Minor Deal for Cubs; No Deal for White Sox

August 1, 2014 @ admin → No Comments

Baseball’s trade deadline came Thursday with some high-profile moves. And then there were the Chicago Cubs, who dealt left-handed reliever James Russell and infielder/outfielder Emilio Bonifacio to Atlanta for Class A catcher Victor Caratini. Because catching is a weakness in the Cubs organization. And there’s no better way to strengthen that weakness than by acquiring a guy who can hit .279 in Class A.

Video below of model Sara Sampaio.

* Speaking of the Cubs deal, the team’s front office is building a championship team. Or so goes the thinking. Very slowly, it would appear. Then again, Rome wasn’t built in a day, and Caratini played for the Braves’ Class A Rome team. So there’s that.

* Speaking of title teams (or at least franchises that would appear headed to the postseason, the Detroit Tigers lost to the visiting Chicago White Sox 7-4. And the Tigers still had reason to feel good (aside from the fact they still lead the American League Central). Detroit acquired highly sought-after left-hander David Price from Tampa Bay in a three-team deal. Not only should Price help the Tigers reach the postseason, he — along with Justin Verlander, Max Scherzer and Rick Porcello — provide starting pitching that could help bring Detroit a World Series crown. Because pitching wins in the postseason. Which explains the Cubs not acquiring pitching. Why bother?

* So would the White Sox have been buyers or sellers if they had pulled off a deadline deal? We may never know. Unless, of course, they happen to make a deal in the next month or so. Being three games under .500 can give a team hope. Generally when they have been much worse (as the Sox were). And now the question becomes whether they can be much better.

* The return of Elena Delle Donne is more than good news for the Chicago Sky. Sidelined by Lyme disease, the 2013 WNBA rookie of the year came off the bench to score 10 points in 11 minutes of an 87-74 victory at home against the New York Liberty. Delle Donne’s return gave the WNBA one of its prime players back. And the value of that is more than a victory to improve her team’s record to 11-16 (although a late-season run to reach the playoffs would make for a compelling story).

* If memory serves me correctly (and occasionally it does), today marks the three-year anniversary of being let go by the Chicago Sun-Times. No comment. Someone does have a comment about the paper. Speaking of my former employer, here is a statement from Chicago Bulls chairman Jerry Reinsdorf that mentions the once-great newspaper: “I am confounded by the irresponsible report in the Chicago Sun-Times suggesting there is anything approaching discord or confusion between the Bulls executive office, coaching staff, and Derrick Rose or any other Bulls player. To the contrary, I can remember no time when the organization has been any more focused, optimistic, and cohesive. I’ve got to assume suggestions otherwise are intended to undermine the goals and objectives, spirit, and reputation of the Chicago Bulls. I am deeply disappointed that unnamed sources and totally inaccurate statements and assumptions can be used to foment nonexistent friction. The report is totally without basis or fact. It is pure malicious fiction.”

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