North: Don't count out the Chicago White Sox
Heading into the weekend, I have some creeping concerns about the Chicago White Sox after losing 5 of 6 games as of Thursday.
I wrote last week that 40 games do not a season make, and I thought it was way too soon to re-sign Robin Ventura even though a few publications thought otherwise and felt he should be a new deal immediately.
Sorry, that's just silly!
I still say if the Sox are above .500 or get into the playoffs, then by all means he should get a new contract.
The recent losses by the White Sox are to be expected, but this team is in decent shape and a slump was due after a great streak and a hot start.
It was unnecessary for Ventura to say the Sox may not have a winning streak like that again. I disagree. And why even say it? They did it once, so maybe they can do it again.
I think the losing is just temporary, and the general manager and architect of this club, Rick Hahn, says some changes should be coming so he's seems to be on top of the situation. His announcement to the media and the fans makes me think they believe this team has real possibilities.
Stay tuned!
Some stats don't matter:
The stat I really don't care about for the Cubs is the run differential. They are winning by a large margin and are on pace to be either No. 1 in this category or in the Top 10 in MLB history.
So what! I don't care and the players shouldn't either. It helps in the narrative, but there are no extra points or any advantage to the stat. Just win baby!
Cleveland woes:
I watched "Believeland," ESPN's 30 for 30 documentary about the city of Cleveland called and how the city's lack of success in sports affected it as a whole, especially economically.
From the way city government was run, to the businesses, to the lack of the feel-good spirit a city experiences after one of its teams wins a championship, Cleveland suffered.
Chicago was the same way for a long time. Thankfully the Bears won a championship in 1963 and the Loyola Ramblers won the NCAA title, making the city proud, but then we went dry for a long time. The 1985 Super Bowl XX championship Bears brought pride back to our town, and helped make it a great year for Chicago businesses.
My wife and I owned our hot dog stand at the time and I can tell you that winning the Super Bowl made that winter our all-time best in sales. Oh and I have to give a tip of the cap to our city leaders, Richard J. Daley, Michael Bilandic, Jane Byrne, Harold Washington, Eugene Sawyer and Richard M. Daley, who kept our city vital and thriving through even the dry years.
Of course, I have to mention Michael Jordan, who had a little something to do with Chicago's popularity and growth.
Politics and sports sometimes do mix.
Program notes:
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