By Roger Wallenstein

His fastball frequently is clocked in triple digits. The curveball and changeup are rated 55/60 and 45/50, respectively, by FanGraphs. He was the freakin’ Minor League Pitcher of the Year in 2018.
Yet, Dylan Cease is finding out just how difficult it is to get hitters out in the major leagues. Part of the problem with guys like Cease and other hot prospects, not only with the Sox but throughout the baseball universe, is that the expectations and ballyhoo are so intense and lofty that anything less becomes a disappointment suffered by a portion of the faithful that you’d think their dog just died.

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Posted on September 2, 2019

By Thomas Chambers

We have an addled orange sadist doing the bidding of all the satans he knows and those he dreams to meet.
We have a fabulously wealthy – naturally – whiny little tart invention with a suitably two-way first name regurgitating what passes for culture bitching out her bubble-world indignities toward a society she no longer lives in.
And we have a corporation that should have its name stripped from the venomous mast of its soulless existence.
TrackNotes is taking it back! We’re taking back the old saying that we can’t, Johnny, have anything nice anymore. It’s no longer a pop hook, it’s ours now. I’m tired of having things taken away by people whose inevitable fate will be to poison the earth they are buried in or scattered upon.

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Posted on September 1, 2019

By Jim Coffman and Steve Rhodes

Hungry Nick and the dinosaurs. Plus: Steve Albini, Master Of Sparks; How Yu Darvish, Jose Quintana and Lucas Giolito Turned It Around; Chili Stew; This Would Be The Perfect Ending To The Bears’ Kicking Circus And Give The City A New Hero To Replace Alligator Robb; and more!

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Posted on August 30, 2019

Earlier this month on Hit & Run:
“Matt Spiegel was joined in studio by musician Steve Albini to discuss his vast love and knowledge of baseball, his illustrious career that includes his work as a record producer, recording engineer, musician and professional poker player and more.”

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Posted on August 29, 2019

By Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc.

Sinclair Broadcast Group and The Walt Disney Company have announced the completion of the previously announced acquisition by Sinclair of the equity interests in 21 Regional Sports Networks (the “RSNs”) and Fox College Sports, which were acquired by Disney in its acquisition of 21st Century Fox.
The transaction ascribed a total enterprise value to the RSNs equal to $10.6 billion, which, after adjusting for minority interests, reflects an aggregate purchase price of $9.6 billion. The aggregate purchase price is subject to certain adjustments.

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Posted on August 28, 2019

By Steve Rhodes

One in an occasional series tracking the movements of former Cubs.
1. Justin Wilson.
Mets savior.

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Posted on August 27, 2019

By Roger Wallenstein

Look no further than the past week if you question whether the White Sox are a vastly improved aggregation than the dismal product of the past two rebuilding seasons.
The fellows won five of seven games against the division-leading Twins on the road and the struggling Texas Rangers at home. They now stand at 60-70, not enough to enthuse the most skeptical observers, but only two victories shy of the total for the entire 2018 season.

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Posted on August 26, 2019

By Jim Coffman

The contrast between the lineups couldn’t have been starker. And it was especially on display from the sixth inning into the seventh as another critical game got away from the Cubs on Sunday afternoon. They were able to rally in the eighth and take it into extras but eventually choked it away in the 11th.
The victory gave the scorching Nationals their first sweep of a series at Wrigley Field since 2005, and left the Cubs 2 1/2 games in back of a Cardinals team that, it must always be remembered, to the ever-lasting embarrassment of Theo et al., has never tanked. The Cubs tanked for three stinking years, and while it led to a World Series title, it was supposed to lead to more than scratching and clawing for a second wild-card spot for the second year in a row.

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Posted on August 26, 2019

By Thomas Chambers

Boy Oh Boy!
Candy-store like that on Friday, how on earth can Saturday fulfill? Well, sometimes luck hits you in the face, helped along by the congregation of the finest the endeavor has to offer, in this case both equine and human.
Travers Day yesterday had everything. See something say something, corporate blunders exposed, pictures say a thousand words and don’t sneeze, horses run fast, and quite a number of people appreciate it.

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Posted on August 25, 2019

By Thomas Chambers

It’s like when Roryn MacJustinbeau is on the tee at the 810-yard, par-11 fifth hole and the Jethro in the gallery, which kind of resembles a public hanging mob anyway, screams, at the top of the backswing, “GET IN THE HOLE!!”
Yell all you want for your DVR, but it ain’t happening. Same with the weather wonks around here who, and it gets earlier every damn year, say that summer is now over. Can’t they think of the children, like me, who were taught astrological – or is it as astronomical – summer ends September 21? My Webers have plenty of LP. And what’s with the that’s-not-news plugs by all the Cheryl Burtons for McDunkBucks now serving the long-awaited pumpkin spiced-sugar 10W-20 sludge treat?
Miss Landers ALWAYS knew Fall does not start on Labor Day + 1. Does autumn begin when the Bears open? Or does Summer end when the Cubs are eliminated? Which was June 21 – the start of summer – back in the Pete LaCock days?

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Posted on August 23, 2019