Chicago Sports Talk

If you would have told me that the White Sox would score eight runs on Opening Day facing Indians starting pitcher C.C. Sabathia (5 runs off him), I would have said we were on our way to an easy win. I mean with Buerhle on the mound, who I would consider one of the more reliable pitchers, it should have been a given. However, like so many White Sox opening days, we started off on the wrong foot. Speaking of Buerhle, what happened today!!!??? SEVEN earned runs in 1 2/3 of an inning! The positives are that Jim Thome dropped two home runs–last time a White Sox  player did that you ask??? Try cork-batted, steroid injecting, club house cancer Sammy Sosa in 1991. Another strong offensive statement was that every player besides CF Alexei Ramirez contributed to 13 hits.Thinking back to Opening Days, I remember in 1991 going to the Grand Opening of the ugliest ballpark ever constructed–then New Comiskey Park–and witnessing a  16-0 massacre. The only nice thing about that day you ask…missing school! So at least the White Sox were respectable today, and I can guarantee you one thing: Mark Buerhle’s 37.80 era will improve. SIDE NOTE: Ozzie Guillen is planning to hold an open forum discussion before every series. Not sure if I am digging this Phil Jackson zen-like approach. What happened to the old Ozzie of him being the dictator? 

Everybody knows the story. The Chicago Cubs have not won a World Series in 100 years. On Oct. 14, 1908, Orval Overall induced a ground ball off the bat of Detroit’s Boss Schmidt to give the Cubs its second world title in as many years.

Since, the North Siders have specialized in futility. The Cubs have made the post season only 12 times, with their last World Series appearance in 1945.

But forget the drought. An even more somber moment is the 10th anniversary of the death of Harry Caray. For many Cubs fans, this is a more emotional anniversary. I grew up with Harry Caray. I didn’t grow up with Tinker, Evers, Chance. Until the summer of 1998, I didn’t know what a Cubs game was like without Harry.

And times have changed since Harry’s untimely passing.
• He just missed the greatest home run chase of all time between Sammy Sosa and Mark McGwire — juiced up or not.
• He was spared the embarrassment of watching the White Sox win the World Series.
• He didn’t see the greatest pitcher and home run hitter of our time embroiled in a steroid scandal.
• He missed the Cubs sign their first Japanese player. Imagine Harry Caray trying to say Kosuke Fukudome. Hilarious!

He has missed a lot — good and bad. And we have missed him dearly. Joe Carter, need I say more.

So, what better way to honor the biggest baseball fan of all time than to have his beloved Cubbies win the World Series.

In memory of Caray, here are 10 reasons why the Cubs will win it all. (Plus, you’re crazy if you thought I as going to come up with 100 reasons.)

10. Emodukuf Ekusok: On Dec. 12, 2007, the Cubs began their winning ways by agreeing to terms the Koske Fukudome. The Cubs had one goal in the offseason and achieved it — for the second season in a row. And fans, don’t worry about the Cubs newest import. He’s a solid player in the mold of Ichiro. He’ll hit for average, get on base, drive in runs, play solid defense and throw runners out from right field.

9. No deal, a good deal: Finally, the Brian Roberts saga is over — well, until July’s trading deadline. Baltimore was asking too much for a 30-year-old second baseman with a steroid history. Personally, I want to see Mark DeRosa at second. He had a solid 2007, hitting .293 with 72 RBIs. With an improved lineup, expect DeRosa to boost his RBI total by at least 15 in 2008.

8. A true No. 1: Carlos Zambrano is still basking in his five-year, $91.5 million contract. With Kerry Wood and Mark Prior out of the picture, Zambrano is a true No. 1 starter and he believes that. With no off-the-field distractions, he’ll compete for the Cy Young. I see Zambrano winning 20 games this season.

7. Weak division: It’s a two team race between the Cubs and the Milwaukee Brewers. The Cubs have their fate in their own hands starting from Day 1. If they can beat up on the Central’s weaker teams and at least earn a split with the Brewers, the cubs will be hoisting another banner.

6. Sweet Lou: Minus his days managing the Rays (sans the Devil), Pinella is a proven winner. He has the roster he wants and he knows how to use it. He’s a master motivator and he knows how to play the hot hand.

5. Balance: Expect the Cubs to score some runs this season. They have a good mix of table setters (Theriot, Fukudome, DeRosa) and power hitters (Ramirez, Soriano, Lee). With Alfonso Sorianio batting in the two hole, he’ll have more RBI chances. And Derrek Lee is finally 100 percent healthy after breaking his wrist in 2005. He’s the complete package that drives this offense. His power numbers will go up from last year, he’ll drive in 90-plus runs and hit over .300.

4. Depth at pitching: For once the Cubs weakness is not in the rotation. They loaded their staff with arms that don’t get hurt — a novel idea. They have seven possible starters, who can all throw 150 innings. And the bullpen is solid with Bob Howry, Michael Wuertz and Carlos Marmol. And expect Kerry Wood to be lights out as the closer, if he can stay healthy.

