As I envisaged, just like summer, the real White Sox have begun making their presence known. After earning bragging rights in this year’s Crosstown Classic and taking the overall lead in the series, the South Side Hitmen are on a roll. Sure they dropped the first game in their own park, but the men in black stormed back in the last two games, ripping open several cans of corn on the North Siders. The Sox completely shut down the Cubs laughable offense in the final match, blanking them six to zip. Ozzie and his crew have won eight of their last 10 outings and are clawing their way back to the top of the AL Central standings. Having just swept Cleveland, the Sox are playing inspired baseball and seem poised to make another run at post-season play. As for the Cubs, all I can say is there’s trouble in paradise.
They’ve got an overpriced, underachieving hothead of a player (Milton “Boo Boo” Bradley) that can’t stay healthy or get along with his manager and teammates. A catcher that likes to “stir it up” (Geovany Soto) and a pitcher (Carlos Zambrano) that can’t decide if he wants to act like a baby or play like a baller. Actually, that sums up their entire team. The Cubs aren’t playing well because they believed the hype. Where’s Chuck D and Flava Flav when you need ‘em? The whole organization has bought into the notion that they are America’s team and can do no wrong. In addition, they thought this season was going to be a cake walk back to the play-offs. I’ve got news for you in Cubdome, your chef is looking more like a short order cook, the batter(s) is spoiled and nothing is cooking ‘cause the fire is gone. While the Sox are on the rise, the Cubs are falling flat just like unleavened bread.
With less than two weeks until the All-Star break, Chicago has two teams that seem to be headed in different directions. There’s still a whole lot of baseball left to play, and it’s anyone’s guess where these clubs will wind up down the stretch. Will Sox GM Kenny Williams finally pull the trigger on a deal to trade Jermaine Dye? Will Lou Piniella finally right his sinking ship? Will Bradley get a clue and start earning his keep? Somehow I think that’ll be a Trivial Pursuit, and he’ll let his Aggravation get the best of him winding up in another hapless Boggle. As for Zambrano and Soto, Hollywood seems to be stuck on rehashing old movies. I think they have a future as the new Cheech and Chong. They’ve got nothing to lose; the season is going up in smoke anyway.
By the way, how was that goat?
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In photo: Chicago White Sox's Jermaine Dye singles off Cleveland Indians starting pitcher Cliff Lee to drive in a run in the fourth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, June 30, 2009, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Mark Duncan)
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