More TV Options for Folks in the Cubs’ Blackout Region and Other Bullets

kid-watching-tvReminder: Cubs single game tickets go on sale today at 10am CT. You can get into the virtual waiting room as early as 9:30am CT at Cubs.com.

  • Two more cities in the Cubs’ blackout region are getting over-the-air games: WIFR in Rockford has announced that it will have 45 Cubs games this year, and MyTV in Fort Wayne will have up to 45 games, as well (h/t Josh). Recall, the issue is that about half of the Cubs’ games in 2015 will be broadcast by local Chicago stations (WGN-9 and ABC-7), but folks outside of Chicago in Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, and parts of Wisconsin would be blacked out from those games on MLB.tv even if they weren’t getting the games on their own local stations. So those local stations are individually negotiating to get the games. So far, we know that Peoria, and now Rockford and Fort Wayne will have the games. I expect these deals to keep trickling in as the season approaches.
  • UPDATE: And Quad Cities folks are in luck, too, as Ivy Envy notes you’ll be getting about 45 games.
  • The Cubs haven’t confirmed the Phil Coke signing yet (could be pending a physical), but Joe Maddon told Cubs.com that “it’s not a big secret” that the Cubs are trying to find a lefty specialist. That could very well be Coke, who could be very good in that specific role, or it could be one of the many in-house options. If the Cubs go with Coke, he’d be the most expensive of the options: Chris Iott reports that Coke does get a split contract, as expected, and he’ll make $2.25 million if he’s in the big leagues, with another $900,000 possible in incentives based on appearances. If the Cubs believe Coke’s experience and strength against lefties makes him the best option, of course, then it’s worth paying a couple million extra.
  • Teammates gave Kyle Schwarber the silent treatment after his big grand slam yesterday, which I would have loved to watch (Tribune). Eventually they gave him love, of course.
  • What happens when a switch hitter (Dexter Fowler) faces the extremely rare switch pitcher (Pat Venditte)? Well, the pitcher has to declare which side he’ll be pitching from, but apparently that doesn’t mean he has to warm up from a particular side … which can mess with the hitter. Fowler was a little annoyed (Cubs.com).
  • A FanGraphs piece looks at the “expected” payrolls for MLB teams, given a variety of factors, and the Cubs, as you might expect, show up on the “underspending” end of the spectrum (i.e., their expected payroll is much higher than their actual payroll). What shocked (and dismayed) me is that the Cardinals were right there with the Cubs. The Cards have already said some things publicly about bumping up payroll significantly in the coming years, and this analysis suggests they really could do it.
  • This is just cool as heck:
  • https://twitter.com/RynoSpendsAlot/status/573716539897065472

  • Some Spring shots from the opener:
  • And, while we’re at it, one more Twitter picture:
  • written by

    Brett Taylor is the Lead Cubs Writer at Bleacher Nation, and you can find him on Twitter at @BleacherNation and on LinkedIn here. Brett is also the founder of Bleacher Nation, which opened up shop in 2008 as an independent blog about the Chicago Cubs. Later growing to incorporate coverage of other Chicago sports, Bleacher Nation is now one of the largest regional sports blogs on the web.

    more cubs news

    CRAAAAAP: Cody Bellinger to the Injured List (UPDATES)

    So much for all those words of optimism and negative X-rays. After colliding with the outfield wall last night, Cody Bellinger fractured his rib (Update: It's actually TWO fractured right ribs) and will hit the injured list today. Chicago Cubs...

    Chicago Cubs Lineup: What is it, June 2023?

    CUBS LINEUP — The Chicago Cubs took Game 1 against the Houston Astros in convincing fashion last night. So tonight, they'll go for the quick series win against Spencer Arrighetti at Wrigley Field (it'd be a good idea to win...

    Bellinger Optimistic Post-Injury, Busch’s Defense, Almonte Stock Rising, Tauchman Slugging, and Other Cubs Bullets

    Ed. Note: Since this article was published, a CT scan revealed a rib fracture for Cody Bellinger, who is now on the Injured List. You can find all the details of that news in our most recent article right here....

    Cubs Outfield Prospect Pete Crow-Armstrong Coming Up

    With Cody Bellinger headed to the Injured List with a rib fracture, the Cubs are in need of another outfielder: center field prospect Pete Crow-Armstrong is coming back up to the big leagues for the second time. https://twitter.com/670TheScore/status/1783217891195625709 Crow-Armstrong, 22,...

    Is Mike Tauchman the Best Player in Baseball? An Exploration

    Hey, we're just having some early-season fun. So allow me to present the 'Mike Tauchman Is Clearly Better Than' list. As of this moment, Mike Tauchman has ... ... a higher wRC+ (151) than Pete Alonso, Fernando Tatis Jr., and...

