Chicago Sun-Times

Ricketts talks up Wrigley Field renovation, but what about Cubs?

Thu, 02 May 2013 02:30:22 -0500

The pictures look impressive. The rhetoric is almost inspiring. But with every shiny new announcement of a Wrigley renovation deal that’s not even close to being approved, it gets harder to keep your eye on the ball. You know, the ball the Cubs pitcher just threw into the outfield. Or the one the Cubs opponent just hit onto Waveland. Or the one the Cubs cleanup hitter just swung at and missed with a man on third. This is what all the ownership bluster is about — or should be. The baseball. It’s certainly how history will measure this debt-burdened, street-fair-pushing, …

Regarding Derrick Rose return, Thibs doesn’t concur with Kerr

Thu, 02 May 2013 02:29:23 -0500

Former Bulls guard Steve Kerr’s comments didn’t go unnoticed. There just weren’t a lot of people at the Berto Center who agreed with what he said about Derrick Rose. During the Game 5 telecast on TNT, Kerr was asked about Rose working through the mental hurdles of coming back from a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee and said, “I think where the Bulls are now with this series with Kirk Hinrich struggling with the calf injury, if Derrick is OK and there’s no threat to further injury, I think he’s got to play. He has to put …

Pierzynski on getting hit by pitch: ‘Not the way you’re supposed to play the game’

Wed, 01 May 2013 23:25:45 -0500

ARLINGTON, Texas -- Leave it to A.J. Pierzynski to find himself in a minor dustup with his former team, even when he wasn’t an instigator. The Texas Rangers catcher was hit by a pitch from Sox closer Addison Reed in the ninth inning of the Sox’ 5-2 victory on Wednesday night. The pitch hit Pierzynski on his right elbow pad, which he seemed to move slightly in the path of the pitch to get on base. Pierzynski batted with two outs, so getting hit in that situation didn’t loom large until Ian Kinsler singled after him, bringing the tying run …

Blackhawks’ depth played big role in Game 1 victory

Thu, 02 May 2013 02:28:49 -0500

Rotations tend to shrink in the postseason, particularly in the NBA and baseball. But the grind of a Stanley Cup playoff series makes depth invaluable in hockey and the Blackhawks already are showing theirs off. Deep into the first overtime against the Minnesota Wild in Game 1 of their Western Conference quarterfinal series, the Blackhawks’ third line of Andrew Shaw, Viktor Stalberg and Bryan Bickell and their No. 3 defensive pairing of Johnny Oduya and Michal Roszival applied a master’s stroke to a finger-painting to give the Blackhawks a 2-1 victory and a 1-0 series lead. Shaw’s big hit behind …

Bears sign draft picks Jordan Mills, Cornelius Washington

Wed, 01 May 2013 18:54:18 -0500

Two down, four more to go. The Bears are wasting little time reaching deals with their 2013 draft class, announcing they’ve agreed to terms with offensive tackle Jordan Mills and defensive end Cornelius Washington on four-year contracts on Wednesday. Mills and Washington are the first draft picks this year to sign with their respective teams. Bears first-round pick Kyle Long, a guard from Oregon, remains unsigned. Deals also need to be reached with linebackers Jon Bostic (Florida) and Khaseem Greene (Rutgers) and receiver Marquess Wilson (Washington State). Mills (6-5, 316 pounds) was selected out of Louisiana Tech with the 163rd …