Schuster: Thank Heavens For The All Star Break
By David Schuster--
Admit it Chicago, you've probably never relished the All Star break as much as this year. Mind you, I said the break and not the All Star game itself. The game is a joke but that's a story for another day. What I'm talking about is having a few days away from the terrible season we are witnessing on both sides of town.
On the south side the White Sox had such high hopes coming out of Spring Training but they have incredibly under-achieved. Few if any experts or fans expected them to be a sub 500 team at the break but sub 500 they are. Adam Dunn was supposed to anchor the line up from the left side of the plate but he has been a massive disappointment. Of course he has plenty of company in that department. Alex Rios slept through the first half and looks disinterested a lot of the time, Juan Pierre has tailed off dramatically so far, Gordon Beckham continues to struggle and Jake Peavy has not been the big game pitcher as the team had hoped.
The over all pitching has kept this team at least competitive and the best thing the Sox have going for them is that they are in a terrible division. The A.L. Central is mediocre at best which gives the Sox a chance in the 2nd half.
And then there is the Cubs. Their season is over but unfortunately they still have 70 games still left to be played. They go into the break 18 games under 500 and if you can't remember their 3 game win streak this season that's because they haven't had one. I'd say unreal but it's very real indeed. Yes, they have had more then their share of injuries but good teams overcome injuries and the Cubs weren't able to call up anything from their minor leagues that really helped out.
And when you start the likes of Doug Davis, Rodrigo Lopez and Ramon Ortiz in your rotation need anything further be said? In true Cub fashion they had 6 guys in their lineup on sunday with batting averages of .300 or better and yet are at the bottom of the N.L. in runs scored. Can you say non-clutch?
The only questions the 2nd half might answer on the north side is whether Jim Hendry and Mike Quade will be back after this season. At least some of the terrible contracts will start peeling away but some will remain and sorry folks, Alfonso Soriano is still here for 3 more years after this season.
Depressing as all heck this baseball season has been so far but at least for the nest few days you get a chance to forget about it. I know I am and I'm putting the sign on the door.....Gone Fishing.