    Cubs Farm Report | April 24, 2024: Kevin Alcántara Cannot Miss Right Now

    Name a player hotter than Kevin Alcántara right now. Go ahead, I'll wait. (He's already raking again today. Literally as I type this.) More on Alcántara's big day and the Smokies home run parade last night in today's Cubs Farm...

    Oof: Blake Snell to the Injured List Just Three Horrible Starts into His Giants Career

    Just three starts into his San Francisco Giants career, Blake Snell is heading to the injured list with a left-adductor strain. Oof. You hate to even say it — and who really knows if this was related — but early...

    It’s Gotten Impossible to Not Comment on the White Sox Making Futility History

    In 1997, I was a miserable Chicago Cubs fan. I mean, that was true a lot of the time, but I mean it in a very specific way that year: the Cubs had started the season 0-14. They had literally...

    My God, Jordan Wicks … Save Some Awesomeness for the Rest of us!

    Cubs rookie starter Jordan Wicks has been impressing us all season long with his apparent offseason transformation (which led to more velocity on his heater and movement on his slider). But last night against the Astros? That was a whole...

    Cardinals Demote Uber Prospect Jordan Walker Back to Triple-A

    On Wednesday, the St. Louis Cardinals announced that infielder José Fermín and LHP John King would be coming to join the big league squad in place of LHP Zack Thompson and ... uber outfield prospect Jordan Walker. You just hate...

    Latest News

    Wurth 400 Odds from NASCAR Dover Motor Speedway: Betting Bubba Wallace at the Monster Mile

    The Monster Mile roars to life this Sunday and the 2024 Wurth 400 odds have been revealed! Dover Motor Speedway welcomes NASCAR for its annual racing weekend and unlike last week’s Geico 500 from Talladega Superspeedway, the race favorites are...

    2024 Zurich Classic Tee Times, TV Channel, Live Stream

    The fleur-de-lis flags are flying, and the beignets are hot! The 2024 Zurich Classic of New Orleans tees off this Thursday, bringing back the PGA Tour's electrifying two-man team format. TPC Louisiana is set to be buzzing with a unique...

    Chicago Sky’s Angel Reese Officially Introduced, And She Sounds Motivated

    The new face of the Chicago Sky franchise officially arrived on Wednesday. Angel Reese met with media members at the Sachs Recreation Center in Deerfield. The former LSU standout and NCAA National Champion is only nine days removed from hearing...

    Cubs Outfield Prospect Pete Crow-Armstrong Coming Up

    With Cody Bellinger headed to the Injured List with a rib fracture, the Cubs are in need of another outfielder: center field prospect Pete Crow-Armstrong is coming back up to the big leagues for the second time. https://twitter.com/670TheScore/status/1783217891195625709 Crow-Armstrong, 22,...

    Jonas Valančiūnas Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Thunder – NBA Playoffs Game 2, Wednesday, April 24, 2024

    On Wednesday at 9:30 PM ET, the New Orleans Pelicans meet the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 2 of the opening round of the NBA playoffs, and Jonas Valančiūnas' 3-pointer prop for this clash requires just one trifecta.Jonas Valančiūnas' Three-Pointer...

    CRAAAAAP: Cody Bellinger to the Injured List (UPDATES)

    So much for all those words of optimism and negative X-rays. After colliding with the outfield wall last night, Cody Bellinger fractured his rib (Update: It's actually TWO fractured right ribs) and will hit the injured list today. Chicago Cubs...

    And Now Penei Sewell Has Signed a MASSIVE Extension With The Lions

    Detroit Lions general manager Brad Holmes is hard at work today! It's fitting that just a day before the 2024 NFL Draft kicks off in Detroit, the Lions have locked up two franchise, homegrown cornerstones just hours apart. This morning,...

    San Jose Sharks Fire Head Coach David Quinn

    When you finish with the worst record in the NHL, it's hard to keep your job. Even when the front office strips your roster to the bare bones, apparently. And on Wednesday, David Quinn found out the San Jose Sharks...

    Chicago Bulls Contracts: Decisions That Have to Be Made This Offseason

    While the NBA offseason will not officially start until June, it still can't hurt to familiarize ourselves with the Chicago Bulls' summer outlook. The organization finds itself at quite the crossroads, and it's not only because they disappointed fans with...

    Take a Look at the New Chicago Bears Stadium Renderings

    The Chicago Bears unveiled plans for their downtown lakefront stadium proposal on Wednesday. And as you might expect, it is very kind on the eyes: https://twitter.com/ChicagoBears/status/1783185834490888461 The Bears even gave the project a code name — The Burnham Park Project: The...

    more cubs news