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Category: OLD SPORT SHORTS (Page 60 of 68)

An old guy’s perspective on all sports

Old Sport Shorts: Pass the Salt #281

September 28, 2017 / / 0 Comments

Please pass the salt!  The Cubs not only won the final series of the season, but also officially eliminated the Cardinals from Post Season play at the same time.  They did it in dramatic fashion with Leonys Martin leaped at the fence to rob Paul DeJong of a tying homer with two-outs in the bottom of the 11th inning.  The Division Champion Cubs, who celebrated on the Busch Stadium pitcher’s mound last night, rubbed salt in the wound tonight, with most of their lineup resting.  The season series weighed heavily in Chicago’s favor at 14-5, with Taylor Davis getting his first major league run-batted-in, a game winning double down the third base line.  The Cubs hadn’t scored since a first inning Ian Happ solo home run.  It was once again former Cub, Dexter Fowler, who tied it up in the 6th with a ground-out that scored Tommy Pham.  Jen-Ho Tseng got his first win thanks to the game saving catch, and will apparently head to the bullpen for the Reds series finale at Wrigley Field.  Tseng was called up from Iowa to hopefully fill a starting role, but was unimpressive in his September 14th debut against the Mets.  Mike Montgomery will get the start instead.

I once again have to give credit to Ian Happ who continues to have an outstanding season.  He got off to a rough start, as the team struggled early in the year. (See Posts #101 and #123).  I also salute Kyle Schwarber, who battled back from a demotion to find his home run swing.  Happ and Schwarber were the only two position players in today’s lineup that had played in at least 100 games.  Kyle Hendricks struck out five and allowed four hits in five innings.  Joe Maddon will have some tough decisions in determining a pitching rotation to compete with the Nationals, as the team begins post season play on October 6th.  Lackey has lacked and Lester has been less, while Quintana showed some magic in Milwaukee.  Hendricks has probably been the most consistent down the stretch, but far from the dominance he showed last year.  Plus, the Nationals will have the home field edge.

There was a point this season, especially as they dropped that make-up game against the Brewers just before the All Star break to fall five games behind, that I thought that the party was over.  Instead, it’s just beginning after an impressive 7-3 road trip.  Go Cubs.

Old Sport Shorts: Sin to Win #280

September 28, 2017 / / 0 Comments

It was not a good day to be a Cardinals fan, whether it’s St. Louis or Louisville.  It truly was a sin that has taken Head Coach Rick Pitino off the University of Louisville bench, while die-hard Cardinal baseball fans undoubtedly see losing the Central Division Championship to the Cubs for the second straight year as an unforgivable sin.  The Cubs celebrated their division clinching victory on the modern day Busch Stadium field for the very first time, as well as for the first time since 1938 on any Cardinal turf.  They did what they have done since the All Star break, with one exception,  and that was win or tie every series.  The one series they lost to the Brewers at Wrigley Field was avenged in Milwaukee.  One more game at Busch and three against the Reds at home will conclude the regular season.  All indications are that their next challenge will be a five-game series against the Nats and their three exceptional starters in D.C.  Once again, the objective is simply to win the series, and perhaps potentially move on to L.A.

There will be no home field advantage for the Cubs in the Playoffs because of their overall record that will barely exceed 90 wins.  Two of their Playoff potential foes have already reached the 100-victory mark, the Dodgers and Indians, who both will seek revenge from last year’s post season.  The Cubs have played the best baseball of any team in baseball the last half of the season, after struggling under the .500 mark prior to the break.  Their pitching has been somewhat disappointing, interrupted by a few gems by Quintana and Lackey.  The 1938 Cubs, who finished 89-63, were swept by the Yankees in the World Series.  The 1935 Cubbies, who also clinched the Pennant at Busch Stadium, had that 21-game winning streak that was bested by the Indians this year.  They lost the World Series to the Tigers after a 100-win season.   Add 1910, 1918, 1929, 1932, 1935, and of course the 2016 crown to the short list of World Series appearances since the back-to-back accomplishment of 1907 and 1908.  What are the chances of repeating that feat?

