Category > Centrally Located
2008 was an unpredictable year for the American League Central. Cleveland was the defending champion and Detroit made a bunch of big off-season moves, but they both underachieved for a variety of reasons and finished third and fifth, respectively. Chicago and Minnesota jumped into the void, finishing tied for first at 88-74 (the Sox won in a one-game playoff), while Kansas City emerged from the division cellar for the first time since 2003. My pre-season predictions last year were as …
Craig Breslow had a fantastic year out of the Minnesota Twins bullpen, but he’s not taking any time off this winter to rest on his laurels. Breslow, who had a 1.63 ERA in 42 appearances for Minnesota, is spending a good chunk of his offseason building support for the Strike 3 Foundation. “The Strike 3 Foundation is a charitable agency that heightens awareness, mobilizes support and raises funding for pediatric cancer research,” Breslow said. “It was started with a close …
Well, the Sox couldn’t quite dig themselves out of the 2-0 hole that they dug for themselves in Tampa, so one week after their dramatic victory over the Twins in a one-game tiebreaker, it’s already the offseason for the last team standing in the AL Central. It was an interesting season, if not a dominant one for any squad. Detroit and Cleveland were expected to dominate, but they underachieved and finished last and third, respectively. Minnesota and Chicago were tabbed …
Thanks to everyone who came out to the Smile Politely party at Mike ‘N Molly’s last night. It was a lot of fun, despite the baseball game, which was won by the White Sox, 1–0. Chicago wins the AL Central and advances to the playoffs to face Tampa Bay, starting tomorrow night. Surprisingly, there were a couple of groups of Twins fans that filed in right around 6:30 p.m., and we outnumbered the Sox fans (at least those in caps …
Last night was the biggest game up to this point of the season for both the Chicago White Sox and the Minnesota Twins. I excitedly set my DVR to record the game on Extra Innings channel 740 and left to attend the Smile Politely editors meeting; I planned to write a running diary about the game for this column when I returned home. I was a little nervous when none of the Esquire TV’s were tuned to the game, and …
Before we get to the gripping coverage of the Minnesota Twins’ utter collapse, a plug: Smile Politely is calling all baseball fans to join your favorite SP baseball columnists Sunday, September 22 21, at the Tumble Inn (302 S. Neil St., Champaign) to watch the final Cubs-Cardinals tilt of 2008 (barring a miraculous wild-card run by the Redbirds). It’s a 1 p.m. game, so come on out and join the fun. The White Sox will also be simultaneously engaging in …
Since the AL Central has been a two-team race for the majority of the season, most of the space in this column has been occupied by coverage of the White Sox and Twins. However, despite their teams’ lack of success, there is at least one player each for Cleveland, Detroit and Kansas City who has had an unexpected breakout season. In this election season, it’s important to respect the concept of equal time, so this week’s Centrally Located will be …
What would be a better end to this most unpredictable of seasons than to look around when the dust settles and find no Yankees or Red Sox in the vicinity? It could happen, as we enter September with the Yankees all but out of the race and the Red Sox clinging to the wild card by a slim margin. As of last night, the White Sox and Twins are deadlocked at the top of the AL Central, and they both …
The American League Central continues to be a tight two-team race heading into the last month of the season, as the Chicago White Sox lead the Minnesota Twins by two games heading into tonight’s play. That got me thinking, how many times over the years have the Twins and White Sox finished first and second at season’s end? Surprisingly (or maybe not if you consider each franchise’s spotty record of success over the years), it’s only happened five times, and …
August is a month that can make or break a baseball team’s season. It’s officially too late for a team that’s hanging around .500 to legitimately have a shot at the postseason, unless said team plays in the NL West. There’s also the possibility for even more distance to be put between the haves and have-nots, as teams who shipped out their veterans at the trading deadline tank, and the contenders who benefited from those fire sales beat up on …
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Signs someone is “fishing” for a factual anchor: 1. Starts call to radio with: “I’ve been an Illini fan for (XX) years” or “I’m a diehard fan,” as if somehow that unverifiable claim will justify the 5 minutes of B.S. that follows. 2. Makes reference to KenPom…
That’s what she said.
