Wednesday, August 30, 2006

More Hit Batsmen Fireworks

Tampa manager Joe Maddon has accused Freddy Garcia of hitting Delmon Young on purpose. Maddon said:

It's obvious what they did. Nobody else needs to discipline us, we'll take care of that ourselves.
Maddon apparantely ordered reliever Ruddy Lugo to hit A.J. Pierzynski with a pitch in the eighth inning as retaliation of the incident. Young was the moron who through his bat at an umpire in a minor league game earlier this season.

Garcia had this to say:

I don't know that kid, and I don't really pay attention to all that stuff. I tried to pitch inside and, you know, I hit him. It's no big deal for me.
I don't know if Garcia hit Young on purpose, but I do know that Young deserves everything he has coming to him. Throwing his bat at an umpire was inexcusable, and I am sure it will come up again in the future. Maddon needs to grow a pair of stones and accept it for what it is.

8/29 An Ugly Win Is Still a Win

Last night's 12-9 win over Tampa was anything but pretty. However, the Sox still picked up the win, which puts them back on top in the American League's Wild Card race. Minnesota was shutout 2-0 by Kansas City's Mark Redmond.

Pitching was the problem, as it has been for awhile. Freddy Garcia (5.05 ERA) picked up his thirteenth win against eight defeats. Garcia lasted 7 harrowing innings and allowed 5 earned runs on 7 hits and 2 walks. In relief, Neal Cotts (4.32) allowed 2 earned runs in just one third of an inning, and David Riske (3.55) allowed 2 earned runs without recording an out. After Garcia and the bullpen had allowed Tampa to cut the White Sox's seven run lead to two runs in the eigth inning, the White Sox had to call upon Matt Thornton and Bobby Jenks to close the door. Thornton (3.33) picked up his fourteenth hold, and Jenks (3.38) picked up his American League leading thirty-seventh save.

Fortunately for Garcia and the bullpen, Tampa's pitching was worse. Manager Joe Maddon had remove starter Casey Fossum in the second inning. Fossum walked five batters, allowed seven earned runs, and gave up a three run bomb to Jermaine Dye. Tampa's bullpen did not fair much better and allowed five additional runs. However, only three of those runs were earned because their defense was poor, also.

Overall, the White Sox did a nice job of capitalizing on a bad team's mistakes. However, allowing nine earned runs to a team that is dead last in runs scored is inexcusable. The pitchers were very lucky that the White Sox offense showed up. Without Joe Crede's four hits and Jermaine Dye's homerun, the White Sox would have lost to a terrible baseball team at a time when every game is of crucial importance.

Tuesday, August 29, 2006

Dye For MVP?

Should Jermaine Dye win the American League's Most Valuable Player award? Daily Herald reporter Paul Ladewski certainly thinks he should be considered. Ladewski focusses on the fact that Dye is not a self-promoter and that he does not have the east coast media machine behind him. He lists ten things the east coast media should know about Dye and his he should be MVP. The highlight of the article was this comment about Derek Jeter, supposedly the greatest chemistry player in the history of the world:

Trouble is, the East Coast media started their Jeter campaign in the last few weeks. And, hoo boy, when those types jump on a bandwagon, you can't find enough Clydesdales to pull it.

So lately all we've heard is how Jeter has kept the poor, deprived, injury-riddled Yankees in one piece. Please. Put away the violins. Because even with Hideki Matsui and Gary Sheffield unavailable, the Yankees still have Bobby Abreu, Robinson Cano, Johnny Damon, Jason Giambi, Jorge Posada and Rodriguez around.

Seriously, does that sound like the 1962 New York Mets to you?

Worse yet, in the minds of many, Jeter deserves additional MVP points because he plays shortstop, the most important position other than pitcher on the field. Except that, according to The Fielding Bible, Jeter ranks 30th out of 31 shortstops in plus-minus rating, which compares the number of plays made with those of the average player at the position. He was 31 out of 32 last season.

I know. It was hard to read for me, too. How dare he criticize Derek Jeter? I have been brainwashed by ESPN to believe that Jeter the Great is perfect in every way.


Jim Thome May Return Tonight


According to whitesox.com, Jim Thome may return tonight. In 105 games played this season, Thome has hit .294 with 36 homeruns, 91 RBI, 81 walks, and 94 runs scored.

