A Long, Frustrating Summer of Baseball

The Cubs drop 6 straight after losing 18-4 to the Yankees while the Sox lose P Michael Kopech… and the game to the Rangers. Pictures courtesy of The New York Times & The Seattle Times.

Baseball in Chicago this summer is going to be very frustrating if today’s games are any indication. The Cubs were blown out 18-4 by the Yankees to fall 13 games under .500. The Cubs are going through the painful process of rebuilding after GM Jed Hoyer decided to close the window by trading the key pieces of the team that won in all in 2016 but at least they have some young players who could be the building blocks to the Cubs getting back into the pennant picture. The White Sox? They’re just a banged up team that can’t hit in scoring situations, get key outs, pick up the baseball and run the bases. The Sox added to their list of injuries by losing starting pitcher Michael Kopech. Today’s 8-6, 12-inning loss to the Rangers dropped the Sox to 27-31. We’re at the point where fans may have to accept the White Sox just won’t be challenging for a World Series title this year. This is surely frustrating considering the talent that’s still on this team. Manager Tony LaRussa(who heard chants of ‘Fire Tony’ during the weekend series with the Rangers) had better figure this out in a hurry.

Bulls Rumor Mill

Could Rudy Gobert end up in a Bulls uniform? Image courtesy of KSL Sports.

With the July 1 start of free agency fast approaching, Bulls VP Arturas Karnisovas and GM Marc Eversley will have some tough decisions to make. The biggest question will be whether or not they feel Bulls guard Zach LaVine will be worth the max contract he’s seeking. While LaVine had an All-Star season averaging 24.4 points, 4.6 rebounds & 4.5 assists, LaVine missed 15 games due to injuries & COVID protocol. The 67 games played is the most games played since 2015-16 and the only time he’s played 65 games or more in a season since the 2015-16 season. Though he’ll be 27 when the 2022-23 season begins, he’s a player with knee issues and a tendency to make questionable decisions in key moments. LaVine will be the first and biggest domino to fall. The Bulls won’t be able to decide how they’ll move forward until they decide what to do with Zach.

Once that’s decided, the Bulls will have to provide some 3 & D guys to surround Demar DeRozan and LaVine while adding some size to strengthen their front court. One such person who could end up in a Bulls uniform is Knicks C Mitchell Robinson. The New York Post reported Karnisovas is doing his research on the big man and feels he could be a fit alongside Nikola Vuvecic. Another possibility is kind of a wild one but it’s out there – Utah C and 3-time Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert. If the Bulls were to go after Gobert it would surely mean parting ways with Nikola. Decisions, decisions, decisions…

The Chef Curry Show

The NBA Finals have given fans an interesting matchup thus far between the Boston Celtics and the Golden St. Warriors. The series is now tied at 2-2 after Stephon Curry went HAM with a 43 point, 10 rebound, 4 assist outburst to lead the Warriors to a 107-97 win. Curry became the 3rd oldest player in NBA Finals history to have a 40+ point game behind Michael Jordan & LeBron James.

Steph Curry joined Magic Johnson & Jerry West as the only PGs to have 40 points & 10 rebounds in an NBA Finals game.

For the series so far, Curry is averaging 34.3 pts, 6.3 rebs and 3.8 assts. If the Warriors are going to win this series then Curry will need to continue carrying his team on his back. He’ll also need help from Klay Thompson, Kevon Looney and Andrew Williams. The Warriors can forget about Draymond Green being of any help on offense. Green is averaging an abysmal 4.3 ppg while shooting 23.1% from the floor.

The Celtics will have to continue to use their size to pound GSW on the boards. They’ll also need Jayson Tatum to be the closer. He’s averaging 22.3 ppg but only on 37.8% shooting.

Game 5 is Monday night at the Chase Arena in San Francisco.

Final Thoughts

  • Cody Rhodes is a maniac… and I mean that in the best way possible. Rhodes tore his pectoral muscle completely off the bone before his HIAC match against Seth Rollins. Much to the chagrin of doctors, Rhodes competed in the match and put on an absolute classic with Rollins. The match is being hailed as the frontrunner for Match of the Year. Kudos to Seth Rollins as well for making the match work.
Cody Rhodes put on a legendary performance against Seth Rollins in Hell In A Cell.
  • After winning the AEW Championship at Double or Nothing, AEW received a crushing blow as champion CM Punk had to go on the injured list with a foot injury. He was told not to relinquish the title as there will be an interim AEW Champion crowned at Forbidden Door and that champion will eventually face Punk when he returns from injury. As if that wasn’t bad enough Bryan Danielson also suffered an injury at Double or Nothing and will be out for a couple of weeks.
  • The good folks over at Good Karma Wrestling talked all things wrestling and what’s going on at AEW & WWE. Take a listen:

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ctaylorjr14

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