Latest News
Midweek musings: Well, Jake Peavy will be pitching the rest of the season (provided that he is physically able to do so) for the Sox. It simply will be the Red Sox in Boston rather than his previous employer, the White Sox in Chicago. A three-team deal that included the Detroit Tigers appears to make the Red Sox stronger as it heads to the postseason, provides the Tigers with a shortstop (insurance if/when Jhonny Peralta is suspended for performance-enhancing drug use) as they head to the postseason and provides the White Sox with … uh, a reduced payroll.
A photo of Playboy Playmate Val Keil or one of a baseball player? Gee, tough call.
* It would be unfair to characterize the White Sox trade of Peavy as merely a cost-saving maneuver. They did receive some players in return. One or more might even turn out to be good. And if they are, they will have a chance to earn some serious money (though probably not close to what Peavy was making and certainly not for several years). The focus for the White Sox is on the future. Mainly so people can focus on something other than the present.
* Speaking of the Sox and the present (and the very recent past), they lost Tuesday in Cleveland 7-4, when the Indians scored four eighth-inning runs to overcome a 4-3 deficit. The Sox (40-64) are 24 games under .500 for the first time since Sept. 29, 1989. If it’s any consolation to White Sox fans (and the guess here is that it is not), their team has a better home record (22-28) than the Cubs’ (22-29).
* Speaking of losing, the Cubs did it twice Tuesday to the Milwaukee Brewers with Game 2 of the day/night doubleheader a 3-2 decision with Kevin Gregg giving up two ninth-inning runs. He was one strike away from recording a save. Instead his trade value diminishes slightly. His value will remain diminished unless something miraculous occurs (no, not actually recording a save by tossing a perfect inning) — like being able to throw left-handed.
* Speaking of throwing left-handed, Cubs reliever James Russell was in the middle of the Brewt ers’ four-run seventh-inning rally in Game 1 that led to a 6-5 Milwaukee victory. His trade value remains pretty much the same because he does throw left-handed. And generally effectively.
* Speaking of the Cubs, outfielder Junior Lake’s Hall of Fame status took a hit by going 1-for-10 in the doubleheader with five strikeouts. For those still excited to have a .300 hitter in the lineup (Lake’s average is .316), check out the Cubs batting stats and see how similar his numbers are to those of pitcher Travis Wood.
* Speaking of Hall of Famers, the National Sports Collectors Convention will feature many folks who are in that category. Mike Ditka, Pete Rose, Mia Hamm and Sugar Ray Leonard are a few of the big names scheduled to be signing autographs.
The event is to be held July 31-Aug. 4 at the Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Ill. For a comprehensive view of the the festivities, click here.
If today is Wednesday (and the odds seem to make that highly likely in that yesterday was Tuesday — provided that it is July 31, 2013, or a subsequent Wednesday), then we are fast approaching another edition of “Sports & Torts” with co-hosts David Spada and Elliott Harris on Thursday at noon Central time on Talkzone.com.
If things go according to plan (and they occasionally do around here and on “Sports & Torts”), the guests for the Aug. 1 show will be Playboy Playmate (Miss August) Val Keil and Pro Football Hall of Famer Paul Warfield, who starred for the Cleveland Browns and Miami Dolphins.
Here is where we go for a daily dose of non-gratuitous video (thanks to the enterprising efforts of the editorial and video departments at elliottharris.com and their reluctance to classify much — if anything — as “gratuitous”):
Advertising opportunties are available on ElliottHarris.com. For information and rates, contact sales@elliottharris.com.