Cubs, White Sox Avoid Pirates’ Playoff Plight

October 2, 2014 @ admin → No Comments

Thursday thoughts (or as close we come to such things around here): As dramatic as the American League wild-card contest was, the National League version was not. Not after San Francisco Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford’s grand slam provided the first runs of the game. And not after Madison Bumgarner pitched a complete-game four-hitter. There’s nothing quite like October baseball. Well, certainly around Chicago there’s nothing like it because there’s nothing.

Video below of October 2014 Playboy Playmate Roxanna June, who is on Thursday’s “Sports & Torts.” Credit: Michael Blank Photography

* OK, so the Pirates played one more game this season than the Cubs. And the Pirates were shut out 8-0 in the NL wild-card game. Pittsburgh finished two games behind the St. Louis Cardinals. So the Cubs really were more like three games from the playoffs, not 17 behind the Cards, right? Now I understand the root of Theo Epstein’s optimism for 2015. At least the Cubs weren’t embarrassed in the postseason. Whew!

* Nobody asked me, but if one Chicago team is closer to making a major move toward mediocrity, it would be the White Sox. A major move to winning a division title? Neither the Cubs or Sox. Unless each team makes significant moves to add pitching. In the Cubs’ case, it would be to the starting rotation. In the Sox’ case, it would be the bullpen. Come to think of it, each team needs to add quality arms to the starting and relief staffs.

* If it’s Thursday (and the odds seem overwhelming that it is because yesterday was Weott Harrisid Spada and Ellidnesday — provided that today is Oct. 2, 2014, or a subsequent Thursday), then it is time once again for another weekly edition of “Sports & Torts” at noon Central time on Talkzone.com with co-hosts David Spada and Elliott Harris. The guests for this week’s program are October 2014 Playboy Playmate Roxanna June and former Bears and Washington linebacker Wilber Marshall, a member of the 1985 Super Bowl Bears. For those who are unable to tune in or for those who would like to enjoy an encore performance, the program will become available on podcast later in the day Thursday.

* Speaking of football (we weren’t>), here are some odds from the fine folks at Bovada,(www.Bovada.lv, Twitter: @BovadaLV):

For your football enjoyment. Or non-football enjoyment.

WEEK 5 SPECIALS – 2014 Regular Season MVP – Odds to Win

Peyton Manning (DEN) QB 4/1
Andrew Luck (IND) QB 5/1
Philip Rivers (SD) QB 7/1
Aaron Rodgers (GB) QB 7/1
Russell Wilson (SEA) QB 10/1
DeMarco Murray (DAL) RB 10/1
Matt Ryan (ATL) QB 15/1
Drew Brees (NO) QB 15/1
J.J. Watt (HOU) 15/1
Tom Brady (NE) QB 25/1
Andy Dalton (CIN) QB 33/1
Colin Kaepernick (SF) QB 33/1
Nick Foles (PHI) QB 33/1
Jay Cutler (CHI) QB 50/1
Tony Romo (DAL) QB 50/1
Matthew Stafford (DET) QB 50/1
LeSean McCoy (PHI) RB 50/1
Eli Manning (NYG) QB 75/1
Jordy Nelson (GB) WR 100/1
Julio Jones (ATL) WR 100/1
Steve Smith (BAL) WR 100/1
Calvin Johnson (DET) WR 100/1
Jimmy Graham (NO) TE 100/1

5 SPECIAL – 2014 Offensive Rookie of the Year

Kelvin Benjamin (CAR) WR 3/1
Brandin Cooks (NO) WR 4/1
Teddy Bridgewater (MIN) QB 4/1
Blake Bortles (JAC) QB 4/1
Sammy Watkins (BUF) WR 15/2
Isaiah Crowell (CLE) 9/1
Jerick McKinnon (MIN) RB 10/1
Bishop Sankey (TEN) RB 12/1
Terrance West (CLE) RB 12/1

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