Emma: Chicago's Cubs, White Sox In Search Of Magical Summers

By Chris Emma--

CHICAGO (CBS) -- In this fair city, hope often comes with the playful tunes of an organ.

Walk through the gates of fabled Wrigley Field and you're struck by the scenic backdrop of green grass, blue skies and sunshine. Then, the sound of the famous Lowrey organ nestles you in for Cubs-Reds at the Friendly Confines. On the other side of town, the upbeat tones of the organ at U.S. Cellular Field brought sounds of delight as the White Sox on Wednesday looked to take their fifth straight series, this one against the Yankees.

Those simple joys of baseball -- whether it's a hot dog and a beer or just a beautiful day in the bleachers -- are what bring fans to the ballparks. It's enough to put a smile on your face in Chicago, but there could be greater on the horizon.

Chicago is home to two contenders -- the Cubs are an National League-best 52-32 record, and the White Sox are inching closer to the wild card now at 44-41. With baseball's All-Star break just days away, both of Chicago's teams were in town for a rare doubleheader of action at their home ballparks Wednesday. The sun was shining down over the Second City.

--

With one crack of the bat, Wrigley Field fell nearly faint. There were even some boos to be heard.

Reds catcher Tucker Barnhart hit a three-run home run off of Trevor Cahill that served as the difference in the series-clinching 5-3 win over the Cubs. There was no comeback for the best team in the NL against one of the worst.

Ever since starting out as baseball's best team -- even bringing forth the thought of a record 117-win regular season -- the Cubs haven't found consistent wins. They have now gone 15-16 in their last 31 games and 5-12 since center fielder and lead-off man Dexter Fowler went to the disabled list.

Any reason for concern about this Cubs team?

"It's more likely a snapshot," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said.

The Cubs are simply going through struggles. They happen to even the best of teams. Plus, this stretch is revealing just how important Fowler is to the Cubs. He was leading the National League position players in wins above replacement before his hamstring tweak two-and-a-half weeks ago.

Don't start worrying -- not with this Cubs team, not with seven All-Stars and so many terrific talents. They're frustrated, too, but certainly not concerned.

"I really can't explain it right now," Cubs shortstop Addison Russell said. "But we're still going to try to go out and get the job done. Obviously, the past few weeks, it hasn't been working. But we still have high hopes and high faith. We just got to go to the next day and get better."

What the Cubs need first and foremost is health, with their center fielder back to his place as the catalyst atop the order. Bullpen help will arrive, perhaps even in the form of a shutdown arm from the Yankees like Andrew Miller or Aroldis Chapman.

Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein will do whatever it takes to ensure his team maintains its position as a World Series favorite. The bullpen need is obvious, but the Cubs could also add another bat or starter to the equation as an insurance policy.

In the meantime, the Cubs look ready for the All-Star break as they continue to scuffle. It's a short-term problem -- nothing more.

"I can't connect a bunch of negative thoughts," Maddon said. "It's just happened. I think it is a snapshot. I'm not really concerned."

---

The sun had begun to set by the bottom of the second inning at U.S. Cellular Field. Still, the July humidity was steady throughout the ballpark.

This inning started as many have for the White Sox this season, with the heart of the order failing to come through. Melky Cabrera popped up to shortstop, then Todd Frazier fanned for strike three. But the White Sox soon showed their better half with two outs.

Energizer bunny Brett Lawrie lined a base knock to right field, then Dioner Navarro walked to put two on with two outs. Avisail Garcia came through with a two-out single to score Lawrie, and J.B. Shuck followed with an RBI ground-rule double. Then, rookie shortstop Tim Anderson delivered again, this time with a two-out, two-run double.

Look at what these White Sox can do. They earned a 5-0 win over the Yankees to clinch their fifth straight series win.

"Everybody is contributing," White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. "It's nice. We're playing better baseball. It's just that simple. We're playing all-around better baseball."

During their miserable stretch of May into June, the White Sox were let down by the meat of their lineup, then again by the bottom part. A team built to contend for the postseason was often beating itself.

Anderson has been the difference-maker, a steady presence at the start of the order. He gets on base -- see his .338 wOBA and 109 RC+ -- and makes an impact. The rest of the lineup has followed.

The White Sox got a quality start from Miguel Gonzalez, who had seven shutout innings of work. That's the team's fifth starter, with the previous four settled into their roles. With James Shields out of his awful funk, the White Sox can count on a chance to win each time out.

Out of the gates, the White Sox went 23-10 and had the best record in the American League. They followed that with a terrible run that dropped them below the .500 mark. Now, here they are playing consistently good baseball.

"It's not how we really draw it up," White Sox right fielder Adam Eaton said of the roller coaster ride this season has been.

What makes this White Sox team a threat to contend until the end is how there are so many players making a difference -- the stars like Jose Abreu and Chris Sale but also the contributors like Frazier, Cabrera, Eaton, Anderson, Lawrie and more.

The White Sox aren't the team that went 23-10, nor are they the group that fell off the earth in the weeks that followed. Simply put, these are the White Sox, a team that should be a contender with consistent play.

"Now, we got to smooth the ride for the whole season," Navarro said, "and let's see what happens."

---

All throughout the offseason, the baseball world celebrated the Cubs and their super-team. It was deserved, because what Epstein, Jed Hoyer and the team's baseball brass did to rebuild the organization is something out of a 30 for 30, whether it's a fruitful or crushing end to that story. Perhaps this is the year that the Cubs finally win a World Series.

Meanwhile, the White Sox righted many of their wrongs and pieced together a contender. They weren't touted as a World Series team, nor did they warrant that after a disappointing 2015. Everything was put on the line with a roster that looked good, just not great, and Ventura was left to fend for his job with this group.

Chicago's fascination with baseball is a constant. Those ballpark comforts like the warmth of sunshine or sounds of the organ make one feel home at Wrigley or U.S. Cellular Field. Fans embrace their baseball in this city.

A summer of baseball hope in Chicago could lead to something special ahead come the fall.

Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago's sports scene and more for CBSChicago.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670 and like his Facebook page.