The Day After

New Lenox, IL - The day after Koz's "Shot Heard Round the World", we are all left to wonder; WHY DIDN'T ANYONE KNOW THE SCORE OF THE GAME?  The Village of New Lenox does a great job of keeping its visitors and residents safe, has a lot of commerce and supports local businesses, does a great job fiscally for its citizens, and even kicks back residents a large percentage of their local property taxes.  What they are not good at is providing a scoreboard for Lion's Den players and fans to actually know what the hell is going on.  The scoreboard has never been used when rain is in the forecast and as of this year, has not been used since week 1.  Hey Village of New Lenox, take a couple of bucks from each of our 2021 rebates and build a professional looking scoreboard at the Lion's Den!!!  I mean, a Vegas style scoreboard that will keep us up to date and entertained.  Advertise on the f&$^ing thing if you want.  Just give us a scoreboard that is VISIBLE to the public.  We've all had better scoreboards at home for Shoots and Ladders games than what is currently hanging on the press box wall and is in jeopardy of flying away with the scantest of breezes.  When asked for a quote, MB third baseman and local #134 Electrician Ken stated; "That thing was wired in 2005 and it was up to code and worked well back then".  That 16 year-old scoreboard needs to get blowed up real good Disco Demolition style.  Dear New Lenox Park District Commissioner, put down the sandwich and get your ass out of the Sanctuary clubhouse and give our community a proper scoreboard at the Lions Den.....No scoreboard, no vote.

Notables:

Crowd Noise - The bubbly Lauren's mom (Cindy) was at the game last night spreading cheer.  You may have heard some of the chatter over the walkoff highlight reel.  The liveliness and infectious personality is much appreciated with the fandom.  Knowing that Lauren speaks so few words, the Gazette has to provide the final score of the words spoken game:  Cindy 100 Lauren 1.  

Bugs - Lots of Gnats at the game last night.  

Scratch the Top - Anyone who has been down to St. Louis knows about Ted Drew's or Silky's, where you can get a delicious concrete.  Well, Lions Den was serving up concrete last night; the infield.  The lack of rain has left the infield in condition much like a parking lot with superball type bounces.  

Pickle Rick - The rules of inserting courtesy runners has become more liberal this year.  Bags got a courtesy runner last night and isn't close to the slowest model in the showroom.

From the Bushes

The Gazette promised a comment on the state of the Cubs and Sox in 2021.  Overheard from the bushes by a Gazette reporter, Ken was thumping his chest a bit about how the Cubs could only be a half game out of first place by the end of the night.  True, and after the Cardinal loss, the Cubs are now indeed a half game out of first place in the NL Central.  The Cubs now find themselves in a perilous position where the needle is pointing down and they are a shell of the 2016 championship team but the team is playing good and they don't know if they are buyers or sellers as the trade deadline is on the horizon.  Their so-called marquee player, Kris Bryant, is having a career year after spending the last four seasons in the Sanctuary clubhouse with the New Lenox Park Commissioner.  Where were you Kris when your championship quality teammates needed you the past few seasons and could have won another ring if you played like you are in your contract year?  You are now playing on an 85 win at best team and having a career year because it means a payday for you.  That's where the problem lies for the Cubs management.  Should we sign Bryant and pick up a free agent and go for it OR trade him away for prospects and/or players to try a rebuild?  Cubs are screwed either way as Ricketts/Hoyer are not Theo.  Cub fans are going to be pissed off no matter what the decision is because it is surely not going to work out either way.

          On to the White Sox.  They are a somewhat talented team and should surely win the meager AL Central in 2021.  The Sox may win a round in the playoffs but that's about as far as they go in 2021 unless they pick up a magician before the trade deadline.  The team blows defensively and that will be end of them when playing more efficient teams.  The Sox have an immature team more centered around diving into nets, sporting sparkly chains, and worrying about their relic manager and "new school vs old school" to actually win baseball games.  The prize this year for anyone who makes it past its AL opponents is either the loaded Dodgers or the loaded Padres.......good luck with that.