If you’re like a lot of Chicago baseball fans, nose dives by the White Sox and Cubs in August made the game too painful to watch in September.
But with the regular season wrapping up this weekend and the playoffs closer than a bang-bang play at first base, you probably should know what was happening around the league while your head was buried beneath the bleachers.
As we embark on October, here are four recent key developments.
Fresh faces key NL
Usually being the new guy at work sucks, but not so for outfielder Matt Holliday and pitcher Cliff Lee. They bolstered the Cardinals and Phillies, respectively, after being acquired from American League teams midseason. Philadelphia’s rotation also has been aided by the late-season return of Pedro Martinez. Remember him?
What pennant races?
Look Ma, no drama! Most of the pennant races were all but decided by mid-September. Sure, the Twins have made it interesting in the AL Central by catching up with the Tigers, but most baseball pundits see these playoffs as a battle of flawed teams to see who gets to be slaughtered by the Yankees.
AL East rerun
Stop us if you’ve heard this before: The New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox shored up their spots for the playoffs. Greatest rivalry in sports, yada, yada, yada. We’ll let ESPN breathlessly fill you in on the rest.
No mas for Mets
The Mets never turned it around, racking up more than 90 losses. Remember, this is the team with the second-highest opening-day payroll in MLB and a club many expected would be contending for the World Series. Then again, the No. 3 payroll belonged to the Cubs, and we all know how that worked out.
watch
dog
WHIZZER
Here’s what I’m watching this weekend.
MLB
Cubs vs. Arizona
12:05 p.m. Saturday, WGN
1:20 p.m. Sunday, CSN
MLB
White Sox at Detroit
6:05 p.m. Saturday, CSN
12:05 p.m. Sunday, WGN
NHL
Blackhawks vs. Florida
At Helsinki, Finland
11 a.m. Saturday, CSN
NFL
Bears vs. Detroit
Noon Sunday, Fox
five on one
The Cubs and White Sox take the winter off. Our panel is always here for you. Sign up for weekday Five on Five at redeyechicago.com/facebookfives.
The topic: The MLB postseason starts soon without either Chicago team. How will you stay interested?
Tracy Swartz: How I always stay interested: dreaming of my fantasy team.
Leo Ebersole: By staying true to the sport: regular B-12 injections and cockfighting.
Supriya Doshi: Ummm … I won’t.
Brian Moore: I guess I’ll just have to root for a future Cubs manager: Joe Girardi.
Michael Hines: I’ll be scouting the Cubs’ next big bust.
