* The Cubs tired “score 3 runs and lose 4-3” mentality is still on the ball players’ faces
* The Sox lineup is a monster, and once they get that second look at the starter, they are going to pounce
* The Sox play really aggressive baseball and are young and hungry
* The Cubs experiment with Schwarber, and flat out refusing to find a suitable backup at backstop for Contreras are continued glaring front office mistakes
* Renteria will out manage Ross in close games
Even in a shortened season, this Cubs ball club is no different right now then the last two seasons, “Grampa Rossie” has not changed the culture or personality and will be difficult to fire when the front office lets Ross down like they let Maddon down (even as Maddon’s in-game mistakes became more glaring)
Sox offense is going to be scary good this year. Cannot wait for them to play my hometown team in Iowa. Not too confident in the Cardinals making a run at it this year. Would not mind the Sox putting it all together.
Have the Cubs come to an agreement with Comcast on airing Marquee? This may not be the season that you want to cut yourself off from the TV viewing audience particularly if you’re fielding what I expect to be a mediocre team. I’m one of those few fans that support both of our MLB teams. Looks like there’s a lot more to be optimistic about on the south side this year.
- Just Another Anon - Monday, Jul 20, 20 @ 9:39 am:
Lets just stipulate that the Sox have one of the most potent offenses in MLB. Young bats, strong bats, and once Madrigal gets the start, consistent bats. LuBob is filthy, Abreu is still a beast, and we may carry 4 catchers this year.
Lets talk pitching. Sox started a bull pen rotation late night. Anderson is a retread from the Phillies. Had a rough start, but settled down in the 3rd inning before getting pulled. Detweiler takes a somewhat well deserved W. Fulmer got himself in trouble with some walks, but got himself out of it with only 1 small ball run in the 8th.
We know that we can expect some platoon style pitching with the shortened season, but I want to see what the starter’s look like. If Giolito, Keuchel, can put up some 7 inning, 85 count, games; and Cease and Rodon can put up some 6 inning 90 count games, then I think the bullpen is in a good position to assist and pitch in as a rotational starter.
I’m just happy the White Sox appear to have a CF who can both field and hit in Robert. Feels like a long time since we’ve had that.
- lake county democrat - Monday, Jul 20, 20 @ 9:54 am:
I think the shortened season works in favor of both clubs because of question marks with the starting pitching. Both teams have stars with older arms, the Cubs’ rotation isn’t very deep, and the Sox’s has question marks (though potential, especially if Rodon can come back).
I turned last night’s game on for a minute. In his second at bat Javier Baez swung and missed at the first pitch low and away. On the second pitch Baez swung again and grounded weakly to the shortstop. And I promptly turned the TV off. Same old Cubs as OW said.
I love Javy but at this point in his career he should be showing some plate discipline, and if he showed some plate discipline at all he would be a perennial MVP candidate.
If not this year then next year for sure, the Cubs (or optimistically any pitching staff) pitching against the White Sox offense will be like leading the sheep to the wolves.
can’t imagine baseball without fans is going to be any fun. only rooting interest I have is seeing whether any of Cards’ young players show promise for the future.
I hope for the best, but expect the worse.
I’m just happy to be watching baseball. As long as they are able to play the full 60 and the playoffs, this might actually be the most I will have ever enjoyed baseball. And the Sox having a real team doesn’t hurt either. If I ever see Odrisamer Despaigne, it will be too soon.
I played baseball in college back then it was study and baseball. I don’t follow the game much at all these days but really in all this MLB seems to be comforting. Generally it is without to much political and all about playing the game. I might have to take up and watch it more.
A Sun-Times story from last Thursday quoted Marquee Network GM Mike McCarthy as claiming that a Comcast-Marquee deal was “closing in on us” before Opening Day.
Well, we’re now less than 4 days away until a deal is due:
If Comcast and Marquee do come to a deal, it will be interesting how the channel will be packaged on downstate Comcast systems (e.g., Springfield, Decatur, Peoria, Chambana, Rockford).
