Final Thoughts on Chicago Sports

Baseball Bits

• The White Sox start game one against the Red Sox tomorrow.  I'll have more to say about the South Siders later, but for now let me go on record to say Contreras will take Clement to school in a laugher, 7-1.  As for the series, I'm going to go out on a limb “the Sox” will take it.  :)
• The Cubs have re-signed Ryan Dempster to a 3 year, 15 million dollar deal.  Smart move.  His numbers as a closer were very good.  He only blew two saves in 35 chances, his ERA was under 2.00, and he really seemed to have the perfect demeanor for such a role.  And at five million per, he comes considerably cheaper than the “elite” closers like Troy Percival and Armando Benitez.
• Multiple sources are reporting that Dusty Baker is ready to sign a two-year extension, to take him through the year 2008.  Yippee.
• Lou Piniella, Jim Tracy, Allan Trammell, and Jack McKeon have suddenly found themselves out of work.  Bobby Valentine continues to manage in Japan.  Jim Leyland is still alive and looking for work, as is Davey Johnson.  I even think Sparky Anderson and Whitey Herzog are still kicking around somewhere.  Dusty Baker's the best guy we can get?  Really?
• Official Playoff Predictions:  I'll take the Cards and Astros in the NL, Yankees and White Sox in the AL.  Astros over Cards, Yankees over Sox.  Then the Astros will win their first world championship behind Clemens, Oswalt, and Petitte.  I hate the Astros.  Who I'd prefer to win, in order:
1. White Sox - The city of Chicago is due for a parade.  If its not the Cubs, might as well go with the South Siders.  The only thing holding me back from giving my full support are a few insufferable Sox fans who will never let me hear the end of it.  I can put up with them, though, if it improves our city's image. 
2. Angels - by default. 
3. Padres - the city of San Diego has never won anything.  But they did beat the Cubs in the 84 playoffs, just enough to drop them behind Anaheim.
4. Red Sox - don't really care about them anymore.  They're just another team.
5. Braves - I've got relatives in Atlanta that love the Braves.  I don't.
6. Yankees - I hate the Yankees.
7. Astros - Mom always said if you can't say something nice....
8. Cardinals - ___________.