By Jim Coffman

There’s still a long way to go for the Bulls, but what must – or should – frighten the Heat and whoever would come next, the Mavericks or the Thunder, is that this is a team getting better before our eyes. Talk about peaking at the right time.
And make no mistake about it, this is a team. Sure, without Derrick Rose these guys might not have even made the playoffs; that’s why he’s the MVP. But without the role players around him and the defense-first coaching philosophy of Tom Thibodeau, Rose wouldn’t be in the playoffs either.
After all, the headlines announcing the Bulls rout of the Heat in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals last night name Luol Deng as often – if not more – as the MVP. Or don’t name names at all.

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Posted on May 16, 2011

By Marty Gangler

Sure it was just five games this week, but it was a complete and utter mess. Little clutch hitting and hardly any extra-base hits is no way to win baseball games. Throw in some physical and mental errors and here you are.
With all of this in mind, we here at The Cub Factor think that the one big thing the Cubs need is that legit 3rd-place hitter. It just does not exist on the roster, but what if we were able to make one from the talents on the team they currently have? Like a player named Frank Enstein.
We here at The Cub Factor have given this a little thought. This is what we would like to see in our 3rd-place hitter:

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Posted on May 16, 2011

By Roger Wallenstein

Let’s be clear that the White Sox have more pressing concerns than wondering where to put Paul Konerko’s likeness and his retired No. 14 once his playing days have ended.
Nevertheless, a guy’s mind wanders a bit while sitting through a lackluster performance at The Cell early in this puzzling season.
You look across the faces on the left centerfield fence, and it’s apparent that the two newest honorees – Carlton Fisk and Frank Thomas – share a space, while Fox, Baines, Appling, Miñoso, Aparicio, Lyons and Pierce have larger tracts. But, hey, they got there first.
Space will be designated for Paulie when the time comes, but who knows where it will be?

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Posted on May 16, 2011

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