odds & ends

FINALLY! the fuse for ROBIN VENTURA'S departure has finally been lit.  following a meeting with the top brass of the CHICAGO WHITE SOX,  DOPEY was told in no uncertain terms that he had better be more 'hands on' with the team and that he's accountable for areas like bad base running, bad defense and bad decisions from the bench, it's only a matter of time.  watch for dopey to resign be mid-summer if things don't improve.

TOM THIBODEAU was outcoached on sunday by, of all people, cleveland cavalier head master DAVID BLATT, who has struggled with in-game decisions since coming to the NBA from europe. but this time, he outmaneuverd tibs in a number of areas, including clogging the lanes and forcing the bulls to hit jump shots and eliminate drives to the basket.  tibs also continues to use JOAQUIM NOAH, which forces the bulls to play 4 on 5 basketball when they have the rock because noah can't make a free throw or a shot, including seven missed LAYUPS in the last two games. did anyone think that LEBRON JAMES was going to miss that last shot?  he's the best player in the world and that's why they pay him the big bucks. yes, i know. he whines about every call.

the wonder boys of the north side had their world series express slowed this week by dropping 5 of 7 to the cardinals & brewers.  the first series just proved what a lot of people suspected; that the cubbies aren't ready for the glare of a big time pennant race and the series against the brew crew amplified the fact that the bullpen is more than a little shaky. check the e.r.a.'s coming out of the pen and only ZAC ROSSCUP is decent with the rest being 3.50 or more.  hardly world series stuff.

i say again.  KRIS BRYANT can't hit the slider.  yet.

which CHICAGO team is closer to first place?  if you guessed the team in blue, sorry.

the WHITE SOX showed some signs of life offensively this week but they're still the only team in the american league with less than a hundred runs scored and only the phillies have less overall.

just a thought: PHILLES MANAGER RYNE SANDBERG was 73-89 in his first year of managing in 2014 and the phillies look to be at least a 90 loss team this year.  will sandberg get to finish his three year contract in 2016?

looks like the BLACKHAWKS will get the ANAHEIM DUCKS in the conference finals and the quackers will have home ice.  the ducks are big and love to hit and their goalie is at 1.96 goals allowed in the playoffs. the teams are pretty even on offense but the hawks are forty goals better on defense.  hawks in 7.

enjoy your week.