Chicago -
By Jim Coffman
The sweep is the thing. Avoiding it, especially on the road and in the division, has saved the Cubs season. And after suffering one at quite an inopportune time this past weekend, it will take the Brewers awhile to recover, if they do at all this season.
In a given three-game stretch, of course, it doesn’t mean much if a team wins two of three or three of three. But over the course of time . . .
Posted on August 5, 2019
By Roger Wallenstein
Watching the White Sox these days is somewhat similar to observing a would-be toddler preparing to walk. The little guy or gal first figures out that crawling is the lone available means to get from Point A to Point B. Once those stubby, little legs gain strength, standing, albeit holding onto something, becomes a bold endeavor, and the first wobbly, exploratory steps are soon taken to the delight of parents, grandparents and anyone who appreciates the marvels of how we humans develop.
However, it’s not that simple. That first step is celebrated, but crawling remains an option because that initial stride is followed by series of stumbles and plops. These kiddies are not foolish. They remember that motoring on all fours wasn’t so inconvenient after all. Literally, there is one step forward and a generous display of crawling until the steps become more secure and numerous, and off we go.
Eloy Jimenez is a case in point. Just two years ago he was hitting .345 at Double-A while last season he was slashing .355/.399/.996 at Charlotte – a sure sign that he was ready to walk into the major leagues. Sox loyalists clamored for the front office to promote the kid to the big time. Sort of like uber prospect Luis Robert today.
Posted on August 5, 2019
By Thomas Chambers
The benchmark that is Saratoga Race Course makes it a byword for “form.”
All things being equal, unless a horse hates the Saratoga surface, and some do, races, and the horses in them, run formfully. There are so many good horses, you have to look at all of them.
Saturday, you could have called it very formful, on a high level, or chalky. And just like last night’s boxing matches, the featureds delivered, but the undercard may have stolen the show.
Posted on August 4, 2019
By Thomas Chambers
There’s a great Twilight Zone episode where two-bit armed robber gambling punk Larry Blyden is shot dead by police. He wakes up in a fabulous suite with Sebastian Cabot apparently his butler.
He can have anything he wants, and the big guy – don’t deny yourself the Pritzker metaphor – means ANYTHING. The food is exquisite, the booze flowing, the dames at his feet and . . . and the dice are rolling, the cards flushing and the one-armed bandits cherries across. Every time. EVERY TIME.
This is no diss to Mr. French, but from now on, I will see our two-bit robbing city, county and state politicians as fat white-suited satans.
Posted on August 3, 2019
By Jim Coffman and Steve Rhodes
This is his mess. Plus: Trade Shade; Cubs Narratives We Can Put To Bed; Kimbrel Is Killing Us; Missing Maldonado; Cubs Farm System Still Sucks; Here Come The Brewers; Evil Sports Programming Network; The Ex-Cub Factor; Rickey Ventura; Seeing (Soccer) Stars; and Trubisky Continues To Be . . .
Posted on August 2, 2019
By Steve Rhodes
One in an occasional series tracking the movements of former Cubs.
With the trade deadline passed, Carl Edwards Jr., Martin Maldonado and prospects Paul Richan, Alex Lange and Thomas Hatch are now officially ex-Cubs.
I’m sure we’ll see their names again in this column. Meanwhile . . .
Posted on August 1, 2019
