NEWSLETTER
I’ve been on a bit of an ‘Alien’ universe binge, kinda bouncing around among the movies. One gripe I have that is completely unfair, but I can never get past when you have series that spans decades in the real world, but moves around in time in their own space: the “technology” people use in, say, ‘Aliens’ looks hopelessly antiquated compared to the tech they use in ‘Prometheus’ or ‘Alien: Covenant,’ even though the events of those movies took place some 100 years in the past. Like I said, it’s an unfair gripe based on when the movies were made, but it kinda breaks the verisimilitude a bit when you watch the movies in quick succession. “We got wayyyyy better at deep space travel over the last 100 years, but we kinda forgot how to make digital displays that don’t look like ancient green screen Apple computers. It’s been a weird century!”
• As big as last night’s win was for the Cubs, it was equally damaging for the White Sox. It was not only their sixth loss in a row (and eighth in their last ten), but it also was a missed opportunity to get back into a tie atop the AL Central standings, since the Twins lost. Meanwhile, the Indians won their sixth in a row, bringing them into a tie with the White Sox. They’ve already clinched a playoff spot, but now the White Sox have dropped from possibly being the second seed to being the seventh seed.
• And the fan base and media aren’t handling it well:
"It's absolutely embarrassing" –@TheBigHurt_35 pic.twitter.com/uwe87BkYaw
— White Sox Talk (@NBCSWhiteSox) September 26, 2020
The White Sox managed to zap an entire season’s worth of excitement out of the fanbase in like 5 games. That’s impressive.
— Mike (@ChiSoxFanMike) September 26, 2020
You had a guy bat flip 40 feet in the air on a 377 foot HR, then a reliever climb the fence and put his crotch in Mazara’s face, and then a bat flip on a WALK. Also, Contreras is perennially a turd. Good night. https://t.co/9azZUw60fg
— Slavko Bekovic (@SBekovic) September 26, 2020
Dear White Sox, You rebuilt your team in a similar way as the Cubs. Do you remember what the Cubs did with Ricky Renteria during their climb?
— Mike Janssen (@MikeJanssenWX) September 25, 2020
Rick Renteria has lost control.
— Josh Nelson (@soxmachine_josh) September 26, 2020
*way back in time to Sunday*
“So, have they clinched the division?”
“No, but, I mean, they’d have to go like 1-6 or 0-7 this week to have a realistic chance at blowing it.” pic.twitter.com/dbG9n6e9tJ
— Write Sox (@WriteSox) September 25, 2020
• Don’t Schadenfreude too hard, though, Cubs fans: with a magic number of one, the Cubs *could* still blow the division … just sayin’.
• The White Sox GM mostly said the right thing here about Willson Contreras, but I’m not a huge fan of the choice of “showboat”, which feels like he’s saying Contreras was trying to show the White Sox up:
White Sox GM Rick Hahn on 670-AM this morning, regarding Cub Willson Contreras' bat flip last night: "If you don’t want the guy to showboat, get him out."
— Daryl Van Schouwen (@CST_soxvan) September 26, 2020
• Like we discussed this morning, Contreras was pumped for his slumping team and that’s all he was showing. And he showed it well. Otherwise, Hahn’s message is correct.
• Javy Báez is now a career* .500/.500/1.000 hitter with a 302 wRC+. *(batting left-handed)
Your shortstop could never. #ElMago pic.twitter.com/guM6zzJuc8
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) September 26, 2020
• Also, do you remember his other lefty appearance, and how he juuuuuuust got under one:
Still thinking about Javy batting left-handed, swinging out of his shoes, and juuuuuust getting under it. If he'd have barreled this thing, it was going 800 feet. pic.twitter.com/vhMD0OI4mh
— Bleacher Nation (@BleacherNation) April 10, 2020
• Bonus, funny look here from switch-hitter Ian Happ, who knows that switch-hitting is hard:
Lol Ian Happ watching “another” switch hitter get a homer on one side and a double from the other @javy23baez @ihapp_1 @BleacherNation @realcubsinsider @WatchMarquee pic.twitter.com/0zqYxg0Fw7
— MBDChicago (@MBDChicago) September 26, 2020
• This was hilarious and random and awesome:
https://twitter.com/JMontana41/status/1309695221140262914
• The Brewers have lost their top starting pitcher for the early part of the postseason at least, if they can sneak in this weekend:
Burnes suffered a slightly torn left oblique during Thursday’s start vs. Cardinals, sources said. He attempted to pitch through it. Here’s the timetable for his return should the Brewers advance… https://t.co/Z6cqHtCzar
— Robert Murray (@ByRobertMurray) September 25, 2020
• Burnes wasn’t going to pitch again this weekend, so there’s no impact to the Cubs as far as clinching the Central vis a vis the Cardinals.
• Speaking of injured pitchers trying to make it back in the postseason:
Ross: Tyler Chatwood (IL, right forearm/elbow) scheduled to throw a bullpen session Saturday.
"I saw him today and I asked him if he was going to be ready. He told me he was ready. I said, 'You're full of [beep!],' and moved on. So, we were joking around. But he's working."
— Jordan Bastian (@MLBastian) September 25, 2020
• If Chatwood is throwing a bullpen today, and since he’s not being shut down for the year, it’s clearly possible he could be back by the time the Cubs would be in the NLDS or NLCS. Whether they would actually use him at that point remains to be seen, but he was included in the pool of players who are eligible to be put on the postseason rosters.
• This is the first concrete step by MLB toward the minor league contraction we know is coming:
MLB's plan to convert the Appalachian League, formerly an advanced rookie short-season league, to a wood-bat league for collegiate players is apparently full steam ahead (via @mlb_pr): pic.twitter.com/Yhqio5wQUL
— keithlaw (@keithlaw) September 25, 2020
• Javy Báez is still very popular:
MLB and the @MLB_PLAYERS today announced the 2020 season's most popular @Nike player jerseys.@mookiebetts ranks no. 1 for the first time in his career, also a first for @Dodgers.@tatis_jr & @JuanSoto25_ make their debuts in the top five.
Top 20 list: https://t.co/8X75uGLecM pic.twitter.com/eEJHK99Ouh
— MLB Communications (@MLB_PR) September 25, 2020
• Gross. ‘Parks and Rec’ was better anyway:
The worst part of working from home?
They can't go into The Office!
But, they can come to Busch as part of CardBOARD Nation! pic.twitter.com/ZCvRjVcKvB
— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) September 25, 2020
• I know how Schwarber actually wound up in this position over top of the base, but I like to imagine other scenarios where something like this could possibly happen:
I love playing "imagine how this picture came to be." pic.twitter.com/2zbLTrBbyA
— Bleacher Nation (@BleacherNation) September 26, 2020
• Massagers, kids gear, seat protectors, and “Tommy John” are among the Deals of the Day at Amazon. The last one is the clothing line, but it’s impossible not to read it as “oh hey, you can get 30% off Tommy John surgery right now, so get ahead of that UCL tear and save some cash!” #ad
