Oh, that’s not a thing? Well, someone better let Wrigley Field know.

A Cubs fan doused her husband with a cold one Sunday afternoon in what appeared to be a completely unprovoked act of malice. As the wife explained after the game, however, the suds-dumping was actually in retaliation for the husband accidentally spilling his beer on her earlier in the game.

When the cameras caught the move, though, it looked like something else. The husband had just tried to shield the wife from a home run in the Wrigley Field bleachers, and she appeared to be repaying his chivalry with a lowball move.

Check out the splash — and hear the wife’s explanation — in the video below.

Photo of the Day

That is what they call a butt-first slide.

Tweet of the Day

But when will he stop calling himself by self-given nicknames in tweets?

Really?? Me. Retire?? Soon, but not yet Vino still has work to do #35 #OG #kbvff

—
Kobe Bryant (@kobebryant) May 20, 2013

Video of the Day

There’s a circus in Miami, and that’s not an insult about the baseball team!

The 23-year-old Rizzo is considered one of the centerpieces of the Cubs’ rebuilding efforts. He is hitting .280 with a .352 on-base percentage. He also has nine home runs and 28 RBIs in his third major league season.

Rizzo gets a $2 million signing bonus, of which $250,000 is payable within 30 days of the contract’s approval by Major League Baseball and $1.75 million is payable next Jan. 15.

He receives a $750,000 salary this year, up from $498,000 under the agreement he reached in March. He then will earn $1.25 million next year, $5 million apiece in 2015 and 2016, $7 million each in 2017 and 2018 and $11 million in 2019.

Chicago has a $14.5 million option for 2020 with a $2 million buyout. If that is exercised, the Cubs will have a $14.5 million option for 2021 with a $2 million buyout.

If an option is declined, the buyout is payable the following Jan. 15. If he wins the NL MVP or finishes among the top five in MVP voting at least twice, his 2019 salary increases to $12 million and the option prices go up to $16.5 million.

In addition, if he finishes among the top two in NL MVP voting in any year through 2019 and then is traded, he can void the 2021 option.

Rizzo also gets a hotel suite for road trips. His deal was negotiated by agent Marc Pollack of Sports One Athlete Management.

Rizzo got off to a slow start and there was even some speculation a few weeks ago that he could be sent to Triple-A. That was after manager Dale Sveum said players could be demoted and refused to eliminate Rizzo or Starlin Castro from the list.

Rizzo was batting just .173 heading into the game at Miami on April 26. He hit a 420-foot home run to center and a 413-foot shot to the upper deck in right field that day for his second career two-homer game. It also gave him eight for the season, the most by a Cubs left-handed hitter in April.

Rizzo was selected out of high school in the sixth round of the 2007 amateur draft by Boston, a time when Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein and general manager Jed Hoyer were running the Red Sox front office. He played in just 21 minor league games in 2008 after being diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma in late April and returned the following year.

He was traded to San Diego in December 2010 in the Adrian Gonzalez deal, when Hoyer was the Padres’ general manager. The Cubs acquired him in the trade that sent Andrew Cashner to San Diego before the 2012 season, after Hoyer reunited with Epstein in Chicago.

Photo via Facebook/Chicago Cubs

That’s what Chicago center fielder Julio Borbon was thinking Thursday afternoon, at least, but his acting skills could use some serious work. When a pitch from San Diego’s Luke Gregerson landed in the dirt near his feet, Borbon hopped up and down as if the ball had struck his foot. It didn’t — as the below animation clearly shows — and the outfielder will make his rounds on the Internet now for all the wrong reasons.

Check out Borbon’s happy feet in GIF form below.

Animation via Twitter/@bubbaprog

Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts until now had said nothing as dire, despite months of contentious negotiations over how to keep everyone happy in sprucing up the 99-year-old stadium in the heart of Wrigleyville on Chicago’s North Side.

“The fact is that if we don’t have the ability to generate revenue in our own outfield, we’ll have to take a look at moving — no question,” Ricketts told reporters after outlining renovation plans to Chicago business leaders.

He added that he remains committed to working out a deal and it is difficult to imagine the Cubs playing anywhere else. But the fight over the Friendly Confines boils down to money and, of course, something unusual — it’s the Cubs, after all.

By far the thorniest issue is the plan for a 6,000-square-foot video screen over left field, a common feature in many major league ballparks. The difference is that Wrigley Field — the second oldest ballpark in Major League Baseball behind Fenway Park in Boston — is surrounded by privately owned clubs with rooftop bleachers whose owners object to any changes that could block their bird’s-eye views into the stadium.

