all started when…

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January 17, 2011, 2:17 pm

Baseball groupie reveals Cubs players partied until 4am night before losing Championship Series

Three Chicago Cubs players stayed out partying with a baseball groupie the night before losing game 7 of the 2003 National League Championship series. That revelation comes from one of the women interviewed during casting for a new reality TV show tentatively titled Cleat Chasers.  The Cubs players partied until 4am, drinking and hooking up

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January 14, 2011, 9:29 am

Cubs to unload $16 million slugger?

Cubs GM Jim Hendry wasn’t able to get rid of the hefty contracts of Kosuke Fukudome or Carlos Silva, but both will be gone in 2012, saving the club $25 million. 3B Aramis Ramirez could be in his final season with the Cubs

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January 14, 2011, 9:17 am

Cubs marketing SS Starlin Castro

The Cubs’ marketing plan will focus on youth, pointing to the rookie-year successes of Starlin Castro, Tyler Colvin and Andrew Cashner. The Cubs even feature one ad with Castro and Yankees star Derek Jeter.

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January 14, 2011, 8:04 am

Former Yankees player said wife hated that he had to shave goatee

Not only is Kerry Wood back, but so is his goatee. The 33-year-old pitcher was forced to shave the goatee he sported most of his career when the Cleveland Indians traded him to the New York Yankees in July 2010 –- the Yanks have a strict facial hair policy going back to the 1970’s –- but he has returned to his old ways now that he’s back with the Cubs. Wood said his wife hated that he had to shave while in the Bronx.

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January 13, 2011, 8:20 am

Cubs pitcher says he has no deal for when he’s done playing

Rumors on Chicago radio Wednesday were flying that part of Kerry Wood’s deal with the Cubs included an agreement that he would move into the broadcast booth when he is finished playing baseball.

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January 13, 2011, 7:07 am

Cubs add former Dodgers outfielder

The Cubs also inked outfielder Reed Johnson to Minor League contract with a Spring Training invite on Wednesday. Johnson returns to the Cubs after a season with Dodgers and will battle for a roster spot this spring. — MLB.com

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January 12, 2011, 7:15 pm

New Cubs star defends emotional pitching style

New Cubs pitcher Matt Garza on WGN-AM 720′s “Sports Night” when he was asked about people who say he is too emotional: “When you care about something as much as I care about pitching, you get emotional. I don’t think of it as emotion. I think of it as passion. I’m very passionate for what I do because I love what I do. People who love their jobs are very passionate about their jobs. They are going to pour their heart and soul into their job. That’s the way that I feel about it.” — Chicago Tribune

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January 12, 2011, 6:04 am

Cubs players to talk about Dominican Republic

This week’s Cubs Convention will hold a new session called “The Dominican Way of Life,” featuring Aramis Ramirez, Starlin Castro, Carlos Peña and vice president of player personnel Oneri Fleita. The group will talk about their transition from the Dominican Republic to the United States. It will be Ramirez’s first appearance at the convention.  — Chicago Tribune

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January 11, 2011, 6:04 am

Rangers finished second for Rays starter?

So by the beginning of this week, the Rays’ trade partners for a potential Matt Garza deal had been narrowed down to the Rangers and Cubs, who own two of the deepest farm systems in the game. … The Rangers thought they could get Robinson Chirinos from the Cubs, then package him with left-handed pitcher Derek Holland, reliever Frank Francisco and outfielder Engel Beltre, plus pay some of Francisco’s contract. GM Andrew Friedman sees everything in the long term, and he thought that in 2012 and ’13 — when Jeremy Hellickson, David Price and Archer could be an extremely formidable front three — the Rays would have a better chance to keep their window open. — MLB.com

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January 10, 2011, 11:08 am

Cubs don’t give up elite players for Garza

A major-league source had this to say about the Cubs trade for Matt Garza: “Sure the Cubs gave up a lot to land Garza, who is not yet a star. However, he is Continue reading →

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January 9, 2011, 10:32 am

Source: Cubs near deal for 15-game winner

The Tampa Bay Rays and Chicago Cubs are close to agreeing to a multi-player deal that would bring right-handed pitcher Matt Garza to Chicago, according to a major league source. Continue reading →

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January 7, 2011, 10:36 am

Cubs former stars doubtful for radio job

At this point, Mark Grace would be listed as “doubtful” and Rick Sutcliffe as “questionable” in handicapping the pursuit of a WGN-AM 720 Cubs broadcast partner for Pat Hughes. Continue reading →

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January 7, 2011, 8:12 am

Cubs fan gets THREE years in prison for fight with White Sox fan

Robert Steele is relieved that the former in-law who blinded him in one eye after they argued about the Cubs and White Sox at a child’s birthday party here is going to prison. Continue reading →

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January 6, 2011, 9:07 am

Cubs in lead to trade for 15-game winner

The Cubs appear to have moved past the Texas Rangers and into the driver’s seat in efforts to acquire Tampa Bay Rays 15-game winner Continue reading →

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January 5, 2011, 9:28 am