White Sox | The Baseball Zealot

GO SOX!!!

On a tour of Florida , the Pope took a couple of days off to visit the coast for some sightseeing. He was cruising along the beach in the Pope-mobile when there was a frantic commotion just off shore.

A helpless man, wearing a Chicago Cubs jersey, was struggling frantically to free himself from the jaws of a 25-foot shark. As the Pope watched, horrified, a speedboat came racing up with three men wearing Chicago White Sox jerseys aboard. One quickly fired a harpoon into the shark’s side. The other two reached out and pulled the bleeding, semi-conscious Cubs fan from the water. Then using (autographed by Paul Konerko himself) baseball bats, the three heroes in Sox jerseys beat the shark to death and hauled it into the boat.

Immediately the Pope shouted and summoned them to the beach. “I give you my blessing for your brave actions,” he told them. “I heard that there was some bitter hatred between White Sox and Cub fans, but now I have seen with my own eyes that this is not the truth.”

As the Pope drove off, the harpooner asked his buddies “Who was that?” “It was the Pope,” one replied. “He is in direct contact with God and has access to all of God’s wisdom.”

“Well,” the harpooner said, “he may have access to God’s wisdom, but he doesn’t know shit about shark fishing…. how’s the bait holding up?”

ERSTAD IS OUT

Darin Erstad Last year White Sox GM Kenny Williams was lauded for picking up veteran CF/1B Darin Erstad. Now the club has declined to exercise their option on him. Erstad, who plays the game as hard as anybody, seems to have broken down at the age of 33. This past season Darin batted only .248 … Continue reading “ERSTAD IS OUT”

Darin Erstad

Last year White Sox GM Kenny Williams was lauded for picking up veteran CF/1B Darin Erstad. Now the club has declined to exercise their option on him. Erstad, who plays the game as hard as anybody, seems to have broken down at the age of 33. This past season Darin batted only .248 and was limited to 87 games as he experienced a myriad of injuries. It appears he may be at the end of the line.

Minnie Minoso honored with Robinson award

AP Photo Minnie Minoso was given the Jackie Robinson Lifetime Achievement Award. The Legacy award was sponsored by the Negro League Baseball Museum. I remember baseball historian Adrian Burgos singing Minoso’s praises while on our podcast. He mentioned a personal beef that many sportswriters hold that Ernie Banks was the first black baseball star in … Continue reading “Minnie Minoso honored with Robinson award”

Minnie Minoso

AP Photo

Minnie Minoso was given the Jackie Robinson Lifetime Achievement Award. The Legacy award was sponsored by the Negro League Baseball Museum.

I remember baseball historian Adrian Burgos singing Minoso’s praises while on our podcast. He mentioned a personal beef that many sportswriters hold that Ernie Banks was the first black baseball star in Chicago. With all respects to Banks, he contends that Minoso has that honor.

TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALLPARK

Jon Garland

Went to the Cell last night to see my White Sox for the last time this year. When I was a kid I used to try to make it to the last game of the season. Alot of fan like all the hoopla of the season opener, but I prefer the reality of the finale, maybe that’s the difference between being a White Sox fan as opposed to being a Cub fan. I watched my first last game in 1969, the Sox dropped that game to KC 10-3 Moe Drabowsky over Fred Roth, but Chicago did finish their home schedule above .500 at 41-40. The team was woeful on the road, 27-54, finishing four games above the Seattle Pilots. After my team was thumped I went to the parking lot, where the player’s parked their cars, with my father and got a ball autographed by almost every member (Louie Aparicio, Walt Williams, Tommy John, among them) of the Sox. It was quite a night for a 13 year old boy.

But last night my White Sox avenged the last home game of 1969 against Kansas City by beating the Royals 3-0. I know last night wasn’t technically the last home game of the season by the Pale Hose, but it would be the last game I’d attend this year and it’s close enough. Any way we got them back and that’s the important thing.

Jon Garland took the bump for the good guys against Zack Greinke. It has been rumored this might have been Garland’s last start in a White Sox uniform. IMHO, this would be a mistake, good pitching is important and hard to come by. Chicago already has three very solid starters with Javier Vazquez, Mark Buehrle, & Jon Garland. Garland has averaged over 200 innings, 32 starts, & 13 wins over the past six years, not bad for a 28 year old sinker baller.

Katie, CLuke’s daughter, a huge Jon Garland fan, met me at the Fullerton stop along the Red Line, and we were Cell bound. Katie must’ve assisted Ozzie Guillen with his lineup as Josh Fields was back at the hot corner with another Katie fave, Scotty Podsednik, in left. Katie went down to the bullpen and got some warmup photos of Garland, and then got Josh & Scotty shots of them coming off the field into the dugout.