Meanwhile in Louisville, they’ve lost a coach, A.D., and two incoming prospects, with other repercussions expected.  They boast the highest Adidas apparel contract in the nation that just cost them their future.  These Cardinals won’t be heard from again for years in college basketball  along with the programs from Arizona, Arkansas, Auburn, Oklahoma State, and U.S.C.  Nike is also under investigation starting with their Elite Youth Basketball League, as the influences of the shoe industry start to include younger athletes.  At least Louisville coaches are not yet facing criminal charges like these other major Universities, so we can’t, for now, call them “Jailbirds,” but as a bitter alumni of a nearby rival school, I can certainly “mock” them.  They probably illegally stole some recruits from under our noses in Indiana.  Admittedly, we were under the microscope ten years ago, and because of N.C.A.A. violations lost our credibility with five-star recruits.  Now it’s there turn to pay the consequences.

Elsewhere in Chicagoland, the White Sox were the surprise spoiler in the Wild Card race, topping the Angels to the benefit of the Twins.  That’s the only positive thing I can say about a team that is 34.5 games behind the A.L. Central Champion, Cleveland Indians.  The Colorado Rockies continue to win, and will soon apparently clinch the last Wildcard spot, leaving the Brewers and Cardinals to prepare for next year.  The Tigers and Giants will fight it out for the worst record of 2017.  On the gridiron, the Chicago Bears, who won their first game of the season on Sunday, are proving to be little competition to the Packers, with a storm thankfully interrupting their poor start in Green Bay.  The Cards and Cubs outcome has little significance, but I still watch with hopes for a Cubs series clincher to compliment the Division  trophy.  Does anyone have some salt to rub in the wound?

Old Sport Shorts: Basketball Wars #278

September 27, 2017 / / 0 Comments

I’m thinking back to 2008, as my friends and I made plans to travel to the Maui Classic to watch our Hoosiers win.  The year before Indiana had made it into the second round of the NCAA Tournament, losing a tight game to UCLA, who went on to the Final Four.  Things looks promising for the first time since the Bob Knight era, so we were anticipating a great season,  and a great time in Hawaii.  However, soon after we booked the trip,  on February 22, 2008, in the midst of  Big Ten action, Coach Kelvin Sampson accepted a contract buyout and resigned from his position, following allegations by the NCAA.  Rick Greenspan also resigned as Athletic Director, and former player, Dan Dakich, became the interim coach.  Despite all the turmoil,  I.U. finished 25-8 for the season, 14-4 for 3rd place in the Big Ten, and 20th in the final Coaches Poll, but lost to Arkansas in the first round of the NCAA basketball tournament.  We were still optimistic.

During the off-season, Armon Bassett and Jamarcus Ellis were dismissed from the team, and Eric Gordon complained of teammate drug use. Tom Crean from Marquette was hired as head coach, and from that point out it was “the last one out please turn out the lights.”  D.J. White left as a Senior, but other notables also exited to other opportunities, including Jordan Crawford, and DeAndre Thomas.  Eric Gordon went pro, so a complete re-building of the program was necessary.  We would be traveling to Maui with the distinct possibility that my friends and I might be needed to play.  None of us had played since grade school.

The 2008-09 season started with a couple of cup-cake victories before the Maui Classic.  The team managed to salvage a narrow two-point victory against host Chaminade, after losing badly to Notre Dame and St. Joseph’s.  Freshman, Tom Pritchard was the sole hope for the future.  The good news was that we didn’t have to sit in that hot dark gym to watch beyond halftime of the 38-point blowout by the Fighting Irish, and could enjoy the beach and sunshine.  That season couldn’t have finished soon enough, going 6-25 overall and 1-17 in the Big Ten.

The NCAA imposed a three-year probation on Indiana, and Sampson moved on to the Milwaukee Bucks.  Eric Gordon, now a current NBA star, was the focus of Sampson’s recruiting violations.  Gordon had previously committed to Illinois, but decided to go to Indiana.  I remember attending the Hoosier and Illini game in Champaign, IL just two weeks before the Sampson dismissal.  Indiana won a two overtime thriller on an impressive night by Gordon.  I was embarrassed for the Illinois crowd and Eric’s family in their treatment of EG and his coach, with unrepeatable racial slurs and taunting.  I didn’t think they would leave Assembly Hall alive that night, especially after a couple of Gordon daggers to seal the victory.  I’ve never seen an angrier crowd at any sporting event.