The rooftop businesses have been left out of discussions on the proposed upgrade, but they feel they should have a seat at the bargaining table because they have a contract in which they share 17 percent of their revenue with the Cubs. Legal action is a possibility.

Ricketts presented an architectural rendering of the video screen during his speech to the City Club of Chicago and insisted that the team’s own studies have shown it would have minimal, if any, impact on the views. He described the sign as “midsize” compared with those at other stadiums, thought it is nearly three times as large as the scoreboard currently atop the centerfield bleachers. Another smaller sign with the name of a sponsor is planned for right field.

He said without such signage, the team was losing out on $20 million a year in ad revenue – essential for helping fund the extensive renovations without dipping into taxpayer funds.

“All we really need is to be able to run our business like a business and not a museum,” Ricketts told the audience.

Ricketts said the team formally filed its full renovation proposal with the city of Chicago on Wednesday. The plan must get approval from city planners and the City Council. There will also be public hearings.

The overall plan calls for more night games, a 175-room boutique hotel across the street, a new clubhouse and upgrades for fans. The proposal also calls for an open-air plaza and an office building with retail space.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel and the alderman whose ward includes Wrigley Field, Tom Tunney, support the overall plan. The mayor’s office has already agreed that the outfield signs can be installed, but there has been no agreement on size or design.

If the deal wins approval, Ricketts said work could begin after this season ends and be completed over the next five years.

One of the rooftop owners, Beth Murphy, told reporters after listening to Ricketts’ speech that it was the first time she’d seen any drawings of the screen and that she and other owners would have a lot of vetting to do before determining if the proposal works.

“It looked big to me and it looked like it blocked out the neighborhood,” Murphy said.

The rooftop owners have previously threatened legal action, and Murphy said she was confident their contract would hold up and protect their businesses.

Commenting on the possibility that Ricketts might really take the team elsewhere, Murphy said doing so would not be “a wise business decision.”

“The reason the Cubs are such a tourist destination … is because it’s a ballpark in a neighborhood,” Murphy said. “I don’t think a new ballpark in a parking lot is interesting and that’s why other ballparks don’t have the tourism that Wrigley Field does.”

If Ricketts is serious about leaving, he already has a suitor. Several weeks ago, the mayor of nearby Rosemont said that the village near O’Hare International Airport has a 25-acre chunk of land that the Cubs could have for free if they wanted to build a replica of Wrigley Field there. While Mayor Bradley Stephens said the idea of the Cubs leaving Wrigley was the longest of long shots, he wanted to make sure that if the Cubs did decide to leave they knew about the offer.

Cubs fans said they doubted Ricketts would move the team and that he most likely raised the prospect out of frustration with the negotiations.

“I’m surprised it’s taken him this long to snap,” said Rick Kaempfer, who created the fan blog http://www.justonebadcentury.com .

He said he shared those frustrations and wished the rooftop owners would back off and allow Ricketts to run the club as he sees fit.

“I think we should trust this organization because they have shown over time that they take the history of Wrigley Field seriously and so far nothing they have done has diminished it, in my opinion,” he said.

Theo Epstein

Epstein, who helped lead the Red Sox to World Series glory while serving as the team’s general manager, grew up in Brookline, Mass. He used to cheer on his mother and her twin sister while they ran the Boston Marathon, and he also used to live a block away from the race’s finish line, where tragedy struck on Monday.

The Cubs have joined the rest of baseball in supporting Boston in the wake of Monday’s events, which took the lives of three and injured nearly 200 others. The disaster has really hit home for Epstein, though, and he’s still trying to wrap his head around the situation.

“The city’s really shaken, but it’s extremely resilient with lots of tough people and we’ll definitely get through it,” Epstein said, according to CSNChicago.com “It’s just almost impossible to process something like that. It’s just such a special day in Boston, too. The thing about the marathon is just about everyone there was either waiting for a loved one or a friend or there to cheer on and support a stranger.

“And then to have someone try to kill and hurt strangers doesn’t make sense. It’s amazing that human beings are capable of both those extremes.”

Epstein reportedly heard from his brother, Paul, after he finished the Boston Marathon on Monday — about 45 minutes before the explosions — and was in the draft room for midpoint scouting meetings when someone saw a news flash on Twitter. It reportedly took about 20 minutes before the two reconnected.

It’ll certainly take some time for Epstein — and many others — to fully comprehend exactly what happened on Monday, but the Cubs president is certain of one thing.

“I know Boston’s tough enough to get through it,” Epstein reportedly said.

Spoken like a true Bostonian.

Have a question for Ricky Doyle? Send it to him via Twitter at @TheRickyDoyle or send it here.

