Category: White Sox

In the Lion’s Den

I got a call from fellow Zealot contributor and Sox fan Teddy Ballgame today.  He flew out to California to see the Sox-Angels playoff games.  As he put it, the Sox “might need my help out there”. After the outcome of the first game, those of us back here in Illinois informed him that from the perspective … Continue reading “In the Lion’s Den”

I got a call from fellow Zealot contributor and Sox fan Teddy Ballgame today.  He flew out to California to see the Sox-Angels playoff games.  As he put it, the Sox “might need my help out there”.

After the outcome of the first game, those of us back here in Illinois informed him that from the perspective of an Angels’ fan, the Sox don’t need any more help.

He’s staying at a hotel a mile or so from the park which translates to a $15 cab ride.  Irregardless, Teddy B says he’s having the time of his life.  The fans at the park are riding Umpire Doug Eddings pretty hard whenever they get a chance.  No surprise there.  Not one back down from a challenge, Teddy B says he went into his “Boo hoo” and “I heard they had good whine in California.” routine. 

I told him to be careful.  Not everyone has a sense a humor.

 

GOOD FRIDAY

I’m reading the newspaper (actually the Sports section, the only section worth reading) and I notice it’s a BIG sports day in Chicago. The Chicago Bears are playing a preseason game against the Buffalo Bills at Soldier Field, the White Sox & El Duque are matched up against the Mariners 19-year-old phenom Felix Hernandez in … Continue reading “GOOD FRIDAY”

Cub_ticket.jpg

I’m reading the newspaper (actually the Sports section, the only section worth reading) and I notice it’s a BIG sports day in Chicago. The Chicago Bears are playing a preseason game against the Buffalo Bills at Soldier Field, the White Sox & El Duque are matched up against the Mariners 19-year-old phenom Felix Hernandez in Seattle, and the Chicago Cubs are playing the Fish from Florida at Wrigley Field. Upon closer inspection I see that hot shot lefty Jason Vargas will be on the hill for the Marlins. I don’t have a ticket for this sold out contest, but that has never stopped me in the past. I call a ticket broker just north of the ballpark, he assures me he has something for me, and I’m on my way. I must have been excited to see this 22-year-old lefty cuz I paid $100 for a $50 ticket. I had a choice of 4th row behind the Cubs dugout for $125 or 15th row on the Marlins side for $100. I chose the $100 ticket so I could get a closer look at Vargas.

It was a beautiful day, the sun was shining, the humidity was down, and the wind was blowing in off the lake. The Marlins were taking batting practice. Nothing like it as Bleacher Bums (a richer version from days gone by, as it now costs $25 to sit out there) scrambled for baseballs that would be thrown back if hit by Florida batters during the game. A J Burnett came over to say hello to some friends and was besieged by autograph hounds. Burnett signed about thirty autographs for mostly youngsters before joining his team. I was fortunate enough to wander down the rightfield line to where the visitors pitchers warm up before entering the game. As luck would have it Jason Vargas started throwing a little long toss with a bullpen catcher right in front of me. A little fan shouted for Josh Beckett to toss him a baseball and Josh obliged. When the batting cage came down it was time for me to head to my seat. Lee Smith, the alltime saves leader, threw out the first pitch. Later he would lead the faithful in “Take Me Out to the Ballgame”. Why isn’t Big Lee in the Baseball Hall of Fame?

Before Jason Vargas could take the mound he was staked to a 2-0 lead, and before long it was 7-0. Vargas was a position player in college and picked up two hits and a drive to the warning track in his three plate appearances. But what I really came to see was this kid pitch. Jason was cruising, not allowing a run through the first five frames, before getting knocked out of the contest when the Cubbies made it interesting scoring five times in the sixth. Maybe Vargas was tired or maybe the Cubs hitters finally figured him out. Either way this young southpaw keeps hitters off balance with a breaking pitch that’s about ten miles per hour slower than his 89 mile an hour fastball. The Marlins hung on to beat the Cubs 7-5 and give Jason his 5th win in six decisions. After the ballgame I walked six blocks to one of my favorite restaurants the Chicago Diner. The Chicago Diner is completely vegan unless you ask for cheese. Being a vegan-in-training myself, it was nice being able to enjoy my meal without being concerned with what was in my food. A nice dip in my pool was in order after gorging myself on vegan lasagna.

The Chicago Bears preseason game had gone long enough to once again illustrate that Chad Hutchinson is not the answer to the starting QB question. Hutchinson pitched for the St. Louis Cardinals not too long ago, maybe he should try hockey. Rookie Kyle Orton threw a TD pass and Jeff Blake engineered a game winning drive at the end of the game to make it a good day so far.

