So, my Uncle Peter called today, from my father's side of the family. Generally, in our family, this is the division: McKenna side, and the Riermaiers are Cubs fans, then eveyone else is a Sox fan. Which, means we are fairly out numbered. Chicago, is always more important, so I guess in a sense I will root for the Cubs, but South Side comes first.
I had been talking with a few kids from Harper earlier this week, and we had gotten to discussing baseball, as per usual this time of the year. As we were sifting through records, and pitchers; who's hot, and who's not, we got to discussing the good ol' Chicago divide. Mark L. brought up a pretty fair point: a lot of Cubs fans, while good people, are pretty fair weather fans. I mean, I know there are the die-hard Cubs fans, just like how it works, in New York and Boston, but it seems more pertinent on the North Side to be paying attention when the going is good.
The only reason, I cheer for the White Sox, when it comes to the two Chicago teams, is because my family, all of my family are from the South Side. My Grandpa Kelley, would probably smack me around a little, if I told him I was a Cubs fan. We have agreed that, it is good to cheer for Chicago teams, all around. But when push comes to shove, we have also agreed, to side with the White Sox first.
On a personal level, I enjoy the White Sox business operations better. I like their farm program, and the push to reflect the economy. They have down-sized their roster, making their salary one of the cheapest in the MLB, as well as they have pushed towards a younger line-up. This is four years, after winning a World Series. They won the World Series, with a veteran core line-up, more money on the payroll, but still, they have decided to stick to their, plan. They are not just throwing money at players ala the North Side, Boston, New York, etc. Also, the front office is much more relative towards the tough times. Ticket prices have gone down, as well as their half priced mondays, I don't think that can be beat.
The White Sox may not win the Series this year. But the way they're playing in this first half, maybe they'll take the division. I'm much more impressed with, taking the Division in the American League than I ever will be, in the National Leauge. The difference, is pretty astonishing, and the competition is damn impressive.
Current Music: Sprout and the Bean- Joanna Newsom