Category > Centrally Located
2008 was an unpredictable year for the American League Central. Cleveland was the defending champion and Detroit made a bunch of big off-season moves, but they both underachieved for a variety of reasons and finished third and fifth, respectively. Chicago and Minnesota jumped into the void, finishing tied for first at 88-74 (the Sox won in a one-game playoff), while Kansas City emerged from the division cellar for the first time since 2003. My pre-season predictions last year were as …
| Craig Breslow had a fantastic year out of the Minnesota Twins bullpen, but he’s not taking any time off this winter to rest on his laurels. Breslow, who had a 1.63 ERA in 42 appearances for Minnesota, is spending a good chunk of his offseason building support for the Strike 3 Foundation. “The Strike 3 Foundation is a charitable agency that heightens awareness, mobilizes support and raises funding for pediatric cancer research,” Breslow said. “It was started with a close …
Well, the Sox couldn’t quite dig themselves out of the 2-0 hole that they dug for themselves in Tampa, so one week after their dramatic victory over the Twins in a one-game tiebreaker, it’s already the offseason for the last team standing in the AL Central. It was an interesting season, if not a dominant one for any squad. Detroit and Cleveland were expected to dominate, but they underachieved and finished last and third, respectively. Minnesota and Chicago were tabbed …
Thanks to everyone who came out to the Smile Politely party at Mike ‘N Molly’s last night. It was a lot of fun, despite the baseball game, which was won by the White Sox, 1–0. Chicago wins the AL Central and advances to the playoffs to face Tampa Bay, starting tomorrow night. Surprisingly, there were a couple of groups of Twins fans that filed in right around 6:30 p.m., and we outnumbered the Sox fans (at least those in caps …
Last night was the biggest game up to this point of the season for both the Chicago White Sox and the Minnesota Twins. I excitedly set my DVR to record the game on Extra Innings channel 740 and left to attend the Smile Politely editors meeting; I planned to write a running diary about the game for this column when I returned home. I was a little nervous when none of the Esquire TV’s were tuned to the game, and …
Before we get to the gripping coverage of the Minnesota Twins’ utter collapse, a plug: Smile Politely is calling all baseball fans to join your favorite SP baseball columnists Sunday, September 22 21, at the Tumble Inn (302 S. Neil St., Champaign) to watch the final Cubs-Cardinals tilt of 2008 (barring a miraculous wild-card run by the Redbirds). It’s a 1 p.m. game, so come on out and join the fun. The White Sox will also be simultaneously engaging in …
Since the AL Central has been a two-team race for the majority of the season, most of the space in this column has been occupied by coverage of the White Sox and Twins. However, despite their teams’ lack of success, there is at least one player each for Cleveland, Detroit and Kansas City who has had an unexpected breakout season. In this election season, it’s important to respect the concept of equal time, so this week’s Centrally Located will be …
What would be a better end to this most unpredictable of seasons than to look around when the dust settles and find no Yankees or Red Sox in the vicinity? It could happen, as we enter September with the Yankees all but out of the race and the Red Sox clinging to the wild card by a slim margin. As of last night, the White Sox and Twins are deadlocked at the top of the AL Central, and they both …
The American League Central continues to be a tight two-team race heading into the last month of the season, as the Chicago White Sox lead the Minnesota Twins by two games heading into tonight’s play. That got me thinking, how many times over the years have the Twins and White Sox finished first and second at season’s end? Surprisingly (or maybe not if you consider each franchise’s spotty record of success over the years), it’s only happened five times, and …
August is a month that can make or break a baseball team’s season. It’s officially too late for a team that’s hanging around .500 to legitimately have a shot at the postseason, unless said team plays in the NL West. There’s also the possibility for even more distance to be put between the haves and have-nots, as teams who shipped out their veterans at the trading deadline tank, and the contenders who benefited from those fire sales beat up on …
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Surprised you think it will take two wins. I think we have a shot to get in with another loss. The bubble is just a disaster this year, and we’ll float to the top even with one win.
May I borrow your Grey Poupon? I suppose I could write my news column one day, and my opinion column the next—as with Tatelines or Tupperlines. But I don’t write a news column, so it seems like a lot of extra work.
Actually, I think you have been ‘harangued’ by writing your opinions and judgements and considering them as ‘news’ asopposed to editorials. Taking a side on any issue dismisses journalism. It’s then an editorial. This is an arrogant writing.
