Gene Farris

2 months ago | chicago.suntimes.com | Patrick Finley |Jason Lieser |Gene Farris

06:18 PM If the Bears want to draft Ashton Jeanty, the Boise State running back says the team is going to need to come get him. “I’m gone before that,” Jeanty said in Green Bay of the 10th overall pick. “There’s a high need for running backs ... and teams are willing to trade up for a guy like me.”Jeanty, a rumored target of the Bears with the 10th overall pick for months, now seems likely to go even higher, with the Jaguars at No. 5 and Raiders at No. 6 among teams reportedly interested.

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.