waldo7239117: July 2009 Archives

Bruce Levine had this on his blog at ESPNCHICAGO.com:

"Major League Baseball sources confirm that the sale would actually be only $850 million in cash, since Tribune owner Sam Zell will keep 5-7 percent ownership in the team in order to avoid a huge tax bite because of capital gains taxes. Zell will put most of the money that he realizes in the sale toward his debt of $8.1 billion that he paid for the Tribune Company, now in Chapter 11 receivership."

"The Ricketts family borrowed $450 million from three major banks: JP Morgan, Bank of America and Citicorp. The rate of the financing will be between 5 and 6 percent annually; that means that the Cubs' new owners must come up with $25-30 million per year just to pay financing on the loan. An impeccable major league source told me that the Cubs netted $45 million in 2008. New revenue sources, including personal seat licensing (PSLs) will be a part of the aggressive way the new owners will look for more cash."

Ot ...

Aramis Ramirez is playing third and batting third for Peoria Chiefs today in his last rehab start.

First at-bat: Singles on a fly ball to left field, 1-1

Second at-bat: Walk, 1-1

Third at-bat: Flys out to the right field, 1-2

Reed Johnson is playing CF and batting first for Peoria Chiefs in his last rehab start.

First at-bat: Singles on a fly ball to center field and scored a run, 1-1

Second at-bat: Flys out to the CF, 1-2

Third at-bat: Grounds out to the pitcher, 1-3

Fourth at-bat: Pops out to the first baseman in foul territory, 1-4

If everything goes exactly as plan and both of them feel 100% or close they will be activated off the 15 day DL tomorrow.

Aramis Ramirez is the DH and batting third for Peoria Chiefs today in his second rehab start.

First at-bat: Grounded into double play, 0-1

Second at-bat: Walk, 0-1

Third at-bat: Single on a line drive to left field and got a rbi, 0-1

Reed Johnson is playing CF and batting first for the Peoria Chiefs today in his second rehab start.

First at-bat: Walk, 0-0

I will have the rehab starts after the game tomorrow.

Aramis Ramirez is playing third and batting third for Peoria Chiefs today in his first rehab start.

First at-bat: Double on a line drive to CF and scored a run, 1-1

Second at-bat: Walk and scored a run, 1-1

Third at-bat: Flys out to the right fielder, 1-2

Reed Johnson is playing CF and batting first for Peoria Chiefs today.

First at-bat: Pop out to the SS, 0-1

Second at-bat: Single on a line drive to CF and scored a run, 1-2

Third at-bat: Hit By Pitch, 1-2

Angel Guzman is pitching for Triple A Iowa today in a rehab start.

Guzman pitched 1.1 inning giving up 1 hit, 1 walk and struck out 1, he was relieved bu newly acquired Casey Fossum.

The first batter he face in the game was Texas Rangers CF Josh Hamilton which is also on a rehab start for the Rangers. Guzman force Hamilton to ground out.

If everything goes well for Ramirez and Johnson, they can come back as early as Monday and Guzman will eithe ...