Eric Gagne On The DL Again May 24, 2008
Posted by misterbaseball in ..Injuries, Milwaukee Brewers.Tags: ..Injuries, Baseball, Disabled List, Eric Gagne
add a comment
The Milwaukee Brewers closer, Eric Gagne, has been placed on the DL
with rotator cuff tendinitis. The Brewers knew that bringing Gagne in
this season was a risky move. The closer was almost unhittable
pitching for the Dodgers from 2002-2004. Unfortunately, he has been
suffering from injuries off and on ever since 2005. In 2006, Gagne
only managed to pitch 2 innings for the Dodgers. Last season, Gagne
split time between the Boston Red Sox and Texas Rangers. He did not
perform well for the Red Sox in the second half of the season but did
an excellent job as the Rangers closer converting 16 or 17 save opportunities. This season he is off to a poor start. He ERA is 6.98
and he has converted only 10 of 15 save opportunities. With Gagne
going to the DL the Brewers are considering 35 year old Julian Tavarez
to fill the closers role. Tavarez was recently released by the Boston
Red Sox. The Brewers also have experience at the closer’s position with
Salomon Torres, Guillermo Mota and Seth McClung.
Mike Cameron Returns From Suspension May 2, 2008
Posted by misterbaseball in Milwaukee Brewers.add a comment
Milwaukee Brewers center fielder, Mike Cameron, has returned from a 25
game suspension to start the season. This is Cameron’s first season as
a Brewer. Tuesday night Cameron played center field and batted second
for the Brewers as they visited the Chicago Cubs. He went 3-5 at the
plate while scoring 2 runs and
driving in 2. Cameron is known for
playing exceptional defense during his career and has always provided
speed and power at the plate. The Brewers are hoping that he can
provide some veteran leadership for this young team as they compete for
the National League Central Crown in 2008.
Milwaukee Brewers Review March 7, 2008
Posted by misterbaseball in Milwaukee Brewers.add a comment
The Milwaukee Brewers are putting together a team that should be able to compete not only for the National League Central Division title, but a team that may be able to win in October. They boast a powerful young lineup and some great bloodlines on their roster. At 1B is Prince Fielder. He hit 50 home runs last season and will turn 24 this May. Rickie Weeks will be at 2B. The Brewers are hoping he can stay healthy this season and live up to his potential. He is only 25 but has never played more than 118 games in a season. J.J. Hardy had a breakout season last year clubbing 26 home runs and driving in 80 runs. The 25 year old SS will hope to build off last year’s success. At 3B will be Bill Hall. The Brewers tried to play Hall in CF last year and it wasn’t a very productive season for him. He will move back into the infield and hopefully be an upgrade defensively at 3B. Ryan Braun will take his bat to LF this season. He had a tremendous first season offensively in the big leagues, but committed 26 errors. The Brewers are hoping his move to LF and Hall going to 3B will help improve the team’s defense. For CF the Brewers signed Mike Cameron this off-season. He will provide some veteran leadership and gold glove caliber defense in CF. The only problem with Cameron is the 25 game suspension he is supposed to serve at the beginning of the season for use of a banned substance. Cameron claims it was a tainted nutritional supplement that he took. The fact is he won’t be available for the first 25 games. During his absence look for Tony Gwynn to start in CF. The son of a Hall of Famer will probably be used as a fourth outfielder, pinch hitter and pinch runner this season. In RF is emerging star Corey Hart. He provides power and surprising speed for his size. Look for him to flirt with a 30 homer/30 stolen bases this season. At catcher veteran Jason Kendall will be the starter.
The Brewers pitching staff begins with ace and oft injured Ben Sheets. He has not pitched over 160 innings since the 2004 season when he logged 237 innings. When Sheets is healthy he has the potential to be one of the most dominant pitchers in the game. If he’s able to start 30 or more games the Brewers will benefit greatly. Things fall off a little bit after Sheets in the rotation. Three veterans competing for a spot in the starting rotation are Jeff Suppan, Chris Capuano, and Dave Bush. Suppan pitched over 200 innings last year for the Brewers while Bush led the staff with 134 strikeouts. Capuano is looking to rebound from last years struggles. The Brewers are hoping that Yovani Gallardo and Carlos Villanueva are able to contribute this season. Both are young and appear to be the future for this team’s starting rotation. Look for the Brewers to figure out their rotation this spring with Sheets leading the way.
The bullpen will look to Eric Gagne to fill the closers role this year. If he is unable to perform the Brewers have experience in that role with Derrick Turnbow and newcomer Salomon Torres.
