Rangers’ Berkman Favors Wrigley Upgrade

April 17, 2013 @ admin → No Comments

Midweek musings: Texas Rangers designated hitter Lance Berkman had a few words about Wrigley Field, courtesy of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram (a former employer of this humble scribe) and Dallas Morning News: “It’s one of the worst places in baseball for, well, just about anything. I really don’t like it. I read where they got approval for some more upgrades. Count me in the group of people extremely happy to see that. I guess I’m just spoiled. There is a tremendous history associated with it and there is something special about playing on the same field that guys like Babe Ruth did. But really, what kind of history is there? It’s not like there has been one championship after another. It’s mainly been a place for people to go and drink beer.”

Say hello to Chicago Bliss quarterback Heather Furr. The team opens its Legends Football League season Friday at the Sears Centre in Hoffman Estates.

* Speaking of the venerable ballpark, when Chicago Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts held a press conference on Monday regarding renovations to Wrigley, he said the team would win the World Series in the new Wrigley. Maybe what he meant was that the Cubs woud win as many as they have in old Wrigley. Which at last count was zero.

* Speaking of the Cubs, their leading run producer is Anthony Rizzo with nine runs batted in. Imagine how many more he might have if the first baseman was hitting better than .174.

* Speaking of first baseman, Paul Konerko leads the White Sox with 10 RBI. He scored what proved to be the decisive run in Tuesday’s 4-3 victory at Toronto. Something says his bat will be more important than his baserunning skills to the team’s success.

* It appears the Chicago Bulls will finish the regular season Wednesday (April 17) as the No. 5 seeed for the NBA playoffs. Which means they theoretically have an easier first-round matchup against the Brooklyn Nets as opposed to facing the Indiana Pacers. Being No. 5 also would mean the series winner in all likelihood next would face the Miami Heat. Which means in all likelihood an earlier exit than if the Bulls had ended up in the other half of the Eastern Conference bracket.

* Speaking of the NBA’s postseason, do the Boston Celtics become sentimental favorites against the New York Knicks because of the Boston Marathon bombings that left three dead?

* Speaking of the marathon, Boston Athletic Association executive director Tom Grilk said Tuesday: “We are committed to continuing that tradition with the running of the 118th Boston Marathon in 2014.” As if there was any doubt about that.

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To show unity with the city of Boston, the New York Yankees — the archrival of the Red Sox — paid homage to the Red Sox and played the Fenway Park favorite, Neil Diamond’s“Sweet Caroline” at Yankee Stadium:

After the musical tribute, Diamond tweeted: “Thank you NY Yankees for playing ‘Sweet Caroline’ for the people of Boston. You scored a home run in my heart.”

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Pat Summerall died Tuesday at age 82. He was a guest on “Sports & Torts” about a year ago with co-hosts David Spada and Elliott Harris on Talkzone.com. Summerall was a legendary broadcaster and before that a pro football player with the Detroit Lions, Chicago Cardinals and New York Giants: