Thread: 2013 Chicago Cubs Thread

Scott Hairston signs with Chicago Cubs, according to a source - ESPN Chicago

Source: Cubs sign Scott Hairston

The Chicago Cubs have signed free agent outfielder Scott Hairston to a two-year contract, according to a source with knowledge of the negotiations.
Hairston will make $2.5 million each year and can earn $1.25 million each year in performance bonuses based on plate appearances and roster days, according to a source.Hairston will fit into the Cubs' mix as a platoon corner outfielder. The other teams that had been talking to Hairston's agent, Casey Close, are the New York Mets, New York Yankees and Atlanta Braves, according to the source.
The 32-year-old Hairston's deal includes incentive clauses that could increase the value to $6 million, pending a physical.
Hairston played for the Mets in 2012, putting up his best power numbers. The outfielder had 48 extra-base hits, including a career-high 20 home runs, in just 377 at-bats.
Hairston made $1.1 million last season before becoming a free agent for the first time in his career. He most likely will platoon with left-handed hitters Nate Schierholtz in right field and David DeJesus in center.

Wrigleyville rooftop owners offer plan to keep Wrigley Field view - ESPN Chicago

Rooftop owners offer sign plan

CHICAGO -- Wrigleyville rooftop owners unveiled a proposal Friday calling for the use of their buildings for advertising sold by the Chicago Cubs in exchange for continued unimpeded views of Wrigley Field.
The rooftop association announced their plans at a news conference claiming the advertising should bring in between $10-20 million annually to be split between the Cubs and the city of Chicago. The rooftop owners would see no profit from the advertising.

"We would give 100 percent of the revenue to the community and the Chicago Cubs," owner Beth Murphy of Murphy Bleachers said. "The Cubs, we presume, would be using it for their renovation project and the community would use it for neighborhood protections such as more police and things that benefit our neighborhood. The rooftops, in return, request we just stay in business. If the advertising is done in the bleachers in Wrigley Field we have a concern it will block our views and put us out of business."
The plan calls for both LED and static ads to be placed on the facades of the rooftop buildings outside the ballpark. The general size of the LEDs would be 20 feet by 7 feet and all ads would be sold and maintained by the Cubs.
"I think it gives a creative solution, a win-win solution, a big palate to sell," Murphy said.
The Ricketts family reacted to the plan through spokesperson Dennis Culloton: "The Ricketts Family and the Chicago Cubs want the right to run their business so they can continue to be good stewards of Wrigley Field and save the beloved ballpark for future generations. They also want to invest $500 million and create nearly 2,000 construction and permanent jobs in Wrigley Field and the neighborhood. None of this is possible with continued restrictions and outside business interests blocking the Cubs from generating revenue being realized by every other team in pro sports.
"If the rooftop owners have a new plan, they would be advised to discuss it with the team instead of holding press conferences because a deadline is fast approaching for the team and the City to move forward."
The Cubs also believe they can generate more revenue by in-house advertising, money they wouldn't have to split with the city.
At the Cubs Convention last weekend, the team announced a five-year, $300 million renovation project hoping to fund it, in part, with revenues acquired by additional advertising, including in the ballpark. The city would need to relax some landmark restrictions for the Cubs to put up the additional advertising. The city would also have to relax local ordinances for the rooftop owners to add the advertising under their plan.
There is an existing contract between the rooftop owners and the Cubs that runs through 2023 that states the view from the rooftops will not be blocked in exchange for 17 percent of their profits which the owners pay the Cubs annually. Rooftop owners are worried that provision won't be upheld if challenged by the Cubs under the idea that the Cubs are doing a civic good for the neighborhood with their rehab project which would bring jobs -- both temporary and permanent -- to the area. Mayor Rahm Emanuel has urged both parties to find a common ground.
Rooftop owners believe they are a part of the Wrigleyville experience as much as the ballpark.
When asked how much the Cubs have meant to business for the rooftops, George Loukas, an owner of three, said: "The Cubs might not have been here if it wasn't for Murphy's Bleachers building a new facility and the Cubby Bear creating an entertainment theme in Wrigleyville that people, not only go to the ballpark for the baseball, but post-baseball and pre-baseball, they get to be entertained by restaurants and bars in the community that have reputations."
Murphy added: "There is a reason the Cubs (draw) when they have losing seasons, and we've had quite a few now. There's a reason."

