Today could be the day. Or maybe tomorrow. But definitely probably this week. Reports seem to be swirling from all corners that Anthony Rizzo will make his Chicago Cubs debut either today or tomorrow. Alfonso Soriano is eager to get some help in the lineup, so it doesn’t matter when the Rizz shows up.
‘‘People say lefties hit better against Johan Santana, so let’s see,’’ Soriano said. ‘‘I hope they bring him soon and he does the same job that he’s doing in the minor leagues. He’s got the talent.’’
Dale Sveum seems eager to have someone that can hit in the lineup, too.
‘‘It’d be nice to have somebody [who’s a threat] hitting behind him, too,’’ Sveum said. ‘‘Whenever you have somebody with that much hype and that much ability, I think it always helps to at least have somebody hitting behind him.’’
As one Cub’s career looks to be taking off, another one’s seems to be winding down. Ryan Dempster is currently on the DL, but knows that his time as a Cub is probably drawing to a close.
“I’m not an idiot. I know what’s going on. I just try and enjoy it. … I think I’ve done enough (to appreciate Wrigley) over the years to enjoy where I’m playing and really love where I’m playing, and to not need that moment to reflect.
“And I don’t think I’m done playing anytime soon, so I have a feeling I’ll be pitching a lot of times at Wrigley Field.”
Dempster is feeling better than he did and will throw off a mound today. If all goes well, he’s eligible to return from the DL on Sunday.
“You can feel as good as you can just walking around, but until you actually throw and see how it feels …” he said. “But it feels a whole lot better than it did.”
(snip)
“I pride myself on being able to pitch every fifth day, but I always want to make sure I’m healthy when I go out there.”
I want you to be healthy enough to yield a decent prospect. And thanks for all you’ve done as a Cub.
The Cubs return to Wrigley Field today to find out how much the repairs to the outfield grass have helped. If you didn’t see or had forgotten, it looked like my nephew’s little league outfield after the concerts during the last homestand. Gordon Wittenmyer took the Cubs to task for caring more about optimizing Wrigley’s value than optimizing Wrigley’s peak baseball-playing condition.
Players were diplomatic about the grotesque look of the field during that homestand and the perception that the use of the ballpark for every possible concert and paid yoga gathering looks more important than the baseball to the top business brass.
That’s right, yoga. Even as the rushed repairs to the Wrigley sod were struggling to take root, a photo was tweeted Sunday of what looked like hundreds of women stretching on yoga mats spread across the outfield grass.
To be fair, the Cubs aren’t going to do anything this year, good outfield grass or not. But I do feel sorry for the grounds crew who has to deal with this parade of events through Wrigley. And if it means more money in the coffers for the next couple years, then they stop doing these events, so be it. But Gordo and Scott Boras disagree.
But the relentless selling of Wrigley Field from the business side of the operation is creating a perception of franchise priorities that seem to take the baseball product for granted, if not push it into second-citizen status.
At best, it shows a lack of regard and respect for the baseball team and the baseball customers paying close to the top ticket prices in the game. At worst, it’s greed gone blind.
And it’s not just Chicagoans who are taking notice. Super-agent Scott Boras, a onetime Cubs farmhand and a former Chicago resident, was asked about an entirely unrelated subject when he went off about the concert-ravaged outfield.
‘‘Any executive who for a $1 million profit takes one of the grandest museums of our country and mars the dignity and appearance of that museum needs to re-examine his decision-making,’’ he said.
I feel like I’m in good company disagreeing with those two.
Sounds more and more like Rizzo will out of the frying pan and into the fire tomorrow. I don’t believe this is a good move. They shouldn’t be doing this at home.
Why not? He’s going to have to learn to play at home sooner or later.
I’d prefer later.
Oh whatevs. I’m bored. He can get his ass up here and entertain me.
Why does everything all of the sudden revolve around you?
All of a sudden? Doc, where have you been?
I was just being nice about it.
you want his ass to entertain you?
I’m detecting a trend….
1 left-handed bat that can hit well in the minors is going to make that big of a difference…? I hope he can add a spark to an incredibly unbelievably offense-deficient team. But I also hope Rizzo doesn’t get too caught up in all the hoopla(when the hoopla is due to reason stated above) and try to do things that ONE bat cannot overcome.
Um, Scott Boras is advocating NOT renting out Wrigley, he’s saying money isn’t always tne most important thing?
I’m confused
me too.
That’s exactly what he’s trying to do…confuse everyone…keep them off balance…and then “BAM!!”, Almora gets a $50 million signing bonus.
