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What the Sox have done in interleague play lately -– 17 straight series victories — is nothing short of astounding. That includes six straight, a full three years’ worth, against the Cubs.

Give up yet?

* Related…

* Cubs owner Joe Ricketts sued for harassment retaliation: Two Nebraska women are suing the founder of TD Ameritrade and an owner of the Chicago Cubs, claiming he fired them from his Omaha-based charity after they complained of sexual harassment… The lawsuit alleges Ricketts re-hired the charity’s chief operating officer shortly after the COO was fired amid the women’s complaints. The suit alleges the COO often commented about Davis’ legs and cleavage and once putted a golf ball into Duncan’s office, saying “I’m trying to get into your hole.”

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Jun 23, 11 @ 11:10 am

Comments

Give up yet?

Haven’t you seen all of those empty seats in Wrigley this season?

They’ve given up.

– MrJM

Comment by MrJM Thursday, Jun 23, 11 @ 11:13 am
I imagine most of them have given up, 2011 is not looking good. I encourage any Cubs fan who hasn’t given up to keep hope alive. Baseball season is more entertaining if Cubs fans are devastated in August or September.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Jun 23, 11 @ 11:15 am
Yes, I do.

Comment by Easy Thursday, Jun 23, 11 @ 11:17 am
I have given up but the Sox aren’t going anywhere this year either.

It is hard to say that the Rickett’s suit is related to the rivalry though.

Comment by K3_Spfld_Chi Thursday, Jun 23, 11 @ 11:20 am
I’ll never give up on the Cubs, but will concede the Sox are the better team this year. Overall since interleague play, I think the Sox are up like 45-39. That isn’t terribly one-sided, but it is a comfortable Sox lead.

The BP Cup ain’t exactly the Commissioner’s Trophy, so keep it in perspective.

And remember, you had your hands full with a really bad Cubs team, which is really a disappointment considering the payroll and the expectations on the South Side. But the last three days is as close as South Siders will get to a playoff baseball atmosphere this year so enjoy your victory.

Comment by 47th Ward Thursday, Jun 23, 11 @ 11:21 am
The Ricketts family has had about as bad a start as you could want in their tenure. They haven’t endeared themselves or the team to cub fans and from the looks of it they’ve hired mike mccaskey’s pr team and management playbook from the mid 90’s.

Comment by Shore Thursday, Jun 23, 11 @ 11:21 am
Ricketts is one of those owners who wanted to buy his way into being a popular celebrity.

But he’s too busy proving to his daddy he can be a skinflint to actually improve the team or the franchise.

What the heck was a Republican activist family thinking when they decided to buy a pro sports franchise in the most Democratic county in America? The plan was to go to the Democratic legislature and ask for a bunch of city money to be diverted to their pro sports team.

As someone who works in media said of Sam Zell, “You don’t play mumbly pegs outside your own backyard.”

The Ricketts family bought a franchise that had locked-in mediocrity for a decade with big contracts to has beens. If Ricketts was going to be popular he should have viewed that as a sunk cost and made an effort to assemble a winning team.

But Ricketts has made it clear that he’s not going to spend his family fortune to win. And now that his attempt to get the taxpayers to subsidize his business have flopped, Ricketts seems to be a sports owner without a plan.

He doesn’t have a plan to win. And he doesn’t have a plan for the stadium.

BTW, have the Ricketts ever succeeded at a business that did not primarily consist of moving large amounts of money around?

Comment by Carl Nyberg Thursday, Jun 23, 11 @ 11:21 am
Except for a the Phillies and the Giants, American League teams are just better top to bottom the last few years. Just ask Adam Dunn.

Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Jun 23, 11 @ 11:25 am
Never give up! There’s always next year! IMHO, the highlight of the series was Ozzie getting tossed in the second game!

Comment by Easily Entertained Thursday, Jun 23, 11 @ 11:26 am
Ozzie got tossed in the first game.

Comment by Juice Thursday, Jun 23, 11 @ 11:32 am
I wish the Sox could beat the teams in the AL Central like they beat the NL teams….

Comment by This Little Piggy Thursday, Jun 23, 11 @ 11:32 am
===IMHO, the highlight of the series was Ozzie getting tossed in the second game! ===

Typical Cub fan. Grasping at straws and getting it wrong at the same time. lol

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Jun 23, 11 @ 11:34 am
I get the feeling that Chicago baseball fans really don’t care how their team fares at the end of the season…they pretty much know that post-season play is, in most years, out of the question. What they really hope for, what they really look forward to, is the interleague play between the Cubs and Sox…braggin’ rights for months is on the line. Well, for Cubs fans, braggin’ rights last for a day…maybe.

