This just in: Neal Cotts recalled from Iowa, Jose Ascanio returned. Ascanio did a nice job, but Lou wants two lefties. Strange, because he barely uses the one he has.
Topic of discussion: Crane Kenney says there is "no timetable" for the sale of the team and Wrigley Field:
Kenney said financial books will be sent soon to approved bidders.
"There's really no timetable. You'll probably hear that the books go out in the next few weeks and then a process of management interviews. Toward the second half of the season, you may have a new owner that has to get through the MLB process. And it's probably an end-of-the-year process," Kenney added.
Kenney said separate books for the ball park, the team and the Tribune Co.'s interest in Comcast SportsNet would be available.
"We'll have a book for the stadium only if that's where someone has their interest, and in the team only and in the Comcast SportsNet interest. If somebody wants three assets, they can get all three books," he said.
Been kind of busy this afternoon -- no real time for more links or info. Let's start this series with a win!
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Jason Marquis has been getting... well, a tiny bit better over his last few starts. He really does need to step it up. We are stuck with him. He threw seven good innings in Denver on April 24 in a game that Kevin Hart gave away. Matt Holliday and Brad Hawpe hit him well, but that doesn't matter since those guys are on the DL. The Rockies have been starting a makeshift lineup all week and it shows -- they have lost 12 of their last 17.
Jeff Francis has a lifetime ERA of 9.58 against the Cubs and if you were to think that was because of Coors Field, you'd be wrong. Three of Francis' four lifetime starts against the Cubs have been in Wrigley Field -- he has a 9.17 career ERA at Wrigley. Oddly, he has no record -- all four starts wound up as no-decisions (the teams split the four games, two in 2005, one in 2006, one last year). He has never retired Derrek Lee -- D-Lee is 6-for-6 against Francis, all singles, and has also walked three times.
Today's game is on cable in Chicago and Denver, on EI, and at the MLB.com Mediacenter.
MLB.com Gameday (2007 version)
MLB.com Gameday (2008 version)
Baseball-reference.com game preview
Today's overflow comment thread #1 will post at 8:15 pm CT and thread #2 will post at 9:15 CT.
Discuss amongst yourselves.