Cubs to pursue Red Sox GM Epstein?
September 30, 2011
Fri Sep 30 07:45am EDT
Cubs to pursue Red Sox GM Epstein?
When Theo Epstein took over as general manager of the Boston Red Sox at the age of 28, his team and the Chicago Cubs were the two clubs that had been famously without World Series titles for generations. He managed to bring the Red Sox two titles since then and now the Cubs may be hoping that he can bring them some magic, too.
From the Sun-Times:
"With Epstein potentially available for an interview — not to mention his future with Boston questioned in the aftermath of the biggest September collapse in baseball history — the Cubs are expected to make a run at him."
Cubs owner Tom Ricketts "admiration for Epstein is no secret," the Chicago Sun-Times reports, and the Cubs are expected to pursue him despite multiple reports in recent weeks suggesting "Epstein wont leave his hometown team." However, the Sun-Times also has it that Epstein supposedly told friends that hed "embrace the challenge" of taking over the Cubs.
Epstein has a contract option that must be exercised by Oct. 8, the Sun-Times notes.
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Cubs going after Red Sox GM Epstein?
September 30, 2011
Fri Sep 30 07:45am EDT
Cubs going after Red Sox GM Epstein?
When Theo Epstein took over as general manager of the Boston Red Sox at the age of 28, his team and the Chicago Cubs were the two clubs that had been famously without World Series titles for generations. He managed to bring the Red Sox two titles since then and now the Cubs may be hoping that he can bring them some magic, too.
The Red Sox may be ready to part with Epstein after the Sox dramatically crashed out of the American League wild-card race on the last day of the season.
Cubs owner Tom Ricketts "admiration for Epstein is no secret," the Chicago Sun-Times reports, and "the Cubs are expected to make a run at him," even though "multiple reports in recent weeks suggested Epstein wont leave his hometown team." However, the Sun-Times also has it that Epstein supposedly told friends that hed "embrace the challenge" of taking over the Cubs.
Epstein has a contract option that must be exercised by Oct. 8, the Sun-Times notes.
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Giants’ Tuck misses practice, hopes to play
September 30, 2011
Fri Sep 30 07:22am EDT
Giants Tuck misses practice, hopes to play
New York Giants defensive end Justin Tuck(notes) "sat out practice (Thursday) with groin and neck woes and was limited to riding a stationary bike," but is still hoping to play Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals, according to the New York Post.
"I just have to take time to quiet it down; unfortunately, we dont have time," Tuck said, according to the Post. "Am I concerned for [the] long-term? No. [But] obviously you just want to be out there every week playing."
Tuck "acknowledged he eventually may have to see a specialist," the Post reports. The 28-year-old two-time Pro Bowler has been involved with only six tackles so far this season.
"Justin was playing such good football for us during camp and the preseason. He was playing at a high level, and hes not playing at that level right now," said Giants defensive coordinator Fewell, the Post reports. "I know thats got to be frustrating for him, because its frustrating for us, because we know what Justin can do."
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Seahawks shopping LB Curry
September 30, 2011
Fri Sep 30 07:02am EDT
Seahawks shopping LB Curry
Seattle Seahawks linebacker Aaron Curry(notes) was the fourth overall pick in the 2009 draft and now he is being shopped, a league source tells ProFootballTalk.
There are "at least three teams" talking to the Hawks about a possible trade, the site reports, but there is also one difficulty holding a deal back: his salary. "Though he recently gave up $5 million in guaranteed money next year in exchange for the ability to become a free agent after 2012, his $5 million base salary in 2011 could be viewed as too much to inherit," PFT opines.
Last year, Curry had 73 total tackles for the Seahawks. Hes been involved with 13 this season.
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Hamstring injury of Dolphins’ Thomas flares up
September 30, 2011
Fri Sep 30 06:35am EDT
Hamstring injury of Dolphins Thomas flares up
The Miami Dolphins have got to be happy they snagged tailback Steve Slaton(notes) after the Houston Texans dumped him because team-rushing leader Daniel Thomas(notes) suddenly has a question mark attached to him.
The Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel reports that Thomas, who leads the team with 202 rushing yards this season even though he didnt appear in the Dolphins opening game, "had his practice participation limited on Thursday because the hamstring injury hes been nursing for three weeks flared up."
That could mean some extra carries for Slaton, who "ran for 1,282 yards and nine touchdowns in his rookie season of 2008" and then had "two underwhelming seasons," the Herald notes, or veteran Reggie Bush(notes), who has only rushed for 69 yards so far this season and is nursing a sore groin.
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Rumor: Cubs’ Zambrano trade target of Marlins?
September 30, 2011
Fri Sep 30 06:07am EDT
Rumor: Cubs Zambrano trade target of Marlins?
Rumors have been circulating that Chicago Cubs pitcher Carlos Zambrano(notes) may be a trade target for the Florida Marlins now that his pal Ozzie Guillen has taken over managerial duties for that team.
The rumor mill on that possibility will certainly pick up now that Zambrano has put one of his two Chicago-area homes up for sale, according to the Chicago Tribune.
