Happy Returns for Derrick Rose, Ex-Sox Buehrle

August 17, 2014 @ admin → No Comments

Sunday smorgasbord: Derrick Rose played a basketball game Saturday night at the United Center. Which will come as good news to Chicago Bulls fans. Even better, he did not require surgery after the contest in which he played for Team USA in an exhibition victory against Brazil.

Video below of Xenia Deli for some Sunday perusal. Or any day,

* Toronto Blue Jays left-hander Mark Buehrle made his first start as a visitor against his former team, the White Sox, and received a standing ovation from the U.S. Cellular Field crowd as he took the mound while his Jays teammates waited to take the field. Nice gestures all around. For Sox fans, there was some consolation that Buehrle didn’t beat the Sox. Then again, the Sox didn’t beat the Blue Jays. Buehrle had a no-decision, departing after 5 1/3 innings and yielding all the Sox runs in a 5-3 Toronto victory.

* On the bright side for the Sox, outfielder Avisail Garcia returned to the lineup for the first time since an April injury that required shoulder surgery. He went 2-for-4 and batted fourth, one spot behind Jose Abreu, who also went 2-for-4. If it’s any consolation to Sox fans (and the guess here is that it is not), the Sox will not be in last place in the American League Central regardless of the outcome of Sunday’s games.

* Pitcher Dan Straily made his Chicago Cubs debut and allowed all the New York Mets’ runs in a 7-3 Cubs loss. Well, only five of them were earned, if that helps (guessing it doesn’t, except for his earned-run average). He did draw a walk in two plate appearances. Meaning he has more than second baseman Javier Baez, who went 1-for-4 with one strikeout. Baez has none in 53 at-bats. Baez has struck out 20 times (38 percent of the time).

* Speaking of Cubs strikeouts, Junior Lake — the team leader with 102 — was sent down to the minors. Meaning first baseman Anthony Rizzo – who leads the Cubs in home runs, runs batted in, on-base percentage and runs scored — also could end up leading in strikeouts (he has 98). Well, unless Lake comes back up and sees significant playing time. Maybe in September for the stretch run? Yeah, that would be a stretch.

* Speaking of the Cubs, prospect Kris Bryant was removed from the Class AAA Iowa Cubs lineup Saturday. Not because the slugging third baseman is on his way to join the big-league team. Because of an injury he apparently suffered recently when he fouled a ball off his foot. Meaning the Cubs can continue with their plan to keep him in the minors this season and at least have an excuse. Or a partial excuse.

* Speaking of iconic figures (Bryant just might qualify already with some Cubs fans),Elvis Presley and Babe Ruth both died on Aug. 16. Presley in 1977, Ruth in 1948. Two of the most iconic figures of the 20th century — and beyond. In case anyone wants to reflect on mortality. And on that happy note … enjoy your day. And every day. As best you can, knowing some days will be better than others. And there always is a tomorrow.

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