Comment by Deep South Thursday, Jun 23, 11 @ 11:34 am
I used to be a Cubs fan. I had to love the underdog. Now I’ve given up. Their product just isn’t competitive.

Comment by Allen Skillicorn Thursday, Jun 23, 11 @ 11:34 am
I’ll always be a Cubs fan, but I stopped watching their games last year when I saw the team slowly imploding while new ownership seemed only interested in how they could personally profit off the team. I’ll watch the Sox/Cubs rivalry, but I won’t follow the Cubs until management gets serious about fielding a winning team.

Comment by Wensicia Thursday, Jun 23, 11 @ 11:34 am
The interleague series between the two teams still has three games left to be played.

The Sox hold a 2-1 advantage despite being outscored 11-10 and out homered, by, oh, let’s not go there. The Sox won yesterday on an unearned run which was the result of an infielder’s error. The Cubs also trotted out the last member of the starting pitching rotation. Davis is not the staff ace.

The Cubs are worse than a mediocre team, but the Sox barely eked out two one run victories against a North Side team that is likely to finish last or next to last. “Grinder Baseball” was not the marketing slogan that the “All In” White Sox chose for this year.

Three games against the hated Cubs and even with misguided Cubbies in the Cell, the Sox could not generate a single sell out crowd.

Reverting to the old White Sox mantra “Hey, but we beat the Cubs!” is not a formula for success. It is like Illinois boasting that its fiscal affairs are better than those of California or its schools outperformed Mississippi.

Comment by Abandon Ship Thursday, Jun 23, 11 @ 11:39 am
–I’ll watch the Sox/Cubs rivalry, but I won’t follow the Cubs until management gets serious about fielding a winning team.–

Unfortunately, they were serious, but it led to big contracts for Soriano, Fukudome, Zambrano, Milton Bradley, Aramis,….

Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Jun 23, 11 @ 11:41 am
Abandon Ship, congratulations. You used just about every avenue of denial available to you. Perhaps you should seek help.

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Jun 23, 11 @ 11:44 am
Was there a game yesterday? As Mike Royko said, Cub fans have less to worry about much earlier in the year than Sox fans, since they’re out of the hunt so much sooner. So, keep worrying about whether you’ll make the playoffs. Go Bears! (if they agree to a contract, that is)

Comment by PublicServant Thursday, Jun 23, 11 @ 11:46 am
Ya but we still have adam dunn…..

Comment by foster brooks Thursday, Jun 23, 11 @ 11:48 am
Play against the Cubs means very little if ya can’t beat divisional foes…. Sox are only winning 35% of the games they play within the AL Central. They had same problem last year playing under .500 against the AL Central….

Comment by JavaJ Thursday, Jun 23, 11 @ 11:51 am
Denial is Rich Miller denying that the a game was played when the Sox lost the first game of the series.

I salute you for showing your colors as a true White Sox fan. When you win it is Mardi Gras, when you lose it does not count.

Comment by Abandon Ship Thursday, Jun 23, 11 @ 11:53 am
I must say it’s surprising, even on his venue, to see the Cubs sales interpreted as a partisan issue. Some people never know when to give politics a rest.

Comment by Jim Thursday, Jun 23, 11 @ 11:54 am
disappointed that the media focused on the Jake/A.J. flap. and then they mostly did not get it right…..A.J. took the words out of the dugout into the tunnel, so professionals could air a disagreement. smart of them to toss Alabama/Florida and hunting fun quotes to serve the media dogs. if they were to speak of the disagreement, should have been A.J. keeps family squabble inside. but, headline should been Sox winning streak continues in inter league play against home town rival.

Comment by amalia Thursday, Jun 23, 11 @ 11:56 am
I gotta say I got a great deal of personal enjoyment watching dazed northsiders wander around Bridgeport and Armour Square….desperately seeking the brown line, starbucks or a wine bar. Enjoy the rest of your season of denial and finger pointing.

Comment by prairiestatedem Thursday, Jun 23, 11 @ 12:00 pm
Cubs remaining chances were blown out of town with the 70mph winds in Game 2. Boycott the Ricketts- It’s the only way.

Comment by Statesman Thursday, Jun 23, 11 @ 12:00 pm
Milton Bradley a serious acquisition? Mr Worst, Soriano? They may have shelled out serious money, but they overpaid mediocre talent.

