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To: abstract who wrote (57697)	12/4/2006 7:48:50 PM
From: Cactus Jack	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 104197

What did Doc have that day, 8 walks? Talk about not wanting to dig in against the pitcher! jpg

To: abstract who wrote (57697)	12/6/2006 2:09:46 AM
From: stockman_scott	Respond to of 104197

Sayers' 2 cents: Bench Grossman ______________________________________________________________ Ex-Bears great says `it's a shame' Smith won't play Griese By Fred Mitchell Columnist The Chicago Tribune December 5, 2006 Criticism is flowing from the Bears' extended family regarding the decision of coach Lovie Smith to stick with struggling young quarterback Rex Grossman. Bears Hall of Fame running back Gale Sayers weighed in Monday on the controversy. "It's a shame Lovie Smith won't go to Brian Griese," Sayers said. "He is 10-2 with Rex, but the defense is winning these ballgames. You are not going to the Super Bowl with Rex Grossman. You're going into the fourth quarter (Sunday against the Vikings) ahead 21-6 . . . why can't you go with Griese for a couple of series? Just see what he can do. When they do call on him, it may be too late." Griese clearly outplayed Grossman during exhibitions, but Smith repeatedly quashed any talk of a quarterback controversy. "Every position should be competitive," Sayers said. "That is one position that is not competitive. He says, `Rex is my quarterback.' And I don't think he cares what Griese does or how he plays." The Bears beat the Vikings 23-13 to wrap up their second straight NFC North title, despite a 1.3 passer rating from Grossman. The Vikings held the ball on offense almost twice as long as the Bears. "The defense is spending too much time on the field," said Sayers. "And I think that's why you are seeing these injuries (to Tommie Harris and Nathan Vasher this week). You could be tired and not alert to what is going on. The defense gets the ball back for the offense and all of a sudden [Grossman] throws an interception. That is too much pressure put on those people. The offense has to produce, and they are not producing." Copyright © 2006, The Chicago Tribune

To: abstract who wrote (57697)	12/6/2006 10:07:24 PM
From: stockman_scott	Respond to of 104197

Calatrava tower to drop spire ______________________________________________________________ By Eddie Baeb and Alby Gallun Dec. 06, 2006 (Crain’s) — The Chicago Spire is losing its point. The developer of the proposed Streeterville tower, right, that would be North America's tallest skyscraper on Friday plans to file design changes with the city eliminating the 430-foot antenna that tops the twisting design by renowned Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava. Instead, condominium units in the building are to rise all the way to the top at 2,000 feet, says Thomas Murphy, a Chicago attorney and spokesman for the project’s developer, Garrett Kelleher of Dublin, Ireland-based Shelbourne Development Ltd. “The silhouette will be the same, but there won’t be a spire on top,” Mr. Murphy says. “It’s good for the neighborhood, the city and the building. It makes it a sensible, rational scheme.” The changes, which Mr. Calatrava presented to neighbors earlier this week, would allow for 1,000 condominiums, up from the current plan that calls for 300 units and a 20-story hotel, according to people briefed on the plans. The building also would move slightly north, farther away from the river, and the pedestal-shaped base would be eliminated and replaced with underground parking. “There are many positive features and we are in the process of reviewing it,” says Gail Spreen, vice-president of the influential neighborhood group the Streeterville Organization of Active Residents, which has yet to take a formal position on the changes. Ms. Spreen, whose group was shown the plans Tuesday night, says she likes the developer’s plan to build an underground parking garage and include a large plaza along the river. She declines to comment on the new design of the building. Sources say the developer also told neighbors that its financing was lined up, meaning they can begin construction without pre-selling condos, and that Shelbourne didn’t think a hotel would succeed at the 400 N. Lakeshore Drive location, so far from Michigan Avenue. Mr. Murphy wouldn’t comment on financing, the hotel or how the unit makeup will change with the new designs. He says groundbreaking is planned for the second quarter of next year. “The building is going forward, there’s no question about that,” Mr. Murphy says. Some observers may question Shelbourne's decision to add condos to the project amid a sluggish downtown condo market. Sales of downtown condos fell 7.6% in the first nine months of the year vs. the same period in 2005, according to Chicago-based consulting firm Appraisal Research Counselors. Yet condo developers aren't slowing down: They have started marketing 6,100 units this year, eclipsing the 4,700 they put on the market for all of 2005, according to Appraisal Research. Chicago developer Christopher Carley first proposed the skyscraper in July 2005. Yet Mr. Carley was unable to secure a loan to buy the 2.2-acre development site, so Shelbourne stepped in last July and bought it for about $64 million.

To: abstract who wrote (57697)	12/6/2006 11:41:07 PM
From: stockman_scott	Respond to of 104197

Sox deal Garcia to Phillies ______________________________________________________ By Mark Gonzales Tribune staff reporter December 6, 2006, 9:35 PM CST ORLANDO -- The White Sox traded 17-game winner Freddy Garcia late Wednesday night to Philadelphia for a deal involving 23-year-old pitching prospect Gavin Floyd and minor-league pitcher Gio Gonzalez, a White Sox "sandwich" draft pick in 2004. The Philadelphia Inquirer reported center fielder Aaron Rowand, whom the Sox supposedly wanted to re-acquire, wasn't included in the deal. Floyd, 23, is regarded as one of the Phillies' top pitching prospects. He was 4-3 with a 7.29 ERA in 11 starts for the Phillies and 7-4 with a 4.23 ERA in 17 starts at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. He was the fourth overall selection in the 2001 draft. The deal clears nearly all of Garcia's $10 million salary for 2007, as Floyd will make barely over the $380,000 minimum next season. The Sox now have 14 players signed at about $94 million, excluding the $10 million they will receive for this 2007 in deals they made last winter for pitcher Javier Vazquez and designated hitter Jim Thome. Before the deal was finalized, Sox general manager Ken Williams intimated he might have to make a deal soon because of the rapidly changing free agent market that included the free agent signings of pitchers Jason Schmidt and Ted Lilly. Floyd, who is 7-5 lifetime in the majors over parts of two seasons, has been hampered by bouts of wildness, but the Sox apparently believe they can harness that under the supervision of pitching coach Don Cooper. The Sox remedied the control problem of left-handed reliever Matt Thornton after acquiring him in a deal from Seattle last March. Garcia has pitched 200 innings or more in each of the past six years and has developed a reputation as a big-game pitcher. He also was sought by Houston. "As much as you try and have an idea of the direction or the landscape, the landscape changes from hour-to-hour," Williams said. Copyright © 2006, The Chicago Tribune