"He was ranting and raving and out of control," Piniella said after the game. "[I] had a conversation with our general manager [Jim Hendry]. We'll see what we do. We just couldn't tolerate that.

"It was embarrassing. There's no excuse for this, none at all."

Piniella said he'll support whatever decision is made by Hendry.

"It's a serious matter," Piniella said. "I know one thing, he's going to have to apologize to his teammates. That is for darn sure. And that's the least.

"There's no need for this, none at all. We have our share of problems. We don't need those. I'm embarrassed. Carlos should be embarrassed. "

A defining moment for Ricketts this one is.

So reports the Tribune:

Tribune Co. has asked bidders for the Chicago Cubs to submit new offers before Nov. 27, Thanksgiving day, according to two people involved in the negotiations.

The bids have to include details on how the prospective buyers will finance the purchase of the team. Chicago-based Tribune, which also owns the Chicago Tribune and other media properties, also is looking to sell Wrigley Field and a 25 percent stake in Comcast SportsNet, a regional sports network. Before the financial crisis gripped Wall Street, the package was once valued at more than $1 billion.

Sam Zell's Tribune is seeking a heavily leveraged deal to minimize the capital-gains tax for the company. The company bought the Cubs and the landmark stadium for $20.5 million from the Wrigley family in 1981.

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Quintessential Chicagoan Studs Terkel died today.  How sad to see him go.  I'm sure he's out in the bleachers now, enjoying the game on a sunny spring or summer day.  "Let's go the park at 2:00 ... Let's go to the bleachers... it was the spontanaity of it, watching experts, good skilled craftsmen ply their trade..."

You lived a good life, Studs, and you enriched ours immeasurably along the way.  Bon Voyage... and thanks.

p.s. would've made this a fan shot but couldn't figure out how...

As if this case couldn't get any more bizarre, Clemens trainer claims he found a stash of HGH receipts sent to Clemens home under a busted TV set.

"My TV broke and I said, 'Damn, I got to get it off the dresser,' Radomski said Wednesday. "And it was right there."

He goes on to say,

"The investigators knew from day one that I sent a package to Clemens' house," Radomski told ESPN.com. "They knew before the Mitchell report was released and before Brian went before Congress. So this is nothing new to them.

"I just couldn't find the receipt. And just by [accident] this weekend, I moved my TV and whatnot and I found the package, an envelope, and it had [Clemens'] receipt and about seven or eight other receipts."

He turned the information over to the Feds.  It'll be interesting to see what, if anything, they make of it.

The Business Section of the Tribune this morning offers the tantalizing possibility of an all Cubs cable channel.   The Tribune Co. included this proposal in its financial book sent recently to prospective buyers.  The Cubs market is huge. 

On Comcast SportsNet, the Cubs draw more viewers by a wide margin, the article says,  more than the other three sports teams shown on the network:  the White Sox, Bulls and Blackhawks.

The WGN factor complicates matters and proves worrisome.  The article says, it's unclear whether Tribune Co... would obligate the new team owner to continue broadcasting games on the local station, which has a 60-year history with the Cubs.

It would be a shame to have a local all Cubs channel at the expense of nationally broadcast games.  Fortunately, for the near term -- or at least until 2019 when the CSN license expires -- we can breathe easy.

We've talked about favorite baseball movies.  What about your favorite baseball books?  What books influenced how you think about the game?  Which ones did you find most enjoyable?

Also, what sources aside from BCB (electronic or otherwise) do you frequent most for information, insight, data, etc.?

There's so much information out there, having your sage advice on identifying the best of the best will be deeply appreciated.  I can't think of a more astute group of experts.

This story describes the dark side of baseball rivalries.  A man driving on Cape Cod in a car with New York plates received a beating by BoSox "fans" (read:  thugs).  Caught in traffic post-fireworks, the thugs, based on license plate alone, began taunting him as a Yankees fan.  When he got out to defend his family they pulled out a baseball bat, beat him in front of his children, sending him to the hospital.

