Cubs place RHP Esmailin Caridad on 15-Day Disabled List

The Chicago Cubs today placed right-handed pitcher Esmailin Caridad on the 15-day disabled list (retroactive to April 12) with a right forearm strain and recalled right-handed pitcher Jeff Gray from Triple-A Iowa.

Gray will wear uniform number 34 and be eligible for this afternoon’s game against the Milwaukee Brewers at Wrigley Field.

The 28-year-old Gray has tossed three scoreless relief appearances with Iowa this spring covering 4.0 innings pitched. He also turned in twoscoreless relief outings with the Cubs during Cactus League play after being sidelined the majority of spring training with a right groin strain.

Acquired by the Cubs from Oakland last December 3, Gray went 0-1 with a 3.76 ERA (11 ER/26.1 IP) in 24 relief appearances last season with the Athletics. The righthander walked only four batters in 26.1 innings pitched while striking out 19. Gray did not allow an earned run in 15 of his first 19 outings, turning in a 1.71 ERA (4 ER/21.0 IP) through September 19.

The six-foot-three, 196-pound Gray split the 2009 campaign between Oakland and Triple-A Sacramento. Gray went 2-2 with 16 saves and a 1.54 ERA (7 ER/41.0 IP) in 37 Triple-A relief outings. Combined between Oakland and Sacramento last year, Gray posted a 2.41 ERA (18 ER/67.1 IP) and walked only 10 batters in 67.1 innings pitched.

Overall, Gray is 0-1 with a 4.35 ERA (15 ER/31.0 IP) in 29 career major league relief outings and is 21-21 with 36 saves and a 3.34 ERA (139 ER/374.2 IP) in 215 minor league outings (24 starts).

Caridad is 0-1 with a 13.50 ERA (4 ER/2.2 IP) in four relief appearances with the Cubs this season.

Chicago Cubs introduce “CubsInsider” Twitter presence

CHICAGO – Chicago Cubs fans using Twitter can add one more feed to their list. The Cubs today introduced the “CubsInsider” Twitter feed to help share team announcements, fan-friendly promotions and unique news about the Cubs.

“We’re excited to be a part of the Cubs conversation on Twitter,” said Wally Hayward, Executive Vice President, Chief Sales and Marketing Officer. “The CubsInsider Twitter feed will help us share news and promotions taking place that fans might not otherwise hear about.”

CubsInsider will share team announcements, current promotions, unique storylines and even weather updates from Wrigley Field. The Cubs will also be able to solicit feedback from its followers on selected topics and guide fans to new sections of Cubs.com.

The feed will be operated by the Cubs’ internal public relations team. CubsInsider will interact with fans as possible, however all customer-related comments and questions should continue to be sent through the “Contact Us” page at Cubs.com or by dialing 773-404-CUBS.
The CubsInsider Twitter feed can be found at twitter.com/CubsInsider. Cubs fans can also find team updates, stories and special promotions from Cubs.com on Facebook at facebook.com/Cubs and twitter.com/Cubs.

Chicago Cubs announce home opener festivities

CHICAGO – The Chicago Cubs and the Ricketts family have announced festivities to take place for the team’s Home Opener against the Milwaukee Brewers at Wrigley Field today at 1:20 p.m.

Students from Chicago’s Blaine Elementary School will be on hand to lead opening festivities with the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by the singing of “God Bless America” by Wayne Messmer and accompanying organist Gary Pressy.

One lucky family from the crowd will be chosen to throw the game’s ceremonial first pitch. Cubs owner and chairman Tom Ricketts will randomly select a family for the special honor.

The Ricketts family will serenade Cubs fans during the seventh inning stretch for their first Home Opener as team owners. Tom, Pete, Laura and Todd Ricketts will sing Wrigley Field’s traditional “Take Me Out to the Ballgame.”

The Cubs will also recognize a special military guest, Captain Aaron Jenkins, and the Cubs Color Guard from the Glenview Recruiting Company of the Chicago Recruiting Battalion during pregame announcements.

It’s a CLEAR Day for the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field

It’s year one for the Chicago Cubs and CLEAR™, with the announcement today of a sponsorship agreement for the 2010 Major League Baseball season. The new sponsorship includes many opportunities for fans of the Chicago Cubs and customers of CLEAR to experience the 4G WiMAX super fast wireless broadband internet connectivity at home, the office, or on the go. Baseball fans will be able to see live streaming of video over the Internet at speeds faster than has ever been demonstrated at the ballpark.

