June 2 Triple Play

June 2, 2017

Well sports fans, there’s a lot going on. Let’s take a look.

The Stanley Cup finals are taking place. To this point the series of Pittsburgh vs. Nashville lacks the drama of the earlier playoff series. Pittsburgh has totally out played, you may say out classed Nashville. The Penguins were playing at home, I don’t think it matters. The Predators are good and should be better next year. However, the Penguins are loaded with talent and have veteran experience. Even if Nashville goes to on to win on their home ice (that’s a big if) Pittsburgh still win this series. They won’t lose at home.

The NBA playoffs for the most part have been awful. Before the season started everyone was waiting for the Golden State Warriors to meet the Cleveland Cavaliers. Both teams were a combined 24-1 in the previous rounds.  The Warriors destroyed the Cavs in game one. They seem more talented than last year’s team with the addition of Kevin Durant. That being said they should win this series. However, despite the first game, the Warriors are still going up against LeBron James. Last year down 3-1, he led the Cavaliers back to win the championship. I’m hoping this gets interesting

We still have Baseball.

Chicago Cubs – Just saw St. Louis Cardinals misplay a couple of fly balls helping the Cubs snap a six game losing streak. I predicted close to a 100 wins when the season started. They should still win their division with about 90 wins. Right now the team ahead of them, Milwaukee, will not maintain their current pace. When you win the World Series everything seems to go right. Timely hits are in abundance, remarkable starting pitching, a weak hitting shortstop with 26 home runs etc. Theo has to make some moves to strengthen this team. They should add a quality starter. The pitching has been shaky. Arrieta is pitching like he did in Baltimore, Hendricks has not been the same and how long can you count on Lackey? They may have to trade someone on the current roster to add a quality starter.  Imagine what the Cubs could get for either Biez or Russell? The one that stays is your shortstop. By the way, losing three straight to the Dodgers is okay. Losing to the Padres is unacceptable. Kyle Schwarber from lead off man to platoon player. Is next move Iowa? 

Chicago “loyalty trumps winning” White Sox – Currently the Sox are where I thought they would be. Playing inconsistent baseball four games under .500. Although I’m all for the rebuild, there are questions on the way they’re going about it. They received two position players and five pitchers in the winter trades. On the north side they fielded a team then added pitching. Many pitching prospects don’t pan out. In future moves, get some position players. In the upcoming draft, please no pitchers. Signing the 19 year old Cuban Robert was a great move. Why start him out in the Dominican Republic League instead of A ball where he could work his way up and be ready for 2019? On the field they’ve had some thrilling victories and some excruciating loses. Pinch hitting the awful Frazier who strikes out with man on third with one out. Why does he still play? In Anaheim a safety squeeze that was so obvious the base runer was at least 5 feet away when the catcher already had the ball. Renteria said the players didn’t execute when he should have took the blame for a bad move.  He still has a long way to go to be worse than Robin Ventura. The Sox did bring up a pitching prospect Tyler Danish, who was a little nervous but shook it off to throw 5 scoreless innings. They immediately sent him back down. They have inserted a lefty reliever to fill in the staff until another bad pitcher comes off the DL. Two problems. He only lasted 4 innings in first outing and the bullpen’s only other lefty is the terrible Dan Jennings.