By The Beachwood Blackout Affairs Desk

The Cubs game on Wednesday night was delayed for 18 minutes when the power went out at Wrigley Field and in parts of Wrigleyville. Here’s what various members of the Cubs did to pass the time.
Lou Piniella: Drank a Falstaff, tinkered with the lineup one more time, and told the damn kids to get off his lawn.
Col. Jessup: Packed a bag and called his sister to let her know he was coming to Washington.
Cubs bullpen: Had just enough time to catch up with the latest chapter in their audio book club.

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Posted on May 28, 2010

By The Beachwood Vs. Affairs Desk

“Cubs cede radio time to Hawks.”
Just so you won’t get confused:
Cubs: Cursed by a goat.
Hawks: Cursed by a ghost.
*

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Posted on May 27, 2010

The two winningest starting pitchers in the majors are Ubaldo Jimenez and David Price.
Let that sink in for a bit.
Sure, Jimenez has gotten better every year and probably was considered at least a No. 2 starter for most fantasy teams coming into this year. But he has been incredibly dominant, with an 8-1 record and an ERA just under 1.00.
Price? He has long been expected of great things, yet over the last two years didn’t realize his potential when anyone thought he would. Thus, he came into this year as a late-round bench pick.
So, will the real Cy Young please stand up? Which one of these pitchers can keep it going all year, if either? Is there one you should sell high?

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Posted on May 26, 2010

With last night’s win over the Canadiens, the Flyers are the last team standing between the Blackhawks and their first Stanley Cup since 1961. Let’s take a look at how they got here – and who their best fan is.
1. “Didn’t quit.”

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Posted on May 25, 2010

By Jim Coffman

Will anyone be able to focus on anything in Sunday’s series clincher against San Jose other than the seven teeth?
Just like that, Duncan Keith’s smile was obliterated in the second period when a fearsome clearing attempt sent the puck smashing into his mouth during a Blackhawk power play.
And sure enough, there was the proverbial, additional insult – the Sharks went down and scored a short-handed goal as Keith made his way to the bench for medical attention, seemingly seizing command of the game with a 2-0 lead.
Yes, yes, yes, the Hawks are four wins away from an NHL championship almost 50 years since they last won it (the longest such streak in the NHL), after rallying to win 4-2 and sweeping the Sharks for the Western Conference crown. Dustin Byfuglien is the team’s best big-game player since, since, well . . . how about since Pierre Pilote (a star defenseman on the Hawks’ last Cup winners – the 1961 squad).

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Posted on May 24, 2010

By Andrew Reilly

When the White Sox head to Cleveland this week, let us not dwell on the things they cannot do.
Forget the trade bait and its rapidly diminishing value.
Forget about the monumental, recently broken two-game win streak – longest of the season!
Forget about the horrifyingly bad offense, effectively posting the worst collective line in the American League despite a deceivingly well-rounded lineup, fourth in home runs and somehow second in stolen bases.

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Posted on May 24, 2010

By Marty Gangler

Just when we thought it was safe to not care.
Just when you were going to trade in your fungoes for hockey sticks.
Just when you thought you would spend a little more time in the backyard this summer.
Just then, the Cubs go ahead and win for a week.
Don’t get me wrong, this doesn’t mean they are back in it. But it’s enough to have to keep tuning in.

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Posted on May 24, 2010

By Thomas Chambers

Just as no baseball fan really expects to see a player hit for the triple crown anymore, so it probably also goes in Thoroughbred horse racing.
Super Saver’s eighth-place finish behind Lookin At Lucky in the Preakness Stakes (Grade I) Saturday assured that another year will pass since Affirmed last won the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes in 1978. That capped off a golden era in the 1970s that also saw Seattle Slew rule in 1977 and the immortal Secretariat make it his own in 1973.
Big Red’s mastery came 25 years after Citation in 1948; there were four TC winners in the 1940s. Currently, we’re in a 32-year drought.

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Posted on May 21, 2010

I was in the mood to pick on someone, so I decided to go back and look at my pre-season top 40 fantasy baseball picks to see who would qualify as the biggest under-achiever of the group. It had to be someone who hasn’t spent extensive time on the disabled list, which ruled out guys like Ian Kinsler, Jacoby Ellsbury and Jimmy Rollins, whose low numbers reflect far fewer games played.
Mark Teixeira looked like a candidate until the last week or so, when his bat really came alive. What about Ben Zobrist, the 2B/SS/OF, whose position eligibility and multi-category HR/RBI/SB/AVG studliness made me list him at No. 34? He had 0 HRs though Tuesday and just 16 RBIs with a .266 AVG. He was redeemed somewhat by his 6 SBs, but has otherwise been a huge disappointment.
Then I stumbled upon Grady Sizemore, the Cleveland centerfielder who was considered one of the most productive leadoff men in baseball just a few years ago. Sizemore’s power and speed combo kept him listed in the top 40 in many drafts his year despite an injury-plagued 2009. I had him listed at No. 31, but through Tuesday, he had 0 HRs, 13 RBIs, just 4 SBs and a.211 AVG.
Congratulations, Grady, you’re the biggest bust of the year so far.

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Posted on May 19, 2010

By Jim Coffman

They pulled it off.
It was audacious and then some to pack for an extended stay on the West Coast when the Hawks traveled to Vancouver for Game 6 of their second-round NHL playoff series last week. By all accounts the local hockey organization made it clear to the team that they were to be prepared to stay in the Pacific time zone for far longer than it would take to play the potential deciding game of the series.

Beachwood Baseball The Cub Factor. The White Sox Report. Agony & Ivy: A way of life.

In other words, they assumed they were going to beat Vancouver (and avoid Game 7 back in Chicago) and then settle in near San Jose. They already knew the Sharks would be hosting the first two games of the Western Conference final.
I mean, I don’t think I have to believe in superstitions to be confident that there is a fine line between being prepared and sure of yourself and . . . calling down the biggest jinx in hockey history.
Also, the Hawks knew the next series wouldn’t start for a handful of days after the one with the Canucks concluded. Especially considering how well they played after their two flights to Vancouver in the second series, why not come back to Chicago for a couple days and then head out to San Jose?

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Posted on May 17, 2010