Somehow during the two month ramp-up to the trade deadline I lost track of one of the biggest developments of the summer.
Chicago has become the sweet spot of the world, climatically speaking.
Except for an occasional deluge or a worst-air-pollution-in-the-world kind of day, our summer has been spectacular.
Not too hot. Not too cold. Just bleeping perfect.
While the rest of the country is sweating its assets off in 100-degree heat, we’re chilling on the porch with a cold one in hand and another one or two on ice. The only thing that could make it better would be a dominating season from your preferred baseball team.
That won’t be the case this year. White Sox fans long ago succumbed to the reality that the team was going nowhere. Cubs fans still might be giddy from the wild deadline dash to save Cody Bellinger, but they also know the only reasons their team is contending with a 54-53 record are the mediocre division they play in and National League parity affecting the wild-card race.
At least the Cubs have something to look forward to the last two months. Sox fans only can look forward to Luis Robert Jr.‘s excellence and the eventual DFAing of Yasmani Grandal.
Since all baseball writers are contractually obligated to declare winners and losers after the trade deadline, here’s our 2023 list.
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Leaving the White Sox was understandably hard on “Cheezborger,” who developed a devoted fan base that fell in love with his resilience and ability to hit dingers at Sox Park. Sox fans love a big guy with power, and Burger might have been the one player no South Sider wanted to see gone.
But performing in a wild-card race will provide Burger with more national exposure, and if he continues hitting Burger bombs at LoanDepot Park, the legend will only grow.
The Sox general manager did the right thing baseball-wise, dumping pitchers who wouldn’t be part of the future for prospects. Then, without consulting the marketing department, he traded the Sox’s most likable player, Burger, for a top pitching prospect who won’t be here for a year or two.
Hahn’s best chance of recovery is Elon Musk completely destroying Twitter, where Sox Twitter has destroyed the GM for years. Hahn might fare better on Sox Threads.
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“The fact is you can’t buy a championship team in baseball,” Ricketts said in September. “You have to build it. And that’s what we’re doing.” New York Mets owner Steve Cohen has proved him right.
The Mets’ fire sale was cause for celebration in owners suites across North America. Of course, Ricketts realized had to spend money to compete last winter, and come November he’ll have to splurge to keep Cody Bellinger around for a few more years.
If he only had a .500 team like Ricketts, Reinsdorf would be contending down the stretch. And according to Reinsdorf, that’s all Sox fans really want.
“I think the important thing to fans is, while they want you to win championships, they want to know that when they get down to the last month of the season you still have a shot,” he said three months ago during a seminar in Los Angeles. “You’re still playing meaningful games. If you can do that consistently, you’ll make your fans happy.”
The front office traded closer Josh Hader at the deadline last year, sinking the Milwaukee Brewers’ season. Counsell didn’t sign an extension and went into 2023 as the game’s most intriguing free-agent manager. This time the executive Cheeseheads gave Counsell minor additions to a team that has once again overachieved.
If he get the Brewers to October, Counsell should be the most sought after manager come November.
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Maybe the greatest individual season of all time needs to be rewarded with an October appearance. The Los Angeles Angels kept Ohtani and added on but could fold again and fall out of the American League wild-card race. Better luck next year with the Dodgers.
NBC Sports Chicago has baseball’s most entertaining postgame show with “Salty Chuck” Garfien and Ozzie Guillén. Cubs fans even watch it to hear the two criticize the Sox’s latest performance.
Frank Thomas has become more vocal as well, ripping the clubhouse culture. Who would’ve believed the Sox’s biggest critics would be their own guys?
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With no big names to talk about except Justin Verlander, the five-hour trade-deadline show grew tedious. Did anyone really care that the San Diego Padres acquired Rich Hill?
Letting analyst Ken Rosenthal get away will haunt Commissioner Rob Manfred for years.
The last time the Cubs contended in 2020, radio voice Pat Hughes had to make it sound exciting from an empty Wrigley Field, thanks to COVID-19 restrictions. Three years later, the Cubs are back in a race and Hughes was just recognized by the Baseball Hall of Fame as one of the greatest announcers of all time.
Listening to games on WSCR-AM 670 should be a treat if the Cubs can hang around.
Third baseman Nick Madrigal booted a sharp grounder off the bat of Cincinnati Reds left fielder Nick Senzel in the fifth inning of Tuesday’s 20-9 Cubs win. Senzel inexplicably was credited with a hit by the official scorer.
It took Major League Baseball 17 days to concede what originally was scored a double by Boston Red Sox catcher Connor Wong on July 16 was in fact a two-base error by second baseman Nico Hoerner. Five runs off Justin Steele became unearned with the change.
If official scorers at Wrigley can’t make the obvious calls, perhaps the system needs to be overhauled.
Winners and losers from MLB trade deadline - Chicago Tribune
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