Comment by Wensicia Thursday, Jun 23, 11 @ 12:02 pm
and by the way Abandon Ship…having a specific flag to be flown to commemorate your club actually winning a game is about as “Mardi Gras” as you can get.

Comment by prairiestatedem Thursday, Jun 23, 11 @ 12:03 pm
Now that we have mastered the Cubs our focus needs to be on the Twins. We have a slew of games with them during the 2nd half of the season.

Comment by Stones Thursday, Jun 23, 11 @ 12:06 pm
Looks like Joe Ricketts stole my best line. That thing was GOLD man.

Comment by Monkey Knife Fight Thursday, Jun 23, 11 @ 12:09 pm
I gave up this season in May. As for the Cubs-Sox games, who cares? They’re not in the same league, so all it is is Chicago North/South pride being on the line.

Comment by SirLankselot Thursday, Jun 23, 11 @ 12:13 pm
Just wait till Adam Dunn quits striking out, then the Sox will REALLY beat the Cubs.

I give. Cubs suck.

Comment by PaGo Thursday, Jun 23, 11 @ 12:16 pm
The flag flying from the scoreboard was a marketing idea developed in the Thirties by the a chap by the name of Bill Veeck. He also built the bleachers and added ivy. Later in life, he had to repaint a dump built on the site of an actual dump on 35th Street to improve its image. He used white paint to suggest cleanliness.

In fairness, the Cubs also post a flag indicating a loss occurring at home.

Years ago, there was an exhibition series of games played by the Cubs and White Sox, usually during the month of October. The series was interrupted on numerous occasions because the Cubs had won the pennant — it was never cancelled on account of what Jimmy Dykes’ team had done during the regular season.

Since interleague play began and the games started to count in the standings, are the Sox up two or three games in total? Just sayin’

Comment by Abandon Ship Thursday, Jun 23, 11 @ 12:20 pm
The twins grew tired of Pierzynski’s crap back in, what 2003, or so and traded him for a couple of guys that have worked out for them Joe Nathan and Francisco Liriano. They knew they had Mauer too! AJ knows he’s a jerk, didn’t say as much following the WS parade? Twins are 4-0 against the Sox to date and those wins without Mauer, Thome, Nathan and Moreneau and Nishioka missed 3 of the 4 games.

Comment by JavaJ Thursday, Jun 23, 11 @ 12:22 pm
Rich you have to appreciate a cub defense which uses at its premise you should have beat us even worse then you did so that means your no good….

Comment by Ghost Thursday, Jun 23, 11 @ 12:28 pm
I am not a pro sports fan so do not have a dog in the fight as they say. However I was a one time partnered with a die hard Cubs Fan. In public not a bad word could be said about his team. In private he would tell me this ” Love the Cubs all you want, just don’t bet on them”.

Comment by Bemused Thursday, Jun 23, 11 @ 12:32 pm
That Ricketts guys sounds like a real charmer.

Rich, this is for you http://karlwithak.tumblr.com/post/6792260877/tales-from-the-red-line

Comment by Cheryl44 Thursday, Jun 23, 11 @ 12:33 pm
Well, I know that I’ll have plenty of time to watch the movie “Moneyball” in October.

Comment by Newsclown Thursday, Jun 23, 11 @ 12:40 pm
JavaJ,

You conveniently leave out the fact that the Twins traded AJ after drafting Joe Mauer. The same Joe Mauer who the Twins drafted over the can’t-miss Mark Prior

Comment by Frank Thursday, Jun 23, 11 @ 12:49 pm
=== The Sox won yesterday on an unearned run which was the result of an infielder’s error. ===

That’s pretty consistent with how the Cubs have found a way to lose all season.

The worst ERA in the majors and right at the top for the most unearned runs.

The worst fielding percentage in the majors and right at the top for the most errors.

The fewest double plays in the majors.

And although they are a pretty good team when it comes to hitting, they’re only fair when it comes to RBI’s.

Why? Because they can’t hit in the clutch.

Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Thursday, Jun 23, 11 @ 12:54 pm
Thanks, Cheryl44. That was pretty darned funny.

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Jun 23, 11 @ 12:58 pm
Also, to the rightfully ashamed Cub fans who nevertheless claim that these games don’t count, they do count.

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Jun 23, 11 @ 1:03 pm
@Abandon Ship -

Just admit the Cubs stink this year.

