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In the last week, Chicago baseball fans witnessed two singular events.
First came Lucas Giolito’s 13-strikeout no-hitter in the White Sox’ 4-0 victory against the Pirates last Tuesday. Then, in a 10-1 rout of the Reds on Sunday, Kyle Schwarber, Jason Heyward and Ian Happ made the Cubs the first major-league team to have three outfielders hit two home runs in the same game.
Both events are reflective of the way the game is played today.
By the Bill James game-score method, Giolito’s masterpiece was the most dominant no-hitter in Chicago baseball history. His 99 game score topped the previous no-hit best of 98 by the Cubs’ Jake Arrieta against the Dodgers in 2015. The highest nine-inning game score in major-league history was a one-hitter: Kerry Wood’s 105 with 20 strikeouts against the Astros in 1998.
Game score is a measure of pitching dominance, with strikeouts an important factor. Giolito outscores Arrieta because he had one more strikeout, while each walked one.
The high-strikeout, low-batting-average game of today, with major-league teams hitting only .244 with 8.65 strikeouts per game, is a fitting backdrop for a game such as Giolito’s.
We have seen a recent uptick in no-hitters. A search at Baseball-Reference.com finds 263 games of nine or more innings since 1901 in which teams were held hitless. That includes multiple-pitcher games, so not all appear on official no-hit lists.
Starting in 1901 divides neatly into 12 decades — 1901-10 through 2011-20.
Since 2011, there have been 35 hitless games, or 1.17 no-hit games per team per decade. That’s up from 0.7 in the 10 years ending in 2010, from 0.89 the previous decade and from 0.8 the decade before that.
This is the sixth decade to exceed one no-hit game per team per decade. Two are in the dead-ball era: 1.38 in 1901-10 and 1.75 in 1911-20. Three are in a cluster, with 1.19 in 1951-60, 1.70 in the enlarged-strike-zone ’60s and 1.12 in 1971-80.
What about the Cubs’ outfield homers?
With the outburst Sunday, Happ and Schwarber lead the team with nine apiece, followed by Anthony Rizzo with eight. Heyward is next in a four-way tie with five.
Overall, Cubs in the game as outfielders have hit 25 of the team’s 51 homers (49 percent).
Starting with the Cubs’ breakthrough to contention in 2015, outfielders have hit 31.6, 28.6, 30, 33.5 and 36.3 percent of the team’s homers.
Installing Happ in center has made an enormous difference. In less than a fifth of a normal season, he has homered six times while playing center, two while playing left and one while playing right. The most homers from a center fielder the Cubs have had since 2015 was 22 last season.
The Cubs’ outfield homer binge comes while homers are surging throughout baseball, just as Giolito’s no-hitter comes in a high-strikeout, low-hit environment. But more than going with the flow, all came through in a big way.
The city of Chicago is a hub for some of the biggest franchises in the world of professional sports. Because of this, it’s no surprise that Illinois has produced some pretty talented athletes throughout the years. While not all of them would end up playing for a Windy City team, they still went on to have incredible careers in the sport they played. Here’s our list of the top 12 athletes born in Illinois!
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A post shared by Pierre Thomas (@pierre_thomas) on Feb 2, 2020 at 12:02pm PST
Former NFL running back Pierre Thomas is a Chicago born native and University of Illinois alum. Despite never playing for the Chicago Bears, Thomas went on to win one Superbowl in his eight-year career as a member of the New Orleans Saints.
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A post shared by Tim Hardaway, Sr. (@the_original_crossover_king) on Oct 28, 2019 at 4:16am PDT
Tim Hardaway is another Chicago born and raised athlete who went on to play 13 years in the NBA. This five-time All-Star played for the Warriors, Heat, Mavericks, Nuggets, and Pacers during his career. He even holds the NBA record for the worst single-game shooting performance in NBA history when he went 0-17 against the Minnesota Timberwolves. His team shockingly won that game too!
Next on this list is Kirby Puckett, a Chicago born professional MLB player who played 12 seasons for the Minnesota Twins. Throughout his career, Puckett would end up walking away with two World Series championships, ten All-Star appearances, and six Gold Glove Awards.