Obviously, adding a bat like Thome's to the lineup is nice, but it has it's down side as well. For the second year in a row, Jermaine Dye has been a great number three hitter. However, just like last year, Ozzie will not let him bat there unless the DH, be it Frank Thomas in 2005 or Jim Thome in 2006, is injured. Furthermore, the White Sox have been more agressive on the bases and at the plate since Thome has been injured. They need to avoid becoming passive and waiting for the long balls. That is a losing proposition.

Hopefully, we will instead see a carry over effect from the past few games, and the White Sox will be very agressive at the plate and on the bases. If they can combine this with the additional power Thome provides, and if the starting pitching improves, this team is capable of a division winning hot streak. Precious time is running out. Hopefully, Thome's return is the key to victory.

Sunday, August 27, 2006

8/27 Back on Track


I did not get to post after the last two games. I attended a high school football game on Friday and missed the game. On Saturday, I was late arriving home from attending the White Sox game.

Anyway, the Sox picked up a win today by a score of 6-1. The most encouraging thing about it was the starting pitching from Mark Buehrle. He still left some pitches up, but he had a good curve and cutter working for him. Through 7.1 innings of work, he allowed 1 earned run on 9 hits while striking out 6.

Offensively, three homeruns were hit by A.J. Pierzynski, Joe Crede, and Juan Uribe to lead the Sox. However, the most encouraging thing offensively was the bunt single and stolen base by Scott Podsednik. He supplied the energy in today's game that has been sorely missing.

I don't have much to say about yesterday's ballgame except that Rob Mackowiak plays way to shallow in centerfield. It isn't lack of speed or bad jumps that cause balls to get hit over his head. It is the fact that he is playing twenty feet farther in than most centerfielders. Rob Mackowiak is not a centerfielder, and this team will not be able to get a roll until Ozzie recognizes that. It is no coincidence that the Sox have not had any long winning streaks since Ozzie started the centerfield platoon in late June.

Today's game left the Sox 5.5 games behind Detroit and .5 games behind Minnesota in the Wild Card race. Next up on the schedule is a three game series at home against Tampa.

Thursday, August 24, 2006

8/24 A Pretty Win

Jon Garland pitched a complete game shutout, and the White Sox won 10-0 over the Tigers. That is more like it.

The defense today was stellar. Brian Anderson made one of the best catches you are ever going to see. Juan Uribe made a great play deep in the hole, and left fielder Pablo Ozuna threw Sean Casey out at first base. Casey lined the ball over third baseman Joe Crede's head, but Casey thought Crede had caught it. With Casey not running hard, Ozuna charged in and gunned him out at first.

Offensively, Jermaine Dye had a double and a pair of homeruns to lead the charge. Uribe also homered, and Anderson hit his first career triple.

Overall, the Sox played fast and loose today. With Jim Thome's injury, they looked like they were trying to make something happen rather than waiting for the long ball. That is White Sox baseball. The Thome injury may be a blessing in disguise.

8/23 Ugly Win


Last night, the White Sox defeated the Tigers by a score of 7-5. Unfortunately, the starting pitching and offensive execution did not improve. Freddy Garcia allowed 5 earned runs on one walk and seven hits in just 5.1 innings of work. The Sox left 10 runners on base, and Juan Uribe failed to get a bunt down. It was typical White Sox BS.

Fortunately for the Sox, Detroit did not fail any better. Zach Miner lasted just 1.1 innings and gave up 6 earned runs. Paul Konerko and Joe Crede each tagged Detroit pitching for three hits, and Crede had two homeruns giving him 27 for the season. Jermaine Dye spotted Garcia a 3-0 lead with homerun number 35 in the first inning.

Wednesday, August 23, 2006

8/22 Sox Suck

Detroit has been doing everything in their power to lose to the White Sox. The Sox have amassed 12 hits and have reached on 3 errors over the last 2 days. Yet, they only have one run scored to show for it. The culprit? Poor hitting with runners on base, particularly with 2 outs.

Poor starting pitching has contributed as well. Jose Contreras gave up 7 earned runs in the first 5 innings of game 1 on Monday. Last night, Mark Buehrle allowed 4 earned runs in 5.1 innings pitch. The starters have been wild in the zone both up and over the middle of the plate, a lethal combination.