3. Home grown talent: Once a liability, has become a valuable asset. The Cubs finally ditched their philosophy of solely focusing on power arms. Five starter will have come through the Cubs system, including three position players — Felix Pie, Ryan Theroit and Geovany Soto with Zambrano and Rich Hill. Mike Fontenot and Ronny Cedeno will also play a role. Interesting fact: The last position player — from the Cubs farm system — to be named an All-Star was Joe Girardi in 2000. But that was after stints with Colorado and the Yankees. Before that was Mark Grace in 1997.

2. Ding-Dong Prior’s gone: It’s about time the team gave up on this walking trauma unit. A guy who gets injured in a “simulated game” has no business in a blue-collar town like Chicago. Here’s a shocker: The Padres placed Prior in the 60-day DL.

1. Luck has to change: It has to. Even I hit a Blackjack once in a while. This team is built for a playoff run — a nice balance of youth and veterans. This team tasted success in 2007 and wants to win and knows how to win. Finally, the players’ appetite for a title might be as strong as the city’s.

So, as we embark on a magical season today, get used to hearing Caray’s trademark call:

Holy Cow! Cubs win, Cubs win!!

Kerry Wood was named the Cubs closer this week. A good move?

I gave up on this guy years ago. I couldn’t believe the loyalty he built up based on his 20 strikeout performance back in 1998. He hasn’t pitched a full season since the playoff run in 2003. Between him and Mark Prior, Cubs fans were fed up with the injuries.

But personally, I like this move. Wood has the stuff, the competitive mind and the intestinal fortitude to be a good closer. Unlike Prior, he proved himself late last season. Instead of shutting himself down, he came back. He had 22 appearances out of the bullpen and pitched effectively.

Now, look at his spring numbers — 11.2 innings pitched with a 3.09 ERA, 12 Ks and NO walks as of Thursday. This is a perfect situation for him.

With back, arm and shoulder problems, his body can’t take the punishment of a starting pitcher with 200 innings. But he can pitch 50-70 innings over the course of a season. He is suited to be a closer.

Plus, I love Carlos Marmol in the setup role. You need a guy who can come in the seventh inning with the game on the line and make people miss.

For about four to six innings a week, Wood can be extremely effective. He can rear back, throw in the upper 90s and dazzle hitters with his stuff.

His ability was never a question. It’s always been his health. Now we must wait and see.

Hi-oh! so i’m janet and this is my blog. i’ll mostly talk about the white sox here, but i will probably also talk about rugby and my bruises or some big manly girl that knocked me on my ass in that week’s match. i don’t consider myself to be the white sox know-it-all by any means, but i do have wikipedia at my fingertips and i can probably tell you the marital status of 99% of the current and former white sox players off the top of my head.

additionally i am going to go ahead and apologize ahead of time for the inevitable offensive remark that will come from me. when it comes to the white sox and my dislike for the cubs i’m pretty passionate about my views. but please comment on any of my comments, that’s what this is all about!

see ya!

When Brad Penny of the Florida Marlins challenged a batboy/clubhouse attendant to do the same for $1,000.00, my Chicago Tribune editors felt the need to see if a journalist on their staff could do it.
Lone and behold, I became a lab rat.
Enjoy the pictures!

Read the rest of this entry →

Hey Chicago sports fans. Thanks for stopping by. I’m new at this writing stuff, so give me a shout out when I do or say something you don’t like, which might be often. If I accidentally get it right once in a while let me know that too. I don’t follow the rest of the NHL a lot, just the Hawks. The same goes for the Wolves. So if you expect to read about Crosby, Iginla, Luongo, or Ovechkin, sorry. Unless the Hawks are playing against them, or they impact the Chicago sports scene in some way, you probably won’t ever see their names in my stories. I’ll probably showcase the Hawks more than the Wolves, not because they aren’t a class act, but because I’m a bigger fan of the Hawks.

Here’s what you can expect from me. I’m an unabashed homer. I’m not dumb enough to think the Hawks or Wolves are the best teams out there. I just don’t care to give another team their props. For instance, I might have to tell you if the Red Wings outplayed the Hawks in the Western Conference finals some day, but I won’t be there to congratulate the “Dead Things” if it comes to that. Let their fans do that, not me.

Don’t expect me to provide a play by play account of games. Do expect to get my opinions and comments. I’ll boost the Blackhawks and Wolves as long they give an honest effort. I might not be happy with a losing team, but I can respect a team that might be short on talent but puts their heart into the game. Win or lose I’ll still cheer for them. I’ll probably tell you if I spot trends, like a player that seems selfish like Havlat was at times, or a player that seems to get better in crunch time, like Seabrook’s play lately. Read the rest of this entry →

Hey everyone!

Just wanted to give you a quick introduction to my blog on chicagosportstalk.com. If you have any questions about who I am, or why in the world I would be writing this blog, just check my biography.

My main focus of my page will be on baseball, and while I will ridicule the Cubs from time-to-time, writing about the White Sox will be my priority.

So whether you want to talk about certain players, minor league prospects, game experiences or if you just want to rant about how Jimbo’s will be no more….then feel free to do so here.

Fire away!
Paul