The White Sox live to see another day

More roundups, because everyone loves roundups.


The Sox are alive and kickin

- The Sox did something they hardly ever do yesterday: they won a game of baseball without hitting a home run. I think we've all seen the stats. When the Sox don't homer, they usually don't win. In the most important game of the year yesterday, the Sox found a way to get enough runs without any dingers. That's good to see.

- Also good to see: John Danks breaking through the proverbial wall. Even though he's been the Sox best pitcher all year, and I'd argue the best pitcher in the city in 08, I worry every time he pitches because he tends to wear down late in the season. That guy's left arm has taken a beating this year. But Danks was phenomenal again yesterday, for the second straight time when the Sox had to have it. Consider him the anti-Javy.

- Speaking of things anti-Javy....Gavin Floyd! Tomorrow's forecast calls for a 90% chance of big, hairy balls. Tampa Bay, you're on alert.

- You can either believe in jinxing or VORP. Can't have it both ways. Sorry Stompy. I'm not going to predict what's going to happen today because I have no idea what is going to happen today. I think the Rayz are better than the Sox, but the Sox could totally win today, and then anything can happen in Game Five.

- I really, really like this White Sox team. Here's hoping it can last one more day.

The Cubs suck

All you can hope for in baseball is a division title. The playoffs are just too random to put any huge emotional investment in. If the Sox lose today, or if they are eliminated at all this season, I'll be bummed but not devastated.

But there is one caveat to my theory: if you're favorite team hasn't won a World Series in over 100 years, it's kind of important that they do that sometime. This was the best Cubs team ever. I feel a solid 5% bad for Cubs fans right now. This sweep is hilarious, but also really shitty. For all my Cubs hate, I can't imagine living my entire life without ever seeing my favorite team win a title.

I was at a party on Saturday, and a friend of mine actually started getting a tad emotional after the Cubs lost. The bad thing was that I coudn't even take all that much joy in it. Sometimes I feel for those people. But most of the time I just hate them.

You cannot stop Kyle Orton, you can only hope to contain him

- Was that not the most fun Bears game ever? If only they could play the Lions every week, my father may not have to ditch the second half of games to play solitaire. The man cares too much.

- To go along with something Stompy said earlier, though we probably have slightly different views on this: I don't think Hester's troubles this year can be pinned solely on him. During our live Bears chat at the Sun-Times yesterday, people wondered if Hester is suffering from the dreaded "He Got Paid" syndrome. I think it's more like "WTF? Start blocking for me" syndrome. You don't return a kick without excellent blocking, and Hester hasn't received much this season. We all know that if he can pick up one or two key blocks- particularly on punts, where he's so good it almost isn't fair- he's going to take it to the house. Gone is Brendan Ayanbadejo. Now there is Nick Roach. I think that could be part of the problem. Still, I don't think it's much of a problem, though I realize I could be the only one not troubled by this. I think the dude is fine. Extra credit for a stellar job in his first start at receiver as well.

- I couldn't be happier to see my favorite environmentalist kick ass yesterday. Orton looked like a legitimate NFL QB, which was fun for everyone involved. And to think, he did it all without Brandon Lloyd. I expect him to tear up Atlanta next week as well. Consider your fantasy team warned. As I noted in The Fantasy Factor earlier today, Aaron Rodgers was awesome yesterday against the Falcons. Orton should be ticketed for another phat game.

- During our live blog, I lobbied for the benching of Marty Booker, and subsequent "freeing" of Earl Bennett. Then Book makes the greatest catch of all-time. Seriously, I don't know if I've ever seen a Bears player make a better catch. That includes my guy Marcus Robinson. Kudos to Lovie for challenging it, even if it made no sense what so ever.

- Via my fantasy bro Matthew comes this screen shot from my Beachwood column last week.
 

Check out the new BlogsByFans homepage.

It's dead sexy. Big ups to Brian.

Quick 12:30 update:

The first thing I do every Monday morning is read KA's Bears Brightside, which somehow manages to get smarter every week. I've never linked to it before, so here it is.