Whatever is going on in Wrigleyville shouldnt have an effect on what the baseball world already thinks about the White Sox. Their offense is scary good– and the only pitchers in baseball who are cool with that are their own.
” Its unbelievable,” veteran White Sox pitcher Gio Gonzalez stated. “They are destroying baseballs.
” They must have been born beside a nuclear reactor. They are destroying baseballs. Its fun to see. It actually is enjoyable to see.”.
The exact same used to be said of the Cubs. However just in case anyone is writing the Cubs off prematurely, theyll have one more chance at the team from across town. The two clubs deal with off in the last three video games of the season, most likely with plenty on the line.
” Theyre a great group,” Sundays hero for the Cubs, Kyle Schwarber, stated of the White Sox. “Theres no if, and, or but about it. Theyre a great team.”.
The White Sox struck a tremendous 12 house runs in their three-game series against the Cubs, outscoring the opposition 18-7 general. You wouldnt understand which group was in very first location (its the Cubs) by seeing the weekend series at Wrigley Field.
While the White Sox are flying high even after their seven-game win streak came to an end on Sunday, numerous might wonder where the Cubs stand. Simply in case anyone is writing the Cubs off too soon, theyll have one more shot at the team from across town.” Theyre an excellent team,” Sundays hero for the Cubs, Kyle Schwarber, said of the White Sox.
CHICAGO– Like an aging prizefighter, the Chicago Cubs left the mat just in time on Sunday to restore a 2-1 win in the final game of their series versus their crosstown competitors, the Chicago White Sox. The latter team has become one of the darlings of Major League Baseball, slugging their way into playoff contention for the very first time in over a years.
The Cubs have a fairly recent title– won way back in 2016– and now is trying a “Last Dance” with a veteran group that numerous would state has underachieved because winning that World Series. Was Sunday simply a one-day reprieve for the Cubs or can they keep some headlines on their own as the White Sox emerge from their reconstruct on the South Side?
” That group has actually been developing and there is a great deal of buzz,” very first baseman Anthony Rizzo stated after his Cubs dropped the very first 2 games of the series. “Its hard to be on the other side of it, but when you see groups come together like that, it could be really frightening.”
2 RelatedScary is a recommendation to describe the White Soxs offense, which set a big league mark by hitting 28 home runs over a seven-game period that ended Saturday. The White Sox struck a tremendous 12 crowning achievement in their three-game series against the Cubs, outscoring the opposition 18-7 overall. You would not understand which team was in top place (its the Cubs) by enjoying the weekend series at Wrigley Field.
” We have a great deal of men that you can place on your coattails and they can bring you,” White Sox manager Rick Renteria observed. “Weve been really lucky. Hope it continues and this is simply a sign of things as we evolve as a club.”
Renteria remains in the middle of his 2nd restore in Chicago, having actually managed the Cubs in 2014. He was rejected after a single season in favor of Joe Maddon however found his method back to the city as a bench coach and after that manager on the other side of town. Now Renteria helms a powerful lineup, which includes vibrant young stars and veteran stalwarts alike.
” They have some destructive power throughout their lineup,” Fridays losing pitcher Jon Lester said. Their more youthful guys are looking for mistakes, and theyre not missing them right now. If youre not executing, theyre going to make you pay.
Outhitting the White Sox might be the finest formula to beating them, as they lead the American League in crowning achievement by a broad margin. Young studs such as Luis Robert and previous Cubs prospect Eloy Jimenez had their minutes over the weekend, however it was Abreu who took spotlight for the White Sox.
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There for the tougher days of the groups rebuild, Abreu is now the veteran anchor in the middle of a destructive group of players. He homered six times over the weekend, reminding the city– and baseball at big– that theres more than simply one terrific very first baseman in town. The Cubs Rizzo said as much.
” He does it each and every single year,” Rizzo said after Abreus three-homer video game on Saturday. “Hes been a staple there.
” Hes one of the most underrated very first basemen in the video game, in my viewpoint.”.
While the White Sox are flying high even after their seven-game win streak came to an end on Sunday, lots of may question where the Cubs stand. They were the White Sox at one time, back in 2015, emerging out of their own rebuild, bound for playoff and ultimately World Series glory. At times, they seem like a shell of themselves. Its a testimony to their leadership that theyre in first place after a fast start, regardless of holes in almost every location of their game. After their 5-7 homestand, the Cubs choose to see the glass as being half complete.
” Its great, in general, when youre not playing your best baseball to come away with some wins,” Cubs first-year supervisor David Ross stated after Sundays series ending. “The way we played this homestand is not indicative of the ball club that we are.”.
In the Cubs case, they may have the most perplexing offense in baseball– and have for several years. The Cubs rank fifth in baseball in on-base portion however 16th in batting average and 22nd in slugging percentage with runners on base.
Ron Vesely/Getty ImagesIts why Cubs president Theo Epstein thought twice when inquired about his offense going into the series against the White Sox.
” Its an interesting concern,” Epstein said. “Were doing certain things well and in certain locations theres really excellent space for enhancement. The huge photo is Im actually encouraged our record is what it is and a great deal of our best players have not truly gotten on track yet. They will.”.
Thats the hope anyhow, however there have been extremely few indications– aside from the Cubs capability to see pitches. At some time, there requires to be a benefit. Nearly all of the Cubs primary sluggers have an OPS under.800. Something isnt clicking. Once again.
” Were just trying excessive,” Cubs shortstop Javier Baez said. “We care a lot. … I understand its a short season and theres a lot of pressure since we have to improve in a shorter time.”.
Its interesting how perspective can be so different for 2 teams despite similar records. After their series win, the White Sox are 17-12. The Cubs are 17-10 however seem to be the team looking for responses.
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The White Soxs biggest concern over the weekend was what would 64-year-old longtime pitching coach Don Cooper dance to after Saturdays win? He chose Chuck Berrys “You Never Can Tell” and then wiggled his way into White Sox tradition. The perpetrators of the “Dancing for Dubs” experience, catcher Zack Collins and second baseman Danny Mendick, were asked in a Zoom call if taking it to the Cubs at Wrigley Field had special significance.
” Yes,” they addressed concurrently. “Way, method more enjoyable. … Were trying to take this new energy, this new vibe and roll with it.”.
Understanding how things go in baseball, it would be foolish to bless the White Sox as the next terrific thing and cross out the Cubs today, but that evaluation seems like it has some inevitability to it. The Cubs have prideful management from top to bottom and considerable skill on the lineup, so a total write-off– especially when theyre in a downturn– would not be reasonable.