Nothing is as humbling as running distances. I was a Div.I athlete, and NOTHING compares to the physical & mental test running has proven to be for me…..and I love it!
Tony C… Marathons are meant to be the most painfully excruciating character building exercise you can do besides childbirth, I would imagine. After all Pheidippides died after his. But at least he did one.
Rob, don’t ever change. I lean “merryman,“ but still can’t wait to read your take after every game and that hasn’t changed one bit in recent weeks.
I ran a slow Chicago marathon with a friend as moral support. We kept passing and getting passed by fully decked out Elvis in a white jumpsuit (it was 85F) and “Hi Guy” who was wearing Crocs as footwear and waving at everyone he passed (http://higuy.com/). It…
Lena… Thanks for the story idea. I’ll add it to my list of potentials!
I like the old Rob better, but I can understand why we have the new Rob. The illini crowd turns on anyone who doesn’t toe the line. Guess that’s why the local media never asks tough questions of Weber nor have follow up questions to some of his vague mysterious answers.
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The marathon is certainly a tough distance, but I imagine that it compares to childbirth. In any event, having completed the former, I will agree that it is an excruciating tastk. Should the opportunity arise, I will let you know how the latter compares.
The UGG boots are excellent products suitable for year-round wear. Many people all know Ugg boots uk? and know they are very popular. But less people know that the Australian brand found international recognition in the 1970s when an Australian surfer named Brian Smith took several pairs…
I’ve always suspected that there’s a direct correlation between projected land use for the Rt 150 corridor [Industrial / Commercial] and the drive to expand 74. See the CCRPC Future Land Use Map for details, and then take a look at who owns land there, and you…
It’s understandable that cash can make us independent. But what to do if somebody does not have money? The one way is to receive the mortgage loans or car loan.
Zelini, I really like this - I’ll try to follow the theory more closely. As they reveal more about Kate (possibly next week), it might give us more perspective. I agree with your observation about Ben and I think Michael Emerson has done an excellent job conveying his lesser stature.
Surprised you think it will take two wins. I think we have a shot to get in with another loss. The bubble is just a disaster this year, and we’ll float to the top even with one win.
What if the sideways alternatives are where Jacob actually grants them their wishes, but in ways they didn’t quite expect? The elimination of one regret. Sayid gets to be with Nadia - although through his brother. Maybe he ends up with her at the expense of his…
The link has been updated. Thanks for alerting us.
This also explains why I was starting to think Roses & Sake was a group of strange pagans from Vancouver. This is when it pays to be a local. My apologies to the true Roses & Sake, we’ll fix this ASAP!
Ahh, shame on me. I grabbed it directly off of Mike ‘N Molly’s website. I’ll see if I can’t get it corrected on here (and maybe pass along the word to them as well). Thank you, observant reader!
I’m with Brigham regarding the Acrylics set. Very XX-ish. Very good.
i think the roses & sake link is actually: http://www.myspace.com/rosesnsake
Dangit! Now I have to go home and try that cake. MMMmmMMMMmmmm looks goood. Cakey cakey cakey…
Very nice preview…I’m stoked to be seeing The Young Republic
I understood this totally differently than the other people that posted…this is what I got from it: - the more background you have going in, the more of the allusions you will understand when watching - afterwards, you can do a little research to fill in the…
Sorry about the lack of address and hours. All I can say is duuuh
Amen. When I told people I’ve lost 18 pounds since early October the number one response I get from women is concern. 18 pounds in four months is not unhealthy, quite the opposite for me. But don’t give up on sugar, or become a vegan, or do…
The whole self-acceptance idea is tricky in itself too. Are we supposed to self-accept by sitting around like bumps on logs, doing nothing but just appreciating and accepting ourselves? Life doesn’t happen like that. I like your point about pushing ourselves to do something greater. Self-challenge and self-reflection…
lindsey - i certainly understand where you are coming from on that one. and i just wanted to state for the record that in no way did i mean to imply that i am not a feminist (or a liberal) just that i find that whole…
Jason — I know you are busy with your own thang too, but, whenever you are ready: http://www.smilepolitely.com/contribute/ Word.
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The marathon is certainly a tough distance, but I imagine that it compares to childbirth. In any event, having completed the former, I will agree that it is an excruciating tastk. Should the opportunity arise, I will let you know how the latter compares.