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The Chicago White Sox traded left-handed reliever Matt Thornton to the Boston Red Sox on Friday (July 12). Meaning general manager Rick Hahn is looking to unload some contracts veteran players. So the competition between the White Sox and Cubs comes down to which team can pare the most salary and gain the most prospects as they play “Let’s Make a Deal.”
There always is room for a photo of longtime favorite Anna Kournikova.
* Speaking of prospects, the Cubs signed third baseman Kris Bryant, who worked out at Wrigley Field before the Cubs lost 3-2 to the St. Louis Cardinals. Cubs fans are hoping Bryant can be the power-hitting third baseman the team has been look for for decades. The skeptics in the audience think that rather than becoming another Ron Santo, Bryant could be another Kevin Orie.
* The great thing about being Cubs shortstop Starlin Castro (who homered Friday) or first baseman Anthony Rizzo (who drove in all the team’s runs in a 3-0 victory Thursday) is they can go 1-for-4 and still raise their batting average. OK, so maybe that’s not so great.
* Speaking of some baseball numbers, Sox catcher Josh Phegley has eight runs batted in in 20 at-bats (OK, with four coming on one swing). Catcher Tyler Flowers has 22 in 213 at-bats. Second baseman Gordon Beckham has 12 in 149 at-bats. Yes, looking at a spread sheet of Sox hitting numbers can be depressing — unless perhaps you are an opposing pitcher.
* Even the mathematically challenged (and that groupwould include your humble correspondent) should be able to figure out that Elena Delle Donne of the Chicago Sky will be playing in the WNBA all-star game. The rookie from the University of Delaware had 23 points (including 9-of-9 free throws) in an 83-70 victory Friday against the Connecticut Sun in Uncasville, Conn. She is averaging 19.1 points per game, good for third in the league. She also has made 95 percent of her 85 free-throw attempts. The statistical analysis department at elliottharris.com believes that means she has made 81 free throws.
* Speaking of the Sky, forward Swin Cash was 7-of-10 from the field in scoring a season-high 19 points against the Sun. Must be something about being in Connecticut (Cash starred on UConn teams that won the NCAA two national championships. The all-star game will be in Connecticut. One of two players to be a two-time all-star MVP (Lisa Leslie was the other), Cash
mights need some ballot-stuffing (not that Chicago voters are fsmilist with that concept) to be chosen for the game,
Here we go for our daily dose of non-gratuitous video:
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