Failure to Communicate, Contd.

Eagles’ quarterback Jalen Hurts was allowed to play in London on October 11 even though the team knew he had a blood clot in his calf. Back in Philadelphia, Hurst underwent further tests that showed the clot had moved to both lungs. This more-serious condition means he won’t be able to play for the rest of the season. Did the team gamble on a star player’s health? Was it safe to let him fly, either to or from London? There might be any number of relevant questions to ask, not that it would matter. Because neither the Eagles nor the NFL have any intention of answering them. Rather than address the situation head-on, the organization trotted out head coach Nick Sirianni address the media by his lonesome on Monday. This is how he explained things: “I’m not a medical expert. I lean on our guys in all these situations. I’m a football coach. I lean on our medical experts in every situation. I have full trust and full faith in them. It’s not just me that has major care for our players. It’s them as well.” The above quote came from the NFL Notebook in Monday’s Sun-Times. The same quote, minus the “I’m not a medical expert” line, appeared in a story Zach Berman did in Monday’s The Athletic. Why Borman or an editor dropped that sentence from the quote beats me. But the quote in Borman’s story went on to include this line: “And so we are all there, and I’m glad to be part of an organization that cares about the guys the way our guys do.” How pathetic on multiple levels. You send out a person who admits he lacks the training to explain the situation; you don’t make the injured player available for comment; and Allen Sills, the NFL’s chief medical officer, defends the Eagles’ handling of Hurts’ injury. A fox would show more concern for the occupants of a hen house than the NFL does for its players.

Bye-Bye

So, the Guardians weren’t a team of destiny, after all. And Jose didn’t produce when he was needed him the most. Rays 7 Guardians 3. Tampa Bay takes the ALCS in six games and moves on to the World Series against the Brewers. More on this small-market, small-payroll tilt later. For now, consider how the Guardians made just like the White Sox and lost the same way. Cleveland went with an opener, followed by seven relievers. And, how did that work? See above for score.

What Goes Around

So, Guardians’ fans—36,303, to be exact—finally packed Progressive Field yesterday for game five of the ALCS. And here’s what they learned: A full house by itself can’t will a team to victory. Rays 3 Guardians 1. Cleveland could’ve clinched at home, just like the White Sox. Now, it’s do or die on the road, just like the Sox. If they can take two at Tropicana Field, I’ll tip my cap. But I think they’ll go down in six. I’ve said it once, I’ll say it again. The Guardians were a team that could’ve been, should’ve been, beat. Oh, well. How ’bout them Bears?

A Good Question

Yesterday was one of my favorite days of the year, when we take part in Open House Chicago. It’s a chance to visit literally hundreds of buildings that ordinarily wouldn’t be open to the public. Our itinerary took us from the West Side to the North Side. The weather was mid-October perfect, clear skies and cool temperatures. So, of course I wore my 1959 White Sox jacket with matching cap. Talk about showing the colors in enemy territory. Though I have to admit nobody seemed to take offense. Two people even shouted, “Go, Sox!” and they sounded sincere. Then, there was the docent at St, Mary of the Lake on Sheridan Road, who asked me, “Are you rooting for Cleveland?” I answered her as best I could. “Yes, and no.” If you’re going to lose, it might as well be to the team that goes on to win the World Series. But I’m still mad enough to think the Sox lost the ALDS more than the Guardians won it. And rooting for Jose Ramirez may be a bridge too far for me. Then again, Cleveland has the smallest payroll in baseball. That has to make the owners uncomfortable on the eve of a lockout, which is fine by me.

What We’ve Got Here is a Failure to Communicate

For the first time in nearly a month since suffering his hamstring injury, Bears’ quarterback Caleb Williams addressed the media on Thursday, and, boy, was he steamed. Willimas told reporters he had in fact suffered a “hamstring tear, and a pretty serious one” against the Vikings back on September 20. Until Thursday’s press conference, neither Williams nor coach Ben Johnson had felt the need to offer any clarity on the extent of the injury. Somehow, the inevitable speculation that followed their silence—dare I say collusion of silence?—is the media’s fault. How else to explain Williams’ belief that the sports’ media world was “not deserving” of any clarification? [both quotes from story in yesterday’s Sun-Times] Just so we’re clear here: Williams and Johnson provided zero updates on his condition—remember Johnson even hinting Williams might play the following week—and the resulting confusion is someone else’s fault? Please. Just imagine if Mike Vasil of the White Sox had tried to keep his Tommy John surgery a secret. There wouldn’t have been much “Magic Mike” all summer. A more upfront approach to reporting injuries is just one of the differences between baseball and football. You could probably compile a pretty long list of them.

By the Numbers

The Brewers beat the Dodgers 6-4 last night and won themselves their first-ever NL pennant. They await the winner of the Rays-Guardians’ series. Earlier, the Guardians defeated the Rays 3-2 on an afternoon without a hint of the rain that caused the game to be moved up five hours. With two more wins, Cleveland earns its first AL pennant since 2016 and a shot at its first World Series title since 1948. So, why all the empty seats at both games? By my count, there were some 3,400 no-shows in Cleveland and 6,800-plus in LA. Yes, changing the game time in Cleveland could’ve affected plans, just as people who suddenly couldn’t attend in the afternoon could’ve sold their tickets on the secondary market. As for the empty seats in Dodger Stadium, it looks like a case of West Coast ennui. What I know for certain is this—The Rate would’ve been packed. Wrigley Field, too.

The Cynic in Me

The starting time for today’s Rays-Guardians’ ALCS game has been moved up from 5 PM to Noon, Chicago time, on account of expected rain come evening. That makes sense. But I wonder. Do you think a starting time in New York, Boston or Philadelphia would ever be that early, PM commercial rates and all? I’d ask the same about the Dodgers, but it doesn’t rain in LA, except for the little cloud dumping on the teetering Angelenos, facing elimination tonight by the Brewers, and that has more to do with age than weather.