Frequent readers of this blog will know that for the past several weeks I have been doing a regular Chicago Cubs Watch. This year marks a century since the last time the Cubs won the World Series. Although there have been many seasons in which the Cubs looked like they could pull off another trip to the World Series, even another World Series championship, this season started with a certain hopeful buzz that the talent of the team and the round number of 100 would work together to make this the Cubs’ year. And it’s not nuts to think it could happen. The Cubs are in first place in the National League Central Division, a game ahead of the St. Louis Cardinals, 1.5 games ahead of the Houston Astros. At .596, they have the third-best record in the Majors behind the Boston Red Sox (.612) and the Arizona Diamondbacks (.609).
We can put a man on the moon. Why can’t we put the Cubs in the World Series?.
But there’s more to Chicago baseball than the Cubs. The Windy City has another Major League team. They’re called the White Sox. And it hasn’t been a century since they won the World Series. It’s been three years. And, like the Cubs, the poor step-sister South-Sider Sox are in first place in their division. The Sox are 2.5 games ahead of the second-place Minnesota Twins and 3.5 games ahead of the third-place Cleveland Indians in the American League Central.
Yes, that’s right. Chicago has two teams. And they’re both in first place.
Beat that, New York and L.A.
So I am expanding the scope of the Chicago Cubs Watch to include the White Sox, too.
The Cubs lost Wednesday night 5-3 to the Houston Astros on the strength of Carlos Lee’s three-run homer. The loss highlights how much better the Cubs’ record is at home. They have won nine of their last 13 games, but only four of their last 13 road games. The Astros took two games of the three-game series.
The Sox beat the Indians 7-2 after Jermaine Dye homered twice. Dye’s first homer drove in three of the five runs the Sox scored in the sixth inning. His second, a solo effort in the seventh inning, was icing on the cake. The homers bring his season HR count to eight. This marks the eighteenth game in his career that he has hit two home runs.
The Sox have won seven games in a row and 10 of their last 13.
And Chicago has two teams in first place.