That would totally be a first…
So the Supreme Court struck down a provision that would allow Anthony Rizzo to play at Wrigley tonight.
This must be Clarence Thomas’s fault.
(I think I’m getting my Twitter timeline a bit mixed up.)
There’s going to be a congressional investigation into this. The Attorney General has to find some way to improve his and the government’s image.
So has anyone said or posted anything about longing to have Rudy Jaramillo back?
I haven’t been on twitter much this morning, but I’m going to go with “no.”
WHO?
I put a comment in there-what happened?
Obviously WordPress censored you. You probably said something nice about Rudy Jaramillo.
I just put the word crickets in brackets. Is that now on the forbidden list?
That’s a pretty bad word right there. And quite offensive to a large demographic. And I’m pretty sure that posting that word in a forum is forbidden in the Bible or something.
So, whom did I offend, the English with a reference to their beloved sport, or to the insect kigndom?
Todd Ricketts.
If you put a word in brackets the web browsers will think it is a software command and try to execute it. If it doesn’t fine the right command it will ignore it.
I still think it was Todd Ricketts.
Confirming first-hand that Anthony Rizzo is still in Iowa and in I-Cubs starting lineup. Looking not as happy/ thrilled during pre-game stretching as last few days. DeWitt (I think) just gave him “it’ll be OK” pats on shoulder. Rizzo hasn’t been hitting too well over past weekend.
Maybe going to play in the all-too-rare minors/majors doubleheader? Ricketts private jet @ Des Moines airport??
Maybe they are going to let the Iowa fans say good-bye to him before he goes to Chicago…
Anthony Rizzo was just pulled from the I-Cubs game in the 4th inning today.
Doesn’t necessarily mean anything…but I thought I would just report that.
Rizzo removed from game after hitting long fly out in bottom of 3rd inning. No sign of injury.
Guess the Ricketts Lear jet finally arrived and refueled….
Supposedly it is official, Rizzo has been recalled from Iowa.
Let the irrational exuberance begin.
Rizzo has interesting batting stance – not sure how he hit 20+ HRs. Hands held just above waist high. Fast hands/wrists.
He’s here! He’s here! OMG, he’s here!
Julie feels Rizzorific ? Or is that Rizzotastic?
Just in time for our 2nd-half push to the last wild-card playoff spot. You heard it here 1st
I wouldn’t get your hopes up too much. This team isn’t going to make much of a run when 1/2 the starting staff is trade away next month.
Hopes?….Hopes?….I just riding on pure unadulterated irrationality. I’m a Cub fan.
You’re such a buzz-kill.
Oh…and I don’t want to ruin the joyous atmosphere right now, but chances are Anthony Rizzo isn’t going to live up to the hype.
The Cub Gods are plotting a humility lesson as we speak for all of us
We can still get tickets in the 500s for $15. Who wants to go?
I don’t think you should go.
Why not?
Because you’ll run out onto the field, go up to Rizzo and give him a big kiss, hug him and then you’ll shout to him as security drags you off the field, “Anthony!!!! I love you!!!! I love you almost as much as I love AJ Pierzynski.”
(I’m just looking out for you. I don’t want you to go to jail or anything.)
Don’t worry Julie, Doc will drive down from Wisconsin to bail you out.
And I’m pretty sick and tired of having to do that every couple weeks.
Okay, that made me laugh,and now my co-workers want to see what’s wrong with me, as laughter is rarely heard here…
Sorry. I didn’t intend for that to be funny.
He’s not my type.
I had to pay $28. What gives? I obviously have the wrong friends . . .
I guess I’m not as excited as everybody else about his call up, but I figure it’s as good a reason as any to catch a game.
time to buy lil bro a Rizzo jersey!
Oh joyous day! I might start commenting again
This is almost like Charlie Brown when he gets ready to run up and try to kick the football again…
That’s better than feeling like Charlie Brown when he goes out to the pitchers mound (which is how most of the Cubs bullpen feels pretty much every day).
Or fly his kite on a beatiful spring day
And now for something completely different…
Marlon Byrd was just suspended for testing positive for a PED.
This was the first year I didn’t suspect him. Considering how much he “shrank” this spring, I thought was was off the stuff.
Of course, his performance early in the year may have persuaded him to go back on the juice.
Dammit–why couldn’t he use PEDs when he played for us?
I don’t think they really helped him at all haha at least we got out while the going was good (or, not as bad)
Sveum has confirmed that Rizzo will play first every day…even against lefties.
This could indicate that Jeff Baker is gone.
Otherwise, I would assume that Adrian Cardinas is the victim of Rizzomania.