Bulls, Cubs, White Sox Short-Circuited

April 17, 2014 @ admin → No Comments

Thursday thoughts (or reasonable facsimiles thereof): It was a long day/night for Chicago’s pro sports teams. The Cubs were swept in a doubleheader, the Bulls lost in overtime and the White Sox lost in 14 innings.

Shannon Ihrke always is welcome around here,

* On the bright (?) side the time for Sox fans, most of them probably were sleeping by the time the game ended after midnight with Boston winning 6-4 at U.S. Cellular Field. Leury Garcia gave up the winning runs on a Jackie Bradley Jr. two-out, two-run double. And, yes, Garcia regularly is an infielder. And, yes, the White Sox bullpen regularly has had trouble this season. And, yes, the White Sox bullpen will keep fans (not to mention manager Robin Ventura) up at night. Meaning after ballgames as well as during them.

* Say this much for the Cubs: Their doubleheader Wednesday at Yankee Stadium was somewhat historic. Well, if your idea of historic is being shut out in both games. New York won the opener 3-0 and the second game 2-0. It was the first double shutout loss in a doubleheader for the Cubs since 1962. It was the Yankees double-shutout sweep since 1987. Well, at least nobody mentioned 1945 (last time Cubs were in a World Series) or 1908 (last time Cubs won a World Series).

* Cubs Gold Glove second baseman Darwin Barney committed an error in Game 2. It was his first of the season. Meaning he has more errors than he does extra-base hits or runs batted in (for the mathematically challenged — such as the person typing this text — that means he has zero extra-base hits, zero RBI). Not sure that three singles in 25 at-bats (.120 average for the mathematically challenged) enhances Barney’s trade value.

* Speaking of unimpressive stats, Bulls forward Taj Gibson was 2-of-10 from the field. Not sure that performances like that enhance his chances of winning any Sixth Man Awards. Well, actually we are fairly certain games like those will impact that dream.

* Jimmy Butler did play 48 minutes in the Bulls 91-86 loss to the host Charlotte Bobcats. On the bright (?) side, the Bulls do not play again till Sunday when they open the postseason at home against the Washington Wizards. ingWhen Butler likely will come close to playing 48 minutes — during regulation.

* Ex-Cub of the day: Milwaukee third baseman Aramis Ramirez went 3-for-4 in the Brewers’ 5-1 victory against the visiting St. Louis Cardinals.

* If it’s Thursday (which seems likely because yesterday was Wednesday — provided that you are reading this on April 17, 2014, or a subsequent Thursday), then it is time for another edition of “Sports & Torts” at noon Central time with co-hosts David Spada and Elliott Harris on Talkzone.com. The guests on the April 17 show are baseball Hall of Fame pitchers Rollie Fingers and Phil Niekro. The program will be available later Thursday via podcast on the Talkzone.com. web site.

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Here is where to go for a daily dose of non-gratuitous video (thanks to the efforts of the editorial and video departments at ElliottHarris.com):