It will be nice to have the new owners identified, though, and maybe that would move along a resurrected Peavy deal, or any deal, for that matter.

If the new owner is identified in 7-10 days, it’s January 12-15 at that time.  I’d say if it’s announced that quickly, or at least identified to Hendry, there’s a very good chance a deal gets done for Hendry.  I’m guessing Hendry made the trade HOPING a deal could get done and probably had on good authority the new owners would be identified soon.

If I am holding the winning bid, I tell Zell and/or the Trib my terms of the deal and if they don’t like it, find another buyer. It’s a buyers market for almost everything in the country right now, including MLB teams.
Zell bought the Trib and the team at the absolute worst time, the beginning of the recession. Now he has to deal with the decision. My fear is that he will decide to hold the team until markets improve, which could be 12-24 months, then start the process all over.

bs, how could Zell do that though?  If Zell decides to do that I think the bankruptcy courts get involved.  That money can be used for numerous things.  In all seriousness, I’d put the odds of something like that happening at less than 1%.

Honestly, where does this Bradley has a bad attitude horse shit come from. Where do people come up with this? I hear everyone making baseless accusations, but no evidence to back their words. People are running with this crap.

  I just smoked a bowl of the sweetest kind bud on earth. Gotta love it.

he continues his pathological obsession with declaring a Peavy trade an impossibility. Predictable, that one.

He must continue his perfect streak of being incredibly wrong.

That’s a good point, too. Some of his new teammates, who have been here longer, have to sit down with him and have a talk so that maybe they can head that off.

Dempster would be my first choice to do that.

“That’s my opinion and if you don’t like it, well, I have others.” ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Jan 5, 2009 5:43 PM CST up reply   0 recs

STFU Al, offering Milton Bradley to chaparone your dinner with Ryan Dempster isn’t going to sweeten the deal for him. Face it, he’s not going to dinner with you nor is he going to the bathroom.

DrCrawdad chiming in with his usual ill-informed, ignorant brand of douchebaggery

I can only imagine what a sad, pathetic life that guy must lead.

And apparently most of them don’t understand the concept of park factor, namely that Wrigley is like the Ballpark at Arlington, though not quite as big a hitter’s park, and that Bradley played in the abysses of Dodger Stadium and the Coliseum before this year. Oh, and Petco, lest I forget. But apparently he’s a “flash in the pan, coming off a career year.” Nice cherry picking by the retard brigade.

It’s only a matter of time before he calls Bradley “uppity.“

Maybe his true colors will shine through long enough for the lemmings to see him for what he is. Then again, I think very few of them are capable of that. On the plus side, this is making for some great drama, and may even lead to another wave of mass bannings!

As opposed to Theriot, who at least runs hard on every ground ball he sends right to one of the middle infielders.

Cuz he’s fucking white. He isn’t a fuckin slack ass latin or black. Scraptastic.

Levine has apparently reported on XM radio that the 3rd year is a vesting option based on games played in the first 2 years.  That would be outstanding.

Oh my flipping lord this lineup can hit.

I can’t wait to see it on the field.

Stick that in your buckeye.

Hell of a fucking game.

What is it about Texas and BCS bowls?

2005: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J7muyPpzcHM
2006: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8zZRBTOcnY&feature=related
2009: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3tFzslwrbI

In conclusion, Texas + BCS Bowl = Ryno coronary

The deal, expected to be in the three-year, $30 million range, will be finalized after the two sides work through language issues and Bradley passes a physical, sources said.
—foxsports.com

Wow. Bradley can’t even make it through a contract negotiation without angrily cursing. Why’d we get this guy?

i’ve been saying this for a while, and if the trib is dropping hints that means it at least is a possibility.  the market currently does not support a sale of the cubs at a valuation that zell expected, and the chances this team gets sold in 09 are a lot lower than they were before the bankruptcy.

bankruptcy means they have more time than they did before, and as such there is no chance they will sell this team at $0.70 cents on the dollar amidst abysmal credit conditions.  if he had multiple bids 6 months ago at $1bn+, and he currently has 2 bidders left at ~$700…he’s not selling anytime soon.  The only reason you would is if (1) you had to make a payment to avoid default, or (2) you thought for some reason these bidders wouldn’t show up when you kicked off the process again later this year.  1 is now off the table, and 2 seems remote at best.

MLB won’t like the overhang, fans won’t like it, but the team will not be sold under these capital markets conditions.  It makes no sense for them to do so, and actually I could see a scenario where the bankruptcy court would not even let them sell the team if it could be seen by creditors as a firesale.

It will be interesting to say the least, but Zell could absolutely hide behind bankruptcy protection and wait this one out (and hopefully cuban’s sec investigation to run its course…)

If they are sold, it means someone came pretty close to where the bids were before, wherever that may be.

Oh my flipping lord this lineup can hit.

