WBEZ 91.5 Chicago

Welcome mats are out for some Chicago baseball players returning to action and a former player and coach returning for a visit.

Cubs pitcher Matt Garza

It has been a long road back for Cubs pitcher Matt Garza after another injury. It may have been only five innings, but it was a great comeback Tuesday night, despite the Cubs losing 5-4 to the Pirates. Garza only gave up one hit in five innings pitched and no runs. Manager Dale Sveum had his right-hander on a pitch/inning count. The Cubs pitcher also contributed with a two-run scoring double. Too bad the bullpen couldn’t hold onto the 3-0 lead given to them.  

Last season Garza had an elbow injury that sidelined him from July through the remainder of the season. Going into spring training, Garza last just days when he suffered a left lat (side) strain. To make room for Garza, pitcher Carlos Villanueva was moved to the bullpen for long relief and Michael Bowden was designated for re-assignment.

What is the real prospect for Garza wearing a Cubs uniform? If he can stay healthy (that is a big if) and perform, he may be on the trading block.

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Ladies and gentlemen, we have a playoff series with the Red Wings that is not as easy as the Blackhawks may have thought.

It will be interesting to see which team will show up for Coach Joel Quenneville: the one from the first game that dominated Detroit, or the one that got dominated in game two.

With the series knotted at a game apiece, there is absolutely no panic with the team that just lost home ice advantage.

The Blackhawks have been a good road team this season, especially at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit. So maybe the Hawks players don't think Detroit sucks as much as fans chant at the United Center.

The Blackhawks are 10-0-1 in the last 11 regular season games in Motown. The Joe Louis arena has a quicker ice surface with quirky end and side boards. Quenneville said it makes for a "livelier game". Players like defenseman Duncan Keith said the Detroit arena is "fun" and the Hawks need to have a "do or die attitude" when they go on the road.

Out of the dog house?

That is the feeling you get from listening to Coach Q about Viktor Stalberg.

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There is plenty of time for the Bulls to heal all their various ailments after losing the series to Miami. In the case of Derrick Rose, he has some other wounds that need to be repaired between now and when he returns to play next year.

The anger directed at Rose for not returning this season after major ACL knee surgery was frankly, unbelievable.  There were definite mistakes made concerning the prospect of the Bulls guard’s return to game time action. His shoe company even did a video "The Return" to highlight the rehabbing Rose was doing after he was given the green light. 

At media day in early October, Rose sounded hopeful that he would be able to join the team during the season. At no time, publicly, did Derrick Rose or the Bulls ever give a hard date. It was all speculation that drove the story, lit a smoldering fire and turned into a firestorm once months passed. 

The silence of Rose and his camp of handlers muddied the waters. When there were "on the record" quotes, it was Rose’s brother/manager Reggie that caused the biggest stir.

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The depleted, ailing Chicago Bulls are one game from starting summer vacation. Down three games to one to the Miami Heat, it feels as though the end is near. It has felt that way since early in Game Three when the listless Bulls could not muster the strength to avoid a lopsided loss to the defending NBA Champions.

This isn’t a small hill the Bulls face to get back in this series. It is the Rocky Mountains. You could see it in the eyes of the players in the locker room following Monday’s game.

They didn't concede anything, but slumped back in their chairs. At this point, the Bulls cannot compete in the same stratosphere as LeBron James and his teammates. Missing players have forced others to carry a load that is too heavy.

It really is amazing they were able to stun Miami in Game One. Since then, the Heat adjusted defense and took advantage of their size to trap Bulls guard Nate Robinson. The physical play in the first three games was missing in the last contest. The Bulls may try to pull out all the stops tonight.

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It is not an overstatement to say the Bulls face a must win game Monday night against Miami. Chicago is down two games to one, and it is likely going to be another physical, tough game at the United Center.

It has also been a costly series for the Bulls so far. Coach Tom Thibodeau is $35,000 dollars lighter after his negative comments about the officiating last Friday. Taj Gibson had to cough up $25,000 for his dispute with referees in the second game.

There have been three Bulls players ejected from the last couple of games. The perception is this is a whiny Bulls team. When you look at everything they have dealt with this year, it is more like they are fighting to stay alive in the playoffs.

Nothing has been easy for them and facing the Miami Heat that is healthy and loaded with talent has been difficult. The hurdles they have dealt with would have weakened the resolve of most teams. The Bulls can not afford to lose the war with the officials. They must remain level-headed.   

Luol Deng is still struggling with his health after his spinal tap. Kirk Hinrich is not seeing much improvement on his bruised calf.

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Stay classy, Chicago fans. Game three of the NBA playoff series tips off at the United Center Friday night.

With the Bulls and Heat knotted at a game apiece, most of the attention should be on the series. But antics and injuries off the court are garnering plenty of interest.

The Bulls had two players, Joakim Noah and Taj Gibson, ejected in the enormous 115-78 loss to Miami. As Noah was walking through the exit in the American Airlines Arena, one of the fans bluntly showed her displeasure with the Bulls center. Filomena Tobias flipped off Noah and the image went viral. This is not new. Several years ago the Chicago Sun-Times had a back page photo of a Bears fan doing that to players walking through the tunnel. I remember because it was my son's grade school gym teacher doing the gesture.

The Miami fan story shielded the Bulls from their crushing defeat by LeBron James and the Heat on Wednesday night.

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Blackhawks tamed the Wild 3-0 in Minnesota last night.

The Hawks lead the series three games to one, and can close it out tomorrow night at the United Center. After the underdog Wild played a tough physical game three, the Hawks responded and pushed back in game four.

It has been a terrific comeback for one Blackhawk-Patrick Sharp. He scored two goals last night and four in this opening series. Not bad for the Hawks left winger who missed a lot of time during the regular season with a bad shoulder. During the shorten season he only tallied six goals.

Minnesota was forced to go to their third goalie of this series when Josh Harding was injured stopping a shot by Jonathan Toews with three minutes left in the first period. Harding gave up a re-direct goal by Sharp in the opening period.

The Wild started the second period with inexperienced 23 year old Darcy Kuemper, the first shot he saw turned out to be an unassisted goal by Sharp.  Another Hawk having a good series is Bryan Bickell; he scored on an awkward wrist shot late in the game.

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