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In case you were wondering about the state of baseball in the city of Chicago, it goes something like this: The opposing closers in the White Sox and Cubs games Sunday (July 14) suffered blown saves, and the Sox and Cubs still lost. Closer Edward Mujica received the victory for the Cards, while closer Jonathan Papelbon merely received boos from the fans in Philadelphia after his ninth-inning performance.
Waiting till year? How about 2015 with April Rose as a model of inspiration.
* In case you were wondering why the Cardinals have the best record in baseball (57-36) and why the Cubs (42-51) are in fourth place in the National League Central, consider this: In their game at Wrigley Field, the Cubs had 11 hits. The Cards had 10 hits — with two out. And a season-high 21 for the game that ended as a 10-6 St. Lous victory.
* Some media outlet needs to contact a physics expert to let folks know that Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo cutting off a throw from the outfield did not allow a run to score that would not have if he had let the ball go through. That said, it sure looked bad on television and probably worse in person.
* Speaking of looking bad in the field, Cubs shortstop Starlin Castro playing a Pete Kozma grounder into a hit sure looked familiar. Amd just when some observers were beginning to get excited about his improved effort recently.
* Cubs right-hander Matt Garza either has or has not been informed he will be traded. He told media after Sunday’s game he has not been informed by the team or his agent that he has not been informed — contrary to a media report that some other medi cited. Meaning he either will or will not be traded. Glad that we now have all that clarified.
* Speaking of potntial trade candidates, Cubs reliever Kevin Gregg didn’t do much to maintain his value when he gave up four ninth-inning runs Sunday. His perfrmance reminded some Cubs fans of his first tour — highly unremarkable — with the Cubs. If Cubs general manager Jed Hoyer is lucky, other GMs won’t recall the ineffective Gregg.
* On a night when he allowed 10 hits and three runs, Cubs starter Travis Wood came within one out of another “quality start.” Maybe they need to qualify the degree of quality so there’s a more accurate description.
* If any team deserves an All-Star break, it’s the fairly starless White Sox, who toiled into extra innings for the third conscutive game.
* X-rays on Sox catcher Josh Pheley’s throwing hand — actually the index finger hit by a foul ball Sunday — were characterized as negative. But nowhere near as negative as some fans’ feelings about the team’s performance heading into the All-Star break. Then again, it’s tough to be positive with a 37-55.
* If it’s any conslation to Sox fans (and the guess here is that it is not), the team leads all big-league teams in one category: road games played. It just might help if they had a record better than 18-34 away from U.S. Cellula Field.
* And again if it’s any consolation to Sox fans (and again the guess here is that it is not), the Sox are closer to first place in their division (a mere 14 games behind American League Central-leading Detroit) than the Cubs are in their division (15.5 behind St. Louis).
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