Lunching With Stuart At Old Chicago

I had lunch yesterday with my friend Stuart at the Old Chicago Pizza and Taproom in Lakewood, Colorado, a suburb just to the west of Denver whose heart and soul revolves around West Colfax Avenue, which is itself one of most soulless stretches of asphalt in not just this country, but the world. But is nonetheless its sole claim to fame. But happily, you can't see Lakewood from the bar at Old Chicago, where I took the photograph above of Stuart. Over lunch, we discussed a number of topics, including the fact that baseball spring training games begin tomorrow. I reminded Stuart that his favorite team, the Chicago Cubs (he grew up on the North Side of Chicago, which explains his misguided loyalty) are projected to finish first in the National League Central. Which he was disappointed to hear. He believes that prediction will curse them for sure, and they are now doomed to finish last. And, of course, I am an expert in teams finishing in last place, having grown up on the South Side of Chicago and therefore a lifelong White Sox fan. On the positive side, I read that the White Sox have signed and traded for some very promising players this year, as well as having the number one pick in the MLB draft, so things are looking up these days on the South Side. As for our adopted hometown team, the Colorado Rockies, who lost 119 games last season and had the worst starting pitching in the history of baseball, they now have new management, people who actually know something about baseball. Last year, the Rockies loaded their roster with rookies from the minor leagues, most of whom were not ready for the big leagues, with obvious results. This year, the team is adding veterans to the lineup and keeping rookies not ready for the big leagues down on the farm until they are indeed ready. What a concept!