Just last week, the Chicago Cubs all but finalized plans with the city to give the antiquated Wrigley Field a much-needed facelift. The renovation will be privately funded, and will include things like a modern video board, additional advertising around the ballpark, an adjacent 175-room hotel and a two-story club attached to the stadium.

And, according to Cubs owner Tom Ricketts, all of that will inevitably lead to a World Series title.

“If this plan is approved, we will win the World Series for our fans and our city,” said Ricketts on Monday, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. “We need this project in order to bring our fans a winner. The financial impact of this proposal will help us do that.

“It’s a significant amount of dollars that can be generated. … I’m not sure exactly which dollars come in which years, but it absolutely increases Theo’s [Epstein] ability to put dollars to work on the field — and substantially.”

While it is true that the renovation figures to open up additional revenue streams for the Cubs, it’s questionable whether or not the team is actually hamstrung financially. As recently as 2010, the Cubs maintained a payroll of more than $146 million, the third-highest figure in baseball at the time.

Photo via Wikimedia Commons/Wrigley Field

Jorge Soler

The Cubs prospect reportedly grabbed a bat and charged the opposition’s dugout in response to a bench-clearing brawl between the Single-A Daytona Cubs and Clearwater Threshers. After Soler slid into second base in an attempt to break up a double play during the seventh inning of the game, he and Threshers second baseman Carlos Alonso exchanged words. Both benches cleared, and the two teams returned to their respective dugouts without any punches thrown.

Then, Soler picked up a bat and stormed toward the Clearwater dugout. According to Bleed Cubbie Blue, Soler had to be pulled away and back into the dugout by a teammate and coach. It’s unclear if Soler hit anyone with the bat while swinging it in the dugout.

Soler is widely regarded as one of the top prospects in the Cubs organization. The outfielder entered Wednesday’s game batting .450 in five games with two home runs on the young season.

Thumbnail via Flickr/mjl816

Ryan Sweeney

The former Boston outfielder signed a minor league deal with the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday, according to MassLive.com’s Evan Drellich, and he expects to report to the team’s Triple-A affiliate Wednesday.

The 28-year-old was shipped to the Red Sox along with Andrew Bailey as part of the Josh Reddick trade with the Oakland A’s, but failed to catch on at the major league level. He hit just .260 in 63 games for the Sox last year, with no home runs and 16 runs batted in.

Sweeney was granted his release by the Red Sox at the end of spring training, after he re-signed with the team during the offseason. He cited a better opportunity with the Cubs as a reason for his decision.

Chris Young

Young, who was an All-Star as a member of the Padres in 2007, had been pitching for the Nationals this spring, but the club granted him his release on Tuesday. Young reportedly “loved” playing with the Nationals, but he exercised his opt-out clause in the hopes of securing a major league contract elsewhere.

Realizing that Young would soon hit the open market, a number of teams sent scouts to Young’s start against the Astros on Monday. Those teams included the Red Sox, Orioles, Blue Jays, Twins, Indians, Cubs, Cardinals, Brewers and Mets, according to FOXSports.com’s Ken Rosenthal.

The Washington Post’s Adam Kilgore reports that the Nats are “hopeful, if not optimistic,” that they can lure Young back if he doesn’t find a major league deal elsewhere, but the 33-year-old has put together a rather impressive spring.

Young made four starts and allowed five runs (four earned) in 16 innings (2.25 ERA) before his release. He held opposing hitters to a .193 average, and he didn’t allow a run in his last nine innings.

Young made 20 starts with the Mets last season, and went 4-9 with a 4.15 ERA. The righty notched back-to-back double-digit win seasons in 2005 and 2006, before then earning the All-Star nod while going 9-8 with a 3.12 ERA in 2007.

Have a question for Ricky Doyle? Send it to him via Twitter at @TheRickyDoyle or send it here.

Photo via Wikipedia/Chris Young

Although the Ricketts family, which bought the Cubs in 2009, has said that the money will not come from public sources, it’s another revenue streak that’s raising hackles. Part of the team’s plan is to add strategically placed billboards and perhaps another deck in the outfield, which could potentially block views from buildings across the street.

And that is none too popular with the owners of property on Waveland and Sheffield avenues, according to The Wall Street Journal.

Although Wrigley Field has long been known for views of the ballpark from across the street in the outfield, it wasn’t until the 1980s that they became big business. Eventually many building owners constructed rooftop bleachers for fans, but more recently that’s given way to another trend. Many property owners have turned what were formerly apartment buildings into clubs that can accommodate up to 200 people.