We didn’t leave Maui angry, just tanned, but as the years went on I began to realize the frustrating impact of the firing and coaching change.  Crean had his moments, but Knight’s success will forever be the standard at Indiana.  As we enter another season, Archie Miller will now take the reins under A.D. Fred Glass.  Both are great additions to the University, and together they bring new hope.  However, the Indiana Basketball reputation has dropped in perception, and top recruits have flocked elsewhere.  As I watch today’s ESPN coverage of the shoe scandal, I’m intrigued for two reasons.  First, I wonder if the scandal will extend beyond Adidas, and include local, industry-leader, Nike and even UnderArmour?  Secondly, I wonder how much of a recruiting advantage that Adidas branded schools like Louisville, Auburn, Arkansas, Oklahoma State, and U.S.C. had in recent recruiting wars.  It could very well be that many other schools enjoyed the benefits of shoe company incentives.  Hopefully, Indiana is not involved in these kind of practices, since it too signed a 53.6 Million dollar deal with Adidas!  Plus, too close for comfort, is the fact that Archie Miller’s brother Sean is the head coach of Arizona, their program also under investigation by the F.B.I.  Indiana University could not afford another set-back in our basketball program, although it would be just like Tom Crean to leave us with the shoe scandal hanging over our heads.

As the PK80 college basketball tournament event comes to Portland, I hope that Nike is not using similar tactics to lure schools and players to their brand.  Today’s firing of Rick Pitino at Louisville, the highest paid coach in college basketball, is probably just the beginning.  Maybe they need to look down the road at Kentucky and their contract with Nike.  However, that’s just a personal suspicion, fueled by years of frustration with John Calipari, who even Bob Knight never trusted.  He felt the same way about Pitino, and now we know why.   Perhaps, it was the heated competition between Louisville and Kentucky that caused Pitino to break the rules.  What about his son at Minnesota?  These are questions that I have, all out of bitterness about thriving programs at Kentucky, Louisville, and even Minnesota.  Maybe success in basketball truly is all about the shoes.  I never felt that I could run faster or jump higher in my PF Flyers, but financial success on the basketball court today is all about the combination of an NBA and shoe contract.

 

 

Old Sport Shorts: Da Bears #273

September 24, 2017 / / 0 Comments

Rarely have I had a chance to write about Da Bears.  I went to my last game at Soldier Field last Halloween, and saw a rare win over the Vikings the day after seeing the Cubs win game 5 of the World Series.  Fellow I.U. alumni Jordan Howard was outstanding for the struggling Bears, as he was today versus the Pittsburgh Steelers.  Although the Bears tried to shoot themselves in the foot several times, including a disastrous goal-line fumble and stepping out of bounds during a potential game-ending touchdown run,  Howard carried them into the end zone for a 23-17 overtime victory.  It looks like a big day for my favorite Chicago teams.  The White Sox are beating the Royals 8-1 and the Cubs are one inning away from winning three in Milwaukee. Rarely, do I see all three Chicago teams victorious on the same day.  Couple that with an I.U. football victory over Georgia Southern yesterday, and I probably couldn’t ask for much more this weekend.  Although, the Cubs walk-off loss yesterday was painful and the Ducks fell short against Arizona State.  Maybe the Timbers can also win later this afternoon.

Former White Sox, Jose Quintana, is two outs away from his 7th victory for the Cubs.  Ryan Braun grounds out for the Brewers, who will fall to 9-10 on the season against the division leading Cubs.  Travis Shaw pops out to complete the Quintana complete game shut-out.  Three hits is all he allowed in the 5-0 victory, but most importantly the full nine inning performance was much needed for a tired Cub bullpen.   The Magic Number drops to 2, as the Cubs travel to St. Louis for the next four games.  Three out of four in Milwaukee was beyond my expectations, hoping simply for a draw.  A split against the Cardinals would earn the Division title again!  Holy Cow!