Jim Thome hit the 33rd longball of the season and the 505th of his career in the very first inning. It would be enough, but Jermaine Dye added a two run 4th inning bomb as insurance. Jon Garland had his sinkerball going on. It was a fun night at the ballyard, hanging out behind homeplate, 35 rows up, with friends Tade, Roland, Al, Anthony, & Dan, and Caramel-corn Mike & Scott.

We were all standing around talking about what changes we’d like to see, looking over the 2008 home schedule, and talking about going to Spring Training. GO SOX GO!!!

Roundtable discussion on Baseball Zealot Radio

Show Notes for Episode 28:

Hosts: Tom, Todd V, and C Luke

Summary: It’s been a while since we’ve had a roundtable discussion so we have regulars Todd and Chuck on to discuss what’s happening in baseball.

Todd came armed to the teeth with his issues with Pirates’ GM Dave Littlefield and how he’s handling the Buccos. Other topics we cover:

– Chuck does his review of ESPN’s Bronx is Burning.

– Tom Glavine’s 300th win and will there be another 300 game winner

– Chuck notes an article he read about moving the HOF to Yankee Stadium after the team moves. We discuss.

– plus the usual Sox-Cub banter and much more!

Thanks for listening!!

Time: 1:05

Date Recorded: 8/19/07

Direct Link to Episode 28

Listen via iTunes

Listen to other BZR episodes

Brilliant Show by the Cubs

I’m not in the habit of agreeing with my Sox fan friends especially when it comes to Cubs/Sox issues but I have to hand it to my good buddy Teddy Ballgame. He’s right about Sox broadcaster Hawk Harrelson. Someone needs to take his mike away. Don’t ask me why but Sunday I turned on Comcast … Continue reading “Brilliant Show by the Cubs”

Don’t ask me why but Sunday I turned on Comcast to watch the Cubs-Sox game. That was about the time that Juan Uribe was called for interference. I think that Ford Frick nominee Ken Harrelson said “This is BS!” about 3 time then guaranteed that the protest would be upheld. All this, of course, before he even heard what the final ruling was.

I’m not sure what Hawk meant by BS. Maybe he meant Bad Series by the Sox who eventually dropped all three to the Cubs. Or Blundering Shortstop Juan Uribe who committed the interference infraction.

I eventually got smart and changed the channel to WGN. Len and Bob to the rescue.

The Cubs have won 4 in a row (including the one tonight that got away and they roped backed in) and are 14-8 since according to the media Piniella had “lost control of his team”.

Yet, as good as the Cubs are doing, Milwaukee is doing that much better and remain 7 1/2 ahead.

What we need right now…

a Brewers Slump.

DOUBLEHEADERS & A HANUKKAH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION

jeter3

Buck called to say he had an extra ticket for Tuesday night’s game between the White Sox and the Yankees. I told him I’d take it, but thought better after checking the weather and seeing thunderstorms in the forecast. Sure enough the game was called at about 9:30 PM, without ever starting. The White Sox kept their fans in the ballpark watching the Bulls win a game over the Detroit Pistons on the scoreboard TV. Actually White Sox ballplayers left the park about 7:30, but fans weren’t told about the rainout for
a couple of more hours. There was plenty of time to buy overpriced beer. When it was time to shutdown the beer concessions, the game was called, the Bulls game was shutoff (even though there was over six minutes left in the game, although Chicago had it well in hand). The fans were told the game would be made up the next day as part of a day/nite doubleheader.

Wednesday looked much better, so I decided to head down to the Cell with Buck & his wife for game #1 of a split doubleheader. The Yankees hold over a 1,000 win advantage over Chicago in the alltime series between the two clubs. So it was time for a little payback. Rather than assuming my usual spot next to Nancy Faust (she was there, as it was a day game), we went out to the sunshine of the bleachers. It was a little chilly, so I wore a black sweatshirt, big mistake, I roasted in the sun, still much better
than freezing in the shade. Paul Konerko put the Sox up one with a 4th inning solo shot off Mike Mussina, the Yanks tied it in the 5th, the Sox took a one run lead in the bottom of the 5th, and the Yanks tied it in the 6th, but then Chicago posted three in the bottom of the 6th, and never looked back. As John Danks picked up his 2nd career win, Matt Thornton recorded the save, 5-3 final.

After the game we went over to Berucci’s on 24th, Buck & his wife went home after a fine Italian meal, but dropped me back at the Cell for the nightcap. I told the ticket guy I wanted the worst seat in the house, he looked at me a little strange, before charging me $25 for a seat way up in the leftfield upperdeck. It started cooling down, with nasty looking clouds rolling in, as I headed for my spot behind homeplate. It was good to see Tade there, although he looked cold from tailgating with friends between
games. Tade also said it was a bit nippy watching the first game in the shade. By sitting in the bleachers for the first game, I did miss out on seeing Al, Anthony, & Steve, not to mention NANCY! But I really did not miss freezing my butt off at a ballgame.

