BP Crosstown Cup Possibly the Only Marble Cubs, Sox Playing For
By Benjy Lipsman in News on Jun 20, 2011 6:00PM
One of the great things about being a Chicago baseball fan is that even when your team is having a down year, the season can still be partially salvaged simply by beating your crosstown rivals during their two annual meetings. Given how well the Cubs and White Sox have played so far, winning the BP Crosstown Cup may be the biggest bragging rights either team will be able to muster in 2011.
Our two teams begin their first three-game set tonight, with the Sox hosting the Cubs at U.S. Cellular Field. The Cubs enter the series with a 29-42 record, placing them fifth in the NL Central. The Cubs are coming off a series defeat against the New York Yankees at Wrigley so they're already amped up for a high profile series. After a horrific start that saw the White Sox briefly own MLB's worst record in early May, the South Siders have clawed back toward .500 with a 35-38 mark after winning two of three against the Diamondbacks. The team was built to compete this year and have only recently begun to play closer to those expectations. A series victory could help propel the Sox further up the AL Central standings.
As they do annually, the Tribune released their All-City Team, picking the best player at each position. The 2011 squad is perhaps a bit heavier on Cubs that one might expect given their poor season. Alexei Ramirez, Paul Konerko and Carlos Quentin were the only position players representing the Sox, while the Cubs filled the other five spots. The Sox were better represented on the bench and pitching staff and hold a slim 10-9 advantage on the roster over the North Siders:
1B - Paul Konerko (White Sox)
2B - Darwin Barney (Cubs)
SS - Alexei Ramirez (White Sox)
3B - Aramis Ramirez (Cubs)
C - Geovany Soto (Cubs)
LF - Alfonso Soriano (Cubs)
CF - Marlon Byrd (Cubs)
RF - Carlos Quentin (White Sox)
SP - Phil Humber, Mark Buehrle, Gavin Floyd (White Sox), Matt Garza (Cubs)
Bench - Brent Lillibridge, Omar Vizquel (White Sox), Reed Johnson (Cubs)
Closer - Sergio Santos (White Sox)
Set-up - Sean Marshall, Kerry Wood (Cubs)
Manager - Ozzie Guillen (White Sox)
Provided that the weather cooperates, the Cubs and Sox face off tonight, Tuesday and Wednesday. Game times and pitching match-ups are below. Of biggest note, the Sox will active Jake Peavy from the DL to pitch in the series finale:
Monday:
Carlos Zambrano (5-4, 4.59) vs. Gavin Floyd (6-6, 3.94)
7:10 p.m.; WCIU-Ch. 26, CSN
Tuesday:
Matt Garza (3-6, 4.14) vs. Mark Buehrle (6-5, 3.75)
7:10 p.m.; CSN, WGN-Ch. 9
Wednesday:
Doug Davis (1-6, 4.95) vs. Jake Peavy (2-1, 4.66)
7:10 p.m.; WCIU-Ch. 26, CSN