By Thomas Chambers

Perhaps because it is just one race, there is no greater mental or even emotional decompression than what we horseplayers experience after the Kentucky Derby.
The Breeders’ Cup is a luxurious indulgence in some of the world’s finest racing, but it is spread over two days and 14 races. You don’t get as caught up in any one race because there’s another big one in 38 minutes or so. The Dubai Festival and Travers Day and even Arlington Million day get me too.
After watching Animal Kingdom turn in an impressive performance in winning last Saturday’s 137th edition of America’s marquee race, all the while understanding the stone cold truth of how Thoroughbred horse racing is down in so many ways by so many self-inflicted wounds, it’s still the Kentucky Derby.

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Posted on May 13, 2011

Rose vs. LeBron

On the strength of double-doubles from both Derrick Rose and Carlos Boozer, the Bulls closed out the Atlanta Hawks last night and now advance to the Eastern Conference Finals against Public Enemy No. 1, LeBron James and the Miami Heat. Let’s take a look.
1. Game Highlights.

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Posted on May 13, 2011

By Carl Mohrbacher

Are the Cubs going to make a play for Albert Pujols in the offseason?
-Larry, Hammond IN
And leave Carlos Pena, Jeff Baker and even Tyler Colvin without a job at first base? I think not.
What is the impact of Geovany Soto’s injury?
-Selena, Chicago
My hookup just left town for a month. Bogus.

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Posted on May 12, 2011

By Dan O’Shea

Two no-hitters in one week: It’s 2010 all over again, when it seemed like almost anyone could throw a no-hitter at any time. First, it was Francisco Liriano, SP, Minnesota,a complete surprise, then Justin Verlander, SP, Detroit, less of a surprise because he already had a no-no on his resume and because he was already considered a top 10 pitcher.
Who’s next? How can we make an educated guess about such a thing? A lot of the experts might say Josh Johnson, SP, Florida, because he actually has held opposing teams hitless into the sixth inning at least twice this season. Jaime Garcia, SP. St. Louis, who came close to a perfect game recently is another. Both Johnson and Garcia have low walks and hits per innings pitched, an important stat in many fantasy leagues.
However, if you start looking for other starting pitchers with low walks and hits per innings pitched, you’ll come up with a few surprising names:

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Posted on May 11, 2011

By Dmitry Samarov

Last week my girlfriend asked why my face had darkened after checking something on my phone. I told her the damned Sox had lost again (can’t remember what day it was, but there are so many to choose from.) She suggested that perhaps I was making them lose by paying so much attention to the games, so I skipped last Monday’s finale against the Orioles altogether and, what do you know, they came through with their weekly win.
I didn’t tune in ’til the sixth or seventh on Tuesday but kept listening to the end. So you can blame me for the team getting no-hit by the guy with persistent arm problems and a 9.13 ERA. My pal Nick DiGilio, a lifelong Cubs fan, texted to rub it in. Then, after getting no response, followed with this:

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Posted on May 10, 2011

By Jim Coffman

It could be worse. You could be a Laker fan. Or a Spurs supporter. The moral of the story is the playoffs are hard. Fans have to hang in there.
Even so, this series has been considerably tougher than anticipated (by me in my preview last week among many others).
If the Bulls play their best and the Hawks play their best in what is now a best-of-three series, the Bulls will still prevail. But if the Hawks’ Josh Smith (11 huge fourth-quarter points during Sunday’s 100-88 Atlanta win that evened the Eastern Conference semifinal showdown two games apiece) continues to mature before our eyes, the margin between the teams shrinks considerably.

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Posted on May 9, 2011

By Marty Gangler

“Attendance for the first month of the Chicago Cubs’ season is down at Wrigley Field, so the team will offer a few incentives any fan can rally around – T-shirts and discounted beer and hot dogs,” WGN reports.
“On Tuesdays, beginning with the May 10 game againt the St. Louis Cardinals, select brands of beer will cost $3.
“On Wednesdays, starting May 11, hot dogs will cost $1 and each Monday, beginning May 30 against the Houston Astros, bleacher-goers will receive a free T-shirt.”
At least they have troughs in the restroom for easy $3 beer puking. The Cub Factor has learned that other potential incentives remain under consideration should attendance continue to dip:

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Posted on May 9, 2011

By Roger Wallenstein

Yogi Berra allegedly said “Good pitching beats good hitting, and vice versa.” Former Sox third baseman and current Comcast analyst Bill Melton has a less confusing take. “Good pitching beats good hitting, and mediocre pitching beats poor hitting,” he observed last Friday.
Melton might have added, “Horrible pitching beats horrible hitting” after Francisco Lirano – entering last Tuesday’s game with a 9.35 ERA – no-hit our fellows.
This is a team that four innings into the season had a 14-0 lead against the mighty (all right, I said it) Cleveland Indians. And the next day they tagged on eight more runs. What a bright, positive, awe-inspiring beginning: 23 runs, 29 hits, a couple of homers, and five hits by Gordon Beckham all by himself.
Surely, this was a portent of things to follow. But after a 4-18 swoon, we are reminded that 1) only a fool would make any kind of prediction after four innings, and 2) only a slightly lesser fool would draw any conclusions after two games.

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Posted on May 9, 2011

By Thomas Chambers

The Kentucky Derby has always been a confounding race.
Especially in recent times when 20 are sent to the post in a gate area that can probably only handle 16 or 18 effectively. The ensuing 10-furlong stampede can take the wind out of the sails of the best horses, opening it up for some lucky stiff. Emphasis on stiff.
But Saturday’s 137th running, scheduled to go off at 5:24 Central time (NBC), is the most inscrutable version I have ever seen in the relatively short number of years I have been handicapping the race. I’m heading out tonight to buy a new set of darts, the better to place the sharpest bets.

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Posted on May 6, 2011

By Carl Mohrbacher

Which Cubs player has the name best suited for porn?
-Ron, Los Angeles
Reed Johnson is the leader in the clubhouse, but Kerry Wood and Thomas Diamond are close seconds.
Is Ryan Dempster tipping his pitches?
-Neil, Elgin IL
Less like tipping and more like skywriting.

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Posted on May 5, 2011