Seven games are left in the regular season, and the Cubs hold a 5.5 game lead on Milwaukee and 6 games on St. Louis, with a total of 87 victories.  At this point, the Cubs will travel to Washington to play the Nats in the first series of the Playoffs.  The Nationals have won 94 games, with Miami hardly providing any Division competition at 20.5 games behind.  They’ve also lost 7 fewer games than the Cubs after winning today at the Mets.  Scherzer got his 16th victory tying teammate Gonzales.  Arrieta has 14 victories for the Cubs, matching the third Washington starter, Strasburg.  It will be a tough away from home match-up for the defending World Champion Cubs, who won 2 out of 3 when they last met in August.  The two potential Division Champions split in D.C. back in late June, and will probably meet again  for a best of 5 starting October 6th.  Go Cubs!

While the Cubs prepare to uncork the champagne, da Bears battle the Cheeseheads on Thursday night.  After losses against Atlanta and Tampa Bay, a victory against a Division rival would even the score for the young season.  The Pack is struggling today against the Bengals, so they are Bear vulnerable.  Minnesota and Detroit are both already at 2-1 to lead the NFC North. I try to get excited about football, but with Indiana and Chicago as my favorites, I often find myself looking at baseball scores and wishing that basketball season would start.  A rare weekend like this, where all my teams are winners, gives me false hope.  Go Bears!

Old Sport Shorts: Cub Fanatic #271

September 24, 2017 / / 0 Comments

I can’t think of a year in my life when I’ve followed the baseball season more closely.  With the Cubs World victory last fall, I’ve been hooked on the little, round stitched-ball, anxious to find out if they can actually repeat the accomplishment.  i went to a spring training game, the All-Star games, watched the action in several new stadiums, added to my baseball card collection, reported my experiences in this blog, and followed the M.L.B. Network religiously.  I’m ready for the Post Season to start, but four teams, including the Cubs, have yet to cross the regular season finish line.  The Cubs have 8 more games to play with a Magic Number of 4, striving for that 90 victory mark.  I admit to being a fanatic!

The Cubs at Brewers series has been some of the most exciting baseball I’ve ever watched.  Three straight 10-inning games to determine a Central Division Champ.  The Brew Crew finally broke through with a walk-off victory yesterday and are now posed to tie the series.  The third challenger, the Cardinals, were on a second-wind run, knowing that they have four home games against the Cubs starting tomorrow.  The Cards had won four straight until last night’s loss against the Pirates, so they have once again slipped behind the pace of the Brewers.  The Rockies continue to hold on to the final Wild Card spot, knowing that the Cubs, Brewers, and Cardinals will continue to play each other as the season comes to a close.  The Brewers end their schedule with 3 critical games in St. Louis, while the Rockies have their final six games at home, even though the Dodgers loom as their finale foe.

All the Cubs have to do is patiently continue tying or winning each series, as they have most of September, with the miserable exception of the Brewers sweep at Wrigley.  The I-90 season series is even at 9 games each, with today’s outcome to determine the better team.  The Brewers were dominant the first half of the season, taking a five-game Central Division lead into the Break, but the Cubs now hold a 4.5 game lead over Milwaukee and 5 games above St. Louis.  Wade Davis had a tough day yesterday at the end of a back-and-forth one-run battle.  He entered the game in the bottom of the ninth to do what he’s done all year without fail – save another victory for the Cubs.  He not only failed for the first time this season in that inning, but also blew the lead and game in the bottom of the tenth.  He’s been a bit overused in this critical series, so I suspect that his delivery was a bit off, and will not appear again in today’s finale that should be another nail-biter.

If the Cards had won again last night, I would be even more worried today.  They were in a position to pull off another Playoff-run miracle, as they did back in 2011, and maybe last night’s loss was only a small set-back.  If they are somehow able to win all four games against the Cubs at Busch next week, a couple of fateful twists could lead to a Division Championship or at least a Wildcard spot.  The Cardinals are not dead yet, and the Brewers were given new life in this time of Magic Numbers, late game heroics, and miracles.  It’s not even the Playoffs, but it sure feels like it!

