By Paul SullivanThe Cubs extended Ron Santo's contract with WGN-AM through 2012 today, and he's not slowing down one bit.
Santo said he may take off some selected road games, but expects to do radio commentary for most of the 162-game schedule and hopefully the postseason.
"What else am I going to do?" he said. "Doing the Cubs games is like therapy for me. It's relaxing."
Santo's partner, Pat Hughes, is up for a new contract after the 2010 season, but is also expected to remain. The two are one of the most unique combinations in baseball, with Hughes acting as straight man and Santo serving up the malaprops.
Photo: Ron Santo signed a three-year deal to continue calling Cubs games. (Phil Velasquez/Tribune)
This year's tongue-twister: new hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo.
"Now how do you promounce that?" Santo said with a laugh.
As one might expect, Santo is enthused about the Cubs' chances in 2010, even though they've made no major moves and are coming off a disappointing, injury-plagued season.
"I think Jimmy (Hendry) will do fine," he said. "He's got a few things to do, but he'll get it done. They had three guys this year that just didn't get it done -- (Geovany) Soto, (Alfonso) Soriano and (Milton) Bradley. I think Soto and Soriano will rebound, and Bradley was just a bad situation, though he wasn't the biggest problem."
Santo is up again for the Hall of Fame voting by the Veteran's Committee next December. It's an annual heartbreak for the Cubs' great, who always seems to come close but just falls short of induction.
But for now he's just thinking about spring training, which begins in two months in Mesa, Arizona. He said he is impressed with new owner Tom Ricketts and the Ricketts family.
As for his own return, Santo said: "It's no big deal. I'm going on my 21st year, and I feel I can keep it up for a while. I don't know what I would do without the Cubs. I'd probably go crazy."
"Now how do you promounce that?" Santo said with a laugh.
As one might expect, Santo is enthused about the Cubs' chances in 2010, even though they've made no major moves and are coming off a disappointing, injury-plagued season.
"I think Jimmy (Hendry) will do fine," he said. "He's got a few things to do, but he'll get it done. They had three guys this year that just didn't get it done -- (Geovany) Soto, (Alfonso) Soriano and (Milton) Bradley. I think Soto and Soriano will rebound, and Bradley was just a bad situation, though he wasn't the biggest problem."
Santo is up again for the Hall of Fame voting by the Veteran's Committee next December. It's an annual heartbreak for the Cubs' great, who always seems to come close but just falls short of induction.
But for now he's just thinking about spring training, which begins in two months in Mesa, Arizona. He said he is impressed with new owner Tom Ricketts and the Ricketts family.
As for his own return, Santo said: "It's no big deal. I'm going on my 21st year, and I feel I can keep it up for a while. I don't know what I would do without the Cubs. I'd probably go crazy."
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Yes this is great article, looking forward for update.
Who is this Santo guy Patrick? Is he a rookie who had rotator cuff surgery as a yout? Can he skip in the schoolground? Is it as warm in the winter as it is the country or visa versa? I say nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Can we trade Ronnie for Steve Stone? We will even pay to have him moved (like the Cubs will pay to get rid of MB)That would be the biggest and best gift Cubs fans could get this year. Sometimes, it is painful to listen to Ronnie, but Pat Hughes makes up for it, he is a GREAT broadcaster.
Oh brother, three more years of incoherent moaning and uninformed commentary. Santo should have been put out to pasture years ago. The cubs are therapy for him??? What about the listeners who have to listen to cubs games on the radio? This isn't therapy for them it is torture. We turn the radio off now for cubs games, it is unlistenable. And for those "cubs fans" who love him so much, 69 was 40 years ago, how much longer do you want to glorify a team of losers?
Good grief!!!
This is the great offseason move that we've been waiting for! Go Cubs!
NOOOOOOOOOO!
Ron Santo is the man because he is a die hard cubs fan. Who cares if he doesnt sounds like all the other announcers in baseball. Real cub fans support this guy. Cubs for life. Santo for life.
