A 13-3 record since the All-Star break is an impressive start to baseball’s second season.  The Cubs are on a roll worthy of a World Series Champion.  10 of these victories have been on the road with only 1 loss, and a six-game home stand lies ahead against the Diamondbacks then the Nats.  However, both Arizona and Washington have better records than the Cubs, so they’ll need a home field advantage to win these two critical series, before they hit the road again.  It’s been pitching that has given them the edge, with starters going 11-1 since the All-Star rest, and being stingy with only 5 total runs to the Division-rival Brewers in these last three games.  The acquisition of pitcher Jose Quintana from the White Sox sparked this Cubs surge, but he’s also the only Cubs starter with a loss, as the Brewers beat him despite only four hits.  This particular game was a frustrating loss to open the series, but the Cubs rebounded in the final two pitching duels to gain a 2.5 game lead in the Central.

On the South side of Chicago, the Pale Hose somehow managed to snap both the Cubs six-game winning streak and the Indians nine-game string, but these were the only 2 games that they’ve won since the All-Star break.  They had been swept by the Mariners, Dodgers, and Royals to start the second half at 0-8, to finally upset the opposite trending Cubs in the first game of the Cross-Town.  Overall, the Sox are now 2-13 since dumping Quintana, Robertson, and Frazier in favor of building for the future.   They’ve already lost 62 games this season, with only Philadelphia, Washington, and Cincinnati having racked-up more Ls.  At this “rate,” they’ll be “guaranteed” a new field sponsor soon.  I still like their uniforms, though!

I plan to go to the Minor League All-Star game tomorrow night in Hillsboro.  The home team, Hops, host the Pioneer League All-Stars against the Northwest League All-Stars.  The players will use wooden bats for the Home Run Derby that precedes the actual game.  The Eugene Emeralds are the Cubs affiliate in this Region, while the Great Falls Voyagers represent the White Sox. Pitchers, Tyler Johnson and J.B. Olson, first baseman, Anthony Villa, and outfielder Craig Dedelow are the future White Sox stars.  Dedelow also went to Indiana University, my alma mater and should compete in the Home Run Derby competition along with Villa.  Both have 9 home runs so far this season, one behind leader Luis Paz of Ogden.  Cubs futures include pitcher Luis Aquino, catcher Gustavo Polanco, and shortstop Aramis Ademan, although none are likely to compete in the Derby.  Here’s to the future!