Sunday, April 21, 2013

Chicago Sports: Trending downward?

by Joe Persinger
BrewMastrJoe on twitter



What is happening to Chicago sports teams this weekend??

Last Saturday all 3 1/2 major sports team managed to lose their respective games (Which baseball team gets the 1/2 credit is up to you, you all know where I stand there).  Chicago sports have not had a great trend since the turn of the decade.  Let's take a small look at what these 3 1/2 team's recent trend (dating back to the turn of the decade)




Yes, the Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup that same year, but has happened since?  They lost in 7 games to Vancouver in 2011 and lost in 6 games to Phoenix the following year.  They Hawks are having a great regular season, but as every hockey fan knows, the post-season is a different potato.  Anything can happen.  The Hawks have been the brightest spot on this blemished city sports landscape of recent.

Trending:  Stagnant




Then there's the Bulls.  Blessed with one of the better head coaches in the NBA, they are cash strapped.  They have $20 Million dollars sitting on the bench for the entire year because the point gaurd of the future is a mental head case.  Or like they say on streets of Rodgers Park "he's a bitch".   I have seen this team show flashes of brilliance. They were outplayed last night by a Nets team thats had their fair share of struggles.  Over the last two years they've reached the post-season, losing to the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conf. Finals in 2011. Then in the first round to the 76ers after losing DRose after owning the best record in the NBA in 2012.  That would be the very definition of trending backwards.

Trending:  "Backwards"





The "South Side" has another trend that just wont seem to go away.  After owning first place in their division for most of the year, the second-second city team lost the lead down the stretch to the eventual AL Champs, the Detroit Tigers.  The White Sox haven't been to the post-season since 2008 and are starting to flirt with the ten year mark since their last World Series victory.

Trending:  Downward





The North-Siders have been trending downward since 1908.  When you set the bar for what dynasties are known for today in the Major Leagues, only to be on the other side of the spectrum 100 years later, you are the definition of trending downward.  Zooming in further, the Cubs don't seem to be trending anywhere.  The last two teams they've fielded lack pitching, pitching depth, defense, and timely hitting. This team doesn't seem any better and they already lead the league with errors and have had one in at lease every game.

Trending:  Trended so far down, they are even beneath the 2002 Oakland A's and that proverbial 50 feet of crap