White Sox 2-Hitter Quite a Hit With Danks

June 5, 2014 @ admin → No Comments

Chicago White Sox left-hander John Danks entered Wednesday’s game against the host Los Angeles Dodgers with a 6.83 earned-average for five road starts this season. So naturally he gave up only two hits and a run in 7 1/3 innings, as the Sox prevailed 2-1 with the bullpen not allowing a hit. Not sure which was more unexpected: the pitching performance by Danks (4-5) or his second career hit (in 28 at-bats). His hit never left the infield, but chances are it will become a line shot years from now when he recounts the game.

Video below of ‘Sports & Torts’ guest Kennedy Summers, Playboy’s Playmate of the Year.

* Math — once it became more complicated than counting on one’s fingers and toes — never was a strong suit for some of us. So your humble correspondent had to do a double-take when coming across the ESPN.com headline on the Sox game — John Danks combines with White Sox bullpen to 3-hit Dodgers — because the line score, box score and game story all said it was a two-hitter. Must be that new math that folks are complaining about.

* Congratulations to Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah on being named to the all-NBA first team. The honor means the Bulls may consider him — and not Derrick Rose — the face of the franchise. Well, perhaps until Rose returns to Most Valuable Player form.

* Cubs manager Rick Renteria was ejected from the team’s game Wednesday night in the third inning. It was his fourth ejection of the year. Maybe he didn’t want to stay around to watch more of starter Edwin Jackson or the bullpen performance that would follow. In time, Renteria will learn to be tossed out of losing efforts and stick around for the winning ones (granted the winning ones have been scarce in his rookie managerial season).

* Speaking of managers, former Cubs manager Don Zimmer died Wednesday. He was 83. Any team he was associated with — and there are several — is claiming him as their own. That’s how much he was admired. He managed the Cubs to the 1989 National League East title. Some of us still remember him for being one of the first baseball cards we ever had. His rookie card with the Brooklyn Dodgers was in the 1955 Topps set. Fond memories of the cards and of Zimmer, who brought joy to all who were in his presence (with the possible exception of Pedro Martinez — look it up on Google to see what I’m referring to).

* Baseball’s amateur draft begins Thursday. It is a less compelling television event than the NFL or NBA drafts. In no small part, because the NFL and NBA do a better job of hyping their drafts. And in no small part because baseball’s draft does not delude its fans into thinking every player drafted is going to become a star — and certainly not immediately. Baseball’s draft has more swings and misses than Cubs third baseman Mike Olt, who struck out once in three at-bats (and he did walk once, if that’s any consolation) to give him 53 strikeouts in 133 at-bats this season to go along with his .158 batting average. On the bright (?) side, he is 10 strikeouts shy of the team lead that Junior Lake has in 32 more at-bats.

* A reminder (in case one is necessary): Cubs fans would do well to think of this season of one long extended spring training. Either that or a season in which every month is September when prospects on teams not in the pennant race see playing time.

* If today is Thursday (and the chances seem even better than those of the Cubs having a losing record this season in that yesterday was Wednesday — provided that today is June 5, 2014, or a subsequent Thursday), then it is time for another edition of “Sports & Torts” with co-hosts David Spada and Elliott Harris at noon Central time on Talkzone.com. This week’s interview guests are 2014 Playboy Playmate of the Year Kennedy Summers and former football standouts Aeneas Williams and Chuck Howley. The show also will be available later Thursday on podcast at 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 edifying efforts of the editorial and video departments at ElliottHarris.com):