Retirement is not without Hassles: Activity Study #270

September 23, 2017 / / 0 Comments

There was snow in the mountains this past week, along with cool temperatures in the city.   Winter is on its way, as the local wineries begin to harvest their grapes and pumpkins start to appear on our doorsteps.  A week from today I’ll be helping friends picks the fruits of their labor, as we continue to stay near home before next month’s busy travel schedule.  Tonight is the first of three Field&Vine dinners that we’ve scheduled.  We venture to Douglas Farm on Sauvie Island, along the Columbia River for this event, similar to the Outstanding In The Field dinners that we attend annually.  Cornell Farms and Willakenzie Estate are the other two dining extravaganzas that we have pre-paid.  I hope there’s a bonfire to keep us warm tonight.

In making the transition from a full time job to retirement, I’m consciously trying to constructively manage my time, when we aren’t traveling.  I’m hoping to balance a variety of activities each day to keep life interesting.  Here’s where my time goes on the average:

Sleep – 8 hours (33.3%)

Exercise – I hour (stretching, running, push-ups, sit-ups, walking) w/radio *  (4.2%)

Hygiene – 1 hour (shower, shave, brush, prep, dress, etc.) (4.2%)

Dining – 1.5 hours (6.25%)

Pet Duty – 1 hour (walking, feeding, playing, kitty litter) (4.2%)

Errands – 1 hour (mail, gas, grocery, Target, vet, doctor, dry cleaning, meet-ups) (4.2%)

Household -1 hour (cleaning, repair, laundry, cooking, dishes)  * (4.2%)

Writing – 2 hours (Blog, Poems/Diary/Budget)*(8.3%)

Computer – 2 hours – (Search/Phone/E-mail/Social Media/Solitaire Game/Collecting/Banking) * (8.3%)

Reading – 1.5 hours (Book, Newspaper, and Magazine) *(6.25%)

Television – 3.0 hours (Sports/News/Movies/Documentaries)*(12.5%)

Conversation – 1 hour (4.2%)

It looks like I spend only about 20% of my time on the move, so I need to work on getting that up to at least 25%.  Regarding those activities marked with a (*), I’m typically multi-tasking with radio, television, phone, and/or computer.  Right now, for example, I’m writing, plus watching a football game on T.V. and a Cubs game on my phone.  I have a second computer on my desk that I use primarily for a Spider Solitaire game, so I’m constantly moving back-and-forth between computers as I try to gather my thoughts.  A half-finished book always sits nearby that I will take outside on the back deck and read in the sunshine.   I’ve been diagnosed with attention deficit issues that appear even more obvious when I try to determine how I spend my time.  The T.V. is constantly on, and if I’m not within viewing range I usually have my earbuds in and the radio on, or I’ll simply go mobile with the program on my phone.  I have to have background noise, so peace and quiet is not the norm for me.  I should probably consider some unplugged meditation, but I can’t sit still that long.  Even 15 minutes of quiet time would probably reduce my blood pressure levels that are typically high even with medication.  I’m also concerned about my low levels of human interaction each day, considering that I only spend about an hour in uninterrupted face-to-face conversation.  That’s a huge deviation from when I was working.

I think it’s helpful to study yourself from a time management standpoint.  I’m at least not an unemployed slug, averaging over 12,000 steps a day with zero sick days.  At some point, I’ll engage in some volunteer work, join a book club, take classes, and find other ways to stimulate more conversation.  For now, I enjoy being a loner and a homer.  However, I love date nights with my wife, lunch and happy hour meet-ups with my friends, travel, and baseball card shows.  It’s enough to keep me content and happy with my adjustments as a recent retiree.  As with anything, though, there’s always room for improvement, and I’ll keep studying those possibilities.

 

 

 

 

 

Old Sport Shorts: Et Tu Brewers #269

September 22, 2017 / / 0 Comments

“Et tu, Brute?”  This Latin phrase from Shakespeare expresses the surprise that Caesar felt as he was being stabbed to death.  “Even You, Brutus?” is the translation of a friend’s betrayal.  I’m sure the Brewers tonight feel like they’ve been stabbed by the Cubs the last two nights in the 10th inning.  Et tu, Brewers?  Miller Park sounded like the friendly confines of Wrigley Field, as the Cubs dealt a fatal blow, and the Magic Number is now down to 5 with nine games to go.  The Cubbies are now at least assured of a series draw with the fading Brew Crew, thanks to a Tommy LaStella walk with the bases loaded.  There is not enough beer in Milwaukee tonight to drown the sorrows of the Brewer faithful.