The Brewers figure to be contenders in the Central Division of the National League, but they may be another year or two away from contending for a World Series Championship. Their pitching and defense are the two areas they need to strengthen before that can happen. But rest assured, they are on the right track.
The Future of the Cubbies-Part 2 of 4 Top Ten Buyer Candidates March 2, 2008
Posted by misterbaseball in Arizona Diamondbacks, Baltimore Orioles, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Milwaukee Brewers, New York Yankees, Seattle Mariners.2 comments
If Sam Zell follows through on this commitment to sell the Cubs, which is a 99% possibility at this point, how does that decision impact the Cubs, and their ability to win a World Series Championship?
There are many factors that go into who will acquire the Cubs. Primarily, it will come down to approval of three-fourths of MLB owners, and a sign off by Bud Selig. Except for the sale of his own Milwaukee Brewers in 2005, I doubt Selig has ever been more interested in a franchise sale. He quickly points out that it was in Wrigley Field in 1944 “I saw my first major league game, so I’ve been going there for 63 years.” Selig has also been quoted saying a local owner is preferred and that he will pay very strict attention to the sale. (Hal Brody, USA Today, 2007).
So here they are, Big League Chatter’s:
Top Ten Potential Buyers of the Chicago Cubs
Peter Angelos: Trial lawyer (http://www.angeloslaw.com) and the current owner of the Baltimore
Orioles. He led a group of investors that purchased the team in 1993 for $173 million from Eli Jacobs. Reported as recently engaged in prolonged discussions with Cal Ripken, Jr. about selling the Orioles to the former shortstop and other financial backers.
Notes: 15 years of MLB ownership experience, but going into the 2008 season, the Orioles have had ten consecutive sub-.500 seasons.
Bill Murray: Award winning actor. Gained national exposure on
Saturday Night Live, following that with roles in films such as Stripes, Groundhog Day, Space Jam, Caddyshack, Ghostbusters and Rushmore. Known as being the Cubs #1 fan.
Notes: Murray doesn’t appear to be a serious buyer for the Cubs. He has reportedly shrugged off the prospect of becoming a part owner of the team. Tribune Co. announced plans in April 2007 to sell the Cubs, and Murray said he has been approached about becoming part of a group that would make a bid. "I heard from a couple of people," he said, "but I’m not that organized." (USA Today, 2007).
Jerry Colangelo: Former majority owner of the Phoenix Suns of the NBA, the Phoenix Mercury
of the WNBA, the Arizona Rattlers of the Arena Football League and the Arizona Diamondbacks. Colangelo has been named the NBA’s Executive of the Year four times (1976, 1981, 1989, 1993).
Notes: Colangelo brought the Diamondbacks into existence and from 1998-2004, amassed a record of 575-559, with three first place finishes in the National League, and one World Series title against the Yankees in 2001.
Jeff Smulyan: Founder and Chairman of the Board of Emmis Communications Corporation, an
Indianapolis-based radio, TV and magazine publishing company with operations in 10 U.S. markets, as well as Hungary, Belgium, Bulgaria (Emmis.com, 2007). As principal shareholder, he led a group that purchased the Seattle Mariners baseball team in 1989, selling the club three years later. During that time, Smulyan served on the Major League Baseball owner’s Ownership and Television committees. (Wikipedia, 2007).
Notes: Under Smulyan ownership, Mariners were 233-253. Should fit Selig’s “local” criteria.
Andy McKenna: Chairman of McDonald’s Corporation. Mr. McKenna is also the Chairman of
Schwarz Supply Source. He is a director of Aon Corporation, Chicago Bears Football Club, Inc., McDonald’s Corporation and Skyline Corporation. He acted as Chairman of the Chicago White Sox during his group’s ownership of that organization from 1975-1981. He also served as Chairman of the Board of the Chicago Cubs, upon purchase of that entity by Tribune Company, from August 1981 through December of 1984. He also owns a portion of the Bears.
Notes: Former Cubs Chairman is "mentioned as capable of putting together an investor group," (Tribune 2007).
Ricketts Family: Joe Ricketts, was the founder and chairman of TD Ameritrade, the largest
online discount brokerage in the world, based in Omaha, Nebraska. In 2007, Ricketts and his family ranked #161, according to Forbes Magazine, of the 400 wealthiest americans, with a net worth of $2.6 billion. Though he grew up in Omaha, Tom Ricketts received a bachelor’s degree and an MBA from the University of Chicago and worked as a pit trader at the Chicago Board Options Exchange before forming Incapital with several partners. Tom’s younger sister Laura, who started a Web firm called Ecotravel.com, also lives in Chicago, as does younger brother Todd, who has worked in the financial-services industry. Pete Ricketts told a reporter during his Senate campaign that at one time he lived across the street from Wrigley Field and is a longtime Cubs fan (Wikipedia, 2007).
