SB Nation Chicago - Cubs Vs. White Sox: South Siders Avoid Sweep With 7-0 Win

Orlando Hudson Benching Called 'Mental Break,' White Sox 3B Situation Continues To Erode

2012-06-21T17:08:27Z

In the series finale against the Cubs on Wednesday night, Chicago White Sox manager Robin Ventura sat struggling third baseman Orlando Hudson down for the night and replaced him with Eduardao Escobar. After the game Ventura called the move a "mental break" for Hudson, but he has produced an awful .167/.253/.282 triple-slash batting line over 88 plate appearances since joining the White Sox and it could easily be termed a merit-based benching as well. Ventura did say Hudson will likely return to the starting lineup on Friday, but Hudson has made some costly defensive errors of late as well, including a throwing error on Tuesday night to set up a critical two-run inning for the Cubs:

"I [messed] it up. I lost the game for the man, that's it,'' Hudson said. "The man [Jake Peavy] threw a hell of a game. I lost it for him. Point-blank. Case closed. We lost. My bad. That's it."

(quotes via Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times).

White Sox general manager Ken Williams picked up Hudson off the scrap heap earlier this season after Brent Morel got off to a terrible start to the season and migrated to the disabled list with a back injury. Escobar hasn't been much better at the plate this year (.190/.299/.241), so Chicago may have to look elsewhere for a starting third baseman if they hope to remain in the AL Central race in the second half of the season.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more extensive coverage visit White Sox blog South Side Sox . For more baseball news coverage, visit Baseball Nation.

Cubs Vs. White Sox Final Score: South Siders Earn 7-0 Victory To Avoid Sweep

2012-06-21T03:12:26Z

The Chicago White Sox needed a win in the worst way on Wednesday night at U.S. Cellular Field. Thanks to starter Gavin Floyd and a potent lineup, they were able to get the job done. The Sox earned a 7-0 victory over the Chicago Cubs behind four RBI from Gordon Beckham and a stellar effort from Floyd. The Sox move to 36-33 with the win, while the Cubs move to 24-45.

Floyd allowed four hits while striking out four over 6.1 innings to improve to 5-7. The South Siders' offense was able to get to Cubs pitchers early and often. Adam Dunn drove in his 53rd run of the season in the third inning to get scoring started with a single to left field to score Eduardo Escobar. Paul Konerko and Gordon Beckham would add RBI singles in the third and fourth innings, respectively, until Beckham's three-run homer in the sixth broke the game open for good.

Cubs starter Randy Wells lasted just 3.2 innings, surrendering five hits, four walks and three earned runs.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more extensive coverage of this series, visit White Sox blog South Side Sox and Cubs blog Bleed Cubbie Blue. For more baseball news coverage, visit Baseball Nation.

Cubs Vs. White Sox Score Update: South Siders Lead 3-0 In Bottom Of The 6th

2012-06-21T01:59:07Z

The Chicago Cubs are looking to sweep the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday night at U.S. Cellular Field, but things aren't looking too promising thus far. As the team's go to the bottom of the sixth inning, the White Sox hold a 3-0 lead.

The South Siders got scoring started in the third when Adam Dunn singled to left to score third baseman Eduardo Escobar. Paul Konerko plated another run the next inning when he singled to right to score center fielder Alejandro De Aza. Gordon Beckham made it 3-0 White Sox with yet another RBI single, this one scoring shortstop Alexei Ramirez.

Sox starter Gavin Floyd is rolling. Floyd has allowed four hits through six innings while striking out four.

Ian Stewart Injury: Chicago Cubs Third Baseman Should Return June 28

2012-06-21T01:46:23Z

Ian Stewart still doesn't know what's wrong with his wrist, but it won't stop the Chicago Cubs third baseman from returning this season. Stewart is eligible to come off the 15-day disabled list on June 28, and steady injections of cortisone shots should have him ready to return to the field.

Stewart had another MRI on his injured wrist earlier in the week, but doctors still can't pinpoint exactly what's wrong. Stewart was considering an exploratory surgery, but will instead settle for the cortisone shots and a quick off the DL and back into the North Siders' lineup.

Luis Valbuena started every game at third in the crosstown series vs. the Chicago White Sox in Stewart's stead. The 27-year old Stewart is hitting .201 with five homers and 17 RBI this season.

Cubs Vs. White Sox Lineups: Reed Johnson Starts In Right Field On Wednesday

2012-06-20T20:00:30Z

The Chicago Cubs have mixed things up a bit with their lineup on Wednesday, returning Bryan LaHair to first base while sliding Steve Clevenger back behind the plate. Geovany Soto is getting the day off after playing in the first two games of the series, while Reed Johnson is now getting the start in right field.

The White Sox have also made some slight changes themselves for Wednesday's game, replacing Orlando Hudson with Eduardo Escobar at third base while returning A.J. Pierzynski to the starting lineup after a day off. Tyler Flowers is back on the bench after going 0-for-1 with a walk on Tuesday.