Originally Posted by The Benjamin

Bah, there are no such things as curses. But those who do, have multiple theories.

The Goat Curse.
The Wrigley Curse
The Merkle Curse.

This is the first I have ever heard of Alexander's Curse though

They're fun to make up. The cubs-cards rivalry matches the yankees-red sox. when babe left the sox to join the yankees the result was the same as when alexander left the cubs for the cards so i make the parallel. Grover's story can be seen in the movie 'The winning team' with Ronald Reagan and Doris Day and when the title of a newspaper says: 'CUBS DROP ALEXANDER' his career seemed over and then later rogers hornsby of the cards gives him a second chance when he's at his lowest point and beats the seemingly invincible yankees in games 2 and 6 and saves game 7 in 1926 to give st-louis their first world series win it just clicked. back then little was known about epilepsy and grover reverted to alcoholism to make him forget he had it but what he did in 1926 in spite of his condition stands as a monumental accomplishment in the annals of baseball history. cubs couldn't deal with his problem and grover had to play with the house of david team that barnstormed the US with their long beards.

Soler impresses Sveum in first spring BP - Chicago Cubs Blog - ESPN Chicago

Soler impresses Sveum in first spring BP

MESA, Ariz. -- Day 4 of workouts for the Chicago Cubs was highlighted by the arrival of one of the more intriguing players: 20-year-old slugger
Jorge Soler.
One of the prized prospects of the Theo Epstein era arrived in camp and immediately made an impression, putting on a display in the batting cage.

"Pretty impressive batting practice for the first day out there," manager Dale Sveum said after workouts were complete. "The ball comes off his bat like you want a ball to come off a bat if you're a manager."

Soler, a Cuban defector who was signed to a nine-year, $30 million contract last year, is a physical specimen, towering over other players at 6-foot-3 and 225 pounds. Sveum likened his swing to a "right-handed Cliff Floyd."

"He has the hand strength that none of us can teach," Sveum said.

Hitting coach James Rowson wasn't present when Soler took batting practice but said he could "hear it from the other field."

Sveum echoed Epstein's recent comments that Soler hasn't played enough games to be considered for anything more than starting the season in Class A, probably Daytona.

Soler told reporters he wants to play in the major leagues next season, but Sveum just wants to see him on the field.

"He'll play right and left in spring training," Sveum said. "We'll make a decision on what during the season, but he's got a right-field arm. We'll get him playing time in both."

Sveum said both Soler and another top prospect, shortstop Javier Baez, will appear in the lineup together this spring but not necessarily by design.

Stewart arrives:
Ian Stewart has a hold on third base -- for now. Sveum didn't hide the fact he liked what Luis Valbunea brought last season while Stewart was rehabbing from wrist surgery. Sveum was asked if Stewart should have been around the team more while recovering.

"He could have been around the team a little bit more," Sveum said. "And I told him that. But no one told him he had to be anywhere or anything. He was rehabbing a surgery. It wasn't a major issue by no means."

" Sveum liked Matt Garza's bullpen session better on Thursday than on Tuesday.
"Garza was really good today," he said. "The ball came out of his hands better than the other day. His changeup was good. But the arm strength was really good today."

" Sveum said he would discuss with his staff Friday afternoon who would start on the mound for their Cactus League opening game next weekend.

" Sveum said pitcher Carlos Villanueva, who signed as a free agent this winter, has a "completely different body than what I saw in Milwaukee" when Sveum was on the Brewers staff and Villanueva bounced between the bullpen and rotation. It might give Villanueva a chance to pitch more innings if he's needed as a starter.