I’m assuming down here it will be packaged in the “Digital Starter” channel package. Which in the Springfield area has their traditional SD channel numbers on from channels 24-72 (with the SD channel repeated elsewhere in the 3-digit channels, and separate HD channel numbers in the 3 and 4-digit channels).
The SD feed for Marquee would fit perfectly on these vacant channel numbers on Springfield’s Comcast lineup: 41 (vacant since Fox Sports Chicago folded years ago), 65 (next door to Comcast Sprots Chicago), and 69 (next to Big Ten Network). Plus wherever Comcast puts the repeat of the SD channel, and the HD channel.
Watching Darvish load up the bags and then deliver a heater for a Sox grand slam in the 1st inning, makes me wish they had fought for a 30 game season instead of 60.
- Gohawks123 - Monday, Jul 20, 20 @ 9:06 am:
Can we just talk about how explosive the white sox offense is going to be?
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Jul 20, 20 @ 9:10 am:
I watched Cubs-Sox last night
Things I’ve learned watching Cubs-Sox;
* The Cubs tired “score 3 runs and lose 4-3” mentality is still on the ball players’ faces
* The Sox lineup is a monster, and once they get that second look at the starter, they are going to pounce
* The Sox play really aggressive baseball and are young and hungry
* The Cubs experiment with Schwarber, and flat out refusing to find a suitable backup at backstop for Contreras are continued glaring front office mistakes
* Renteria will out manage Ross in close games
Even in a shortened season, this Cubs ball club is no different right now then the last two seasons, “Grampa Rossie” has not changed the culture or personality and will be difficult to fire when the front office lets Ross down like they let Maddon down (even as Maddon’s in-game mistakes became more glaring)
- NuancedApproach - Monday, Jul 20, 20 @ 9:12 am:
Sox offense is going to be scary good this year. Cannot wait for them to play my hometown team in Iowa. Not too confident in the Cardinals making a run at it this year. Would not mind the Sox putting it all together.
- Unionman - Monday, Jul 20, 20 @ 9:12 am:
Buffalo Blue Jays. Enough said.
- Pundent - Monday, Jul 20, 20 @ 9:15 am:
Have the Cubs come to an agreement with Comcast on airing Marquee? This may not be the season that you want to cut yourself off from the TV viewing audience particularly if you’re fielding what I expect to be a mediocre team. I’m one of those few fans that support both of our MLB teams. Looks like there’s a lot more to be optimistic about on the south side this year.
- Rich Miller - Monday, Jul 20, 20 @ 9:15 am:
====explosive the white sox offense===
As Scott Kennedy said on Twitter last night, we need to wait and see how our hitters do against actual major league pitching. /s
- Chatham Resident - Monday, Jul 20, 20 @ 9:23 am:
==Buffalo Blue Jays. Enough said.==
Sponsored by Buffalo Wild Wings.
- Just Another Anon - Monday, Jul 20, 20 @ 9:39 am:
Lets just stipulate that the Sox have one of the most potent offenses in MLB. Young bats, strong bats, and once Madrigal gets the start, consistent bats. LuBob is filthy, Abreu is still a beast, and we may carry 4 catchers this year.
Lets talk pitching. Sox started a bull pen rotation late night. Anderson is a retread from the Phillies. Had a rough start, but settled down in the 3rd inning before getting pulled. Detweiler takes a somewhat well deserved W. Fulmer got himself in trouble with some walks, but got himself out of it with only 1 small ball run in the 8th.
We know that we can expect some platoon style pitching with the shortened season, but I want to see what the starter’s look like. If Giolito, Keuchel, can put up some 7 inning, 85 count, games; and Cease and Rodon can put up some 6 inning 90 count games, then I think the bullpen is in a good position to assist and pitch in as a rotational starter.
- ChicagoVinny - Monday, Jul 20, 20 @ 9:52 am:
I’m just happy the White Sox appear to have a CF who can both field and hit in Robert. Feels like a long time since we’ve had that.
