Today, Iran's military admitted to shooting down Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 earlier this week killing all 176 people aboard.
The admission comes after the Iranian government denied any wrongdoing claiming mechanical failure despite video evidence showing the plane being shot down and compromising the scene of the accident thus impeding the investigation of Ukrainian officials.
First, who can say the incident wasn't intentional? The Iranian government treats its populace miserably and thinks nothing of imprisoning and killing those who dare to disagree with it. This alone forfeits any right they have to any benefit of the doubt. The fact they have lied to the world about this accident and have seen fit to obstruct its investigation makes me think their admission isn't the whole truth. It should give people pause to ask if this is a regime which is being truthful about its nuclear program let alone the wisdom of permitting it
to enrich uranium in the first place.
Second, let us for argument's sake, consider the Iranian regime was telling the truth and the attack was indeed an accident. If this is the case then Iran is still guilty of negligence. Given they were in conflict with U.S. forces then why didn't its civil aviation authority ground all flights until further notice? I would once again contend that this is a regime that cares nothing for innocent human life especially of Iranians.
Third, nearly everyone aboard was an Iranian national (many of whom had become permanent residents or citizens of Canada). Because of this Iranians have turned their anger from the U.S. for the killing of General Soleimani to their own government for its dishonesty up to and including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iranians have been protesting against the regime intermittently over the past decade most recently in November 2019. This new wave of protests could do more lasting damage given the raw emotion involved in a government killing its own people and being caught in a lie. If anti-government protests persist for more than a month chances are the regime will crush it. On the other hand, the international community might be more inclined to support this wave of protests than it has in the past, especially in the United States.
Which brings me to my final point. President Trump is certainly more supportive of the Iranian people than President Obama who infamously said in 2009 it was not in the interest of his administration to meddle even as Iran was mudering protesters in broad daylight following a fraudulent election. Nevertheless, Trump must express his support of Iranian protesters in such a way as to not get in the way of the Iranian regime imploding upon itself. Given his lack of discipline and self-awareness this might be nearly an impossible task. One ill-conceived tweet is all it would take for Iran to regain the sympathy of its people and the international community however undeserved. In which case, the last adult remaining in the Trump White House should abscond with his phone. Trump should only escalate his rhetoric when the Iranian regime sees fit to crush the protests. The Trump Administration should come to the aid of Iranian protesters but in a covert manner. If regime change in Iran it is better that it be done from within than from abroad. If the four decade old Islamic Republic of Iran falls its lack of candor in killing its own people aboard a civilian airliner might very well be the spark.
Saturday, January 11, 2020
Friday, January 10, 2020
Neil Peart, R.I.P.
Neil Peart, drummer and primary lyricist for the Canadian progressive rock group Rush, passed away on January 7th of brain cancer. He was 67.
Peart joined Rush in 1974 succeeding the group's original drummer John Rutsey. Peart's influence on the band went beyond the drum kit. Influenced by the writings of Ayn Rand, Peart's libertarian inspired lyrics would be instrumental in Rush becoming one of the most popular rock 'n roll bands in the world over the next four decades. Over the years, Peart's drumming style evolved from the hard rock approach of John Bonham and Keith Moon to the big band swing of Buddy Rich and Gene Krupa. Peart would produce two tribute albums to Rich in the 1990's.
Peart took a hiatus from late 1998 through early 2001 following the death of his daughter in an automobile accident and his wife succumbing to cancer in the space of less than a year. During this hiatus, Peart traveled on his motorcycle throughout North America and Central America and chronicled his travels in his 2002 memoir "Ghost Rider: Travels on The Healing Road". During this period, Peart remarried and once again became a father of a daughter. Peart remained with Rush until his retirement in December 2015.
The one Rush song that has long resonated with me is "Distant Early Warning":
The world weighs on my shoulders
But what I am to do?
You sometimes drive me crazy
But I worry about you
I know it makes no difference
To what you're going through
But I see the tip of the iceberg
And I worry about you
Well, listen to it for yourself.
Tonight, the world no longer weighs on Neil Peart's shoulders. But his passing weigh on ours. R.I.P.
Peart joined Rush in 1974 succeeding the group's original drummer John Rutsey. Peart's influence on the band went beyond the drum kit. Influenced by the writings of Ayn Rand, Peart's libertarian inspired lyrics would be instrumental in Rush becoming one of the most popular rock 'n roll bands in the world over the next four decades. Over the years, Peart's drumming style evolved from the hard rock approach of John Bonham and Keith Moon to the big band swing of Buddy Rich and Gene Krupa. Peart would produce two tribute albums to Rich in the 1990's.