View this post on InstagramA post shared by MIKE CONLEY (@mac10) on Jun 21, 2020 at 11:26am PDT
This next great athlete born in Illinois is American track-and-field star, Mike Conley Sr. His main event was the triple jump, where he still holds the US indoor record with a jump of 58 ft and 3 ¼ inches. He was awarded 9 NCAA long jump and triple jump titles to go along with his two Olympic medals, and even won the Foot Locker Celebrity Dunk Contest!
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A post shared by Shannon Sharpe (@shannonsharpe84) on Mar 5, 2020 at 3:50pm PST
When it comes to some of the greatest tight ends in NFL history, Shannon Sharpe is definitely at the top of that list. This three-time Superbowl champion is also an eight-time probowler and member of the NFL 1990s All-Decade team. He now co-hosts Skip and Shannon: Undisputed on Fox Sports 1.
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Anthony Davis (@antdavis23) on Aug 30, 2020 at 9:00am PDT
NBA fans know this Illinois born superstar all too well. Anthony Davis Jr. is a current professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers, and some would consider him one of the top players in the league right now. The former first-round pick is onto his eighth season in the league and has already played in seven All-Star games and earned MVP honors in one of those games.
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Donovan McNabb (@super_5ive) on Feb 9, 2020 at 11:24am PST
The next Chicago-born athlete to make this list is former NFL quarterback Donovan McNabb. McNabb primarily played for the Philadelphia Eagles for the majority of his 13-year career, with brief stints on the Redskins and Vikings. Despite never winning a Superbowl, he would earn his spot in six Pro Bowls.
View this post on InstagramThought my arms looked good 😎 might delete later( but if I get enough likes I won’t ) 😂
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One of the first athletes born in Illinois to actually play for a hometown team on this list is Dwayne Wade. While he’ll primarily be associated with the Miami Heat after his 16-year career, Wade did manage to play one season for the Chicago Bulls. This three-time NBA champion is also a 13-time All-Star, NBA Finals MVP, and has two Olympic medals.
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Isiah Thomas (@isiahthomas) on Jul 16, 2020 at 6:00am PDT
Member of the “Bad Boys” Pistons, Isaiah Thomas is the next Illinois native on this list. He played his entire career on the Detroit Pistons and would finish with two NBA titles, an NBA Finals MVP, and 12 All-Star appearances.
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Jackie Joyner-Kersee (@jjoynerkersee) on Jan 16, 2019 at 3:41pm PST
Jackie Joyner-Kersee is another Illinois born track and field superstar to make this list. She is considered to be one of the all-time greatest heptathlon athletes and even played basketball for UCLA. As a professional, she would end up competing in four Olympic Games, winning three gold, one silver, and two bronze medals.
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Derrick Rose (@drose) on May 12, 2020 at 10:42am PDT
He’s too big, too fast, too strong, and too good! Chicago Bulls fans will forever hold on to their memories of Derrick’s greatness in a Bulls uniform. This hometown legend has been in the league for 13 years with one MVP award and three All-Star appearances.
The final athlete born in Illinois to make this list is Dick Butkus. Butkus is a former NFL linebacker for no one other than the Chicago Bears. He’s considered to be one of the greatest linebackers to ever play the game and would end up with eight Pro-Bowl nods in his nine-year career before being inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
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Featured Image Credit: NFL.com
Top 12 Illinois Born Athletes Of All-TimeDrew Krieson August 31, 2020 at 8:45 pm Read More »
Heading out to Shamrock Park again for the final camping hurrah 0f 2020. The first night is just The Franklin’s, S’mores, and grilled Home Run Inn pizza!
[embedded content]Shocked to see a new Smashing Pumpkins in my Release Radar this week. Feels a bit retro, as it starts with synths and a sparse drumbeat, and I’m hearing some Adore in this track.
[embedded content]This remix of Public Enemy’s “Fight The Power,” is nowhere near as good as the original. As they say, “Too many cooks in the kitchen.” But I understand the anger and the plight, and the fact that we need a “Fight The Power: Remix 2020” is a sad state of affairs for America.
Lil Wayne pays tribute to the great number 24 on his latest track “Kobe Bryant.” Like I mentioned a few weeks back, Wayne is sounding really focused these days, and we could use a really good album from this man. 
The Doves and Delta Spirit have been releasing new singles lately while prepping new albums. I’m excited to see what the finished products sound like because the singles have been very good. The Doves latest offering “Cathedrals Of The Mind” harkens back to their first record, Lost Souls.