To get to this point, the lovable Cubs have won nine of their last ten games.  They’ve been both lucky and good, and certainly good and lucky.  These last two games have been real nail biters in a must-win series for both teams.  While the Brewers have sputtered, the Cardinals have rebounded from the recent series sweep by the Cubs.  The Cards have now won four straight and stand one game out of the Wild Card position, currently controlled by the Rockies.  These three teams will be fighting for that last Wild Card spot, with the Cubs as the spoiler.  Two more games against the Brewers and four in St. Louis still loom ahead for Chicago; not to mention the last three against the Reds.  86 victories for the year and counting, giving them potentially the worst record of the six Division Champs this season.

The Cubs have come through in Milwaukee, but the seventh and eighth innings of ballgames are their Achilles heel.  They needed five pitchers tonight to finish and seven last night.   This could be their downfall throughout the Playoffs.  The Indians are sizzling, the Cards hot, the Red Sox on a roll, and the Dodgers back on their feet, while the Cubs are just getting by.  I’m not complaining, just concerned.  The last back-to-back Champion was 17 years ago, as the Yankees claimed a three-peat.  The last National League team to do it was the Cincinnati Reds 41 years ago, while the last time for the Cubs was back 110 years.  I know the team overcame impossible odds to win it all last year, but I don’t think they have the pitching depth to pull it off again in 2017.  However, I’d love for them to prove me wrong!  Et tu!

 

Retirement is not without Hassles: Cable #268

September 22, 2017 / / 0 Comments

I finally have gotten my money’s worth out of cable this week.  I spend a lot of money on the service, but hate the thought of spending a majority of my retirement years in front of the “boob tube.”   I enjoy watching sports, so during my working years most of my time spent viewing was focused on basketball, baseball, and football.  Since I was in the television business for many years, a set or two was always on, whether someone was watching or not.  Morning news provided background noise if I wasn’t in position to monitor the stories and weather of importance.   Television screens surrounded me at the office, and when I’d get home, the news and game shows kept me entertained, as dinner was being prepared.  If we went out to eat, I usually tried to position myself near a T.V. screen.  Then, the “small screen” became a factor in filling my down time.  Television has always provided a sense of comfort, like a babbling brook in the quiet of the woods.  It is a friend, ready for my attention whenever I needed it.

Obviously, my viewing habits have changed with the extra time on my hands in retirement.  I would like to think that at least half of my time is now spent watching educational programming.  Documentaries such as the Ken Burns Vietnam War series give me a sense of history, when I’m not traveling.  I don’t necessarily watch travel documentaries, but find myself studying the areas where we have plans to visit in the future.  I’m not sure I want to make my bucket list any longer, but want to make sure that I make the most of where we do go. I’m surprised to discover a deep curiosity about war history, starting with our recent visit to Normandy, France.  Interestingly enough, it was not on my list of things to see in France, but turned out to be one of my favorite side-trips.

I’m not a proponent of war, but rather find it perplexing.  It’s a product of greed and ego, and unfortunately will always be a part of life.  I was fortunate to avoid the Vietnam war as a young man, having been raised in an upper middle class family that did not want me to serve.  My father and grandfathers felt that they had sacrificed enough for all of us, and urged me to “not even think of enlisting.”  I also had a student deferment and a high draft number, so I never really came close to being “called-up.”  Plus, as child, I was not fond of even toy guns or fist-fights, deferring to my tom-boy sister.  I did not like the idea of going back to the buzz-cut that was fashionable in grade school, and not fond of perceived military formality.  There was not a single incentive for me to join the ranks.  However, I’m more than aware that there were many others who fought that war against their will, but did not have the economic and educational privileges that I enjoyed.  I was a “Lucky Man!”  (See Post #267).