Abhorrent behavior, ugly story.  A few deviant "fans" with the IQ of a gnat demonstrate how far things can go when we lack perspective and, importantly, humanity.

I arrived at Wrigley about an hour and a half before the game.  A beautiful time to be at the field.  It's 3/4 empty, the LA Dodgers are on display, stretching, taking batting practice, the general warm up.

I have a fabulous seat.  On the aisle, about 20 rows up from Pink Hat Guy, just behind home plate.  I bless my luck and the fact that it doesn't look like it's going to rain any time soon.  Out comes the camera and I take a few good shots.

The section's Crowd Management Control (CMC -- I think of her more as a cross between Section Manager and Ticket Police) woman comes over to chat.  I learn that she's just retired from a career as an elementary school assistant principal.  "There are a lot of teachers who work here part time," she says.  I tell her I come from a long line of teachers and her eyes light up. 

Just as I'm truly soaking in Wrigley and settling into sheer delight in the moment, a group of four decidedly middle aged men arrive to sit in the row in front of me.  I'm thinking, "OK, don't prejudge, they aren't the howdy rowdy crowd.  Give them the benefit of the doubt."  They immediately flag down the beer guy.  Then they stand and continue to stand for the next bloody 90 minutes.  I'm not feeling so charitable.  Well, the game hasn't started, I'm not going to stress.

The six seats next to me remain empty until 2 minutes before game start.  Then six curvalicious 20-somethings arrive.  They're good folk, clearly here for the atmosphere and, as I eavesdrop, from Florida and in town to celebrate one of their birthdays.  The Boomer men in front quickly take notice.  CMC woman and I exchange glances.

The game begins.  Thankfully, the men sit down.  It still doesn't help because what I quickly discover is I can't see a bloody thing.  Being on the aisle, the beer vendors, sweet moms with adorable kids, and those with minuscule bladders clog the view.  My head bobs up, down, around and sideways trying every which way to keep the batter in sight.  CMC woman says, "This is the first time I've worked this section and I see now you have the worst seat here."  She's terrific and spends the rest of the game trying to scope out a better seat.  Too bad this is the third most popular game of the year. Options are few.

Meanwhile, I discover the beefy Boomer boys are from LA.  They got tickets because one of their offspring works for the Dodgers.  They are beer-an-inning-and-then-some guys.  About beer 4 the guy directly in front of me decides he's hot enough for the bombshell beside me.  He strikes up a conversation, hanging half over his seat, half in my lap in lascivious search of hers.  As luck would have it she's a cute chatty type and welcomes the opportunity to interact.  I lean far out into the aisle in order to catch the action. CMC woman continues to scout alternative seating.

By this point I get Zen.  Hell, we're ahead by 2.  We're looking good, so wotthehell.  I get annoyed on a couple of bases loaded situations but luckily the deluded men in front easily take gentle direction.  "Um... could you turn around?  The bases are loaded?"  He manages to put his tongue back in his mouth and comply.

Ah, it doesn't matter.  It's a good day.  I know the Cubs are going to win.  We're all happy.  It's Memorial Day, the beginning of summer.  It's 82 degrees.  We're at Wrigley. And, best of all, for the first time, I'm able to sing "Go Cubs Go" with 42,000 other people at Wrigley.  Post game I get to exchange my golf club cover thingie swag with ballhawk for a gen-u-ine MLB ball.  Life could be much worse.

It's going to be a good year. Go Cubs Go!

According to today's Tribune MLB may introduce instant replay as soon as the '08 playoffs.  Selig's ambivalent

Commissioner Bud Selig is a longtime opponent of the use of instant replay. But a source close to Selig said he is "wrestling" with his personal views after replays clearly showed umpires made mistakes when they denied home runs to the Mets' Carlos Delgado (ruled foul, Sunday night), Soto (ball ruled in play, Monday night) and the Yankees' Alex Rodriguez (ball ruled in play, Wednesday night).

Instant Replay?  Yea or nay?