You’ll feel better if you just get it off your chest.

I mean, unless I’m mistaken, they’re STILL the only team in the majors that hasn’t won three in a row.

Heck, they can’t even put together a .500 game in Wrigley Field, where they used to be the next best thing to invincible.

They’re pitching woes are pretty obvious.

But the errors are simply inexcusable.

Let’s not forget the Cubs were only charged with two errors yesterday, but should have been charged with two more…the late throw to first and the failure to throw to first that allowed two hitters to reach.

Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Thursday, Jun 23, 11 @ 1:06 pm
Whatever.

Comment by Hon. John Fritchey Thursday, Jun 23, 11 @ 1:12 pm
===Whatever. ===

Another intelligent Cub fan heard from.

lol

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Jun 23, 11 @ 1:13 pm
===Just admit the Cubs stink this year.===

This year?

Comment by TwoFeetThick Thursday, Jun 23, 11 @ 1:35 pm
@Frank- no I didn’t, re-read my post it notes the Twins knew they had Mauer! AJ had/has a big mouth and in all his years at Minn AJ was only their primary catcher 1 year. He was their back-up catcher most of his time there. That trade would have been made with or without Mauer as they wanted Nathan and Liriano big time.

Comment by JavaJ Thursday, Jun 23, 11 @ 1:39 pm
==American League teams are just better top to bottom the last few years. Just ask Adam Dunn.==

You mean the Adam Dunn who is now 0-12 with 7Ks against NL pitching this year?

==Soriano? They may have shelled out serious money, but they overpaid mediocre talent.==

Yeah, you’re right. What were they thinking going out and getting a 40/40 guy?!?!? It was a big contract, maybe too big. But let’s not call the player EVERYONE thought they were getting “mediocre.”

Rich (and Yellow Dog, who apparently just doesn’t want to read), Abandon Ship said outright, the Cubs are a worse than mediocre team. And he’s right. That doesn’t sound much like denial.

And he’s got a point. Yeah, the Cubs suck right now, and there aren’t many people that will deny that, if that’s what you’re looking for. I’m just not sure Sox fans, if they’re honest with themselves, can sit back at that series and get too giddy. Between Dunn, Rios, Pierre, and a continuing inability to beat the Twins, I think the better question is do Sox fans give up yet?

Comment by Then again... Thursday, Jun 23, 11 @ 1:41 pm
- Then again… - brings up important points and it’s worth noting that the Sox can’t seem to beat Detroit either. 72 of 162 games are played within your division and if a team can’t go .500 or better in division they are in trouble. Sox against the AL central last year played .444 ball and to date they are playing .350 or so. OUCH

Comment by JavaJ Thursday, Jun 23, 11 @ 2:05 pm
As a Cubs fans, hope springs eternal (or maybe it just overrides common sense) …

Comment by Retired Non-Union Guy Thursday, Jun 23, 11 @ 2:28 pm
These last three games were exciting baseball with two suicide squeezes, a rare triple for AJ, great bullpen work, an Ozzie ejection, and a superstar-like performance by Castro. Both teams get up for these games, and they played pretty even.

Comment by overcooked Thursday, Jun 23, 11 @ 2:38 pm
what!?

Comment by Bitterman Thursday, Jun 23, 11 @ 2:46 pm
The Cubs will get their revenge next week at Wrigley. If Ozzie gets tossed there he’ll have to go sit with the rats.

Comment by Easily Entertained Thursday, Jun 23, 11 @ 3:02 pm
@Then again -

Fortunately I’m a Cards fan…we’ll see how they do with Pujols out and Berkman on first.

@TwoFeetThick -

I give them credit, the Cubs are having one of their worst seasons in awhile. They usually aren’t this bad. Most years, they are atleast in the hunt at the All-Star break.

But this year they are struggling to play .400 ball in the SPRING. The frightening thing for Cubs fans is that their hitting is the only thing keeping them above .400, and no one thinks that will last.

Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Thursday, Jun 23, 11 @ 4:04 pm
With some understandable caution I think most of us lifelong Sox fans would be willing to welcome disgruntled (but sincerely reformed) former Cubs fans into the White Sox fraternity with open arms. There is, and always has been, another MLB team in town.

Comment by Responsa Thursday, Jun 23, 11 @ 4:07 pm
and just think Cubs Fans example#1 your best player will be moved to 3rd base!! because your OLD at every key position when compared to dollar value!!

