Cellar-dwelling baseball teams unacceptable
Both of our Chicago baseball teams are in last place, and that’s just unacceptable.
The White Sox are last in almost every offensive category, and outside of lone all-star pitcher Chris Sale, it looks like it could be another 88 years before any champagne is served in the clubhouse. Manager Robin Ventura, who turned down a two-year extension earlier this year, stomped his foot in the clubhouse the other day. I can’t blame him, but calling club house meetings in early May isn’t a good sign for this team.
Sox fans must face the facts — the White Sox do not have the talent to contend in the AL Central. It looks like it might be the Cleveland Indians who battle the Detroit Tigers much like the White Sox did last year. Sox attendance has decreased every year for the last six seasons and the combination of bad weather and bad baseball has made U.S. Cellular Field a no-buzz zone.
Across town, at Wrigley Field, the Cubs have seen a drop in attendance the last four seasons, and a fifth straight drop is possible. While they also don’t have the talent to contend in the NL Central, they are showing some signs of slight improvement, and they just signed first baseman Anthony Rizzo to a 7-year contract reportedly worth $41 million.
I hope I’m wrong but with both teams in the cellar, but a long season looms ahead without a lot of promise. Once the Chicago Bulls and Chicago Blackhawk seasons end, it looks like Chicago baseball fans will just have to sit tight and endure last place until the Chicago Bear season starts in July with training camp.
Sergio goes Tin CupI have often thought the phrase #147;love makes the world go #146;round#148; rings true on occasion. That said, while I don#146;t know how much professional skier Lindsey Vonn has meant to the winning ways of Tiger Woods, having a girlfriend seems to have made a difference in his life. Tiger has gone full circle #151; he is happy, playing confidently and winning. Sergio Garcia was tied for the lead at 17 at The Players Championship on Sunday when he went #147;Tin Cup#148; and landed in the water and then more water. Tiger won $1.7 million while Sergio, who had a chance to win, finished ninth to earn $237,000. It#146;s still a nice paycheck, but it#146;s $1.5 million less than what he could have won. I think Garcia will have a hard time overcoming that collapse.Program note:Watch me on #147;Mancow#148; on WPWR Ch. 50 at 6 a.m. Wednesday, Friday and Monday.Ÿ Mike North#146;s column appears each Tuesday and Friday in the Daily Herald, and his video commentary can be found Monday, Wednesday and Thursday at dailyherald.com. For more, visit northtonorth.com.