Category: White Sox

Often times when two teams split a series of games it is referred to as kissing one’s sister. Kissing one’s sister was never so good for the White Sox as they took the last two games of this four game set, for a two-two split.

The series finale featured former Sox righty Jon Garland (don’t look DonS) for the Halos against Javier Vazquez for the South Siders. The game was a good one, going back & forth. Anaheim jumped out to a 2-0 lead, then trailed 3-2, and then Joe Crede’s error provided the Angels with the tying run.

But when in the top of the 9th A.J. Pierzynski slid into second for a double, just ahead of Reggie Willits’ throw and later scored on Jim Thome’s RBI base rip to right, his first hit of the series, Bobby Jenks was brought on to close it out. And with two out and nobody on base Vlady Guerrero hit a comebacker to the mound, Jenks threw to Paulie Konerko for the White Sox winner & series split. This game was played late Thursday night, sorry didn’t have time to write about it till now.

Ozzie seems to have found a lineup that has been working. He’s moved A.J. Pierzynski to the #2 spot, with Carlos Quentin hitting 3rd, followed by Jermaine Dye. Slumping Jim Thome and Paul Konerko, who has a bone bruise on his right hand have been dropped in the order. Juan Uribe was removed from the game, in favor of Alexei Ramirez, after coming up lame running out a grounder.

Last night’s matchup featured Jose Contreras for the Pale Hose versus John Lackey for the Halos. Both were once the aces of their respective staffs. Contreras was the #1 man in the White Sox 2005 rotation when the won it all. Lackey is coming off an injury, but is still pretty much regarded the #1 man in Anaheim. John got out of a first inning jam allowing only one run, soon it was obvious that he had his A-game working. While Jose surrendered one run and the game was a classic one-one pitcher’s dual.

That is until the White Sox got a man on, Erick Aybar made a throwing error on a single, making it 2nd & 3rd with A.J. Pierzynski at the dish. Mike Scioscia having pity on the Sox, not wanting to embarrass them by taking four straight, intentionally passed A.J. This loaded the bases for the hottest hitter on the White Sox Carlos Quentin. You guessed it, Quentin took Scot Shields yard. Final score 6-1.

One more game to go, let’s see if Scioscia has anymore charity in his heart, as Jon Garland will meet Javier Vazquez in the series finale tonight. The Angels are up two games to one. The two teams will meet up again in Chicago over Memorial Day weekend.

The first game of the White Sox series hosting the Twins saw Gavin Floyd almost throw a no-hitter. Then last night Carlos Gomez hit for the cycle as Minnesota pounded Chicago 13-1 in a game that started almost two hours late due to rain. Rob had a spare ticket for the series finale today, but I really didn’t want to go, but I went anyway. In addition to Rob’s wife Vicki, Jimmy C came along, getting a freebie from a co-worker Carlos May. Carlos & Jim work together for the Post Office.

Minnesota jumped out to a 2-0 lead, but then Dick went to the bathroom, and sure enough Jermaine Dye hit a homer to left to cut the lead in half. Then Juan Uribe hit a two run bomb, Kevin Slowey would’ve been better off walking him on a 3-2 pitch.

John Danks was lifted in favor of Octavio Dotel, who struckout five in two innings of scoreless relief. Scott Linebrink & Bobby Jenks worked the final two frames without allowing a run. Meanwhile the Sox tallied thrice more. One run came in when Uribe tookout the Twins pivot man on a sure doubleplay ball with one out and the bags juiced. Another score occured when Alexei Ramirez stole second and came home on an RBI single up the middle by Carlos Quentin. One more came home to make the final 6-2.

A weird play looked like it would be a huge break for the White Sox when Paulie Konerko checked his swing on a 3-1 pitch with Quentin on 2nd & Jim Thome on 1st with nobody out, the ball was low so both runners moved up, but the pitch was called a strike after appealing to the firstbase umpire. The Twins pitcher then tried tagging Quentin & Thome while they were standing on 3rd & 2nd respectively. The Twins manager was ejected after getting upset when the Sox runners were allowed to stay on their advantageous sacks. Konerko tapped weakly to third, Dye was intentionally passed, Nick Swisher lived up to his name by striking out, and Joe Crede was retired on a popup to end the threat.

