Comment Below!.

What are your opinions.

CHICAGO (AP)—The Chicago Cubs and outfielder Reed Johnson have agreed to a
$1.15 million, one-year contract.

The 35-year-old batted .309 with five homers and 28 RBIs in 111 games for
Chicago last season, his second stint with the team. He also played for the Cubs
from 2008-09, batting .287 with 10 homers and 72 RBIs in 174 games.

Johnson is a career .283 hitter with 59 homers and 349 RBIs in 997 games
over nine major league seasons with the Cubs, the Blue Jays and the Dodgers.

Comment Below!.

CHICAGO — The Chicago Cubs and outfielder Reed Johnson have agreed to a $1.15 million, one-year contract.

The 35-year-old batted .309 with five homers and 28 RBIs in 111 games for Chicago last season, his second stint with the team. He also played for the Cubs from 2008-09, batting .287 with 10 homers and 72 RBIs in 174 games.

What do you guys think about this.

December 30, 2011 – Northwest League (NWL) Boise Hawks
CHICAGO, Ill. – The Chicago Cubs have rounded out their minor league coaching staffs, announcing this afternoon that Bill Buckner will serve as hitting coach for the Boise Hawks.

Buckner, a resident of Eagle, returned to coaching last season as the manager of the Brockton Rox, leading the team to a 51-42 record in the independent CanAm League, earning the squad a postseason berth. He will replace Desi Wilson, who will serve as Class-A Daytona’s hitting coach.

“We are extremely excited in the Cubs decision to have Bill Buckner as our hitting coach,” said Todd Rahr, Boise Hawks president/general manager. “To have someone local on the staff, who had such a great career, will be beneficial to our organization. Bill had a Hall of Fame caliber career and we look forward to working with him year round. It will definitely be a treat.”

Buckner rejoins the Cubs system for the first time since playing for the big league team from 1977-84 – winning the 1980 National League batting crown and earning a spot in the 1981 All Star Game. The 22-year veteran served as the Chicago White Sox hitting coach in 1996 and 1997, while also serving as a hitting coach in the Toronto Blue Jays minor league system.

Buckner played in 2199 major league games with the Dodgers, Cubs, Red Sox, Angels, and Royals, hitting .289 with 174 career home runs and 1,208 RBI. He played in a pair of World Series’ – in 1974 with the Dodgers and 1986 with the Red Sox.

Three others return to the Hawks for the 2012 season – manager Mark Johnson, pitching coach David Rosario, and trainer Bob Grimes. Johnson skippered last season’s squad to a 36-40 record, including Boise’s first postseason berth since the 2006 season.

The Hawks, in their 12th season as an affiliate of the Chicago Cubs, open up the 2012 Northwest League season on June 15 at Salem-Keizer, with their Memorial Stadium opener on June 20 against Eugene. Season, mini-pack, bonus books, and group nights for Hawks’ games are available at 322-5000 or online at www.boisehawks.com.

• Discuss this story on the Northwest League message board…

• Digg this story

• Add to Del.icio.us

• Bill Buckner Named Boise Hawks Hitting Coach – Boise Hawks

The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

Leave any suggestions in the comment box.

CHICAGO (AP)—Texas Rangers pitching coach Mike Maddux talked with Chicago
Cubs executives on Wednesday, becoming at least the third candidate to interview
for the vacant manager’s job.

Maddux, who has helped the Rangers win back-to-back AL pennants, was
scheduled to have a news conference later Wednesday.

New director of baseball operations Theo Epstein fired Mike Quade last week.
The Cubs have also interviewed Phillies bench coach Pete Mackanin and Brewers
hitting coach Dale Sveum.

The Rangers had an American League-high 5.37 ERA in 2008, the year before
Maddux arrived. They have improved each year since, including a 3.79 ERA this
season that was their lowest since 1983.

Maddux’s ability to get the most out of the Rangers’ staff—even after the
loss of Cliff Lee(notes) from the 2010 AL championship team—is certainly appealing to
Epstein.