Peart took a hiatus from late 1998 through early 2001 following the death of his daughter in an automobile accident and his wife succumbing to cancer in the space of less than a year. During this hiatus, Peart traveled on his motorcycle throughout North America and Central America and chronicled his travels in his 2002 memoir "Ghost Rider: Travels on The Healing Road". During this period, Peart remarried and once again became a father of a daughter. Peart remained with Rush until his retirement in December 2015.
The one Rush song that has long resonated with me is "Distant Early Warning":
The world weighs on my shoulders
But what I am to do?
You sometimes drive me crazy
But I worry about you
I know it makes no difference
To what you're going through
But I see the tip of the iceberg
And I worry about you
Well, listen to it for yourself.
Tonight, the world no longer weighs on Neil Peart's shoulders. But his passing weigh on ours. R.I.P.
Buyer Beware on Nolan Arenado
Less than a year ago, Nolan Arenado signed a contract extension with the Colorado Rockies through 2025 worth $260 million. The Rockies had earned back to back NL Wild Card berths and Arenado was a central figure in those campaigns finishing fourth and third in NL MVP balloting in 2017 and 2018.
But in 2019, the Rockies tumbled to a 71-91 record finishing 35 games back of the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West. Arenado remained outstanding with a career high .315 batting average along with 41 HR and 118 RBI, his fifth consecutive NL All-Star Team selection and seventh straight Gold Glove. Had the Rockies been better Arenado would have finished higher than 6th in NL MVP balloting.
With the Rockies now appearing to be headed towards rebuilding and six years remaining on his contract, Arenado might soon departing Denver's light air. Possible destinations for Arenado include St. Louis, Atlanta, San Francisco, Philadelphia, New York (both in The Bronx and Queens) the Cubs (even with Kris Bryant remaining with the club in 2020) and the Rangers.
But any of these buyers should beware where it concerns Arenado's offense. In each of the last five seasons, Arenado has more than 35 HR and has thrice topped 40 HR and has had five straight 100 plus RBI seasons. Don't expect Arenado to replicate these figures for his new team. Arenado has played exactly 1,031 games (515 at Coors Field and 516 away from Coors). The splits are dramatic. On Blake Street, Arenado is a career .324 hitter with 129 HR and 446 RBI. Outside the Rocky Mountain State, Arenado is a career .265 hitter with 98 HR and 288 RBI. Arenado, who will turn 29 in April, is still an exceptional third baseman who has thrice won the Plantinum Glove as the best defender in MLB. He can help his new team win games, but if they think he can belt 40 HRs and drive in 130 runs a season then they are setting up themselves and Arenado for failure.
Arenado is hardly the only Rockie whose offensive output was dramatically better in Denver. Todd Helton, who spent his entire 17-year big league career with the Rockies, was a lifetime .345 hitter at Coors Field with an astounding OBP of .441 along with 227 HR and 859 RBI. If Helton had done this on the road, he would already be in Cooperstown. But away from Coors Helton hit .287 with 142 HR and 547 RBI. Not bad, but not enough for a Hall of Fame speech - at least not yet.
There's a very good chance Nolan Arenado will be playing for a new team in 2020. The new team, whoever it might be, will get a very good player but should be aware that won't get what Nolan Arenado delivered in Colorado.
But in 2019, the Rockies tumbled to a 71-91 record finishing 35 games back of the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West. Arenado remained outstanding with a career high .315 batting average along with 41 HR and 118 RBI, his fifth consecutive NL All-Star Team selection and seventh straight Gold Glove. Had the Rockies been better Arenado would have finished higher than 6th in NL MVP balloting.
With the Rockies now appearing to be headed towards rebuilding and six years remaining on his contract, Arenado might soon departing Denver's light air. Possible destinations for Arenado include St. Louis, Atlanta, San Francisco, Philadelphia, New York (both in The Bronx and Queens) the Cubs (even with Kris Bryant remaining with the club in 2020) and the Rangers.