Next up was the Chicago White Sox going up against Felix Hernandez. Felix was dominating the Sox hitters (not that difficult to do now a days) and it looked like Yorvit Torrealba’s solo blast might just be enough for a 2-1 Mariner winner. But I’ve seen the Seattle Mariners enough this year to know they have a knack for losing, especially seeing I placed a C-note on them before the season thinking they’d win more than they lost. What was I thinking? But thunder came from an unexpected source as rookie Sox outfielder Brian Anderson gave the White Sox a 3-2 lead sending a hanging breaking ball over the leftfield fence with a runner aboard. Anderson also accounted for the White Sox only tally with his first career homer off a 96 MPH heater that went far into the Seattle night. Willie Bloomquist tripled with two outs in the 8th to plate Torrealba and tie the game at three. Bloomquist squeezed in the Mariners first run of the game. This pitching duel was destined for extra innings. Tadahito Iguchi blasted a two run shot off Everyday Eddie Guardado in the 12th to give the White Sox the win. It was their 17th win in their last at bat this season. Iguchi redeemed himself with the homer to left after failing to bring in the go-ahead-run in the 10th with one out and Anderson on 3rd when Julio Mateo struck out Tadahito. Final score Good Guys 5 – Mariners 3. All I have to say is, it was a good day all around. GO SOX GO!!!

YOU MAY BE A WHITE SOX FAN IF…

If you’re from Chicago, you might be a White Sox fan if… you spell “clue” K-L-U. you hate Hunter Wendlestedt you turn off your cell phone before a baseball game. you’ve worked a day in your life. you think Jon Rooney should be in the Hall-of-Fame. losers aren’t lovable. Nellie Fox is the greatest second … Continue reading “YOU MAY BE A WHITE SOX FAN IF…”

If you’re from Chicago, you might be a White Sox fan if…

  • you spell “clue” K-L-U.
  • you hate Hunter Wendlestedt
  • you turn off your cell phone before a baseball game.
  • you’ve worked a day in your life.
  • you think Jon Rooney should be in the Hall-of-Fame.
  • losers aren’t lovable.
  • Nellie Fox is the greatest second baseman of all-time.
  • a home run hit barely past Torii Hunter causes you to break a sweat.
  • your team has the best record in baseball.
  • you think Wrigleyville should just be annexed by Iowa and Wisconsin.
  • you hate sportswriters.
  • you love Dan McNeil.
  • you miss McCuddy’s.
  • you need only one pre-game bar and it happens to be in the bullpen.
  • you prefer tailgating.
  • you hate the Twins, Tigers, Indians, Yankees, Red Sox, Dodgers, Reds, Giants, Blue Jays, A’s, and Cubs.
  • you are skeptical about everything.
  • Ozzieball/Smartball/Smallball is exactly what you’ve been screaming at the Sox to do for the last decade.
  • you refuse to buy the Tribune out of principle.
  • you still hope the Sox will bring back Robin Ventura.
  • you know who Brooks Boyer is.
  • you’ve signed a petition to have Mariotti banished from Chicago permanently.
  • you love Nancy Faust.
  • Carlton has nothing to do with “Fresh Prince.” Fisk should be remembered as a WHITE Sock.
  • you remember Falstaff.
  • “Disco sucks” chants still bring chills down your spine.
  • even a 10 game lead in the division makes you nervous. In fact, it makes you more so.
  • “Hitmen” has nothing to do with the mob.
  • you can recite the entire lyrics from “Go Go White Sox.”
  • you appreciate the work of “The Sodfather.”
  • you know who the band Steam is.
  • you can remember a time when professional baseball players wore shorts and collars.
  • you miss Dave Wills. (NNNNEEEXXXTTTT BOOM!)
  • “Winning Ugly” is not an insult.
  • you don’t bother with the All-Star game (i.e. the Red Sox & Yankees v. National League game).
  • you love Ozzie’s antics and hate when the media tries to play up every little quirk as the end of the Sox season.
  • you think Shoeless Joe has gotten a raw deal. Hey, no one ever found him guilty!
  • you still love Harold Baines.
  • you know and love Beltin’ Bill Melton.
  • the devil wears blue.

Just got this as an e-mail and wanted to share it with all. Hope you enjoyed it. GO SOX GO!!!

