The City Series is always a big deal here in Chicago. In general, Cubs fans and White Sox fans are highly intolerant of each other. They love to see the other team lose almost as much as they love to see their own team win. And when a single game can cause their own team to win and the other team to lose, that’s almost a slice of heaven.
But this year, the series is intensified by a remarkable truth. This year, both teams are division leaders.
The Chicago Cubs are in first place in the National League Central Division. At .620, they have the best record in baseball. They are 4.5 games over the second-place St. Louis Cardinals.
On the South Side, the Chicago White Sox are in first in the American League Central Division. They cling to that position, a mere 0.5 game over the surging second-place Minnesota Twins. But the Sox have been in that spot 49 days this season.
Today starts the second half of the City Series with three games to be played in U.S. Cellular Field, the Sox’ park.
The Cubs owned the first half of the series. They swept the Sox at Wrigley. The combined score for the three games was 22-11.
But the Cubs are great at home and less great on the road. And taking the Red Line from Addison down to 35th Street counts as being “on the road.”
At home, they are 33-10. On the road, they are 16-20. And the same is true, if not as extreme for the Sox. At home, the Sox are 24-11 and away they are 19-24.
Ryan Dempster, 9-2 with a 2.63 ERA, will be pitching for the Sox against Jose Contreras, 6-6 with a 3.96 ERA.
It’s the White Sox’ turn this week-end. Let’s see if they take it.
Tags: Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox
June 27, 2008 at 10:16 am
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June 27, 2008 at 10:35 am
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