In 15 major league seasons, Mike Maddux pitched for Philadelphia (1986-89),
the Los Angeles Dodgers (1990, 1999), San Diego (1991-92), the New York Mets
(1993-94), Pittsburgh (1995), Boston (1995-96), Seattle (1997), Montreal
(1998-99) and Houston (2000).

The name Maddux will always resonate around Wrigley Field.

Maddux is the older brother of four-time Cy Young Award winner Greg Maddux,
a former Cubs’ ace who later was an assistant to former Chicago GM Jim Hendry.

Greg Maddux’s departure from the Cubs as a free agent after winning the
first of his four straight Cy Young awards in 1992 is still considered one of
the worst episodes in the franchise’s long history of futility.

Maddux went on to star with the Braves and establish himself as one of the
greatest pitchers of all-time. He returned to the Cubs in 2004 and before he was
traded to the Dodgers in 2006, he got his 300th win with Chicago. He retired
with 355 victories.

Other popular stories on Yahoo! Sports:

• Lenny Dykstra fails to show for fight against Jose Canseco

• Frank McCourt could ignore Matt Kemp before selling Dodgers

• Tiger Woods’ stunning drop in fan support Down Under

• Stephon Marbury calls Michael Jordan a ‘sellout’

What do you guys think about this.

Feel free to leave your comments below.

That’s all for today.

ST. LOUIS (AP)—Albert Pujols(notes) hit a game-ending homer in extra innings for
the second straight day, beating the Chicago Cubs with a leadoff shot in the
10th inning of the St. Louis Cardinals’ 3-2 victory on Sunday.

Pujols hammered a fastball from Rodrigo Lopez(notes) (0-1) an estimated 446 feet to
left for his 10th career game-ending homer. His fifth shot during a seven-game
homestand and No. 13 for the season gave the Cardinals a three-game sweep over
the Cubs, who have lost nine of 11.

The Cardinals were down to their last strike before Ryan Theriot(notes) tied it
with an RBI double off Carlos Marmol(notes), driving in pinch-runner Tony Cruz(notes) from
first. Theriot extended his hitting streak to 19 games, the Cardinals’ longest
since Pujols hit in 30 straight in 2009.

Marmol has two blown save opportunities in three appearances and is 10 for
14 overall.

Cubs starter Carlos Zambrano(notes) pitched seven crisp innings, yielding one run
and five hits.

Fernando Salas(notes) (3-0) worked a perfect 10th against the top of the Cubs’
order to get the win.

Phillies 7, Pirates 3

PITTSBURGH (AP)—Roy Halladay(notes) pitched seven effective innings, and
Philadelphia snapped a season-high four-game losing streak, beating Pittsburgh
Pirates 7-3 on Sunday to avoid a sweep.

Neil Walker(notes) hit a two-run homer in the first inning, one of six Pittsburgh
hits off Halladay (8-3), who had six strikeouts and one walk in tying for the
most wins in the majors.

Ryan Howard(notes) had three RBIs, Chase Utley(notes) was on base four times, and Placido
Polanco(notes) had two hits and scored twice for Philadelphia. The struggling Phillies
offense—seven runs in the previous four games—broke out with 14 hits and was
aided by seven walks, two hit batters, two wild pitches and a passed ball.

The Phillies completed a 4-5 road trip.

James McDonald(notes) was pulled after throwing 12 consecutive balls to load the
bases with nobody out. McDonald (3-4) came in having allowed only four runs in
three starts but walked five, hit a batter and threw two wild pitches in
four-plus innings.

Dodgers 9, Reds 6

CINCINNATI (AP)—Dodgers pitcher Chad Billingsley(notes) drove in a career-high
three runs with a homer, a double and a bases-loaded walk, and Los Angeles beat
Cincinnati again.

Matt Kemp(notes) added a two-run homer—his third in five at-bats—as the Dodgers
improved to 28-10 against the Reds since 2006.

Billingsley (5-4) lasted only five innings, but helped himself build a big
lead.

He hit a solo homer—the second of his career—in the second inning off
Travis Wood(notes) (4-4). Billingsley drew a bases-loaded walk during the Dodgers’
three-run third. His RBI double to the warning track in right field ended Wood’s
outing in the fifth and made it 8-4.

Los Angeles took two of three in the series.

