Major League Baseball (MLB) focal points in Chicago this season may devolve into four games: Chicago Cubs at Chicago White Sox, two games, July 25 and 26 and Chicago White Sox at Chicago Cubs, two games, Tuesday, Aug.15 and Wednesday, Aug. 16, each 7:05 p.m. for their first and only four Crosstown Rivalry games this season, regrettably!
This topic is broached this week only a few hours prior their first game in Wrigley Field. Hot time in the old town, at least with the weather. Will the games be competitive? They should be and nearly always bring out best competitive juices from both the teams and the fans.
Barring a continuing surgence by the Chicago Cubs to squeeze into the MLB postseason, there will be no postseason games for either the Cubs nor the White Sox this season. Wait until next year? Yes, disappointing. Will we ever see the two teams play each other in the World Series? Dream?
The reality this season is that both teams started the week below break-even .500 status. On the eve of game one Tuesday this week, the Cubs were 48-51 in third place of five teams in the National League Central and the Sox were 41-60 in fourth place of five teams in the American League Central. Only Kansas City’s tragedy, 29-73, .284 percentage, keeps the White Sox out of last place. For now. See page 8 for both MLB standings and minor league baseball standings. For this week and August 15-16, let’s enjoy the rivalry. Is it possible to pull for both teams?
- Not all MLB fans in our four-county area pull for the White Sox and the Cubs. There are St. Louis Cardinal fans, some Milwaukee, and a scattering of New York Yankees and, even, Minnesota Twins.
- Another situation with cheering for Cubs and Sox is the timing. On the day of those teams’ first game this season, Tuesday, July 25, there are other sports features that day. The Chicago Bears began training camp in Lake Forest. The Bears’ fan following is strong, even, in seasons in which a .500 record is a challenge and could be considered at least somewhat successful.
- Major golf tournaments are in full force. The British Open ended last weekend and an American, Brian Harman, shot sizzling 67-65-69-70-271 to win by six strokes over a quartet, each with 277. Carlos Alcarez, tennis star rated No. 1, turned 20 years old less than three months ago. He defeated longtime star, Novak Djokovic, in the best of seven sets one weekend earlier. Djokovic has won Wimbledon singles championships seven times, almost as many as Switzerland’s Roger Federer’s eight championships. Although the sports competition with baseball could be televised games in England over three weeks, and some journeys to be on the scene live, it is all about competing for time and attention. The Bears will play their first preseason game Saturday, Aug. 12 at home against Tennessee, just three days prior to the first of two Cubs-Sox games in the second set. The Bears will be host to Green Bay in the first regular-season game at 3:25 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 10.
- The first practice for all high school Fall sports will be Monday, Aug. 7. The first regular-season football games will be Thursday, Aug. 24. Competition continues for the high school, college, and professional sports dollar and attention. The situation with the hazing at Northwestern University in football and a handful of other sports will be monitored.
- First week of high school football games always gives us a first look. A few key games: West Aurora at Proviso East; Glenbard South at East Aurora; Geneva at Metea Valley; Oswego East at Waubonsie Valley; Oswego at Neuqua Valley; St. Charles East at Lincoln-Way Central; Wheaton North at Downers Grove South; Marist at Glenbard West; Aurora Central Catholic at St. Edward; Lockport at Planfield North.