As the calendar turns to August, our local high school sports scene will heat up, as practices for fall sports begin Aug. 11. So before I start getting occupied with preps again, I thought I’d offer a few Tate’s Takes about pro and college teams in the area:
- The Cubs are very much a contender for not only the National League Central Division title, but the NL pennant and beyond. However, I have to say that I was disappointed with their approach to last week’s MLB trade deadline. They picked up help for the bullpen and a valuable utility player, but I was surprised they didn’t add another starting pitcher, one with ace quality. Frankly, I found it weak when Cubs’ president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer said he didn’t feel comfortable trading his top minor-league prospect, outfielder Owen Cassie, for a big-time pitcher.
This measured approach stood in contrast to that of the San Diego Padres. Their president of baseball operations, AJ Preller, mortgaged the farm system and traded several of his top prospects to fill gaps on his roster. He’s all-in on the season, and for good reason. The Padres, which joined the NL in 1969 as an expansion team, have never won the World Series. They currently find themselves within three games of the defending World Series Champion Los Angeles in the NL West, and seem poised to make serious playoff noise in the postseason for their long-suffering fan base. Makes me wish we could have aggressive front-office guys like Preller in Chicago.
Some other random thoughts:
- I like how the White Sox are playing since the All-Star break. They’ve scored the most runs in baseball over the past two and a half weeks and are playing like a competent team. Yes, the record is still lousy, but I can honestly say the Sox are headed in the right direction.
- I know the Bears haven’t played any games yet (they’ll have their first preseason contest this week), but I love how new head coach Ben Johnson is holding everyone accountable. And not just with words, but with action. On the first day of training camp a couple of weeks ago, Johnson was upset by how bad the first-team offense was looking, so he immediately pulled them out of practice. The message apparently worked, as quarterback Caleb Williams and the offense has gradually improved since then.
- My dear old college Alma Mater, the University of Illinois, is going to be really good in football this fall. Last year, the Illini won 10 games for just the fifth time in program history, and 16 of the 22 starters from that squad return, including star quarterback Luke Altmyer, who is starting for the third consecutive season. Needless to say, I’m planning on heading down to Champaign at least a couple of times to root for Illinois, which should contend for the Big Ten championship and a spot in the College Football Playoff. Head coach Bret Bielema has things rolling, and as an alum, I love it. We’re no longer just a “basketball school.”
- While I think Northwestern football coach David Braun is a fresh breath of air, much-needed after the disgraceful ending of the Pat Fitzgerald era, he’s got a tough road ahead as he strives to keep the Wildcats competitive in the Big Ten. There are plenty of question marks, especially on offense.
- Notre Dame, which reached the title game of last year’s College Football Playoff before dropping a close one to Ohio State, is looking good again. Head coach Marcus Freeman has brought in another highly-regarded recruiting class, ensuring that the Fighting Irish will continue to vie for the CFP title.
Lastly, I hate to end on a somber note, but I offer my deepest condolences to the family of Cubs’ legend Ryne Sandberg, who died last week after a long battle with cancer. “Ryno,” as he was fondly called, was one of my favorite all-time players. He was well deserving of the Hall of Fame, not only for his stats on the field, but the way he conducted himself off it. Ryno was a Cub through and through, and I will miss him.