I do remember the draft lottery on July 1, 1970 and my number of 232.  I was with many of my close high school friends, as we took a break from a “friendly” football game and listened to the radio broadcast. (See Post #93).  I never got involved in the politics of the war, although a friend’s older brother was a Purdue campus officer for the S.D.S., so I was aware of the dissent.  We did not organize protests in high school or college, and vaguely remember the television news coverage.  I kept myself well insulated from the reality of the situation.  Some of my former high school classmates received draft letters, but they were mostly older kids.  There were some members of my graduating class that were killed in service, while several others were proudly accepted by the Naval Academy and West Point, but I never once expected to go to Vietnam.  I’m not sure I would travel there today, given the opportunity.  I also can’t remember a single conversation about the war, outside of the draft broadcast, with friends or family, and have never talked directly with anyone who served.

As I continue to watch the Ken Burns documentary, certainly the subject of my posts for the next week or so, I’m trying to grasp just how naive I was about the the Vietnam War.  It’s obvious that most Americans were kept in the dark about the “true story.”  I’m about to revisit the late 1960’s, the years when the war would have directly affected my life, but I’m sure I remained disengaged with the situation.  Sadly, I was not paying attention when I should have, because thousands of my contemporaries were dying while I was having a good time.  It’s embarrassing to admit such ignorance, but government misinformation did not encourage my attention.  I would like to think that we were the “good guys,” and were doing the right thing, but when it comes to war “we’re not the top species on the planet because we’re nice!”  There are no winners in war, only losers, and I’m seeing that reality throughout this impactful series. To be continued……

 

 

Old Sport Shorts: Trouble Brewing #266

September 19, 2017 / / 0 Comments

The Cubs escaped with an opening game 2-1 victory in Tampa Bay, just as the Brewers topped the Pirates in Pittsburgh and the Cardinals won in Cincinnati after needing an  extra inning.  A dirty dozen games to go for the Cubs, with nine on the road.  It won’t be easy, especially with only a 3.5 game lead on the Brewers and 6 on the Cardinals.  The Cardinals are always a worry, but the Brewers are my biggest concern.  The Cubs were five games behind them at the All Star break, despite a 5-3 head-to-head record.  However, the Brewers have rebounded with a 5-2 record against the second-half Cubs, but haven’t fared as well against other clubs.  The Magic Number is now 9, after an impressive 7-game winning streak, that will probably end this week given the level of competition.  To end the season with a 16-game winning streak, including 10 on the road would seal the Central Division crown.  However, realistically so would just winning or tying all four remaining battles.

The Cubs should win at least 90 games if they are playoff worthy, and have shown a strong finish considering they were 43-45 at the break.  A conservative projection of a 90-72 record would mean a record of 47-27 (.635) in the second half of the season.  At the same time, it would be disappointing if they dropped to .500 ball going into the playoffs, but considering the tough road schedule, and hopefully the opportunity to rest some players when the Reds come to town, mediocrity would get the job done.  The Cubs have owned St. Louis this year with an 11-4 record, but Milwaukee now has that 8-7 edge and a 3-game winning streak as we near the final 4-game series this weekend.  Winning that series in Milwaukee would settle the season score and give the Cubs playoff momentum.    The Cardinals and Reds wouldn’t really matter at that point!

Let’s hope this streak goes at least 11-straight.  The Cubbies won five straight in June, six consecutive in July, 5 more in August, and then went into September with 6 in a row.  The current September streak of 7 is the longest this year, but 11 would seal the deal.   In fact, with Cleveland stealing the Cubs 1935 record of 21 straight victories, it’s time for this team to put its stamp on history.  I think the Indians will definitely be waiting for a World Series rematch.

Old Sport Shorts: Black Sox #264

September 19, 2017 / / 0 Comments

I should feel good that the Cubs swept the Cardinals at Wrigley, exactly what they needed to do to start showing dominance in the Central.  It’s also what they should have done to the Brewers last weekend, instead the tables were turned.  All the Cubs really needed to do was win or tie all of their remaining series, but the Brew Crew was not to be denied  The Cubs are on a 6-game winning streak with 13 games left on the schedule, and about to go on a decisive ten-game road trip.  The road to the playoffs passes precariously through St. Louis and Milwaukee, and I’m on the edge of my seat.  The Brewers have two more games with the Pirates, 4 with the Cubs, 3 with the Reds, and 2 with the Cardinals, and remain 3 games out of the Division lead or two games out of the Wild Card.  The Cards may very well be out of contention after the trip to Wrigley and falling six games behind, but will play a major role in the playoff picture.  They finish the season with two games against the Brewers, but more importantly have an opportunity to seek revenge on the Cubs directly, with the four-game series at Busch.   Will they be a best friend or worst enemy?