Checkout www.whitesox.com/fanfoto 5/8/08 gallery 3

Rain was in the air as I boarded the Red Line early in an effort to stay dry. There was a forecast of rain about 8:00 PM for about 45 minutes, an hour window of dryness, then a little more rain, before total clearness. I could still hear Mom’s words ringing in my ears, “Why do you wanna go sit in the rain? The game’s on TV”. But Mark Buehrle was on the mound and he’s my man. Haven’t liked a White Sox lefty this much since Tommy John.

Seeing I was inside the ballpark an hour and a half before game time I decided to take advantage of my free time by visiting some friends at the Cell. My first stop was to see the woman who sells veggie hot dogs down the rightfield line. It was great seeing her smiling face, she’s always so happy, she’s going to visit her parents in Mexico on Tuesday for a couple weeks, and her youngest daughter turns 21 & graduates from college in May. Then I stopped by the Elotes stand, got some corn with lime & chilis, and washed it down with a Miller Chill. While munching on the golden kernels I talked with cameraman Dave Cialla, asked if Blackhawk defenseman James Wisnewski was gonna take his job, we had a good laugh. Then I caught up with Tammy, the Kosher Hot Dog lady in right, she’s a cutie & a good kid, even though she’s a Cub fan, thought there might be something there, but turns out she’s married, oh well.

Got to my place 34 rows behind home plate in time to see Buehrle retire the O’s on five pitches in the first. Baltimore’s pitcher faced only one batter before the skies opened up. Met Tade’s mom and his stepdad, they looked really young, and then I realized I’m one year older than Tade’s mom. They are really nice people, but what would you expect, because Tade’s so nice.

For the first time ever Nancy Faust came to a game as a fan. She had to stop by her booth, even though her seats were down the leftfield line. It was great seeing Nancy, when she had more time to visit. Nancy is always smiling! People always look better and younger with smiles on their faces. Nancy told me they were able to sell her mother’s house and her sister also sold her place, tough to do in this economy.

When it was still raining and the game was still in a delay at 9:30 PM, I got some inside information the game would be called if it was still raining at ten. I decided it was time to figure a way to get home. Guest Relations told me the Red Line wasn’t running between Grand & 35th. This was because a semi hit the escalator at the Chinatown stop (one stop north of Sox/35th). It was a terrible accident, two were confirmed dead, 21 injured, many critical. My brother even called from Wisconsin to find out if I was alive, but as I’d arrived early at the Park, I didn’t even know about the accident until I was at the Cell during the rain delay. Found out the L was running north, just not stopping at Chinatown, got home very wet about 10:30.

Before I left for home I wished Tade an early happy birthday (4/26). Even though I wanted to get back out there for a day/night doubleheader Saturday, decided to sit this one (or in this case, two) out. My intention was to see all seven home games, but the best laid of mice & men… I won’t be back out there until sometime after Memorial Day, looking for some better weather. I am officially a wimp!

To recap the Sox/Yankee series thus far. Got home Tuesday night after midnite, Wednesday a little before, and last night it was well after one. And believe me, I need my beauty sleep! It was raining as I headed to the Cell last night, my enthusiasm for watching this series was fading quickly as the Bronx Bombers took the first two games. Off to a good start this season, the Sox bullpen was being exposed as suspect at best.

I decided it was time for drastic measures, as it seemed the times were indeed drastic. I called the beer man over and ordered up a frosty cold one, as I chatted with a baseball fan from North Carolina who decided to catch a ballgame after his business meeting. He was from Greensboro. I learned the local team there was called the Grasshoppers, or Hoppers, for short. The rain continued to fall onto the tarp as the opening pitch was delayed about 45 minutes.

Gavin Floyd looked great as he set the Yankees down easily in the first inning. I commented to nobody in particular, who is this guy? On the bump for the New Yorkers was tout boy Phil Hughes. As the rain continued to fall, Floyd began having trouble with the mound and the Yankees as well. The Yanks jumped out to a three to nothing lead as the heavens opened up.

The concessionaires would have a field day, the game would have a one hour rain delay. Caramel Corn Mike & his brother Scott’s crumblings mixed with rain off fans sneakers on the concourse as greenbacks were exchanged for gooey delights.

