Ryan Klesko

SEATTLE - Perhaps everyone should have known that Cal Ripken would not go quietly into retirement. He has risen to the occasion time after time, so why would his last All-Star Game be any different? Ripken came to Safeco Field to take his final All-...

Koyie Hill looks at his role the same way a trainer looks at his heavyweight boxer. The key to the job, the backup catcher said, is to make the pitcher feel "like they're the most important person in the whole world." It's not that difficult a task when...

The air is a little cooler, the stakes are a little higher and the Cubs are finally starting to get their act together on the road. After struggling to get baserunners for eight innings on Tuesday night, the Cubs broke through with a five-run ninth...

Let's try this again. Since it rained yesterday, Mark Prior will make his 2005 Cubs debut today after a stint on the DL and some time in Triple-A convalescing from his latest bout with elbow tenderness. But please do not confuse this with the tenderness...

Teams listed in order of 2002 finish Arizona Diamondbacks Manager: Bob Brenly. 2002: 98-64, 1st; lost to St. Louis in first round. Payroll: $94 million. Rotation: Randy Johnson, Curt Schilling, Elmer Dessens, John Patterson, Byung-Hyun Kim. Meat...

The 2003 salaries for the 827 major league baseball players on opening day rosters and disabled lists. Figures were obtained by The Associated Press from management and player sources and include salaries and pro-rated shares of signing bonuses and...

I think that Jon Garland should be given a few pitching opportunities with Sandy Alomar as a catcher. Maybe he needs some veteran leadership to tell him what to pitch. What do you think? ---Michael Cory, Milwaukee Yeah, you're not the only one who...

Kerry Wood experienced a 2002 flashback Wednesday at Wrigley Field, keeping the opposition at bay and getting no offensive support from his teammates. San Diego scratched out a 2-0 victory over the Cubs to even the series, dealing Wood his first loss...

As hot and cold as the Cubs offense has looked in April, there may be some nice debates on the North Side this summer. The Cubs wasted another fine start by Matt Clement in Thursday's 2-1 loss to San Diego, dropping their first series since the opening...

Mark Prior has no answers for the inconsistency that has plagued him this season, and Dusty Baker isn't sure what's ailing Prior either. But after Prior suffered through a rough outing in an 8-6 loss to San Diego, the questions are sure to continue....

Jeromy Burnitz may have had tougher days in his career, but Monday's performance figures to land on his Top 10 list of forgettable moments. Burnitz's sixth-inning error led to the only San Diego run in a 1-0 victory over the Cubs at Wrigley Field,...

I'm not sure how it pencils out for San Diegans, but for an out-of-town baseball fan, this city's new ballpark looks like the greatest temptation since Pete Rose met his first bookie. Petco Park stands tall and tidy near the waterfront, so close to...