With both teams in first, dislike only grows

As the Out Of This World Series wound down last week, it was heartwarming to hear White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf plead for city peace among baseball fans, especially now with two first-place clubs.

And while politically brilliant, it was also difficult to believe he genuinely thought it possible.

For as long as I can remember, which is, admittedly, like, I don't know, a week, the hatred between Cubs and White Sox fans has been largely one-sided.

An overwhelming majority of White Sox fans have despised the Cubs and, even more so, their fans and ballpark.

The flip side is Cubs fans have generally showed little regard for the Sox either way, though back in the day Cubs fans did enjoy occasionally ripping Comiskey Park as a broken-down beer garden.

As a former vendor, I can not only attest to its truth but also offer fond memories.

In any case, the facade's on the other foot now.

But that disinterest, the utter lack of respect, did nothing to endear Cubs fans to Sox fans.

Now, Wrigley Field has become the Tavern on the Green, a bit of concrete has hit the ramps and, well - this would be the big one - the White Sox won that World Series thing.

Since then, and I could be wrong about this, I sense Cubs fans seem more aware of things said about the Cubs, their fans and the park by the White Sox, especially by Sox management.

No, they still have no interest in the club. Sox fans are well versed in all things Cubs, specifically, the things that may go wrong, but if, on Opening Day, you had asked a Cubs fan, he or she probably wouldn't have known Gavin Floyd from Floyd the Barber.

What's marginally different is words muttered by Sox officials in the pre-2005 days would have drawn nary a response, but today the scab gets nicked.

It might have something to do with that parade, and beating the Cubs to the punch.

Either way, don't mistake me because this remains a hugely one-sided hate affair.

You just wonder, with both teams seemingly headed for the postseason, isn't it time old feuds were buried and we all just got along?

Or as they both head into October, will the stakes be raised, the noise grow louder, and the rhetoric more intense?

Think we already know the answer to that.

Might want to cover the kids' ears.

Seam stress

Octavio Dotel has been a successful closer a couple times in his career, so you have no concerns about his mental ability to handle the role until Bobby Jenks returns to the White Sox' bullpen.

But you have to wonder about Scott Linebrink, who was in the perfect role for him as a late-inning setup man, and taken out of that spot he has a tendency to struggle.

What you hope now is that his recent troubles don't have any long-term effect on his confidence, or the Sox' season.

Money matters

E-mailer Sanjay H., my favorite GM not working in baseball today, has been trying for months to get out from under Jason Marquis' $9 million salary for 2009, and with the Dodgers desperate for a shortstop, he now proposes sending Marquis with Ronny Cedeno and Michael Wuertz to L.A., for a prospect and backup shortstop Angel Berroa, whose contract expires this year.

This frees up some cash to sign key free agents like Ryan Dempster and Kerry Wood.

As it stands now, the Cubs - with so many backloaded contracts - are looking at a payroll of about $150 million in 2009.

Flipping

After the Reds' Adam Dunn hit one across Sheffield Avenue on Thursday, Cubs broadcaster Bob Brenly deadpanned, "Windblown.''

He then added, "It's not unusual for an outfielder to stand and watch a home run. It's rare to see the fans in the bleachers just stand and stare up at the ball. But that's the first time I've seen the fans on the rooftops across the street get in position to make a play.''

Short stops

Ozzie Guillen on comparisons to Shawon Dunston when the two were opposing shortstops in Chicago: "Shawon was a really great athlete who could do anything on the baseball field. He could throw 100 mph, run fast, hit home runs, everything. Man, I was just trying to survive.''

Best memory

ESPN.com's Bill Simmons: "For sports fans, winning a title after a prolonged wait is like falling for that first girlfriend. Win it in an especially memorable way, and that girlfriend is also the best girl you're ever going to meet."

Best headline

Sportspickle.com: "Three hours of baseball stomached for 10 minutes of fireworks.''

Best idea

Bob Ford of the Philadelphia Inquirer, on the All-Star Game at Yankee Stadium: "If they can get Madonna to sing the national anthem with Lenny Kravitz doing the backup vocals, that would just about make it perfect."

And finally -

NBC's Conan O'Brien: "O.J. Simpson turned 61 years old and had a party with all his friends. There were no survivors.''

brozner@dailyherald.com