But any of these buyers should beware where it concerns Arenado's offense. In each of the last five seasons, Arenado has more than 35 HR and has thrice topped 40 HR and has had five straight 100 plus RBI seasons. Don't expect Arenado to replicate these figures for his new team. Arenado has played exactly 1,031 games (515 at Coors Field and 516 away from Coors). The splits are dramatic. On Blake Street, Arenado is a career .324 hitter with 129 HR and 446 RBI. Outside the Rocky Mountain State, Arenado is a career .265 hitter with 98 HR and 288 RBI. Arenado, who will turn 29 in April, is still an exceptional third baseman who has thrice won the Plantinum Glove as the best defender in MLB. He can help his new team win games, but if they think he can belt 40 HRs and drive in 130 runs a season then they are setting up themselves and Arenado for failure.
Arenado is hardly the only Rockie whose offensive output was dramatically better in Denver. Todd Helton, who spent his entire 17-year big league career with the Rockies, was a lifetime .345 hitter at Coors Field with an astounding OBP of .441 along with 227 HR and 859 RBI. If Helton had done this on the road, he would already be in Cooperstown. But away from Coors Helton hit .287 with 142 HR and 547 RBI. Not bad, but not enough for a Hall of Fame speech - at least not yet.
There's a very good chance Nolan Arenado will be playing for a new team in 2020. The new team, whoever it might be, will get a very good player but should be aware that won't get what Nolan Arenado delivered in Colorado.
Thursday, January 9, 2020
My 2020 Baseball Hall of Fame Ballot (If The BBWAA Gave Me a Vote)
I am not a member of the Baseball Writers Association of America (BBWAA) and probably never will be. But if I were this would be by Hall of Fame ballot for the Class of 2020 which will be announced on January 21st.
1. Derek Jeter
2. Larry Walker
3. Curt Schilling
4. Omar Vizquel
5. Jeff Kent
6. Scott Rolen
7. Billy Wagner
8. Andruw Jones
9. Barry Bonds
10. Roger Clemens
Of these ten, the only shoo-in is Jeter who is in his first year on the ballot. The question is will he get 100% of the vote as his former New York Yankees teammate Mariano Rivera did a year ago. Well, 100% of the living Hall of Fame inductees won't be there. Andre Dawson and Tony Perez announced last summer they would not be in Cooperstown to see Jeter's induction. Jeter unceremoniously dispensed with the services of Dawson and Perez after his ownership group bought the Miami Marlins in 2017. A backlash forced Jeter to offer them their jobs back albeit with a significant salary cut. Both Dawson and Perez declined the offer. Dawson hooked on with the Chicago Cubs while Perez remains out of baseball. All this to say that Jeter might not get 100% of the vote. But he'll get in. To put the matter into perspective, neither Joe DiMaggio nor Yogi Berra received 100% of the vote much less were inducted on the first ballot. Nevertheless, Jeter's credentials are impressive. A career .310 hitter with 3465 hits (6th on MLB's all-time list), 14 AL All-Star Team selections, five Gold Gloves and five World Series rings. Mr. November will be a welcome addition to Cooperstown.
Six of the players on my list were on my list a year ago - Walker, Schilling, Vizquel, Kent, Rolen and Jones. It is Walker's last year on the ballot and Schilling's next to last year on the ballot and I have a feeling time will run out for both of them leaving it to the Veterans Committee. Ditto for Kent who has two years left. Of the remaining three, I think Vizquel has the best chance for enshrinement but I suspect that won't come until 2022.
Including Jeter, there are new names on my list. Billy Wagner, in his fifth year on the ballot, makes my list for the first time. Wagner, who pitched for 16 seasons with the Houston Astros, Philadelphia Phillies, New York Mets, Boston Red Sox and Atlanta Braves, is probably the greatest relief pitcher who never led his league in saves. Yet he accumulated 422 saves while striking out 1196 batters in only 903 innings pitched. His 11.9 K per 9 innings pitched is the highest in MLB history with a minimum of 800 innings pitched. MLB hitters only batted .187 against while accumulating 5.99 hits per 9 innings which are also the best totals in MLB history. Most closers have a short life span. Wagner was a 7 time NL All-Star between 1999 and 2010. Wagner certainly has a place in Cooperstown with contemporaries Mariano Rivera and Trevor Hoffman.
Which brings me to Bonds and Clemens. I have kept Bonds and Clemens off my previous ballots because I wanted to give priority to deserving candidates who might end up being overlooked (i.e. Kent, Rolen, Walker, Jones and Vizquel or in years past Alan Trammell, Fred McGriff and Lee Smith). Realistically speaking there is no way Bonds would have hit 73 home runs in 2001 much less eclipsed Hank Aaron for the all time HR record without steroids nor would have Roger Clemens won half of his AL Cy Young Awards, won 300 games or struck out 4,000 batters with the benefit of HGH. With all that said, the things they achieved before they came under the cloud of suspicion were sufficient to warrant inclusion into Cooperstown.
