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Monday meanderings: The Chicago White Sox have a magic number of 10 to clinch the American League Central title. For those who don’t completely understand what that means, it goes something like this: Any combination of Sox victories and Detroit Tigers losses adding up to 10 gives the Sox the AL Central crown. Or it could be any combination of Hawk Harrelson muttering “Dadgummit!” or complaining about umpiring calls that go against the Sox (is there any other type?).
Lorrie Insisiengmay was the emcee at the Midwest Championships (video below), although not in this attire.
* If the Tigers can’t do better than lose a doubleheader at home to the Minnesota Twins, Detroit doesn’t deserve to be in the postseason.
* If the Sox can’t do better than they fared the last five games of their road trip (all losses), they don’t deserve to be in the postseason. If the Sox go 5-5 in their last 10 games, the Tigers need to go 6-4 to tie for the AL Central.
* Some people are wondering if the White Sox have anything left in the tank. Some of us are wondering if they still have a tank or how to locate one.
* Whatever level of discomfort Sox fans might have with a one-game lead with 10 to go, it would pale in comparison to what things would be like if the Sox lose to Cleveland Monday at U.S. Cellular Field and the Tigers prevail against visiting Kansas City.
* Chicago Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo struck out once in Sunday’s 6-3 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals at Wrigley Field. That gives him 54 in 307 at-bats. The same number of strikeouts that rookie outfielder Brett Jackson has in 107.
* In case Cubs fans haven’t noticed, there’s a lack of home-run power (not to mention a lack of victories) for the 2012 team. Bryan LaHair has 15 (in 327 at-bats), second-most on the team to Alfonso Soriano’s 31. Rizzo has 14. Combine that with players who don’t have great on-base percentages, and that’s a pretty good recipe for failure. As if Cubs management doesn’t know that.
* Speaking of on-base percentages and things like that, Adam Dunn drew his 100th walk of the season Sunday. Unless Dunn has 10 RBI in the final 10 games (or unless Alex Rios has 13), the team will not have a 100-RBI player in 2012.
* Horsing around: Third Chance won the $65,000 Addison Commack Stakes on Saturday at Arlington Park. A sweet victory indeed for Ch. 7 anchor Ron Magers and WLS radio host Roe Conn and their filly. And for the first 500 fans who showed up at a designated ice-cream cart and took them up on their offer for free ice cream.
* Any time the Chicago Bears can win when quarterback Jay Cutler has more tackles (1) than touchdown passes, they have to be thrilled. OK, well, thrilled that he wasn’t injured making a tackle.
* By beating the St. Louis Rams 23-6 Sunday at Soldier Field, the Bears improved to 2-1. Before any heads around Halas Hall become too large, consider that the Minnesota Vikings have the same record. And Green Bay (1-1) plays Monday night. So you might to wait just a little longer to make any reservations to see the Bears play in the Super Bowl.
* A friendly reminder that the Bears’ next game will be Oct. 1 on Monday Night Football. The best thing about that — including whatever an additional day of preparation and/or rest that provides — is the opponent is Dallas. At Cowboys Stadium. Which means one thing. No, not Tony Romo. No, not Jerry Jones. How ’bout them Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders? Indeed.
* Another friendly reminder that the Bears last had cheerleaders — the Honey Bears — in the 1985 season when the team won the only Super Bowl championship in franchise history. And as much as the editorial staff at elliottharris.com would love to post contemporary Honey Bears videos and photos, we have to settle for those from other NFL franchises.
And here’s a little something featuring the Rams cheerleaders (who did not travel to Chicago for Sunday’s game, even though their presence would have been appreciated):
* Speaking of attractive females (and even if we weren’t), here is some video from the Stacy Stengel-promoted Midwest Championships Sept. 22 at Harper College in Palatine, Ill.:
Speaking of Gangnam dancing (OK, so we weren’t), here is some video from Southern Cal’s halftime entertainment. You have to get about five minutes into the video, but it’s worth the wait:
And a little something from Psy from the “Ellen Show”:
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