Drew Stubbs(notes) hit a solo homer, and Joey Votto(notes) and Brandon Phillips(notes) drove in
two runs apiece for the Reds, who have lost 13 of 18.

Mets 6, Braves 4

NEW YORK (AP)—R.A. Dickey(notes) pitched eight baffling innings, Jose Reyes(notes) hit
an RBI double and scored twice and New York beat Atlanta for the second straight
night.

Carlos Beltran(notes) had a run-scoring double off Tim Hudson(notes) (4-5) before fouling
a ball off his right shin and leaving the game in pain. Justin Turner(notes) added an
RBI single and the banged-up Mets finished 5-5 on a homestand against
Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Atlanta.

Brian McCann(notes) homered off Dickey (3-6) leading off the seventh to snap
Atlanta’s scoreless streak at 15 innings. They were shut out by rookie Dillon
Gee(notes) and two relievers Saturday night.

X-rays on Beltran’s leg were negative and he is day to day with a bruise.

Brewers 6, Marlins 5, 11 innings

MIAMI (AP)—Josh Wilson(notes) homered with two out in the 11th inning, and
Milwaukee topped Florida by a run for the third day in a row.

The Brewers won despite blowing a 5-0 lead. Wilson’s hit off Mike Dunn(notes) (4-3)
was the first for Milwaukee in 5 2-3 innings against Florida’s bullpen.
Milwaukee is 19-6 since May 9, best in the majors.

Tim Dillard(notes) (1-0) escaped a bases-loaded jam in the ninth and pitched 1 2-3
scoreless innings. John Axford(notes) worked the 11th, retiring Gaby Sanchez(notes) on a
groundout with two on for his 16th save in 18 chances.

The Marlins left 11 runners on base and went 2 for 10 with runners in
scoring position.

Giants 2, Rockies 1

SAN FRANCISCO (AP)—Ryan Vogelsong(notes) pitched eight fantastic innings, and
Andres Torres(notes) singled home the tiebreaking run to lead San Francisco over
Colorado.

Freddy Sanchez(notes) also drove in a run for the Giants, who won their fourth in
five games. Miguel Tejada(notes) had two hits.

Chris Iannetta(notes) homered for the Rockies, who are 4-12 in their last 16 games
and have not won back-to-back games since May 16-17.

Vogelsong (4-1) matched his career high with eight innings, giving up a run
and four hits. He walked one and struck out seven. He has allowed one run or
less in each of his past six starts. Brian Wilson(notes) worked the ninth for his 17th
save.

Nationals 9, Diamondbacks 4, 11 innings

PHOENIX (AP)—Rick Ankiel(notes) drove in the go-ahead run with a two-out walk in
the 11th inning and Mike Morse followed with a grand slam, leading Washington to
a wild win over Arizona.

Managers Jim Riggleman of the Nationals and Kirk Gibson of the Diamondbacks
were among four ejections, and Washington was hit by a pitch four times,
including second baseman Danny Espinosa(notes) twice.

Wilson Ramos(notes) hit a three-run homer for the Nationals.

Arizona had won 18 of 22 and almost added to its list of 17 comeback wins,
tied for the major league lead. The Diamondbacks scored three times in the ninth
off closer Drew Storen(notes) to tie it at 4, but the Nationals bounced back.

Sean Burnett(notes) (1-2) pitched 1 2-3 innings for the win. Joe Paterson(notes) (0-1)
took the loss.

Padres 7, Astros 2

SAN DIEGO (AP)—Chase Headley(notes) extended his career-high hitting streak to 15
games with an RBI double and San Diego won three consecutive home games for the
first time this season.

By taking three in a row from Houston after dropping the series opener
Thursday night, San Diego won just its second home series this season. The
Padres still have the NL’s worst home record at 12-21.

San Diego scored three first-inning runs to give Mat Latos(notes) (4-6) an early
lead. Latos labored through five innings to win his third straight start,
allowing two runs and six hits.

The last-place Padres won for the eighth time in 11 games.

Astros starter Jordan Lyles(notes) (0-1) had a rougher outing than in his major
league debut Tuesday at the Chicago Cubs when he carried a shutout into the
eighth.