It’s going to be exciting.  By the way, Colin, what was the runs per game with Soto in the 3-hole and Ramirez in the 6th spot?  I’m assuming it’s higher.

Apparently Bradley has thrice been to the playoffs. He hit well in two and poorly in one.

Odd. In the one series he didn’t hit, his team won.

The other two series, his team got swept.

Just sayin’.

“That’s my opinion and if you don’t like it, well, I have others.” ~ Groucho Marx
by Al on Jan 5, 2009 8:18 PM CST up reply   0 recs

Yellon is struggling to find any reason to hate Bradley. Pathetic.

e-mail, MD.  There’s still some edits I want to make, but it’s a start.

I don’t agree.  Texas beat Oklahoma and since it was essentially between those 2 teams to play in the NC game, the obvious right answer was Texas.

On a neutral field, no less. The BCS is just fucked, and all the MSM fawning over Tebow (a.k.a. future NFL TE) if Florida does win will just be insufferable.

The only reason you would is if (1) you had to make a payment to avoid default, or (2) you thought for some reason these bidders wouldn’t show up when you kicked off the process again later this year.  1 is now off the table, and 2 seems remote at best.

There’s also another more likely reason:  the Tribune filed for bankruptcy and nobody challenged the exclusion of the Cubs since they were going to be sold soon, which would help pay down debt, but if they don’t sell them, the Cubs will be included in he bankruptcy filing and Zell is even more fucked than he is by accepting .70 on the dollar. 

Zell or his sources have said lots of things that had no possibility of ever happening throughout this whole thing.  Selling the field to the state was never going to happen, but Zell has brought it up as recently as a couple weeks ago.

If Oklahoma wins Texas is the real national champion in my opinion.

Cool. Let me know when your Official Maddog National Champions T-shirts are ready so I can order one.

Over dinner?

Yellon style.

He’s right. We really shouldn’t do that.

Yeah. The whole “we only need Bradley in the playoffs” line of reasoning seems flatly wrong to me.

Don’t forget he went crazy on the Royals announcer, who had every right to analyze Bradley. Now magnify the attention he’s gonna get at Wrigley Field’s RF and Chicago’s media. Let’s see how crazy he goes then.
by dtpollitt on Jan 5, 2009 8:29 PM CST up reply   0 recs

That’s one thing I worry about. His first press conference will set the tone for his tenure here.
“That’s my opinion and if you don’t like it, well, I have others.” ~ Groucho Marx
by Al on Jan 5, 2009 8:29 PM CST up reply   0 recs

I thought him being injured was the thing that worried Al…

His first press conference will set the tone for his tenure here.

That sound you hear is the goalposts being shifted. You’ll become accustomed to it as it happens throughout the year.  Try to not get it confused with sound of Yellon patting himself on the back if Bradley gets injured.

What is he just sayin though?

He’s saying he can’t find any reason to like Bradley.

These people live in a fantasy world.

Yep.

texas closed out well last night, but the big 12 has been exposed.

I’ve heard a lot of that. I haven’t watched all the bowl games, but I did watch last night (obviously). They played like shit in the first half. They played more like they usually do in the second half and managed to score three touchdowns. Once they adjusted, they pushed that staunch Big 10 defense around just fine.

I think florida smacks Oklahoma around tonight.

I hope so. I hope they also beat them when they play on Thursday.

Pettitte turned down the Yankees offer and we know Hendry is going to look for another starter (this was confirmed yesterday) so why not Pettitte…if no Peavy deal can be reached?

I’d love a Pettitte deal.

Hendry is going to look for another starter (this was confirmed

no link=not true

Pettitte turned down the Yankees offer and we know Hendry is going to look for another starter (this was confirmed yesterday) so why not Pettitte…if no Peavy deal can be reached?

Has Pettitte softened his stance about only playing in Houston or New York?

I think the Cubs should retire Sosa’s number if he doesn’t play this season. The time is right!

I just noticed there is no mention anywhere on BTI of the story pmayo discusses above. Just your average the sale could be decided within weeks or not at all. I’d say that has alot to do with the future of this ballclub. According to BTI, it’s as if this story is of no importance to the Cubs. LMAO.

You really wanna see Al go ape shit.

You mean we haven’t seen the best yet?

new thread up

I set mine to post at around 3:30.

Oops. Sorry. This thing got me so revved up, though, I had to post it. I can almost guarantee we’ll be the only Cubs blog with it up.

No need to apologize.  Mine was just revisiting Joe Sheehan’s crazy remarks about the Yankees not offering arbitration to Abreu being some horrible decision.  I’d think a team that has won 26 titles and has been to nearly 36% of all World Series should be given the benefit of the doubt.

Pettitte turned down the Yankees offer and we know Hendry is going to look for another starter (this was confirmed yesterday) so why not Pettitte…if no Peavy deal can be reached?

Seriously guys . . .  No Thanks. Not much left in his tank.