Cubs to doubly honor Santo
The Cubs will honor the late Ron Santo in two very visible ways this coming season.
Santo, a former third-base great who gained new popularity in the radio booth, died last month at 70.
Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts announced Saturday that Cubs players will wear patches on their uniforms this year bearing the numeral “10” in honor of the uniform number Santo wore in his playing days. The No. 10 patches will debut during spring training.
The Cubs also will unveil a statue likeness of Santo at Wrigley Field on Aug. 10. Last year, the Cubs dedicated a statue to Hall of Famer Billy Williams, as Williams joined former teammate Ernie Banks and broadcaster Harry Caray as persons honored with statues.
Ricketts' announcement of both tributes was met with great applause during Saturday's Cubs convention.
“We thought it only appropriate we make 2011 a year where we honor and commemorate Ron,” Ricketts said.
All-star doings: It is looking more unlikely that the Cubs will host the All-Star Game in 2014 to mark the 100th anniversary of Wrigley Field. Instead, it's possible they'll shoot for the 2016 All-Star Game to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Cubs moving into the ballpark. Both Tom Ricketts and team president Crane Kenney said that before the Cubs can effectively host an All-Star Game, renovations to Wrigley Field need to be completed. Those renovations likely will not be done before 2014, and even 2016 seems to be pushing it. Not amused by Theriot: Ryan Theriot may be gone, but he's not forgotten. The Cubs traded the infielder to the Dodgers last July 31. This off-season, the Dodgers sent him to the St. Louis Cardinals.That prompted Theriot to say he is finally on the #8220;right side#8221; of the Cubs-Cardinals rivalry. #8220;I'm not going to lie; I was a little (ticked),#8221; said Cubs catcher Geovany Soto. Fellow catcher Koyie Hill may have been kidding, but he probably was kidding on the square when he said: #8220;I might not be as P.C. (politically correct) as I could, but there's probably a decent chance he's going to feel how hard the dirt is around the home-plate batter's box at least once, maybe once an at-bat. I don't know how long it's going to take to get an apology out of him. Until the whole team, the organization feels satisfied, we'll see, I guess.#8221;Keeping his cool: Pitcher Carlos Zambrano was asked by a fan during one session Saturday if he was going to #8220;open a rehab center for Gatorade coolers,#8221; in reference to Zambrano's emotional outbursts. Zambrano did not take the bait, saying good-naturedly, #8220;Let me think about it.#8221;He did admit that: #8220;I know sometimes I do things I shouldn't do. I don't want to hurt anybody.#8221;On his dugout outburst directed toward then-first baseman Derrek Lee and teammates that sent Zambrano into anger-management courses, he said: #8220;The same day as the episode with Derrek, I called him.#8221;