Random thoughts while wondering whether being on the cover of the new issue of Baseball America will be any sort of jinx for White Sox shortstop prospect Gordon Beckham:
- The word is Billy Corgan of Smashing Pumpkins fame had unkind words during a concert last week in town regarding Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam fame and Vedder's Cubs-inspired ''All the Way.'' Cubs fan Corgan told the crowd between tunes Vedder's song doomed the team's chance to return to the World Series for the first time since 1945 and win its first one since 1908. ''Last I checked, Eddie ain't living here, OK?'' Corgan is said to have said. ''Eddie ain't living here to write a song about my [expletive] team.'' Good to know it wasn't the ballplayers' or manager's fault. - That governmental $20 billion bailout for Citigroup just might keep ''Citi Field'' the name on the Mets' new ballpark. Otherwise, there conceivably could have been a merger or takeover of the company. Meaning it could have been something like ''Citi Field at Joe's Pawnshop Ballpark.''
- The tough economic times have touched Tiger Woods, though not in the pocketbook. He and Buick are ending their nine-year relationship, as General Motors faces serious financial problems. Woods will feel the impact on his golf bag where Nike is expected to replace Buick.
- Speaking of Motown and Tigers and such, the Detroit Tigers plan to raise some ticket prices at Comerica Park for 2009. They also will debut premium pricing for 21 home games, including Opening Day, series with the Red Sox and Cubs, and for home games on Fridays and Saturdays in June, July and August. The premium pricing will increase ticket prices $2 to $7. Imagine the price rise if the Tigers hadn't finished last in the American League Central in 2008.
- The Los Angeles Dodgers reportedly will charge $90 for 692 ''top seats'' next season -- at their new spring training facility in Glendale, Ariz. The price includes cool, scented towels, free parking in the VIP section (a $10 expense); a $20 coupon for food, beverages and a few other free goodies. Free being a relative term. Other ticket prices: $30, $26 and $24 for seats between the bases and $18 for reserved seats elsewhere. Someone must have forgotten to tell the Dodgers about troubled economic times. Or that this is spring training. Or both.a
