Baseball

Patience pays off for Sox's Ventura
Thu, 04/19/2012
As Gordon Beckham's grounder skipped through the left side of the infield and into left field Wednesday night, a large majority of a crowd of 13,818 voiced their approval. But that cheer paled in comparison to the positive reaction after Adam Dunn hit an opposite-field, three-run double later that reinforced manager Robin Ventura's theme of...

Patience pays off for Sox's Ventura
Thu, 04/19/2012
As Gordon Beckham's grounder skipped through the left side of the infield and into left field Wednesday night, a large majority of a crowd of 13,818 voiced their approval. But that cheer paled in comparison to the positive reaction after Adam Dunn hit an opposite-field, three-run double later that reinforced manager Robin Ventura's theme of...

Series preview, pitching matchups: White Sox at Rangers
Fri, 04/06/2012
All games on WSCR-AM 670. Season series: Tied 4-4 in 2011. Friday: 1:05 p.m., CSN. LH John Danks (8-12, 4.33 ERA in 2011) vs. RH Colby Lewis (14-10, 4.40). Saturday: 7:05 p.m., WGN-Ch. 9. RH Jake Peavy (7-7, 4.92...

Sveum's directorial debut a dud for Cubs
Fri, 04/06/2012
Like the 51 Cubs managers before him — from Amalfitano to Zimmer — Dave Sveum discovered Thursday that managing with the wind blowing in at Wrigley Field is a first-class ticket to second-guessing. And that is especially true for those who managed mediocre teams, of which there have been many...

Marlins open amid carnival atmosphere
Thu, 04/05/2012
MIAMI — Now that Marlins Park has been christened, with $106-million shortstop Jose Reyes and some of baseball's most facility-starved fans joining their futures together, with the retractable roof open and the case to move the team to Las Vegas closed, only one question remains about the Florida, er, Miami Marlins. Do they have to return...

Series preview: Nationals at Cubs
Thu, 04/05/2012
 All games on WGN-AM 720. Season series: Nationals 4-3 in 2011. Thursday: 1:20 p.m.; WGN-Ch. 9. RH Stephen Strasburg (1-1, 1.50 ERA in 2011) vs. RH Ryan Dempster 10-14, 4.80). Saturday: 12:05 p.m.; CSN. LH...

Santiago's performance creates intrigue in closer probe
Wed, 04/04/2012
HOUSTON - Manager Robin Ventura's criteria for selecting a closer involves throwing more than one pitch for strikes and limiting walks. Ventura could have somewhat of a diliemma as he declines to publicly reveal who his closer will be when the regular season starts Friday...

Bruney shaping up as bullpen asset
Fri, 03/23/2012
GLENDALE, Ariz. — Brian Bruney knows there's the assumption he's old, essentially because he has pitched in the major leagues since 2004. But to enhance his chances of returning to the majors, Bruney had to turn a page back to his youth...

White Sox's Sale limits Reds to 2 hits over 6 innings
Tue, 03/20/2012
Chris Sale showed no signs Monday of a virus that had nagged him the last few days. More impressive was that Sale handled a veteran Reds lineup with ease, limiting them to two hits over six innings while striking out six and walking none...

Ventura enters Sox camp with an open mind
Thu, 02/23/2012
GLENDALE, Ariz. — New manager, open battles. That's what Robin Ventura was claiming Wednesday on the eve of the White Sox's first workout. "There is competition with everything," Ventura said. "As far as guys...