The night game was delayed one hour and all I could think of was deja vu all over again, but this time there was no Bulls game on the centerfield scoreboard. NickyV (my baseball traveling companion & big Yankee fan) was there with his buddy Ed. Nick & I would hang all the time, but that was pre-girlfriend (yikes, how things change, hadn’t seen NickyV since March). Also CLuke was in the house, with his main squeeze, but I ventured down to see him three times, before we finally hooked up, he gave me a ride
home, which was well appreciated.

A Wang fan from Taiwan was standing behind homeplate with me, rooting his hurler on to victory, in actuality, he didn’t need much help, although I’m sure he appreciated seeing his country’s flag in the hand of this fan. It was an old fashioned pitcher’s dual through six innings 2-1 Bombers. NY scored a couple of more in the 7th, before blowing it open with four in the 9th, final score 8-1 bad guys.

Thursday would be another doubleheader, but this time the Chicago Bulls/Detroit Pistons game would be the nightcap. The on-the-band-wagon/off-the-band-wagon Chicago sportswriters were big Bulls supporters once again. The Bulls got clobbered in games one & two in Detroit, then blew a big lead in Chicago, to go down three nothing. But with a win Mother’s Day in Chicago and a win Tuesday in Detroit, there was life, even though it was a 3-2 Piston series lead. I truly thought a win Thursday night would result
in a hard fought seven game series win for the Bulls, but I honestly didn’t think we were going to win game six.

But there was a daytime baseball game between the Yankees and the White Sox before basketball. Again it was a sunshiney/cool day, so I’d be watching much of this game from the bleachers. I took the Redline to the Cell, Buck was stuck in traffic, so I stood behind homeplate with Tade & Nancy, till Buck got there. Jon Garland was matched up against DeSalvo. When Buck got there, we headed out to the bleachers, Buck said, “Let’s watch Jermaine Dye’s homer”, the next pitch was GONE! Bobby Jenks was called on to
save the 4-1 win.

Buck dropped me off at Wishbone after the baseball game, where I met my Dad, for a bite, and it was time for Bulls playoff basketball. The Bulls came out strong and had a halftime lead, it looked like the Bulls might advance after all. But then reality set in, the Pistons won, and it was time to look to next year.

As for me, even though my guys would be headed for Wrigley, I was Waupaca bound for my niece’s Hanukkah birthday celebration (the celebration lasts for a week it seems). The highlight would be a trip to Build-A-Bear and Shrek 3 for my niece & all her friends.

4/19/07: BACK TO THE CELL

No sense crying over spilled beer My sister-in-law asked me, what it was like to miss seeing Buehrle’s no-hitter. “Was it like missing a really big sale at Nordstrom’s?”, she asked. “No, bigger”, I replied. “How about if I didn’t really have tickets to see Oprah?”, “No, bigger!” I then felt my eyes starting to … Continue reading “4/19/07: BACK TO THE CELL”

No sense crying over spilled beer

My sister-in-law asked me, what it was like to miss seeing Buehrle’s no-hitter. “Was it like missing a really big sale at Nordstrom’s?”, she asked. “No, bigger”, I replied. “How about if I didn’t really have tickets to see Oprah?”, “No, bigger!” I then felt my eyes starting to get watery. That’s when it hit me, I’m a guy! Guys don’t talk about their feelings. We just bury them under beer. So I wasn’t gonna cry over spilled beer. I went out to the Cell to watch some baseball. Who knows, maybe I’d catch another no-hitter, the very next night.

It was a good game, wish the Sox fans would leave the booing of Sammy to the Cub fans. Joe Crede busted up a three-three tie with an RBI single, Rob Mackowiak hit a two run shot, and Bobby Jenks closed it out for a 6-4 winner over Texas. Scott Feldman the losing pitcher for the Rangers serves up alot of meatballs, don’t grab him for your Fantasy Team.

4/18/07 LINESCORE OF THE DAY: MARK BUEHRLE

Mark Buehrle

Mark Buehrle, W (1-0), 9 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 8 SO, 2.08 ERA

As a White Sox fan and a HUGE Mark Buehrle fan, where was I??? I was at 40+ Sox games last year, including a series in Pittsburgh and a series at Kansas City. I’ve been a Sox fan since I was 12 years old back in 1968. In 2005 I was fortunate enough to go to Anaheim to see the Sox beat the Angels, winning the A.L. Penant. My favorite Sox hurler has always been Tommy John, being a lefthanded thrower myself, I’ve always had a soft spot for southpaws. The only player’s White Sox tee shirt I own is Mark Buehrle.

