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The Chicago baseball team’s most recent acquisition who is appearing in the everyday lineup has been something special. Is there any question that first baseman Anthony Rizzo has demonstrated superior skills in such a short time (11 games)?
No.
After all, Rizzo is batting .386 (17-for-44) with four home runs and nine runs batted in. The Cubs are 7-4 with him playing since he was recalled from Class AAA Iowa. He has a .400 on-base percentage and a .750 slugging percentage. He has one walk and five strikeouts.
Victorias Scret provides quite a triple play for any White Sox enthusiasts in the crowd. And even the non-Sox enthusiasts.
Is there any question he is the most impressive players to come onto the scene in the last couple of weeks?
Yes.
So say the White Sox fans. And with good reason. Kevin Youkilis is having a good season. Well, the part since he was traded from the Boston Red Sox to the American League Central leaders.
Youkilis is playing a near flawless third base to fill a desperate need. And he has been hitting. Oh, how he has been hitting. Latest example: a two-run homer in a 2-0 victory Saturday against the visiting Toronto Blue Jays.
In 12 games with the White Sox, Youkilis is batting .311 (14-of-45) with three homers and 13 RBI. He has a .380 on-base percentage and .533 slugging percentage. He has four walks and seven strikeouts. He also has driven in the go-ahead run in five of his last six games. THe Sox are 9-3 with him. They are 9-2 in their last 11 and have won five in a row.
An objective observer likely would say Rizzo has the better long-range future. After all, Youkilis is 33 and has had back problems. Rizzo will be 23 on Aug. 8.
An objective observer also would say Youkilis has a far better shot of being in the postseason this year. Which is more than could be said if he had remained with Boston, which is in fourth place in the AL East.
“You can be popular one week then a bomb the next,” Youkilis said. “The game is crazy and you just have to keep grinding it out. You can’t get too high, you can’t get too low, you just try to stay in the middle.”
The Chicago Rush (9-6) closes out its Arena Football League home regular-season schedule on Sunday at 3 p.m. at Allstate Arena against the San Antonio Talons (12-3). Unless the Rush can rally with a late-season surge (two road games remain) and get a little lucky with rival contenders, the contest may be the last home game of the season. In 11 seasons, the Rush never has missed the playoffs.
Something says Michele Sotak won't be dressed quite like this for the Chicago Rush game at Allstate Arena. Then again, you never know.
Meanwhile, reliable reports have it that a former Lingerie Football League player will be attending the Rush game and available to participate. Well, not during the Arena Football League action. Possibly during a timeout when one of the entertainment segments calls for a spectator to attempt to kick the ball between the narrow uprights. Trying her hand — actually leg and foot, to be more precise — at the challenge would be solid ground for Michele Sotak. She is a former member of the Chicago Bliss and a former soccer player. Michelle found her kicking opportunities limited in the LFL, where the opening kickoff was about the only time she could show off her prowess. Here’s hoping she has the chance to put her best foot forward with the crowd cheering her on.
As some of this audience may recall, Michelle also is a personal trainer, and she also recently participated in the Kerry Wood Foundation bowling tournament, where she demonstrated fine form on the lanes.
If all this seems like an excuse to run a photo of Michele, remember this: No excuse is necessary. That’s one of the wonderful benefits of running this show (another additional benefit is being able to come home to The Wife and not grousing about work and the people in charge). Speaking of The Wife, a happy birthday. No oscillating sprinkler this year as a present. Once in a lifetime is more than enough — or so I have been told.
Anyway, where were we? Ah, yes. At Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Ill. Or something like that.
Also appearing at the Rush contest before the game will be former DePaul basketball star Emmette Bryant. He will sign autographs and pose for photographs (for free!) at his table on the north concourse of the building.
The Rush Fan Club will sell Johnie Kirton wristbands ($6). Proceeds will benefit his daughter. Kirton, a 2011 member of the Rush, does a few days after suiting up for the San Jose SaberCats in a victory over the Rush on May 26. Wristbands also will be available by sending $6:
Chicago Rush Fan Club
1146 Waukegan Rd.
PMB 223
Waukegan IL 60085
OK, time for the elliottharris.com video research department to come up with some views to amuse. Or entertain. Or whatever. Mission accomplished — or so the researchers say — although we think this one is a little late for the Fourth of July:
This video has a certain timeless quality to it (and no doubt that’s the reason it was selected, sure):
And one more to help you pass the time:
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