Most significantly, I didn't have any other players I felt strongly enough about championing. I am dubious about the legacy of both Manny Ramirez and Gary Sheffield and did not see fit to cast a ballot for them. I did give some consideration to Todd Helton who is even with Walker is the greatest player to wear a Colorado Rockies uniform. But with no one else on the ballot worthy of consideration left on the ballot, I had two spots left and if I was going to vote for Bonds and Clemens I was going to vote for them together. Of course, if Bonds and Clemens do get in it will improve the chances of Ramirez, Sheffield not to mention Alex Rodriguez. Whether Bonds and Clemens get in this year or next, it will open up a hornet's nest. If they do not I think they will actually have a harder time with the Veterans Committee than with the BBWAA.
Well, that's my ballot. Let me know what you think.
1. Derek Jeter
2. Larry Walker
3. Curt Schilling
4. Omar Vizquel
5. Jeff Kent
6. Scott Rolen
7. Billy Wagner
8. Andruw Jones
9. Barry Bonds
10. Roger Clemens
Of these ten, the only shoo-in is Jeter who is in his first year on the ballot. The question is will he get 100% of the vote as his former New York Yankees teammate Mariano Rivera did a year ago. Well, 100% of the living Hall of Fame inductees won't be there. Andre Dawson and Tony Perez announced last summer they would not be in Cooperstown to see Jeter's induction. Jeter unceremoniously dispensed with the services of Dawson and Perez after his ownership group bought the Miami Marlins in 2017. A backlash forced Jeter to offer them their jobs back albeit with a significant salary cut. Both Dawson and Perez declined the offer. Dawson hooked on with the Chicago Cubs while Perez remains out of baseball. All this to say that Jeter might not get 100% of the vote. But he'll get in. To put the matter into perspective, neither Joe DiMaggio nor Yogi Berra received 100% of the vote much less were inducted on the first ballot. Nevertheless, Jeter's credentials are impressive. A career .310 hitter with 3465 hits (6th on MLB's all-time list), 14 AL All-Star Team selections, five Gold Gloves and five World Series rings. Mr. November will be a welcome addition to Cooperstown.
Six of the players on my list were on my list a year ago - Walker, Schilling, Vizquel, Kent, Rolen and Jones. It is Walker's last year on the ballot and Schilling's next to last year on the ballot and I have a feeling time will run out for both of them leaving it to the Veterans Committee. Ditto for Kent who has two years left. Of the remaining three, I think Vizquel has the best chance for enshrinement but I suspect that won't come until 2022.
Including Jeter, there are new names on my list. Billy Wagner, in his fifth year on the ballot, makes my list for the first time. Wagner, who pitched for 16 seasons with the Houston Astros, Philadelphia Phillies, New York Mets, Boston Red Sox and Atlanta Braves, is probably the greatest relief pitcher who never led his league in saves. Yet he accumulated 422 saves while striking out 1196 batters in only 903 innings pitched. His 11.9 K per 9 innings pitched is the highest in MLB history with a minimum of 800 innings pitched. MLB hitters only batted .187 against while accumulating 5.99 hits per 9 innings which are also the best totals in MLB history. Most closers have a short life span. Wagner was a 7 time NL All-Star between 1999 and 2010. Wagner certainly has a place in Cooperstown with contemporaries Mariano Rivera and Trevor Hoffman.
Which brings me to Bonds and Clemens. I have kept Bonds and Clemens off my previous ballots because I wanted to give priority to deserving candidates who might end up being overlooked (i.e. Kent, Rolen, Walker, Jones and Vizquel or in years past Alan Trammell, Fred McGriff and Lee Smith). Realistically speaking there is no way Bonds would have hit 73 home runs in 2001 much less eclipsed Hank Aaron for the all time HR record without steroids nor would have Roger Clemens won half of his AL Cy Young Awards, won 300 games or struck out 4,000 batters with the benefit of HGH. With all that said, the things they achieved before they came under the cloud of suspicion were sufficient to warrant inclusion into Cooperstown.