The 20-year-old Lyles allowed four runs and five hits in four innings. After
winning the first four games on its road trip, Houston finished 4-3 for its
first winning trip this season.

Leave your comments on the news below.

Major League Baseball commissioner Bud Selig announces that the 2011 MLB All Star Game will be played at Chase Field, home of the Arizona Diamondacks, in Phoenix, Arizona on April 11,2009. (UPI Photo/Art Foxall) 

CHICAGO, June 4 (UPI) — Commissioner Bud Selig said he has no worries about the Chicago Cubs, even though the team was among nine franchises in violation of baseball debt-equity rules.

Selig told the Chicago Tribune he remained fully supportive of the ownership of the Cubs, who have been experiencing decreasing attendance.

“I have no concerns, nor does anybody in baseball,” Selig said. “Nor am I concerned with the overall health of the industry.”

The Tribune said Saturday the Cubs were among a group of teams recently notified by the commissioner’s office they were in violation of debt-equity rules. The other clubs included the Dodgers, Mets, Tigers, Rangers, Orioles, Marlins, Nationals and Phillies.

The venerable Cubbies were purchased in 2009 by the Tom Ricketts ownership group as part of a larger, complex deal with the Tribune Co. worth $485 million, which required about $400 million in debt, the newspaper said.

The Cubs have since been shedding payroll and have largely stayed out of the competition for high-priced players.

Not much else going on in the MLB planet today.

Just as the thermometer pushes past 95 degrees, the Cubs arrived in St. Louis to begin a stretch of schedule that to call grueling is an understatement.

From now until the All-Star break, the Cubs have one day off. Because of a double-header on June 28, they have 38 games scheduled over the next 38 days. Warm up the bus to Iowa because there could be a few pitchers shuttling from Des Moines to Wrigley Field.

The Tigers will be nearly as busy. They don’t have any double-headers planned but they also have only one day off and their schedule includes two trips to the West Coast between now and the break.

The Mariners can feel that exhaustion. Their home game against the Orioles on Friday night will be No. 8 in a 20-games-in-20-day stretch.

Not every club has such a demanding pace. The Cardinals are off on the next four Mondays, though they had to survive a 27-day stretch with 26 games to get there.

When the Dodgers finish a three-city trip that begins Friday in Cincinnati, they can settle in for a long stretch in Southern California. Twenty-two of their last 25 games before the break will be played in L.A. or Anaheim.

The Giants have a quick turnaround with a home game Friday night after playing Thursday night in St. Louis but they should be able to catch up on some rest in the coming weeks. Beginning with this weekend’s series against the Rockies, 19 of their next 22 games will be played in the Bay Area.

“The schedule’s been screwy,” manager Bruce Bochy said of two months that have seen the Giants play 35 road games and only 21 at home. “It’ll be good for guys to be able to sleep in their own beds for a while.”

That’s all for today.

LOS ANGELES, May 4 (UPI) — Geovany Soto smacked a two-run double in the top of the ninth inning Tuesday to pace the Chicago Cubs to a 4-1 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Andre Ethier extended his hitting streak to 29 games with a fourth-inning single but the Dodgers were held to six hits by Cubs starter Rick Dempster and relievers Kerry Wood (1-1) and Carlos Marmol, who notched his eighth save.

Jonathan Broxton (1-2) took the loss, giving up two runs on no hits and two walks in 1/3 of an inning.

Broxton started the ninth with the score tied 1-1. He gave up back-to-back walks with one out and was pulled in favor of Blake Hawksworth, who served up Soto’s double and an insurance RBI single to Blake DeWitt.

The Dodgers had scored first on Matt Kemp’s RBI single in the sixth, but the Cubs tied it in the seventh on a solo home run by Carlos Pena.

Los Angeles has lost three of its last four games.

What are your opinions.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The closest anyone has come to Joe DiMaggio’s iconic 56-game hitting streak since he eclipsed Wee Willie Keeler’s 45-gamer in 1941 was Pete Rose — who hit in 44 straight in 1978.

Andre Ethier is now halfway to Joltin’ Joe.