“We are constantly searching for partners that can showcase to our fans new and improved ways to experience Cubs content,” said Wally Hayward, Executive Vice President Chief Sales and Marketing Officer for the Chicago Cubs. “We are proud to have a technology leader like CLEAR step up to the plate for Year One under the new ownership of the Ricketts Family.”

“We are thrilled about this new partnership we have formed with the Chicago Cubs,” said Casey Gordon, Chicago General Manager for CLEAR. “It’s the dawn of a new era for the Chicago Cubs and CLEAR with this partnership. We’re new to Chicago, but our employees have the same goal as the Chicago Cubs at the start of the season – to be world class champions for our customers and fans alike.”
Opening Day

To commemorate this new partnership, CLEAR will feature its high-tech mobile showroom on Monday, April 12 outside Wrigley Field’s Clark street parking lot from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. The mobile showroom will feature former four-time batting champion and Chicago Cubs player Bill Madlock along with fans of the Chicago Cubs. The CLEAR mobile showroom will then move to the McDonald’s parking lot across from Wrigley Field at Clark and Addison featuring former All-Star third baseman for the Chicago Cubs Ron Santo and the play-by-play voice of the Chicago Cubs Pat Hughes from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. where they will greet fans.

The CLEAR mobile showroom features a high tech living room environment with CLEAR 4G WiMAX service. Live video of baseball games and connections to popular sites such as www.cubs.com will be featured demonstrating the clear difference of a super fast wireless connection to the Internet.

Throughout the 2010 season, CLEAR will demonstrate its technology at select home games, offer one-of-a-kind fan experiences, have a CLEAR fan appreciation day at the ballpark, offer sweepstakes to win tickets to home games, and partner with Cubs Care, a fund of the McCormick Foundation.

Entering the Chicago market in December 2009, CLEAR offers super fast mobile internet service that gets its customers online across entire cities. CLEAR is a super fast mobile Internet service that works as fast on the go as it does at home. Unlike a Wi-Fi hot spot, whose coverage area is measured in feet, CLEAR’s 4G service covers entire metropolitan areas.

Chicago Cubs introduce “It’s a way of life” marketing campaign

CHICAGO – When you’re a Chicago Cubs fan, baseball is more than just a game. It’s a way of life. The Cubs have recognized their fans’ passion and dedication in the newly-released “It’s a Way of Life” marketing campaign.

The campaign was developed by Draftfcb and highlights signature Cubs traditions such as the famous “W” win flag seen throughout advertising copy and signage. “It’s a Way of Life” advertisements will be featured in local newspapers, radio stations, Web sites, billboards and locations around Wrigley Field.

The Cubs would also like to hear from fans who live and breathe Chicago Cub baseball. Fans will be able to visit Cubs.com and submit their short story about why Cubs baseball is a “Way of Life.” Ten finalists will be chosen to visit Wrigley Field to have their stories videotaped and posted onto Cubs.com. All fans will then be encouraged to vote for their favorite entry. One lucky fan will be chosen to receive the once-in-a-lifetime chance to throw out the ceremonial first pitch before a Chicago Cubs home game.

As a special “thank you” for sharing their story, fans who register will receive up to a 50 percent discount on tickets for select games in April and May. Complimentary computer wallpapers and screensavers may be downloaded online as well.

“All Cubs fans have great stories and experiences from Wrigley Field, from Spring Training in Arizona to following the Cubs on the road during the season. Now fans from anywhere in the world will have the opportunity to share their stories and tell the next generation of fans why being a Cubs fan is much more than just a game; it’s a way of life,” said Wally Hayward, EVP, Chief Sales & Marketing Officer for the Chicago Cubs.

“The Chicago Cubs experience is unlike any other in baseball,” said Bill McCarthy, Chief of Staff, Draftfcb North America. “We had a great opportunity with this campaign to evoke the passion and highlight the moments that make being a Cubs fan so unique.”

Fans can submit “It’s a Way of Life” stories at Cubs.com starting Monday, April 12 at 1:20 p.m. in line with the team’s Home Opener. Entries will be accepted until Friday, April 30 at 5 p.m.