Just when I thought the Cubs were on a roll (see Post #228), they stumbled and fell instead.  They lost the final game of the series to the bottom-dwelling Reds and then proceeded to lose a series at Philadelphia – the worst team in baseball.  Although the Cubs outscored them 21-15 in the three games, pitching continued to be their Achilles Heel.  What makes matters worse is that the Brewers are starting to play great baseball, winning their series against the Dodgers, who hadn’t lost a series to any team since June.  Chicago still maintains a 2-game lead in the Central, but they’ll have to get by the Pirates at home and rely on the Cards to slow the Brewers momentum.  It’s frustrating to see that no team in the Central is taking command, especially the Cubbies when the schedule favors them.  Oops!

College football started over the weekend, and the Oregon State Beavers fared poorly.  I was also disappointed to see that Ohio State had a 95% probability of beating Indiana this week.  It’s embarrassing to be an I.U. alumni during football season, when you see an opposing conference team come in to your stadium and literally take-over the stands.  I once heard that I.U. takes recruiting pictures of this game, including aerial shots, because it’s the only time the stadium is full and everyone is wearing red.  It’s also the only opportunity for some Buckeye fans to see their team play, since a ticket in Columbus is hard to get.  I.U. fans are glad to sell their tickets at a premium and avoid the humiliation of another loss.  It’s hard to walk by all the temporary concessions selling buckeye necklaces and flags, while nobody is in line to buy Hoosier gear.  Once more, the fact that Indiana was chosen as their opening game opponent, like we’re a Division II practice game, makes me feel second-rate LITTLE in the BIG conference.  Hopefully, basketball season will be here soon.

Speaking of basketball,  Archie Miller, I.U.’s new coach (See Post #35) got his first big-time recruit, 6′ 8″ Race Thompson, out of Minnesota.  He’ll red shirt for a year, hoping to bolster his 4-star, #101 ranking in the 247 Sports Composite, before he faces BIG opposition.  It’s a great name for a basketball player in Indiana, home of the Indianapolis 500 and Daytona 500, but I hope he’s not slow.  I can’t wait until January 30, 2018 when Ohio State is done playing football and I.U. gets to take over Value City Arena, wearing our flashy red-and-white striped warm-up pants.  Hopefully, I’ll be proud to be a Hoosier again by that point.  At least, there will be no more Thad Motta, just Chris Holtmann, another Butler steal for the Buckeyes.

I’m also excited for the Chicago Bears, who seem surprisingly competitive in the preseason.  It turns out they weren’t booing Mitchell Trubisky, just saying TRU….  Former I.U. running back stand-out, Jordan Howard, will be with him in the backfield this year.  I had the pleasure of watching Howard dominate the Vikings at Soldier Field last year, just after enjoying the Cubs victory in Game 5 of the World Series at Wrigley.  It was quite an eventful Halloween weekend in Chicago.  Chances are that the other popular  I.U. star, Kyle Schwarber of the Cubs, won’t be getting a chance for a back-to-back World Series victory.  The lowly Phillies certainly had their say.