Thursday, August 25, 2016

The Circus on 35th Street


 The joke that is the Chicago White Sox filled up two rings yesterday, what with James Shields pitching and the announcement of a new naming rights’ agreement.  The ball mall used to be known as new Comiskey Park, then U.S. Cellular Field, or just the Cell for reasons obvious to anyone who’s been to a game there.  But starting November 1 (because April 1 must’ve been taken), the White Sox will give naming honors to Guaranteed Rate mortgage company, which has a big red arrow pointing down as part of its logo.  How fitting.
If only James Shields’ ERA could go in the same direction.  Oh, wait.  It did after he gave up four earned runs in six innings—that translates into a 6.00 ERA, which lowered Shields’ season mark to 7.49.  Here’s the good news—Shield may only make three more starts this year.  Why?  Because right now his record stands at 5-16.  Three more starts should mean three more losses, and that would put him right on the brink of 20, usually a career-breaker, and the Sox wouldn’t want anything bad happen to their $27-million “star” pitcher.  Mark my words.  Shields will be taken out of the rotation before he can hit 20 losses, and the name of the Cell changes to G-Bad Park.   

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