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Monday meanderings: Chicago Cubs closer Kevin Gregg blew a save Sunday (July 7). New York Yankees closer Mariano Rivera blew a save Sunday. The Cubs defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates 4-3 in 11 innings at Wrigley Field. The Yankees lost 2-1 t0 the Baltimore Orioles on a two-run homer off Rivera in the ninth inning at Yankee Stadium. All of which clearly points to Gregg being the better closer because his team won. Right? OK, maybe not.
Guessing Monica Wright won’t be walking down the aisle in this outfit.
* The Cubs and White Sox meet Monday in a makeup game rescheduled from a May 28 rainout at U.S. Cellular Field. Matt Garza (4-1, 3.45 earned-run average) is the scheduled starter for the Cubs. The Sox are 29th of 30 big-league teams in runs scored with 312 (in 85 games). If the mathematical-calculation department around here is correct, that means the Sox are averaging 3.7 runs per game. Meaning Garza would seem in perfect position for an outstanding outing, one that could get him out of Chicago via trade. Which, of course, means the Sox will rock him and the Cubs either will not deal him or receive diminished compensation for him.
* Speaking of dealing away Cubs players, Scott Hairston reportedly is headed to the Washington Nationals. He was hitting (and we’re using the word loosely here) .172 (17-for-99). Meaning Garza has a better batting average (.180, 3-for-16). Meaning the Cubs won’t miss Hairston or his salary for this season and next. In return, the Cubs will receive a “prospect.” Maybe one of these days or deals, the Cubs actually will receive a proven player rather than another case of hopes and dreams.
* Still speaking of trades, Omer Asik — the former Chicago Bulls backup center — wants to be dealt because the Houston Rockets signed free-agent center Dwight Howard, who figures to take the starting job from Asik. The Rockets say they have no intention of trading Asik. Someone needs to remind Asik his salary is not based on minutes played.
* Speaking of star-level talent (and Asik does not fall into that category), Elena Delle Donne had a game-high 20 points in the Chicago Sky’s 93-64 road victory against the New York Liberty. The rookie from the University of Delaware said, “It was comforting to come here and look up in the stands and see so many familiar faces. So many Blue Hen fans. it really was an awesome homecoming. D.C. is going to be interesting because I was shocked at the showing here in New York. I can only imagine what it’s going to be like in D.C [against the Washington Mystics on July 24].”
* Speaking of the WNBA, Minnesota Lynx guard Monica Wright came off the bench to score 17 points in a 91-59 victory vs. the visiting Phoenix Mercury. And that wasn’t her biggest news of the night. After the game, she confirmed she is engaged to Oklahoma City Thunder star Kevin Durant. Apparently neither one has to worry about marrying on the rebound.
* It’s early, but White Sox catcher Josh Phegley, who hit a home run in Sunday’s 3-1 loss at Tampa Bay, is the latest candidate to be difficult to walk. In seven big-league plate appearances, he is average 1.38 pitches per at-bat. That includes seeing eight pitches total in four at-bats Sunday,
For those who might have missed this video posted the other day with Elena Delle Donne and/or who might be interested in viewing, here is a brief interview with the popular rookie after practice Friday (meaning two days before Sunday):
Here is where we go for a daily dose of non-gratuitous video (thanks to the endless efforts of the editorial and video departments at elliottharris.com and their broad definition of “gratuitous”):
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