Comment by railrat Thursday, Jun 23, 11 @ 4:14 pm
Cubs fans. Enjoy your ballpark while it lasts. Looks like it won’t be for much longer:

http://www.chicagonow.com/blogs/cubs-insider/2011/06/stark-cubs-officials-claim-wrigley-maybe-beyond-rehab.html

Comment by Frank Thursday, Jun 23, 11 @ 4:36 pm
At least White Sox fans should appreciate the Cubs assisting them in their futile quest of .500 baseball they’ve been struggling to reach all year.

Comment by Wensicia Thursday, Jun 23, 11 @ 5:15 pm
–Cubs fans. Enjoy your ballpark while it lasts. Looks like it won’t be for much longer:

http://www.chicagonow.com/blogs/cubs-insider/2011/06/stark-cubs-officials-claim-wrigley-maybe-beyond-rehab.html–

It’s not much of an un-sourced story, but it begs the questions: where would they go and who would pay for it?

Of all the MLB stadiums build in the last 25 years or so, only the Giants in SF was primarily privately financed. All the others averaged about 70% public money.

If the anonymous sources in the story are correct, and that Wrigley won’t last another five years, the Ricketts better start passing the hat in a hurry.

Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Jun 23, 11 @ 5:43 pm
“Take me way out to the ballgame, take me way out to the crowd, buy me some peanuts and turn out the lights, the Cubbies are playing in Arlington Hts.”

Comment by amalia Thursday, Jun 23, 11 @ 6:54 pm
Amalia, maybe Arlington Park racetrack can be repurposed and kill 2 birds with one stone.

Comment by Responsa Thursday, Jun 23, 11 @ 6:56 pm
good idea! I have no memory of the name of the song that line is from, or the songwriter, but it is from a lyric from kvetching in Cub land re the stadium in the ’80s.

Comment by amalia Thursday, Jun 23, 11 @ 6:58 pm
The Ricketts family…. I don’t know what to think of them yet. This might surprise people like Rich, but to those intelligent Cubs fans like myself and yes there a lot of us, just like they’re smart Sox fans (I won’t comment if they post here), we knew that this season and the next couple of seasons are lost causes. There was a lot of paper being thrown around prior by the previous owner in better economic times that has and will continue to hamstring my favorite baseball club for the next 18 months.

The Cubs will no longer have Fukedome (who acutally took less money from the Cubs than play for the White Sox… really wish he would have gone to the South Side instead), Rameriez, Silva, and Grabow on their payroll, lopping off about 50 million. The following year, Dempster, Zambrano, and Byrd come off the books as well, an additional 40 million. By then, I am hopeful that the Ricketts pay Soriano whatever is left on that horrible contract and start anew.

The Cubs won’t be average until 2013. They had a nice little run winning two divisions in 07 and in 08 but failed in the playoffs both times.

The White Sox are in great shape all things being considered. Their pitching is very very good, starters and bullpen alike (why idiot fans want to bench Santos after two poor innings is beyond me). Their offense, just like it’s been really under Kenny’s watch, been hit or miss — more so than really any other team I’ve seen play. The Sox again have the benefit of playing a majority of their home games in the summer which suits their team and the ballpark very well. Thus far, only injuries include Peavy and Teahan, unlike some of their rivals in the AL Central — the entire Minnesota Twins team and Hafner and Choo for the Indians.

If I were a White Sox fan, I’d be happy that unlike last year when they went 25-5, they’ve played better, more consistent baseball the past two months to dig themselves of the whole. I know it coincides with interleague play but there appears to be less ups and downs with this years team, something you usually need to win a division.

The only major problem I see with the Sox is their inability to add payroll at the deadline. This is the biggest payroll they’ve ever had, the team is maxed out likely losing money (although I have to hesitate if Reinsdorf said that), attendance is actually worse this year than last. Of course, they have a luxury in dangling Edwin Jackson and his 10 million contract to get better.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Jun 23, 11 @ 7:48 pm
Joe Ricketts didnt want the team and now that it is under water with a decaying stadium collapsing rating and fan base i wonder waht he is thinking. i wonder what he thinks of Bud Seligs seizure of teh Dodgers. i know what I would be thinking. Bankruptcy court. It is the only chance of getting something for the subordinated debt . I would much rather be there than relying on Buds tender mericies. Of course Bud has tolerated the Mets terrible ownership. He supposedly likes Tom Ricketts,supposedly

Comment by western illinois Thursday, Jun 23, 11 @ 8:34 pm