Early arrival Rizzo planning for big 2013 - Chicago Cubs Blog - ESPN Chicago

Early arrival Rizzo planning for big 2013

MESA, Ariz. -- Every morning Chicago Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo looks to his closet. On it are his goals for 2013, which will be his first full season in the major leagues. If last year is any indication, this will be the first of many.

"I wake up to them every morning," he said Friday, two days before position players have to report to spring training. "I read my team goals, my personal goals. Just so I can read them every day."

After a break-out half season in 2012 in which he hit 15 home runs and drove in 48 runs in just 368 plate appearances, Rizzo is primed to become a fixture in the middle of the Cubs lineup.

"I have all the confidence in the world in him to double what he did last year," manager Dale Sveum said. "He came up, did well, had a little hiccup but other than that he was really good. There will be some bumps along the road but you give Rizzo 600 plate appearances there's going to be some damage done."

Rizzo and shortstop Starlin Castro are part of the core that is supposed to lead the Cubs to the playoffs -- someday. It's a lot for the 22-year-old to swallow considering he hasn't played a full season in the big leagues.

"It's just people talking," Rizzo said. "No one or two players are going to take any team anywhere. Every great player says the same thing."

Rizzo has been in camp since before pitchers and catchers reported last weekend even though he's not required to be here until Sunday. After all, it wasn't that long ago he was struggling, back in the minors with the San Diego Padres before the Cubs traded Andrew Cashner for him. Rizzo hit .141 in 49 games for Padres in 2011.

"I think he took that offseason (2011) really seriously, and he knew what he had to work on," hitting coach James Rowson said Friday. "He came to spring training and the season focused."

Rizzo and Rowson are developing a special relationship. They were both promoted to the big leagues within a month of each other last season and rely on each other for improvement.

"He knows me very well personally, on and off the field," Rizzo said. "I can go to him and lean on him, and he'll pump me up or I'll pump him up. It's a good relationship. It's not just baseball, we talk about other things outside the game."

So what's the one thing the budding star needs in terms of coaching from Rowson?

"From my standpoint it's a matter of making sure small keys were there, and he stayed with his same routine every day," Rowson said. "It's a relationship that we tell each other exactly how we're feeling, so if there is something that he needs he'll let me know and if there is something he needs to focus on I'll let him know. You get the best out of each other that way."

Rizzo said he's working on keeping the same attitude no matter who's pitching on a given day. "See the ball, hit the ball" is about all he would describe about his approach at the plate.

As for those goals for the season, Rizzo said "you can guess what the team goals are" but wasn't revealing his personal ones. Safe to say, the bar is set high.

"I don't see why not," he said. "Why would I say I'm only going to hit 10 home runs when I can hit however many?"

Rowson added: "No one will set the bar higher for himself than Rizzo."

For now, since it's only mid-Feb. Rizzo is stuck staring at his closet every morning.

"I think it's just good to wake up to that," he said. "See that every day and visualize it and feel it."

Heard on the score that the Cubs who are in a fight w/the alderman and rooftop owners is pulling his trump card and saying the team can move to Rosemont. And let me just say, I'd love it. New building from scratch, don't have to worry about the "owners" surrounding the stadium that are leaching off it's existance. Hope the wrigley area gets their head out of their backsides, and the Cubs stay in the Wrigley area, but if they don't, I hope fans understand this is a great 2nd choise.

nm, i got into tha 670 conversation late, the one guy was just saying the Ricketts SHOULD pull that card, but apparently they are refusing to do it. I wish they would though, say you'll move to Rosemont and their free 25 acres, or to DePuge, who has also offered land and they'll donate Wrigley to the city to do w/as they please..and let the bars/stores/rooftops burn. Then see if the these A-hole hands in pants bueracrats/politicians and hands in pockets business owners loosen their hold on the Wrigley renovation a bit. I think most Cubs fans would be okay w/a relocation to another suburb if it meant a state of the art stadium, instead of the crapfest dumpsterfire that is Wrigley.