When the rain ceased Phil Hughes headed for the showers to be replaced by some bum whose name escapes me, perhaps it’s Bumlendorf, not really important to the story, if you’re interested or his mother, you can check the boxscore. Bumlendorf turned a 3-0 lead into a 6-3 deficit, with a little help from LaTroy Hawkins.

But Finicky Floyd with his obsession with a perfect mound couldn’t hold the it, Matt Thornton & Scott Linebrink helped a little in surrendering the lead, and soon the game was tied at six.

Joba Chamberlain reminded me of another cat named Chamberlain who made it look as if his opponents were nothing but little boys being toyed with as he went on to another victory. A three game broom sweep by at the hands of the Yankees and their obnoxious fans.

Not on this night, not after suffering lingering hours of frustration at the Cell. Fun at the Ole Ballpark, my eye, this was serious work, done by cheering serious fans. Bobby Jenks got Boone Logan out of a 9th inning jam and now it was our turn.

With one out, Carlos Quentin lined a hanging breaking ball into the left-centerfield gap for a two bagger. Up next was the number eight hitter in the order, probably some no-goodnick, but was Funny Man Manager Ozzie Guillen is a genius! He has the best clutch hitter in the Sox order Super Joe Crede batting eighth, just for a situation like this. Joba the Hut afraid he’d hang another yacker, fired a couple of 96 MPH seeds up there to put our hero into a hole. As luck would have it, Goliath, aka Chamberlain, decided to show some mercy by throwing another hanger that was promptly deposited to left for a game winning single. Funny Man Manager, genius, who’s laughing now?

The Birds of Baltimore invade the Cell for a four game set starting tonite. I’ll be out there and will happily provide you with a recap of the goings on at the Cell on the Southside of Chicago.

In the Milwaukee Ned Yost has gotten a lot of ink batting his pitcher 8th, over in St. Louis Tony LaRussa started the trend, and now on the Southside of Chicago Ozzie Guillen has decided to bat his best clutch hitter in the 8th spot. I suppose you could look at it as Crede batting in the double cleanup spot, but it doesn’t make much sense to me, especially considering the Pale Hose have been struggling with men on base. Another thing that doesn’t make much sense is batting Jim Thome, who walks alot, ahead of Paul Konerko, who hits into alot of doubleplays. My lineup would be this: 1) Swisher CF, 2) Cabrera SS, 3) Konerko 1B, 4) Thome DH, 5) Dye RF, 6) Crede 3B, 7) Pierzynski C, 8) Quentin LF, 9) Uribe 2B. Also when Juan Uribe is leading off an inning and we need some runs, I’d pinch-hit Pablo Ozuna for him. I know it’s only been a couple of games against the Yanks, but we seem to be in a fog right now. Even though we’re still in first place, the Tigers are coming, scoring 19 runs last night.

The White Sox couldn’t touch Mike Mussina while he was out there, while the Yanks scored six off “Good Stuff” Javier Vazquez. Two of the Sox hits off Moose were a check swing opposite field hit to third by Jim Thome, taking advantage of the shift, and Joe Crede’s solo blast to left, taking advantage of the fact that the leftfielder was playing him inside the park, rather than over the fence. Tonite I’ll be back out there as the Sox & Gavin Floyd try to avoid a three game sweep, after a 6-4 loss last night.

Bobby hasn’t hit something this good since days gone by with his former fiance Alicia Machado. Alicia was Miss Venezuela in 1995 and a Playboy centerfold, but Abreu kicked her out of his park when he saw his woman having sex on a Mexican TV show. She was as gone as the ball he hit off Octavio Dotel with the bags juiced last night against the Sox.

Boone Logan, came on for Jose Contreras in the 7th, allowed an infield single to Johnny Damon with one out to fill the bases. Dotel got Derek Jeter on a swinging strike three, exhaled, and then Abreu stepped in. Octavio threw two balls outside the strike zone before grooving one that was sent screaming to the opposite field for a grand salami.

The shot sent the Good Guys to their knees changing a 3-2 lead to a 9-4 defeat. I might have written about a slam hit on the Northside of Chicago earlier in the day, but what does Ronny Cedeno’s girlfriend look like?

This was my first of seven straight games at the Cell. Gonna catch all the games with the Bronx Bombers and then with the Birds of Baltimore.