My sister-in-law Lisa and friend Debbie were in town, they had tickets to see Oprah, so after they returned from downtown shopping, we all went to my FAVORITE restaurant, Rose Angelis. In retrospect I should have known something was up when NickyV called my cell as we pulled up to the restaurant, NickyV was at the game, but I was on the phone with my brother, and he didn’t leave a message. After filling up on pasta, merlot, bread, and tiramisu, it was time to head home. When I came in the door, Mom asked, “Did you hear about the Sox game?” I said, “No. Don’t tell me anything. I’ve got the game on Tivo”. She said, “Everybody’s been calling you”. So I kinda knew something was up, but had no idea what it was.

I jumped into bed, flipped on the TV, and played the game back on semi-fast-forward, at least between pitches. It was only 1-0, on a Jim Thome solo blast, for a long time, nobody was really doing anything with the bat, but Mark Buehrle was really on his game. Buehrle almost allowed a homer to right, but Jermaine Dye caught the ball as his back was pressed against the wall. Then there was the great flat-footed throw by Juan Uribe to nip a guy at first. Mark walked Sammy Sosa, but then promptly picked him off, his 48th career pickoff. Dye sent a close line screaming meanie over the leftfield wall with the bases loaded after fouling off a ton of 3-2 pitches to give the Sox some breathing room and Thome hit another solo blast late in the contest.

The only time the no-hitter was in doubt was in the 3rd inning when Jerry Hairston, Jr. hit a hard hit grounder, Joe Crede dove to his right, landing on the base, he got up quickly & fired, just getting a head first sliding Hairston at 1st. Jerry argued he was safe, threw his helmut as he entered the dugout, and was tossed.

All of Buehrle’s pitches were working all night long, from his cutter to his change, mixed in with a few curves. Mark challenged Texas’ hitters from start to finish and his control was right there. Everybody was so happy for the popular lefty, who struggled last season. It was kinda funny cuz he mock pointed to the sky with a grin on his face after leaving the mound after retiring the Rangers on nine pitches in the first inning.

It was the first White Sox no-hitter since Wilson Alvarez tossed one against the Orioles in Baltimore in 1991. And it was the first no-hitter thrown in Chicago by a Sox hurler since Joel Horlen in 1967, one year before I became a Sox fan.

I was at the Cell the day before the no-hitter and will be there the day after, who knows what might happen. I might even see a no-hitter.

4/17/07: RED LINE DOUBLEHEADER

Chicago L Red Line The day before the BIG doubleheader I checked out the schedules and realized this was doable. I was “only” going to see the White Sox at night at the Cell, but when I heard Greg Maddux was pitching for the Padres, I decided to see both games. I left my house … Continue reading “4/17/07: RED LINE DOUBLEHEADER”

Chicago L Red Line

The day before the BIG doubleheader I checked out the schedules and realized this was doable. I was “only” going to see the White Sox at night at the Cell, but when I heard Greg Maddux was pitching for the Padres, I decided to see both games.

I left my house at 10:15 AM, hopped on the CTA bus, and soon was standing at Clark & Addison. It was a beautiful, sunny day, and I was very excited to be able to see TWO GAMES! As soon as I took my position in the Bleachers, after downing a piece of Connie’s Pizza, washed down with a large Mountain Dew, it became overcast, and began to drizzle.

Things got even better when I saw Felix Pie would be making his major league debut. Felix got a double off Maddux and made a terrific throw to nail Russell Branyan at the plate. Greg allowed three runs on the day, but two were as a result of centerfielder Mike Cameron losing a flyball in the sun, which resulted in an RBI double to Derrek Lee, and then Lee scored on a two out hit.

The game remained tied until Geoff Blum knocked in what proved to be the game winner in the top of the 14th at 5:30 PM. By that time the sun had broken threw, was quickly setting, and it was time for me to hustle on down to the Cell.

Boarded the Red Line at Addison, got off at Sox 35th, picked up a ticket at the window, and I was on my way. After eating some Elotes with everything, a Gardenburger with cheese, it was time to grab my spot next to Nancy’s organ behind home plate.

The only Sox scoring would be as result of a Jim Thome longball to straight away centerfield. It was Sammy Sosa’s homecoming, Sox manager Ozzie Guillen pleaded with fans to be nice to Sammy cuz he was good for Chicago baseball, but that request fell on deaf ears.

The game really began at 7:32 PM when Sosa stepped to the plate to the sound of thunderous boos, that turned to cheers when he went down singing at 7:33 PM. But when Sammy knocked a three run blast over the wall to put the Rangers up 8-1, it was time for me to fly.

I bounded along blustery 35th street to my Red Line chariot waiting to take me home, I walked in my door at 10:15 PM, a twelve hour adventure. Even though both Chicago teams lost, it was fun. My next Red Line Doubleheader will be 4/25.