Category: Uncategorized
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Dialing back the love
Based on the Cubs incredible spring training performance, I’ve already predicted they’ll go a record 133-29 and to listen to the local media, I’ve got a lot of support. While I haven’t taken a break from obsessing over the upcoming season, I’m not buying the need for MLB to begin the season on March 18…
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What’s the difference between a floor and a ceiling?
For the most part Chicago sports fans don’t talk that much about the NHL draft, however if they did, I expect they’d use the terminology of the other three major sports. And no matter what particular measurables the experts use to gauge a player’s likelihood of professional success, it’s still pretty subjective. Notice how I’ve…
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Who’s on third?
Bud and Lou are rolling over in their graves as Craig Counsell and the Cubs brass try and figure who is going to open the domestic season at third base for the Cubs. I already hate the new term, domestic opener with a passion. The Cubs are using the two-game series in Japan with the…
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Adele and the White Sox
The biggest news in Chicago sports was not the Bulls beating the 76ers recently, but rather that the Sox might have a new majority owner in coming decades. Justin Ishbia is no longer pursuing owning the Twins. Instead he and his brother, Mat are buying up some of the minority shares in the White Sox.…
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Kid Cudi in 2025
It’s clear that the NBA seems to be suffering a midlife crisis as even their strongest media advocates are praising the NHL’s recent 4 Nations Face-Off which was the perfect riff on the All Star Game weekend. I didn’t realize that it was a replacement, but rather a midseason international showcase of the league’s top…
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Hope springs eternal, sort of
Later today the Cubs and Dodgers will face off in the first of two Cactus League games before starting the regular season (way too early) in Japan. I’m not going to Arizona this spring for several reasons, but that doesn’t mean I’m not excited about ST. It’s too late to predict the first ST casualty…
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It’s only money
Baseball fans are like kids without jobs, they’re great at spending other people’s money. We also pretend that owners can just throw crazy amounts of money at free agents (even their own) and it won’t impact things down the road. Would the Cincinnati Reds have been any worse off if they hadn’t signed Joey Votto…
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Art v science
There’s a prevailing school of thought that players’ effectiveness can be judged solely by the numbers or rather analytics. In today’s game, when players appear to be declining, experts immediately point to the drop in velocity or spin rate (for pitchers) and hard-hit balls for hitters. I’ll agree they are important in some cases, but…
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The Iron man streak
In the last three minutes I’ve read two different stories about predicted busts for the upcoming baseball season. I know editors ask a lot of writers especially as readership is down and not just for print publications. Ergo, writers write for clicks. Maybe it’s just the law of averages, but picking Teoscar Herdnandez of the…
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George Orwell is rolling over in Moe Drabowsky’s grave
I admit to paying way too much time on the transaction page and the goings on in MLB. Not that it’s led to any features lately, but keeping an eye on what guys are taking new jobs with other teams may lead to something in the future. The other day, I noted someone in the…
I'd rather be sitting in a ballpark. 