From Mannywood to Mannyhood: Ramirez Joining White Sox
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Help is on the way for the Chicago White Sox’s sporadic offense in the form of Manny Ramirez.
The enigmatic slugger will join the Southsiders in Cleveland in the midst of a three-game set against the Indians. Manager Ozzie Guillen and the rest of the Pale Hose brass is hoping Ramirez’s bat ignites what — at times — can be a stagnant offense.
While his presence in the middle of the order could be a stabilizing force, the acquisition of the imposing power threat is about to set off an odd domino effect. (more…)
Edwin Jackson Making White Sox Look Smart
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Edwin Jackson’s resurgence with the Chicago White Sox is making the brass over at 35th & Shields look like a group of geniuses. (more…)
Cubs Shouldn’t Trade Carlos Zambrano
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Carlos Zambrano is in the midst of a stellar stretch of pitching.
He has tossed 24 sharp innings over his last four starts, compiling a 2.25 earned run average and picking up a pair of wins in the process. In the 12 starts since his Opening Day debacle, Big Z has posted a respectable 3.72 ERA.
So, why does it seem as if everyone is suddenly willing to dump such a productive player? (more…)
Manny Ramirez & White Sox Match Made In Baseball Heaven
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To say the Chicago White Sox are getting minimum production from the designated hitter position would be a grand understatement.
The designated hitter’s slot has been the least productive spot in what has been a streaky White Sox order. The .237 batting average and .308 on-base percentage rank lowest on the squad. The .401 slugging percentage ranks only ahead of the .343 SLG posted by the team’s left fielders.
At this point, the White Sox would be better served sending Carlos Zambrano, Micah Owings and Dan Haren to the plate instead of Mark Kotsay and Andruw Jones.
Better yet, how about Manny Ramirez? (more…)
Mike Quade Is Already Screwing Up As Cubs Manager
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Every manager to put on the Chicago Cubs uniform and post up at the top step has his brain cramps.
For Mike Quade, we didn’t have to wait long. (more…)
Cubs Manager Lou Piniella Deserved Better Fate In Finale
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Surely, this was not the way Lou Piniella envisioned his managerial finale.
After 48 years of being a Major League Baseball player, manager and general manager, Piniella took off the uniform for the last time after the Atlanta Braves routed the Chicago Cubs 16-5 sending the outgoing manager with a reminder what winning baseball looks like.
Thankfully, Piniella’s career won’t be judged by one lackluster August afternoon. (more…)
Cardinals Should Investigage Alcohol-Related Incidents
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The St. Louis Cardinals have a problem. And it has nothing to do with the offense, defense or pitching staff. Nor does it have anything to do with their chase of the Cincinnati Reds.
So, what’s wrong with the Cardinals? (more…)
Dwyane Wade Shouldn’t Get A Free Pass From Bulls Fans
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If Dwyane Wade thinks he’s going to get a free pass upon his return to Chicago, then I think he has another thing coming.
Doing the media tour during a charity event is one thing, but lacing ‘em up at the United Center wearing a jersey that doesn’t read “Bulls” in the front will be a completely different tale. (more…)
Bears Will Face Blitz Sooner Or Later
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The Chicago Bears cut Jay Cutler’s debut under Mike Martz’s regime short because of San Diego Chargers’ maddening blitz scheme.
No, really. The Trib tries to explain it all.
Mike Martz admits the Bears gave the hook early to quarterback Jay Cutler last Saturday in San Diego because they were concerned about the blitzes that former Bears defensive coordinator Ron Rivera was dialing up.
Cutler was removed after the first offensive possession of the game — an eight-play drive that led to a field goal. The Chargers blitzed on four of the first five plays and six of the eight.
Apparently, the Bears were only interested in playing the Chargers under the condition that quarterback sacks were registered only when a flag was pulled from the quarterback’s waist.
And that’s only the beginning of the story. (more…)
Moving Derrek Lee To Braves Could Open Up Position Battle For Cubs
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Before the wheels fell off in 2010, Derrek Lee had himself a productive career for the Chicago Cubs.
A fixture at first base since 2004, Lee has played 924 games in his career slamming 179 home runs, driven in 574 RBIs and hitting at a .282 clip. When you discount the season in which Rafael Furcal and Scott Eyre teamed to obliterate Lee’s wrist in 2006, the slugging Cubs first baseman averaged 31 homers and 97 ribbies in five fully healthy seasons from 2004 through 2009.
The 2010 campaign has been a struggle for Lee, who was coming off a 2009 season where he hit 35 home runs and drove in a career-best 111 RBIs. Lee hasn’t hit for power (16 home runs in 475 plate appearances) or average (.251), and his lack of production in the line-up is one of the many reasons the Cubs are among baseball’s biggest disappointments.
However, Lee could get a chance to make amends over the season’s final months and possibly into October now that this trade with the Atlanta Braves has gone through. And upon checking out the initial reports, it could be a win-win for all parties.
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