MR. ZERO + 1

Good news from Comiskey. (Yes, it happens.) Apparently reliever Shingo Takatsu (a.k.a. Mr. Zero) enjoyed playing with the White Sox so much last season that his experience convinced fellow Japanese veteran Tadahito Iguchi to fire his agent, reduce his contract demands by over $14 million, shun the Red Sox and Yankees, and sign a two-year deal to become the Sox' second baseman. As a transplant in Indians country, I am thrilled, because I no longer have to endure Willie Harris's anemic at-bats. The outfield still looks toothless, but Iguchi and A.J. Pierzynski help get back some of the offense lost when Ordonez and Lee left.

While I'm on the subject of happy Chicago sports stories (they're rare, so indulge me!), the Bulls are over .500 after thrashing Atlanta. If they keep this up, you'll see more mentions of them in this space.