The average price of a rooftop seat is $110, according to the report.

The current issue stems from a 2002 lawsuit, when the Cubs sued landowners around the ballpark charging fans to watch games, claiming copyright infringement. In an accord reached in 2004, the rooftop owners agreed to pay 17 percent of their revenue to the Cubs, and the team agreed not to block their views of the stadium for a 20-year period.

Though no formal lawsuits or complaints have been filed, a 16-building group called the Wrigleyville Rooftop Association thinks that new billboards might violate the agreement. Moreover, the group has donated more than $140,000 to democratic alderman Tom Tunney, who’s long crusaded on “quality of life” issues in the area surrounding the ballpark.

Chicago major Rahm Emanuel is also said to be trying to help the two sides to a compromise.

Curt Schilling

Schilling claimed during an appearance on ESPN Radio on Wednesday that he had been approached about using PEDs while recovering from an injury by someone working for the Red Sox in 2008. Schilling said those who approached him no longer work for the organization, which immediately sent plenty of people on a witch hunt.

Hoyer and Epstein were among those bound to come up in speculation, simply because they were prominent members of the organization in 2008 who have since moved on. However, Hoyer made it clear during an interview with 670 The Score in Chicago on Thursday that he had no knowledge that such an incident may have occurred, and that if it did, he and Epstein were in no way involved.

“The first I ever heard of that was this morning when I saw it, so clearly, no, it didn’t ring true to me at all,” Hoyer said. “I can tell you it would be preposterous that Theo or I would be involved in that. So I can comment for the two of us. I obviously wasn’t there. I don’t know the story he’s talking about so I can’t comment on the rest of it. I can tell you certainly it wasn’t Theo or me.”

Hoyer served as the Red Sox’ assistant general manager in 2008, while Epstein was the team’s GM. Each has moved on to the Cubs organization, but Schilling’s claims are something no one in baseball wants to be linked to in any way, shape or form. Hoyer went on to say that he’s never had a direct conversation about a player using PEDs.

“In my position going from intern to baseball operations all the way to assistant GM and GM it’s never something I’ve ever been confronted with, no,” Hoyer said. “But it is something that is a constant discussion in baseball because whether it’s a guy tests positive or there’s suspicions, it’s something people talk about, but it’s never something I’ve ever been directly confronted with.”

Schilling later said in an interview with WEEI.com that it wasn’t Epstein, Hoyer, former Red Sox manager Terry Francona or a baseball ops person who approached him. The former Red Sox pitcher insists by making the claims, he was simply trying to prove that it’s not always bad guys making bad decisions when it comes to PEDs.

Schilling also said he wasn’t trying to draw intention to himself. Obviously, things have gone much differently, though.

Have a question for Ricky Doyle? Send it to him via Twitter at @TheRickyDoyle or send it here.

The team announced a five-year, $300 million plan to rebuild the Friendly Confines at the annual Cubs Convention on Saturday, and owner Tom Ricketts said his family is willing to foot the entire bill — but only if some long-standing restrictions are lifted.

“[We would] like to be treated like the other 29 clubs,” Cubs President of Business Operations Crane Kenney said. “If [the Ricketts] are going to be able to build their business, put signs where they need them, hold games when they need them, they’re prepared to write the entire check themselves.”

That doesn’t mean the Cubs wouldn’t accept some help from Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel.

“If we’re a public enterprise that’s going to be restricted like a public asset, and it comes time for renovation, we’d like to be supported,” Kenney said, adding that the mayor has been “terrific” throughout their conversations.

A call to the mayor’s office for comment was not immediately returned.

Due to its location in the middle of a residential neighborhood, the Cubs are limited to a maximum of 30 home night games per season and can’t play night games on Friday or Saturday.

They’re also the only major league team that faces advertising limitations.

“We’d just like a little more flexibility to have that stuff,” Ricketts said. “We have an opportunity that is tremendous. Just give us some relief on some of these restrictions and then we’ll take care of Wrigley Field.”

Taxpayer burden and job creation are two other points of contention when it comes to the project. Ricketts tried to put them both to bed on Saturday. The remodeling, which the team hopes will start at the end of the 2013 season, would create about 2,100 jobs over five years, according to team projections.

Ricketts, who bought the team in 2009, said the team has been looking beyond the taxpayers for help.

“We’re not looking at amusement taxes,” he said. “We’re trying to think of other things that might help us finance the renovations and move forward.”

The stadium overhaul includes a large increase in restrooms and an expanded concourse. More than 50 million pounds of concrete and steel will be removed.

All of the historical aspects of the field will be retained, including the ivy, center field scoreboard and the iconic Chicago Cubs marquee.