The Dodgers’ All-Star right fielder extended his hitting streak to 28 games with an infield RBI single that capped a three-run fifth inning, and Clayton Kershaw pitched seven strong innings in a 5-2 victory over the Chicago Cubs on Monday night.

“Only halfway? It’s nothing to get too caught up in or excited about right now,” Ethier said with a grin. “There’s still a long way to go. I’m more happy about Kershaw getting back on track and us bouncing back after two tough losses to San Diego.”

Ethier, who kept his streak alive with a grounder to deep shortstop that Starlin Castro couldn’t make a play on, is three games shy of the Dodgers franchise record that Willie Davis set in 1969.

“It’s neat to be a part of this and keep it going, but I’m not going up there every at-bat just to extend the streak. I want to get my knocks and do my damage offensively,” Ethier said. “I mean, if the streak wasn’t going on, I’d be just as (upset) if I got out no matter what the situation was.”

Ethier is batting .393 during his streak with three homers and 17 RBIs, a stretch in which the Dodgers have gone 13-15. Davis’ streak included all 28 games he played in August and his first three games in September. He batted .435 during that stretch with one homer and 23 RBIs, while the Dodgers went 13-18.

Kershaw (3-3) allowed two runs and eight hits, including Alfonso Soriano’s major league-leading 11th homer leading off the seventh. The 23-year-old left-hander struck out four and did not walk a batter for the first time in seven starts this season.

“It was more of a testament to their aggressiveness,” Kershaw said. “I mean, it’s good not to walk anybody and make them beat you, especially with a lead. Tonight was a battle. I didn’t really have anything to put guys away with. It wasn’t great, but I got the job done. And we got some runs early, which was nice.”

Vicente Padilla pitched a perfect eighth and Jonathan Broxton did likewise in the ninth for his sixth save in seven attempts.

James Russell (1-4) gave up five runs and six hits over 4 2-3 innings in his fourth major league start, dropping the Cubs’ record to 0-10 when their starters fail to reach the sixth. The left-hander, inserted into the rotation because of an injury to No. 5 starter Andrew Cashner, is 0-4 with a 10.05 ERA in that role.

One consolation for Russell: He got his first big league hit with a single in the second inning.

“We’re pitching guys that are stretched out and are giving us everything they’ve got,” manager Mike Quade said. “I mean, I didn’t look at Russell as a starter, but he’s starting for us and he’s taken that role and done the best he can with it. He’s gotten better, and I think his approach tonight was better. So we’ll see what happens down the road, as far as Russell’s concerned. But at this point, he’s done a nice job.”

The Cubs opened the scoring in the first against Kershaw with a two-out RBI double by Geovany Soto after the team went 1 for 14 with runners in scoring position during Sunday’s 4-3 loss at Arizona.

Until then, the Dodgers were the only team in the majors that hadn’t allowed a first-inning run at home.

The Dodgers pulled ahead with two runs in the second. Matt Kemp singled, stole second and came home when Juan Uribe got the green light from rookie manager Don Mattingly on a 3-0 pitch and doubled over the head of right fielder Reed Johnson. Rookie Ivan DeJesus Jr., whose father played shortstop for the Cubs and Dodgers and is now Chicago’s third base coach, drove in Uribe with a single inside first base.

The Dodgers didn’t get another hit until the fifth, when Rod Barajas led off with a double and rookie Jerry Sands hit a two-run double. Ethier chased Russell with his RBI single.

NOTES: Sunday night’s spontaneous chants of “U-S-A! U-S-A!” by fans at the Mets-Phillies game after they got word of Osama bin Laden’s death brought back poignant memories for Dodgers broadcaster Rick Monday. He elicited a similar reaction from the Dodger Stadium crowd in 1976, when it burst into a chorus of “God Bless America” right after he snatched a flag away from two protesters who attempted to set fire to it in the outfield while he was playing for the Cubs. “I did not have the game on last night, but I saw the replay of what the people did and I got chills watching it — not as a flashback on what I did, but because of what we’re doing right now as a country,” said Monday, who spent six years in the Marine Corps reserves. “On 9/11, we got really close. And to see the reaction of what took place last night (everywhere in the country), and then to see it carry over to today does not surprise me at all. I’m glad we’re coming together as one again.” … Cubs RHP Ryan Dempster, who turns 34 on Tuesday, will be pitching on his birthday for the first time in 14 big league seasons when he opposes RHP Chad Billingsley. Dempster is 7-3 with a 2.81 career ERA against the Dodgers in 23 appearances, including 13 starts.

