Second City? White Sox, Cubs close in on titles
CHICAGO >> Powered by the steady presence of José Abreu, the White Sox revival is roaring on the South Side.
On the North Side, Yu Darvish is pitching like an ace again, and the Cubs are eyeing another October run.
Chicago’s major league teams are linked by more than just geography these days. They also share a most enviable position this time of year — first place.
“I think that every time we take the field, we feel invincible,” White Sox rookie Luis Robert said through a translator.
Sure looks that way. The playoff-bound White Sox have won 24 of 31 to rise to the top of the AL Central. Heading into Sunday’s game at Cincinnati, they had a magic number of four for clinching their first division title since their last postseason appearance in 2008.
Under first-year manager David Ross, the Cubs jumped out to a 13-3 start and then faltered before picking up their play as the pandemic-shortened season barreled toward the finish. They are closing in on their first NL Central championship since they lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 2017 NL Championship Series.
Chicago’s baseball teams have the year’s only no-hitters, Lucas Giolito for the White Sox and Alec Mills for the Cubs, and they are making a play for some individual honors, too. Abreu and flashy shortstop Tim Anderson are among the favorites for the AL MVP award, and Robert is in the mix for AL Rookie of the
Year. Darvish is making a bid missed the playoffs for the first for his first Cy Young Award. time since 2014. Facing some
Since the White Sox beat financial constraints, presithe Cubs in the 1906 World Sedent of baseball operations ries, the only other time each Theo Epstein entertained team reached the playoffs in trade possibilities for much of the same year was in 2008. the winter before staying with They both lost in the division largely the same group — with series that year. Ross replacing Joe Maddon in
Deep dish pizza and hot the dugout. dogs all around. No ketchup, The Cubs appear to have of course. benefited from the new voice
“I don’t mean this with any at manager. Well, a new old disrespect, but I didn’t realizeitwassince‘08sincethey voice, after Ross helped them win the World Series in 2016. made the playoffs the last While some of their best hittime,” Cubs first baseman Anters have struggled, Ian Happ thony Rizzo said. “They have has helped solidify the lineup, a team that’s very, watching and Jason Heyward has put them, similar to us in 2015 together perhaps his best year that started off with a lot of with the team. talent and has found ways to “We’re happy where we’re win and now they’re a powat,” Rizzo said, “and we’re erhouse team. Over here, we looking forward to the posthave guys that have won and season and getting rolling.” know what the playoffs are Same for the White Sox, like.” who snapped a string of seven
It looked as if the Cubs’ winconsecutive losing seasons. dow might have closed after And it sure looks as if they are they faded last September and just getting started.
Anderson, 27, is in the mix for his second straight AL batting title. Robert, one of baseball’s bright young stars, sweet-swinging Eloy Jiménez and promising second baseman Nick Madrigal are just 23. Yoán Moncada, who hit .315 with 25 homers last year, turned 25 in May.
“These guys are very talented, and they’re playing with confidence. They’re trusting themselves,” manager Rick Renteria said. “They’re still growing. They’re still learning. I think from a standpoint of which, you’re looking for sustained performance. Consistency is going to be the key in the long run for all of them.”
While the development of Chicago’s young prospects has been a key part of its season, it wouldn’t have the AL’s secondbest record without Abreu’s big bat in the middle of its lineup. The Cuban first baseman leads the majors with 52 RBIs in 52 games.
The 33-year-old Abreu had experienced years of losing since he arrived in Chicago before the 2014 season. But he agreed to a new contract with the White Sox in November, hoping to see the other side of the team’s rebuilding project.
Looks like he finally got there.
“I knew all the way through that this will happen,” Abreu said through a translator. “I mean I didn’t have any doubt in my mind because I knew what we’ve been building during the last couple of years and I knew that this year we would be in a very good position to compete and to show the people that we have the pieces here to contend and to be a very good team for a long time.”