Laura

Thanks for the update, Ron! Hope all is well with you. I don't know how I missed this: but congrats! The broadcasts would definitely suffer in your absence. Here's hoping that they sort out the 'net problems by Opening Day!

Exactly, so I guess technically they would be paying that $ over 6 years, but Helton would only be playing for 5 of them. The mention of the six years in the article refers to paying Helton, not to Helton playing. The full article gives more details on the money per year breakdown and the buyout. So I don't see where there's a mistake about his contract in the article.

HA HA HA

Just like you, the article assumes the $4.6M buyout will be exercised in 2012. 2007-2010: 16.6M 2011: 19.1M 2012: 23M club option, 4.6M buyout 108.5 without buyout, 90.1M with buyout

None taken. But I wouldn't hold my breath for an official announcement entitled "How We Screwed Up MLB EI."

NOES!

So you're already booked for the summer of '07?

Cots says he has a regular opt-out clause in '07 and the highest-paid player opt-out in '08 and '09.

BTW, they had the XM reporter who has been covering this on air yesterday -- missed his name. He said that the cable companies offered to match DirectTV's bid to keep it non-exclusive and the decision came down to the MLB Baseball Channel that they're planning to launch. The cable companies couldn't guarantee carrying it before 2009 and there were disagreements over how widely it should be carried (as part of MLB EI, as part of a different sports package, etc). DirectTV is apparently going to carry it more widely (albeit among a smaller constumor base).

Cubs Spring Training Broadcast Schedule Date vs Time (CT) Broadcast March 1 SF 2:05 WGN Radio & XM181 March 2 LAA 2:05 See Opposing Team Schedule & Gameday Audio March 3 @OAK 2:05 See Opposing Team Schedule & Gameday Audio 3:00* XM177 March 4 CWS 2:05 WGN TV & WGN Radio 3:00* XM178 March 5 @SEA 2:05 XM178 March 6 MIL 2:05 Webcast (Milwaukee) March 7 OAK 2:05 Webcast (Oakland) March 8 @SD 2:05 XM177 March 9 SD (SS) 2:05 CSN Chicago Tex (SS) 2:05 March 10 @ KC 2:05 CSN Chicago, WGN Radio & XM176 March 11 Mil 3:05 WGN Radio, WTMJ620 (Mil) & XM178 March 12 @ SF 3:05 CSN Chicago March 13 @Ari 3:05 March 14 OFFDAY March 15 SEA 3:05 March 16 @CWS 3:05 WGN TV (White Sox broadcast) March 17 SD 3:05 WGN TV, WGN Radio & XM179 March 18 @LAA 3:05 CSN Chicago & WGN Radio March 19 SEA (SS) 3:05 @MIL (SS) 3:05 March 20 @Col 3:05 See Opposing Team Schedule March 21 Texas 3:05 CSN Chicago March 22 @ SD 3:05 CSN Chicago & XM180 March 23 SF 3:05 See Opposing Team Schedule March 24 @ SF 3:05 CSN Chicago, WGN Radio & XM184 March 25 LAA 3:05 WGN TV, WGN Radio & XM185 March 26 @LAA 3:05 CSN Chicago & XM183 March 27 KC 3:05 See Opposing Team Schedule / Gameday Audio March 28 Col 3:05 March 29 ARI 2:05 CSN Chicago March 30 SEA (Vegas) 9:15 WGN TV & WGN Radio March 31 @SEA (Vegas) 3:05 CSN Chicago, WGN Radio & XM187 *both these games are 2:05 start times but are listed as 3:00 broadcast times due to conflicts with earlier spring training game broadcasts. XM picks up the game in mid-broadcast. Please note that games with only XM listings are the opposing team broadcasts. WGN Radio broadcasts begin with a pre-game show one half hour before gametime. Opposing Teams' Broadcasts (vs. Cubs) Date vs Time (CT) Broadcast March 1 SF 2:05 MLB.com March 2 LAA 2:05 ESPN710 Radio March 3 OAK 2:05 KIFR Radio (106.9), KYCY1550 March 5 @SEA 2:05 KOMO Radio March 8 SD 2:05 XPRS Radio (107.5FM) March 10 @KC 2:05 WHB (810AM) March 12 @ SF 3:05 MLB.com March 14 OFFDAY March 17 SD 3:05 XPRS Radio & XEMO Radio (Spanish) March 18 @LAA 3:05 FSN TV (LA) & ESPN710 Radio March 20 @Col 3:05 FSN TV (CO) March 22 @ SD 3:05 XPRS Radio March 23 SF 3:05 MLB.com March 24 @ SF 3:05 KNBR 680 March 25 LAA 3:05 KCOP TV & ESPN710 Radio March 26 LAA 3:05 ESPN710 Radio March 27 KC 3:05 WHB Radio March 30 SEA 9:15 KSTW TV & KOMO Radio March 31 @SEA 3:05 FSN (Seattle) TV & KOMO Radio Links: MLB Broadcast Schedule XM Radio Spring Training Broadcast Schedule Royals Radio Network (stations in Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Dakota & Wyoming)

BELLHORN! I was hoping the Horny Wagon would make an appearance.

The Score says it's basically a done deal ... but not official yet.

Jayson Starke had that rumor a while back about the Commissioner's Office coming down hard on Houston over their reported contract offers to Pettitte. He claimed that was one reason why Houston lost him to the Yankees.

The Score is reporting that the White Sox are very close to signing Darin Erstad, who is currently undergoing a physical. No information on contract details. Scott Podsednik is undergoing surgery for a groin injury he suffered 4 years ago.

Ew. I'm not into uni flair.

You're no fun. :wink: You can always take it to rants. Dissect the game if you wish, but the troll-mongering grows tedious.

People should stop playing "Who's a Troll" and congratulating each other. Post about the game or don't post at all. THANKS!

Well, he IS a Packers fan :wink: But seriously, he's under house arrest. If he isn't granted permission to go to Miami with the team, people shouldn't be in an uproar about it. The Lake County Judge who has already OK'd Tank going to Miami was the Packers fan. There's no indication of the fan affiliation of the Cook County Judge who is having the hearing tomorrow. Why does he need 2 judges to ok it? I guess he lives in Lake County, where the most recent misdemeanor gun charges were filed. The Cook County charges were for violating his probation. Two different jurisdictions. It's probably why there was confusion earlier over whether he had already been cleared to travel or not.

Well, he IS a Packers fan :wink: But seriously, he's under house arrest. If he isn't granted permission to go to Miami with the team, people shouldn't be in an uproar about it. The Lake County Judge who has already OK'd Tank going to Miami was the Packers fan. There's no indication of the fan affiliation of the Cook County Judge who is having the hearing tomorrow.

New Trib story says it's up in the air whether Tank can go: http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/cs-gdt2i015o.6jan22,1,5355671.story

At least both of them answered "no". Theisman answered no, but said that's only because he hasn't played in the Super Bowl yet. Sometimes, I wish LT broke Theismans neck, instead of his leg. That's out of line. You don't wish injury and death on someone, I don't care how big of an idiot that person is or which team he's playing or rooting for.