“The elements that really define Wrigley Field, we would be the last ones who would want to touch those,” Kenney said.

Kenney also called the Cubs facilities “the worst in Major League Baseball.”

General manager Jed Hoyer said the home clubhouse would top the priority list, comparing Wrigley’s facilities to Fenway Park’s when he and Cubs President of Baseball Operations Theo Epstein were in Boston.

“Theo and I both saw how [the renovations] changed the organization, going from an iconic ballpark in a beautiful city, but also in adding first-class facilities,” Hoyer said.

Ricketts make it no secret that they have a similar path in mind.

“We certainly watched what the Red Sox did and there are a lot of lessons we can use,” he said. “We’ve hired a lot of the people they used on their park to do our park.”

The Cubs also hope to match Boston’s success on the field under Epstein and Hoyer. The duo is in its second year of a rebuilding project much larger than just a stadium. The Cubs lost 101 games last season, haven’t been to the playoffs since 2008 and haven’t won a World Series since 1908.

While the Cubs have a five-year plan for the stadium restoration, their on-field rebuilding is much murkier.

“We’re trying to get this organization healthy,” manager Dale Sveum said. “Within a year, believe me, this thing has come a long, long way.”

Still, Ricketts, Hoyer and Epstein repeatedly dodged fan questions about specific timelines for success.

“It doesn’t happen overnight,” Ricketts said. “You just have to think long-term. We think we have the right time horizon to do it the right way.

“I really do believe we have the smartest guys in baseball building us a championship team. It just takes time.”

8:37 p.m.: 

8:35 p.m.: The panel was asked about Wednesday’s Hall of Fame results, and the sentiment is clear — we don’t know. Peter Gammons and Theo Epstein both noted that while we want to make everything black and white when it comes to the Hall of Fame in the wake of the Steroids Era, it isn’t quite that easy. In fact, there is very much a gray area, as it’s hard to gauge where each player from the era stands in terms of steroid use.

8:30 p.m.: The most hard-hitting question of the evening comes from perhaps the youngest person in the crowd. A kid asked what the primary reason was for Bobby Valentine’s firing.

After a boisterous response from the crowd, Peter Gammons was the one to answer. He said that he thinks a lot of things converged last season, and that Valentine probably wasn’t 100 percent prepared for what was in store, noting that it was a difficult season for the entire organization.

8:25 p.m.: Ben Cherington was asked — by a Dodgers fan — his thoughts on the future of MLB payrolls. Cherington said that teams often have to deal with diminished returns when it comes to high-priced players, as veterans often decline near the tail end of their career. That, Cherington says, is why it’s important to try to get as many players locked up under contract for their prime years as possible.

8:15 p.m.: While answering a question about ownership, Ben Cherington made it clear that John Henry, Tom Werner and Larry Lucchino are “100 percent focused on winning.”

8:10 p.m.: After a brief intermission and a few auctions, the panel members have fielded a few questions from those in the crowd, and among the topics touched on were the recent Hall of Fame results/steroid testing, the MLB draft and the physical state of the Cubs’ clubhouse.

Gammons said that many players he’s talked to are welcoming increased steroid testing, as it ensures a level playing field. Obviously, as Gammons notes, that’s something that non-users desire.

As far as the MLB draft, and more specifically the new drafting process, Cherington said that the Red Sox — and all teams, for that matter — will need to be more creative going forward.

And Epstein stated a desire to improve the physical state of the Cubs’ clubhouse, similar to how the Red Sox improved their facilities during his time in Boston.

7:35 p.m.: That does it for the moderated portion of the event, and it ended the way much of the evening went — with Buck Showalter drawing some laughs.

Showalter said that the Red Sox have done a tremendous job of hiring good people this offseason, even noting that it’s difficult for him to admit given his status as manager of a division rival.

7:30 p.m.: Another Pedroia story to report. Apparently, during one of the Red Sox’ series against the Orioles, Pedroia spent a whole lot of time before one of the games heckling Adam Jones. The Red Sox second baseman could be heard screaming, “You better not hit it my way, or you are out. You are out!”

Classic Pedey.

7:25 p.m.: Showalter is really killing it, drawing plenty of laughs and applause from those in attendance.

Showalter took a little jab at the football players of the world, saying that he has a ton of respect for them, but that he wonders how those in football can say, “Well, we weren’t prepared this week.” Showalter said to try playing daily for seven months — as is the case in baseball.

Showalter also praised the Pedroias of the world, even saying the O’s have a few similar players in their clubhouse. When Gammons noted one instance of a Baltimore infielder calling out another infielder on the team, Showalter joked that Gammons “knows too much.”