WHAT A DIFFERENT WEEKEND

It was truly a lost weekend for this White Sox fan. While the White Sox were being swept by the Oakland A’s at the Cell, the Cubbies were sweeping the Marlins in South Florida. On Friday a pair of 13 game winners didn’t get the job done. Both Jon Garland of the Sox and Dontrelle … Continue reading “WHAT A DIFFERENT WEEKEND”

It was truly a lost weekend for this White Sox fan. While the White Sox were being swept by the Oakland A’s at the Cell, the Cubbies were sweeping the Marlins in South Florida. On Friday a pair of 13 game winners didn’t get the job done. Both Jon Garland of the Sox and Dontrelle Willis of the Fish were losers. Garland lost a toughy 4-2 to Kirk Saarloos. But the real story of this game was when Willie Harris failed twice to advance a runner to third with nobody out, in both instances he’d have scored. The Cubs clobbered Willis for eight runs in 4 1/3 innings of work and cruised to a 9-6 behind Carlos Zambrano who pitched around six walks, 120 pitches thrown.

Saturday wasn’t much better as Barry Zito outdueled Sox Ace Mark Buehrle. The final score of 10-1 doesn’t really tell the whole story as three minor leaguers played major roles in this one. Pablo Ozuna commited two errors at 3B which led to three unearned runs, Bobby Jenks stunk up the joint allowing three runs in 1/3 of a inning, and Kevin Walker kept his ERA at 9.00 by giving up one in the 9th. Still it’s hard to win when you only get three hits. Kerry Wood picked up win #2 of the season and seems to have figured out he doesn’t have to strike everybody out as he walked one while striking out four in 7 2/3 innings pitched. Still the Cubbies were trailing after six 2-1 before jumping all over the Marlins bullpen for seven runs, final score 8-2. Despite a 5-6 performance by Paul Konerko including a game tying homer in the bottom of the 9th the White Sox were swept losing the finale 9-8 in eleven. Neal Cotts, who’s been pitching lights out this season, just didn’t have it allowing three runs in 2/3 of an inning. Still the Sox were still right there until Ozzie Guillen decided to pitch Luis Vizcaino in the top of the 11th, the A’s scored off the beleagured reliever and the Southsiders failed to score in their half. To make matters worse the Northsiders were completing their sweep behind Greg Maddux in a battle of greybeards as he bested Al Leiter 9-2. Maddux had a shutout through eight before leaving the game.

There are a couple of observations I’d like to make. They might be completely off the wall, but here goes nothing. First off everyone was saying how much better the White Sox would be once Frank Thomas returned to the lineup. Well I don’t know what their record has been since the Big Hurt returned to regular duty, but sometimes a team can get into the habit of waiting for the big guy to carry the team rather than a team doing the little things that makes a team a team. While on the Northside Dusty Baker seems to have taken my lineup suggestions and put them into somewhat into practice. The Cubs only have one player who is a proven leadoff hitter Jerry Hairston and Todd Walker is a very effective #2 batter. Both of these guys know how to take a walk and are excellent table setters for the big boppers. I really don’t know what Baker was thinking batting Neifi Perez & Corey Patterson at the top of the order. Still the first half of the season has been enjoyable. This White Sox team is the best in my memory and has a record of 57-29 going into the break. While the Cubs have been struggling to put things together and finish the first half at 43-44. The 2nd half should be interesting. Cub fans would like to have me know that with a rotation of Prior, Wood, Zambrano, & Maddux healthy anything is possible. Yet the White Sox strengths of speed, pitching, & defense don’t go into slumps. Soon we’ll see what we’ll see.

BILLY PIERCE – THE FORGOTTEN MAN

The White Sox Interactive Website (WSI link here) is currently featuring a baseball card of Billy Pierce because he was named starting pitcher for the AL in the 1959 All Star Game. Jon Garland was named the starting pitcher for the 2005 All Star Game. The website mentions what a magical season 1959 turned out to be and how it would be cool if this year’s Sox could go all the way.What it doesn’t mention is that the winningest pitcher in White Sox history didn’t get to start a game against the Dodgers in the 1959 World Series. Al Lopez is in failing health and seems to be the only one who knows for sure. But here is an interesting article about it that appeared last month (link here).Teddy Ballgame

The White Sox Interactive Website is currently featuring a baseball card of Billy Pierce because he was named starting pitcher for the AL in the 1959 All Star Game. Jon Garland was named the starting pitcher for the 2005 All Star Game. The website mentions what a magical season 1959 turned out to be and how it would be cool if this year’s Sox could go all the way. What it doesn’t mention is that the winningest pitcher in White Sox history didn’t get to start a game against the Dodgers in the 1959 World Series. Al Lopez is in failing health and seems to be the only one who knows for sure.