Why do I have the feeling we struggle to break 45 in at least one more (maybe 2) games this season? With a little perspective, both MSU and Wisky are among the top 5 in Kenpom’s defensive rating scheme.
My first thought was, “What the hell is Brad Miller doing at our game?” Of course, he now plays for the Timberwolves. Man, I miss him in a Bulls uni—even if we don’t need him as much this year. It’s cool that he’s saying hi to his…
Ya, I felt the same way. The question I was asking in the game was, “what’s wrong with DJ?” He’s repeated his second major shooting slump in as many years.
It’s no wonder we are having a problem recruiting solid players for our athletics programs - Look at what we have to compete with! http://deadspin.com/5879065/whatever-youre-doing-with-your-life-its-not-as-awesome-as-the-athletes-in-this-recruiting-video
Never the subject of your articles, but at the risk of boring the flock once again: the real recruiting outrage continues to be this system that exploits the sons of these working class families to make big money for the likes of the incompetent, 1.6 million-salaried coach.…
dAn insightful article, Rob. Barring an very expected turn around, I think the odds are better than not that Weber will be shown the door at the end of the season. We really haven’t played good team basketball for the entire season. The results despite almost completely…
Did it look like they were having fun? If you’re playing a game and you’re not having fun then regardless of whether you’re winning or losing then you’re not doing it right. When the Indiana fans stormed the court against NorthWestern, as asinine as it may’ve seemed…
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Nope. It’s the back (east) side of Urbana Tire Company at 202 S. Vine. How much is a hug and kiss worth? Do I have to take them all at once or can I break it up?
FACT: Silverfish feed only on carbohydrates, such as starches and sugars. They will not consume proteins or fats (the main materials from which human beings are constructed). THUS: That was not actually a human waiter we were conversing with, but rather a lifelike simulacrum created from semi-digested Fruit Loops.
nice fishnets you’ve got there, dan!
is that illini auto on main?
The geniuses at the News-Gazette site have it all figured out. This happened because we don’t have the Chief!
Pamela - Are the roasteries in Seattle as clean as CSR? It always disturbs me a little that it is so clean in there.
Now you will be able to munch on pizza and shrimp cocktails in downtown Urbana (whilst a DJ spins?) after your dissolution of marriage http://www.news-gazette.com/news/business/features/its-your-business/2012-02-05/its-your-business-new-pizza-place-downtown-urban Is this a franchise of a Reno pizza joint, or just a coincidence of name? http://www.blackrockpizza.com
Signs someone is “fishing” for a factual anchor: 1. Starts call to radio with: “I’ve been an Illini fan for (XX) years” or “I’m a diehard fan,” as if somehow that unverifiable claim will justify the 5 minutes of B.S. that follows. 2. Makes reference to KenPom…
That’s what she said.
Black dog and Siam terrace is where I always go after my divorces.
Love CSR. Apart from making my way through the regular roasts in 1/2 pound increments, I also like to pick up some of the little sample packets of the flavored stuff for when the lady and I feel like getting crazy. Sticky Bun is pretty nice.
If you happen to be getting a divorce, or fighting a DUI prosecution, downtown Urbana is a great place to eat.
HUUUUUUGE fan of their Black Velvet roast…It makes up about 75% of my coffee intake. LOL CSR is definitely one of those Champaign institutions that I brag about to people not from here. :-)
We like CSR too! We french press at home and I leave the lid off while it steeps—letting the ground beans bloom. Then, like in your tasting, I scoop off the top layer before pressing. We really need to invest in a burr grinder though, as I…
Confidential? In this state? Hahahahahahahhahahaha
just confirmed: there will be white russians served. the art abides.
big lebowski at the art. mark it, dude.
There’s a great video promo out for “Company” too: http://vimeo.com/36077847
Wow, His Majesty took the time to answer your polite plea. It’s been a while since I spoke fluent arrogance, but allow this attempt at a translation: “I deeply regret the embarrassment…” = I wish we hadn’t got caught and it wasn’t a big deal really. “...and…
I love the Guitars
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The geniuses at the News-Gazette site have it all figured out. This happened because we don’t have the Chief!