7:20 p.m.: It didn’t take long for Dustin Pedroia’s name to come up. Farrell said that having an established leader like Pedroia is great, because he’s a guy a manager can turn to to be a voice in the clubhouse. And, as Farrell points out, Pedroia — a rather loud guy — isn’t afraid to stand up and hold himself and his teammates accountable.

7:15 p.m.: Epstein said that it’s important to get everyone pulling in the same direction. He said an “us against the world mentality” — which he clearly saw firsthand in Boston — is an extremely powerful force. That’s something he wants to see out of the Cubs, as they no longer want to be known as “lovable losers.”

Cherington followed up by saying that the Red Sox’ emphasis is on preparing the right way on a day-to-day basis. He said that when you go through struggles, it’s a time to look back and question whether you’ve gotten away from the daily preparation that made you successful.

7:10 p.m.: Showalter stressed the importance of keeping a grip on reality throughout the course of a season. He said there have been times when he felt like he’d never win another game, and then there have been other times when he thought he’d never lose again.

Showalter also said that in the past, he’s shown his players film of some of the game’s greats making errors, as it serves as proof that no one is perfect.

One major emphasis for Showalter, though? Pitching. Regardless of everything else, he says, you need good pitching. Fair enough.

7:05 p.m.: Cherington was asked about the role that establishing a good clubhouse culture played in his offseason additions. The Red Sox GM said that while it’s important, talent — and the ability to add talent to areas of need — is also extremely important.

Cherington said that you can get a bunch of good guys together, and everyone will have a good time and get along during spring training, but that you also need to have talent, which will ensure winning and thus further clubhouse chemistry building.

Well, the old adage is that winning solves everything, right?

7:00 p.m.: John Farrell sounds like a manager. That’s for sure. The Red Sox skipper said that it’s all about playing for the name on the front of the jersey, not the one on the back. And you know what? He’s right.

Epstein then said that you learn about players all throughout their time in the minors, but that there comes a point when you realize which players are going to be influenced by outside factors (agents, friends, etc.) and which players are focused on baseball.

Epstein also stressed the importance of mutual trust. He said that while you need to trust your players, your players also need to trust you.

6:55 p.m.: Orioles skipper Buck Showalter, fresh off an impressive season, is also in attendance. The first question thrown his way focused on young players, and how to go about bringing them up to the bigs and implementing them.

Showalter, of course, has the privilege of managing one of the game’s bright young stars in Manny Machado. He admitted that the O’s probably wouldn’t have brought Machado up last season had he not been able to play alongside J.J. Hardy.

Showalter also said that you should be able to assume things about young players when they arrive in the majors.

6:51 p.m.: Peter Gammons’ first question was centered on the importance of a good culture in the clubhouse, and Ben Cherington said that forming good chemistry isn’t done overnight, but that it’s very important — as is a team’s talent level.

Theo Epstein pointed to the Red Sox’ World Series titles as proof that having a good clubhouse culture does play a big role. He said that the “whole exceeds the sum of its parts,” which is something he stressed throughout his Boston tenure.

Epstein was then asked if the September collapse of 2011 played a role in how he approached his building process in Chicago, but he noted that it didn’t have much of an impact.

6:45 p.m.: Theo Epstein is among those in attendance, and he’s already catching some heat from his brother, Paul, who is also on hand. Paul politely — and jokingly, of course, — requested that Theo quiet down a little bit.

Peter Gammons, a legend of the Boston media, is the moderator for Friday’s event. It should be noted that the event is for charity, so while everyone is licking their chops at the idea of talking baseball, let’s keep in mind what the night is all about.

6:30 p.m.:  We’re up and running here at the Fens, where there’s actually a really good turnout. Right now, those in attendance are stuffing their faces with some good eats. Hopefully they save room for some baseball.

4:15 p.m. ET: Hello, baseball fans. Hopefully everyone is enjoying their winter thus far, but if you aren’t, maybe we can make it a little bit more tolerable by talking some baseball. At least that’s the plan.

Clicking on this story may or may not be the best decision of your day — top five, at least. That’s because yours truly will be reporting live from the friendly confines of Fenway Park at what is sure to be a worthwhile event.

Unfortunately, no fungo bats, radar guns or penny balls will be utilized on Friday (unless some other member of the Boston media contingent decides to bring them along). But what we will have are some varying perspectives from a few notable baseball faces.

Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington, manager John Farrell, assistant GM Mike Hazen, Cubs president Theo Epstein, Orioles manager Buck Showalter and Hall of Fame baseball writer Peter Gammons are among those who will be participating in this year’s version of the Hot Stove Cool Music Baseball Roundtable.

These baseball luminaries will be part of an in-depth discussion on the topic of “changing a culture in baseball.” Fortunately, NESN.com is ready to provide up-to-the-minute commentary and information regarding their discussion.

And guess what? You’re invited to join me on this journey by sticking with this live blog. Don’t let me down, folks. It’ll be good. I swear.

Friday’s action is set to kick off at around 6 p.m., at which point there will be some media availability. I’ll be sure to keep you posted on all the happenings there, and then the actual roundtable will commence at around 6:45 p.m.

In other words, don’t touch the dial.

CSNChicago.com’s Patrick Mooney reports that Jackson has agreed to a four-year contract worth $52 million. The 29-year-old is coming off of a 2012 season with the Washington Nationals where he went 10-11 with a 4.03 ERA in 189 2/3 innings.

#Cubs have signed Edwin Jackson (four years, $52 million) and Carlos Villanueva, pending physicals.

—
Patrick Mooney (@CSNMooney) December 20, 2012

Jackson has already pitched for the Dodgers, Rays, Tigers, Diamondbacks, White Sox, Cardinals and Nationals. He has a 70-71 career record with a 4.40 ERA. However, he has started to show improvement over the last three years. He’s 32-32 over that time with a 4.10 ERA, including a 22-20 combined mark with a 3.91 ERA in his last two seasons. Jackson was an All-Star in 2009, arguably the best year of his career. A year later, Jackson threw a no-hitter with Arizona, shutting out Tampa Bay, despite walking eight and throwing 149 pitches.

There’s that whole 100-plus-year curse going on (complete with a literal goat!), and there’s the recurring 100-loss seasons. Things looked a little better in Chi-town when former Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein took the reins last year, but so far the “rebuilding” has been of the more depressing variety. (Fun fact: The Cubs were called the Orphans up until 1902. Fitting, no?)

So it only hurts that much more that the crosstown Chicago White Sox — who not only won a World Series in the last decade but bounced back from a very short rebuilding time of their own to almost make the playoffs last year — are taking over the local youth baseball scene.

The White Sox are sponsoring young ballplayers all over the city, but with one caveat: Teams have to have some variation of “White Sox” in their name, according to the Chicago Tribune. The youth teams are giving up their various MLB monikers and will now be White Sox Yellow, White Sox Red or something else that is decidedly less creative.

The local teams are, unsurprisingly, not pleased with the development. Most of them like the unique names their teams have had for years and the solidarity it gives their communities.

But other people are upset that the White Sox are basically staging a coup for the hearts and minds of young Chicago baseball fans — and wiping out any trace of the Cubs on the youth baseball jerseys.

The youth league leaders insist that the move was done in good sense, as the financial benefits far outweigh the nostalgic loss of ditching the old team names.

“I don’t really care if it was the White Sox that approached us or the Cubs, or even if the Colorado Rockies had approached us,” said Bill Sullivan, president of the Oak Park youth league. “It would’ve been irresponsible of us as a league not to accept this offer.”

Now, there’s an idea — maybe the Yankees or Dodgers could start investing all their excess cash in buying up youth leagues and insisting their names be on the jerseys. Something just doesn’t seem right about that, especially since the White Sox are acknowledging that they’re hoping the entire Chicago juvenile population will start to associate baseball first and foremost with their team.

Poor Cubs — just one more bad turn for the team named after baby bears.

He’s bumped into problems with the law and his work ethic has been spotty during his tenure with the Cubs.

While Cubs manager Dale Sveum noticed improvement in Castro’s attitude last season, he believes more growth is necessary.

“What I want to see out of him is just keep progressing mentally,” Sveum told CSNChicago. “And understand the process of becoming a winning player and not a hit seeker. [It’s] becoming more of a winning hitter — in situations, by driving runs in, understanding the situations defensively.

“He came a long way, but still has to even concentrate more. We’ve got him probably — just throwing a number out there — really focused 80-85 percent of the time. We got to get that to 95 percent of the time. I don’t think anybody ever really focuses 100 percent.”

Castro used to be a liability on the defensive side of the ball, leading the majors with 29 errors in 2011. He made strides on that end last season, working with teammate Darwin Barney to improve his fielding.

The 22-year-old also delivered at the plate, hitting .283 with 14 home runs and 78 RBIs. He flourished despite an uncertain contract situation, but the Cubs quashed those concerns by inking him to a seven-year extension.

With that distraction aside, general manager Jed Hoyer expects Castro to have a career year.

