Category: White Sox

Mike MacDougal

After watching the Cubbies lose at Wrigley and watching the Bulls humiliate the Knicks & Isiah Thomas at the UC, it was time to turn on the TV and watch my White Sox do battle with the A’s in Oakland. Ever since the dynasty years of the A’s it has never been a good experience playing in Oakland, not better here, truth be told. So I don’t know what I was expecting, there was some doubt, but after the night before’s grinder-like win, who knows.

Chad Gaudin & Jon Garland were locked in a pitcher’s dual. Just as I pulled into my driveway Chris Singleton was describing how Juan Uribe hit it, just like it was pitched, in delivering his RBI basehit past Nick Swisher. Then when I got inside the house I saw Garland strand a leadoff triple, and things were looking good. It looked like the Sox were going to add to their lead when the laid back Alex Cintron hit a popfly off Mark Ellis’ glove, the ball bounded away, and remarkably Cintron was on 3rd with nobody out, but he was stranded there, so much for little ball.

Garland was really on his game, surrendering three hits over seven scoreless innings, before giving way to Mike MacDougal. MacDougal worked a perfect 8th, before BIG BAD BOBBY JENKS entered the game to close it down in the 9th, or not.

Jenks hasn’t hit above 92 MPH on the radar gun this year, and although neither Hawk nor (his sidekick Charlie McCarthy) DJ will admit it’s a problem, it is. When Jenks is throwing 100 mile an hour fastballs, it’s intimidating, when he’s not, he’s very hittable. Milton Bradley drove a single up the middle, Mike Piazza followed with a basehit to left, but then Jenks bounced back to fan Eric Chavez & Nick Swisher. Then old nemisis Todd Walker, the former Minnesota Twin, pinch-hit for Bobby Crosby, and came through with a game tying base knock to left. Scott Podsednik charged the ball, threw home, but really had no chance to get the runner at the plate. Both Marco Scutaro (who was running for Piazza) and Walker moved up on the throw. Travis Buck was walked intentionally, setting up Mark Ellis’ game winning drive off the leftfield fence. In 2/3 of an inning Jenks allowed four hits, walked one (intentionally), struckout one, and let up two runs (all they needed to win).

I said this to anyone who would listen as I watched Bobby struggle in spring training, Jenks will be out as the Sox closer before 40 games this season. The only way for this big guy to be effective is to blow people away with his 100 MPH heat, 92 just doesn’t cut it. Mike MacDougal, who has closed for KC in the past (27 saves in 2003 & 21 saves in 2005), should be able to step in and get the job done. The sooner, the better, in my opinion.

A.J. Pierzynski

I was in Waupaca, WI for the White Sox home opener. Although the weather was nice, that was about the only thing nice about the opener as the Indians scalped the White Sox 12-5. The weather wasn’t nearly as nice for the 2nd & 3rd games of the season, but a friend had a ticket for me, so down to the Cell I would go.

After getting up at the crack of dawn, driving four hours into the city (listening on the radio for a possible postponement, that never came), it was time to board the Red Line (a familiar route) to Sox 35th. I picked up my ticket at Will Call and headed to the Stadium Club, the temperature was in the low 30s so watching from the comforts of the SC wouldn’t be bad at all. But all the good spots were taken or reserved long ago, turns out you need to reserve your spot two weeks in advance was what we were told, the reality is, we just weren’t big enough fish. I should have pulled rank by saying I was with the Baseball Zealot, but didn’t. So it was time to join my usual post next to Nancy Faust, behind home plate. Lots of friends were waiting for me, it was good to be back home again.

Thanks to Jim Thome’s early three run blast the Good Guys were up, but that wouldn’t last as Grady Sizemore ripped a two run homer off reliever Matt Thornton to give the Tribe a lead they wouldn’t relinquish. The Sox Gooched up a chance to play small ball, when Tadahito Iguchi popped up a bunt attempt to move A.J. to 3rd after Pierzynski’s double, and then PHer Alex Cintron & Scott Podsednik didn’t come through. Still we had a chance when Joe Crede hit a ball to the leftfield track with two on & two out in the 9th inning, but Jason Michaels made a stumbling grab as he fell to his backside. He hung onto the ball and the Sox were down 0-2 on the new year. Walking to the car my hands were so cold that I was actually almost crying as I got to the car at 31st, my hands were frostbit as a kid. We still managed to get to Bertucci’s on 24th and were able to drown our sorrows in pasta.

We were kidding, saying we were gonna keep coming out there until the Sox won. I was REALLY hoping not to be at the Cell on Easter! Mark Buehrle was on the bump for the Southsiders and I was expecting a quicker game in the sunshine of a mid 30 degree day, less wind too, it’s something what perception will do. Before I was able to get my garden burger to my station by Nancy, Grady Sizemore hit a leadoff homer off Buehrle (here we go again, oh, did I say that out loud?), Sizemore was on a pace with three homers in three games to hit 162 for the season, which ain’t bad. Then Garko lined a ball off Buehrle’s forearm and Nick Massett was brought on to pitch some long relief.

After 8 1/2 innings of play the game was all tied up. The Sox loaded the bases with nobody out against Roberto Hernandez, who nicked A.J. on the elbow with an inside pitch to force in the winning tally. Truth be told Pierzynski might have turned into the inside pitch, he might not have even been hit with the pitch, but he sold it to the umpire, and the White Sox had their first W.

Massett pitched well in relief. BIG BAD Bobby Jenks got the win. And Mark Buehrle is not expected to miss a start.

I know it’s all about winning. And don’t get me wrong I enjoyed the 2005 World Championship season as much as the next Sox fan. But there is something to be said for being a kid and rooting for your team, win or lose, it was a good day.

I went to my first ballgame the Boys Benefit game played between the White Sox & Cubs at Milwaukee’s County Stadium in 1968. In LF for the White Sox was a hustling youngster that earned a special place in my heart because of his smile, hustle, & love for the game. I’m talking about Walt “No-Neck” Williams!

Walt was selected off waivers by the St. Louis Cardinals from the Houston Colt 45’s (he’d batted .000 in nine at bats with Houston). Things could only get better for the 5’6″ 195 pound outfielder, and soon they would when he was traded to the White Sox from the Cardinals along with pitcher Don Dennis in exchange for Johnny Romano and Lee White.

In 1969 “No-Neck” won the regular rightfield job with the White Sox, along with the hearts of their fans. The 25 year old Williams batted a team high .304, with 22 doubles, 1 triple, & 3 HRs, in 471 at bats. Walt would run out EVERYTHING, and always run onto & off of the field! I can still see the smile he brought to my father’s face, as he’d exclaim, “NOW THAT’S A BALLPLAYER!”