MLB

Manager Lou Piniella made nice with the media prior to Tuesday's game with Milwaukee after blowing off his post-game press conference the night before to scold his players for dropping another extra inning heart-breaker.

The White Sox would seemingly be happy about their weekend series against Detroit. Despite trailing early in all three games, the Sox were able to come back, losing only the series finale. Despite promising play from the club, Manager Ozzie Guillen was not happy after Sunday's game, when without being asked, he called Tiger outfielder Magglio Ordonez a "Venezuelan piece of [expletive deleted]. I curse the ground he walks on."

I'm sick of it becoming a media event every time I talk about what I've bet on. So let's get it all out of the way. While managing the Reds, I bet on baseball, junior high softball games, cock fights, who shot JR, two-week old Chinese food, the Oscars, high school elections, hobo fights, where Marge Schott's dog would deuce next, players' STD test results and the drinking games at local fraternities. Actually, the only thing I won't bet on is the stock market. My bookie offers the only retirement plan I need. Let's gamble!

It was a wild and weird weekend at Wrigley, as the hated Cardinals visited the North Side to take on the Cubs. All three games featured entertainment for fans of both teams, with the boys in blue showcasing a new way to lose in the first game of the series.

Two White Sox players got their first home runs of the year in a 6-4 win over the visiting Rangers Thursday night, earning their team a much-needed series victory.

Rich Hill, the tall, lanky Cubs pitcher with the face of a 16-year-old, quieted the Braves' bats at Turner Field in eight solid innings of work, giving up only four hits and holding the NL East leaders scoreless. Hill now leads the majors in ERA with a paltry .041.

Another curse is plaguing the Cubs. On April 20, 2005, Nomar Garciaparra blew out his groin muscle running out of the batter's box at Busch Stadium. Exactly a year later, Derrek Lee collided with Rafael Furcal at Dodger Stadium, breaking a bone in Lee's wrist and effectively ending his year. Superstition suggests something bad will happen Friday for the Cubs. Fans are hoping that if the Curse of April 20th does have to strike, that it strikes the bullpen.