Most significantly, I didn't have any other players I felt strongly enough about championing. I am dubious about the legacy of both Manny Ramirez and Gary Sheffield and did not see fit to cast a ballot for them. I did give some consideration to Todd Helton who is even with Walker is the greatest player to wear a Colorado Rockies uniform. But with no one else on the ballot worthy of consideration left on the ballot, I had two spots left and if I was going to vote for Bonds and Clemens I was going to vote for them together. Of course, if Bonds and Clemens do get in it will improve the chances of Ramirez, Sheffield not to mention Alex Rodriguez. Whether Bonds and Clemens get in this year or next, it will open up a hornet's nest. If they do not I think they will actually have a harder time with the Veterans Committee than with the BBWAA.
Well, that's my ballot. Let me know what you think.
Wednesday, January 8, 2020
Buck Henry, R.I.P.
Writer, actor and director Buck Henry passed away today of an apparent heart attack. He was 89.
After earning his stripes as a humorist at Dartmouth College, Henry earned the attention of Steve Allen who hired him as a writer in the early 1960's. Later, Henry would contribute to the American version of That Was The Week That Was, hosted by David Frost, as both a writer and performer. Henry would his earn his star in 1965 when he teamed up with Mel Brooks to create the hit TV spy spoof "Get Smart" starring Don Adams. Two years later, Henry co-wrote the adapted screenplay of "The Graduate" for which he received an Oscar nomination and also had a small role. A second Oscar nomination came more than a decade later when he and Warren Beatty were jointly nominated for Best Director of "Heaven Can Wait".
But, like many others, I remember Henry from his frequent appearances during the first years of Saturday Night Live. Between 1975 and 1980, Henry hosted the show 10 times and traditionally hosted the season finale. Henry most notably played the straight man to John Belushi's Samurai character.
In 1984, Henry was part of the cast of shortlived "The New Show" produced by Lorne Michaels. Henry's appearances on TV grew more sporadic although he would make guest appearances on programs like Falcon Crest, Murphy Brown, Will & Grace, 30 Rock, Hot in Cleveland and Law & Order: SVU. It is a shame Henry never got another chance to host SNL after 1980. While never a cast member, Buck Henry was integral to the show getting off the ground and becoming a cultural phenomenon. R.I.P.
After earning his stripes as a humorist at Dartmouth College, Henry earned the attention of Steve Allen who hired him as a writer in the early 1960's. Later, Henry would contribute to the American version of That Was The Week That Was, hosted by David Frost, as both a writer and performer. Henry would his earn his star in 1965 when he teamed up with Mel Brooks to create the hit TV spy spoof "Get Smart" starring Don Adams. Two years later, Henry co-wrote the adapted screenplay of "The Graduate" for which he received an Oscar nomination and also had a small role. A second Oscar nomination came more than a decade later when he and Warren Beatty were jointly nominated for Best Director of "Heaven Can Wait".
But, like many others, I remember Henry from his frequent appearances during the first years of Saturday Night Live. Between 1975 and 1980, Henry hosted the show 10 times and traditionally hosted the season finale. Henry most notably played the straight man to John Belushi's Samurai character.
In 1984, Henry was part of the cast of shortlived "The New Show" produced by Lorne Michaels. Henry's appearances on TV grew more sporadic although he would make guest appearances on programs like Falcon Crest, Murphy Brown, Will & Grace, 30 Rock, Hot in Cleveland and Law & Order: SVU. It is a shame Henry never got another chance to host SNL after 1980. While never a cast member, Buck Henry was integral to the show getting off the ground and becoming a cultural phenomenon. R.I.P.
Can Girardi Give Ronald Torreyes' Career a Reprieve in Philly?
I was delighted to hear that the Philadelphia Phillies have signed infielder Ronald Torreyes to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training.
The Venezuelan born Torreyes became a valuable part of the New York Yankees' bench in 2016 and especially 2017 when he hit .292 in 108 games for the Bronx Bombers. However, when Aaron Boone took over the managerial reigns from Joe Girardi in 2018, Torreyes was largely consigned to playing in Scranton-Wilkes Barre and was limited to 40 games at the big league level although he managed to hit .280 in 100 at bats.
I went ballistic when the Yankees designated Torreyes for assignment after the 2018 season. The Chicago Cubs (with whom Torreyes had played in the minors in 2012 and 2013) acquired him from the Yankees only to designate him for assignment. Torreyes signed as a free agent with the Minnesota Twins in December 2018. I was optimistic for Torreyes' chances in the Twin Cities, but he spent most of 2019 with the club's Triple-AAA franchise in Rochester. Torreyes was called up to the club in September, but only appeared in 7 games batting .188 in 16 at bats before becoming a free agent at season's end.