Here's the White Sox's full lineup:

1. Alejandro De Aza (CF)
2. Gordon Beckham (2B)
3. Adam Dunn (DH)
4. Paul Konerko (1B)
5. Alex Rios (RF)
6. A.J. Pierzynski (C)
7. Dayan Viciedo (LF)
8. Alexei Ramirez (SS)
9. Eduardo Escobar (3B)

And the Cubs' lineup:

1. David DeJesus (CF)
2. Starlin Castro (SS)
3. Bryan LaHair (1B)
4. Alfonso Soriano (DH)
5. Steve Clevenger (C)
6. Darwin Barney (2B)
7. Luis Valbuena (3B)
8. Reed Johnson (RF)
9. Tony Campana (LF)

Bill Murray, Wilmette Native And Legendary Funny Human, Also Happens To Be Baseball's Coolest Owner

2012-06-20T18:09:38Z

For people around the country, Bill Murray is remembered for playing a variety of roles: buster of ghosts, assistant greenskeeper, military misfit, eccentric oceanographer, etc.

But these days, the native of Wilmette, Ill., has been playing another role: coolest minor league baseball owner in the world.

The only difference is that this time it's actually real. Murray co-owns the Charleston RiverDogs.

In another excellent edition of Amy K. Nelson's The Full Nelson, SB Nation's resident documentarian travels to Charleston, S.C., to introduce the world to a team owner that most players (and fans) can only dream of.

Murray was inducted into the South Atlantic League Hall of Fame recently, and Nelson was there to capture some magic. The full video is below the fold:

For any Cubs fan (or anyone that's visited Wrigley Field in general), you kinda know what Murray is talking about when he gives listeners this story during his speech:

When I got into Wrigley Field and I went through the turnstile, just before I hit the stairs that would take me up to the field level, my brother Brian said, 'Billy, wait.' And he covered my eyes, and he walked me up the steps and then he took my hands away, and I saw the most beautiful building I had ever seen in my life: a field of green and a wall of green and a scoreboard of green, and fans of all colors. And, my heart just lept and I thought, 'Ah, this is where I'm supposed to be.'

Yeah, that was awesome. There's a whole bunch of other great stuff in the video, too, if you can find five minutes in your day. (If you're reading me, you have five minutes.)

Beyond all of the factors that make Murray such a great owner, the thing that stands out above everything else is his obvious passion for the game. For someone who will, "die a Cubs fan," maybe all that passion will one day culminate with a World Series championship. I'm not sure that Charleston winning the Sally League would do it for him.

Yasiel Puig Free Agency: Chicago Cubs, White Sox Interested In Cuban Outfielder

2012-06-20T15:39:42Z

There's another highly-touted Cuban player set to join the free agent market, and both the Chicago Cubs and Chicago White Sox reportedly have interest. Yasiel Puig is a 21-year old outfielder who played at a higher level than new Cub Jorge Soler while putting up comparable numbers to Yoenis Cespedes, the 26-year old Cuban outfielder who signed with the Oakland A's this offseason.

Seven teams are supposedly in on Puig, with the Cubs and White Sox among them. Because of new rules in the CBA regarding international spending, Puig has to sign before July 2. As the outfielder recently established residency in Mexico, everything is shaping up for another wild bidding war over a Cuban outfielder, likely every bit as intense as the one the North Siders won to secure Soler.

Puig is represented by Jamie Torres, an agent who has also represented fellow Cubans Jose Contreras, Alexei Ramirez and Dayan Viciedo. Given those names and Sox's love affair with Cuban players, one has to figure Kenny Williams and the South Siders will be certainly be in the running for Puig after missing out on Cespedes and Soler.

Puig has certainly been productive playing against high levels of competition in Cuba. The outfielder batted .330 with 17 home runs and 47 RBI in 327 at-bats with Cienfuegos Elefantes in the 2010-11 Cuban National Series. He hit .370 in 46 at-bats in the playoffs as a 20-year old. According to an ESPN report by Enrique Rojas, he's also considered the fastest player in Cuban baseball.

Here's what Puig's agent had to say:

"There has not been a player as proven and as young to come to the States from Cuba," Torres said. "It's one thing to come to the United States at 19 or 20 years old with a few at-bats or some experience on a national level but this guy has years of national experience under his belt."

Additional stats can be found at Clay Davenport's website.

Puig is 6-foot-3, 210 lbs. If the White Sox get him, he could immediately become the team's top prospect. If he lands on the North Side, the farm system Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer have worked to bolster becomes even more impressive. Stay tuned.

For more on this story, keep it locked to SB Nation Chicago. Visit South Side Sox for more on the White Sox, and Bleed Cubbie Blue for more on the Cubs.

Cubs Vs. White Sox Preview: North Siders Go For Road Sweep

2012-06-20T14:00:50Z

The Chicago White Sox have lost five series in a row and six of their last seven games. On Wednesday, the South Siders will try to avoid a home sweep at the hands of the Chicago Cubs. The Cubs will send out Randy Wells for the start against left-handed pitcher Gavin Floyd of the White Sox.

Wells hasn't started since May 21. This will be only his third start of the season. The 29-year old righty has enters at 1-1 with a 4.50 ERA and 1.82 WHIP.

Floyd has lost his last two starts and been unable to find his groove all season. The 29-year old righty enters at 4-7 with a 5.63 ERA and 1.34 WHIP.

Game 1 Date & Time: Wednesday, June 20, 7:10 p.m. CT

TV: CSN-Chicago/WGN

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more extensive coverage, visit White Sox blog South Side Sox and Cubs blog Bleed Cubbie Blue. For more baseball news coverage, visit Baseball Nation.