Cubs Display Power in Beating Brewers

August 14, 2014 @ admin → No Comments

Thursday thoughts (or reasonable facsimiles thereof): Javier Baez and Anthony Rizzo hit back-to-back home runs as the Chicago Cubs defeat the Milwaukee Brewers 4-2 Wednesday night at Wrigley Field. They inch closer to the division-leading Brewers. Meaning the Cubs are a mere 13 games back of the Brewers. All the Cubs need is to win 15 more consecutive contest — to reach .500.

Video below of Emily Ratajkowski. What some of us call work.

* Speaking of Baez, he is the first Cubs player with four or more homers and seven or more runs batted in through his first nine games since Hall of Famer Carmelo Martinez in 1983. Martinez has to be in somebody’s hall of fame, right?

* Still speaking of Baez’s four homers, one other Cub has had four home runs in his first nine games: Brant Brown in 1996. The research department around here still is searching to see if he’s in any hall of fame.

* Right-hander Jake Peavy ended a 12-game losing streak and the San Francisco Giants’ five-game skid. They overcame a 1-0 deficit against the White Sox and Jose Quintana with a seven-run seventh inning, as the Sox bullpen (specifically Ronald Belisario, who gave up hits to the only three batters he faced) faltered once again. Six of the runs scored with two out. On the bright (?) side for the Sox, pitching coach Don Cooper — who did not travel with the team to San Francisco because of vertigo-like symptons — is expected to rejoin the team Friday in Chicago. Well, unless watching the game on television caused Cooper to have a relapse.

* The NBA schedule is out for the 2014-15 with the Chicago Bulls opening Oct. 29 at New York. Among the Bulls’ highlights: Their home opener is Oct. 31 vs. Cleveland (and LeBron James). The Bulls also play at home Christmas night against the Los Angeles Lakers in new Bull Pau Gasol’s first game against his former team. Ho, ho, ho!

* Speaking of United Center tenants, the Blackhawks have decided not to play “The Stripper” when an attractive female participates in the team’s shoot-the-puck contest during intermission at home games. The decision for the change follows an online petition, as well as criticism that the team is not female-friendly. Wonder what the creative minds in the Hawks organization will come up with to replace “The Stripper.”

* Speaking of basketball, the Chicago Sky closed in on a WNBA playoff berth with a 72-69 victory against the host Washington Mystics. Sylvia Fowles had 21 points and 16 rebounds for the Sky (15-17), which needs a victory Saturday at Indiana or Sunday at home against San Antonio to reach the postseason. The Sky improved to 5-1 since Elena Delle Donne returned from being sidelined by Lyme disease. Coming off the bench, she had 18 points in 23 minutes. Hard to imagine the league’s poster player going from 2013 rookie of the year to coming off the bench, but it seems to be working.

* If it’s Thursday (which seems likely because yesterday was Wednesday — provided that today is Aug. 14, 2014, or a subsequent Thursday), then it is time for another edition of “Sports & Torts” with co-hosts David Spada and Elliott Harris at noon Central time on Talkzone.com. This week’s guests are Pro Football Hall of Fame receivers Charley Taylor and Lance Alworth The program also will be available later Thursday at the Talkzone.com web site.

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Here is where to go for a daily dose of non-gratuitous video (thanks to the occasionally edgy efforts of the editorial and video departments at ElliottHarris.com):