According to AOL.com's PostmanE, new Tribune Company/Cubs owner Sam Zell is considering selling the naming rights to Wrigley Field.  

Writes PostmanE, "he's dropping knowledge on his plans for the sale of the Cubs, including one interesting caveat: Wrigley Field's naming rights will be up for grabs..."

The article goes on to recklessly speculate that Portillos Hot Dogs might pony up the cash to have their name attacked to our beloved park, but then also mentions that a national corporation would be more likely.

This reopens a number of debate topics.  I seem to recall many posters on this website decrying the new advertising signage in the outfield. Will a renamed stadium cause you to avoid more games?  Will you boycott whoever purchases the naming rights?  

Is advertising inside the ballpark and even a stadium name change something you'd be willing to give up for more payroll?

Considering previous online discussions and Postman E's comment that, "The bleacher bums embrace the history of Wrigley even as the stadium crumbles down around them," does this hasten the day a wrecking ball is taken to Wrigley and the Cubs play in a new ballpark?

The article in reference can be found at:  http://sports.aol.com/fanhouse/2007/12/21/welcome-to-wrigley-field-at-portillos-park/?ncid=NWS000100 00000001

It appears as if the Tampa Bay Devil Rays are not more.  They plan to drop the "Devil" from their name, making themselves the Tampa Bay Rays.  

This is from Larry Brown:

The new ownership group in charge of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays is making yet another change to the franchise. As Deadspin points out, Tampa Bay is changing the team's nickname and uniforms for the '08 season. From now on, they will simply be the "Rays," dropping "Devil" from the nickname. The franchise's new logo and uniforms have already been released, and the green appears to be gone from the color scheme.  While some people can mock the Rays for the change, I applaud it. A complete franchise makeover includes changing the nickname and uniforms in order to avoid all ties to the past culture of losing. Under the leadership of new executives, it seems like Tampa Bay is doing all it can to tweak its franchise image. It's about time; that's exactly what they need. Don't get me wrong, nicknames and uniforms don't win games. But this is a good start.

I understand the desire to break cultural connections from a losing past...but darn it, I like the nickname Devil Rays.  Rays doesn't have the same pizzazz.  Yet, if this is what it takes to crush the Yankees, I'm all for it.

From the lovely and talented Carrie Muskat on Cubs.com:

Cubs manager Lou Piniella wouldn't commit on Wednesday, but he is considering moving Soriano to the second spot and inserting Ryan Theriot into the leadoff spot.

Why does Muskat feel confident writing this when Piniella et. al. were seemingly committed to keeping Soriano at leadoff long-term?  It's this cryptic Piniella facial expression:

Asked if he was tempted to have a lineup of Theriot, Soriano, Lee and Aramis Ramirez, in that order, Piniella smiled.

But any move of this sort would require the consent of our $136 million dollar man, Mr. Soriano.  He would have to be on board with any such move in the batting order.  What does our Left Fielder have to say concerning the batting order.

"[Batting leadoff] is important for me, but now I'm batting third because Derrek Lee's not here," Soriano said. "If he wants me to move when Lee comes back, batting third or batting in a different part of the lineup, it's [Piniella's] decision. I'll do whatever he wants, because I think he wants to do something to make the team better."

Not exactly a whole-hearted embrace of the number two slot, but it looks like he's at least open to it because of his respect for Piniella.  Good to see.  Not only that, but he cites a "the team is more important than any individual player" philosophy.  

But on a similar note, if they move Soriano down in the order to the two-hole, they're still not moving him down far enough.  If Uncle Lou ever called me up and asked me what sort of line-up I'd like to see, it would be as follows:

1--Theriot
2--Lee
3--Soriano
4--Ramirez
5--Murton
6--Barrett
7--Jones
8--DeRosa
9--the Pitcher

A la Cubs.com reporter Carrie Muskat in her Monday Mailbag piece:

Why aren't the Cubs wearing the blue alternate jerseys this year?
-- Joshua M., Rockford, Ill.

It was a team decision. We'll have to see if Carlos Zambrano talks them into wearing blue again. That was his favorite.

What the heck does this even mean?  That starting pitchers no longer decide what the daily uniform will be, that the team has a vote on it instead (what a waste of player time).  Other folks say that management made the decision to retire the blue tops.  Interesting.

Since I didn't see it anywhere else on BCB, I'll add this post.

mlbtraderumors.com writes that the Cubs are looking to make a trade before opening day.  

MLBTradeRumors.com has word from a reputable source that the Cubs are looking to make a deal.  They are after one more solid player, but I'm not sure what position they're trying to fill.

A possibly related piece of info is that a Cubs scout was in attendance at a recent Braves/Blue Jays spring game.  That pretty much sums up the extent of what I know; anything else would be speculation.

Browsing that box score, I'm not sure what would make sense.  Josh Towers is available and was on display, but how does that help the Cubs?  Jason Marquis can already post a 5.50 ERA.  The Cubs have Jacque Jones to spare, but neither the Braves not the Jays need a right fielder.  Take your best guess in the comments; I really don't know what could be cooking.  Please, no Andruw Jones speculation.