I always worry about former Cub, Dexter Fowler, who always seems to come up big.  He hit a three-run homer to tie the final game of the series, when it looked like the Cardinals couldn’t score.  It was then former Cardinal, Jason Heyward, who put the Cubs back in front.   I did breathe a sigh of relief as Wade Davis , thinking he had given up a go-ahead home run to Fowler in the ninth, thankfully watched the ball become a routine fly to deep center.   It’s situations like this that show that the Cubs and closer Davis are vulnerable.  The only blown save he has this year was in the All-Star Game, as the Cubs sole player representative. (See Post #174).  The Cardinals, in general, make me nervous, especially Yadi Molina and Dexter Fowler.  The Cubs have four more games against them this year.

The Cubs are 11-5 in September, while the Brewers are 10-6, including a major set-back in Cincinnati with three losses to the last place Reds.  This was just before their sweep of the first place Cubs, that also cost them the services of starting pitcher, Jimmy Nelson.  The Central Division is mediocre, and yet the Cubs can’t take command.  This is what worries me about the Cub playoff chances.  They’re in Tampa Bay tonight for a Joe Madden homecoming, and can’t afford to look beyond these games to the upcoming showdown.  If they can go 6-4 on this road trip and don’t let down against the Reds, they should clinch the Division.  If they go 4-6, they may still have a shot at a Wild Card.  That depends on Colorado, and their remaining games against the Giants, Padres, Marlins, and Dodgers.  What they can’t afford is another road trip disaster, like the trip to California earlier this year.  (see Post #101).  Hopefully, they’ll leave their leisure suits behind.

Over the weekend, while I was enjoying the Cubs success against the Cards, I went to a baseball card show and was given a copy of the Chicago Daily News from September 28, 1920. That was 97 years ago, and the headline reads: “EIGHT OF WHITE SOX INDICTED.”  The paper came out just after a Sox victory over the Tigers, positioning them just a half-game behind the first place Indians, as they hit the road for St. Louis to play the Browns.  Charles A. Comiskey, owner of the team, suspended all eight players from organized baseball that day, and virtually eliminated any chance of winning the American League pennant.  Of the three remaining games, the Sox were able to win just one, while the Indians won 4 of 6, claiming the crown by a two-game spread, and eventually winning the World Series over the Brooklyn Robins.  I was aware of the 1919 “Black Sox Scandal” as part of the 1919 World Series that enabled the Cincinnati Reds to win it all, but I didn’t realize how the timing of these charges affected the 1920 White Sox team.  In effect, the gambling scandal really cost the White Sox TWO World Series Championships!

Eddie Chicotte told the jury he received $10,000 to “throw” the series and that “Shoeless” Joe Jackson got $5,000.  “It (the money) was placed under my pillow in the hotel the night before the first game of the series,” according to the article.  “Chick” Gandil, former first baseman for the Sox, reportedly acted as the chief go-between with the Rothstein gang.  Charles Risberg, Happy Felsch, Claude Williams, Buck Weaver, and Fred McMullin were the other suspended players.  The 1921 White Sox fell to 7th place in the American League standings, and it wouldn’t be until 2005 that they won another World Series.  Before the scandal, the Sox had beaten the Cubs in the 1906 Championship and beat the New York Giants in 1917 to claim the title.  Cicotte, Felsch, Gandil, Jackson, and Weaver all won rings for the Sox, but World War I cost them a chance to repeat, and the scandal effectively ended their careers.  This year’s White Sox will finish over 30 games out of first place in the AL Central, and perhaps with the worst record in baseball.

Chicago baseball is at two extremes this season, but has a history of misfortune.  I would hate to see the Cubs make headlines for a late season collapse. There’s still a chance for back-to back titles, but the Brewers and Cardinals are first to stand in the way.  On the actual 97th anniversary of the “Black Sox Scandal,” as the Cubs face the Cardinals for the final time this season, the fate of the 2017 Cubs will be much clearer.

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