Chicago -
By Jim Coffman
As well as the Cubs have played the last two-and-a-half weeks – and they played particularly pleasing baseball on Sunday to take the rubber game of the series in Milwaukee 4-2 to up their division lead to 2 1/2 games – goings on in the eastern and western regions of the National League have to still be giving them pause.
And so they did something about it late Sunday night.
Posted on July 31, 2017
By Roger Wallenstein
It’s been 11 games now, and the kid has just four hits. He’s hitting .111. Of 36 official at-bats, he’s trudged back to the dugout 15 times having struck out.
Nevertheless there have been highlights, such as a line drive home run to centerfield off Jake Arrieta last Wednesday. And the two sensational plays on consecutive batters and pitches in Saturday’s 5-4 loss to Cleveland were the finest plays by a Sox second baseman since the famous Tadahito Iguchi gem back in April of 2006. In fact, he’s handled all 49 chances in the field without a flaw.
But Yoan Moncada was brought here to hit, and so far that hasn’t happened. However, history, along with his immense talent, dictates that it’s just a matter of time.
Posted on July 31, 2017
By Jim Coffman and Steve Rhodes
The media even more so than the team. Plus: Football Scrambles Brains; Crosstown Cubs; and Schweinsteiger!
Posted on July 28, 2017
By AP
“Research on the brains of 202 former football players has confirmed what many feared in life – evidence of the devastating disease CTE in nearly all the samples, from athletes in the NFL, college and even high school.”
Posted on July 27, 2017
By Thomas Chambers
Yes, racing fans, it’s that time of year.
The lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer are here, with Del Mar, site of this year’s Breeders’ Cup, opening Wednesday and Saratoga ringing the bell Friday.
Shipwrecked nines across America will be treading water for more than 90 days, waiting for a rescue boat, the S.S. Rebuilding Plan, that will never come. The Cubs still seem to be searching for identity, but therapy takes time. Can the White Sox get caffeinated with some wins over Crane Kenney’s North Side Gang? The Bears will soon straddle the bow, bleating for relevance, while we look over their shoulders and watch the iceberg closing in on them. Dog Days, indeed.
In this last number of weeks, four big things happened on four different ovals. Two of them should have and two of them shouldn’t have.
Posted on July 24, 2017
By Roger Wallenstein
Goodbye, David Robertson. So long, Todd Frazier. See ya, Tommy Kahnle. (Was it Con-lee or Cain-lee; I was never quite certain.) We hardly knew ye.
Paul Konerko played 16 years for the White Sox. So did Frank Thomas. Mark Buehrle pitched on the South Side for 12 years. Now that Chris Sale (seven seasons) and Jose Quintana (5½) have departed, Avisail Garcia enjoys the greatest longevity as a member of the White Sox, having made his Sox debut on Aug. 9, 2013. Times change.
Posted on July 24, 2017
By Jim Coffman and Steve Rhodes
Unlike the North Siders, the South Siders haven’t revamped their whole organization – and Kenny Williams still lurks. Plus: Are The Cubs Back?; Hahn’s Stockpile; The Ignominous Return Of Jay Cutler; and Schweinsteiger!
Posted on July 22, 2017
By World Roller Derby Day
Athletes from across the Midwest will launch World Roller Derby Week on August 13th on the 82nd anniversary of Chicagoan Leo Seltzer presenting his creation, Roller Derby, at the Chicago Coliseum in 1935.
Posted on July 18, 2017
By Roger Wallenstein
Your attention! Your attention, please. Have your pencils and scorecards ready for today’s 2020 starting lineup. Let’s glance into the future by looking at a hypothetical cast of White Sox and how they’re performing today.
In center field, we have Luis Robert. Playing in the Dominican Summer League, the soon-to-be 20-year-old Cuban prospect, who signed in May with the Sox for an astounding $26 million, is slashing .255/.479/.872. He’s hit one homer, but more importantly, the kid has walked 17 times while striking out just 14. MLB Pipeline says, “[Robert] pairs electrifying bat speed that should translate into considerable power with well above-average speed.”
Posted on July 17, 2017
By Jim Coffman and Steve Rhodes
A rarity: Two Chicago front offices pull brilliant move – at the same time. Plus: Return To Bulls Mountain; Return To Blackhawks Mountain; Schweinsteiger!; and Bustville.
Posted on July 14, 2017
