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Monday meanderings: The Chicago Cubs reportedly have agreed with first baseman Anthony Rizzo to a seven-year, $41 million deal with two club options that could make it a nine-year, $73 million deal. Not being particularly mathematically inclined (which is how some of us end up working with words rather than with numbers), I think that means at the most the Cubs would pay an average of $8.11 million (give or take a few thousand dollars or tens of thousand dollars) at the most. A good deal for the Cubs, assuming Rizzo proves to be the superstar they think he will be. A good deal of speculation about renegotiation if that stardom proves accurate.
The choice of photographs today was one of Raquel Pomplun (2013 Playboy Playmate of the Year) or anything else. We went with Raquel. Credit: Playboy
* Speaking of money, the NBA fined Chicago Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau for remarks he made after his team’s Game 3 loss to the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference semifinals. People can argue whether his words merited punitive measures. Thibodeau certainly followed in the footsteps of Phil Jackson during his days coaching the Michael Jordan era Bulls. If the Bulls can win Game 4 Monday (May 13) to tie the series 2-2, the Bulls should find a way to reimburse Thibodeau. A Game 6 at the United Center provides more than enough revenue for the team to pay the fine out of petty cash.
* If the Bulls continue to play the part of the bullies in their series against LeBron James & Co., history some day will look back and put Joakim Noah & Co. in a category similar to the Detroit Pistons (aka “Bad Boys” who battled Jordan and the Bulls). Without the NBA titles.
* A realistic hope for the Bulls (winning the series with the Heat not being one) is to be able to provide offseason solace with a Nate Robinson dunk over LeBron, Dwayne Wade or Chris Bosh.
* Chris Sale tosses a one-hitter for the White Sox against the Los Angeles Angels on ESPN in a 3-0 victory and the left-hander can’t even be the top story today. Sorry, he might have had a chance with a perfect game or a no-hitter. Or if the White Sox had a better home record than, say, the Cubs. For the record, the Cubs’ home record is 7-11 and the Sox’ 8-9. Maybe we can find a way to put Sale’s success in today’s headline.
* Speaking of perfect games (there was a fleeting mention in the Sale paragraph), the Houston Astros designated right-hander Philip Humber for assignment. Meaning he isn’t very good. As if you couldn’t figure out from an 0-8 record and a 9.59 earned-run average this season. Humber pitched a perfect game for the White Sox in 2012. Among Humber’s numbers this season in 35 2/3 innings, he allowed 57 hits and 15 walks. He also gave up seven home runs. Probably the most incredible stat that he had with the Astros: two quality starts. Tough to do with those other numbers. If nothing else, Humber is a perfect example that perfect games — as well as no-hitters — do not necessarily indicate a great pitcher (well, other than perhaps on that day).
Speaking of Nate Robinson (which we were a few paragraphs ago), here is a video featuring the Bulls guard that he would like people to see:
The 2013 Playboy Playmate of the Year was named the other day. The winner is Raquel Pomplun, the first Mexican-American to capture the coveted title:
Here is where we go for non-gratuitous video (Playboy-related and otherwise). Mainly because the editorial and video departments at elliottharris.com don’t know the meaning of the word “gratuitous” (along with a lot of other words):
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