Gene Farris

Nov 6, 2023 | chicago.suntimes.com | Gene Farris

In a shocking move, the Cubs reportedly intend to hire Craig Counsell to replace David Ross as manager. The move was first reported by Ken Rosenthal of the Athletic. Counsell’s contract with the Brewers expired on Oct. 31 and he was considering either staying in Milwaukee or moving to the New York Mets or Cleveland Guardians. The Guardians were ruled out when they hired Oakland A’s bullpen coach Stephen Vogt to replace Terry Francona, who retired at the end of this season. This story will be updated.

Oct 26, 2023 | chicago.suntimes.com | Gene Farris

Former White Sox relief pitcher Bobby Jenks has been named manager of the Frontier League’s Windy City ThunderBolts. “Please join me in welcoming Bobby back to the Windy City as he pursues another championship for the South Side,” Brian Kahn, owner of the Crestwood-based ThunderBolts, said in a statement. Jenks won the Pioneer League Manager of the Year award in 2022 after leading the Grand Junction Rockies to a championship.

Oct 19, 2023 | chicago.suntimes.com | Gene Farris

Former Cubs manager Lou Piniella is among the Baseball Hall of Fame finalists to be considered by the Contemporary Baseball Era Committee. The committee will meet during Major League Baseball’s winter meetings in Nashville, Tennessee. Results will be announced live at 6:30 p.m. on Dec. 3 on MLB Network. Four managers, two executives and two umpires are on the committee ballot, which features candidates whose primary contribution to the game came since 1980.

Oct 11, 2023 | chicago.suntimes.com | Gene Farris

Like the team’s fans, Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts expressed his disappointment and frustration at the club failing to reach the postseason this year. “This wasn’t the way we wanted the season to end and every year we miss the playoffs is a difficult one,” Ricketts wrote in a letter emailed to Cubs fans. “However, this season, where we dug ourselves an early hole and then played as well as anyone in the league only to fall just short of our goal, was particularly disappointing.

Oct 5, 2023 | chicago.suntimes.com | Gene Farris

Bears legend and NFL Hall of Famer Dick Butkus has died. He was 80 years old. According to TMZ, Butkus was found unresponsive in his Malibu, California, home on Thursday. After playing college football at Illinois, Butkus played his entire NFL career with his hometown Bears from 1965 to 1973. Butkus, whose No. 51 was retired by the Bears in 1994, was named to the league’s All-Decade teams in the ‘60s and ‘70s ... as well as the 75th and 100th Anniversary teams.