Here is an interesting article about it that appeared last month.

BEAUTIFUL WEEKEND

What a BEAUTIFUL weekend, especially if you’re a White Sox fan! The Sox were given the opportunity to avenge the 1959 World Series loss to the Dodgers sweeping them three straight. Hey at least the 1959 World Series was still in my lifetime (barely, I was born in 1956). Does anybody know why Al Lopez … Continue reading “BEAUTIFUL WEEKEND”

What a BEAUTIFUL weekend, especially if you’re a White Sox fan! The Sox were given the opportunity to avenge the 1959 World Series loss to the Dodgers sweeping them three straight. Hey at least the 1959 World Series was still in my lifetime (barely, I was born in 1956). Does anybody know why Al Lopez chose not to start Billy Pierce in the 59 Fall Classic?

The BEAUTIFUL weekend started with a 6-0 Friday and featured thrilling come from behind victories on Saturday & Sunday. Los Angeles was one strike away from a win on Saturday. Carl Everett lined an 0-2 Yhency Brazoban pitch into rightfield for an RBI single cutting the deficit to 3-2. Pinch runner Willie Harris stole second base, more like a gimme as there wasn’t even a throw. Then Aaron Rowand bounced one up the middle plating Harris to tie the score. And then A.J. Pierzynski fouled off a few before launching a walk off shot over the centerfield wall. Small ball at its finest!

Sunday’s comeback pails in comparison, but it was a comeback win none the less. Trailing by one in the bottom of the eighth the Ozzie Guillen sent up Frank Thomas to bat for Juan Uribe. Pablo Ozuna was sent in to run for the Big Hurt who drew a base on balls. Scott Podsednik laid a bunt down in front of home plate which catcher Jason Phillips threw to first was in the dirt. Secondbaseman Jeff Kent dug it out, but the umpire ruled Kent’s foot was off the bag (even though replays showed otherwise). The Sox had two on with nobody out. Willie Harris bunted perfectly moving both runners into scoring position. Mr. Clutch Aaron Rowand ripped a single scoring both runners. Dustin Hermanson walked the leadoff batter in the 9th, but induced a 6-4-3 DP and got the last guy for the save.

While this drama was taking place on the Southside of Chicago the Northsiders were getting broomed by the Bronx Bombers in a three game sweep 9-6, 8-1, & 6-3. Oh what a BEAUTIFUL weekend!

Crede- Dr Jekyll/Mr Hyde

I picked up Joe Crede in the off-season in the Illowa APBA League. He was sort of a throw-in as part of larger deal so I didn’t think much of it. I even shopped him around for a reliever but to mild surprise no one was interested especially considering the number of White Sox fans … Continue reading “Crede- Dr Jekyll/Mr Hyde”

I picked up Joe Crede in the off-season in the Illowa APBA League. He was sort of a throw-in as part of larger deal so I didn’t think much of it. I even shopped him around for a reliever but to mild surprise no one was interested especially considering the number of White Sox fans in the league.

Then Crede started out hitting like gang-busters for the Sox. By April 25, he was hitting .324 and slugging .500. I started to wonder if I stumbled on to something.

But since then, Crede has gone downhill. Since that date, he’s gone 15 for 93 (.161) with a .248 OBP and a pathetic .247 slg pct. He’s hit 2 homers in this period.

As good as he is in the field, Crede is not known for being consistent at the plate. Last year, he hit .184 in May, .329 in June, and .198 and July.

Rumors earlier this year, were he didn’t plan on changing too much regarding his approach at the plate this year in favor of sticking with one batting stance.

He offered this cryptic outlook on his hitting:

“I believe I am a .280, .290 hitter, but I will believe it when I actually do it.”

Sox, Garland Continue Winning Streaks

Jon Garland ended his scoreless inning streak but I’m sure it’s ok with him. The White Sox still won 10-7 over the Jays and he managed to still get the win. The Sox have now won seven straight. The win makes Garland 6-0 tied with Dontrelle Willis for the MLB lead. Garland can thank Paul … Continue reading “Sox, Garland Continue Winning Streaks”

Jon Garland ended his scoreless inning streak but I’m sure it’s ok with him. The White Sox still won 10-7 over the Jays and he managed to still get the win. The Sox have now won seven straight. The win makes Garland 6-0 tied with Dontrelle Willis for the MLB lead.

Garland can thank Paul Konerko who broke a streak of his own. Paulie was 0 for his last 26 at-bats entering this game. He hit 2 homers and drove in five runs.