The 30-year-old Zambrano, who was suspended for the rest of the season by the team back in early August, is hoping to get $969,000 from the sale of his six-bedroom, nearly 4,000-square-foot home in River Forest, the paper reports. "It has four baths, a loft, a finished lower level with a large recreation room, a three-car garage and a sunken great room with a wall of windows and vaulted ceiling," according to the Trib. Zambrano bought it in 2006 for $1.199 million.
Big Z lived there for a year and a half, the paper reports, but "decided he wanted to live closer to Wrigley Field," the listing agent, Jessica Rivera, said.
Zambrano was also placed back onto the Cubs 40-man roster Thursday, MLB.com reports.
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Cubs’ Zambrano selling one Chicago-area house
September 30, 2011
Fri Sep 30 06:07am EDT
Cubs Zambrano selling one Chicago-area house
Rumors have been circulating that Chicago Cubs pitcher Carlos Zambrano(notes) may be a trade target for the Florida Marlins now that his pal Ozzie Guillen has taken over managerial duties for that team.
The rumor mill on that possibility will certainly pick up now that Zambrano has put one of his two Chicago-area homes up for sale, according to the Chicago Tribune.
The 30-year-old Zambrano, who was suspended for the rest of the season by the team back in early August, is hoping to get $969,000 from the sale of his six-bedroom, nearly 4,000-square-foot home in River Forest, the paper reports. "It has four baths, a loft, a finished lower level with a large recreation room, a three-car garage and a sunken great room with a wall of windows and vaulted ceiling," according to the Trib. Zambrano bought it in 2006 for $1.199 million.
Big Z lived there for a year and a half, the paper reports, but "decided he wanted to live closer to Wrigley Field," the listing agent, Jessica Rivera, said.
Zambrano was also placed back onto the Cubs 40-man roster Thursday, MLB.com reports.http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20110929&content_id=25390304&vkey=news_chc&c_id=chc Dont forget to follow Scoop du Jour on Twitter or Facebook.
Thome leaning toward return to Indians?
September 30, 2011
Fri Sep 30 05:54am EDT
Thome leaning toward return to Indians?
Jim Thome(notes) has hit 604 homers since entering the league with the Cleveland Indians in 1991. The 41-year-old returned to the Indians before the trading deadline this summer and could end up playing there again next season, according to MLB.com.
"Weve talked to Jim a little bit about it," Indians general manager Chris Antonetti said, the site reports. "He wants to take a little bit of time with his family and then assess things as the offseason progresses. The one thing that he demonstrated is that he certainly has the ability to contribute to a team, both offensively and in the clubhouse. The decision of whether or not to play next year will be Jims."
In the 22 games the designated hitter played for the Indians this season, he batted .296 and hit three homers along with four doubles.
From the sound of it, hes likely to return. "I still love to play," Thome said, MLB.com reports. "I would say that the percentage is higher of me coming back next year than not."
If Thome returns, of course, hell have to share DH duties with Travis Hafner(notes), whose injury prompted Cleveland to go get Thome from the Minnesota Twins.
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Red Sox and Francona parting ways Friday?
September 30, 2011
Fri Sep 30 05:50am EDT
Red Sox and Francona parting ways Friday?
Boston Red Sox Manager Terry Francona has had a good run in New England, overall. In 2004, he led the team to its first World Series title since 1918, which included a historic victory over the New York Yankees in the American League Championship Series after his team was down three games to none. Then, for good measure, they took the whole thing again in 2007.
Unfortunately for Francona, people in New England are associating him with a different bit of history right now: the teams massive flop to end the season in third place in the American League East and one game out of the snagging the wild card.
FOX Sports reports that the 52-year-old Francona and Sox bigwigs will meet Friday "and the expected resolution is that he no longer will be the teams manager." This isnt necessarily a done deal, the site notes, but it is likely partially because Francona "is pressing for a resolution," sources tell FOX.
Red Sox GM Theo Epstein went out of his way Thursday to not blame Francona for the collapse. "I know we dont believe in scapegoats, particularly blaming Tito for what happened in September," he said at a press conference, according to FOX. "We all failed collectively. Were all together in this; weve got to live with that. Were not pointing fingers at any one person in particular."
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Cowboys “hoping” WR Bryant can play Sunday
September 30, 2011
Fri Sep 30 05:43am EDT
Cowboys “hoping” WR Bryant can play Sunday
The Dallas Cowboys may be without their top two receivers on Sunday when they take on the Detroit Lions.
Miles Austin(notes) will be out for his second straight game due to an injury to his hamstring while Dez Bryant(notes), who took a helmet to his thigh in the first half of the season-opening game against the New York Jets and was out till Mondays Game 3 18-16 win over the Washington Redskins, was "limited in practice Wednesday" and "missed Thursdays practice entirely," according to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
"Its just him working through the injury," Cowboys coach Jason Garrett said, according to the paper. "Dez has had the thigh contusion that he was able to work through it last week and practiced a little bit by the end of the week and got himself to play in the game. When you stress it like you do in the course of a ball game, sometimes it doesnt bounce back as quickly as you want it to. He just has to continue to work his way through it. Were hoping by the end of the week he can practice a little bit more and be ready to play in the ball game. Well take that one day to day."
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