Notes: The Ricketts have apparently kept a low profile up to this point. It appears they recognize Selig’s "local" criteria and are pressing to emphasize Tom Ricketts’ ties to Chicago and the family’s interest in being long-term owners of the Cubs.
Tom Begel: Chairman and Principal of TMB Industries, a private investment firm formed by him in
1989, specializing in the acquisition and operation of industrial and manufacturing companies. He is Chairman of DynAmerica LLC and Grand Craft, Inc., as well as a Director of NutraMax, Inc., Weber Manufacturing and Miller Products. Mr. Begel was Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Transportation Technologies, and Chairman of Fuel Systems LLC and Phillips & Temro LLC. In addition, he was Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of The Pullman Company until its acquisition in 1988 and was Senior Vice President of the Engineered Products Group of the Signal Companies, Inc., and Senior Vice President of Wheelabrator-Frye, Inc. from 1981 to 1983. He is a graduate of the University of Missouri at Columbia (TMBIndustries.com, 2007).
Notes: Begel has been reported as assembling a group of 15 investors to purchase the Cubs, of which include William Marovitz, a restaurant owner, and Ernie Banks, who has contacted John Canning Jr. as well for a possible partnership.
Mark Cuban: Entrepreneur and owner of the Dallas Mavericks NBA basketball team. With an
estimated net worth of $2.6 billion, he was ranked 161st on the 2007 Forbes 400 list of richest Americans. Cuban has quite the portfolio of companies such as HDNet, Landmark Theaters and others ventures.
Notes: Cuban’s Mavericks have been to the playoff’s every year since his purchase in 2000, taking a loss to the Miami Heat in the finals of 2005-2006 season. The team has racked up an amazing 446 wins, compared to only 187 losses during Cuban’s tenure. That’s a winning percentage well over .700. “My goal has always been to make the league better, better as a business and better as a product for the fans.” (Portfolio.com, 2007). Speculation is that Cuban would not get approval from the three-quarter vote of current MLB owners. “The commissioner wants no renegades who will break ranks on labor matters or break the bank on player salaries” (John Helyar, ESPN.com, 2007).
Don Levin: Founded D.R.L. Enterprises in 1969, according to his biography on the Wolves’ web
site. The Chicago-based company has holdings in industries including tobacco processing, aircraft and medical-equipment leasing.
Notes: Levin is ready to buy the Cubs, He’s a local guy, fits the bill as a pro sports owner, and has been successful in business and with the minor-league Chicago Wolves hockey team. "I have been in contact with the people at Tribune and with bankers," Levin said after returning from a business trip to Australia, New Zealand and Hawaii. "I’m putting together the necessary things to bid on the team." Levin’s Wolves have won three championships since their inception in 1994, and he remains a passionate Cubs fan (Chicagotribune.com, 2007).
John Canning Jr.: CEO of Madison Dearborn Partners, (MDP) LLC, which specializes in
management buyout and special equity investing. MDP manages over $10 billion of committed capital and portfolio investments. Prior to founding MDP in 1993, Mr. Canning spent 24 years with First Chicago Corporation, most recently as Executive Vice President of The First National Bank of Chicago and President of First Chicago Venture Capital. He currently serves on the Boards of Directors of The Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, Economic Club of Chicago, Jefferson Smurfit Group plc, Milwaukee Brewers Baseball Club, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, and Children’s Inner City Educational Fund. He also serves on the Boards of Trustees of the Big Shoulders Fund, The Chicago Community Trust, Dublin City University Educational Trust, The Field Museum, Museum of Science and Industry, and Northwestern University (Wikipedia, 2007).
Notes: Local Chicago native should get approval from Selig and MLB owners. Considered the favorite by John Helyar at ESPN.com. Gregory Meyer of ChicagoBusiness.com also favors Canning stating “Mr. Canning’s appears to have the upper hand, partly because of his track record as a part-owner of the Milwaukee Brewers and his friendship with Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig.”
So there they are. The top ten potential buyers of Chicago’s beloved Cubbies. While it’s apparent that many fans are rooting for Mark Cuban to buy the Cubs, as are most of the analysts here at Big League Chatter, John Canning Jr. appears to have everything in place to solidify a deal on the Cubs.