“This is roughly when he should start to break out,” Hoyer said. “He’s going to start making that jump. The contract situation certainly was something that was on his mind last year. He now knows how we feel about him. He knows he’s got security.

“All those financial issues — [he] doesn’t have to worry about those things anymore. While last year that might have distracted him, I think this year that should be something he’s relaxed about. He can just go out and play. I would be disappointed, candidly, if he didn’t take a step forward next year and I think he feels the same way.”

Despite coming off a 101-loss season –– extending the club’s World Series drought to 104 years –– Epstein told CSNChicago.com that manager Dale Sveum‘s rising reputation as a player’s coach will be enticing to many.

“Dale’s making a name for himself as a manager that players want to play for,” Epstein reportedly said. “Free agents recognize that we had a good clubhouse last year, despite the difficult season that we had. I think generally free agents believe in the positive direction we’re going.

“Elite baseball players are really competitive and I think they like the thought of being part of the solution here. Being a member of the team that finally wins a World Series for the Cubs is really appealing. I’ve had a number of players tell me that directly. We have not had to sell our situation much at all.”

The Cubs have yet to make a big splash this offseason. They merely signed pitchers Scott Baker and Scott Feldman to one-year deals in order to bolster their starting rotation. But when Epstein has gauged interest in the free-agent market, he’s come away optimistic that players remain interested in playing for the Cubs –– despite the rebuilding movement.

“When we express interest, we’ve been hearing back, ‘Oh, that’s a place we’ve had our eye on,’” Epstein said, “which you don’t often hear coming off a 101-loss season.”

Epstein, who has held his position as team president for a little over a year, will certainly have more time to reconstruct the Cubs to his liking.

So you would think that that skipper would be all about getting into his offseason, embracing the chance to get away from the game for a few months to relax and recharge his batteries. Being shot by a Hall of Famer, however, isn’t exactly what most people call relaxing and recharging.

The former Red Sox third base coach could have just sat on the couch and reflected on the season. Instead, though, he likely said to himself “Let’s go kill some birds. I’m psyched.” He probably should have just stayed on the couch.

Sveum shared a pretty humorous story at the winter meetings on Tuesday, and it’s a story that’s only humorous because Sveum lived to tell it. The manager detailed a hunting trip mishap with Hall of Fame infielder Robin Yount, in which Yount actually shot Sveum — accidentally, of course.

While quail hunting in Arizona, there was an unfortunate accident that left Sveum with (luckily) just a minor injury.

“The bird was in front of him and I was about 50 yards up on a hill,” Sveum said, according to ESPN.com. “He got the bird up and lost track of where I was. He pulled the trigger and was like, ‘Uh, oh.’ “

Yount was using a six-shot, and the sprayed shrapnel ended up hitting Sveum in the ear.

“I got drilled with pellets in the back and then one stuck in the ear,” he said.

Again, Sveum got pretty lucky. It could have been worse. Much worse.

Photo of the Day

Hey, these guys are teammates now.

Quote of the Day

“In some ways I’d say it might be the best day we’ve had, which isn’t too overly optimistic of a picture. There is still a lot of work to do and a lot to be done.”
–Donald Fehr

Tweet of the Day

You mean like … worse than 69 wins and last place in the AL East?

Sorry but if the #redsox trade @JacobyEllsbury, they will suck. @NESN #itsthetruth #donttradehim

—
Madison Reinhard (@mreiny) December 05, 2012

Video of the Day

Everyone’s favorite Australian hurdler is back.

Theo Epstein and the Chicago Cubs are interested in trading for the right-hander, according to CBS Sports’ Jon Heyman, and the Angels are in a bit of a time crunch to decide whether or not to move the pitcher.

Haren has a $15.5 million option with a $3.5 million buyout that the Angels need to make a decision on by Friday at midnight. It is expected that the team will deal the starter at some point before that deadline.

The Red Sox are reportedly interested in Haren’s services, but it’s unclear what price they’d be willing to pay for him.

The Angels traded starter Ervin Santana to the Royals on Wednesday, and are now on the clock to move another pitcher with an option looming. Haren went 12-13 with a 4.33 ERA last season for the Angels.

If your goal was to see the Cubs lose their 100th game for the first time since 1966 and only the third time in their long history, doing so wouldn't have put a dent in your wallet.

Tickets to Monday night's Astros-Cubs game at Wrigley were listed as low
as 19 cents apiece on stubhub.com for two tickets in the outfield upper deck. The seats cost, at face value, $8 each.

October baseball in the Windy City — possibly the cheapest thing you can do in Chicago.