- lake county democrat - Monday, Jul 20, 20 @ 9:54 am:
I think the shortened season works in favor of both clubs because of question marks with the starting pitching. Both teams have stars with older arms, the Cubs’ rotation isn’t very deep, and the Sox’s has question marks (though potential, especially if Rodon can come back).
- Big Jer - Monday, Jul 20, 20 @ 10:24 am:
—-Everything OW said—-
I turned last night’s game on for a minute. In his second at bat Javier Baez swung and missed at the first pitch low and away. On the second pitch Baez swung again and grounded weakly to the shortstop. And I promptly turned the TV off. Same old Cubs as OW said.
I love Javy but at this point in his career he should be showing some plate discipline, and if he showed some plate discipline at all he would be a perennial MVP candidate.
If not this year then next year for sure, the Cubs (or optimistically any pitching staff) pitching against the White Sox offense will be like leading the sheep to the wolves.
- jim - Monday, Jul 20, 20 @ 10:31 am:
can’t imagine baseball without fans is going to be any fun. only rooting interest I have is seeing whether any of Cards’ young players show promise for the future.
I hope for the best, but expect the worse.
- Amalia - Monday, Jul 20, 20 @ 10:35 am:
Cubbie fans, do I have this correct, Adam Engel going yard off your opening day starter?
- Jose Abreu's Next Homer - Monday, Jul 20, 20 @ 10:48 am:
Guessing we’re not going to see Cotton pitch vs major leaguers ever again.
- Ducky LaMoore - Monday, Jul 20, 20 @ 11:06 am:
I’m just happy to be watching baseball. As long as they are able to play the full 60 and the playoffs, this might actually be the most I will have ever enjoyed baseball. And the Sox having a real team doesn’t hurt either. If I ever see Odrisamer Despaigne, it will be too soon.
- The Captain - Monday, Jul 20, 20 @ 12:41 pm:
I don’t know that the Sox have the pitching but they have the bats to be fun/watchable. Man do we need that right now.
- cler dec - Monday, Jul 20, 20 @ 12:57 pm:
I played baseball in college back then it was study and baseball. I don’t follow the game much at all these days but really in all this MLB seems to be comforting. Generally it is without to much political and all about playing the game. I might have to take up and watch it more.
- pool boy - Monday, Jul 20, 20 @ 2:06 pm:
The Cubs need pitching, a lead off hitter and with the DH rule in place, Schwarber should never see the outfield.
- Chatham Resident - Monday, Jul 20, 20 @ 3:49 pm:
A Sun-Times story from last Thursday quoted Marquee Network GM Mike McCarthy as claiming that a Comcast-Marquee deal was “closing in on us” before Opening Day.
Well, we’re now less than 4 days away until a deal is due:
https://chicago.suntimes.com/2020/7/16/21327178/marquee-sports-network-gm-mike-mccarthy-confident-cubs-comcast
- Chatham Resident - Monday, Jul 20, 20 @ 4:14 pm:
If Comcast and Marquee do come to a deal, it will be interesting how the channel will be packaged on downstate Comcast systems (e.g., Springfield, Decatur, Peoria, Chambana, Rockford).
I’m assuming down here it will be packaged in the “Digital Starter” channel package. Which in the Springfield area has their traditional SD channel numbers on from channels 24-72 (with the SD channel repeated elsewhere in the 3-digit channels, and separate HD channel numbers in the 3 and 4-digit channels).
The SD feed for Marquee would fit perfectly on these vacant channel numbers on Springfield’s Comcast lineup: 41 (vacant since Fox Sports Chicago folded years ago), 65 (next door to Comcast Sprots Chicago), and 69 (next to Big Ten Network). Plus wherever Comcast puts the repeat of the SD channel, and the HD channel.
- Harvest76 - Monday, Jul 20, 20 @ 7:39 pm:
Watching Darvish load up the bags and then deliver a heater for a Sox grand slam in the 1st inning, makes me wish they had fought for a 30 game season instead of 60.