8 days since talking about baseball… that’s a record. We’ve hit the Bears, a hate file, my first list, and some fantasy football since then. Let’s catch up with the baseball teams in town.
What did we miss? More of the same from both sides of town. The only difference? One team is finally showing signs of coming out of the mess that is Chicago baseball.
8 days ago I was talking Baez. Since then he’s had some big hits, hit his first Wrigley home run, and struck out more times than I can remember. What did you expect? 3 HRs per series? He’s been exactly what the Cubs needed, and that’s a fresh breath of hope. He’s the first sign that the Cubs are on the way to better things. Funny, since he’s actually the LAST pick of the Hendry era. It got a little silly when I was reading things about each of his at bats… the one that stands out was about him showing promise in a 10 pitch at bat, or something like that. He’s going to be fine. In fact, he’s going to be great. It will take time, and that’s why he should have been brought up sooner than later. The fact that he is here, and will take some of those lumps this year, is a great thing. You know, he’s not the only one that’s been showing signs.
How about Kyle Hendricks? Remember where we acquired this prospect? In the Ryan Dempster move to Texas. How’s he been so far? 5 straight quality starts to start his career. The last Cubs pitcher to do that? Randy Wells… OK, bad example. He’s been surprisingly good with his array of pitches, and less than impressive heat. He could hold down a starting spot come next year, the year the Cubs are much better. That Wada kid hasn’t been too bad either, but the Cubs haven’t stopped trying to bolster their pitching. Let’s not forget about Dan Straily who was part of the Samardzija deal; he’s shown signs, is only 25 years old, and is starting this Saturday. Or what about Felix Doubront? Another guy who had flashes, and is still very young. Oh wait, there’s Jacob Turner too. Another young highly touted prospect that we acquired at his very lowest value point. There was the news of once highly touted prospect Brett Jackson being moved today, which reminds us how these prospects don’t always pan out. What did we get for him? More pitching. Oh yeah, and by the way, guess who’s reportedly on the short list for a Jon Lester landing spot come the offseason. Yeah, everything points to the pitching staff being much improved next year; now as long as we are truly done dumping midseason…
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What about those Sox? They’re treading water. Sale continues to pitch great, while the bullpen continues to fail him. Abreu continues to coast to a Rookie of the Year award, while having one of the best seasons EVER for a rookie. That’s the good news. Then we got the worst bullpen in baseball giving up runs at a record pace; heck, even Adam Dunn is being put on the mound. They should try and get every penny out of that bum. What about Adam Eaton running into walls, and Ventura getting tossed? That’s the extent of the excitement for the Sox. While the Cubs are bad, again, this year, the Sox are mediocre. I’ve feel like I said that before… While the Cubs are shifting gears, finally, the Sox appear to be locked in with no sign of improvement. Yeah, they got Rodon… and that’s it. Brings me back to that question of who will win the World Series next…
I could write about baseball every day, even when the teams are bad. It is truly a grind, the major league baseball season. 162 games seems even longer when the teams are not good. Regardless, I love baseball, and the best part of the season is yet to come. Watching MLB network during the pennant races is one of my favorite things to do. I look forward to how much better that will be once the Cubs are back in that race.
So as the Bears win another preseason game, which means absolutely nothing, the baseball season heads for the homestretch. My excitement for the NFL & Bears season to start doesn’t make me forget about baseball, even if we may want to forget about this year. I see the back to back HR’s of Baez-Castro, and Baez-Rizzo, and like the sound of that. I see the moves the Cubs continue to make, and think that maybe believing in this plan all along will pay off… soon. It’s got to be frustrating for the Sox fans to see them remain status quo. I would have thought they could have moved some of their guys like Alexei and Beckham to get younger, and pump up that farm system, which they can count on in the next few years. With the last quarter of the season to go, I expect to see Soler playing in Wrigley, and look forward to some more minor moves. Meanwhile, the Sox have to be wishing they took advantage of this 3 year rebuilding plan for the Cubs and fielded a winning team for Chicago. It’s too late now. The Cubs are coming, and I’m ready.
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