Not much else going on in the MLB planet today.

(Sports Network) – Two teams gets a chance to climb back over the .500 mark today when the Chicago Cubs take on the Los Angeles Dodgers in the finale of a three-game series at Wrigley Field.

The Cubs moved to 10-10 on the strength of Saturday’s win in the middle game of the series, which came when Jeff Baker hit a two-run double to cap the Cubs’ five-run eighth inning in a 10-8 triumph.

The Dodgers had climbed a game above .500 with a 12-2 win Friday.

Chicago faced an 8-5 deficit entering the eighth, but got a two-run single from Starlin Castro and an RBI from Darwin Barney to tie the game. After Baker delivered the key hit, Carlos Marmol pitched a scoreless ninth to pick up his fifth save.

Castro and Barney both drove in three for the Cubs. Castro ended with four hits, while Barney had three to set the tone at the top of Chicago’s lineup.

The Cubs’ late rally prevented starter Ryan Dempster from taking the loss. The right-hander allowed seven runs on nine hits — three of them homers — and three walks in 5 2/3 innings. Jeff Samardzija (2-0) tossed 1 1/3 scoreless frames to pick up the win.

Casey Blake hit a two-run homer for the Dodgers, who had won their last three, while Matt Kemp and Rod Barajas added solo shots. Andre Ethier extended his hitting streak to an MLB-best 20 games this season with a double. He is hitting .408 with two home runs and 12 RBI during the streak.

Los Angeles starter Ted Lilly allowed five runs on 11 hits and a walk in 4 1/3 frames, and scoreless appearances by Dodgers relievers Mike MacDougal and Vicente Padilla got them through the sixth.

Venezuelan righty Carlos Zambrano comes off his best outing of the season for the Cubs and seeks his third win without a loss today.

The 29-year-old got a no-decision in the Cubs’ 1-0 defeat of San Diego on April 18 after tossing eight innings of scoreless three-hit ball with one walk and 10 strikeouts.

He’s allowed 12 runs on 22 hits in 25 2/3 innings across four starts.

Zambrano is 2-3 in 12 career meetings with Los Angeles.

The Dodgers start Japanese import Hiroki Kuroda, who has split a pair of career starts against the Cubs.

He’s posted a stingy 0.59 earned run average in 15 1/3 combined innings in the two outings, allowing a single earned run on 11 hits with 14 strikeouts.

Kuroda was 2-0 after defeat San Diego and San Francisco, but has since fallen to 2-2 with home losses to St. Louis and Atlanta.

In the first two starts, he gave up 13 hits and three runs in 15 2/3 innings. In the second two, he’s allowed 15 hits and eight runs in 11 1/3 innings.

The Dodgers have won nine of 14 against the Cubs, but did lose two of three at Wrigley Field a season ago.

The Sports Network

Gotta run!.

CHICAGO, April 23 (UPI) — Jeff Baker’s two-run double in the eighth inning Saturday capped a comeback that saw the Chicago Cubs rally for a 10-8 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The Cubs trailed 8-5 before erupting for five runs in the eighth, carrying them to the win and evening their three-game series with the Dodgers at one victory apiece.

Starlin Castro’s two-run single off Matt Guerrier (1-1) pulled the Cubs to within 8-7, and the tying run came across on Darwin Barney’s fielder’s choice groundout. After Marlon Byrd fanned for the inning’s first out, Aramis Ramriez singled, sending Barney to third.

Blake Hawksworth entered the game and Baker cracked an opposite-field line shot that rolled to the right-center field wall, scoring Ramirez and Barney with the go-ahead runs.

The rally made a winner of Jeff Samardzja (2-0) who tossed 1 1/3 innings of scoreless relief, and Carlos Marmol gained his fifth save in the ninth.

Casey Blake, Andre Ethier and Rod Barajas all homered for Los Angeles.

Thanks for reading! .