North: A World Series digest of Cubs-a-palooza
Here's a Cubs-a-palooza edition of random thoughts.
• With the World Series tied at one game apiece and shifting to Wrigley Field for the next three games, I believe the Cubs will finally get it done. Cleveland, however, has been living the same dream as the Cubs, and they won't be easy to beat.
• I'm not worried about the Cubs possibly facing ace pitcher Corey Kluber in Game 3. He's good, but they will beat him just like they beat Clayton Kershaw and the Los Angeles Dodgers in his second game.
• Someone asked me how right-fielder Jason Heyward got an eight-year $184 million contract from the Cubs. I really don't know, but I am more troubled about his seven remaining years.
How will that affect what they are able to pay some of the young players in the future who are clearly underpaid right now? Guys like Kris Bryant making $652,000 or Kyle Hendricks at $500,000.
As long as they are winning, Heyward just has to grind it out until the end of the season.
• Kyle Schwarber, or as I like to call him the "Baby Bambino," is turning into a folk hero. After being out for six months with a knee injury, he returned to the postseason as a DH, reaching base 5 times in 9 at-bats. Now check this fact out: Schwarber has 12 RBI in postseason play while the great Boston Red Sox Ted Williams had only one!
• It's amazing what the Cubs owners are doing in Wrigleyville! You wouldn't even recognize the area if you haven't been down there in awhile. The Ricketts family is smart, and they aren't afraid to spend.
• Jim Thome was shown on Sports Center rooting for the Indians. I can't blame him - he was a stud for the Indians for over a decade, is a member of the team's Hall of Fame, and now works for the Chicago White Sox.
• I was downtown the other night for the first time in awhile with my good buddy Jonas Knox from Fox Sports Radio. It was good to see the city so alive and happy.
• My wife and I are so happy and proud of Jesse Rogers, who covers the Cubs for ESPN. Jesse was our producer for seven years when Dan Jiggetts and I worked at the Score. Jesse is as good as it gets.
When I talked to him the other day, I told him how thrilled we were for him. He did nine TV hits that day alone, and he's riding high with the Cubs. It couldn't happen to a nicer guy!
• A shout out to Mike Greenberg, another former Score guy, and Mike Golic. Their ESPN radio morning show is making an appearance at the Cubby Bear.
• And another shout out to Doug Glanville and Cassidy Hubbarth, Evanston's very own, all now working at ESPN.
Program notes: I will be co-hosting with Mancow Muller today and Tuesday from 6-9:30 a.m. on the Loop 97.9-FM.
• Follow Mike North on Twitter @north2north. His 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.