It's the mid-season break during the 3 day All-Star game break and it's a chance for baseball players and managers to get away from the game and re-charge for the 2nd half of the season. While the Chicago Cubs are certainly not out of it in their division, I feel more confident about their cross-town rivals having better success.
The Chicago White Sox have good starting pitching and 3 hittters who could drive in 100 rbi's this year. Paul Konerko finished the first half on fire, having a career game in which he hit 3 home runs, including a grand-slam, and knocked in 7 runs batted in against Cleveland. Jim Thome has 50 rbi's and Jermaine Dye, one of the most underrated hitters in the American League, has a good shot at reaching 100. Scott Posednik, the lead-off man, finds a way to get on base, and Alexis Ramirez seems like a good fit batting 2nd. The team started hitting the ball better in the last 10 games. If ChiSox can keep it up, they have a good chance of catching the Tigers, who lead by 3 games.
It may go down to the wire again for the Pale Hose. They have enough to contend, but I don't know if they can play .670 ball for more than 7 games. If the Sox get hot, they may overtake the Tigers.
On the NorthSide, it's a jammed pack Wrigley Field crowd of beer-guzzling, chanting, fans, who will likely head home disappointed. Yeah, it's a great place to get a sun tan, and meet some nice women in the bleachers. But they way the Cubs are hitting, the hottest thing might be the babes. Unless the team wakes up and starts hitting the ball, it looks like another empty summer for Cubs fans.