[embedded content]Always happy to see new Saint Motel on my radar, that’s for sure, and “100% of the Atlantic Records net proceeds from the album are going to Save the Children, an organization that does amazing work in over 100 countries to ensure that kids everywhere grow up healthy, educated & safe.” -Soundcloud
[embedded content]This week we get more Jack Jezzro in my #RADAR, and it’s always a welcome treat. This one is called “When I Fall In Love.”
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Shooting holes at the truth.
All lies and jests
Still a man hears what he wants to hear
And disregards the rest
Paul Simon
I have a few conservative “friends” on Facebook. Craig is one of them, a guy I knew casually in high school. Another is Martin, a naturalized American who was always a friendly guy in our weekly tennis league. They were added to my Facebook Friends list in an era when it was easy to just click “Accept as Friend,” without thinking about what a person’s politics might be and what they might post. Facebook was a place for admiring pictures of grandkids and birthday celebrations, and reminiscing over teenage memories.
Now things are different. But Craig and Martin are still on my Friends list. And that has its benefits. I don’t watch Fox News or subscribe to Breibart, but by watching the feed of this pair I can see what is being disseminated as news. I can see what is being used to stoke the flames. I can see what a president who has no use for honesty has brought upon us. I read their posts and their shares. I rarely react. Instead, I fume; then I go back and preach to my own choir.
But sometimes, when a post seems more even more preposterous than usual, I do chime in. And when I do, I usually get a response.
Martin posted a picture purporting to show a priest assaulted at a Black Lives Matter protest. A terrible story, if it were true. But a bit of fact-checking (I love Snopes) demonstrated that almost every “fact” in the story was a non-fact. The assault as described never happened. When I pointed this out in a comment, Martin responded with “I thought a picture was worth a thousand words. No need reading.” A Trumpism for the ages.
(Martin also told me that while I was book-smart, I lacked street smarts. If he means I know some history, and some science, and have read some in the humanities, well good for me.)
A few days ago Craig shared a post with racial overtones stating “the Saint Louis City School District had to go and buy back 50 chrome books from the pawn shop. WHY? Because 50 different parents had pawn (sic) them.” Again I did an online search and tryed to do some fact checking but found no evidence of this occurring. (I did eventually find a story in the St. Louis-Post Dispatch stating burglars had stolen hundreds of laptops from nine schools in Hazelwood, MO–a story with a dateline of July 9, 2009.) Craig’s response to my asking for a reference to the post he shared: “I make my posts on this silly thing called facebook. I dont feel a need to verify anything.” Why should you Craig, when truth no longer is held in high regard?
It’s all about lies and damn lies. The falsehoods are coming faster and faster. Too many people believe those inventions, and I have never been this worried before in my life.
If you believe in truth, please make your plans now in order to make sure your vote is counted in November. And share this blog. Every little bit helps.
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Hi! I am Les, a practicing pathologist living in the North Suburbs and commuting every day to the Western ones. I have lived my entire life in the Chicago area, and have a pretty good feel for the place, its attractions, culture, restaurants and teams. My wife and I are empty-nesters with two adult children and a grandchild. We recently decided to downsize, but just a bit! I will be telling the story of the construction of our new home, but also writing about whatever gets me going on a particular day. Be sure to check out the “About” page to learn more about where we plan to go with this blog!
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Trumpers Don’t Need Truthlesraffon August 31, 2020 at 11:46 am Read More »
Author’s note: The following limerick is a response to a comment (and a challenge) from the inimitable “jack”.
A flatulent fellow from Queens
Used to live on a diet of beans.
Last summer the heat
Got so bad that his seat
Detonated into smithereens.
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I’m Jerry Partacz, happily married to my wife Julie for over 40 years. I have four children and eleven grandchildren. I’m enjoying retirement after 38 years of teaching. I now have an opportunity to share my thoughts on many things. I’m an incurable optimist. I also love to solve crossword puzzles and to write light verse. I love to read, to garden, to play the piano, to collect stamps and coins, and to watch “Curb Your Enthusiasm”.
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A limerick on demandAquinas wiredon August 31, 2020 at 2:29 pm Read More »
lesraff
January 17, 2020 at 12:00 am