Sickma melta chi

AS ONE who has spent some time in and around the Chicago area, may I offer my condolences to the fraternally correct Chicago Cubs and Chicago White Sox for their rapid transit out of this year's post-season playoffs.   It must have been  particularly galling for the Cubs' fans, whose  ancestors haven't been on hand to witness  a World Series title since Mrs. O'Leary's cow kicked over the lantern.  (I exaggerate, of course, but not by much in geological time.)  As for the ChiSox, little more should have been expected for a team that muddled through the final weeks of the season as though they were waiting for former minor leaguer Michael Jordan to arrive for one last  at-bat to enliven their play.   The only way to salvage the final curtain is to schedule a brief inter-league series between the Cubs and ChiSox.  If you do the math, you will conclude that at least one Chicago baseball team will be a winner.