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Thursday thoughts: The Chicago White Sox failed in their effort to sweep a three-game series against the division-leading Detroit Tigers. The Sox lost 6-4 Wednesday at U.S. Cellular Field after taking the first two games against the Tigers. Meaning the Sox, who led 3-0, missed a perfect chance to cut their American League Central Division deficit to a mere 22 games. Instead they are 24 back of the Tigers and go on the road to play Minnesota (reminder: at 18-41, the Sox have the fewest road victories in the big leagues).
Chicago Sky rookie standout Elena Delle Donne will be on “Sports & Torts” Thursday. Credit: Homeland Sports LLC / Rick Welton
* Speaking of winning on the road, the Cubs welcome the St. Louis Cardinals to Wrigley Field. The former National League Central leaders are 33-28 on the road with only the Los Angeles Dodgers (33-25) having a better NL road record.
* Speaking of the Cardinals, with their 5-1 loss to the division-leading Pirates, Pittsburgh improved to 71-48. Meaning for the Pirates to post their first winning record since 1992, they need to go 11-32 to finish out the season.
* Alfonso Soriano, whom the Cubs traded recently to the New York Yankees, had seven runs batted in Wednesday. He has 13 RBI in his last two contests. “He’s got a good month these last two games,” Los Angeles Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. Actually longer. Soriano needed 144 at-bats with the Cubs to reach 13 RBI — on May 14.
* Forbes magazine ranks the Chicago Bears No. 8 in franchise value ($1.25 billion). Dallas is No. 1 at $2.3 billion. Next are New England ($1.88), Washington ($1.78). New York Giants ($1.78), Houston ($1.45), New York Jets ($1.38) and Philadelphia ($1.31). If the Bears would bring back the Honey Bears (the cheerleading/dance squad that the Bears eliminated after their Super Bowl-winning 1985 season), betcha that would get them in the top five.
* Speaking of the Bears, they have an exhibition game Thursday against the San Diego Chargers. The Bears say they will enforce a new ban on bags at Soldier Field. If they could only avoid sacks on the field so simply.
* Speaking of football, the Chicago Bliss is scheduled to face the Los Angeles Temptation on Saturday at the Sears Centre in Hoffman Estates, Ill., at 9 p.m. as the second game of a Legends Football League (formerly Lingerie Football League) divisional playoff doubleheader. The opening game between the Atlanta Steam and Philadelphia Passion is to start at 7 p.m.
A friendly reminder that if today is Thursday (which certainly seems likely in that yesterday was Wednesday — provided that you are reading this Aug. 15 or a subsequent Thursday), then it it time for another edition of “Sports & Torts” with co-hosts David Spada and Elliott Harris at noon Central time on Talkzone.com. The guests for the Aug. 15 program are Chicago Sky rookie Elena Delle Donne (who recently stopped by the studio for a discussion about life — basketball and otherwise) and basketball great Oscar Robertson.
Speaking of Delle Donne, the WNBA’s leading candidate for rookie of the year is expected to be out about two weeks after suffering a sprained left foot against the Los Angeles Sparks on Tuesday in L.A.
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