Young Cubs stars start season with bang - Chicago Cubs Blog - ESPN Chicago

Young Cubs stars start season with bang

PITTSBURGH -- Budding Chicago Cubs stars Anthony Rizzo and Starlin Castro picked up where they left off last season in Monday’s 3-1 Opening Day win over the Pittsburgh Pirates.

In Castro’s case, he just carried over his momentum from the spring, beginning 2013 with a two-hit, one-stolen base performance while adding some stellar defense.
Rizzo, meanwhile, didn’t hit a home run the entire exhibition season, including his stint with Team Italy in the World Baseball Classic. He connected on the first pitch he saw on Monday.

“I don’t really remember the pitch or where I hit it,” Rizzo said. “I kind of blacked out there for a second.”

It’s too bad he didn’t know where it went -- out of the ballpark to deep center field, maybe into the Allegheny River. So why the blackout?

“The game sped up, Opening Day, a lot of emotions. Really good feeling,” Rizzo said.

Rizzo has personal goals for the season that he’s not revealing, and after struggling on some fastballs during spring training he sent the first one he saw Monday about as far as it could go. Was he anxious after a homerless spring?

“You get guys chirping at you,” he joked regarding his teammates. “It’s nice to get it out of the way.”

Castro is a potential superstar, we got so lucky to lock him up considering the money Andrus got from Texas. Rizzo will be a very good lefty sidekick but he has to lay off the slurve riding down and in to him. Schierholtz will be a classic moneyball type player and Dejesus is solid.

Samardzija solid in debut - Chicago Cubs Blog - ESPN Chicago

Samardzija solid in debut

PITTSBURGH -- Maybe an earlier version of Chicago Cubs pitcher Jeff Samardzija doesn’t get out of the first inning on Monday. And maybe he doesn’t go on to pitch a gem in the season opener, beating the Pittsburgh Pirates, 3-1.

But Samardzija has grown up, and after walking the leadoff man -- his only free pass of the day -- then dealing with an error on an easy ground ball to second base, he buckled down.

“Getting out of that first inning was big after that leadoff walk,” Samardzija said afterwards.

He got a groundout and two strikeouts and never looked back.

“He pitched a heck of a game,” manager Dale Sveum said. “He did his job and we came away with a victory.”
When informed of his manager's words, Samardzija responded, “Pitch is the key word there. I really thought it was one of the best-pitched games I’ve thrown. Didn’t have the best stuff that I’ve had. I worked both sides of the plate and really attacked their hitters.”

Samardzija is being modest. His off-speed pitches kept hitters off-balance to the tune of nine strikeouts in eight innings. Along with that lone walk, he gave up just two hits.

“That’s probably as good a game as he’s pitched in his starting career,” Sveum raved.

And to come on opening day is that much sweeter. In some ways Samardzija won the job by default, due to Matt Garza's ongoing injury issues, but then again he put himself in a place to win it.

“I’ve been trying to keep myself calm for a few days,” Samardzija said. “Yesterday (the off day) allowed me to sit around and take a deep breath.”

Another key to his performance, as well as a sign of his growth, was how he was able to keep his pitch count down as his counterpart AJ Burnett's soared.

“We had a clean three innings there (third through fifth) that really kept our pitch count down that got me into the third part of the game and we went from there,” Samardzija said.

He was at 40 pitches after two innings but averaged just under 12 for the final six. It saved the bullpen, which was needed in the ninth inning.

“I didn’t think about taking him out of the game after the seventh inning,” Sveum said.

Samardzija added: “I want to go 100 pitches every time out and be efficient.”

He went 110 and started his season as the Cubs' No. 1 pitcher in fine fashion.

Glad to see the Cubbies starting the new season with a win on the road. Hopefully more wins will follow.

Go Cubs!