The Sox now trail Detroit by 7.5. It is probable time to focus more on the Wild Card standings since this team seems incapable of catching Detroit. With Minnesota's loss to Baltimore, Chicago's Wild Card lead remains at .5 a game.

Sunday, August 20, 2006

8/20 Twins 7 Sox 3

What was Ozzie Guillen thinking? The Sox were hitting Juan Rincon hard in the eighth inning when Juan Uribe came to the plate representing the potential tieing run. Left-handed pitcher Denys Reyes was warming up for the Twins with a 0.99 ERA. Ozzie pinch-hit for Uribe with switch-hitter Alex Cintron. Twins manager Ron Gardenhire responded by bringing in Reyes. In other words, Ozzie forced Gardenhire to remove an ineffective pitcher and replace him with a 0.99 ERA.

The bottom of the eighth inning was almost as frustrating as the first. With the Sox trailing 5-3, Ozzie brought in Neal Cotts. Cotts has been struggling lately, and by the time the smoke had cleared, the score was 7-3. Ozzie should not bring Cotts into close games until he starts pitching better.



Today's game also marked a setback for the starting pitching. Javier Vazuez allowed 4 earned runs on 7 hits over 7 innings. He did not pitch poorly on the whole, but he always gives up his hits in bunches. This likely stems from an inability to pitch from the stretch, and it needs to be corrected.

The Tigers also lost today. Going into this week's four game set with Detroit, the Sox trail them by 5.5 games. They lead Minnesota by 1 game for the Wild Card.

Saturday, August 19, 2006

8/19 Sox 4 Twins 1


Jon Garland pitched extremely well tonight, which was good to see. If the Sox can continue to get starting pitching like that, they will see much better results.

It was nice to see the Twins "stellar" defense cough up two unearned runs tonight, and it was particularly nice to see the Twinkies lose a ball in the roller dome's roof. Perhaps they should invest in a real ballpark sometime. Besides, the Sox are due to get a few breaks. It seems like everything has gone against them this year.

Has Rob Mackowiak's homerun landed yet? Mackowiak was 2 for 4 including the bomb. Jim Thome also chipped in with 2 hits of his own.

This game also included one of my favorite plays of the season. Jim Thome was on second base with A.J. Pierzynski at home plate. Pierzynski laced a base hit into left field moving Thome to third, and Thome rounded third to head for home. However, Thome soon realized that he had no chance to score, and he hustled back to third narrowly beating the throw. Meanwhile, Pierzynski rounded first to try and take second base. The stupid twins were unable to execute the pickle play, however, and Pierzynski was able to scamper back into first just before the tag was applied. Much to the Twinkies chagrin, Thome had already jogged home while they were preoccupied with Pierzynski.

Wednesday, August 16, 2006

8/15 Garbage

Jermaine Dye dropped a fly ball. The entire lineup chased bad pitches from a garbage pitcher. I startled my son when I threw one of his toys at the TV. There is not much else to be said. Kansas City 4 White Sox 2. Detroit leads the division by 6.5 games.

Tuesday, August 15, 2006

8/14 Royal Slaughter

Last night, the Sox beat the Royals 12-2, and it really wasn't that close. The game was over after the Sox 8 run fourth inning capped by Jim Thome's homerun, the only homerun of the inning.

While scoring so many runs without the long ball was good to see, the most encouraging aspect of the game was Jon Garland's pitching. It is about time that the starting pitching started pitching the way they have been expected to. If they keep this up, Detroit's 5.5 game lead should shrivel up in no time.

Sunday, August 13, 2006

8/13 Sox Sweep!

The Tigers lead over the White Sox is down to 5.5 games thanks to today's Sox victory. Detroit is slumping while the Sox are surging. Every team goes through a slump at some point, and it is about time the the Tigers had theirs. Expect to see the Sox atop the American League Central Division standings by the time the smoke clears.

The key to the turnaround has been improved starting pitching. The Sox received quality starts from all three starters against Detroit, and the relief pitching has been sensational. Look for the Sox to go on a long winning streak as the starting pitching continues to improve.

In other news, Ivan Rodriguez had a nice fit of 'roid rage in today's game, and Magglio Ordonez needs a hair cut.