Pat Hughes is a total pro. a guy with less wit, intelligence, and patience would have bolted from that booth a long time ago. listening to Santo while the team is bad is akin to listening to the funeral procession of a dead pope. his play analysis usually goes something like this: "I'm gonna have to look at that again, Pat... uh... uh... yeah. yeah." i'll continue to hold out hope that WGN can steal Steve Stone back from the Sox and put him in the booth with Hughes.
it is a treat to listen to the pat and ron show they are the best. they are so entertaining i listen to the games on wgn radio rather than watch the games on tv. their passion for the cubs and baseball in general is wonderful. it would be great to hear podcasts of the cub games in the winter. go cubs go.
it is a treat to listen to the pat and ron show. they are the beast. their passion for the cubs and baseball in general is wonderful. i would rather listen to them oon wgn than watch the cubs on tv. great move mr ricketts.
i think it is great seeing that he is an amazin cubs fan and i always look forward to hearing him in the booth
It is said as a Cub fan since 1941, that the only topic we are talking about is Santo's return. You can see where the team on the field is headed. Santo WAS great..I was a big fan..but its time. This HOF crap...is political as our world today. I believe we should investigate ACORN and see if they have anything to do with the BBWA and their votes....it is close to Chicago politics, afterall.
We might not have a winner on da field but, we ALWAYS have a winner in da radio booth with Pat Hughes and Ronnie! Nothing but love.
Thank God Ron's coming back! I live in south east Florida and miss Wrigley! Hearing Ron on the radio brings back lots of great memories and times. Looking forward to another Cubbie season with Ron and Pat at the helm!!
God Bless you Ron! He is an Icon he belongs in HOF. He bleeds Cubby blue. I don't care about his mistakes. Go Cubs and Go Ron.
Ron Santo is a true heroic figure, a great baseball player, and a wonderful Cubs fan. He is not, however, a radio announcer. It has been very difficult to listen to games on the radio over the years. He truly detracts from the game and adds nothing to the experience. What's worse, I feel he has undermined Pat Hughes' talents. Pat routinely has to dumb down the broadcasts and the analysis because he has to keep commentary down to a simple level.
I know the Cubs org is at a hard place because a lot of fans want him there, but it's more again out of loyalty than a care for quality broadcasts. I'm not being cruel, but Ron's allure and great human qualities should not be an excuse to produce sub-quality broadcasts.
Ron Santo is a quality person. Too bad his blogger critics don't measure up to that standard.
For most of you too young to remember, Santo was a HOF-caliber ball player, one who gave everything he had for the Cubs. No, he's not a great broadcaster, but I find it insulting that so-called "fans" choose to put Santo down. This man is- and was, as a player- afflicted with diabetes, yet has given everything to the Cubs and their fans. Shame on you for your attitude. Learn what a real fan is all about. Keep going, Ronnie; maybe the Hall of Fame some day, when the Veterans Committe wises up.
Having Santo in the booth is an absolute insult to any Cubs radio listener who understands the game. He provides zero insight and forces Pat Hughes to do the work of two broadcasters. I realize one of the worst clutch players in club history cannot be told to go away, so either make him the official team broadcast grunter (a la Dick Butkus in the 1980s) and hire an actual analyst, or stick him in a glass booth outside Wrigley and he can be a ballpark greeter.
Good for Ron! I'm glad he's still on the air; however, after the 2008 season I won't be listening to ANY Cub games....It's a shame too, because the games will probably be the only programs on WGN that won't suck since the new Management took over and are attempting to turn WGN into WLS
RON SANTO IS A #10 ON AND OFF THE FIELD. LOVE YA RONNIE///
Wow, Santo has been bad for a few years now. He does no preparation for the games and acts like a drunk fan instead of a radio analyst.
IMO, Santo and Hawk Harrelson need to hang it up.
We love you Ronny.
Good job Cubs, unfortunately this might be the biggest move we make all off season.
I was hoping Ronny would hang it up prior to him passing away.. He was pretty bad in the booth last year.