I think Torreyes' size works against him (he's listed at 5,8 and 151 pounds). If he hit for power like Jose Altuve then he'd be cut some slack, but that isn't his game. Signing with the Phillies' organization gives Torreyes, 27, a chance to reunite with Girardi who certainly appreciates what Torreyes brings to the table. With MLB expanding its roster to 26 players, Torreyes would be an ideal man to fill out that final roster spot. Of course, there are no guarantees, the competition will be fierce and sentiment will only take one so far. But if anyone can champion Torreyes' cause it is Girardi. If the Phillies reach the post-season in 2020 it will have as much to do with Torreyes as it will with Bryce Harper. The best teams are strong from 1 to 25. Torreyes can make that 1 through 26.
The Venezuelan born Torreyes became a valuable part of the New York Yankees' bench in 2016 and especially 2017 when he hit .292 in 108 games for the Bronx Bombers. However, when Aaron Boone took over the managerial reigns from Joe Girardi in 2018, Torreyes was largely consigned to playing in Scranton-Wilkes Barre and was limited to 40 games at the big league level although he managed to hit .280 in 100 at bats.
I went ballistic when the Yankees designated Torreyes for assignment after the 2018 season. The Chicago Cubs (with whom Torreyes had played in the minors in 2012 and 2013) acquired him from the Yankees only to designate him for assignment. Torreyes signed as a free agent with the Minnesota Twins in December 2018. I was optimistic for Torreyes' chances in the Twin Cities, but he spent most of 2019 with the club's Triple-AAA franchise in Rochester. Torreyes was called up to the club in September, but only appeared in 7 games batting .188 in 16 at bats before becoming a free agent at season's end.
I think Torreyes' size works against him (he's listed at 5,8 and 151 pounds). If he hit for power like Jose Altuve then he'd be cut some slack, but that isn't his game. Signing with the Phillies' organization gives Torreyes, 27, a chance to reunite with Girardi who certainly appreciates what Torreyes brings to the table. With MLB expanding its roster to 26 players, Torreyes would be an ideal man to fill out that final roster spot. Of course, there are no guarantees, the competition will be fierce and sentiment will only take one so far. But if anyone can champion Torreyes' cause it is Girardi. If the Phillies reach the post-season in 2020 it will have as much to do with Torreyes as it will with Bryce Harper. The best teams are strong from 1 to 25. Torreyes can make that 1 through 26.
Tuesday, January 7, 2020
Chisox Add Cishek
The Chicago White Sox are at it again. This time the Chisox added veteran reliever Steve Cishek to their bullpen on a one year, $6 million deal with an option for the 2021 season.
Cishek has spent the past two seasons with the crosstown Cubs. He has proven to be one of MLB's most durable relievers making 80 appearances for the Cubs in 2018 and 70 appearances in 2019. In those 70 appearances, Cishek went 4-6 with a 2.95 ERA along with 7 saves. Cishek, 33, will likely join Aaron Bummer as the main set up men for Alex Colome. Should Colome falter or get hurt, Cishek could step into the closer's role as he was a closer for both the Miami Marlins and Seattle Mariners earlier in his career.
Cishek is the latest catch for a Chicago team that has added Yasmani Grandal, Edwin Encarnacion, Nomar Mazara as well as starting pitchers Dallas Keuchel and Gio Gonzalez. Combine that with a team which already has Tim Anderson, Jose Abreu, Yoan Moncada, Eloy Jimenez and Lucas Giolito. And the White Sox still might not be done.
Cishek has spent the past two seasons with the crosstown Cubs. He has proven to be one of MLB's most durable relievers making 80 appearances for the Cubs in 2018 and 70 appearances in 2019. In those 70 appearances, Cishek went 4-6 with a 2.95 ERA along with 7 saves. Cishek, 33, will likely join Aaron Bummer as the main set up men for Alex Colome. Should Colome falter or get hurt, Cishek could step into the closer's role as he was a closer for both the Miami Marlins and Seattle Mariners earlier in his career.
Cishek is the latest catch for a Chicago team that has added Yasmani Grandal, Edwin Encarnacion, Nomar Mazara as well as starting pitchers Dallas Keuchel and Gio Gonzalez. Combine that with a team which already has Tim Anderson, Jose Abreu, Yoan Moncada, Eloy Jimenez and Lucas Giolito. And the White Sox still might not be done.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)