By Steve Rhodes
Let us review/preview.
1. The game-winner.
Posted on May 30, 2013
What The Bookies Are Saying About Tonight’s Game 7
Blackhawks A Prohibitive Favorite, But A Good Bet?
1. Tony’s Picks.
“The game seven odds from this Western Conference semifinal playoff series have the home club Chicago Blackhawks the -210 odds betting favorite with the take back on the road underdog Detroit Red Wings at +190 odds. The goal over under line is set at five goals.
“The Blackhawks have won two straight playoffs games since falling behind 3-1 in this NHL playoff series. After defeating the Red Wings 4-1 in game five the Blackhawks force the seventh and deciding game in this playoff series after a game six 4-3 road victory as a -123 betting odds favorite. The game total landed over five goals.”
Posted on May 29, 2013
Sveum Sucks
By Steve Rhodes
“Dale Sveum calls it ‘mind-boggling’ and ‘strange,'” the Sun-Times reported this week.
“‘Just certain things you can’t explain,’ the Cubs manager said of his team’s persistent inability to turn excellent pitching into victories this season.
“Peppered with questions about so-called clutch hitting, about lineup shuffling, about rethinking his lefty-righty platoon patterns, Sveum engaged the media brainstorming efforts before Thursday’s game against the Pittsburgh Pirates.”
Um, it doesn’t take a genius, Dale. Your team sucks – just as designed. It isn’t built to win. Didn’t you get the memo?
Posted on May 28, 2013
SportsMondayTuesday: Biggest Blackhawks Win Since They Won That Cup Thingy A Few Years Ago
By Jim Coffman
What. A. Win.
So many awesome individual Blackhawk performances to celebrate.
Way to go Bryan Bickell! The man is the offensive star of this series after scoring his second massive goal in two games.
Bickell did just what the Hawks desperately need him to do (besides initiating as many Red Wing rough rides as possible), which is go to the net and find a way to connect with rebounds.
Posted on May 28, 2013
Sale’s Diet Secret
By Roger Wallenstein
Despite missing his turn in the rotation last week as the White Sox made a mad dash to the .500 mark, Chris Sale did receive some publicity. It had nothing to do with his ability to mow down American League hitters as one of the league’s best pitchers.
No, this was about his culinary habits as described by the Wall Street Journal’s Brian Costa under the headline “Baseball’s Greatest Metabolism.”
To wit:
Posted on May 27, 2013
Fantasy Fix: Local Heroes
By Dan O’Shea
In a year when neither Chicago baseball team is likely to catch even a whiff of first place, could there possibly be any Cubs or White Sox worth owning in fantasy leagues?
Of course. There are a few very obvious ones: Anthony Rizzo, Jeff Samardzija and Starlin Castro on the Cubs; Alex Rios, Chris Sale, Addison Reed, Jake Peavy on the Sox.
But, as the Crosstown Cup, er Classic, er whatever, is set to play out next week, let’s take a look at some of the maybes:
Posted on May 22, 2013
Not Even Close
By Steve Rhodes
The Cubs went 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position on Sunday, leading commentators to muse that if only they hit a little better in those situations, they’d be a winning team.
And if my grandmother had balls she’d be my grandfather, as the old saying goes.
Just like how the Cubs would have a winning record if the bullpen hadn’t blown so many games early in the season. We’re so close!
Beg to differ. See, that’s what bad teams do. They don’t hit with runners on, they blow games late, they hit but don’t pitch, or pitch but don’t hit . . . they might be good in one phase of the game, but playoff teams are good in at least two if not more phases of the game.
It’s not that the Cubs are close to being a contender because of the way they lose games; it’s that the way they lose games are indicative of a team that isn’t close to being a contender.
Posted on May 20, 2013
SportsMonday: Kids At Home Should Not Watch Chicago’s Baseball Teams
By Jim Coffman
As the Cubs’ Ryan Sweeney bumbled around the bases in the fourth inning on Sunday and eventually crash-landed at third, turning what should have been a lead-off triple into an absolute gift out for the Mets, it occurred to me again: So many major leaguers are the last guys a youth baseball coach wants his charges to emulate.
Sometimes you just can’t believe these guys are playing at the highest level of baseball.
Posted on May 20, 2013
Big Daddy At The Big A
By Roger Wallenstein
“Welcome to Orange County,” the Southwest flight attendant blurted over the PA as the aircraft bounced onto the tarmac last Thursday.
The airport sits in the city of Santa Ana; we were looking forward to watching the Sox play in Anaheim. We had hotel reservations in Garden Grove, and before the two days had ended we think we may have been in Tustin, Irvine and maybe even Costa Mesa.
It’s all Orange County, home of the Los Angeles – located in Los Angeles County – Angels of Anaheim. No wonder these guys are 10 games under .500. They’re confused. They don’t know who they are. Not Albert Pujols nor Josh Hamilton nor Mike Trout can make sense of this.
Posted on May 20, 2013
Carol Of The Bulls
This Season’s Team Had More Heart Than Hallmark On Valentine’s Day
Our way of saying thanks in 10 parts.
1. Here Come The Bulls, There Went The Bulls.
Posted on May 16, 2013